The Sermon What Is Important by David McGee
Jun 07, 2015
What Is Important (31:49)
Referenced Scriptures: Romans 12:3-6; John 3:16-18
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Romans 12:3-6
3) For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
4) For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don‘t have the same function,
5) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6) Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
John 3:16-18
16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17) For God didn‘t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
18) He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn‘t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
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Today's lesson is what is important what is important. Now I guess the way that we would judge this is by the amount of time the amount of such a lot of effort whatever it is that's important to us I think of well how much time did we spend getting ready for today coming to church. Now I know some didn't spend any time at all and I and I won't mention any names again but but some you know we spend a lot of time we spend preparation. Well you may say well myself I you know I you know Rod always lays out like clothes and things like that so that somewhat match. Sometimes I change the order of things and she says why did you wear that that's not what I laid out. So preparing to be here preparing for the message takes me about six days. So what I put together a start putting together this afternoon or last week for next week. And it just is something that evolves over the weekend. What we spoke of last week has been one that kind of is one of those pivotal points when you know just kind of halts us in our thinking because the things we spend a lot of time with are the things that are of value the things that are of value to us. Tell us what's important. Well in Romans chapter three and this is last week's scripture it says does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does. Now when we think of the value of what we put in place upon ourselves and place upon you know wanting things to be neat and orderly and you know I like I like my yard to be neat and orderly. I would comb my hair so it's neat normally what's left of it. So we like things to be a certain way we like them to be present. It's kind of like that integrity that we have in ourselves about the pride that we have in ourselves and what we do and those are good things but sometimes we think that is responding to what the problems that we face and in reality when we are facing a problem we are responding to what has already done has already done for us we're responding to what has already promised that you know I think of the scripture that all things work together for good to those who love and are called according to His purpose. Well the message Bible has that all things work for us and not against us. All things are working for us and so whenever we're looking at our life and trying to evaluate the importance of something we look at it as if it's a hard or if it's easy. Did it come by chance or to come by choice. Did it come by pursuit and pursuing after and having goals and going after those things. How did it get into our lives and what made it important to us. So these are the things we count a value like reading the word reading the Scriptures listening to music Christian music or listening to the Bible in the Bible Gateway. The website they have an audio Bible and you can get on there and listen to this long as you want and you can listen to chapters and listen the books of the Bible and it's just continuous reading and you even get to choose some of the versions that you want to hear. So reading the Bible is important to us. Praying. How many how much time do we spend in prayer. Now I don't mean the down on your knees and you know before and and doing that you know in the morning or an evening that we want to do that but during the day how much time do we spend in a consciousness. As in a sense is with me now I know that we have to pay attention to where we're at and driving in things will almost ran at red light I was just focusing on He does not want you to do that. OK. doesn't want you to be. Close your eyes in prayer OK I'm drivin and I'm praying and I'm trusting you to direct my car because I'm praying you better open your eyes and pray. And in our lives is not telling us to go blindly about every day events that we make choices and we make and we choose to do things and sometimes we make really good choices and sometimes not so good choices and is for us he's not responding to what we already know doesn't like me now. I blew it. doesn't like me. When does stop liking you. When does stop loving you. The answer is never. So hasn't changed his mind about you because we did things wrong or we did things right. He never changes mine because we live in a place of grace. We live in a place of mercy that everything that thinks about us is only for our good and everything that happens in our life. is there working for us. Now there may be people working against us but we're got to be smart enough to know that we can't allow their thoughts those against us to become our thoughts. We have to think of what has said that he loves us and that he appreciates us and that all things working for us and that his wisdom and his guidance His mercy His Grace are all there for us. Extensions from to our lives. You see even ever whenever we think of we think of it in the context of what he has done for. That's what he is doing for us and where he is taking leaving us in our life. So whenever we have the benefits of being number one we have the benefits of a full life that we are free from our sins and free from our past failures in the States. We are free and all and he who is set free is free indeed. Meaning that those things behind us are forever gone forever forgiven. Now there's a story of a