We’re continuing our series, “God With Us,” in which we consider the miracle of God's presence in every moment of our lives. The miracle of Christmas is that God came to us in Jesus Christ. He walked among us, lived among us, and is with us.

Today, we will talk about God with us in our fear. Whenever we face fearful times, God is with us, and his presence reassures us with his promises, empowers us with his strength, and comforts us with his favor.

Yesterday, we had two great men’s and women’s events. The ladies had their annual Secret Sister event, and I could not attend. The ladies have a great time there every year.

Last night, the men had a bowling night, and I was allowed to attend. When you walk in, they give you a pair of bowling shoes, and I don’t want to think about how many people have worn those shoes before. But you stand up at the lane wearing your bowling shoes, and you’re holding your bowling ball, getting ready to throw the ball. You line up your throw, expecting to hit the pins right in this pocket toward the center, where you can knock down all the pins.

In your mind, the ball will go right there and knock down all the pins. But that’s not what happens. You throw the ball, and the ball drifts this way and that way. It’s not what you planned. You meant to knock down all the pins, but now you hope it will hit something.

Sometimes, life is like that. You planned to go one way, but instead, you find yourself going in a completely different direction than what you planned. In bowling, there’s only one direction that you want to go. But in life, sometimes God takes you in a different direction than you planned, and his direction is always better.

But when you’re in those moments and seeing things change, it can be scary. It can be fearful when you are not in control. How can we trust God’s direction in fearful times? We’ll look at this in Luke 1:26-38. If you have your Bibles, please open them there.

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged, to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.' But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.' Mary asked the angel, 'How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?' The angel replied to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.' 'See, I am the Lord’s servant,' said Mary. 'May it happen to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her." Luke 1:26–38

This story is an incredible moment in history. A young teenage girl named Mary receives a message from one of God's angels, Gabriel. The angel Gabriel appears a few times in Scripture. He appears in the book of Daniel, bringing Daniel a message from God in Daniel 8 and Daniel 9. And the other time Gabriel appears in Scripture is here, in Luke 1, where he predicts the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, the husband of Elizabeth, who is Mary’s relative. He then predicts the birth of Jesus to Mary.

While everything around the message from Gabriel to Mary is incredibly astounding and a supernatural miracle, at the heart of what is happening in Luke 1:26-38 is something profoundly human and relatable. In this story, God comforts a young woman who is scared and is facing the unknown.

While her circumstances are incredible, her fear is relatable. What kind of fear is she facing? I will outline four fears she faces, and as you examine them, you will find ones you can relate to.

Fear #1: The Fear of the Unknown

The first kind of fear she is dealing with is the fear of the unknown. 

What must this vision have been like? Mary was minding her business. She was going along in life, engaged to a man, and getting ready to be married. She was planning things out and was probably pretty happy with the engagement. 

Mary is a young teenager, maybe 13 to 15 years old. She is not floating around on a cloud with prayer hands. She is a young woman who's probably pretty obedient to her parents and preparing for her new life as Joseph’s wife.

All of a sudden, this angel appears, and his appearance might give all of us a heart attack. Her life suddenly changes from the life she knows to the appearance of the unknown. This angel and his message were not in the plans. This angel has to tell this young, trembling girl, “Do not be afraid, Mary,” because Mary was facing the fear of the unknown. 

If you’ve ever encountered a brand new situation you were unprepared for, you know the fear of the unknown.

Fear #2: The Fear of Inadequacy

The second kind of fear she is dealing with is the fear of inadequacy. The angel starts describing all these incredible things: that she will conceive, give birth to a son, and name the son Jesus. It goes on that this baby will be the Son of God and reign on David's throne. And she must have been like, "Hold on. You must have taken a wrong turn and are looking for another Mary.” 

She's young, but she still knows at least the basics. There's no way that she's adequate for this. She's not even married yet. She tells the angel, “I haven't even had sexual relations with a man.” She doesn't feel adequate for everything the angel is telling her. 

If you’ve ever been given a role you felt unqualified for, you know the fear of inadequacy.

Fear #3: The Fear of Social Consequences

The third kind of fear she is dealing with is the fear of social consequences. Although this fear is not explicitly stated in the text, it will be the natural result of the angel's message in her life. It's not like the angel Gabriel went to the town square of Nazareth and told everybody, “Just so you guys know, everything is entirely legit here. This is a miracle from God. We don't want anybody spreading rumors.” 

It doesn't say where exactly the angel gave Mary this message, but it seems it's somewhere private. How is Mary going to explain this to her parents? Will she walk up to her parents and say, “See, what happened was there was this angel Gabriel. He told me I'm going to have a baby, and it'll be the Son of the Most High, and he will be a king. So, I’m pregnant.” How is that going to go? Her parents will start looking for this fellow, Gabriel, to have a good heart-to-heart conversation.

If you ever faced being judged unfairly because people didn’t understand what you were going through, you know the fear of social consequences.

Fear #4: The Fear of Change

The fourth fear she is dealing with is the fear of change. Mary's life is about to change radically. Mary was already preparing for change. She's engaged to Joseph, so she's preparing for the joys and challenges of married life, maybe thinking about kids and their new home. But that change is nothing compared to this!

Mary's life is about to change from a typical path for a young woman preparing for marriage to the extraordinary path of being the wife of Joseph and the mother of the Son of the Most High. Her life will never be the same again.

If you've ever experienced a moment when life takes an unexpected turn and realized that things will never be the same, you know the fear of change.

Mary's fears are deeply relatable. Whether you're dealing with the fear of the unknown, the fear of being inadequate, worrying about what others think, or anxiety about change, we've all faced these fears at some point.

What's incredible about this story is not Mary's fear. It's how God works in her life in the middle of her fear. I want to show you three ways in which God's presence draws Mary out of her fear, and I hope these three things will encourage you to seek God's presence when you are experiencing fear.

The first thing we see in this story about fear is this:

I. In Fearful Times, God’s Promises Reassure Us

If you've got a picture in your mind of a young Jewish teenage girl named Mary, you can start picturing how this young girl would be trembling with fear, her hands shaking as she looks up and sees an incredible angelic figure giving her a message from God. I don't know how I would take this, a guy in my forties, much less a young teenage girl named Mary.

To draw Mary out of her fear, God’s message starts with his promises to her about his presence and his favor. Listen to how the message to Mary begins in Luke 1:28:

"And the angel came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.'” Luke 1:28

Mary, you are about to face some challenging times. There is going to be an incredible change in your life. Life is never going to be the same. But God’s promise to you is this: In all you are about to face, you are not doing it alone. The Lord is with you.

Mary, the Lord is with you because God promises that he favors you. Listen to how God is drawing Mary out of her fear by his promise of favor toward her. In Luke 1:30:

Then the angel told her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.'" Luke 1:30

What Does It Mean to Have Favor with God?

The word translated “favor” here is the Greek word χάρις (charis). This word is in the New Testament a lot. This word is translated ten times in the New Testament as “favor,” but most of the time, it’s translated as “grace.” So, another way to look at Luke 1:30 is as if the angel is saying, “Mary, you don't have to be afraid because the grace of God is upon you.” 

The promise of God's grace is a reason not to fear. When you're reading this story of Mary, realize that the promise of God's favor to her is a promise of God's favor to all of his children. God is no respecter of persons. He gives his grace freely to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. So, as a Christian, you don't have to be afraid when fearful times happen in your life because God’s grace is upon you.

