"The Prayers Of The Ascended Jesus" Romans 8:31-39

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:03:23]Yeah.

[00:04:06]Yeah.

[00:06:34]suggest.

[00:08:24]Well, good evening ends.

[00:08:27]It's good to be gathered together to worship the Lord, to magnify his name at the close of the day. Also to magnify his name at this communion service.

[00:08:36]We're going to begin our worship by hearing a call to worship from the book of Revelation in chapter 5. Revelation chapter 5 where John says, "Then I looked and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them saying to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. And the four living creatures said amen. And the elders fell down and worshiped.

[00:09:26]A picture of the worship that is offered to Christ the lamb in heaven. And our great desire is that at this communion service, we ourselves might know something of worshiping that same lamb in that same way. Knowing that even as we worship in this building tonight, we do not worship alone, but rather we are joining our voices with the voices of Christ's people in heaven and on earth, magnifying his name together.

[00:09:56]Let's sing to the Lord's praise. The words of Psalm 103, Psalm 103, the Scottish Psalter version, and singing verses 1 down to 5. Oh thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless. Bless, oh my soul, the Lord thy God, and not forgetful be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee. Down to verse 5, who with abundance of good things do satisfy thy mouth, so that even as the eagle's age, renewed is thy youth. Do please stand if you're able as we magnify the Lord's name in song. And then if you're able to stand afterward for our prayer, please continue to do so. Psalm 103. Oh thou my soul, bless God the Lord.

[00:10:50]Oh my soul.

[00:11:06]He said his holy name to my praise my soulord.

[00:11:26]Lord I all I toes.

[00:12:12]There he might He will take Jesus.

[00:13:11]So bring you.

[00:13:26]>> Let's pray. Our great God and heavenly father, we come into your presence this evening and we thank you that we can indeed take up the words of the psalmist on our lips where he said that all he wanted to do was bless the Lord with all of his soul with his whole heart that he wanted to stir himself up to magnify and bless your name. We thank you for the reasons the psalmist gives in this psalm as to why he wanted to praise you in such a wholehearted extravagant manner.

[00:14:02]That he was one who was very conscious of your gracious benefits. Very conscious of the fact that you're the God of redemption. Very conscious of the fact that you're the God who delivered his life from death. very conscious of the fact that you were the God who fully and freely forgave his sin because you are the God of such extravagant grace.

[00:14:27]And we can sing words such as this written thousands and thousands of years ago. And yet we thank you and bless you that they're as relevant to our own lives and our own situations even tonight in 2026.

[00:14:42]We thank you and we bless you that you are a God of such extravagant grace. We thank you and we bless you that you are the God who does redeem the lives of his people. It secures them from condemnation, secures them from eternal death. It secures them from the consequences of their sin. We thank you that you're the God who is so rich in forgiveness. And we thank you that it's a forgiveness that is found not in the abilities, not in the endeavors, not in the efforts of your people, but rather a forgiveness that is found freely, fully finally in the Lord Jesus Christ, the lamb who is worthy, the lamb who was slain, the lamb who was appointed from before the foundation of the world in order to come into this world to seek and to save the lost. And our prayer in this service is that we would simply see more of this Jesus.

[00:15:46]Help us to turn our gaze away from ourselves. We are so prone to introspection.

[00:15:54]We are so prone to focusing in on what we have done, what we are doing, what we hope to do, what we ought to do that we lose all sight of the all sufficiency of Jesus. And we pray, oh Lord, that this evening we would turn our attention to him as we sing your praise as we read your word, as we reflect on that word, and as we partake in the elements later on in this service. Help our gaze to be riveted on the person and work of the Lord Jesus. And our prayer is that as our gaze is riveted on him, that our hearts would be warmed. and as our hearts are warmed that we would be stirred up indeed to worship Jesus and to live for him in the days that lie ahead. Lord, we thank you for this meal and we thank you for those who are taking this meal with this congregation for the very first time as members of it. We thank you for Grace who publicly professed her faith this morning. We thank you that she was able to say in front of a large congregation that she believes the Bible to be the word of God and that she believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior and her Lord. Hold on to her, we pray, and assure her day by day of your nearness and your closeness, your nearness, that you're the one that she can call on at any time and any place. And we thank you and bless you that as we admit a young person into the life of this congregation, we take confidence and comfort in the fact that the God who will hold on to any of his people is more than able to hold on to a young life. And we pray that that would be so for our sister in Christ grace. We thank you for Mike and for Ay Stone joining us by certificate. We thank you and bless you for them. And what a privilege it has been to know them over these years. And we thank you and bless you for the gifts, the abilities that they have, the way that they have been used in other places and other spheres of service over the years. We pray, oh Lord, that as they begin this new part of life's journey in this congregation that they would be blessed and that they would be a blessing. And while we pray for them, we also pray for their little boy, Ross. And we thank you for him. And our great prayer is that he would be a trophy of your grace, a beacon for your glory. and that there might be a day when he will come before the session of this congregation or maybe some other congregation publicly professing his faith.