guy who you know I like the idea of the il ration that this guy is carrying this heavy chest you know on his back you know loaded with very heavy objects and a person comes by with his horse and wagon and he offers the man a ride because all know I can do that I couldn't put my this heavy chest of burden upon your your horse and wagon the wagons empty the horses pine. There's nothing in here just put it in here. So eventually talks the guy into getting in the back of his wagon and when he turned the guy turns around he sees a guy standing in the back of the wagon balancing himself holding his chest on his back this huge heavy weight and the guy says Well why don't you put the chest down in the wagon he says although it was kind enough for you to give me a lift. I couldn't burden your horse with carrying this also which are thank you. Somebody's got it yes they couldn't bear I couldn't burden you with your horse having to pull the weight of this it's like you know it's already taken care of you're standing in the wagon and sometimes we are like that with our past in our sins and our failures. It's like oh I couldn't burden you with this than 's already forgiven it. He's already said let it go he's already told us to allow his grace and His mercy. Two touch our lives. does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does. Now in Romans Chapter twelve verse three which is our text for today. Paul is saying I'm speaking to you out of a deep gra ude for all that has given me that sets the stage. I am giving praise and thanks to for all that has given me. Now if we look at the character of Paul he was always in trouble and people are always trying to kill him. He's been stoned and beaten with rods and dragged out of the city for dead. And he's talking about all that has given me. He said these small afflictions are nothing compared to the glorious riches that I have in Christ. He saw working for him and all these other things were things that he needed to deal with but in a way that brought honor and glory to and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. He saw his responsibilities in relation to the Romans as a blessing. You know some people hide from responsibilities. Some people just want none. They want all the credit for something good and no credit when things go wrong. I remember I was watching this when I was down the new day and in Princeville I was up in an office and having a break between clients and I was sitting I looked out the window and there are these two boys in this vacant lot you know playing ball. One boy was thrown and the other one wa ting it while he wa ting the ball off the side of a house and water on the side of house's windows. No here is the boy just bang in the ball and Benson it off the window. And finally after about three times he drove the ball through the window. They said he dropped the baton so it's not my fault. And they all ran off. I don't know whose window it wasn't and wasn't their home and they just dropped the baton. Left the ball on. It's funny they didn't go out knock on the door and say Can I have my ball back. It's not my fault but you see isn't trying isn't pointing the accusing finger in this is and that's in the next text of John chapter three verse eighteen that is not about pointing an accusing finger. The closer we become in our relationship with is about setting us free and liberating our soul and liberating our mind and hearts that we can become what wants us to be so that we have enough strength to live we have enough strength to die we have enough strength to love we have enough strength to forgive we have enough strength so no matter what is in front of us we have the strength for it because as your day is so shall your strength be so 's grace and mercy there is their soul that we have this understanding of faith. We have this understanding of life that brings hope and strength to us that we do not need to fear what is in the future because this may be against us. Well it doesn't matter what may be against us today or tomorrow or next year. There's always something against us but always remember is working for us. is at work for us. No he's not. We're not his slave labor and he's not our slave labor. He has it work for us meaning he wants to bless he wants to guide he wants us to arrive at that place that he created us to be. He created us to be a certain person to be a certain way. If you need it to more intelligence you would have it. So that's my excuse. But if you needed more in your personality like someone else you would have it so has made you exactly who you need to be and exactly who you are because you're exactly what he wants in that place that you occupy. Now we are in this place. We are responsible for growing the person that is here so I'm good. What's he talking about. Talking about us and . That's funny not funny about was thinking this morning. For whatever reason I always thought I would like to be an evangelist. I always thought I'd like to be a person just travels around and speaks because all you need is one or two good sermons and you're sat for a couple years that's all you need. It is day two or three you know on how long a stay at a place and you just don't preach the same thing every week to learn better il rations and and you know what's up and going and everybody loves you know you create stir up trouble and leave. You know it's always thought him and I want to stir up trouble but you know I always do things and you know I always thought that would be a pretty good life you know. These guys they're able to speak and do very well and but that never happened. But then I was thinking you know I've I've written I'm thinking if I've written a book all right and I was thinking about it it's getting closer to the time when it will be published. But I was thinking that has given me the ability to do the same thing. For about thirty years and that now I'm able to write about it in a way that hopefully will impact