The grace of God upon a Christian could be an entire series of sermons on its own, but I'll point out these verses for us in Romans 5:1-2:

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1–2

Notice his words there when he says, “This grace in which we stand.”

• Christian, when you are having a hard day, there is still a grace in which you stand.
• When you’ve fallen and messed up, there is still a grace in which you stand.
• When it feels like the world is falling apart, there is still a grace in which you stand.

God's promise of grace to Christians means we will stand because of Jesus Christ no matter what we face. In fearful times, God’s promises reassure us.

One of the fun things I did as a dad was teach both of my boys how to ride bicycles. I remember buying this awesome orange bike for one of my boys, which came with training wheels. It’s scary to take those training wheels off for your child because you know they’ll probably fall. I remember coaching my son, “Just keep looking forward!” My boys did fall, but they knew I was there to help them get back up each time they fell.

Just as I was there to help my boys when they fell, God's grace is there for us when we face life's fears because of his presence. God is with us in our fear. Christians always stand in his grace, no matter what. No matter our fears, God’s promises reassure us.

The second thing we see in this story about fear is this:

II. In Fearful Times, God’s Power Enables Us

Mary's eyes must have been bulging as she listened to what the angel told her. It starts with the angel telling her: 

• You will conceive and give birth to a son. 
• You will name him Jesus.

Her response shows that this is already too much for her young, teenage brain to handle. She can’t figure out how this will happen because she’s not married yet.

But the rest of this gets better. Who this baby will be gets bigger and bigger and bigger.

• He will be great.
• He will be called the Son of the Most High.
• The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David.
• He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
• His kingdom will have no end.

This is where Mary has to say, “Pause. Listen, some natural things need to take place for this to happen. I haven't even had sexual relations with a man yet. What are you talking about? How can this be?”

I want you to see that when you can’t figure out how God will get you through something, God will continually point you back to his power. Look at God’s message to Mary in Luke 1:35-37.

"The angel replied to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.'” Luke 1:35–37

In this passage, I want you to see three ways God enables us to trust him in fearful times. He does this by pointing to his power, giving examples, and reminding us that his power has no limits.

First,

A. God Enables Us to Trust Him by Pointing to His Power

Many times, we're like Mary. We look at a challenging situation with natural eyes and list all the possible natural solutions. When we run out of natural solutions, we say, “God, how in the world will you get me through this?” As Mary does in her question to the angel, we treat God as if our limits are his limits.

God responds by pointing to the power of his presence. He tells her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” The fact that the Holy Spirit is with any of us is an absolute, supernatural miracle from God. Today, the Holy Spirit continues to convict people of their sins and change their lives through faith in Jesus Christ. Every man, woman, or child saved by the supernatural power of God is an ongoing witness of God's miraculous power in the world. When the Holy Spirit abides in a person, his powerful presence in their life enables them to overcome fearful times.

God also tells her, “The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” This picture here that the angel gives Mary has profound biblical significance. The word for “overshadow” means to “cast a shadow over” or “to envelope.” This word is used in two other places in the New Testament (Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34) where a cloud overshadows the disciples, and they hear from God.

In the Old Testament, God would show his presence with his people through a cloud enveloping or overshadowing the Tabernacle. You see this in Exodus 40:34,

"The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." Exodus 40:34

By telling Mary that the power of the Most High will overshadow you, God is saying, “Mary, you can trust me to get you through this because my presence is with you, and my glory will fill you. You don’t need a natural solution. You need the presence of my glory to fill you.”

When you give your life to Christ, the presence of his glory will fill you. He does this by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables you to overcome fearful times. 

Second,

B. God Enables Us to Trust Him by Providing An Example of His Power at Work

When you need to trust God in a fearful time, God will point you to how his power is at work in others to remind you that he is mighty to get you through what you are facing. That’s precisely what God does with Mary in Luke 1:36.

God points Mary to her relative, Elizabeth. He says, “Do you need an example of my power? Look at Elizabeth.” There are no natural solutions to explain Elizabeth. We don’t like to call ladies “old” here, but describing her as “old” in this text is biblically correct. It says, “She has conceived a son in her old age.” God uses her miraculous pregnancy as a tangible example of his power at work.

God tells Mary, “Mary, I'm already doing miracles in the world that are above and beyond your expectations. You can see it in your own family. Don't you believe that I would do the same for you?”

God does the same for us, too. When you’re struggling to trust God in a fearful time, he’ll show you the example of how he worked in someone in your family, someone in the church, someone in Scripture, and tell you, “Don’t you believe that I have the power to do the same in your life?”

Third,

C. God Enables Us to Trust Him by Reminding Us His Power Knows No Limits

Not only does God remind us of his power and give us examples of his power at work, but he also reminds us that his power is strong enough to get us through the most impossible situations. 

Listen to the message the angel gives Mary in Luke 1:37: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” When we see the impossible, God sees an opportunity for us to see the impossible with man as possible with God.

We need to believe that God can do the impossible—not only believe it but embrace it. It's one thing to believe theoretically that God can do the impossible. It's another to have a heartfelt conviction in your soul that, even though I don't know how God will do it, he will heal and save.

Facing an impossible situation is only possible when you believe in God’s power to do the impossible.

God’s power to do the impossible is the story of Israel. Picture the people of Israel—men, women, and children—standing before a huge sea. They’ve just been saved from slavery in Egypt, but now the Egyptians are coming to get them. They're stuck, trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea. The Egyptians have them cornered. This looks impossible. But listen to what Moses said to the people in Exodus 14:13 “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.” God didn’t need natural solutions. He parted the sea and created a path where none existed.

Just like Moses told the Israelites, we must often hear the message: “Don't be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord's salvation, which he will accomplish today.” We serve the same God, who has already accomplished the impossible in Jesus Christ. When you face fearful times, will you stand firm and wait for the Lord’s salvation? May that be true for us.

Last,

III. In Fearful Times, God’s Favor Comforts Us

This story shows a woman who goes from fear to faith, embracing God's grace. Remember where she is in the beginning—a woman trembling, where God has to say, “Don't be afraid!” Verse 29 says she was “deeply troubled” by what she heard. She struggles to grasp faith as she tries to understand God’s work.

But after she has been reassured by God’s promises and enabled to trust God’s power, she rests in the grace of God. Luke 1:38 shows us the comfort of the grace of God in her life. It says,

“'See, I am the Lord’s servant,' said Mary. 'May it happen to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her." Luke 1:38 

God's grace is the most comforting thing in the world for a human being. When we learn to embrace the grace of God, the natural result is a life of service to the Lord. 

• There is nothing better than the grace of God. 
• There is nothing more fulfilling than the grace of God. 
• There's nothing in all the Earth that will ever affect your life like the grace of God.

And when you learn of the grace of God, it causes you to say, “God, may it happen to me, as you have said.” There is rest and comfort in the grace of God because God’s grace is only available in Jesus Christ. He says in Matthew 11:28-29,

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28–29 

Do you need rest for your soul today? Maybe you're facing a fearful time and can’t figure things out. In that case, you must embrace God's grace in Jesus Christ and find rest for your soul.

Conclusion

This incredible story of Mary shows us that God is with us in our fear, and he helps us overcome our fear. God doesn’t leave us in the fear of inadequacy, fear of consequences, or the fear of change. Instead,

• His promises reassure us that we are never alone and that His grace is always upon us.
• His power enables us, showing us that nothing is impossible with God, no matter how overwhelming our circumstances may seem.
• His favor comforts us, offering rest and peace as we embrace His grace and trust His plan.