[00:18:56]And so we pray now that you would go before us in this service. And while we pray for those who are here, we pray for those unable to be here. Draw near to them. Draw near to those who are ill in the congregation.

[00:19:10]Draw near to those who are weak. draw near to those who are housebound. And our prayer is that they would know that you're the one who will never leave them and never forsake them. And yet, while we pray for those unable to be here, we also pray for those unwilling to be here.

[00:19:28]Those who made a conscious decision at some point in the day that they would not be at this service.

[00:19:35]And we pray that you would convict their hearts and you would draw them back to yourself and that you would draw them once more into the life of this congregation.

[00:19:47]Assure them, oh Lord, of your grace.

[00:19:50]Assure them of the forgiveness that is found in Christ. Just as we pray that you would assure us of that same grace and forgiveness even tonight as we pray in Christ's name. Amen.

[00:20:06]We read from the word of God. It's taken from the letter to the Romans and chapter 8. uh Paul's letter to the Romans and chapter 8 and reading verse 31 down to 39 where Paul writes, "What then shall we say to these things?

[00:20:35]If God is for us, who can be against us?

[00:20:38]He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

[00:20:47]Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

[00:20:54]Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that who was raised who is at the right hand of God who indeed is interceding for us. who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, for your sake we are being killed all the day long we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

[00:21:21]Know in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. This is the word of God to us this evening. Before we focus on these words from God's word, we'll again sing this time in the words of the hymn before the throne of God above. uh this great hymn that celebrates the priestly work of the Lord Jesus Christ that he is the one who is at the throne of God for each and every one of his people. Do please stand if you're able as we sing this together before the throne of God above the Heat. Heat.

[00:22:38]Heat. Heat. Heat.

[00:22:48]Oh my god.

[00:23:18]Yeah. Heat.

[00:23:29]Yeah. Heat.

[00:23:40]Heat. Heat.

[00:23:50]Heat. Heat.

[00:24:00]Heat. Heat.

[00:24:15]Heat. Heat.

[00:24:26]Yeah. Heat.

[00:24:36]Heat. Heat.

[00:24:48]with Christ my savior and my lord.

[00:24:57]>> Well friends, would you uh turn with me please to the words we read together in Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 and reading verse 33 and 34 where Paul writes, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

[00:25:20]Who is to condemn?

[00:25:22]Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

[00:25:37]Wonder, have you ever found yourself thinking about someone and you thought, I wonder what they're doing now? It might be someone whom you went to school with. It might be someone whom you worked with. It might be someone whom you shared a flat with. It might even be someone who you entertained thoughts about marrying. And then your paths separated, your paths diverged, and you haven't seen them. You haven't heard from them for a for a very long time. But every so often, the thought comes to the back of your mind, I wonder what they're doing now.

[00:26:20]This evening, we're concluding our communion series on Jesus ascension.

[00:26:24]Last night we looked at his position where he is that he is at the right hand of God the Father. This morning we looked at his posture that he is the one who both sits and stands at the right hand of God. This evening we're looking at his prayers as we attempt to answer the question, what is Jesus doing now?

[00:26:52]We're going to divide the verses we read together under three headings. A question concerning God's commitment, a question concerning God's forgiveness, and then a question concerning God's love. First, a question concerning God's commitment. Look at verse 31 and 32 where Paul speaks about God's commitment to his people. Now, before proceeding, we can note what Paul has already said.

[00:27:18]He has spoken about the Christian salvation. Verses 1 to4 he had emphasized that there is no condemnation for anyone who is in Christ. And that is because God sent his son in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemn sin in Christ's flesh. And God has done this for all those who walk according to the spirit and not according to the flesh.