numerous people. I see how you did that very thing that was in my heart that I was able to sit down over the last thirty years and talk with people who have had a loss in their family death in their family or trauma of some sort. And I've been able to sit down and basically review the same thing with each individual over a period of thirty years and I was thinking this morning how that that's exactly what I was thinking about about being an evangelist or being a speaker that we go somewhere and you would have the same message you're going to have to learn very much I had to do was say the same thing well. But in this case it's something we had to do and we had to do it in a way that would be able to help people where they are at but also they would be able to see being there with them and helping them in their in that situation. So you see it's out of a deep gra ude for all that has given me that we are being thankful and we are praising and we're thanking him for the good things he's brought into our lives because life isn't out of control. The world is an out of control. has placed you here to control. To allow His Spirit and His presence and His peace to be in your spot that you occupy and you being at peace and being at the strength and having the power and presence of No you are responding to 's word and you are bringing his peace to that spot for that moment to your contacts and he is using. You're right in that place so you see is working for me. He's for my good for the good in my life. does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does and what is doing. is loving. He's using you in the very spot you're in to bring peace comfort prayer. But anyhow I am speaking to you first. Romans twelve three I'm speaking to you out of a deep gra ude for all that has given me and especially as I have responsibility in relation to you living there. And as every one of you does into your Grace I'm living then as every one of you does in pure grace that thinks of you as being his favorite child pure grace. He doesn't see your fault you know looking at your faults. He's not pointing the accusing finger. He is looking and the pure grace of where we live in the grace of is the unmerited favor that we cannot change the character of by something we would say or do. We cannot change he is for ever loving he is for ever forgiving has never had one negative thought about you. has never been turned off towards you because he loves you. It is on his merit to his unmerited favor is upon you so we can earn it. This is his at ude towards us. So then why do I feel guilty and why do I feel like I'm not good enough why do why. Because we allow the accuser which isn't Jesus we allow the accuser to influence our thoughts. We allow the accuser to point the finger and say you're not good enough. But doesn't say that our sin in our life is something we need to confess because we're stopping the 's grace and mercy. We feel that we've done something wrong because a god is so holy and as we confess and as we allow to do that in our life we are being liberated we're being set free. Our life has a new perspective. It's a new dawn it's a new day and it's a new life every day because I'm being thankful to that he goes on. It's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who bring this goodness to OK In verse twenty seven. does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does. And here's here's another version of that in verse chapter twelve verse three. It's important that you not misinterpret yourself as people who bring who are bringing this goodness to it's me. You know I'm here. I got a lot of goodness I got a lot of talents and I know you could use it. You know bringing that to is bringing it good to brings it all to you. brings his grace and His mercy and the talents that we have whenever we see them as Aves so that we can get ahead. We are actually falling behind but as we see our talents in the gifts things that we have as gifts from We are living our life in service to and we see 's blessing upon what we are doing. That's why we can say is at work in my life because I have dedicated my talents in my gift things and the things that I do I have dedicated him to god so therefore he will bless them. He is working for me not against me. He's not point. Being accusing finger. He is saying to us how merciful the years and how Grace how much grace that he has in abundance for us. no brings it to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what is and by what he does for us. It's so important that we understand the character of the character of is always that what is Love is mercy. is forgiveness. is all powerful is all loving god is eternal is one thing else. I mean there's tons more but we see what is as we understand that idea of a god is Grace Mercy power strength forgiveness you know love joy peace patience gentleness meekness kindness and long suffering the fruits of the Spirit. is this and is the one who spoke the world into existence. That's why whenever we understand who we are we have to see ourselves in light of the character of his character and that it isn't that we have to earn his love we have to earn his forgiveness. Now we have to accept it. It's given to us. So as I go about my day I am thanking for the sunshine or the rain. I am thanking him for what I have and what I don't have and what he's going to bring into my life. I am rejoicing in the responsibility that I have and it doesn't become a burden it becomes an avenue of life. My. Life is not a bird in my hand life is a gift in the character of in understanding his character. For you see the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what is and what he does for us. You see all things work for us not against us. is at work in our life and no matter where it begins it always ends up in doesn't matter if the devil himself brings it about. It ends up in can work it to good is not the originator of all things. is the worker of all things