Eager to Live.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] I am thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you here this morning today actually this week [0:06] Will mark five years since we began having public [0:11] Services with Village Church and with any type of anniversary like that [0:16] There’s gonna be a lot of nostalgia to take a look back at all that God has done [0:21] team of nine people moved here to launch Village Church and [0:26] We have grown clearly there are a few more of you here gathered with us to worship God and

[0:32] recounting over the last five years the lives that God has changed the people that he has saved the [0:39] disciples that we have seen made is [0:41] Amazing and I just want to take a moment to thank God for all that he has done with the realization that I pray [0:49] That God will continue to change lives. I pray that more and more and more [0:55] Disciples will be made through Village Church over the years that are by his grace to come and but the [1:03] mentality that we come with and the mission that we have as a church is

[1:07] Simple and for you to understand what we’re here for and why we exist you just need to grasp the reality that we’re here [1:14] To make disciples of Jesus who make [1:17] disciples of Jesus [1:19] And our mission is simple as to connect people to God through the hope that’s found in Jesus and then teach them [1:25] To live his mission in the culture and I think right there is [1:30] Where we kind of begin to to struggle we kind of begin to maybe even inside of us

[1:35] We have some some tension in our lives that we know what Jesus has saved us for we know what he has even maybe [1:41] Saved us towards but then in our lives [1:44] the hardest thing that we can do is see the change that actually makes that come to fruition and [1:51] Change is going to be the hardest thing that you ever actually do in your life [1:55] No matter what it is. We tend to be kind of creatures of habit and so [2:00] Anytime that change needs to come into our lives. There’s always going to be struggle. There’s always going to be

[2:06] Resistance even more so when we think about all of the changes that God would have to do in our lives [2:13] For us to be and make disciples for us to follow [2:17] Jesus for Jesus to have the utmost of our desires as many would put it [2:22] It’s gonna require a great deal of change [2:25] And so the book that we’re in the series that we started last week through the book of Romans [2:31] Is interesting in that because it’s by a man who knows what change is all about

[2:36] We saw last week that the Apostle Paul was a man who? [2:40] Probably had what I would say the biggest polar change in his life that anyone could possibly have [2:46] He goes from a man who has made it his life’s mission to extinguish the flame of Christianity [2:52] That’s spreading all over the world and he so committed to it that he even comes to a point where he’s not only [2:59] Applauding he’s not only approving of the execution of those who would have the audacity to spread the faith [3:05] but he himself begins to execute Christians and

[3:10] When he comes to faith in Jesus when he believes in his heart that Jesus is God [3:16] He changes so much that he’s not simply just not seeking to stop it [3:21] He then becomes the greatest proponent of it that the world has ever seen and he seeks to spread [3:27] The message of Christianity throughout the entire world [3:32] Maybe you’re like me when you read these Bible stories [3:35] We read all about the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts and all of the stuff that he was doing and everything that really

[3:41] Led him to write the book of Romans [3:43] We kind of read it the way that we read a fiction novel or the way that we watch a movie [3:48] And we just kind of almost maybe we get into a place where these people aren’t like us and these stories [3:53] Aren’t really stories that are about someone like me [3:56] It’s about a different type of person [3:58] But the reality is is that any character outside of Jesus Christ that you read in the Bible

[4:04] It’s just like me. It’s just like you [4:08] They had the same struggles. They had the same temptations [4:12] They had the same false hopes the same functional Saviors the same issues that we’re going to have that would tempt us [4:19] To not seek the change that the scripture puts forward that we need to have in our lives [4:25] They had [4:26] You look at someone’s life like the Apostle Paul

[4:30] Maybe he even had a few more than we had [4:32] And the reality is is the faith that he gives us is not a faith where he’s saying look at what I have done [4:40] But instead it’s a faith in what he’s saying is look at all that Jesus has done [4:47] And this is the mindset that takes us through the first 11 chapters of the book of Romans that Paul is convinced [4:54] That what you believe [4:56] Will manifest itself in the way that you actually live and

[5:02] The change that every one of us need in our lives is something that’s going to begin by what we believe [5:10] And before he ever gets to the dew of Christianity he begins with the what the why [5:17] The what is it that you believe about God? [5:21] Last week we saw that in the very first few verses he unpacks that Jesus is God [5:26] Jesus is Savior and Jesus is King [5:30] and then this week he transitions into talking about

[5:36] What he wants to do because of that?

