Restoration and Our Part in It

Romans Chapter 11
Israel and God’s faithfulness

11 So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hasn’t rejected his people, whom he knew in advance. Or don’t you know what the scripture says in the case of Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets, and they have torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they are trying to take my life. 4 But what is God’s reply to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand people who haven’t bowed their knees to Baal. 5 So also in the present time there is a remaining group by the choice of God’s grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it isn’t by what’s done anymore. If it were, God’s grace wouldn’t be grace.
7 So what? Israel didn’t find what it was looking for. Those who were chosen found it, but the others were resistant. 8 As it is written, God gave them a dull spirit, so that their eyes would not see and their ears not hear, right up until the present day. 9 And David says,
Their table should become a pitfall and a trap,
    a stumbling block and payback to them for what they have done.
10 Their eyes should be darkened so they can’t see,
    and their backs always bent.
11 So I’m asking you: They haven’t stumbled so that they’ve fallen permanently, have they? Absolutely not! But salvation has come to the Gentiles by their failure, in order to make Israel jealous. 12 But if their failure brings riches to the world, and their defeat brings riches to the Gentiles, how much more will come from the completion of their number! 13 I’m speaking to you Gentiles. Considering that I’m an apostle to the Gentiles, I publicize my own ministry 14 in the hope that somehow I might make my own people jealous and save some of them. 15 If their rejection has brought about a close relationship between God and the world, how can their acceptance mean anything less than life from the dead?
16 But if part of a batch of dough is offered to God as holy, the whole batch of dough is holy too. If a root is holy, the branches will be holy too. 17 If some of the branches were broken off, and you were a wild olive branch, and you were grafted in among the other branches and shared the root that produces the rich oil of the olive tree, 18 then don’t brag like you’re better than the other branches. If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Fine. They were broken off because they weren’t faithful, but you stand only by your faithfulness. So don’t think in a proud way; instead be afraid. 21 If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either. 22 So look at God’s kindness and harshness. It’s harshness toward those who fell, but it’s God’s kindness for you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise, you could be cut off too. 23 And even those who were cut off will be grafted back in if they don’t continue to be unfaithful, because God is able to graft them in again. 24 If you were naturally part of a wild olive tree and you were cut off from it, and then, contrary to nature, you were grafted into the cultivated olive tree, won’t these natural branches stand an even better chance of being grafted back onto their own olive tree?
All Israel will be saved
25 I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret, brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in. 26 In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
The deliverer will come from Zion.
    He will remove ungodly behavior from Jacob.
27 This is my covenant with them,
    when I take away their sins.
28 According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but according to God’s choice, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. 29 God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back.30 Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient. 31 In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too. 32 God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them.
33 God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep! They are as mysterious as his judgments, and they are as hard to track as his paths!
34 Who has known the Lord’s mind?
    Or who has been his mentor?
35 Or who has given him a gift
    and has been paid back by him?
36 All things are from him and through him and for him.
    May the glory be to him forever. Amen.

WALK IN VICTORY

Rom 10

1.  Israel really misunderstood way to salvation.
2.  Salvation is by faith.
3.  JC has fulfilled whole law.  The father sees Jesus and we are counted just because of this.
4.  No matter how bad you think you are; God’s grace is greater.
5.  The Jews looked to the law, not to grace
6.  Martin Luther found grace in God’s word. ‘The people at that time did not believe God’s grace sufficient.
7.  God’s grace is sufficient.  By the righteousness Jesus Christ gives you thru your faith.
8.  Because they misunderstood God’s grace and message of salvation.
9.  The generation that came out of Egypt, died because they didn’t believe.
10.  God has given you a gift, salvation, claim it.  God has given u a territory, use it.
11.  Church was the center light, now we are a little light shining in darkness
12.  God called them to into and possess it
B.   All who call upon the name of the lord will be saved. Confess with your mouth; believe in your heart, you will be saved.
14. We should be telling people   Romans how will they hear unless we tell them?
15. We need to be dependent on God. Somebody must show them
16. You don't beat yourself up to get the practice what God has taught you.
17. Hearing Word of God that strengths faith.
18. God has not changed his covenant.  He has called outa people outa people from the world.
   Don't allow gospel to be a burden on people. Sit in God's presence & know him. The patience God towards sinner is amazing.  To stop being a sinner put on God's righteousness,
19. It is a matter of joy to think God has sent the gospel to so many millions,
20. We have been given the Job to take the message of salvation to the world including the Jews.

Philippians 1 - Our Secret to Joy is to follow and live Jesus'example and to serve others around us

Philippians 1:1-26 (NIV)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons[a]:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Philippians 1:27-2:18
New International Version (NIV)
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to youon behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

-o0o-

Philippians is a short of four chapters.  This Church was established about 10 years earlier during Paul’s second missionary journey and had been supportive of his work. (Acts 16:1-40) The city of Philippi, is located in north eastern Greece (Macedonia). 

The city was already ancient by the time Paul arrived there around 49 CE (Acts 16:11-40). In fact, its beginnings go back to the fourth century BCE when it was occupied by the Thracians. In 356 BCE, however, Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, took over the city and named it after himself. He eventually established it as a military stronghold in order to protect the lands he had already acquired and the nearby gold mines which yielded him yearly a thousand talents. It was also important as a land route across Asia.

 In 168 BC Philippi became part of the Roman empire when the latter defeated the Persians at the battle of Pydna and Macedonia was divided into four districts, Philippi belonging to the first.

Paul’s immediate reason to write to the Church at Philippi was to thank them for the gift they had sent him.  

Paul also uses this opportunity to encourage the Church at Philippi to:

• Stand united in Christ Phil. 1:27-2:2
• Imitate Christ Phil. 2:3-11
• Be examples of Peace Phil. 2:14-18
• Resolves differences in love Phil. 4:2-3
• Rejoice in the Lord always Phil. 4:4-7

He reminds them to imitate Christ and serve others.  Instead of focusing on ourselves, we should focus on Christ then we will learn unity, joy, harmony, peace.


This letter stands out as one of the most personal that Paul wrote. It is joyful in nature and doesn’t harshly rebuke the congregation. Paul shows his immense gratitude to the church by thanking them for their generous gifts. Our secret to joy is to follow and live Jesus’ example and to serve others around us.

In writing his letter from a place of exceptional suffering, Paul actually reflects that cultural background… with one crucial difference: he offers joy from that place.  (Reference From:  http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/08/letters-to-the-church-philippians/ )

Seeing God

“We may speak about a place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night; but those are just the benefits of heaven. The beauty of heaven is seeing God.”
― Max Lucado