[00:27:43]Paul then spoke about the Christian spirituality. verses 5 to 11, he contrasted those who live according to the flesh with those who live according to the spirit. And he went on to highlight his confidence concerning his Roman readers where he said that they weren't in the flesh but were in the spirit and were indwelt by the spirit.

[00:28:05]And he said that one day God would give life to their mortal bodies. he would raise them from the dead by the very same spirit who even now is dwelling within them. Paul then spoke about the Christian sunship verses 12-1 17 he stated that all who live by the flesh will die and all who put to death the deeds of the body by the spirit will live. And he then told his readers that they had received the spirit of adoption so that now by the spirit they can address God as Abba father. And he said as children of God they were also hes of God and co-airs with Christ and that they would be glorified with Christ in the future provided they suffered with Christ in the present. Paul then spoke about the Christian sufferings verses 18 to 25. He claimed that the sufferings of this present age aren't worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to the believer and in the believer. And he proceeded to state that the whole creation is groaning for that day of glorification. And he said that the Christian also groans for that day of glorification.

[00:29:23]Paul then spoke about the Christian supplication. Verse 26 and 27. He acknowledged that sometimes a problem that many of us all have sometimes a Christian will struggle in prayer and at the same time the spirit assists the spirit helps the Christian in their prayers and the spirit assists them by making intercession for them by praying for them when they don't know how to pray or what to pray for. And finally, Paul spoke about the Christian shity.

[00:29:57]Verse 28-30, he expressed his belief that God is working all things together for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. And the good purpose that God has in mind is that each and every one of his people will be conformed to the likeness, the image of his son. And God does does this. Paul says by forn knowing his people by predestining his people by calling his people by justifying his people and then eventually glorifying his people. That is the Christians, their confidence, their certainty.

[00:30:42]And having noted what Paul's already said, we hear what he now says verses 31 and 32.

[00:30:49]We hear the declaration that Paul makes.

[00:30:51]Look at verse 31. Paul begins by asking, "What then shall we say to all these things?" Paul is thinking back to everything that he has said in this magnificent chapter. And he's saying, "What can we say in response to this?

[00:31:06]How can we react to this?" And instead of providing an answer, Paul simply asserts that God is for his people.

[00:31:15]He's claiming that God is on the side of his people. He's saying that the God who's never defeated, the God who's never surprised, the God who's never outmaneuvered, outthought, outstrategized, is 100%, in fact we might even say 110% committed to his people.

[00:31:39]And having said this, Paul asks, who can be against us?

[00:31:43]And Paul's not saying for one moment that a Christian won't face opposition.

[00:31:48]He's not saying that a Christian will not face difficulty.

[00:31:52]But in asking this rhetorical question, Paul is emphasizing that there is nothing and there is no one that can prevail against the Christian. Why?

[00:32:02]Because God is for them.

[00:32:06]And after making that declaration, Paul speaks about how God's demonstrated his commitment to his people. Well, look at verse 32. He says that God didn't spare his own son.

[00:32:17]If you go back to Genesis 22, you find that Abram didn't spare, didn't hold back his own son from God.

[00:32:27]Now, in Romans 8, Paul says that God didn't spare, didn't hold back his only son from his people. And Paul goes on and says that God gave up his son for his people. Paul often uses that verb deliver give up to refer to Jesus being handed over to death on a cross. One older writer Octavius Winslaw put it like this. Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas for money. Not Pilate for fear. Not the Jews for envy, but the father for love.

[00:33:05]And Paul says that because God has given up his only son for his people, he will also graciously give them all things.

[00:33:16]God's done the greatest thing of all for his people.

[00:33:20]He has given up his son for them.

[00:33:24]And since God has done the greatest thing of all, he will also give his people everything that they need as they make their way toward their final destination, as they make their way toward future glorification.

[00:33:42]God is not going to hold anything back from them that they need.

[00:33:48]And so, friends, as we consider these verses, we're being shown the proof of God's commitment.

[00:33:55]That's what we see here in Romans 8.

[00:33:58]Paul emphasizes that God is for his people. And he says that God's demonstrated that he is for his people by giving up his only son for them. And that's important to reflect on.

[00:34:11]People have different ways of expressing their commitment. A a young man demonstrates his commitment to a young lady by by asking her to marry him, by buying an engagement ring, by promising to love her in sickness and in health, by not looking up, by not talking to, by not engaging in other competing loves.