[5:40] We look beginning in Romans chapter 1 verse 8. He actually just simply begins to make a greeting to the church at Rome [5:48] Transitions into a greeting and this is probably like one of those other sections of the very beginning that we kind of pass over [5:54] Kind of hoping to get to the actual point of what he’s talking about [5:58] But when Paul writes these greetings [6:00] He writes them in no other way that I’ve ever seen and his greeting holds [6:04] So much truth in it that if we just kind of pass over these words

[6:09] We just kind of pass over these phrases without [6:12] Stopping and looking at the tracks that he’s actually laying for what it is that we believe as followers of Jesus [6:18] Then we will be in danger of missing the entire point [6:22] Here’s how he starts in verse 8 on his greeting [6:26] first [6:27] Anything that words interesting. Here’s why

[6:30] You read the whole book and there’s never a second

[6:34] This is Paul’s one-point sermon he just goes on and on and on on one point [6:40] And he says first I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you [6:45] Because your faith is proclaimed in all the world [6:49] For God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son that without ceasing [6:55] I mention you always in my prayers [6:57] Asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you for I long to see you

[7:05] That I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you that is [7:10] That we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith both yours and mine [7:15] I want you to know brothers that I have often intended to come to you [7:19] But thus far have been prevented in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles [7:27] I am under obligation both to Greeks and the barbarians both to the wise and [7:33] To the foolish so I am eager to preach the gospel to you

[7:37] Also who are in Rome [7:40] It’s interesting is that Paul begins this section speaking about a gospel that has been proclaimed throughout all of the world [7:49] And he writes first he says I thank God for you through Jesus Christ [7:55] Because your faith is being proclaimed throughout all of the world [8:00] So he’s speaking to this church and this isn’t what we would consider to be a huge church [8:05] This isn’t one of those mega churches that maybe you you may be familiar with this is just a group of people in a certain

[8:11] City who have come to faith in God and Paul writes them [8:14] He says I want you to know one thing and here’s how we’re gonna start this morning that what God is [8:20] Doing in your presence is so significant that the news of it is actually being spread throughout the entire [8:29] world

[8:31] Imagine [8:33] If that would be said of any one of us or any grouping of us that God is working so powerfully in our presence

[8:42] But the news of it is spreading all over the known world at that time [8:46] There’s two reasons really that what God is doing is so [8:51] Significant in the church at Rome at that point [8:54] The first one is because of the section of where they are see Rome was really the epicenter of [9:00] Everything at that point in time there was a saying in the historic in history that all roads lead to Rome [9:08] And that’s because Rome had made the road system and Rome controlled really all of the known world at that point

[9:14] And they had made his road system to where it was kind of like the spokes and a wheel and to where every [9:19] Road went out of Rome and then every road that you went on [9:23] Ultimately led back to Rome and so they had literally made themselves the center of civilization [9:30] And Rome was also the place where all of the military was Rome was also the place that all of the known government [9:37] At that time was Rome was the place where Caesar was and in that point in history Caesar was God [9:45] Because he was so powerful

[9:47] And so Paul writes it is [9:50] Significant that the gospel has gone all the way to the one who tells the world that he is God [9:57] It’s gone right to his back door the message of the one true God

[10:04] Jesus Christ [10:05] So Paul writes understand that what God is doing in Rome is [10:09] Significant because all roads lead there all roads go out of there all power is kind of centered right there in Rome [10:17] Jesus is coming and Jesus is making an impact and we’re going to reach the whole world because we’ve already reached the cultural center [10:25] We’ve reached the population center. We’ve reached Rome

[10:30] There’s a second reason what Paul [10:33] writes right here in verse 8 is so [10:36] significant and that’s point number one this morning and that is that faith in the gospel builds a [10:42] witness for the gospel [10:45] Faith in the gospel builds a witness for the gospel [10:51] He tells them he says that what God is doing through your

[10:56] Faith is being proclaimed in all of the world Paul would not write to somebody who has a phony faith who has a faith [11:03] That’s not actually bringing fruit of action out into their lives [11:08] You would not write to them and say I’ve got great news this phony counterfeit faith that God is working in Rome [11:13] It’s spreading all over the world. I couldn’t be happier about that [11:17] Now when Paul writes your faith is being proclaimed in all the world. It’s an encouragement. It’s a good thing [11:23] It’s a compliment and the reality is is because God was truly doing something that was changing lives

[11:30] God was working in ways that had never really been done in Rome before [11:36] A group of people have never heard the gospel of Jesus have heard the gospel and it’s changed everything that they’re doing so much [11:43] That it’s spreading throughout that region [11:47] When we begin to think about the reality of what God was doing right there in Rome [11:52] We have to begin to ask what about our lives

