Twisting Our Blessed Hope | Ruth Chou-Simons Message Review

We're going to Romans 8. I don't know that there's a deeper Theological piece of work in the

Bible. So we're going here and what you will leave with I believe Is more of Jesus.

I do see you you are tuning in here this weekend Showing up in your places, but likely going through potentially a dark time a difficult season of your life

Hardship that you did not expect. She wants to teach us something that will help us when we are going through Something that makes us question our calling or doubt the strength we have to achieve it

Is that the same motivation Paul has in writing this portion of Romans 8?

Oh, I mean, what should I be doing? Should I be doing something different? Should I why this tension of I know where I'm supposed to be going but I can't

I don't know how to weather The hardship of where I am right now the not becoming as quickly as I'd like To become who

God's made me to be now for a Christian who understands their sin nature and wrestles with their flesh there is

Definitely a feeling of frustration and eager desire to be set free

Knowing that God has called us to be like Christ But not feeling like we're making much progress in that area and that is really what

Paul is talking about here the spirit within us Grows to be set free from the incorruptible the perishable

That is that what Ruth is talking about here Purpose -driven theology makes

God's promises very temporal and of this world It's about God's work through you and I to bring change to this world

Heaven hell and eternity Will be less addressed in their messages because of this but Paul's teachings here are

Centered on eternity our great hope the end result of our salvation our glorification

Welcome to the thirdly equipped podcast where we compare the teachings from popular women's ministry books

Conferences Bible studies, etc to scripture our focus is 2nd Timothy 3 16 to 17 that all

Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking correcting and training in righteousness

So the man or woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

I'm your host Melba toast. May this episode bless you and bring glory to God Hello ladies,

I'll go back to another episode of thoroughly equipped So happy you could join me for this episode if you are new well, welcome

We are continuing with our critique of the very popular women's conference the if gathering

The speakers that teach at this conference are some of the most popular female speakers within evangelicalism

Within well Christian American Christianity today and this season we're taking a very in -depth dive in discerning this conference or Basically, really it's a whole ministry women's ministry and I have planned in this season to Address it in parts to make it

I think a little more Edible Basically using the way

I discern Female speakers individually I take it and look at it broaden it and look at a whole woman's ministry

Okay, so in the beginning of this series, we looked at the heart or the purpose of the conference in This part which

I identify as part two We're looking at the some of the speakers who are brought in to teach at this conference

In each episode in this portion of the series I look at their ministries and ask whether they willingly submit to the clear teaching in God's Word about the role of women within the church who

I look also at who they are associated with Whether they had have discernment themselves in regards to false teaching and false teachers and Then we look at the way these women handle

Scripture whether they rightly handle God's Word addressing the verses in context drawing out from Scripture the teachings that the

Author wished to teach we are To do this we are tackling the 2020 conference

Because of that conference Jenny Allen set it up for each of the speakers to give a message on a specific section of Romans chapter 8 from which

Jenny promised us Jesus Christ that we would come to know him better through the teachings given by the speakers in this conference and so today we're going to look at session 5 and message given by Ruth Chow Simmons So let's look at Ruth Chow Simmons and her ministry

Miss Simmons is a best -selling and award -winning author her titles include greatly grace laced beholding and becoming and Foundations her most recent book is titled when strivings cease

She's mostly known for her company grace laced an art and a lifestyle brand

I have to say that her work is very beautiful. I also Appreciate the message.

She's trying to convey in her speeches and books that we strive for Self -improvement without understanding the grace of God in the first session of her

Bible study when strivings cease She gives the gospel and at least read

Scripture On our sin and God's great mercy Now I haven't come across any videos of her speaking at churches on Sunday morning or even over Christian conferences for both male and females not as of yet.

I haven't seen that There are videos. However of her speaking at a conference at Oklahoma Baptist University with a mixed audience

Now as I come to Scripture, I don't want to add where Scripture does not speak

So in this case a woman speaking at a university even a Christian University I'm not gonna be so picky about There may be something

I'm missing and I'm willing to be corrected by Scripture. Of course on the on this point I just haven't seen it or Arrived at that information yet It but it is absolutely clear that when a woman comes into the house of God to preach teach and supposedly give and expound upon the

Apostles teachings acts 242 and come under the authority of Scripture that the line most definitely

Must be drawn God is clear that for the gatherings of his people

They are to devote themselves to the Apostles teaching God has instituted that it be a man to give and hand down those teachings

Therefore a man is to be preaching. So while I appreciate miss Simmons teachings and her from what

I can tell submission to God's Word in the area of teaching over men I Do question her discernment?

She back in February of 2021 appeared on the Jesus calling podcast

I don't think that necessarily means she supports or endorses the extra biblical revelation

That's very young had given in her writings and also in this franchise and on the podcast as well

But it does expose at least that she hasn't really thought about what Jesus calling promotes

Now if you want more information in regards to the Jesus calling franchise, I did a series on this very popular devotional in Season one of thoroughly equipped we looked over and wrestled with the teachings in her devotional for teens as well as examining the beginnings of the

Jesus calling book itself from its introduction in the 2004 edition we discussed what she described as her conversion experience as well as looking at the

Subjective experiences she claimed to have received These episodes are worth checking out if you have questions on what?