to good. is the one who is at work in our life and so there's a story of this individual. He was dreaming in his dream he would found himself in this room and this room bar where a big card to card deck index was today if the il ration was made today this guy went into a room he found a computer and in this computer he had all the files about his life there were two that one had all the files about his life and all the things he'd ever said all the things he'd ever done all the unseen things unsaid unsaid things in his life were all on the screen before him and it's just a roll after roll after roll of all the things in his life and he's gone oh my goodness what am I going to do. And his name is attached to every one of the things he did and then he he notices the Jesus walks in the room and Jesus looks at the file of the computer and he types in paid in full. Delete. The screen is clear. Delete and everything that was wrong everything that was sinful everything that made him a failure in life. Delete. It's gone never to be remembered against him again. And you see it's that place of goodness. It's a place where Himself is at work in our life and it is who is trying to get our attention. Not too subtle straightness up but how to reveal the path that he has for us to walk. Yesterday was the Preakness and in those of you horse racers. But I was Bell My skin is a dumb one. I'm not a horse race or but I won lots of money. Now if I didn't gamble I did not. Everybody listen. It was a joke I did not place money on the horses. But now you see how that whenever the trainers and all of the people there saying how good the horse is how good the horses and it's true if it wasn't for the horse no matter what the trainers and everything else it was the trainers who brought out the best in the horse U.K. I always remember the movie secretary and the reason I I think of that is because the horse itself secretariat was trained to help other horses when what they would do is. Secretary would go out in front and lead the whole way around the track and then when it was rounding the far turn the jockey would. Pull the horse back so that the horses behind would learn how to p and catch up and p the secretary to horse. And so it was used to teach other horses how to lose so you knew he was a loser in teaching other horses how to win. And sometimes we look at life and we say to ourselves we're just here to let other people p us by. And you see that's the horse Secretariat the trainers had to break the horse of that giving up in the last quarter of the track they had to break that knowledge that it was not good enough to finish first and see isn't about finishing first. He wants us all to finish first. He wants us all to complete the race successfully. He wants us to be number one in ourselves and with him and you see if I number one with You can be number one with but doesn't eliminate someone from being someone else from being number one. It's like I was at the Christian bookstore and I was buying the offering envelopes and they had five boxes there so usually I go and buy five boxes in a case and bring it home. Well there was only five so I didn't want to take the last box and when somebody else took me like I have and found that there's no offering envelopes. So the guy was there he says I'll take all five he says no I can't do that. I don't want somebody else to be left out. So I left two boxes and brought three. Well that's a good type of sharing but we all have we have this false concept of pride. There's a pride that says I'm better than other people but there is a pride. It says I am gifted and is at work in me to bring that gifting to its highest level. And if I reach the highest level I will become the person wants me to be. And you see as I strive for that so you strive for it as you strive for it so others in the body of Christ strive for it and as part of the Body of Christ we are to be the most excellent of people we are to be the most the greatest of overachievers and has a purpose for each of our lives and is not working against us. All things work together for us. is at work behind the scenes. What is doing. Whatever we have been taught in our own lives. Like the secretary of the w secretary at the horse. Most of the time we think well we don't want to be first. We kind of back off and let other people go in front of us. Therefore we are have no pride and we are humble. But the opposite is true. allowing me to become first the best in what I do does not stop you from being the best in what you do and the best in what we do. Maybe a handshake a smile a prayer a word of encouragement. It may not be in our profession of making a life but it would be in our membership in the body of Christ that we extend Jesus to other people. will help us extend his love to other people. And I was sure Iranians forget which chapter it is I was reading it this morning and it says Who are you to cross somebody off the list of who is invited. Yeah we cannot write somebody off the list that we would say oh you know they're a pretty bad center has written him off. has not written anyone off. He may be using you to be the witness to them to change their life and their destiny for eternity. So you see what we are about is about living and allowing to understand that is working in us through us and for us and the events of life. They're not against us. No matter how hard it is it is our responsibility in our relationship with to see the good and pray for the good to come from all of this and we may not see it this year when we may not see it in twenty years but we know that it is there. is at work and we keep sowing and watering the seed that has placed in our lives in the lives of others and then we got to say better than that or I have to go on. Amen amen let's all stand. Amen. Father thank You for the good things you have given us and for the opportunities we have to serve you and that no matter what we've been taught in our lives and our