When you are facing a fearful time, trust in Jesus' plan, believe in his promises, rest in his power, and trust in his grace. All of that begins with faith in Jesus. Maybe you need to surrender something to him. Trust Jesus, and find rest for your soul.

Sermon Reflection Questions

1. What is the sermon's big idea regarding God's presence in times of fear?
2. How does the story of Mary demonstrate the theme of facing fear?
3. What four types of fears does Mary experience?
4. What reassurance does God provide to Mary in her moment of fear?
5. How can we trust God's direction during fearful times?

Preached on Sunday, 12/15/2024, at Catalyst Church San Diego. Click here to hear the sermon.

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." Hebrews 4:14–16

1. Jesus is Our Great High Priest

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession." Hebrews 4:14

What Does It Mean That Jesus Is Our Great High Priest?

"Engrave the two stones with the names of Israel’s sons as a gem cutter engraves a seal. Mount them, surrounded with gold filigree settings. Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will carry their names on his two shoulders before the LORD as a reminder." Exodus 28:11–12

"It will be on Aaron’s forehead so that Aaron may bear the guilt connected with the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate as all their holy gifts. It is always to be on his forehead, so that they may find acceptance with the LORD." Exodus 28:38

"Then Moses said to Aaron, 'Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded.'” Leviticus 9:7

Why Is Jesus a Greater High Priest?

"He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth" 1 Peter 2:22

"You know that he was revealed so that he might take away sins, and there is no sin in him." 1 John 3:5

"He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

2. Jesus Understands Our Weakness

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15

Categories of Temptation

"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world." 1 John 2:16

A. The Lust of the Flesh

"He answered, 'It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4

B. The Lust of the Eyes

"Then Jesus told him, 'Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” Matthew 4:10

C. The Pride in One’s Possessions

"Jesus told him, 'It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.'” Matthew 4:7

Why Is It Important That Jesus Was Tempted in Every Way?

3. Draw Near to the Throne of Grace

"Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

“All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty—unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last thirty days.” Esther 4:11

• We approached the throne of Grace through faith.
• We approach the throne of God's grace in his word.
• We approach the throne of God's grace through prayer.

Sermon Reflection Questions

1. What is the overall message of the sermon regarding God’s presence in our weakness?
2. What categories of temptation are discussed concerning Jesus' understanding of human weakness?
3. Why might people feel distant from God in times of weakness?
4. Why is it significant that we can approach God’s throne as a throne of grace rather than judgment?
5. How can we apply the sermon’s message about our weaknesses and Jesus’s empathy in our daily lives?

We're in the last sermon of our sermon series, "A Praying Church." This series has been interesting as we've examined various aspects of prayer, including waiting on God in expectant prayer, prioritizing God in prayer, and prayer leadership in the church. Today, as we finish our series, we will examine prayer and thanksgiving.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and this holiday is a timely reminder of the importance of a thankful heart. For Christians, gratitude is about praising God for what he has done. Today, we will look at how God uses our thanksgiving and praise to bring deliverance, joy, and salvation to others. Thanksgiving and praise to God is not just for us. God will use your heart of thanksgiving and praise in the life of others.  

It's hard to be thankful during challenges. It's a lot easier to complain. I remember when my wife and I moved to San Diego. I had left a good job in New York and assumed I would easily find another one when I arrived. Of course, I moved during a recession, and I soon found out that my good job in New York didn't mean what I thought it might mean here.

Months went by, and as we know, living in beautiful San Diego simply on your savings is not a good idea. Our savings dried up quickly. As I looked at our bank account continuing to go down, I tried to reconcile reality with my faith. We believe in the rapture, and there were a few days right before the rent was due when I would pray, "God, a rapture would be good right now." In those moments, it was easier to complain than to be thankful.

Today, I look back at those times and see how God got me and my family through it, and I am thankful. But can we be grateful in the middle of hardship?

Today, we will examine the story of Paul and Silas in prison, two men who chose praise during hardship. Open up your Bibles to Acts 16:25-34.

"About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, "Don't harm yourself, because we're all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. He escorted them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away, he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household." Acts 16:25–34

Paul and Silas were in a difficult situation. In Acts 16:25, they sit in a prison cell "praying and singing hymns to God." But to appreciate what they're going through, you must understand what got them there. Acts 16:16-24 tells us what got them into prison. Acts 16:16 says,

"Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling." Acts 16:16

Paul and Silas were on their way to prayer. Prayer was a destination, a time of gathering with others to pray. Interestingly, the enemy got involved as they took a step of faith to pray with others. When you are taking steps of obedience to Christ, expect opposition.

A young girl who was possessed by a demonic spirit started following them around the city, saying that Paul and Silas were "proclaiming the way of salvation and were servants of the Most High God." It says in verse 18 that she did this for many days.

Now, as you can imagine, sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it. This girl had been disruptive, so Paul finally had enough. He turns to her and commands the demon to come out! He says in Acts 16:18, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And the demon left. It was gone.

This girl was enslaved, and her owners used her to make a lot of money. Her owners were mad once they realized her skills were gone and the profit was gone. So they dragged Paul and Silas out to the authorities and started accusing them of various crimes. The crowd joined in, and so the authorities began stripping off the clothes of Paul and Silas and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

And they got beaten. Whack! They started hitting their backs and sides with the rods. It says in Acts 16:23,

"After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully." Acts 16:23

They beat Paul and Silas many times. After they beat them with rods, they threw them in jail like dogs, put them in chains, secured their feet so Paul and Silas couldn't move, and left them there until they could figure out what to do with them.

You can imagine, after all of that, Paul and Silas could've felt like they had every reason to complain. They were just on their way to prayer. They were on a mission, doing the work of the Lord, and this is what they got—an unjust prison sentence for doing a nice thing for a slave girl.

But complaining is a mindset. It is natural to complain in a hard situation because none of us feels like we should be in hardship. But Paul and Silas do something different. They do what it says in James 1:2-4, where James says,

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2–4

In the middle of the trial (or hardship), Paul and Silas's trust in God was having its full effect on their spirits. Enduring trials as a child of God has an effect that allows one to do something other than complain. Paul and Silas chose praise in hardship.

That brings us to our first point. As Christians, we can,

1. Choose Praise in Hardship

Look at how Paul and Silas chose praise in hardship in Acts 16:25,

"About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25

Choosing praise amid hardship is an act of faith. Prayer is a way of realigning our thoughts with God's thoughts. When you stop focusing on your circumstances and instead on who God is, you praise God. You see this all over the Psalms. In many of the psalms, the psalmist will go from focusing on his circumstances to ending in praise to God.

For instance, you see this in Psalm 42:11, where he ends the psalm by saying,  

"Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:11

You can feel the psalmist talking to his soul as he thinks about God and says, "I will still praise him." Prayer is a way for us to choose praise in hardship because we will praise God as we think about him.

I love how Paul and Silas praised God by singing hymns. I don't know what they sang. They didn't have K-Love radio or the Baptist hymnal, but they praised God through hymns. Singing hymns to God is biblical. Many times, during our Sunday worship services, I find myself in a state of prayer. You can use the songs during worship as a time of prayer and praise to God.

Remember that choosing to praise God in hardship is choosing thanksgiving. Despite whatever is happening around us, as we shift our minds to God, hardship starts to move into the background. Suddenly, even though we don't understand what is in front of us, we trust God, who is behind the scenes and in control.