[11:59] Paul is thankful that their faith is being proclaimed because their belief [12:04] Is being shown in their everyday life as being real it affects their everyday [12:09] It affects the decisions that they make it affects the actions that they take it affects the way that they go to work [12:16] It affects the way that they’re at home [12:18] It affects every single aspect of their lives to the point where it’s spreading like a flame because it’s legitimate [12:26] It’s not false

[12:28] It’s real [12:30] And we begin to take a look in our lives the question that we have to ask [12:35] What if my faith were to be proclaimed in all of the world what would be the effect is it legitimate is it real is it really [12:45] Staked in the claim that Jesus is God and is really living out the implications of that through my everyday [12:52] What kind of faith is it that I have? [12:56] That would be proclaimed in all the world

[12:59] The answer to that is not that complicated [13:04] The answer to that is as simple as just looking at day in and day out who I really am [13:12] And what I am actually doing with my life

[13:18] When we see false versions of [13:21] faith [13:21] It doesn’t please God. We don’t want it to be spread. I [13:27] Think oftentimes we don’t really spread our faith that often is because we’re afraid that what we have and what we would [13:33] Spread is a false version of faith [13:36] It’s not something that we’ve staked our lives to it’s not something that we’ve really

[13:40] Sown into every decision into everything that we’ve done and so we don’t seek to spread it because even we maybe [13:46] Question whether or not my faith in Jesus is actually genuine [13:52] How do we know? [13:54] Can X chapter 20 here’s what Paul writes about the hopes and dreams of his life [14:01] Paul says but I do not account my life of any value nor is precious to myself [14:06] If only I may finish my course in the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus

[14:12] To testify to the gospel of the grace of God [14:17] When Paul writes of a faith that’s being proclaimed in the entire world. This is the attitude behind it [14:24] When real belief in Jesus is evident the world will take notice and Paul writes that faith has overtaken [14:30] His life to the extent that he finds no value for anything that he could ever do apart from the gospel [14:38] And if he took his faith in Jesus away from him, it would be as bad as dying [14:46] Because his life only has value because Jesus says it has value his life only has value based on what he believes about

[14:53] What Christ has done his life only has value because of the cross of Jesus Christ [14:58] And what we have to do and determine in our lives each and every day is what is it that I’m finding value in in my life

[15:09] What is it that if you took faith in Jesus away from me, where would I have value? [15:15] Where would I do the things that I do? [15:18] How would my time be filled because Paul writes with this attitude that if you took faith in Jesus away [15:25] If you took the gospel away my calendar would be wide open [15:31] I would have all of the time in the world

[15:36] Because right now the gospel [15:39] Is everything right now the gospel fills every moment right now the gospel of Jesus is [15:47] Everything in every moment in every action in every decision [15:52] It is saturated so much so with the gospel that if the gospel wasn’t here [15:57] I would simply perish and the reality of why our [16:01] Faith may not be spreading is because that is not the attitude that we have that is not the life that we live

[16:08] The life that we live has tons of value apart from Jesus [16:13] The life that we live could be poured in a hundred different ways if it wasn’t for Jesus because it already is

[16:22] What you have to deal with where your faith is concerned is that if it is not [16:28] Saturating every corner of your life. What value is your faith? [16:34] What good is it?

[16:38] It will be totally foreign to the Apostle Paul to have a type of faith that did not saturate every corner

[16:45] Because we’ve convinced ourselves oftentimes in our lives right here and right now and that the gospel is not everything that maybe we [16:52] need something more [16:54] Maybe there’s a place in life we can grow past the gospel [16:57] Maybe there’s a place in life where we have enough of the gospel and we need something that’s just a little bit more in our [17:05] lives [17:06] Paul writes in verse 9. He says God is my witness

[17:10] No, he’s staking his claim in his faith and he’s saying my faith is genuine because God testifies to it. I mean nothing else [17:17] He says [17:19] This is whom I serve with my spirit [17:22] in the gospel of his son [17:26] so Paul writes that the way that he serves God is to serve the gospel and [17:32] That everything that he does is in the gospel and nothing that he does will ever outgrow the gospel

[17:38] He will never get past the gospel. He will never grow so much to where he won’t stop [17:44] Needing what Jesus has done and what Jesus continues to do

[17:51] Paul doesn’t write to Rome that your faith is being spread all over the world because you have made yourself so [17:59] obedient [18:01] Because you have made yourself so good [18:05] Because you have done so many significant things [18:10] No, he writes [18:11] Why is your faith being spread because it’s in Jesus and in Jesus alone and you have realized the reality that you will never

[18:19] Stop needing Jesus because it is always going to be about your faith and it is never going to be [18:27] about anything else [18:30] What you value in your life you will pour your life into [18:37] Do you know that? [18:40] Do you realize that what you’re doing with your life is actually what you value?

