LIFE In the Spirit - IV Is This Your Story?

Fanny J. Crosby 1820 - 1915

Even in her childhood, she realized she had a special gift. She often said, “I have a jewel - content.” When only 9 years of age, she wrote:

I am resolved that in this world “O what a happy soul am I, Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t. To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t.”

New York Institute for the Blind Married 1858 Alexander Van Alstyne New York Institute for the Blind

and knew a mother’s love, but the angels came down and 1859 “I became a mother and knew a mother’s love, but the angels came down and took our infant up to God.”

Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe from corroding care, Safe from the world’s temptations; Sin cannot harm me there.

Free from the blight of sorrow, Free from my doubts and fears; Only a few more trials, Only a few more tears!

Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest.

In all Crosby wrote between 5,500 and 9,000 hymns, the exact count obscured by the numerous pseudonyms she used to preserve her modesty. (Between 70 and 120 each year)

“High Water Mark” Various floods Missouri River

Romans 8 is considered to be the “high water mark” of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

We enter this chapter with no condemnation We close with no separation In between all things work together for good to those that love God Source Unknown

Four Facets of Freedom The certainty of Freedom The cause of Freedom The course of this freedom The consequence of freedom

Paul describes three principles related to freedom from defeat : The unsaved do not have the Spirit The truly saved have the Spirit The Spirit has those who are truly saved

In Romans 8:18-30 yearning is expressed Freedom From Yearning In Romans 8:18-30 yearning is expressed by groanings All of nature “groans” Followers of Christ “groan” The Holy Spirit “groans”

Freedom From Fear – No Separation

Freedom From Fear – No Separation God Is For Us Christ Died for Us God Has Justified Us

Freedom From Fear – No Separation Christ Intercedes For Us Christ Loves Us

Freedom From Fear – No Separation God Is For Us

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? Romans 8 (NLT) 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

He called them to come to Him. 30…having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself.

And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? Romans 8 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 

Freedom From Fear – No Separation God Is For Us Christ Died for Us

32 Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

know how to give good gifts to your children, Matthew 7 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Freedom From Fear – No Separation God Is For Us Christ Died for Us God Has Justified Us

No one 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. 

Freedom From Fear – No Separation God Is For Us Christ Died for Us God Has Justified Us Christ Intercedes For Us

34 Who then will condemn us? No one

pleading for us. …for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honour at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Joshua – the high priest Zechariah 3 Joshua – the high priest

Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord.

The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Joshua.

2 And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you.

This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Freedom From Fear – No Separation God Is For Us Christ Died for Us God Has Justified Us Christ Intercedes For Us Christ Loves US

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 

“For your sake we are killed every day; 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

G. Campbell Morgan 1863 - 1945

“…we are reminded of the fact that those who are the people of God are called upon to endure suffering for which there is no explanation at the time,

and certainly none in their own disloyalty and certainly none in their own disloyalty. Such sufferings are part of the high and holy privilege of fellowship with God.”

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced [confident] that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,  neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow— not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 

in the sky above or in the earth below— 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below— indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lake of the Trees Bible Camp

What can take your love away? Nothin', nothin', absolutely nothin'.  What can make us separate? Nothin', nothin', absolutley nothin'.

In death or in life, What's deep or what's high, There's one thing that stays the same. No power or king Can do anything To take your love away.

Nothin', nothin', absolutely nothin'

What Next? Is this your story? Is your heart right with God? Do you know the peace that comes from submission to God?

What Next? Phoebe Palmer Knapp 1839 - 1908

What Next?

“It sounds like Blessed Assurance.” What Next? “It sounds like Blessed Assurance.”

nor powers, nor things present Romans 8 38…I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessed Assurance 345

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song,   Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song,   Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song,   Praising my Saviour all the day long.

immortal, invisible, the only God, 1 Tim. 1:17  To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

LIFE In the Spirit - IV Is This Your Story?