In the book of Philippians, Paul is sitting in another jail cell later in his life. He writes this letter to the church in Philippi, the same area where we are in Acts 16. He writes these words in Philippians 4:6-7,

"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6–7

He says, "Don't worry about anything." I did a deep dive on "anything," which means "nobody, nobody at all, nothing, nothing at all, in no way." In other words, don't worry about anything.

"But in everything," in every way, as we consider our mindset before the Lord, he gives us two things. The first is the method of approaching everything: "through prayer." This verse shows why we've spent two months discussing prayer: prayer must affect everything as we move forward as a church.

The second is the attitude of the approach: "petition with thanksgiving." Petition God, seek him in prayer, but bathe those prayers with thanksgiving. Once we understand the approach and the attitude, "present your requests to God."

Why would we want to bathe every request to God with thanksgiving? We do that because we trust in God. We trust the promises of God in Romans 8:28,

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

So we pray prayers like, "God, I am going through this hardship, and I pray that you will deliver me from this, but even if you don't, I will praise you. I will thank you through this trial because I know you are working all things for my good." When we choose thanksgiving, even in hardship, we trust God's promises because he is bigger than our hardships.

Paul understood hardship and tells us what got him through: "the peace of God." As the Holy Spirit inspired him, there is a promise for you from God: a heart of prayer and thanksgiving is a peaceful heart and a peaceful mind because "the peace of God... will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Choosing praise in hardship is not easy, but it is always worth it.

Mental health techniques often reflect what Scripture taught thousands of years ago. Gratitude is a technique used in behavioral health to help people realign their thinking. Mental health experts suggest that people should complete gratitude journals, writing down 3 to 5 things they're grateful for daily. They might have you write a gratitude letter to someone who impacted your life. One fun suggestion is to create a gratitude jar, where you write down something you're grateful for on a piece of paper, and over time, this gratitude jar starts to overflow with all of the things you're thankful for. You can remind yourself any time of what you're grateful for by looking at a paper in your gratitude jar.

In the same way, when you approach everything through prayer and thanksgiving, you start to grow that gratitude jar with the Lord. And when the hardship comes, you can pull from the gratitude jar of your prayers and say, "Thank you, God. I will praise you in the hardship because I know how good you are to me."   

As we choose to praise God in hardship, God will use that because,

2. God Responds to Praise

How does God respond when his people choose praise and thanksgiving in hardship? Acts 16 shows us that God responds in a big way. Look at Acts 16:26,

"Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose." Acts 16:26

As God intervened, the jail was shaken divinely. In verse 26, there's something special to notice about God's work. Freedom affected everyone in the prison, not just Paul and Silas. In the same way, when you choose praise in hardship, it's not just for you. It's for everyone around you.

Let me help you understand. When Paul and Silas chose praise in hardship, they trusted God's purposes over their own. When we complain, we focus on our purposes, not God's.

• God, I can't be sick because people need me.
• God, I can't be without money because I need to provide.
• God, I must be in control because my purposes are essential.

That's not choosing praise in hardship. Praise in hardship is trusting God's purposes over our own. Paul and Silas didn't know God's purpose during their hardship. They just trusted that God had a greater purpose in mind. As it says in Ephesians 3:20, God is "able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us."

What's happening in Acts 16:25-34? God is using the prayers and praise of his people to bring deliverance, joy, and salvation to others.

As the foundation of this jail shakes, the scene shifts to the jailer. Now, the jailer is the kind of guy who assumes the worst. Do you know that person who, when a situation arises, believes that the worst outcome is about to happen? That's the jailer.

The prison shakes, all the doors are open, everyone's chains come loose, and the jailer wakes up to his worst nightmare. All he knows is there's been an earthquake, the doors are open, and that must mean everyone has escaped. As a jailer, this was the worst thing that could ever happen to him.

Now, I don't know if he was depressed before this, but this was too much. It would be better to take his own life than to experience what would come next. Maybe he didn't want to deal with the shame. Perhaps he would face execution.

In either case, he reaches for his sword and gets ready to take his own life when he hears a voice: "Don't harm yourself. We're all here!"

He can't believe it. There's no way. He lights up a torch and starts looking around, and through the light in the dark, he can see every face still there.

And the two who were praising God, the two whose God just released them and everyone around them from their chains, with their backs still blood-stained from all the beating, had enough love in them to tell their enemy, "Don't harm yourself. We're still here!"

I wonder, as they were praying and singing hymns in the jail, were they praying for the jailer? As the Lord said in Matthew 5:44,

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" Matthew 5:44

I don't know what their prayers were. But they could've let the jailer take his own life. It would have made an easier escape. But love knows that your enemy needs Jesus.

This love was too much for the jailer. He's overwhelmed and falls before Paul and Silas, trembling, and he says to them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And then you get this verse in Acts 16:31,

"They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'" Acts 16:31

Now, look at God's purposes. Paul and Silas chose praise in hardship because they trusted in God's purposes. Now, the chains of all the prisoners are gone, and the jailer and his whole family are coming to Christ.

We may not always understand what we are going through, but we can trust that God's purposes are good.

Something about testing, trials, and tragedy tends to bring people to Christ. There's something about desperate moments when we are brought to our knees and realize how fragile and needful we are for God. God's purposes brought a jailer and his whole family to Jesus.

God still uses testing, trials, and tragedy to bring people closer to faith. Christian singer Jeremy Camp often shares his testimony about his wife, Melissa. They were engaged to be married, and he found out that she had cancer. They pushed on with the marriage, believing God would get them through it. After the marriage, the doctor told them that the cancer spread throughout her body. After she had passed, Jeremy stated God prompted his heart to worship him. After losing his wife, he wrote a song titled "I Still Believe." The song says, "I still believe in Your faithfulness, I still believe in Your truth. I still believe in Your holy word. Even when I don't see, I still believe."

God calls us to believe in his bigger purpose even when we don't see it. God calls us to believe in his faithfulness and his truth. Believing is trusting God. It is choosing to praise God even in hardship.

There is an incredible testimony that you leave for others when you choose to praise God in hardship. That leads to our third point,

3. Praise and Thanksgiving Is a Witness to Others

The testimony of Paul and Silas, who praised and worshiped God despite hardship, was such a powerful witness that the jailer brought the whole family to hear the gospel.

It says in Acts 16:32-33,

"And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized." Acts 16:32–33

God used Paul and Silas's prayers and praise to bring deliverance, joy, and salvation to the jailer and his whole family.

Now, each person in his household had to hear and believe the gospel for themselves. The jailer's faith doesn't save his wife. His wife has to believe in Christ for herself—the same with the kids.

But picture what's happening. You can picture the jailer coming in with excitement. "Wife! Family! You've got to hear this good news. These men have come to tell us about God, and God works through these men. Listen to them!" This excitement and transformation within the jailer is an incredible testimony to his family.

The whole family sits down and hears the gospel. They learn that God sent his only Son to earth, that he lived a perfect life, that he died on the cross for the sins of the world, and that he was resurrected from the dead. They learn that if they believe in Jesus, they can be saved from their sins and set free in him.

And one by one, each family member says, "I believe. I believe in Jesus. I want to follow Jesus Christ with my life." And what was their first step of obedience in following Jesus Christ? Acts 16:33 says, "Right away he and all his family were baptized."

The Lord Jesus Christ gave the church two things, sometimes called sacraments. Both are symbolic actions of a spiritual reality.