[18:48] We often are just simply running around looking for the next thing the next good the next [18:54] Strategy the next way we always want something new

[18:59] We always need a new teaching a new book a new reality a new Bible study a new class and [19:06] All of those things you’re seeking to actually [19:09] Displace the thing that you need the most but the thing that you struggle to believe in and that is just simply the gospel [19:17] Paul does not write to them. Look I am coming to bring you a brand new thing

[19:24] He looks to them and he says I’m coming with the same gospel that you’ve already believed here’s what he says [19:31] He says I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers asking that somehow [19:39] By God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you for I long to see you that I may impart to you some [19:47] spiritual gift to strengthen you that is that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith both yours and mine so [19:54] Paul writes I’m trying to come to you [19:57] So far I haven’t been able to and when you kind of ask well Paul why haven’t you been able to come well I’ve been

[20:03] Kind of busy I’ve been in prison a few times [20:05] I’ve had people throw rocks at me so hard that it killed me and then I just kind of got [20:09] Resuscitated by the spirit and then I got shipwrecked one time trying to take the gospel to this other place [20:14] It’s like man Paul you seem to really believe the gospel. Yeah. Yeah, you’re catching on aren’t you?

[20:21] Every reason that Paul gives for why he can’t come impart this spiritual gift [20:26] Is because he’s been so distracted by giving the gospel to everyone he comes into contact with

[20:33] What are the reasons that you give for [20:37] Why you struggle to commit to going somewhere with the gospel [20:41] Why you struggle to serve God in the spirit of the gospel

[20:47] And Paul writes he says I’m gonna come and I’m gonna give you a spiritual gift in order that it may strengthen you and that’s [20:53] Interesting way that he writes it because he doesn’t say specifically what the gift is because I don’t think he knows [20:59] Specifically what the gift that he’s going to give them is because he’s going to come and he’s going to see what’s actually happening [21:04] He’s gonna be there. I know what you need right now [21:07] But the reality is he wasn’t coming to give them anything they didn’t already have how do I know that because let’s skip ahead a [21:12] little bit in verse 15

[21:15] Verse 15 Paul writes [21:17] He says I am eager to do what to preach the gospel to you

[21:28] I [21:28] Says man your faith in the gospel is being spread all over the world [21:34] And I am so excited to come to you to give you a spiritual gift in order to strengthen you and the way that [21:40] I’m going to do it is I’m going to preach to you the gospel that you already believe and we would say that doesn’t [21:46] Make any sense

[21:49] They already have the gospel [21:52] And yet Paul’s saying I’m gonna come back and give you more [21:55] Gospel because the reality is is they never need anything else

[22:01] It begins with the gospel of Jesus and it always goes back to the gospel of Jesus in the [22:07] Temptation that we have to look for something new something fresh is not good

[22:16] And that our constant desire [22:19] To have a new teaching a new way a new thing is not godly

[22:27] Because you’re trying to find something outside of the gospel to give you the [22:31] Satisfaction that only the gospel will give you so you can simply stop looking your reason for being [22:38] Dissatisfied the reason that you’re not growing in your faith is not that there’s a problem with the gospel

[22:46] The reason that you’re stagnating in your spiritual walk, and you know I just don’t feel like I’m being fed [22:53] So I need something new you don’t need anything new you need to come back to the gospel of Jesus [23:01] And Paul would tell you you simply need to gaze at the cross of Jesus Christ [23:07] Because what you’re doing is you’re thinking that there’s something significant inside of you to where you’re different than everyone else you’re not

[23:18] You’re not going to be able to see the cross of Jesus Christ [23:18] What you need [23:20] Is to be in awe [23:22] Of all that Jesus is and the problem is is that we’re so sinful that we struggle to be in awe of Jesus [23:31] And when we struggle to be in awe of Jesus the reality is is because we have false gods we have false hopes [23:40] In our lives and we think that the answer is well if I could just fix this one part of my life

