ROM-19-140629 - length: 68:03 - taught on Jun, 29 2014
Class Outline:
Welcome To
BARAH MINISTRIES
a Christian Church
Rory Clark
Pastor-Teacher
Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church…my name is Pastor Rory Clark. Do you make room in your life for the new spiritual things?
In God’s plan, there is always a tearing down before there is a building up. There is always a death before life. This is the present experience of Barah Ministries, its Pastor, and its Congregation. We are experiencing a tearing down, a series of little deaths, so that we’ll be ready for our God’s building up. Things in Barah Ministries are going exactly as they should, and God is clearly at the helm of this ship. In Luke, Chapter 5, Verses 37 to 39 we learn…
“…no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the (old wine)skins and (the wine) will be spilled out, and the (old wine)skins will be ruined.”
“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”
“And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new (wine); for he says, ‘The old (wine) is good enough.’”
How profound are these words. We can’t hear them enough. “Good enough” is the human condition. Human beings often prefer the old to the new. We do not wish for new things. We resist change. We gravitate to the past. We don’t let go of old ideas and old fixations so that God can teach us fresh things in His word. Hosea, Chapter 6, Verse 1 says…
“Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.”
Those who wander from the faith, wander from the Lord, wander from the
Word of God, will be torn to pieces by the savage dogs in the kingdom of darkness. The Lord will allow it. It has happened to all of us at one time or another. The wise among the wanders will gravitate back to the Lord after they have learned the lessons of wandering off alone into the camp of the enemy. So it is with them. So it is with all of us. For who among us has not strayed from the fold? Who among us has not thought of himself as self-sufficient? Who among us has not thought of himself as having a power, on his own, to tackle the likes of sex, and drugs, and alcohol, and the fantasy of sinless perfection in the blindness of self-righteousness only to find ourselves powerless? All of us have experimented with the lifestyles of lasciviousness, religion, legalism, and self-righteousness only to find them empty.
A noted author writes, “It is more than comforting to realize that it is those who have wallowed in the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. The call to shepherd others is not a call given to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished. Without the bitter experiences of their own inadequacy and their own poverty, shepherds of others are quite unfit to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a person who has discovered the depths of his own weakness to be patient with the weaknesses of others. Such a person has a first-hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd, and the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ’s ability to heal the one who has come humbly to trust in the Lord and the Lord alone for all things. Therefore the shepherd looks beyond the sinfulness, the willfulness, the youth, and the stupidity of others, to the might of unchanging, unconditional love and forgiveness. The Lord Jesus Christ did not say, ‘Be a shepherd to My lambs’ and ‘Be a shepherd to My sheep’ at the point of the apostle Peter’s self-confident affirmation of his undying loyalty to Christ. No. The Lord gives the order to shepherd others after Peter has utterly failed to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem at his total inadequacy.”
In Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verses 14 to 21, we learn this…
For the (unconditional) love of Christ controls us (believers in Christ), having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died…
…and the Lord died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for
themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh (external things); even though we have known Christ according to the flesh (on the surface), yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
Therefore if anyone is in (union with) Christ (and all believers are), he is a new creature; the old (self) things passed away; behold, new (self) things have come.
Now all these (new self) things are from God (the Father), who reconciled us (believers in Christ) to Himself through (our union with) Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…
…namely, that God (the Father) was (through) Christ reconciling (all creatures) to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and (God the Father) has committed to us (believers in Christ) the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we (believers in Christ) are ambassadors for Christ, as though God (the Father) were making an appeal through us (because He is); we (believers in Christ) beg you (unbelievers) on behalf of Christ, (please) be reconciled to God.
(God the Father) made (the Lord Jesus Christ) who knew no sin (nature) to be (a) sin (substitute) on our behalf (instead of us), so that we might become the (absolute) righteousness of God in (union with) Him.
Do you make room in your life for the new spiritual things?
I am proud to be the shepherd that God has selected for Barah Ministries, as unworthy and unfit for the task as I am. I am happy to know that God considers me worthy of the honor. I am proud to lead us into the unknown future…the new things. I am honored that the kingdom of darkness considers Barah Ministries and this Pastor a worthy target. I am proud to stand at the front and to take the rocks that are hurled in this direction. I do so for your benefit. We press on with joy in our hearts and a song on our lips.
MUSIC AND REFLECTION
Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ
Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
Oh Happy Day
We begin our service today by worshipping the Lord in song. The opening song encourages us to be happy, knowing that our Lord is in control of all things. Please stand and join June Murphy in singing OH HAPPY DAY.
