Sermon Central
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Going The Distance With God Series
Contributed by Mark Opperman on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: If we try to make a difference alone without teaming up with other followers of Jesus, our impact will be small. But if we learn to resolve our differences and work together, I believe we will accomplish way more than all of us could do separately. How ca
-We’re tempted to ask what soon means. How soon? If Romans was written around AD 57, then it has been 1,955 years since Paul said “soon.” Well, we know that God’s timing is His own. Psalm 90:4 For you, a thousand years are as yesterday! They are like a few hours! (NLT) All I know is that we need to be faithful and ready! Even if Jesus doesn’t return in my lifetime, He will return! If I go to meet Him before He comes back to this earth, I still want to be following Him and doing what He has called me to do when my time comes!
-So remember, Satan is not in control. God is! Satan will be defeated. He will be a perpetual loser! And those who resist him and trust in God instead will live forever with the Lord.
5. Let the Gospel strengthen and establish you!
Romans 16:25-27 25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
-Paul finishes like he started. In chapter 1, he refers to the gospel 6 times. Here are a couple of them: Romans 1:16-17 16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
-God is able to establish CLC as part of His Church worldwide. And this is only done through the gospel – the good news about Jesus! What is the good news? That we all can have peace with God by confessing Jesus to be the Leader of our lives, and by believing that God raised Him from the dead. We become friends of God, like Abraham, and God declares us to be righteous. This is not because we have acted righteous, but because Jesus provided His righteousness through His death and resurrection.
-We can go the distance for God if we embrace the good news about Jesus. God revealed the good news so that we at CLC might believe and obey Him, and help others do the same!
Close: So, 1. Keep Your Christian Friendships alive and thriving. 2. Watch out for troublemakers! 3. Keep Obeying Jesus with a pure heart! 4. Realize that the enemy’s days are numbered! and 5. Let the Gospel strengthen and establish you!