• The Lord gave his church communion to remind us of his sacrifice for us on the cross.
• The Lord also modeled for us water baptism and gave baptism as a command to his church.

He says in Matthew 28:19,

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matthew 28:19

And this is precisely what the church does. Peter, in Acts 2 on Pentecost, preaches the gospel to thousands of people. Like the jailer in Acts 16, the people in Acts 2 ask Peter and the apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter says this in Acts 2:38,

"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 2:38

There is a repentance, a belief in Jesus Christ, in the heart. Salvation is a spiritual work within you that comes by faith alone through God's grace. Baptism is the working out of that faith in Jesus Christ already present within the believer.

Baptism symbolizes spiritual truth. I have a new life in Jesus and want to follow him. The first step is to trust his word. 

Baptism also symbolizes Jesus's death and resurrection. Where do I get this? You can see this in Romans 6:3-5,

"Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection." Romans 6:3–5

Baptism then aligns us with Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Just as Jesus was buried in the tomb and rose again, we are baptized into his death and resurrected in him. As believers in Jesus Christ, we now walk in the newness of life.

Usually, I would have to give a sermon illustration to illustrate what that looks like. Today, I don't have to. Right after church today, you'll see believers in Jesus taking their first step of obedience by proclaiming their faith in Jesus through water baptism. Nothing is more encouraging than witnessing the newness of life in people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. One truth has remained constant over and over: Jesus changes lives. He is the only one with the power to do so.

Conclusion

Everyone getting baptized today has told me something similar: Someone in their life led them to Jesus Christ. Why is that important? It reminds us of what we see in Acts 16: God uses the prayer and praise of his people to bring deliverance, joy, and salvation to others.

As we finish this sermon series, A Praying Church, we remember that we need to be a praying and thankful church. When you cultivate thanksgiving in your prayers, you prepare yourself to be grateful in the hard times. When we choose thanksgiving, we allow God to use our testimony to bring others to Jesus.

As we enter into a week of Thanksgiving, let's remember the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Find something to be thankful for every day this week. Let your thanksgiving be a witness to the world of Christ's power in your life. Let us be a church that is thankful to God in everything, trusting that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

This sermon was preached on Sunday, 11/24/2024, at Catalyst Church San Diego. Click here to hear the sermon.

The North American Mission Board Replant team asked me to record a video clip for their upcoming Replant Summit in Alpharetta, Georgia. This year's theme is "Reframing Conflict," as seen in Romans 12:18. The clip will play to an audience of pastors and church leaders during one of their worship sessions.

Interestingly, I'm preaching on this same section of Scripture this Sunday. Here is the clip that I sent to NAMB for their conference.

"For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin." Psalm 1:6

Construction workers closed my street to traffic. It is inconvenient for those who need to drive down the street. But if one were to break the barrier of the street closure and plow ahead, they wouldn't get far. There is an enormous hole in the middle of the street. The street closure is for the public good. It prevents cars from falling into the large hole.

Similarly, God has set up barriers in life for our good. God wants us to be aware and obedient to the warnings along the path. Those barriers are for our protection and spiritual health. He has lit up the path and given us clear instructions through his word. He is watchful and present, constantly aware of our direction. 

The Bible describes the path of people in two ways: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. The way of the wicked is like those plowing straight through the street closure, heading toward the ditch. There is no awareness of God's presence or his barriers. The world is spiritually blind toward its poisoned path and destruction that lies ahead.

The cross is the most outstanding example of God's awareness of our condition. God has made the way of the righteous available to humanity through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is the starting point of a course correction to heaven. 

But God has not called Christians to wander along the pathway as if they are still blind. He calls Christians to live empowered by the Holy Spirit, dependent on him for strength and instruction. Christians should live with intentionality and clear vision. The Bible describes one who focuses his mind and heart on God's instruction as "like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in season" (Psalm 1:3). When you meditate on God's word and instruction for your life, there will be fruit in due time.

God's awareness of our present condition is comforting for Christians. Meditate on God's watchfulness, being aware that he is always present. Our sins and our struggles are laid bare before him. Live a surrendered life today, dependent on his grace, mercy, and protection.

Introduction

In Romans 8, Paul describes the power and impact of the Holy Spirit on the Christian life. He reminds us there is no condemnation if you are in Christ and tells Christians to set their minds on the Spirit. He tells us that as we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf, and God is working all things together for the good, that we should be men and women conformed to the image of his Son. God is ultimately bringing us to a place where we will behold the glory of Christ, our Savior. 

Romans 8:31–39 summarizes all of this together in one package, saying to the Christian, "Christian, if God is working all these things together for us, why do you worry?" His point is that Christians don't need to be people who worry because God is for us.

Today, there's an endless list of things to worry about. You're worried because your dollar doesn't stretch as much as it used to. You're worried you won't make it this month financially. You may worry about your marriage or kids. Maybe you're worried about the world your kids will grow up in. You're concerned about their education and their future.

And if big things aren't enough for you, we're good at creating worry about many little things. We're worried about what people think of us. I heard someone say you wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you knew how little they do. You may worry you've got something stuck in your teeth. Maybe you're worried that when you go to the supermarket, you'll get that shopping cart that gets stuck or starts veering off to one side. You may worry your phone won't have enough battery today. You want to say hello to that new person at church but fear you won't remember their name. You would hang out for fellowship after church, but you're worried about making small talk. We are good at inventing things to worry about.

What happens when you worry? It starts with an external or internal stimulus triggering a thought. The problem today is the amount of information constantly coming at us, creating an environment where the potential for worry increases exponentially. We need to be careful with what we give our attention to.

When a worrisome thought occurs, scientists say there is a part of the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala acts like an alert system for the body. The thought triggers the amygdala to alarm, and the body reacts physically. This is where you get overwhelmed with anxiety and fear because of the worrisome thought. It's incredible how our minds and our bodies are so intertwined together.

I like what one person said about worry. He says, "When we worry, we believe more in our problems than in God's promises." But it's so easy for us to get caught up in worry and fear. How can we move from believing in our problems to believing that God's promises are greater than our problems? Let's open our Bibles to Romans 8, starting in verse 31.

Remember that Paul has just told us that God is working all things together for our good, that he's conforming us to the image of his Son, and that he is bringing us to a day where we will behold his glory. Then, we get to verse 31.

"What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31–39 CSB

The audience for Romans 8:31–39 is Christians. In verse 33, he describes us as God's elect. We're not going to get into a whole conversation on election. For our purposes in this text, if you are someone in Christ, meaning if at the end of the day when you stand before the Lord, God identifies you as someone in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Jesus knows you, then brother or sister, you are God's elect.

Sometimes, we can get into our denominational beliefs when discussing Christianity and the church. But really, what matters at the end of the day is that when you stand before the Lord, does he know you? That's the church that matters. Are you one of God's elect?

The point of all that he is saying in verses 31 to 39 is that today if you are in Christ, you have everything you need. Why do you worry?

Christians should not worry because God is on our side.

We start in Romans 8:31, where he says, "What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" Think of all the people who have had to trust God in difficult circumstances.

Abram, who later became Abraham, had to trust God even though he couldn't see how God could fulfill his promises. In Genesis 15:1, "After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great." The Lord had promised Abram a child, but Abram was childless, and he and his wife were both getting old. It seemed like an impossible situation.

But God answered Abram regarding his promises. How could he prove to Abram that his promises were accurate and truthful? His promises are based on who he is: "I am your shield." The God who brought the world into existence is your shield, and God is on your side. No one can take anything away from you because God is on your side.