OH HAPPY DAY
Oh Happy Day…Oh Happy Day…
When Jesus washed…when Jesus washed
When Jesus washed…He washed my sins away
Oh Happy Day…Oh Happy Day…
When Jesus washed…when Jesus washed
When Jesus washed…He washed my sins away
OH HAPPY DAY
He taught me how…to watch…fight and pray…fight and pray
And live rejoicing every day…every day
OH HAPPY DAY
Oh Happy Day…Oh Happy Day…
When Jesus washed…when Jesus washed
When Jesus washed…He washed my sins away
OH HAPPY DAY
When I get to heaven…I’m gonna scream and shout
And ain’t nobody there…gonna be able to put me out
OH HAPPY DAY
Oh Happy Day…Oh Happy Day…
When Jesus washed…when Jesus washed
When Jesus washed…He washed my sins away
OH HAPPY DAY
He taught me how…to watch…fight and pray…fight and pray
And live rejoicing every day…every day
OH HAPPY DAY
Oh Happy Day…Oh Happy Day…
When Jesus washed…when Jesus washed
When Jesus washed…He washed my sins away
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray...
We’re grateful Heavenly Father for the privilege of studying the absolute
truth...the Word of God…
Teach us, through your word, how to abandon the notion that there is something inherently good in us…let us get comfortable with our wretchedness…show us how You provided the way of escape…
We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit...in Christ’s name... Amen.
TODAY’S STUDY
Romans 3
No Flesh is Justified By Law in God’s Sight
To the resident and non-resident members of Barah Ministries, and to our guests who join us from time to time…may God’s grace and peace be with you, both now and to the day of eternity.
Turn in your bibles to Romans, Chapter 3…we are the studying The Consequences of Sin section in Romans, a passage that extends from Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18 to Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 20.
THE BOOK OF ROMANS
The Consequences of Sin
Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20
We conclude our study of this passage with the final two verses. Let’s read Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 19 and 20 together, then let’s see what conclusions we can draw from our study of this entire passage.
<READ ROMANS, CHAPTER 3, VERSES 19 TO 20>
What do these verses convey? Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 19…
Now we (Jews) know that whatever the Mosaic Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Mosaic Law (us Jews), so that every mouth may be closed (silenced) and all the world (both Gentiles and Jews…all creatures) may become (aware that they are) accountable (responsible) to God…
In this passage we have learned that if you have sinned in your lifetime, you can’t stand before God and argue that you’re not a sinner. Nor can you turn to your fellow man and self-righteously condemn his sins as if you are sinless. That was the practice of the Pharisees in condemning the only perfectly righteous One, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the practice of many Christians today, who have no concept of grace in their souls. These ungracious one, however, are convinced they are righteous because of things they do or don’t do…because of things they have or don’t have…the Jews are an example…as are those who pull out their bibles, their religion, their legalism, and whack other people over the head with verses while they are busy violating every provision of graciousness in the bible…busy ignoring the context of biblical thought…turn to Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse1…
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”
“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”
“Why do you (self-righteous ones) look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?”
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly (enough) to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
These ones who talk from behind a mask…the hypocrites…the Jews…the Pharisees…the ones the Lord is talking about here…in fact, among all creatures…there is none righteous, not even one…these can’t see their own flaws but clearly see the flaws of others. Now to Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 20…
…because by (keeping) the works of the Mosaic Law no flesh will be justified in God’s sight (mainly because the only One ever able to keep the Mosaic Law perfectly is Jesus Christ); for through the Mosaic Law comes the knowledge of sin (not the knowledge of righteousness).
Through the Mosaic Law comes the knowledge of sin…not righteousness… Ah! God gave the Mosaic Law to the human race so that the entire human race, all creatures, might know that they are sinners…that they cannot keep the Mosaic Law. All creatures are law-breakers…thus all creatures need a Savior. Sinners are the only ones that need a Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ did not need a Savior…He is the Savior.
Take a five-minute break and we’ll inspect the significance of these verses.
BREAK
Give Me Your Eyes
When I Think About Home
Welcome back! When we reflect on The Consequences of Sin passage in Romans, which extends from Chapter 1, Verse 18 to Chapter 3, Verse 20, two words should come to mind…two words that express two feelings…helplessness and hopelessness. That’s what we all are. We are nothing. Only God can make us into something. That’s why this ministry is called Barah Ministries. That’s what the Hebrew word “bara” means. God makes us nothings into some things. The Lord speaks our righteousness into existence. The Lord speaks our worthiness into existence. The Lord speaks our salvation into existence. The Lord speaks our lives into existence.