Doctrinal issues as well as what type of Christ is being given in those devotionals

So like I said, there is a slight question of discernment on Ruth's part

All right, but let's dive into her message today and Do a sort of critique a review into it for those of you who have been following along I'm going to remind you of the declaration and promise

Jenny Ellen gave in the 2020 conference introduction We are halfway through the conference.

This is session five and I think there's a total there's four more sessions to go

So we should assess whether we have even begun to receive that promise

Let's start this thing off with one of my favorite chapters in this book called the

Bible And whether you've known Jesus for a long time or you're just checking him out

We're not gonna water him down here We're going to Romans 8.

I don't know that there's a deeper Theological piece of work in the Bible. So we're going here and what you will leave with I believe

Is more of Jesus, okay so far Jesus has been Conspicuously missing from the messages.

These teachers have been presenting There has been a lot of talk about of course us what we need to realize such things as our

Greatest need has been met How we fight the enemy who keeps us from setting our minds on the spirit that we should have the spirit of Christ in us to live

Supernatural lives and that we need to unwrap our inheritance as adopted children of God so we can

Accomplish our calling This is a far cry from focusing quote completely and entirely on the person of Jesus these messages have been more focused on us and not him and especially not really even the text of Romans chapter 8

Messages and teachings like these cater to our pride and sinful nature drawing us to God For what he can give us how these messages make us feel

Empowered wanting the blessing of God, but not knowing who

God is who Jesus is or Wanting what the spirit actually, you know really offers because none of this addresses our problem that We love ourselves and not

God that we love our sin and do not desire to put it to death and because of this we suppress the truth instead of embracing it because really we love the darkness and not the light which

Exposes our sins. We prefer to hear how God loves us. Just as we are

Desires to have a relationship with us pursues us wants us to live

Supernaturally empowered lives to do great things and wants to use us

To change the world because you know, it gives us a sense of importance Remember Jenny points out that there are women in the audience who are quote

Just checking Jesus out these women who are slaves to their sin

Lovers of themselves are given a Jesus who also loves them

Do who just wants a relationship with them and who wants to empower them to accomplish their dreams?

Is a Savior who wants them to cherish his spirit that lives inside them who wants to make their life supernatural

They simply need to open their inheritance and make use of the gifts.

God gave them If you're new and are curious about Where I'm getting all this you can check out the earlier message

Reviews I did from this conference and you don't know where I'm getting this information from Because so far that's what we've been presented with Now are the next four sessions?

Gonna be any different. That's the question. So session five is a message given by Ruth Chow Simons who is to elaborate on Romans 8 24 to 28 now the last message was delivered by Joe Saxton on Romans 8 14 to 17 and You'll notice that several verses are left out.

And again, I'll mention that this is a conference. It's not a church so I'm not looking for like an in -depth study or teaching verse by verse but these verses are

Important to the context of the passages and it is the context that helps us understand the verses

Helps us understand what Paul means in those sentences They are essential to understanding what

Paul is trying to teach us from Romans chapter 8 So let's read those verses in their context and look at what the

Holy Spirit wants to teach us through it Remember what we've learned already

Paul has explained very clearly that every man who is born of Adam is born with a sinful nature

He is a slave to his flesh and because of this no man can please

God Meaning that we're all unrighteous and will one day stand before God guilty of transgressing his law

But there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the law of the

Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do

By sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin He condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law

Might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit And that was

Romans 8 verses 1 to 4 and because we are dead to sin alive to Christ We are no longer debtors to the flesh

But instead by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to put to death the deeds of the flesh

We put them to death not because we fear the wrath of God like before but now because of Christ we are

Reconciled to God who is our Heavenly Father now? And he has sent his spirit to testify to our spirit that he is our

Heavenly Father Making us heirs with Christ provided that like him we suffer with this in mind

Let's go to the text and start from verse 14 For all who are led by the

Spirit of God are sons of God For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear

But you have received the spirit of adoption of sons by whom we cry Abba Father The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children then heirs

Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him

Now before I continue reading I want to bring to your attention that these next couple of verses are completely

Kept out of the conference sessions just like verses 12 and 13 were left out of Joe Saxton's message

Again, this is a conference It's not a church by which the pastor or teachers should go verse by verse to teach and train up their listeners

But these verses are crucial to the context of what the Holy Spirit is teaching through Paul.

So let's look at them For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God For the creation was subjected to futility not willingly

But because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself

Will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory and the children of God For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now and not only the creation but we

Ourselves who have the firstfruits of the spirit grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons the redemption of our bodies

So God is a good and loving father who has provided everything we need to reconcile us to him gives us all we need to accomplish as well and Will one day deliver us from the corruption that is in this world and in our bodies

Provided we suffer with Christ By this Paul means the suffering that we all deal with since we live in perishable sinful bodies in a corrupted evil world

Christ truly God and truly man Subjected himself to the sufferings of this sinful world receiving the wrath of man acts to 22 to 23 and 530 and the wrath of God Isaiah 53 4 to 6 and Romans 5 8 to 9 and though innocent

Submitted to these sufferings brought on by sin for our salvation We though not sinless like Jesus live in a sinful world and will be subjected to suffering in this sinful world suffering that comes about from our own sin and suffering that comes about from other sin and Suffering from an earth that has been cursed by sin

But these sufferings are nothing compared to what God has in store for us and we along with creation

Long to be set free from the suffering and corruption of sin Okay.