[23:46] I’d be happy if I could just grow in knowledge of this one thing in my life [23:50] Well, then I’d be satisfied if I could just have this one thing [23:55] Work better than it has always worked if I could just have that person treat me differently than he’s always treated me if I could [24:01] Just learn how to do something then everything will be good [24:05] So that’s where I need discipleship and Paul says you know that thing that you’re looking at yeah, that’s called a false God

[24:14] And you simply need to come back to the heart of the gospel and stand in absolute awe of all that God has done to redeem you unto himself [24:25] The darkest moments of our lives the answer is always going to be Jesus [24:31] And it’s never going to be anything else and this is the faith that Paul is bringing them to over and over and over again [24:42] But then he gives us this idea

[24:47] He says I want to come to you I [24:50] Want to strengthen you with a spiritual gift and also I want there to be some mutual [24:55] Encouragement here, and he says it’s all going to be wrapped up in the gospel [25:00] It’s not going to be outside of the gospel when we come together [25:03] We’re going to be able to grow each other in relationship with one another in a way that we couldn’t do it apart from one another [25:12] And so in verses 11 and 12 Paul gives us this mentality about community that you’re not gonna find anywhere else

[25:19] This point number two this morning is that gospel community is a catalyst [25:24] For mission

[25:28] Why did Paul have to wait until he actually gathered with them to give them a spiritual gift

[25:34] Couldn’t do it over email or Facebook or any other way he’s got to actually come face to face

[25:42] He says I want us to be mutually encouraged [25:45] I love the fact that in this section he says both you and I because Paul puts himself at the same level [25:51] Here’s the Apostle Paul saying I need something from you that I can only find in relationship [25:58] With other followers of Jesus. I need to be encouraged in my faith. Just like you need to be encouraged in your faith and [26:07] The only way that they could possibly do it is if they come together in relationship with each other and help each other [26:15] He shifts to the heart of his greeting by sharing the purpose of his visit

[26:21] Paul desires to strengthen them in the gospel face to face in relationship with each other [26:28] And there’s two problems that we’re gonna have where gospel centered community is concerned is because we don’t really want it [26:37] You can build community around a host of things you can build relationships around a plethora of things that have [26:44] Absolutely nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus and everything to do with you [26:50] And Paul writes that’s not why I’m coming [26:53] What he’s coming for is a different type of community what he’s coming for is the only type of community you can

[27:00] Actually have in faith in Jesus and that is a type of community that is about faith in Jesus [27:07] There’s this idea that even in following Jesus that you need to come into relationships with no agenda [27:13] That Jesus shouldn’t be the agenda in your relationships. It just needs to be about the love that you have with each other. That’s stupid

[27:23] That is not the idea that paul brings to us right here at all [27:26] And that’s not the idea that anywhere in the new testament is going to bring to us [27:29] If you’re a follower of Jesus, then Jesus will always be your agenda [27:34] In every moment of every day or it’s not faith in Jesus [27:39] And so paul says when we come together it is with an agenda [27:43] It’s so that you can grow in your faith so that I can grow in my faith and so that others can be reached with our faith

[27:51] That’s his agenda [27:53] And it never stops being about that agenda in every moment of the relationships in your life [28:00] You must have at the forefront the gospel of Jesus [28:03] Or else it’s not gospel centered community [28:06] And if we’re not seeking gospel centered community, what are we seeking?

[28:11] We’re seeking selfishness [28:14] In acts chapter one and two we have this amazing picture of the early church [28:18] When Jesus is ascending up into heaven [28:20] He looks to his people he looks to his disciples and he says you guys go back to Jerusalem [28:25] And I want you to gather and I want you to pray and I want you to help one another [28:29] Because in a few days the holy spirit’s going to come and he’s going to strengthen you to do some amazing things

[28:34] So what does Jesus say? He says I want you to stay together [28:37] I want you to be in community and then the holy spirit falls and we see god do amazing things [28:42] The apostle peter gets up. He preaches the gospel of Jesus [28:45] 3,000 men get saved. We don’t even know how many women and children get saved [28:48] We just know that thousands of people get saved and then at the end of acts chapter two [28:52] What do we see them doing? We see them get back together pray for each other help one another teach each other

[28:59] Share things we see them constantly growing in community the gospel goes out then they come together [29:05] The gospel goes out then they come together paul is not giving something new paul is simply telling us [29:12] That god’s method is still the same method you come together in community to help one another grow and then you go out [29:18] in mission together

[29:22] Too often here’s how some of us try to grow [29:27] You say I want to grow in discipleship so I need to be in the word, but I really don’t want anybody else’s input

