Good morning everyone and welcome Home. We are glad to be with you all today. We hope you are all well and blessed by our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Sacramento County is once again coming under changes in status regarding restrictions on meetings etc. I will remind you that there have been varying levels of restrictions on gathering since March of this year. And in the beginning, we closed like everyone else. Our resolve since Pentecost Sunday May 31, 2020 was to remain open and gathering to worship in a free and open format. There have been new guidances in Sacramento County and with that there have been many questions. My response to these questions will be a biblical response.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
It is God who has placed us under human authority, but this is not the first time the people of God have faced adversity in our faith. Acts 4 Peter and John we forced to explain their disobedience to human authorities;
Acts 4:18-20
Acts 4:18-20—Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
God has placed us here in this time and this place to be a beacon of light to a dark world and to bring the hope of salvation that is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to remain His witnesses, telling others about what we have seen and heard about Jesus. We will remain open and we will continue to worship. Now If you’re not well, feel free to join us online, we love you. If you’re not comfortable meeting in person, that’s ok please join us online, we love you. If you come and you choose to wear a mask, that’s great, we love you. If you choose not to wear a mask, that’s ok too, we love you. We provide masks and sanitizer for you and we believe in your competency to manage your healthcare needs as you choose. With that being said, we can pick up where we left off last week
We were reminded that God remains faithful. He is faithful in keeping His promises to us. And He is faithful in keeping His promise to Israel. As Paul has taught us the God has demonstrated His faithfulness to Israel by always preserving a remnant for Himself and God retains grace for His elect (those He has called for salvation). He has the power to keep His people through every season for which He has called us.
My big idea today is to remind us all that God has saved us for our eternity and His glory, but also to model His grace for the salvation of others. My prayer today is that together you and Me as the body of Christ will boast only in Jesus and His love while, we move to fulfil our calling that brings others to Christ If you have your Bibles today will you turn with me to Romans Chapter 11 starting in verse 11.
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
Romans 11:11-24
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
In order to help me share with you today, I have separated my thoughts into 2 sections/points; Let’s take a look at my first point.
God Used Israel To Shine His Light To Us
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
Romans 11:11-12
First things first. Paul was dealing with a specific trend among Gentile Christians in Rome. The Gentile believers were boasting over the Jewish Christians over the perception that God had abandoned Israel. Their boastful pride was attached to a belief that God had replaced Israel in His plan. That in some way, God had traded Israel for the Gentile Church as His Beloved people. Paul Says, “NOT AT ALL!” Paul begins to establish a linier type of thinking as he describes God’s purpose in all of this.
Jewish Rejection>>>Gentile Blessing>>>Jewish Blessing Again
Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
Romans 11:12
It was God’s covenant with Israel that set up their transgression. And in their transgressions, the rejection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Gospel was brought to you and me, the Gentiles. The Gentiles were grafted into a people and a covenant with God. But people like to find reasons to elevate themselves over others. We do that don’t we? Over time and history, we have created a sense of us verses them. They did it in the temple the priestly types viewed themselves as better or more holy.
Today it manifests as the haves and the have nots. In the church, those that have an easier time of concealing their sins usually project some sense of superiority over those who seem to be a mess. In some way we find a way to gloat our salvation or our perceived sanctification over others. I realize that I’m probably just preaching to myself here, Because I know you all are good Christians that would never do anything like that. But just in case you’re like me, we must resist every attempt to exalt ourselves and seek to exalt Jesus instead. We must tear down these self-conscious strongholds, these evil imaginations that will attempt to exalt themselves over the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Remember When the religious leaders of Jesus’ day asked why he ate with sinners and tax collectors…
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:17
We must remember that it was through God’s relationship with Israel that we were grafted in through faith. Our position with Israel should always be with love, prayer, and support.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
Genesis 12:3
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
God Is Using Us To Shine His Light Back To Israel
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Romans 11:13-15
It will be but life from the dead. The spiritual resurrection of Israel. We are called to Love God and Love our neighbor. The very foundation of Jewish thought
The Shema—
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Deuteronomy 6:4-6
We cannot separate our selves from the Old Testament here, Because Christ is visible all the way through. And we must embrace God and His entire word, everything the Hebrew heart holds dear and arouse in them a jealous desire for God. How can we be successful to fulfill our full purpose if we wallow in apostacy and fight among ourselves? This is why the world struggles to see Jesus, Because we, historically, have not done a great job showing people who Jesus is through our love and actions.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35—
God Is Using Us To Shine His Light Back To Israel
Paul uses the dough offering to illustrate that the remnant that God has reserved for himself is the very thing that has kept Israel close to him.
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16
It is this first fruits portion that has kept Israel sanctified in God’s heart. Consider this…
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
1 Corinthians 7:14
In using the olive tree analogy, Paul demonstrates 2 points.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Romans 11:17-21
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
First, is that we Christians must curb any arrogance in our own salvation. We have been given a gracious gift. We should develop a holy fear of God in appreciation and Awe of what He has done on our behalf. Second, the sternness of God on those who fell, and the Kindness of God to each of us. We are not above falling into his wrath, just as Israel fell. God Is Using Us To Shine His Light Back To Israel
Paul’s reference to Life from the dead in this passage is where the rubber meets the road. The same as when our hearts were regenerated. This is really why we see our witness and the sharing of our faith as so crucial. Because of what’s at stake. Life and death. Here’s our call to action: Let’s live our lives here on earth with such love in Christ Jesus that we would arouse a jealous desire in others to seek Jesus Christ.
Would you open our hearts today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late. It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here.
Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me.
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’