Now in that context, let's read the passage Ruth is supposed to teach on For in this hope we were saved now hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes and what he sees

But if we hope for what we do not see we wait for it with patience Likewise the

Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know what to pray for as we ought but the

Spirit Himself Intercedes for us with groans too deep for words and he who searches the hearts

Knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the

Saints according to the will of God And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose

So Paul is telling us that our hope is in the promise of the new heavens

New earth and new imperishable bodies that God will one day give us.

This is our great. Hope This is God's great promise. And this is what we wait for with all patience and just like creation groans the

Spirit within us groans and waits eagerly for this redemption for a

Sinless body in this hope we were saved. We were saved so that God might glorify

Himself through the redemption of sinful people who will one day be glorified with Christ We will one day put on the imperishable and we will one day be set free from sin death and the devil in the same way that the

Spirit groans within us waiting eagerly for our Adoption as sons the redemption of our bodies the

Spirit also helps us in our weakness see in these Fleshly bodies.

We do not know what to pray for but the Spirit does and so he intercedes for us

Christ knowing the mind of God knows the groanings of the Spirit that intercedes for the

Saints according to the will of God The Spirit within us even prays for the will of God for God Causes all things to work for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose

These are just wonderful Wonderful truths really they are basically proclaiming how

God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have accomplished and are

Accomplishing all God's will in and through us

All of it is his work all of it done for his glory Even in our weakness ladies when we don't know how to pray or what to pray for it

The Spirit prays for us and this is why Paul in 2nd Corinthians 12 9 to 10 has no qualms about boasting in his weaknesses

Even being content with the weaknesses the insults the hardships persecutions and calamities because he rightly understands that God works all these things out for Paul's good and God's glory for when

Paul is weak then he is strong Why because Christ's grace is sufficient for him

Christ's power is made perfect in Paul's weakness Paul wants

Christ to receive all all the glory This is a very different mindset than what gets taught in American Christianity today

It's a very different mindset than what we are given even in this conference the if gathering

Will Ruth Chow Simmons talk about this? Hope we have the

Spirit's intercession and the work of God for our good in all things Well, let's find out

Ruth Chow Simmons starts her message talking about how she encourages her family to Open up their heart to talking about things and that is done at their house

Usually during meal prep she says She wants the audience to know that discipleship happens during the day -to -day activities with that in mind

She offers an invitation to come into her studio while she works on a painting

Now on the stage is a table with paint brushes paint sets and a paint canvas

And it's in this setting that she invites us to sit and have a chat

As she sets up her station and begins to paint she tells the audience that she quote -unquote

Sees them that she understands that many of them are dealing with hard times in their lives

This is a starting point of her message, let's get honest I Want to say that I see you

It's possible that well, yeah, I'm wearing my progressives because I'm in my 40s and I really can't see you if I don't wear this

Guys, it's hard getting older. You know, I see you. I do see you you are tuning in here this weekend

And Showing up in your places, but likely going through potentially a dark time a difficult season of your life hardship that you did not expect

You have been brought into things that are making you question your calling you are likely

Wondering am I really even called because what is called look like? What does it look like to serve the

Lord and quite honestly right now? It looks like I'm changing diapers and I'm Talking to my neighbor.

I'm taking dinner over to someone and I'm not doing great big things for the Lord Is that how do

I show up to my calling? Is this how the Lord is going to use me and some of you may be coming really on a high and you've had a

Wonderful start to your ear and there's been some serious big wins for you. And it's likely that If you're like me sometimes when things are going really well

You actually have that fear of losing it all and you think oh, what if I can't maintain? What if I can't strive hard enough and you feel silly even saying it

But you know that there's a part of you that says Oh Lord Like do I have what it takes for what you've called me to oh

She is worried about how we might feel about our calling. This is the problem

She wants to help us with she wants to teach us something that will help us when we are going through Something that makes us question our calling or doubt the strength we have to achieve it

Is that the same motivation Paul has in writing this portion of Romans 8?

This is right at the beginning of her message. So I'm wondering how that ties into the message of Romans 8 24 to 27

What might a special calling or purpose have to do with the hope that we have in the promises given by God?

To deliver us from sin and corruption and the promise to help us in our weakness and work all things out for our good

But let's see where she goes with this and if you were showing up at my house today I tell you to go pour up a cup of coffee

Make some hot tea I would tell you to come and talk about all those things and you know when you finally took a breath and you know because we all kind of monologue for a while and when you come up for breath and you are finally like So, I don't know.

I mean, what should I be doing? Should I be doing something different? Should I why this tension of I know where I'm supposed to be going but I can't

I don't know how to weather the hardship Of where I am right now the not becoming as quickly as I'd like to become who

God's made me to be Okay So she's talking about feeling lost at times when we feel like we are not being

Who God called us to be or not doing what we think God called us to do

Now for a Christian who understands their sin nature and wrestles with their flesh.