[29:36] So we get in the scriptures we try to pray [29:40] Hold everybody at arm’s length because I don’t need anybody else’s help. I’m gonna do it myself [29:45] And if I got their input, I wouldn’t like them anymore. So I don’t want to do that either

[29:52] You realize that

[29:56] You see yourself more dimly in the mirror than you’re going to be able to see anybody else

[30:02] Did you know that when I look in the mirror and I did this morning, I mean I was like man you look good

[30:12] I mean i’m i’m even doing the gun. I mean i’m just like i’m in awe like wow. Thank you god [30:18] Is

[30:20] And there are some mornings that I do that and I walk out and then I get a reality check it’s my wife

[30:30] She’ll look at me what are you wearing

[30:35] This looks good, honey, I know I picked it out myself it doesn’t even match [30:39] Well, you can’t even the patterns. Wait, what are you doing here? [30:43] So then I do the Charlie Brown walk of shame [30:47] I change my clothes

[30:50] Because I see myself very very blurry sometimes [30:56] You know spiritually we all have that problem, too [30:59] Did you know that no one will justify your behavior the way that you justify your behavior? [31:07] Well, they just don’t understand [31:10] Well, it’s different in my situation [31:12] Well, i’ve got my reasons I am who I am

[31:17] You know, that’s the dumbest thing you could ever say [31:21] That’s just ruin your life right there [31:23] And every time you say it it’s because something bad happened [31:28] Well, maybe you are who you are ain’t working [31:32] But here’s what happens [31:35] When we’ll really grow

[31:38] Is because when we begin to read the scriptures what we’ll begin to say is that this is not going to work because it’s not about you [31:46] When you really get in the scriptures when you really get in the word, this is what you’re going to do [31:54] Because the scripture creates a people [31:57] The gospel gathers people and as you are going out if you’re making disciples of jesus [32:04] It is going to form a community around you and what’s going to happen is is that they’re going to see the real you [32:11] And it might get a little uncomfortable because someone may say hey

[32:15] You know that path that you’re taking in your life right now. I don’t know that it’s going to benefit you that much [32:21] I don’t know that it’s going to help you that much and the moment it happens what’s going to happen inside of you [32:26] Is that sin that so easily besets you is going to say who does he think he is? [32:35] You’re going to self-justify

[32:39] You cannot grow in your faith you cannot grow in following jesus without others [32:46] It’s the way that god designed it [32:49] It’s the way that god wants you to live [32:52] It’s because when other people look into your life and you begin to grow in relationship and it will take time and it will get weird [32:58] Sometimes when you grow in relationship with people they’re going to have an insight into your life that by god’s grace [33:05] You may not have had without them

[33:09] The apostle paul says both you

[33:14] And I [33:16] We’re going to be mutually encouraged [33:19] But for what? [33:21] So here’s the second [33:22] Temptation that we have when we try to be in community with one another and it is this temptation of actually [33:29] Just simply letting community terminate on itself

[33:33] And community becomes the ends because it’s like well, you know, I started going to a village group [33:40] And so i’m good with growth for about a year [33:43] That was a big step for me

[33:48] And so what will happen is is we’ll get together with our group and we’ll be sitting there and and we’ll just start getting real [33:54] Transparent with each other’s maybe friendships are blossoming and we’ll be like, let me give you the list of 17 reasons [34:00] Why I suck this week [34:02] I’m not reading my bible. I’m not praying [34:04] I’m not you know, my faith is not witnessing out there in the community to anybody. I don’t believe anything [34:10] I don’t do anything. I don’t serve anywhere. I’m not helping anywhere

[34:14] That’s cool, let’s pray you guys have a great week

[34:20] I have been in so many groups where that’s just the routine

[34:29] And unfortunately, we deceived ourselves into believing that as long as we were transparent with each other

[34:39] It was happening it was working

[34:43] That’s not what paul’s talking about here [34:47] That’s not what paul’s saying here [34:49] When paul speaks of mutual encouragement, is there transparency? [34:55] Absolutely [34:56] Is there conviction? [34:59] Absolutely, but the reason behind it is not so that you can revel in your stagnation

[35:05] It is not so that you can just sit in the water of your own filth and say look at all this filth [35:12] Oh, well [35:14] No, it is so that others can come together and come beside you and begin to have input and say [35:21] Here’s where maybe change can happen [35:24] Here’s how the gospel should inform how you’re dealing with this specific situation [35:29] Here’s how you can grow in where you are right now

[35:35] And then repentance actually begins to happen and you look at the grace of god [35:40] And so many have said this [35:43] You realize the truth that it’s okay not to be okay, but it’s not okay to stay that way

[35:52] It is not a mark of belief simply to look and say that’s where sin is that’s where it’s happening in my life

[36:02] And then just keep it pointing [36:05] No growth [36:07] No change [36:08] No hope no new [36:12] No, it exists because paul says I want to strengthen you. I want to encourage you encourage you for what?