Look at David, a man who, time and time again, was up against forces that seemed too powerful for him. He was a young man with rocks and a sling, standing before a giant in full armor. In his life, he had to deal with the king of Israel chasing after him to take away his life. I love what David says in Psalm 27:1–3,

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread? When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident." Psalm 27:1–3 CSB

What is his confidence based on? He sets his confidence on the fact that he's seen God move impossible things before, and he knows that no matter what comes against him, there is a stronghold, a defense, a shelter, a shield in his life that is stronger than anything coming against him.

He has the best defense in the universe. Why should he be afraid? Why should he worry? He knows in his mind and heart that no one so powerful on the outside can cause anything within him to go on red alert. He is confident because there is a stronghold, a shelter, a shield in his life that is more powerful than anything he faces. God is on his side.

He's not worried about enemies. He serves the God who conquers his enemies. He's not concerned about armies coming against him. He serves the Lord of Armies.

Remember, the God who was the shield in Abraham's life and the stronghold in David's life is the same God you serve. There's a defense, a shield that is covering you. And if you are in Christ today, God is for you. No one in the world can come against you. God is on your side.

When I was in the police department, we would show up for roll call right before patrol. Police officers would stand in line, and the sergeant would give us our daily assignments. One of the things they would tell you is that, no matter what happened on patrol, make sure you go home at night to your family. You were going out into a world where people hated you because of your uniform. 

However, as I became a Christian, I had a different perspective on the dangers of my job. I realized something. I would say this to myself: "I am invincible until God decides to take me home." Because we serve a God who is more powerful than our enemies, we are invincible until God decides to take us home.

Christians should not worry because God provides all we need.

In Romans 8:32, Paul gets into his next rhetorical question by telling us to look at what God has done for us already. He says, "He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?" I became interested in the word "everything," where he says, "Grant us everything." My skeptical brain said, "Okay, what is Paul really saying here? What's the fine print? What does he mean by everything?" So I looked it up. The Greek word translated as "everything" means "each, every, any; any and every, every; all; every kind of, all sorts of." It means everything.

In Romans 8:33, "Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the one who justifies." God has justified you in Jesus Christ. He has given his Son for you. God has not spared his Son but gave him up for us. He will grant us everything, so you have all you need in Christ. 

Since all of that is true, who will bring anything against you? Who's going to accuse you of anything? Because there's no condemnation for those in Christ. Often, we're the ones who want to blame ourselves and condemn ourselves for things. But God doesn't look at you as someone he accuses. God looks at us as someone that he has already justified in Christ. Our sins are on the cross, past, present, and future. Nothing is coming against you. So, why are you worried?

In Romans 8:34, "Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us." Earlier in Romans 8:26–27, we've already seen that the Holy Spirit intercedes for God's people through our prayers. Here, he describes Christ interceding for us on our behalf. The point is that God is on our side. God looks after his children. He didn't justify you to walk away from you. He justified you in Jesus Christ, and he is with you at all times. He intercedes on your behalf. He is bringing us to a place where our temporary issues are behind us.

I love how the Lord describes worry for us in Matthew 6. Take a look at Matthew 6:31–34,

"So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31–34 CSB

A Christian counselor described worry as a good emotion (concern) focused on the wrong day (tomorrow). That is what Jesus says here. He says, don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself. And for Christians, there is a cure for worry. The cure for worry is prayer because prayer-thought cures fear-thought. 

When worried, we can pray to God and say, "Lord, these things are hard. Lord, I put all these things in your hand because you are my life's stronghold. I know that you are stronger than the things I face, and your word says you will grant us everything in Christ. Lord, I trust you. God, I trust in your promises more than I trust in my worries."

His word says the Lord sits at the right hand of God, interceding for you right now. As we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. And we say as a church, "Forgive us, Lord, as we get caught up in our worries."

I used to teach a course on anger management in a homeless shelter. I would ask the students about what they are concerned about today. Remember, these are men and women experiencing homelessness. Some of them had real concerns about falling back into addiction, concerns about how they're going to get a job and how they're going to support themselves in San Diego. Many of them were starting what was a year-long program at the shelter. 

I would ask them about the things they are concerned about today. Will these things matter in six months? Maybe. Will they matter in a year? Are they going to matter in five years? Then I would ask them, do you remember what you were worried about six months ago? Do you remember what you were worried about a year ago? 

Often, the things that seem so big at the moment aren't that bad when we look back at them a year later. Somehow, the fear we had about tomorrow, the fear about the future, when the future happened, everything worked out. We look back and say, "God, look at what you got us through." God provides for our needs.

The Christian perspective on the future is not worry, but confidence. We base the future on what God has already done for us in the past. God has saved us in Christ, so we know he holds our future. He is working all things together so that we are men and women conformed to the image of his Son, heading to a place where we will behold his glory. We are justified in Christ, and we are his children.

Christians should not worry because our bond with Christ is inseparable.

The totality of everything he says is that we don't have to worry because God is for us. But if our best defense, our best stronghold, is that God is for us, we have a question. We ask ourselves, "Is there something so wrong, so terrible, that if I am in Christ today, somehow a terrible action could drive a wedge between me and God? Is there something that I could do, or something that could happen to me, that would separate my bond with Jesus Christ?"

Because if that were true, that would be something to worry about. If there was a possibility that there could be something so terrible that it could drive a wedge and separate me from the love of Christ, then my salvation is not sure. It's not on a solid rock. There's something extra that I have to do beyond the cross. For my salvation, I would need the cross, plus I would need my good works. 

Is there something that could separate me from Jesus? The Holy Spirit inspires Paul as he's writing this. The Spirit speaks through his word and says, "No." He says in Romans 8:35, "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" In that verse, he brings us a list of possible ways to die. 

In the next verse, he then quotes Psalm 44:22. He says in Romans 8:36-37, "As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." The question that he's asking is, "Is there any possible thing in my death that could separate me from Christ?" That's a scary thing because if you're separated from Christ by your death, there's no coming back from that.

He says, "No, we're more than conquerors." We have conquered so much that we have even conquered death because Jesus Christ has conquered death for us on the cross. So even though I die, I will live. I am more than a conqueror in Jesus Christ, even if you take me to my grave. When you go to my funeral, my body may be there, but my life is with Jesus Christ. 

In Romans 8:38–39, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Send the best you've got. Bring anything against me in my life, and I am with Christ. Take me to my grave, and I am with Christ. Let Satan work against me. I am in Christ. Bring all of your armies. Bring all the enemies you want. I am in Christ. There's nothing in creation, no power strong enough, nothing on Earth or the entire universe that can come against the stronghold in my life, the defense over me. I am in Christ.

I love what the Lord says in John 10. If you've heard the voice of Jesus Christ in your life, if the Lord Jesus has called you to him, and you've recognized that call on your life, then you are a follower of Jesus Christ. You are his sheep. You are his. Listen to what the Lord says in John 10:27–30,

"My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27–30 CSB

If Jesus is who he says he is, the Son of God who takes away the sin in your life, then there is power in Jesus, and no one will take you from him. 

There was a kid in a schoolyard, and he was worried about a bully. He'd been hearing threats from this bully all day. The bully had taunted him, saying, "Wait until I see you in the schoolyard." It got to recess time, and the kids were in the schoolyard. The little boy was in the schoolyard, and he was worried. He was looking around. And out came the bully. The bully was walking toward him. 