[00:34:35]A footballer demonstrates his commitment to the team that he plays for by signing a long-term contract and not praising or pursuing some other team.

[00:34:46]And God's demonstrated his commitment to his people.

[00:34:50]He doesn't show his commitment by giving them a large house. He doesn't show his commitment by giving them a flashy car.

[00:34:59]He doesn't show his commitment by giving them a hefty wage packet. He doesn't get show them his commitment by giving them an extended period of good health.

[00:35:08]Instead, God has shown his commitment by giving up his only son to death on the cross for them.

[00:35:17]Rayortland puts it like this.

[00:35:20]Before the foundation of the world in eternity past when God was framing his decrees, he did not say, "I will love these people by giving them a fruitful creation, splendid bodies, keen minds, happy children, meaningful tasks, but I will not part with my son for them."

[00:35:40]That is asking too much. God did not say that. God is rich in mercy and God is a big spender. He delivered up his own son for us all. Therefore, God's love for you, God's commitment to you has no outer limit.

[00:36:00]So, if you're a Christian tonight, you can rejoice in the proof of God's commitment.

[00:36:09]You can rejoice that God is for you.

[00:36:14]You can rejoice that God is not against you.

[00:36:19]And you can rejoice that God has given up his only son to death symbolized in the broken bread and the poured out wine. As proof of this tonight, friend, as you take that bread in your hand, that bread is saying to you, God is for you.

[00:36:41]And as you drink that wine, that wine is saying to you, God's committed to you.

[00:36:49]That bread and that wine are saying to you, God is not against you.

[00:36:58]Second, a question concerning God's forgiveness. Verse 33 and 34, where Paul speaks about God's forgiveness of his people. Verse 33, Paul speaks about the father's work. We hear the question that Paul asks, who shall bring any charge against God's elect.

[00:37:21]Paul is asking, who can bring any legal accusation against those whom God has chosen?

[00:37:29]Whom God has called? And Paul immediately provides an answer to that question. He says, "It is God who justifies." Now that word justifies is a legal term. It means to be pronounced righteous.

[00:37:43]It means to be pronounced not guilty in a courtroom.

[00:37:48]And Paul says that is the verdict that God pronounces on all his people.

[00:37:54]And because God has pronounced that verdict on his people, there is nothing and there is no one that can bring any charges that will stand against them.

[00:38:07]Someone brings a charge against them, God says they're justified.

[00:38:13]They're not guilty.

[00:38:15]They're righteous.

[00:38:18]And Paul develops this by speaking about the son's work. Verse 34, Paul asks a second question. He's already asked, "Who shall bring any charges against God's elect?" And he now asks, "Who shall be able to condemn such people?"

[00:38:34]And again, Paul provides an answer to that question. He says that Christ Jesus is the one who died.

[00:38:43]In Romans 3, Paul spoke about Christ's sin atoning death. His death that covers the sin of his people. His death that removes the wrath of God from his people. And here Paul is referring to that same sin atoning death as he says Christ Jesus is the one who died.

[00:39:05]And he goes on and says more than that Jesus has been raised.

[00:39:11]The resurrection is the father's public vindication of his son's work. But it also confirms the fact that the Christ who died has been raised to life.

[00:39:24]Death hasn't had the final say.

[00:39:27]Death hasn't had the last word.

[00:39:31]Death can't hold him down.

[00:39:34]And Paul goes further and he says Jesus, the one who died, the one who's been raised, is now at the right hand of God.

[00:39:45]That's the place of honor, the place of rule, the place of majesty, the place of glory. And Paul says that that is where the crucified Jesus is. That's where the risen Jesus is.

[00:39:58]He's at the father's right hand.

[00:40:03]And then he closes by saying that this Jesus is interceding for his people.

[00:40:13]He's taken on the role of spokesman for his people.

[00:40:17]He speaks to his father. He prays to his father on behalf of his people.

[00:40:25]And because Jesus has died and because Jesus has been raised and because Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and because Jesus intercedes for his people, Paul says nothing and no one can successfully condemn them.

[00:40:47]And so, friends, as we consider these verses, we're not just shown the proof of God's commitment, but the prayers of God's son. That's what we see in Romans 8. Paul claims that no one can bring any charges against the Christian because God's justified them. And then he adds that no one can condemn them because Jesus has died for them. Jesus has been raised for them. Jesus is at the father's right hand for them. and Jesus is interceding, praying to the father for them. And friends, that's so important to reflect on.