[36:22] Because in verse 13, here’s where he goes

[36:28] This is I want you to know I’ve often intended to come to you but thus far i’ve been prevented

[36:34] In order that I may reap [36:38] A harvest among you as well as among the rest of the gentiles [36:42] I’m under obligation to both the greeks to the barbarians both to the wise of the foolish [36:46] So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in rome

[36:54] Paul writes and he says the reason that we come together the reason that we strengthen each other the reason that we encourage [37:01] We encourage each other the reason that we’re realizing our sinfulness the reason that we’re pointing out where we need to grow [37:09] Is so that when the change happens? [37:12] So that when the growth begins to take place so that when the obedience begins to build in our lives for jesus [37:20] So that when we stand in awe of the cross so that the gospel can go out of our lives and into the lives of others

[37:30] But I think that’s where the problem really starts in our lives because in verse 15 [37:38] Paul writes of something that I think for many of us it’s a foreign reality that we don’t really grasp [37:46] He says I am eager [37:52] To preach the gospel

[37:56] I want to reap a harvest among you [38:04] All the reasons he hasn’t been able to come because he’s been reaping the harvest everywhere

[38:13] He has a joy [38:17] In his belief [38:21] That compels him

[38:26] To go and reach people with the gospel with joy [38:34] Thirdly this morning growing in christ makes us eager to reap a harvest for christ [38:47] Paul writes he says I want to come [38:50] I want to strengthen you how am I going to strengthen you i’m going to preach the gospel among you [38:55] And when i’m doing that what’s going to happen is that god’s going to begin to reap a harvest among us [39:01] And i’m eager to see it happen. I’m joyful. That’s what I want. There’s nothing better in this world than seeing god do that

[39:12] And I think the biggest problem that most of us have in our walk with jesus christ [39:19] Is that we don’t find any joy in our faith

[39:25] And when you don’t have joy and what god has done [39:31] You don’t have a want to see it go any further

[39:38] And when you’re not spreading the gospel

[39:45] I think it’s because we know that deep down inside [39:49] Is because I can’t pass on what I don’t already have

[39:57] And paul writes

[40:00] He doesn’t use the type of language that we might use [40:04] Because we would probably use language that’s more like I have an obligation to come to you because i’m a christian [40:12] Because how often do you look at the things that you do as a follower of jesus as an obligation [40:16] So why do you go to church on sunday morning? It’s what christians do

[40:22] Why are you going to village church I kind of have to i’m a follower of jesus [40:29] Why do you read your bible and pray we’re supposed to [40:33] See the words that we use are about obligation [40:37] Paul looked at no part of his faith as an obligation [40:41] Paul looked at every part of his faith and says it’s filled with choices to follow jesus that I get to make

[40:51] Was that I get to go to rome and preach the gospel I have a joy [40:55] To go to rome and preach the gospel all that I want to do [40:59] Is preach the gospel and reap a harvest for the name of christ

[41:08] Paul wants to both strengthen them with truths of the gospel [41:12] To reach those who’ve never heard the gospel

[41:18] Look at what jesus said in luke chapter 10 verse 2

[41:25] The harvest is plentiful [41:27] But the laborers are few [41:30] Therefore pray earnestly to the lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest [41:37] Then look in john 4 36 jesus says already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life [41:45] So that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together [41:52] You see paul writes

[41:54] about reaping a harvest and I think [41:57] It’s because that’s the way that jesus describes it and jesus says that when you begin to see the harvest [42:03] Reap where you’re going to realize is that you are a part of the work that god has been planning for centuries [42:10] You are a part of what god has been planning to do through the gospel forever that you’re seeing the harvest reap [42:17] And when you realize that god is working through your life to accomplish his eternal purposes [42:22] It will cause joy in your life if your faith is real

[42:34] God desires for us to sow the seed of jesus’s victory over sin and death and he reaps by giving the gift of faith

[42:45] But jesus states there is the reality that paul is chasing with his life

[42:52] You may say well [42:55] How do you get that joy [42:58] I just don’t know how to get it because here’s what we do