There is Definitely a feeling of frustration and eager desire to be set free

Knowing that God has called us to be like Christ, but not feeling like we're making much progress in that area

And that is really what Paul's talking about here the spirit within us Growns to be set free from the incorruptible the perishable

That is that what Ruth is talking about here. Now. Here's a note I want to bring to your attention before we proceed with her message this portion of Romans is dealing with eternal and spiritual things

Longing for something and a hope for something that is not temporal something that is not of this world

Purpose -driven theology makes God's promises very temporal and of this world

It's about God's work through you and I to bring change to this world heaven hell and eternity

Will be less addressed in their messages because of this but Paul's teachings here are

Centered on eternity our great hope the end result of our salvation our glorification

If you know me and this podcast you probably know that her intro comments here are extremely frustrating to me especially talking about such things as serving neighbors and changing diapers as Interruptions to the real service for God This is the type of teaching

I fell for and it brought me at its worst to revile These works for my family and at its best

To reduce them down to proving to God that I can be faithful and the small things so that he can trust me with the

Great things that special Special purpose he has for me that will help him change the world

That was an immense burden. Yeah, I was a deceived woman

Weighed down with sins 2nd Timothy 3 6 and bewitched by false teachings

Galatians 3 1 now, miss Chow Simmons sympathizes with us and then tells

Us to turn to Romans 8 and proceeds to read the text. I'm going to let her read and get right into our point

Turn to Romans 8 verses 24 through 28 For in this hope we were saved now hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he sees

But if we hope for what we do not see we wait for it with patience Likewise the

Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know what to pray for as we ought but the

Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and He who searches hearts knows what is in the mind of the

Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the Saints according to the will of God and We know that for those who love

God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose and so Because we are short on time and this is gonna be a quick coffee date friends.

I'm gonna just cut to the chase If you were sitting at my house, I would probably because of the way

I am I would probably just look you in the eye and just tell you straight up What's made a difference in my life?

And the first thing I would tell you is If You are measuring up whether you have enough resources for what

God's called you to remember God's calling isn't just on stage with a microphone God's calling could be in your season right now being faithful with actually staying on top of the laundry

Loving your husband maybe ministering to your college dorm neighbor and talking to that friend

Wherever God's called you don't assume that it's on the other side of the the world.

It might be right next door But if you are counting up and measuring what you can see of your abilities

You're not hoping in Christ you're hoping in yourself Now I want to show you something that speakers or teachers

Commonly do that twist scripture and Ruth has done just that here. She starts her message

Setting us up with a topic the topic or problem. She wants to address in this message it's the topic of feeling lost when we think we're not accomplishing

God's calling for our life and usually Speakers bring up the topic first and want to teach the passage or verse that they bring up Will help us in some way solve or address that problem

This tends to place into a text a teaching that is not found in the text when we read it in context

And that is exactly what is going on here. Ruth wants to talk about hope

Paul too wants to talk about hope But what that hope is placed in the object of the hope in the text or the object of hope in Bruce message are two entirely different things

Paul wants to remind us of our hope in an incorruptible world free of sin death and the devil and Ruth wants to remind us of Hope in God's calling for our lives and the resources he will provide to accomplish it

Paul wants to point you to eternity Ruth points you to this world

Paul wants you to hope in the promises that God will make things right while Ruth Wants you to hope and what

God gives you to make things right and in this twist She wants to warn us not to count up our resources because if we're doing that we are not counting on Christ Now if she's talking about counting up resources that we think would earn us salvation like Paul addresses in Like Paul had addressed in the earlier chapters of Romans.

She would have a point But she is talking about accomplishing our calling That's the way she set the message up to not count up our resources what we have been given what our current

Situation looks like and not to judge by these what God's calling might be this

Undermines the sufficiency of scripture to instruct us in our calling and did you notice that the situations she states?

What could be what God has for us at a time of feeling loss? Listen to this part of the clip again

As calling could be in your season right now being faithful with actually staying on top of the laundry

Loving your husband maybe ministering to your college dorm neighbor and talking to that friend

Wherever God's called you don't assume that it's on the other side of the the world.

It might be right next door See, I don't think she realizes it but she has just questioned

God's Word and its authority in our lives as women God is not a god of confusion

God has laid for us very clearly in scripture what he wants his women to do This type of talk is the fruit of not believing that scripture is sufficient to teach

Rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness So that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2nd

Timothy 3 16 to 17 it I mean scripture Teaches us what

God calls us to do if you ever feel lost in regards to what you think God is calling you to do

Go to scripture. Let's look at just a few passages that talk about what

God wants of us First God calls us to be saved from the wrath to come and trust in Christ This is the calling of God through the gospel

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and You have received the gift of the

Holy Spirit Acts 2 38 Then because we are forgiven we are called to Present your bodies as a living sacrifice

Holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship Do not be conformed to this world

But be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern What is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect Romans 12 1 to 2?