previous from today from yesterday to you will teach us or things you'll teach us new ways. And sometimes those new ways are just ways of loving and forgiving and caring and touching people in a way that brings healing and strength and hope to their hearts. Thank you that in all things we give thanks to you. We pray in Jesus' name and everyone said Amen. bless you. What Is Important? Today's lesson is what is important what is important. Now I guess the way that we would judge this is by the amount of time the amount of such a lot of effort whatever it is that's important to us I think of well how much time did we spend getting ready for today coming to church. Now I know some didn't spend any time at all and I and I won't mention any names again but but some you know we spend a lot of time we spend preparation. Well you may say well myself I you know I you know Rod always lays out like clothes and things like that so that somewhat match. Sometimes I change the order of things and she says why did you wear that that's not what I laid out. So preparing to be here preparing for the message takes me about six days. So what I put together a start putting together this afternoon or last week for next week. And it just is something that evolves over the weekend. What we spoke of last week has been one that kind of is one of those pivotal points when you know just kind of halts us in our thinking because the things we spend a lot of time with are the things that are of value the things that are of value to us. Tell us what's important. Well in Romans chapter three and this is last week's scripture it says does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does. Now when we think of the value of what we put in place upon ourselves and place upon you know wanting things to be neat and orderly and you know I like I like my yard to be neat and orderly. I would comb my hair so it's neat normally what's left of it. So we like things to be a certain way we like them to be present. It's kind of like that integrity that we have in ourselves about the pride that we have in ourselves and what we do and those are good things but sometimes we think that is responding to what the problems that we face and in reality when we are facing a problem we are responding to what has already done has already done for us we're responding to what has already promised that you know I think of the scripture that all things work together for good to those who love and are called according to His purpose. Well the message Bible has that all things work for us and not against us. All things are working for us and so whenever we're looking at our life and trying to evaluate the importance of something we look at it as if it's a hard or if it's easy. Did it come by chance or to come by choice. Did it come by pursuit and pursuing after and having goals and going after those things. How did it get into our lives and what made it important to us. So these are the things we count a value like reading the word reading the Scriptures listening to music Christian music or listening to the Bible in the Bible Gateway. The website they have an audio Bible and you can get on there and listen to this long as you want and you can listen to chapters and listen the books of the Bible and it's just continuous reading and you even get to choose some of the versions that you want to hear. So reading the Bible is important to us. Praying. How many how much time do we spend in prayer. Now I don't mean the down on your knees and you know before and and doing that you know in the morning or an evening that we want to do that but during the day how much time do we spend in a consciousness. As in a sense is with me now I know that we have to pay attention to where we're at and driving in things will almost ran at red light I was just focusing on He does not want you to do that. OK. doesn't want you to be. Close your eyes in prayer OK I'm drivin and I'm praying and I'm trusting you to direct my car because I'm praying you better open your eyes and pray. And in our lives is not telling us to go blindly about every day events that we make choices and we make and we choose to do things and sometimes we make really good choices and sometimes not so good choices and is for us he's not responding to what we already know doesn't like me now. I blew it. doesn't like me. When does stop liking you. When does stop loving you. The answer is never. So hasn't changed his mind about you because we did things wrong or we did things right. He never changes mine because we live in a place of grace. We live in a place of mercy that everything that thinks about us is only for our good and everything that happens in our life. is there working for us. Now there may be people working against us but we're got to be smart enough to know that we can't allow their thoughts those against us to become our thoughts. We have to think of what has said that he loves us and that he appreciates us and that all things working for us and that his wisdom and his guidance His mercy His Grace are all there for us. Extensions from to our lives. You see even ever whenever we think of we think of it in the context of what he has done for. That's what he is doing for us and where he is taking leaving us in our life. So whenever we have the benefits of being number one we have the benefits of a full life that we are free from our sins and free from our past failures in the States. We are free and all and he who is set free is free indeed. Meaning that those things behind us are forever gone forever forgiven. Now there's a story of a guy who you know I like the idea of the il ration that this guy is carrying this heavy chest you know on his back you know loaded with very heavy objects and a person comes by with his horse and wagon and he offers the man a ride because all know I can do that I couldn't put my this heavy chest of burden upon your your horse and wagon the wagons empty the horses pine. There's