Sunday, April 22, 2007

Sitting at Starbucks...Looking over the Sermon

It is amazing what you will learn by just listening to people...and communicating with them. As I am looking over my sermon notes for this morning, my heart is broken for those around me here at Starbucks...those that do not know the risen Savior.

This morning I feel a sense of heartache over the fact that most of these people walking in and out of these doors in front of me...the ones standing behind the bar making drinks...well...they shall never know God. I pray for the opportunity for the open door...began discussions with some already...pray for them...that the Lord may open their hearts and that they may see the Light of the Glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. Sitting here listening to Chris Tomlin sing "How Great is our God" and when he sings...and "All will see...how Great is our God" it reminds me of two types of people.
  • There will be those on that day...who will see How Great God is when they stand before Him in Judgment for their rebellion and stiff-necked refusal to submit to Him as Lord.
  • There will be those for whom Christ took the sting of death upon Himself...and they shall see the Glory of God and will rejoice on that day when they stand with the redeemed and Sing...Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty...who Was...and Is...and Is to Come!!! Praise the Lord
Romans 8 (ESV)

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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