One author puts it this way…by studying this passage…
“Awareness of our desperate condition leads us to cry out to God, ‘Is there no alternative to your law? Deliver me from the curse of the law, or I die!’ God answers, ‘For Me, there is no alternative, BUT for you there is an alternative. As the Great Lawgiver, I must abide by the terms of my own law. I must exact the penalty my law demands. But at the same time, I offer you an alternative to my law. I offer you my grace, my pardon, an escape from the law and its penalty.”
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God the Father Almighty and to the Holy Spirit who gives us hope! The author continues…
“This(Consequences of Sin) passage establishes the sinfulness of creatures and the condemnation that results. All creatures are in wrong relationship to God’s laws. The fact of creature guilt raises the problem of justification. How can creatures be justified…be brought back into right relation with God’s laws? Can a person work himself back into a proper relation to this law? Can a person redeem himself? Perhaps with a little extra effort, we can exert ourselves ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ in the Christian life. Is this possible? No way! Every good work we do is owed to God…is required by his law… and therefore cannot be used to pay the debt for sin. WORKS CANNOT JUSTIFY.”
“What possibility is left, then? How can God justify us, or treat us as if we
had never sinned? How can we escape the wrath of God? Does any provision of the law allow a sinner to go unpunished? Can we remain within the framework of law and still be justified? No way! If we are to be justified, we must come outside of the framework of law and into the framework of grace. We must completely exit law, and completely enter grace.”
We are not always willing to do that, are we? A lot of us have one foot in the old and a toe in the new.
Do you make room in your life for the new spiritual things? Luke, Chapter 5, Verses 37 to 39 we learn…
“…no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the (old wine)skins and (the wine) will be spilled out, and the (old wine)skins will be ruined.”
“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”
“And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new (wine); for he says, ‘The old (wine) is good enough.’”
How profound are these words? “Good enough” is the human condition. What is the way out of this dilemma? Christ.
I had two very interesting conversations this week with members of the resident congregation. The matter was doctrine. I’ve heard people who come from Systematic Theology, say numerous times in my life…“I’ve been in the doctrine for thirty years.” The number of years changes but the words do not. “I’ve been in the doctrine.” When I take them to task on this spoken thought, they think I’m being mean, or nitpicky, or semantic…I am not…I wonder if they ever stop to think how big an insult that expression is to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’ve never heard my Systematic Theology friends say, “I’ve been in union with Christ for thirty years.” I wonder why not? Why don’t they say, “I’ve been in Christ” instead of “I’ve been in the doctrine?” It’s the subtlety of deceit. Doctrine and Christ are not the same thing are they? They’re not. Absolutely not! Consider this…
“For God the Father so loved the world (unconditionally), that He gave His doctrine, that whoever believes in it shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
…versus…
“For God the Father so loved the world (unconditionally), that He gave His uniquely born Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that who(so)ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Those aren’t the same are they? How about this?
But I (Paul) am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to doctrine.
…versus…
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
Not exactly correct is it? How about this?
I can do all things through (the doctrine) which strengthens me.
…versus…
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Not exactly correct is it?
Look…I don’t care about semantics. I care about Christ and I care about your spiritual life. Do you make room in your life for the new spiritual things? We don’t make room for the new when we cling so tenaciously to the old. What is the new thing the Lord is teaching you today?
The way out of the Mosaic Law is Christ, not doctrine. There is the Law, and there is Christ. It’s easy for us to forget that it is a Person who saves us…not a concept. The study of the Word of God is not an intellectual pursuit!
The Consequences of Sin passage should bum us out if we’re not interested in looking in the mirror at whom we really are.
Paul wasn’t ready to look at himself in Romans, Chapter 7. Paul thought for a long time that he was the way out of every situation…that he was righteous enough on his own to get out of the sin that so easily entangles us…then finally he realized the real way out…Romans, Chapter 7, Verses 24 and 25…
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Thanks be to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen?
No one will be declared righteous by law. The Lord Jesus Christ provides the way out of a hopeless and helpless condition. The Consequences of Sin passage is a reminder to believers in Christ to abandon the old, works…and to enter the new…grace.
The Promises of the Lord Jesus Christ
Trust in the Lord and do good…
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord…and He will do it.
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in (union with) Christ Jesus.
CLOSING SONG
God’s Property
CLOSING PRAYER
Let us pray...
THANKS
INTERCESSION
PETITION
And we pray that You continue to shape the messages from this pulpit that are a reflection of Your unconditional love, Your Magnificent Person, Your perfect thinking, Your impeccable work, and Your indescribable essence...we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Christ’s name, Amen.
Thanks for coming!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for listening!
www.barahministries.com
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1220 S. Alma School Rd. Suite 201 Mesa, AZ 85210 |
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