[00:41:25]A few years ago, I heard about a minister who who prays for me. My granddad had had this minister in his youth group when the minister was just a young boy. And now this minister had heard that I'd become a minister and he was praying for me. And there's something quite incredible when you wake up every morning and you think that minister whom whom I have never met whom I have never spoken with whom I'm who I've never engaged with that minister is praying for me.

[00:42:00]Now the word of God assures us that Jesus is the savior who knows his people and he prays for his people.

[00:42:11]Listen to these words from Thomas Goodwin.

[00:42:15]Let me tell you, Jesus would still be preaching this day, but he had other business to do for you in heaven where he is now praying and interceding for you even when you are sinning.

[00:42:34]Mark Jones writes this. To intercede means to plead for others.

[00:42:41]Christ's intercession for others remains a fundamental article of the Christian faith. Since Christ always lives, he always intercedes. There is no Christian alive who has not had Christ mention his or her name to the father.

[00:43:00]Patrick Shriner writes, "Jesus did not ascend into the heavens to merely sit and rest. He did not soar into the sky because his intercessory work had concluded. Even in his sitting, he continues to serve. He pleads on behalf of his people and his father always hears him." The prayers of our Lord are thus continual and unceasing on our behalf.

[00:43:33]Or perhaps most famously of all, Robert Marie McShane, "If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies.

[00:43:45]Yet distance makes no difference. Christ is praying for me.

[00:43:54]You know friends, there is always a danger and and I I I hope I'm not going to get in trouble for saying this, but there is always a danger that we can limit our view of Christ's work to his death. That we focus on the cross and rightly so. But that's as far as it goes.

[00:44:14]However, the gospel announces that Jesus is risen from the dead.

[00:44:19]And Jesus is ascended to heaven. And he's ascended to heaven not to just wait for us to join him. But he has ascended to heaven so that he might function as a great high priest who lives and pleads for the people whose names are written on his hands and engraved on his heart.

[00:44:46]That friends is what Jesus is doing right now.

[00:44:52]He is praying for his people.

[00:44:56]And so if you're a Christian, you can rejoice in the prayers of God's son.

[00:45:02]You can rejoice that Jesus has died. You can rejoice that Jesus has been raised.

[00:45:08]You can rejoice that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. And you can rejoice that Jesus is interceding. He is praying right now for you.

[00:45:20]He is constantly he is consistently speaking to his father on your behalf and for your eternal benefit.

[00:45:31]Even as you sit at his table, conscious of your faults, conscious of your flaws, conscious of your failings, conscious of your faithlessness, conscious of every reason why you shouldn't be at his table. Jesus is praying for you. He is speaking to his father for you.

[00:45:57]And even when you are not praying for yourself and even if no one else is praying for you, perhaps there he is praying for you.

[00:46:10]Third and finally we have a question concerning God's love. Verse 35 to39.

[00:46:20]where Paul speaks about God's love for his people.

[00:46:24]Verse 35 and 36, we hear an earnest question.

[00:46:28]Paul starts by asking another question.

[00:46:31]Verse 35, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Who shall sever us? Who shall divorce us from the love of Christ? Paul isn't speaking about the believer's love for Christ. that doesn't really matter.

[00:46:48]He is speaking about Christ's love for the believer.

[00:46:52]And Paul continues and lists the various threats that could potentially separate the believer from Christ's love. Speaks about tribulation, distress, persecution.

[00:47:03]Speaks about famine, nakedness, danger.

[00:47:06]Rounds off the list by speaking about the sword, death by execution. And the question is, can any of these things separate, sever, divorce the believer from Christ?

[00:47:21]And then Paul inserts a quotation from the book of Psalms, verse 36. He cites Psalm 44 where the psalmist says, "It is written, for your sake, we are being killed all the day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

[00:47:38]As Paul quotes these words, he's highlighting that suffering is part and parcel of the Christian life. The Christian is always going to be like a lamb to the slaughter. The Christian is always going to have difficult things coming their way.

[00:47:57]And then Paul goes on to provide an emphatic answer to his earnest question.

[00:48:02]In verse 37-39, he starts by speaking about what every believer is. Verse 37, he's just said that they're being killed all day long.

[00:48:14]They're regarded like sheep for the slaughter.

