Twisting Our Blessed Hope | Ruth Chou-Simons Message Review

Romans 8 and the Conference’s Promise of Hope

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 Groans 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.

The Conference’s Teaching on Women, Discernment, and Authority

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 and welcome 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 Chris 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 a 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 sum 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 a message given by Ruth Chau Simmons. So let's look at Ruth Chau 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.

But 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.

Yes, 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 super 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, too.

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 Chao 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 as sons by whom we cry abba father.

The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and have 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 saxon's message again.

This is a conference. It's not a church by which the pastor 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 first fruits 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 2 22 to 23 and 5 30. And the wrath of god isaiah 53 4 to 6 and romans 5 8 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.

Hope in Romans 8 Is Not About Accomplishing Our Calling

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 in 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. The spirit prays for us and this is why paul in second 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. 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 um, 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 I do see you. You are tuning in here this weekend um. 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 does 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 um If you're like me sometimes when things aren't 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'd 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.

An 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 Grows 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 our message.

This portion of romans is dealing with eternal and spiritual things. A 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 in 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. I was a deceived woman Weighed down with sins second 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 her 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 going to be a quick coffee date friends i'm going to 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 and 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.

Counting Resources, Calling, and the Sufficiency of Scripture

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 ruth's 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 in 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's 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? Are 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. Know 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 lust like the gentiles who do not know god. That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the lord is a is an avenger in all these things. As we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you for god has not called us for impurity but in holiness.

Therefore whoever disregards this disregards not manned 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.