Sunday Setlist & Sermon Thoughts--July 24

Pastor Robert started a series today about fighting out flesh today. The scripture he referenced was one of my favorite passages from Romans chapter 7:

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Wow. Those words belong to the great Apostle Paul, the man responsible for most of the New Testament. He's talking about how our nature is corrupted. Pastor Robert mentioned a quote by Billy Graham:

Flesh refers to the old patterns by which we have attempted to get all our needs supplied instead of seeking Christ first and trusting Him to meet all our needs.

Seems like this could be a pretty depressing topic if there were no hope. But Paul continues with the answer to verse 24:

25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

How is Christ the answer? Well, we can do all things through Him who gives us the strength.

Setlist:
Holy is the Lord
Crown Him With Many Crowns

Take My Life
Give Us Clean Hands
Draw Me Close

The songs were geared towards a heart surrendering itself (and it's flesh) to Christ.

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Sunday Setlist--July 17

I didn't want to write any recaps the last few weeks. We have some people at our church going through some major struggles. The kind of struggles that, if you care about them, they affect you too. Some have family members who have gone through some very bad medical issues, some who have had tragedy strike their lives. Preachers will always say that the enemy will attack you when you become effective and start making progress in this world. I can see first hand now what that's like.

Our church is growing. Maybe not in numbers or building size, but spiritually. We've put an emphasis on reaching more people outside our church while at the same time getting the church members more involved. The attacks that we're taking on have made me want to stop. Made me say to myself, "well, if we chill out for a while, maybe things will settle down." Thankfully, God's Spirit is stronger than that.

We will not surrender. We will not give up. We may get knocked backwards a step or two, but we will keep going, because in the end, our side wins. Our God is stronger than the forces of this world. That is what I have to hold onto in the tough times. That is where faith comes in. That is when it's tested.

Today's Set List:
Blessed Be Your Name (A)
Today is the Day (D)

Offertory

I Am Redeemed (C)
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (C)
Healer (F)
How He Loves chorus


You can view this and every other service live or whenever you want on our UStream page



http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-156/