Reformation Hope Church

Romans 11:29 states, "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." What does this mean? Does it have meaning beyond Romans 11? Beyond the unrepentant call of God to the Jews as He used the severe cutting of this natural branch (Romans 11:21) and the unnatural ingrafting of the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy? Was Romans 11:29 a warning only for that time--a warning that God will do whatever is necessary to have the Jews obey His call? Romans 11:29 can be applied throughout all time. Years before the time of Romans 11, the callings of God to Moses, Samson, and David were not repented of even though each of these men resisted the calling of God. Instead, God did whatever was necessary until each man fulfilled his particular calling of God in spite of their sin and disobedience. Were these times pleasant for the men? NO! We Christians today need to heed Romans 11:29. God promises to gift us for our callings, but warns us in this verse that the calling of God is

Are you a thrill seeker? Lover of the sensational? Into UFO's and aliens? Do we, like people of old, seek signs and wonders instead of God's prophetic Word? Do we turn away in unbelief (Romans 11:20), so distracted by the "miracles" of our day that we don't recognize the Christ--the Prophetic Word in human form? Do we give our attention to announcements like "the world will end May 26th!" rather than listen to the steady call of the prophetic Word (I Thess.5:1-8; Romans 11:21-22)? God--through His prophetic Word--calls us, giving us hope as He has "not appointed us to wrath" (I Thess.5:9). The prophetic Word gives us understanding (Romans 11: 11-14) and warnings (Romans 11: 20-21) so we may remember that God is not a plaything (Romans 11:22). God's prophetic Word is designed to call the church; calling us to be sober and watchful (I Thess.5:6). It calls us to not be afraid, but to be prepared. Are you grounded in the prophetic Word, or will Satan distract you, using the

(I Corinthians 2, II Cor. 10:1-11, Hebrews 11:1-10) Christians are called to understand the invisible hand of God; His ruling power in the midst of persecution or reformation. God's invisible hand moved the Roman Emperor Constantine to stop the horrible persecution of Christians in the fourth century. Constantine spurred reformation when he issued the famous Edit of Milan in 313 A.D., ending the persecution of Christians. Constantine, by making the freedom to worship a legal right, was used by God to encourage reformation of the Roman Empire by Christianity. Do we see God's invisible hand in today's persecution? Is reformation in the wings? Will He use a "Constantine" of today to stop persecution in North Korea, China, or Indonesia? Will He use an American "Constantine" to encourage reformation here? Whether we live under persecution or have a "Constantine" and are on the brink of reformation, we must remember that th

(Romans 11:1-11, I Kings 19:1-21) Do you ever feel all alone as a Christian? Or that there are just a few people that truly love God and live for Him? In Romans 11 Paul reminds us that God always reserves a remnant. Paul uses Elijah as an example. Elijah believes he is all alone and in danger (Romans 11:3). But God answers Elijah, and Paul reminds the Christians at Rome, that "there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Romans 11:4-5). Why did Elijah doubt God back in I Kings 19? Because of his circumstances. As God showed Elijah (I Kings 19:15-18), so Paul reminded the brethren in Rome--God uses the circumstances to call forth the remnant. In Paul's case it was the Gentiles (Romans 11:12). Romans 11 reminds us today that God alone gives grace to the remnant. He alone opens eyes and ears. He culls--winnows out--those of the remnant, often using hard circumstances to do so. May we not doubt as E

Judgement Begins in the House of God (Romans 10:13-21, I Cor. 1:14-31, I Peter 4:7-19) Peter warns us that "the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God" (I Peter 4:17). Through the preaching of the Word (usually done in the house of God) the Holy Spirit will "reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7-11). True preaching brings a merciful judgment--we are made to see our sin, and we meet our Saviour. Of course, if our pulpits are ashamed to preach His Word, then can we trust that that God is present? Romans 10:15 reminds us that preachers must be sent if the gospel is to be preached; the house of God must be built (Haggai 1). When the Word is preached in the house of God, our core beliefs are judged. The judgment of our souls will, hopefully, then take us out of the house of God--out of our churches--and into society, bringing God's love and righteous judgment to society. This can only happen

What would you rather have: Gold or Sound Admonition from your pulpit? Study well for your neighbor. Learn soundness of words, a soundness of speech that cannot be defeated and that is a well of understanding with which to guide others. Be a steward of great truths, and use them as our Lord did to bring answers that cannot be condemned.

Do you know how to suture? Not the medical stitching of skin, but the art of healing wounds caused by sin? Barnabas and the Apostle Paul's great faith resulted in much "suturing". When many Christians were not trusting the Apostle Paul--the newly converted Saul who had severely persecuted many Christians--Barnabas, by faith, spent time with the Apostle Paul; getting to know Paul at the risk to his own life. Barnabas had to be sure of the Apostle Paul's faith so that he could confidently present Paul to the apostles without endangering them (Acts 9:27). Thus Barnabas began "suturing" many wounds caused by Saul. And the Apostle Paul, with a deep love embedded in his heart by faith (Romans 10:8-10), began "suturing" the Jews, uniting them to Christ. Do you have the faith of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas? By faith Barnabas gave much (Acts 4:33-37). By faith the Apostle Paul suffered beatings and perils, but still reached out to Jewish persecutors with the same love that save him. The Ap

"What the Pulpits Aren't Addressing" (Romans 1:15-25, Romans 10, Romans 16:25-27) "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2). Have you analyzed the preaching you hear, Sunday after Sunday? Is it enough for preaching to cover the gospel, to call us to prayer, to encourage charity? Romans 10:2 warns that preaching must go beyond stirring zeal in the hearts. Godly preaching must teach of God's righteousness and how man is to submit to it (Romans10:2-3). Romans 10:10, "For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." Preaching should not be ashamed of Christ and His Kingship but seek to hold today's issues to the standard of His righteousness and encourage man to submit to it (Romans 10:7). Do our pulpits preach about attacks on civil liberties, about our courts,about the chaos in our capitols? Does preaching call us to have the c

Is there power in the preaching of God's Word? Romans 10 would contend that there is power-- supernatural power--attendant to such preaching. Faith and salvation, the power that changes lives.

Preaching the Cross of Christ raises His people, as He himself, from the dead. Preaching is representative of a King. If virtue reigns, liberty and freedom will reign. Preaching is designed to expose and announce the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the rising a new world.

A Wonder of a Counselor

The Church must Build God's House, do not neglect it, and He will bless you and build yours.

The Remnant Part V

The Remnant Part IV

The Remnant Part II

The Remnant Part I in a series.

The Bible describes the Remnant as those who are faithful during times of great Apostasy...The scriptures teach us both in Micah 7 and Amos 5 that God empowers His Remnant such as that they are the dew in the garden bringing fruitfulness in the land. In addition, they are compared to a lion in the midst of other beasts that flee from them. The Lord raises up from this Remnant through preaching in particular, the power of the Church. The Church, the humble in appearance to the world around, like Her Lord, will perform the miraculous through his strength: the casting down of Satan, and the raising up of righteousness throughout the land. Preaching is designed I Cor 1: 14ff to provide the Christian with consistent discernment, strength of heart and the capacity for overcoming sin Satan and the world. No Christian can safely walk in this wicked world without the constant diet provided by faithful and Christ centered preaching.

Sermon Nov 7 2010