First Thessalonians 4 1 to 12 states finally then brothers We ask and urge you in the

Lord Jesus That as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please God Just as you are doing that you do so more and more for you

What instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus for this is the will of God your sanctification that you abstain from Sexual immorality that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor

Not in the passion of lusts like the Gentiles who do not know God that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the

Lord is a Avenger and all these things as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you for God is not called us for impurity

But in holiness Therefore whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God who gives his

Holy Spirit to you Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one

Another for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout,

Macedonia But we urge you brothers to do this more and more and to inspire

To live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you so that you may walk

Properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one So there are more narrow Instructions given to women in scripture that call us to submit to our own husbands as to the

Lord For the husband is the head of wife even as Christ is the head of the church his body and is himself its

Savior Now as the church submits to Christ so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands

Ephesians 5 22 to 23 and That we are to train or be trained up to Love their husbands and children to be self -controlled pure Working at home kind and submissive to our own husbands that the

Word of God may not be reviled Titus 2 4 to 5 The last scripture passage

I want to look at in regards to God's will for us is the following passages from Romans itself

That will not even be mentioned in this conference and that are the verses that come directly

After the passage that Ruth is to teach on verses 29 and 30 for those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and Those whom he predestined he also called and those whom he called he also

Justified and those whom he justified he also glorified This is the consummation of God's plan for our lives that because God foreknew us

He predestined that we be conformed to the image of his son that we be

Christ's Disciples having been baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit and learned to do all that he has commanded us

On this side of eternity, we're given the fruit of our justification which is our sanctification and when

Jesus returns We receive the outcome of our salvation eternal life

Romans 6 22 Notice the lack of talk regarding some specific calling one that needs supernatural power to be accomplished and said

Scripture speaks the great Supernatural power that we are given to merely love

God and love neighbor because of our faith in Jesus Christ this supernatural power

Looks weak and simple to the world It looks like one serving and loving another by making sure the laundry gets done changing a dirty diaper disciplining our children

Loving serving and teaching them It looks like submitting to our husband's instructions when we think they've got it wrong

It looks like making a meal of oodles and noodles and praising God that he has answered prayer to give you your daily bread

It's invisible to the human eye when one does all things for the glory of God Obeying the first second and third commandment

When and if this is done in our frail sinful flesh it is done in the will of God because of Christ and with the awesome and Mighty mighty power of the

Holy Spirit. It is not that quote. It could be what God wants in quote

This is what he predestined for you the beginnings of being conformed to the image of his son that you should walk in And his word scripture equips you for that very thing

Therefore there is no if in some of these things she mentioned regarding our purpose.

Did God give you a husband? Then your purpose is to be his help me and submit to his leadership

Did God give you children? Then your calling or purpose is to be a godly influence in their lives and raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the

Lord Did God place you at a university then your calling is to study well and be a salt and light in that University God places you in areas of this world to put to death the deeds of your flesh and walk in the

Spirit and yes Giving the gospel in any area of life is part of that Going back to our message.

She urges us to look at our trail of thoughts. Look at fears and lies

Look at our social feeds to identify what we might be putting our hope in instead of Christ Paul just spent all this time the first seven chapters in Romans telling us the bad news that we were dead in our trespasses and the

Good news that we are alive in Christ through faith and now he's declaring hope hope is not a feel -good empty platitude, but a confident perseverance toward the future based on a

Certainty of fulfillment and that fulfillment we have hope because we have

Jesus He is the certainty and the fulfillment. And so if you're sitting there

First and foremost, I just want to say we all do it. But if you are Taking notes on what you have and what you don't have if you had more

I hate to say it But you know We all struggle sometimes thinking if I had more followers if I had more reach if I had more

Resources finances if I had a supportive husband, whatever it is if I had child care

Those are all seen and obvious things But just like I said last night you want your life to not make sense to the natural world

It has to make sense of a supernatural world because that's when we hope in the unseen and in Christ You weren't saved

Well, you weren't saved so that you could then run on your own. I think so many times we do that We kind of say to ourselves

Well, he saved me and now I'm gonna show him how great I can Earn it back and make sure he knows that I really deserve that salvation

No, you were saved to depend on him every second of every day Because in Christ more than you ask or imagine was delivered to you

So why would you be looking for what is seen and understood with your eyes? You can't even imagine what is done through Jesus think how that would transform your life if you would focus

Now I appreciate what she's saying about hoping in Christ This is what

Romans 8 is all about and I'm all for focusing on Christ Honestly, that's why

I do this podcast I agree that if we know nothing but Christ and him crucified we would have the best

Knowledge and be able to walk and conform ourselves to him In fact, feel free to go back and listen to the episode

I did about discerning female teachers and looking at who and what they talk mostly about And in that episode

I read George Whitfield's commentary on 1st Corinthians 2 to his

Commentary beautifully lays out why we should know nothing else But of course,

I do not agree with what she said about Beth Moore's message and how she taught that a spirit -filled life

It's a life that looks supernatural You can see my review of that message on this channel, but let's address what she said about hope so hope is quote a confident perseverance towards the future based on a certainty of Fulfillment in that fulfillment.