nothing in here just put it in here. So eventually talks the guy into getting in the back of his wagon and when he turned the guy turns around he sees a guy standing in the back of the wagon balancing himself holding his chest on his back this huge heavy weight and the guy says Well why don't you put the chest down in the wagon he says although it was kind enough for you to give me a lift. I couldn't burden your horse with carrying this also which are thank you. Somebody's got it yes they couldn't bear I couldn't burden you with your horse having to pull the weight of this it's like you know it's already taken care of you're standing in the wagon and sometimes we are like that with our past in our sins and our failures. It's like oh I couldn't burden you with this than 's already forgiven it. He's already said let it go he's already told us to allow his grace and His mercy. Two touch our lives. does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does. Now in Romans Chapter twelve verse three which is our text for today. Paul is saying I'm speaking to you out of a deep gra ude for all that has given me that sets the stage. I am giving praise and thanks to for all that has given me. Now if we look at the character of Paul he was always in trouble and people are always trying to kill him. He's been stoned and beaten with rods and dragged out of the city for dead. And he's talking about all that has given me. He said these small afflictions are nothing compared to the glorious riches that I have in Christ. He saw working for him and all these other things were things that he needed to deal with but in a way that brought honor and glory to and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. He saw his responsibilities in relation to the Romans as a blessing. You know some people hide from responsibilities. Some people just want none. They want all the credit for something good and no credit when things go wrong. I remember I was watching this when I was down the new day and in Princeville I was up in an office and having a break between clients and I was sitting I looked out the window and there are these two boys in this vacant lot you know playing ball. One boy was thrown and the other one wa ting it while he wa ting the ball off the side of a house and water on the side of house's windows. No here is the boy just bang in the ball and Benson it off the window. And finally after about three times he drove the ball through the window. They said he dropped the baton so it's not my fault. And they all ran off. I don't know whose window it wasn't and wasn't their home and they just dropped the baton. Left the ball on. It's funny they didn't go out knock on the door and say Can I have my ball back. It's not my fault but you see isn't trying isn't pointing the accusing finger in this is and that's in the next text of John chapter three verse eighteen that is not about pointing an accusing finger. The closer we become in our relationship with is about setting us free and liberating our soul and liberating our mind and hearts that we can become what wants us to be so that we have enough strength to live we have enough strength to die we have enough strength to love we have enough strength to forgive we have enough strength so no matter what is in front of us we have the strength for it because as your day is so shall your strength be so 's grace and mercy there is their soul that we have this understanding of faith. We have this understanding of life that brings hope and strength to us that we do not need to fear what is in the future because this may be against us. Well it doesn't matter what may be against us today or tomorrow or next year. There's always something against us but always remember is working for us. is at work for us. No he's not. We're not his slave labor and he's not our slave labor. He has it work for us meaning he wants to bless he wants to guide he wants us to arrive at that place that he created us to be. He created us to be a certain person to be a certain way. If you need it to more intelligence you would have it. So that's my excuse. But if you needed more in your personality like someone else you would have it so has made you exactly who you need to be and exactly who you are because you're exactly what he wants in that place that you occupy. Now we are in this place. We are responsible for growing the person that is here so I'm good. What's he talking about. Talking about us and . That's funny not funny about was thinking this morning. For whatever reason I always thought I would like to be an evangelist. I always thought I'd like to be a person just travels around and speaks because all you need is one or two good sermons and you're sat for a couple years that's all you need. It is day two or three you know on how long a stay at a place and you just don't preach the same thing every week to learn better il rations and and you know what's up and going and everybody loves you know you create stir up trouble and leave. You know it's always thought him and I want to stir up trouble but you know I always do things and you know I always thought that would be a pretty good life you know. These guys they're able to speak and do very well and but that never happened. But then I was thinking you know I've I've written I'm thinking if I've written a book all right and I was thinking about it it's getting closer to the time when it will be published. But I was thinking that has given me the ability to do the same thing. For about thirty years and that now I'm able to write about it in a way that hopefully will impact numerous people. I see how you did that very thing that was in my heart that I was able to sit down over the last thirty years and talk with people who have had a loss in their family death in their family or trauma of some sort. And I've been able to sit down and basically review the same thing with each individual over a period of thirty years and I was thinking this morning how