The little boy's eyes widened as he saw the bully approaching him. A crowd started to form around. And he said to himself, "That's it. This bully is going to beat me up. He's going to knock me out. What am I going to do?" The little boy was afraid. 

Suddenly, the little boy saw the bully's eyes get wide. Behind that little boy came this enormous guy with huge muscles. The bully recognized him because he was a famous wrestler. The little boy was confused and then felt a presence behind him. He turned around, looked up at the man, and said, "Oh, hi, Dad." The boy's father looked at the bully and said, "Is there a problem here?" The bully said, "No sir, no problem." 

So often, we hear the voice of our worries in our lives—the voice of those finances that aren't enough, the voice of that relationship we're worried about—all the voices of distress around us. We're worried about our kids, worried about everything that we see, and worried about a scary future. 

As we look at the bully in the schoolyard, we forget whose child we are. We have a hard time wrapping our minds around and comprehending what it means to be a child of God. It's easier to look at the bullies in front of us, and it's hard to get our minds around the immensity of what it means to be in Jesus Christ and to be a child of God today.

In Ephesians 3:17–21, Paul starts praying for the church, and it's a prayer that I have for all of us. He says,

"I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:17–21 CSB

Christian, accept the fact that you have an inseparable bond with Christ. Consider the incomprehensible love and power in your life, a more incredible defense than you could ever dream. You can leave here today walking tall, saying, "I am in Christ." Tell the world, "Throw the best you've got against me because there is nothing I will face that compares with who I am in Christ."

Christians should not worry because God is on our side. We shouldn't worry because God provides all we need. Christians shouldn't worry because our bond with Christ is inseparable. God is for us.

Hi family,

Communication is vital to running any organization well, but especially a church. The church is in the communication business. We are God's people on a mission to proclaim his message clearly and without hesitation or fear. The world desperately needs hope in Jesus. His message is always relevant and necessary.

As a pastor, I feel a particular responsibility to communicate well, but the overall fragmentation of communication today is challenging. How do you communicate with everyone? Some are on social media, and some aren't. Some want a phone call, while others want a text. You may have someone's phone number but not their email address, or vice versa.

At Catalyst, we've been diligently working to communicate in multiple ways to reach as many people as possible. Our tools are varied to meet our congregational needs. Our service is live-streamed weekly on YouTube, and our sermons are uploaded to our podcast. We have a WhatsApp group where we share prayer requests and encouragements. We have a texting service where we send a weekly reminder of our Sunday service or other upcoming events. We communicate in person through our bulletins and announcements. We post on social media and send church updates via email. We are committed to keeping our church members informed and engaged.

Our church continues to experiment with the best ways to communicate well. From a pastoral perspective, I've been looking for a way to communicate in one place that is flexible enough to spread amidst different channels. This week, I started a blog for that purpose. Some may get this through an email, while others may see this on social media or our WhatsApp group. I've added our Catalyst members to our email subscriber list, but anyone is welcome to subscribe to receive updates via email through the blog website.

The Christian church has a long history and tradition of pastors writing to their congregations, including the letters from Paul and others that we read in the New Testament. I hope to carry on that tradition of writing to encourage the church through this blog. You'll receive sermon manuscripts, scriptural devotionals, and other pastoral reflections like this one. My prayer is that this content will be encouraging and helpful for you.

If you have thoughts, please participate and engage by commenting on the content. If you find something helpful, please share it with family and friends. As always, I want you to know you are valued and loved. Thank you for reading this, and keep looking to Christ in all things.

Much love,

Pastor Jason

Some interesting one-liners on worry for your day:

• "A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work."
• "You wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you knew how seldom they do."
• "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."
• "Worry gives small things big shadows."
• "Life lived in worry invites death in a hurry."(1)

"Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

(1) Pentz, Croft M. The Complete Book of Zingers: Over 5,000 Perfect One-Liners. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1990.

This sermon was preached at Catalyst Church San Diego on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Click here to hear the sermon podcast.

Introduction

Happy Mother's Day. Mothers are amazing. They have an incredible ability to incorporate both beauty and strength in one person. And if you are a mother loving your children selflessly, thank you. Thank you for being an example to your children of beauty and strength. 

Mother's Day is a day to honor our mothers. As we honor them, it's interesting that today, in the book of Romans, we're going to be talking about glory because glory has to do with the honor of someone. We'll be talking today about the glory of God and how good his glory is, both now and forever.

My mother loves the Lord and vegan food. She is on a short list of people who can get me to eat tofu. My mother loves her family and wants us to eat well. She loves to tell me about the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Unfortunately, meat still calls my name.

My mother wants me to eat in a pure, healthy way. Similarly, it strikes me that God calls his people to live pure and holy lives. God is working all things together so we can look more like him. 

What does that look like? We'll see that today in Romans 8:18-30.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified." Romans 8:18–30 CSB

In Romans 8:18-30, Paul takes us on this journey from past to the present and from the present to glory.

From the Present to Glory

This text revolves around the idea of glory. It starts with Romans 8:18, where he says, "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us." In Romans 8:21, he describes "the glorious freedom of God's children." Then, in Romans 8:30, he ends this section by saying, "And those he justified, he also glorified." What is he getting at here?

The term "glory" in the New Testament is an intriguing word. The writers of the New Testament reinterpret this word into a theological context. The Greek word is the word dóxa. In Greek philosophy, this word meant that someone had a good reputation. If someone had dóxa, they were of good repute.

But the biblical writers reinterpret this word in a Hebrew context. So when we see the word "glory" in the New Testament, it's more closely aligned with the Hebrew word kāḇôḏ. In the Old Testament, when they spoke of God's glory, they spoke of God's kāḇôḏ. When the ancient writers translated the Hebrew into Greek in the Septuagint, it went from the Hebrew word kāḇôḏ to the Greek word dóxa. The Greek word dóxa is the word that we see, for instance, in verse 18, where he speaks of the dóxa or glory that will be revealed to us. 

Glory in Romans

In his letter to the Romans, Paul takes us on a journey of unpacking the dóxa, or God's glory. He tells us in Romans 3:23 that we all fall short of God's glory. We all fall short of his splendor, majesty, and holiness. We all fall short of who he is. 

But that in and of itself, if you think about it, what is he saying? He's saying all of collective humanity, all of our achievements, all of the things that we produce, the things that we strive for, the things that we collect together, all of it, it all falls short of God's perfection, God's holiness, God's splendor, God's glory. 

That in and of itself is wonderful because it says that if you sense in your life that you're reaching out and feel like there must be something more, that this life is missing something, you're on the right track. Since we all fall short of God's glory, there is something greater beyond ourselves. There is something more that we are reaching for and seeking.

He takes us from Romans 3:23 to Romans 5:2. As Paul has unpacked how we have fallen short of the glory of God, we get to Romans 5:2, where he says, "We boast in the hope of the glory of God."

So follow what he's been saying here. He says that we fall short of the glory of God, that there's something greater than us, and that all of humanity's collective potential is nothing compared to the greatness and glory of God. 

Therefore, we are reaching out as Christians. We are seeking him, and we boast that our hope is not in ourselves but in the glory of God. We boast that there is someone greater than us. 