We have hope because we have Jesus Yes, this is true. Our Certainty of fulfillment is because of Jesus But in this text, our hope is not grounded in the fulfillment of whatever we want it to be

It's actually in something specific in this chapter The promise of making all things right upon his return

That is why Paul says that we on this side of eternity will suffer with Christ But that this suffering is not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed in us when we enter eternity

Hope in this context is on something very specific to encourage us in our times of suffering in this context our hope or Confident perseverance towards the future in this case towards a new

Uncorrupted heavens earth and imperishable body is based on God Who promised it

Isaiah 65 17 and 19 2nd Peter 3 13 Revelation 21 1 it's on Christ who is the firstborn being the first to be raised from the dead

Colossians 1 18 and On the Holy Spirit who raised him

Romans 8 11 So our confidence is in God Jesus and the Holy Spirit Not in whether we are accomplishing our purpose or fulfilling a calling

She then goes on to talk about how we can become impatient with results not seeing, you know the results of our labor but we are to wait with patience when we hope in the

Unseen because patience is the perspective of one who knows that she is the created not the

Creator Sometimes we're impatient with the results with fruit for with the visible evidence of the efforts we've made and Paul tells us that we wait with patience when we hope in the unseen because patience is the perspective of one who knows that she's

The created not the Creator. Have you ever thought of that? Patience is actually a posture of submission.

It's a posture of submission awaiting God's way. Hey, thank you You're the best Appreciate it

Awaiting God's time God's provision only the proud demand their own way

So when you wait with patience It's because that is a posture that you take and know

He gets to call the shots on those things That patience is a posture of submission

Waiting for God's way not ours Now this is true in General but in regards to this passage we are waiting patiently for something specific not for results of our labor or The results of accomplishing our calling because remember this is the problem.

She was wanting to help us with This was the foundation that she laid she has made

Statements Regarding hope in Jesus then flips back and forth to talk about being impatient for the results of our labor

But in the context of Romans We are waiting patiently for what God has promised the results of our salvation

That all things be made new and incorruptible without sin And we greatly long for this and wait with patience because we suffer in this evil world

That is what Paul is explaining here purpose -driven theology Twisting passages about God's work to be more about our work

She makes it about being patient and seeing the results of our labor when we in the spirit according to this text are

Patiently waiting for the promises of God and salvation which are all his work

Miss Chau Simmons then relays how our weaknesses can put us in the perfect posture to know the

Spirit's help secondly Paul talks about the

Spirit helping us in our weakness if you feel weak today If you feel weak you're in the very posture designed for you to know the

Spirit's help Think about Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. That's a posture Isaiah saying send me here

I am send me if you think of Abraham with his hand lifted high with a knife in his hand

That was a posture of submission like whatever it takes Lord. You get to decide Or it could look like Laying in a hotel bed the night before you have to do something really scary on stage that you don't want to do

And let's just admit that how much we love having our own beds to amen Lord having a hotel bed to yourself And I don't know about you

But I do the diagonal thing like I sprawl out like diagonals of diagonal because nobody's here

You know I can like and in the middle of the night. I just said Lord. I don't want to do this I don't want to I don't want to make a fool of myself

Aren't we all like that about doing what the Lord's asked us to do don't want to be foolish I don't want to not do it like perfectly and So my posture in the middle of the night was that I actually just laid out my hands because you know the whole bed was mine to take up So posture may look like different things, but it's always about submitting

The Spirit helps us in our weakness well that tells me that Being weak is a good place to be if you want the

Spirit's help right Paul says the Spirit helps us in our weakness it means

Wow Being weak is the very place He needs us to be so that the Spirit can do exactly what he was

Intended to do to be your helper be the presence of God in your life transforming you making you the reality of heaven in you

I Absolutely agree that the Spirit helps us when we are weak in all sorts of ways Even in the way she describes here and that weakness puts us in a posture for the

Spirit to intercede but again Paul is more specific here Weakness can be centered on many things

I can be weak physically and barely lift a 10 -pound bag of rice Can be weak in speaking as Paul described the way he spoke before the

Corinthians in 1st Corinthians 2 3 to 5 So dispense so depending on the context we need to see what

Paul means by weakness and what ways are we? weaker Bible ref comm

Has a commentary on this passage stating Paul is acknowledging here that even as Christians we remain weak in and ourselves

Physically, we remain creatures in fragile bodies with sometimes baffling emotions spiritually, we can become weak in our faith and or in our resistance to sinful desires as Paul will begin to make clear.

However, God's Spirit with us makes all the difference He continually helps us in and even through our weakness.

He steps in he helps with the burden More specifically Paul writes that we are so weak that at times we do not know what to pray for We have been given access in prayer to our

Father God We feel the need the longing for him But what do we ask for the

Spirit steps in and carries those unsaid groanings? Through those thoughts and feelings we simply cannot express in human words to God The weakness in this passage is in connection to our flesh our bodies affected and directed by sin

Now it's correct to say that we are weak and being able to obey God perfectly That's exactly what

Paul has been talking about in all eight chapters of Romans And yes, the

Spirit is our helper to do things. We feel are tough to do or go through Fighting our flesh in our vocations is extremely tough

But is this what Ruth is talking about? weakness in doing the will of God has laid out for us in Scripture or Weakness in accomplishing some extra biblical instruction that receives subjectively something we feel

God has called us to do something extra special She then goes into how

Paul mentioned that the Spirit prays for us in our weakness Relaying how at times we may be just too sad to speak or like her have too much to say that when rambles on During prayer and she reminds us of this

Paul says we do not know what to pray for as we ought and you know, I it's a right

Understanding of the text, but I've always thought about that It's so true that you can be so sad that you don't have words and some of us are in that place today

Like you could actually be so sad that you struggle to actually Know the words to say but in my case

Can I just be honest and say that sometimes it means that I have too much to say and I don't pray what

I ought Because I'm so busy talking. I'm running my mouth all the time So I don't know who that's for today

And I don't know like how many of I'm just saying it like, you know If if you want to come over I get to it's my house.