that that's exactly what I was thinking about about being an evangelist or being a speaker that we go somewhere and you would have the same message you're going to have to learn very much I had to do was say the same thing well. But in this case it's something we had to do and we had to do it in a way that would be able to help people where they are at but also they would be able to see being there with them and helping them in their in that situation. So you see it's out of a deep gra ude for all that has given me that we are being thankful and we are praising and we're thanking him for the good things he's brought into our lives because life isn't out of control. The world is an out of control. has placed you here to control. To allow His Spirit and His presence and His peace to be in your spot that you occupy and you being at peace and being at the strength and having the power and presence of No you are responding to 's word and you are bringing his peace to that spot for that moment to your contacts and he is using. You're right in that place so you see is working for me. He's for my good for the good in my life. does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does and what is doing. is loving. He's using you in the very spot you're in to bring peace comfort prayer. But anyhow I am speaking to you first. Romans twelve three I'm speaking to you out of a deep gra ude for all that has given me and especially as I have responsibility in relation to you living there. And as every one of you does into your Grace I'm living then as every one of you does in pure grace that thinks of you as being his favorite child pure grace. He doesn't see your fault you know looking at your faults. He's not pointing the accusing finger. He is looking and the pure grace of where we live in the grace of is the unmerited favor that we cannot change the character of by something we would say or do. We cannot change he is for ever loving he is for ever forgiving has never had one negative thought about you. has never been turned off towards you because he loves you. It is on his merit to his unmerited favor is upon you so we can earn it. This is his at ude towards us. So then why do I feel guilty and why do I feel like I'm not good enough why do why. Because we allow the accuser which isn't Jesus we allow the accuser to influence our thoughts. We allow the accuser to point the finger and say you're not good enough. But doesn't say that our sin in our life is something we need to confess because we're stopping the 's grace and mercy. We feel that we've done something wrong because a god is so holy and as we confess and as we allow to do that in our life we are being liberated we're being set free. Our life has a new perspective. It's a new dawn it's a new day and it's a new life every day because I'm being thankful to that he goes on. It's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who bring this goodness to OK In verse twenty seven. does not respond to what we do. We respond to what does. And here's here's another version of that in verse chapter twelve verse three. It's important that you not misinterpret yourself as people who bring who are bringing this goodness to it's me. You know I'm here. I got a lot of goodness I got a lot of talents and I know you could use it. You know bringing that to is bringing it good to brings it all to you. brings his grace and His mercy and the talents that we have whenever we see them as Aves so that we can get ahead. We are actually falling behind but as we see our talents in the gifts things that we have as gifts from We are living our life in service to and we see 's blessing upon what we are doing. That's why we can say is at work in my life because I have dedicated my talents in my gift things and the things that I do I have dedicated him to god so therefore he will bless them. He is working for me not against me. He's not point. Being accusing finger. He is saying to us how merciful the years and how Grace how much grace that he has in abundance for us. no brings it to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what is and by what he does for us. It's so important that we understand the character of the character of is always that what is Love is mercy. is forgiveness. is all powerful is all loving god is eternal is one thing else. I mean there's tons more but we see what is as we understand that idea of a god is Grace Mercy power strength forgiveness you know love joy peace patience gentleness meekness kindness and long suffering the fruits of the Spirit. is this and is the one who spoke the world into existence. That's why whenever we understand who we are we have to see ourselves in light of the character of his character and that it isn't that we have to earn his love we have to earn his forgiveness. Now we have to accept it. It's given to us. So as I go about my day I am thanking for the sunshine or the rain. I am thanking him for what I have and what I don't have and what he's going to bring into my life. I am rejoicing in the responsibility that I have and it doesn't become a burden it becomes an avenue of life. My. Life is not a bird in my hand life is a gift in the character of in understanding his character. For you see the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what is and what he does for us. You see all things work for us not against us. is at work in our life and no matter where it begins it always ends up in doesn't matter if the devil himself brings it about. It ends up in can work it to good is not the originator of all things. is the worker of all things to good. is the one who is at work in our life and so there's a story of this individual. He was dreaming in his dream he would found himself in this room and this room bar where a big card to card deck index was today if the il ration was made today this guy went into a room he found a computer and in this computer he had all the files about his life there were two that one had all