[43:03] As we try to just simply make ourselves have that joy [43:09] You know you put the smile on your face and you say i’ve got joy

[43:17] Oftentimes behind that is no joy at all

[43:20] You try to build it you maybe even tell yourself self be joyful

[43:29] Nope

[43:33] When you’re in that trust me [43:36] It feels [43:37] Hopeless because you’re just continuously condemning yourself over and over what is wrong with me. What do I need? [43:44] What are my where’s my hope the reality is is you’re looking for something that’s only going to be found in one place

[43:53] That’s the place of faith [43:56] You see because you can’t just give yourself joy you need it from somewhere else [44:01] You need to build it from a life that is actually seeking and savoring what jesus has done for you [44:08] One that actually says what god said and what god has done is true [44:13] Even when I disagree with it [44:17] Even when I struggle even when I sin even when I can’t find hope even when I can’t find joy

[44:25] God is true. I am not true in that moment [44:31] And it’s a life of saying I don’t feel like it right now, but i’m gonna do it because I believe him [44:37] It’s rooted in a deep belief that jesus is true [44:43] And you walk that path and as you walk that path of faith you begin to see [44:50] God fill your life with joy. Joy is not something that comes naturally from a sinner’s heart

[44:59] And that’s the heart you’re born with

[45:02] Joy only comes naturally from god’s heart [45:08] And it’s only going to come into your life through believing god above every other voice [45:14] Through seeking god above everything else and following him [45:19] Seeking him growing in him and through that you will have joy [45:26] The alternative is that you will stagnate and you will eventually blame god

[45:33] For your sin [45:34] The reality is is that god has given you the life [45:38] to live

[45:41] Without joy the mission of jesus is cumbersome [45:48] It is an obligation [45:51] Without this joy, you will make christianity about something other than the gospel [45:56] Without this joy your desires and passions will be elsewhere without this joy coming together for strengthening one another will seem like [46:04] Drudgery, but community is built on the gospel

[46:09] Will not be that drudgery if you commit to it

[46:18] That’s the hard part [46:21] Without this joy faith is dead [46:26] Our mission is to take the gospel of god out into the world through our commitment to finding [46:31] Joy in god so that the world will know the beauty of redemption from sin

[46:37] But we are so overly committed to things that have nothing to do with the gospel that we will not find that type of joy [46:47] If you will not seek to be more committed to the gospel than you are to things that have nothing to do with the gospel [46:55] You will never find joy in the gospel [47:01] You will seek to find it in areas where the gospel isn’t

[47:07] The world needs to know the joy of god, but they cannot know it [47:14] If we don’t have it

[47:19] As the band comes up this morning [47:23] I want to ask you a question

[47:28] When jesus casts this vision of his harvest [47:33] And he says that the harvest is plenious, but the laborers are few what he’s giving us is this reality in our lives [47:39] That god has prepared

[47:42] the world [47:43] For the work of his son to take root in people’s lives [47:48] But he’s also giving us this truth inside of ourselves [47:51] That every one of us is reaping a harvest

[47:55] Every one of us is sowing and reaping the question is is what are you harvesting in your life?

[48:05] Where are you investing your life?

[48:09] What are you going to reap by what you are sowing?

[48:14] The answer to that will tell you exactly where your faith is right now in this moment

[48:22] We don’t need a new teaching we don’t need a new strategy [48:29] What we need is the gospel of jesus christ

[48:34] The harvest that you need in your life will not be found apart from jesus [48:42] But you will be tempted to go there [48:46] Maybe you’re in here this morning and you’ve come to a realization you say I don’t know if my faith is real

[48:53] Well, if that’s you you are not without hope [48:56] If that’s you this morning the reality of the greatest gift of all time [49:01] Is that jesus desires to give you real faith right here right now that will last forever if you’ll trust him [49:10] If that’s you this morning i’d love to talk to you about it [49:14] Standing right over here there will be some in the foyer outside that would love to spend a minute talking to you praying with you about it

[49:22] But if you’re in here this morning and you’ve trusted jesus and you’re a follower of his and this morning is every sunday [49:28] The way that we respond is through communion [49:32] By drinking the cup and eating the bread that represent the body and blood of jesus [49:38] When we do this what we do is we proclaim our belief [49:44] In jesus [49:45] And this morning in one of the stations around here

[49:49] When you take it [49:52] I want you to realize that what you proclaim in here this morning

[49:59] Needs to be proclaimed outside of these walls every day

[50:03] And if we’re not building that type of life

[50:08] What do we really believe [50:11] When you’re ready