I get to say what I want to say, but but I'm just telling you that That sometimes yes when you're sad and it's hard and you literally have nothing to say and it's heartbreak.

That's unbreak Unspeakable. Yeah, the Spirit groans and pleads for you and he is there to fill in But even when you run your mouth and you struggle to shut up and listen to the

Lord He still has your back because in Christ he is Pleading for us. He's fighting for us.

He's defending us and for those of us in Christ he is in control and sovereign and Pleading for us in accordance with the will of God.

I am very pleased that she would state this Yes, and amen. She proclaims that these are sweet words

These are sweet words not scary words to those who trust Christ Have you thought of it that way that according to the will of God according to his purpose?

They're sweet words And of course, we love the final verse of this section and we know that for those who love

God all things work together For good for those who are called according to his purpose our hope in the midst of hardship.

Is that in Christ? Guys, this is the thing that changes everything for me that in Christ Jesus doesn't just work things out for our good

Which we love he is our good He is our good and I think we forget all the time that he's not there just to make our lives better he is

Our best he is the absolute best thing we could have so number three

Remember, he'll never have more or better good than the amazing grace of redemption in Christ And that's what we're doing this whole weekend

Through Romans 8 is the reminder that don't be distracted. Don't be so Mesmerized by all that's out there

Asking for your attention saying this is what life is about Can we encourage you that Paul spent all these chapters to make sure we know as clear as day

That we had we have nothing in ourselves to save us and that every bit of our

Redemption and our salvation is a gift and a grace from God and the only way we can access it is through faith and submission

And so then how do you hope in hardship is when you cling to your true treasure? That's Christ himself.

Not that he just works together works all things together for good, but that he is actually you're very good

Yes for those who are in Christ Jesus and know that the Father works all things out for his glory and our good

They are very very sweet words and Christ is really our good

God is our prize and Yes, we shouldn't be distracted by other things

Life is about being with God but my heart is saddest and for this reason those who are in the audience or listening to this conference online those who are just Checking Jesus out or have been given a false gospel

They will not know the outcome of the ultimate good that God does in our lives that outcome being eternal life but instead because Their faith is placed in things such as their purpose other than Christ and his sacrifice for their sins

They are left in their sins and the wrath of God remains on them John 3 36

Now she states that by this conference and going through Romans 8 they all

They are reminding us of the redemption we have in Jesus But there has been no talk on what that redemption entails

The audience who are now in the fifth session still have not heard the good news

Instead we've heard that God has taken care of our greatest need but no talk of how we're just informed that God pursued us

We've heard that to set our minds on the spirit We have to fight the devil who comes at us with negative thoughts

We've heard that we need to cherish the spirit that lives within us.

So we would live, you know supernatural lives We've heard that we've been adopted as sons of God and as children.

We should not be slaves to our fears Therefore opening up God's gifts He has given us so we can walk in our inheritance and now we are being told that we're not to count on ourselves

Basically, but trust in Christ and the Holy Spirit to help us accomplish our calling even when we feel lost on the way

So what might be the outcome of this type of teaching on one who hasn't heard and trusted the gospel?

Perhaps they thought like this God Really must love me. He pursues me and wants my good.

I want my good too God must want me to accomplish such -and -such. I don't need to feel condemned

I don't need to live under shame and guilt or believe those negative thoughts.

I Just need to fight the negative thoughts understand that the Spirit of God dwells within me that God has given me an

Inheritance gifts that help me accomplish my purpose and help me live a supernatural life

And he's promised to empower me to accomplish that if I don't count my resources, but trust in Christ If I just trust in Christ, he will make my dreams successful.

Yeah Well, I want to accomplish my purpose. I want to be successful live a happy fulfilled life

So I'll trust that Jesus will help me do that The emphasis and all the messages so far

I've had a focus on what God will do for you in this life With mentions and a nod or two to what

Christ has done But what should be the focus? What Christ has done so that we may receive what

God will do in the future our faith is placed on the work done by Christ the

Son of God who died and rose again to pay the penalty for our sins and gives Eternal life to all who trust in him and him alone for it yet So many who receive these types of messages believe that they are right with God Because they have faith in God and will do what they can to accomplish his will

Are you really hearing about the prize Jesus Christ in between points?

Miss Chau Simmons has pointed out that she has mistakenly forgotten a paper towel to dry her paintbrush on Or that she has over mixed her paint with paint thinner making the paint hard to dry

And it's now at this point that she presents the painting exclaiming that it didn't work out like she planned

Her point being that our lives can look like that too. Yeah, God can use them to do his work

I would agree with that scripture continually shows us how God uses sinful men to do his work and that God even uses persecutions tribulations suffering and death to accomplish his good

While her situation experience on the stage and lack of producing and approved painting is cute

It really is not needed She could have gone into God's Word to make that claim as quote one in progress person to another

She appeals to us to run to the truth But from one in progress person to another

I want to encourage you to run to the truth run to it every day Don't just do it one time and think you're good.