the files about his life and all the things he'd ever said all the things he'd ever done all the unseen things unsaid unsaid things in his life were all on the screen before him and it's just a roll after roll after roll of all the things in his life and he's gone oh my goodness what am I going to do. And his name is attached to every one of the things he did and then he he notices the Jesus walks in the room and Jesus looks at the file of the computer and he types in paid in full. Delete. The screen is clear. Delete and everything that was wrong everything that was sinful everything that made him a failure in life. Delete. It's gone never to be remembered against him again. And you see it's that place of goodness. It's a place where Himself is at work in our life and it is who is trying to get our attention. Not too subtle straightness up but how to reveal the path that he has for us to walk. Yesterday was the Preakness and in those of you horse racers. But I was Bell My skin is a dumb one. I'm not a horse race or but I won lots of money. Now if I didn't gamble I did not. Everybody listen. It was a joke I did not place money on the horses. But now you see how that whenever the trainers and all of the people there saying how good the horse is how good the horses and it's true if it wasn't for the horse no matter what the trainers and everything else it was the trainers who brought out the best in the horse U.K. I always remember the movie secretary and the reason I I think of that is because the horse itself secretariat was trained to help other horses when what they would do is. Secretary would go out in front and lead the whole way around the track and then when it was rounding the far turn the jockey would. Pull the horse back so that the horses behind would learn how to p and catch up and p the secretary to horse. And so it was used to teach other horses how to lose so you knew he was a loser in teaching other horses how to win. And sometimes we look at life and we say to ourselves we're just here to let other people p us by. And you see that's the horse Secretariat the trainers had to break the horse of that giving up in the last quarter of the track they had to break that knowledge that it was not good enough to finish first and see isn't about finishing first. He wants us all to finish first. He wants us all to complete the race successfully. He wants us to be number one in ourselves and with him and you see if I number one with You can be number one with but doesn't eliminate someone from being someone else from being number one. It's like I was at the Christian bookstore and I was buying the offering envelopes and they had five boxes there so usually I go and buy five boxes in a case and bring it home. Well there was only five so I didn't want to take the last box and when somebody else took me like I have and found that there's no offering envelopes. So the guy was there he says I'll take all five he says no I can't do that. I don't want somebody else to be left out. So I left two boxes and brought three. Well that's a good type of sharing but we all have we have this false concept of pride. There's a pride that says I'm better than other people but there is a pride. It says I am gifted and is at work in me to bring that gifting to its highest level. And if I reach the highest level I will become the person wants me to be. And you see as I strive for that so you strive for it as you strive for it so others in the body of Christ strive for it and as part of the Body of Christ we are to be the most excellent of people we are to be the most the greatest of overachievers and has a purpose for each of our lives and is not working against us. All things work together for us. is at work behind the scenes. What is doing. Whatever we have been taught in our own lives. Like the secretary of the w secretary at the horse. Most of the time we think well we don't want to be first. We kind of back off and let other people go in front of us. Therefore we are have no pride and we are humble. But the opposite is true. allowing me to become first the best in what I do does not stop you from being the best in what you do and the best in what we do. Maybe a handshake a smile a prayer a word of encouragement. It may not be in our profession of making a life but it would be in our membership in the body of Christ that we extend Jesus to other people. will help us extend his love to other people. And I was sure Iranians forget which chapter it is I was reading it this morning and it says Who are you to cross somebody off the list of who is invited. Yeah we cannot write somebody off the list that we would say oh you know they're a pretty bad center has written him off. has not written anyone off. He may be using you to be the witness to them to change their life and their destiny for eternity. So you see what we are about is about living and allowing to understand that is working in us through us and for us and the events of life. They're not against us. No matter how hard it is it is our responsibility in our relationship with to see the good and pray for the good to come from all of this and we may not see it this year when we may not see it in twenty years but we know that it is there. is at work and we keep sowing and watering the seed that has placed in our lives in the lives of others and then we got to say better than that or I have to go on. Amen amen let's all stand. Amen. Father thank You for the good things you have given us and for the opportunities we have to serve you and that no matter what we've been taught in our lives and our previous from today from yesterday to you will teach us or things you'll teach us new ways. And sometimes those new ways are just ways of loving and forgiving and caring and touching people in a way that brings healing and strength and hope to their hearts. Thank you that in all things we give thanks to you. We pray in Jesus' name and everyone said Amen. bless you. What Is Important?