And if you feel like you keep falling short and there must be something more, we agree with you. We say that there is someone greater than us. There is someone more significant than the mistakes you've made in your past. There is someone greater than all your achievements. There is someone greater, more beautiful, more powerful, more splendid. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 

Creation Awaits Redemption

As he describes the coming glory, he takes us through a history lesson about creation, specifically the impact of sin on creation. In Genesis 3, Adam sinned against God. That sin impacted not only himself but also the world around him. In Genesis 3:17-19,

"And he said to the man, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.'” Genesis 3:17–19 CSB

When sin entered the world, it had an explosive effect on more than humanity. It also affected the rest of God's earthly creation. Remember that God gave humanity dominion and authority over creation. So, the curse did not only affect man but also the creation around him.

We currently live in a creation that is groaning, that is under the weight of man's sin, waiting for God to redeem. God's redemption is a glorious thing. It comes as a result of his glory. 

In 2 Peter 3:10–13, Peter writes what will happen to this present creation. He says,

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:10–13 CSB

The Spirit as the First Fruits

He moves us out of this section on creation and gets us into the present moment that we have as Christians as people under submission to the Holy Spirit in our lives. He says in Romans 8:23, "we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits." What does he mean by first fruits? What is he talking about here? 

You have to understand this according to the Hebrew mindset. In ancient Israel, if you were a Hebrew living then, you would present the first part of your crops, which were the best part, to the priests as an offering. You did this because the first fruits are a gift from God. They were considered holy, and they belonged to the Lord. Numbers 18 talks about the first fruit offerings.

When the Israelites presented their first fruits to the Lord, they were saying, "God, your gifts are incredible. You have given these first fruits to us as a sign that there is more to come." God has given us the first fruits; we know more will come.

So Paul, when he uses this Hebrew language in verse 23, what is he saying about God? He says God has given his children the Holy Spirit, a type of first fruits in our lives. The first fruits of the Holy Spirit guarantee Christians that there is more to come. His Spirit abides with us, keeps us, and shows us that God's glory is yet to be revealed.

Second Corinthians 5:1–-5 sounds much like Romans 8 as he describes a groaning within our bodies and the Holy Spirit as a down payment. He says,

"For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment." 2 Corinthians 5:1–5 CSB

Christian, there is a future coming. He says at the end of verse 23. Now, we've grown within ourselves, eagerly awaiting adoption—the redemption of our bodies. And we are eagerly awaiting our redemption. Creation is waiting to be redeemed. Our bodies are waiting to be redeemed. And s Christians, we have tremendous hope for our future.

Our Tremendous Hope

What is hope? Hope isn't about what you have right now but what is coming ahead of you. We hope for things we don't see today. Paul says in Romans 8:24, "hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?" And in verse 25 we eagerly await the hope of our future with patience. Hope takes patience.

Humanity needs hope. Now, why is that? People recognize that there must be something better. We constantly see this need for hope in humans.

Our country has seen many recent protests on our college campuses. What is undergirding all of the protests? At the core, they show a groaning within humanity. It says that something terrible is happening. There is a recognition that something is wrong, and there is a desire, a hope for something better.

People need hope. We have a desire and a hope for something better for the Palestinians. We have a desire and a hope for something better for the Jews. We have a desire and a hope for something better for all of us.

However, the hope that the world needs is not another political process. The best that the world can do is some external semblance of peace. The real peace process that the world needs must happen in the human heart and soul. Eternal peace is only available through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord. We live in a world desperately needing peace, and his name is Jesus.

Hope involves belief in things that we don't see yet. In the Gospel of John, we hear the story of Thomas, who said he wouldn't believe that Jesus had resurrected from the dead unless he had seen the marks of the nail scars on his hand and had put his finger on his side. Jesus appears to Thomas, saying, "Look at my hands; reach out your hand and put it on my side. Don't be faithless, but believe." Thomas responds by saying, "My Lord and my God." And then Jesus responds and says this in John 20:29, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Brothers and sisters, there is hope in Jesus. It's a hope we don't see right now, but it's real and sure. And the hope we have in Jesus Christ, our faith, is a blessing in your life.

The Holy Spirit and Prayer

In Romans 8:26, Paul describes the Holy Spirit in our lives as he has been doing. But there's something significant here. Underneath verse 26, there is an assumption that the Christian is a praying person and that the church, the gathering of God's people, is a praying people. As praying people, he says that the Holy Spirit "helps us in our weakness."

What is he referring to in our weakness? Remember how he described in verse 23 that we are groaning within ourselves and waiting for the redemption of our bodies. As we live today in this flesh, we live in a weak and hurting flesh. We fall short of his glory. 

But God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide his people through the Spirit and intercede on our behalf. The Holy Spirit takes the praying people of God and speaks for them. He speaks for us because we don't know what to pray for. Think of the disciples who go to Jesus and say, "Jesus, teach us how to pray." They say that because they realize that there is a weakness within themselves. We know that God has called us to pray. But what do we say? What do we say to someone holy and perfect and pure?

Yet the Spirit testifies with our Spirit that we are his children. And God wants his children to come to him. He loves his children, and he intercedes on our behalf. 

For the Good

In one of the most famous verses in Romans, Romans 8:28, Paul says, "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Connecting the Christian's prayer life to the Holy Spirit interceding on our behalf, he says God is making all things in our lives work together for our good, for those called and who love God. 

We love this verse. We love that God is working all things together for good. And often, we want to stop there. Why is that? We want to be the ones who define what good is. You know, "Right now, I'm struggling. I don't have enough money, but you know what? All things will come together because, after all, I need a car. Eventually, at the end of this, he will work all things together for the good." Or I'm in this relationship, and she's not interested in me, but I like her. And, you know, somehow, all these things will come together and work for the good.

Time and time again, we want to define what the good is. But the only good that matters is the good that God gives because God is good. And if you look at the context of verse 28, you will see that he describes what that good is. 

Why is God working all things together for the good? What is the purpose that he has called us to? He describes God's purpose in Romans 8:29, "For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son." God is working everything together in your life, including all the sufferings and things you're going through; through prayer and the intercession of the Spirit, God is working out a process. What is God working out? He's working out within us the good of being conformed to the image of his Son.

God is molding and shaping you to look more and more like Jesus, which is the greatest good! In everything that we're going through, everything around us is working together for our good so that we can look more like Christ. 

God predestined that purpose according to his wisdom and power. He saw a people of faith, a people of faith that he would draw to himself. God saw people who would look more and more like him, people who would yearn for him more every day, people he has created to be conformed to the image of his Son, the image of his perfection, the image of his purity, the image of his holiness. 

God is calling a people to come to him in faith, people who will be obedient and live holy and pure lives before him. He saw a people who would live according to his calling to be more like his Son—a people predestined, called, justified, and glorified—a people called and brought to the Lamb of God.

Paul describes Jesus in verse 29 as "the firstborn among many brothers." The term "firstborn" does not refer to God creating something. Jesus Christ is eternal. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. He always was. He always will be. He's the beginning and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. As John says in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus Christ is eternal. 

So why is Paul calling him the firstborn? He's not calling him firstborn in terms of creation. He's calling him firstborn in terms of position. The Hebrew mindset would remember the term firstborn as the heir. The firstborn is the one with the first rights. He is the heir, the one to whom everything is being handed over.

In Colossians 1:15–20, Paul writes,

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:15–20 CSB

Jesus said in John 17 that he wants his church to be with him because he wants them to see his glory. The Lord rules over all creation, is before all things, is the head of the church, and has reconciled everything to himself. 

If you are in Christ today, whatever you're going through today doesn't compare to the glory God will reveal in Christ. We serve the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is before all things and above all things. 

Christian, we should live today as people being conformed to the image of the Son of God and eagerly anticipate seeing his glory.