Don't just think I read that verse I don't know what it's about read it again Let somebody else read it to you think on it meditate on it

Go back to those familiar passages your protection is the gospel The gospel is the truth that you must live in day by day if you

If you feel weak That's the perfect posture and perfect place for the Spirit to remind you of the truth of the gospel day the truth of how you've

Been saved run to him Go back to verse 24 for in this hope you were saved you were rescued by hope to hope and You were saved to rejoice in your weakness.

You were plucked out of a seek good for yourself life To a life that loves the good that Jesus is above all else

But what is the truth that Paul is talking about in Romans? Is it that God loves us so pursues us and wants to help us accomplish our purpose?

We simply need to remain faithful even when life doesn't look like we are achieving a calling like we've been told at this conference

Or is it that we are sinners who are destined for hell yet? God so loved us that he sent his son to obey the law perfectly for us and take our punishment upon himself

Die and rise again so that we may be reconciled to God Which of these should we run to let's listen to the last part of her message

So friends, I don't know where this hits you today and I don't know what you're up against but I do know

That what Paul is describing what he's saying What's burdening on his heart is the reminder that we know where we're going and we know what sustains us

But you've got to remember day by day to return back to the truth He spent seven chapters telling us about how we got to this point

So now hope in Christ and keep repeating that truth back to yourself Next time let's finish this painting together.

But this is what I would tell you today because If there's nothing else to communicate, I would just say friends

You are exactly where you need to be in the very callings God has given you right now

Don't look about don't look at where you will be ten years from now or five months from now be faithful right where you are

Right now because the hope of Christ is transforming you right where you are

Yes, Paul did spend seven chapters explaining the truth and how we can be saved from the wrath to come

So why hasn't any one of these speakers even touched upon the how?

If this truth is so vital Why has it not been clearly taught?

Especially to those in the audience who are just checking Jesus out But instead of giving us that truth that we must run to in times of feeling loss

She wants to encourage us to not look to the future To simply be faithful right where we are and I get that sentiment, but I see two problems with this

One are we told not to focus on the future?

Well, yes and no Depending on which future we are not to focus on the future of this age

But yes, we are urged to focus on the future of the age to come

So in this passage in Romans Paul is bringing to our attention This future because it's our great.

Hope To one of the things we hope for is an into the struggle of being faithful Many a man claimed to have unfailing love but a faithful man who can find

Proverbs 26 Why is it hard to find a faithful man? Because being faithful means trusting that God's Word is true therefore the trust we have in God's Word Causes us to put our flesh to death

Putting to death our flesh is hard to do Because of this we begin to see in our age and in our and in wisdom just how unfaithful we really are

So that's why over and over again scripture points to God as being the faithful one

Deuteronomy 7 9 Lamentations 3 22 to 23 Psalm 145 17 1st

Corinthians 10 13 1st Thessalonians 5 24 2nd Thessalonians 3 3 among many many other verses

We are called to hold on to the confession of our hope that Jesus is our

High Priest who has presented the ultimate sacrifice that cleanses from our sins once for all to Hold on to this confession without wavering for he that is

God who promised is Faithful Hebrews 10 23. I want to be faithful in all that I do and with all that God has given me

But ultimately I see myself failing over and over again yet I hold on to the confession and as I do

I trust in God to deliver his promises Because he is faithful There has been only one faithful man the

God man Jesus Christ We are all faithful in him and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of faithfulness

But only if we have the Spirit and we only know we have the

Spirit if we are trusting believing in Christ and his work so in conclusion

Did Ruth handle the text correctly is the hope that Paul wants us to have?

In regards to our calling and purpose or in regards to the promised new heavens earth and our glorified bodies

It's a weakness in the context of Romans 8 about our inability or ability to carry out our callings or Is it in regards to accomplishing the will of God which is to be conformed to the image of his

Son? Does this passage tell us to not count our resources? By hoping

Christ to work through our purpose and be faithful right where we are or does it tell us to trust

God because He is faithful. He grants us faith helps us put to death the

Flesh and walk in the spirit and will one day give us a new body in a new earth without sin death and the devil

He who for knew us Predestined us and those he Predestined he also called and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified

Romans 8 29 and 30 and Ladies that is what I pray you are doing trusting in his work what he has done and will do for you

I pray that you have heard through these last couple of episodes and our Exposition so far through this chapter of Romans 8 that good news the truth the gospel over and over again and grasp the hope that we have for one day seeing our

Savior face to face and Being set free from the corruption that is in this world and in our bodies for God will do it

Because God is faithful Because of this you are now free to serve and love your family.

I pray you are in his words Ladies, thanks for listening or watching this episode of Thoroughly Equipped if this episode blessed you

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It helps spread the word if you are interested to know more about Thoroughly Equipped Check out the blog or just find some other great

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I pray the God of all grace grants you more and more knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ as the

Holy Spirit Thoroughly equips you through his written word for every good work.