Drawing Closer to God Pt. 31
Book of Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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Letting Go of the Gas Peddle.
Letting Go of the Gas Peddle.
If you know me then you know that I don’t make New Years Resolutions. The Last Resolution I made was multiple years ago and it was to never make another resolution. I have yet to fail this task. Resolutions are doomed to fail because what you start in the flesh you have to maintain in the flesh. Every change should be birthed out of the Word of God and into your soul.
As I read today’s scripture in preparation for this mornings sermon I began to check off everything I have done right. We as humans have a tendency toward remembering our success and not our failures. Last week I began the sermon telling you I was going to be transparent and open my 2018 to you and the lessons I learned. I am going to continue this today. When I read to you today’s scripture and then go onto explain how I bunny trailed to where the sermon ends some of you may say—Pastor that’s not theologically precise and I agree. Today’s sermon is more of a Christ Followers bunny trail endeavor than an in depth theological master piece. If that’s what you were hoping for I invite you to rewatch last weeks sermon. I believe, and could be wrong, but I believe it was one of the best I ever preached in my life and to steal the words of John Bevere— I just got to be the first one to read it. Because as I typed it I knew it was from God and not from me.
So this morning Lets turn to
Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
As I stated before I started my checklist of all the things I have done right when I read this verse. We know God usually has a still small voice. The bible says it. The voice in my head started of still and small as I listed to myself all the wonderful ways I follow authority. The further down the line I got the louder the voice got and the voice simply said two things:
GAS PEDDLE
GAS PEDDLE
If you have ever ridden with me or tried to follow me you know that I have a lead foot. I like to set my GPS and watch time roll backwards as I near my destination. It’s something I plan on working on in my life, because it doesn’t follow the biblical mandate here in this mornings scripture. We are to obey all the laws as long as it doesn’t go against the bible. And theologically this is what the verse is talking about. Following all man made laws and paying your taxes. The promise of doing such is blessed life, reduced stress, and more money in your pocket as you won’t be paying tickets. This verse also explains why the military is biblical and why police men have the right not only to carry their fire arms, but use them. They are the enforcers of this law.
Now the double promise of these verses is not only the wrath of man if the law is broken, but also the
Wrath of God (V5)
Wrath of God (V5)
So it is in your best interest to obey the law, pay your taxes, and be a productive part of society. But this is were my bunny trail began in my prayer time with God. Not only do I have a tendency to lay hard on the gas peddle when I am driving, but I also have tendency to lay hard on the gas peddle of life.
Many times in my life I have put the cart before the horse. God has given me a glimpse of the future and I have bolted towards it with all I got. However, the first lesson I learned at the end of 2018 is this:
Just Because You Have God’s Vision, Doesn’t Mean You Have God’s Timing.
Just Because You Have God’s Vision, Doesn’t Mean You Have God’s Timing.
On New Years Eve my wife sent me a series of text messages from a service my Father-in-Law held called the Night Watchmen Service. When I read them I quickly told God why it wasn’t for me then tried to put it as far out of my mind as possible, but then as God took me down this bunny trail in my thoughts these messages kept coming back to mind.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
You see I am blessed and cursed with a thinkers mind. If you give me something I will attempt to make it work before ever reading the directions. This has caused me to put many pieces of furniture together backwards. It has also caused me to accept God’s call on my life and then attempt to outrun God in completing the vision. If you never done it I wouldn’t recommend it because you can’t force God’s hand to move and it leaves you very frustrated.
The Issue is that I only only speed in my car—breaking the law. I attempt to speed through life. I want to get to the promises of God without the journey to get there. I prefer airplanes over cars. My goal in life is to buy a helicopter because there aren’t speed limit signs in the sky. But I believe what God is showing me, and essentially us as a church is:
Slow Down and Enjoy the Process
Slow Down and Enjoy the Process
I don’t know who stated these things, but this is one of the quotes my wife sent me.
Divorce the Opportunist mentality. This season is not just a stepping stone to get to higher places. Embrace the preparation of the season you are in.
Divorce the Opportunist mentality. This season is not just a stepping stone to get to higher places. Embrace the preparation of the season you are in.
If I had to claim one of my biggest faults it’s an opportunist mentality. I am a fast track person. If life is a highway I’m not leaving the fast lane. This used to be something I boast, but God is showing me just how much of a hinderance it is.
God is many things throughout the bible, but fast he is not. You never see Jesus running. Why? Because he lived on God’s time and not on the World’s watch.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
I find the phrase: The son can do nothing of his own accord interesting. Because if Jesus was God than he could do anything. What was Jesus saying? While on Earth Jesus embraced his fully human side. He accepted the limitations of humanity. This means that although he was set in a place where time controls everything He understood that he followed God who lived outside of time.
We see this with Lazarus. Why not spare people the grief of burying their son. Why wait for days? I believe it’s because some things are better learned through the pain and through the valley.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
The term “So” shows the continuation of a sentence. Although there is a period using the term so connects the two sentences as if they were one.
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus so He waited for them to feel the pain of loss.
One thing they don’t tell you before you become a parents is that one of the biggest ways to love your children is not to protect them from the pain of this world as many try to do, but rather to be there with them, allowing them to feel and walk through painful times, ensuring they never campout in the dry places.
There has been many times as a parent my heart has hurt watching my kids being rejected, hurt, made fun of, and picked on. But it is also through those times I have watched my kids grow, love, and forgive more than some adults I know. Growth hurts. My kids constantly complain about muscle aches and bone aches that I can do nothing for because it’s all apart of the growing process. As the get taller and bigger it hurts. Many of us have forgotten the pain of physical growth, but my kids are a reminder of those times and pain is required for spiritual and emotional growth as well.
Although God knew they would hurt the biggest sacrifice he made was allowing that pain.
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
Jesus hurt when they hurt, but accepted that pain so they would grow in their understanding.
Jesus gave us, gave you, the calling vision of the calling he did not to torment you though the journey but to give you understanding of the good the journey will produce.
The vision awaits the perfect time not to cause you pain for pains sake, but to help you grow to a point where you can handle the vision God has given you. If 2018 showed me anything it’s that I wasn’t ready for the fulfillment of God’s promise. There was a lot I had to learn and probably a lot more I don’t even know that I don’t know yet.
Don’t give up in the valley. Because eventually that valley will give way to the mountain. And that mountain will prepare you for the victory.