Convincing & Explosive Truth

"What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who can condemn us? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."
Romans 8:31-34

I first came across this quote in Saving Private Ryan, where one of the soldiers says it like this 'If God's on our side, who the hell can be on theirs!' It was the first Bible verse I learnt and it's a gooden!

Paul’s reasoning is step by step, convincing and explosive! He starts with the promise that God is for us. This phrase in itself is so glorious it should change everything! If we were to all spend our lives reflecting and living off of this verse alone we would all be radically different.

God is for me and as a sign of His commitment to me, He sent Jesus. He knew what needed to be done to bring me back to Him, and He did it, not even sparing His son. Can you even begin to imagine the torrent of affection and emotion that must exist inside someone who is willing to do this?! The words of the song ‘How He Loves Us’ by ‘Jesus Culture’ go a little way in conveying this emotion; this deep unrelenting affection that He has for me! Check out the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-1Yps

Paul’s statements are logical and ste by step: if A=B and B=C, then C=A!

Each statement flows out of the previous:
1. God is for us. He did not even withhold His son.
2. He will not withhold any good thing from us.

AND

1. God, the ultimate authority, has justified us.
2. Who then can bring charge against us? Who can condemn us?

Do you see how secure you are?! Do you understand?! Do you grasp how permanently you’re loved?! Do you see how deeply you’re cared for?!

If you're a Christian then you can say:

In Christ I am immovably wedged in God.
In Christ I can never be taken or parted from God’s love for me.
In Christ I have seen the passion that God has for me.
In Christ I know how much I’m loved.
In Christ I am secure.

COME ON!!!

Bethany Hamilton

Hey guys, Bethan here. I just wanted to share a story about my insprirational person/role model.
Her name is Bethany hamilton.
She is an American surfer but was born in Hawaii on the 8th February 1990. She grew up in a christian family and gave her life to Jesus at the age of 5.
She learnt to surf when she was just 5 years old and was winning competitions at the age of 8.
In October 2003, when she was just 13 she got attacked by a 14 foot tiger shark. She was out with some friends in the water and she was sitting a little further out than the rest, suddenly she felt a tug on her left arm. She knew immediatley what was happening but didn't have time to think as it happened so fast! The shark managed to rip off her entire left arm to just below her shoulder. Her friends came to help and managed to get her to shore, she had lost 60% of her blood. She just prayed and prayed and prayed whilst laying on the beach, asking God to help and save her.
As she got into the ambulance a paramdeic whispered in her ear 'God will never leave you or forsake you!'
Just less than a month after the attack God gave her the strength to get back in the sea and surfing again with one arm. Just two years after the attack she won NSSA National Championships!
She is now a famous athlete and bringing Glory to God. She appears on many TV shows and testifies to how God saved her and was her rescuer, both spiritually and physically.
Check out her video on youtube, I am Second - Bethany Hamilton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37l1WfdFNQE

Hope this has encouraged you just as much as it's encouraged me!

Youthful...Yes!...Insignificant...No!

Check out the latest post from Joel...

1 Timothy 4 v12-16

(12) Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (13) Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (14) Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council laid their hands on you. (15) Practise these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. (16) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers"


When looking at Paul's letters, it's best to read what they are about first - to 'set the scene'. It is easy to not bother with these bits, and get straight in to the first chapter, but finding out what the book is about will enhance our understanding and therefore our learning from it. (In my ESV, there is an introduction and in yours there is probably similar.)


So, it was written by the apostle Paul as a pastoral letter to Timothy, who had been appointed to lead the church in Ephesus. This church had a great need for order in worship and doctrinal correction (Correction of the church's theology). The church was also plagued with false teachers.



So, moving into the passage. Just because we are young doesn't mean we are insignificant. We should not let people upset us by treating us badly because of our youth. (V12) It also doesn't mean that we cannot be an example and an inspiration to older members of the church. In fact, we should strive to do this more and more. I absolutely love it when Graham tells an inspiring story from something that has happened in and around the youth on a Sunday morning!
Who doesn't want to see more of this!? Even if it doesn't make it to the main stage!



In V13, Paul instructs Timothy to stay focused and determined, and to keep going until he returns. One thing that I did not understand in this passage was the term "exhortation". The dictionary definition of this is "an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something". So Paul wants Timothy to encourage people, in every area. To devote yourself to something is a big ask. Think of something that you 'devote' yourself to, and how hard it may be at times. Then try applying this to teaching God's word, not easy I'm sure!



Timothy was young, just like us. However, Paul still encourages him in his letter to use the spiritual gifts we have. (1 Corinthians 12 v4-6 says this
"(4) Now there are varities of gifts, but the same Spirit; (5) and there are varities of service, but the same Lord; (6) and there are varities of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone" See verses 1-11 of the same chapter for more on Spiritual gifts) Because of our youth, we could possibly find ourselves 'nervous' about using our gifts. Paul suggests this "Practise these things, immerse yourself in them" I think that there is nothing I can add to this and no other way than this in order to grow in confidence using your gifts!



Coming towards the end of the passage, Paul finishes by warning Timothy (V16).
I interpret this as a warning to stay humble and keep himself pure. Paul mentions the teaching specifically, as this was a problem within the church.
Timothy needs to 'watch' it, to ensure that it is theologically accurate. Paul is completely correct when he says that Timothy will save himself, and others by being persistent. Science has proven that teaching something to someone else, will only enhance your understanding of the subject matter. The same applies here - although I'm not sure whether Paul was aware of this at the time! We must be determined to do the same as Timothy - be persistent, be humble and be pure!



I hope this helps you to grow in God, and not to feel insignificant or unimportant. Every young person is a prominent part of the church, at present and in the future. It is important to the success of the church for us to know that we have this responsibility, and to rise to the challenge of this. I also urge you to get stuck into God's word and learn more from it.

Joel