[00:48:17]But he now says that's not the last word on you. He says, "Dear believer, you are more than a conqueror.

[00:48:27]Literally a hyperconqueror."

[00:48:30]In other words, none of the things that they suffer can ultimately defeat them.

[00:48:35]And that's not because of any power that they themselves possess. Rather, Paul says, "It is through him. It is through Christ who loved them."

[00:48:46]And Paul closes by explaining why every believer is more than a conqueror. Look at verse 38 and 39. He speaks about something that he is sure of, something he's strongly persuaded about. And he says that he's persuaded that neither life nor death can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. He says that neither angels nor rulers can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. He says that neither things present nor things to come can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. He says that no power can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord.

[00:49:31]He says that nothing in the heights and nothing in the depths can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. And in case he has missed anything out, Paul says nothing else in all creation can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. Paul emphatically asserts that there is nothing and there is no one who can separate the believer from God's love for them in Christ. And that is why the believer is a hyperconqueror.

[00:50:08]That is why the believer is more than a conqueror. They cannot be separated from God's love whatever happens.

[00:50:20]And so, friends, as we consider these verses, we're not just shown the proof of God's commitment and the prayers of God's son. We're also shown the perpetuity of God's love. That's what you see in Romans 8. Paul surveys the whole cosmos.

[00:50:38]and he looks for anything that could potentially rip a person away from God's love in Christ.

[00:50:46]And he says that none of these things will be successful.

[00:50:51]And friends, that's important to reflect on.

[00:50:55]We live in a world where the strongest of friendships, the most passionate of relationships, the most intimate and indestructible of marriages can falter and fall apart.

[00:51:13]There were once people perhaps whom we spent every waking moment with and we couldn't comprehend life without them.

[00:51:22]And then something happened and we haven't spoken to them for many years, many decades.

[00:51:29]The love that appeared so strong once upon a time is gone. It's not there.

[00:51:37]And perhaps it can leave us wondering and worrying if God's love is like that.

[00:51:43]We find ourselves thinking, "Will God get tired of me?

[00:51:50]Will I do something so hideous, so horrible, so horrific, so heinenous that God will give up on me?

[00:52:00]Will God find somebody else more appealing, more attractive, more interesting, more captivating than me?

[00:52:11]Will God allow something or someone to pull me and wrench me away from him?

[00:52:18]Will God just forget about me in the busyiness of this world?

[00:52:25]And this passage announces in the strongest possible terms that there is nothing nothing nothing in the whole universe that can sever that can separate the believer from God's love in Christ. That is how secure the Christian is.

[00:52:47]It's not about their strong love for God.

[00:52:52]It's about his strong indestructible love for them in Christ.

[00:53:01]I I love this story. I've used it often of Robert Bruce, not Robert the Bruce, but Robert Bruce, an old 17th century minister who had been exiled to Inverse for preaching the gospel. Imagine being exiled to Inesse for preaching the gospel. Some of you think that going to Inesse is quite exotic.

[00:53:21]But going to Inesse was the back of Beyond in the 17th century. And this old man, Robert Bruce, was having breakfast and his daughter was about to boil him another egg. And suddenly he said, "Hold daughter, hold. My master calls me." And he then asked that the house Bible be brought. Unable to read it, he said, "Cast me up to Romans 8." And he began to recite much of the second half of the chapter until he came to these last two verses. I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[00:54:10]Set my finger on these words. Bruce said to his daughter, "God be with you, my children. I have breakfasted with you, and I shall s with my Lord Jesus this night. I die believing these words, dying secure in God's love, not his love for God, God's love for him in Christ.

[00:54:41]And so if you're a Christian, you can rejoice in the perpetuity of God's love.

[00:54:50]You can rejoice that in those moments when your love for God, when your love for Christ is frail and inconsistent, God's love in Christ remains firm.

[00:55:04]God's love in Christ remains consistent.

[00:55:09]And he is not going to allow anything or anyone to tear you away from the love that he has for you in Christ Jesus.

[00:55:22]Friends, I want to say this very personally.

[00:55:27]You might well be going to the Lord's table tonight in a worse condition than you were when we went to the Lord's table back in February.

[00:55:37]You might have drifted.

[00:55:39]You might have grown lukewarm. You might have grown cold. You might be sitting in this building thinking, "What on earth am I doing here? I'm a hypocrite for being in this building. I am I am just such a failure."

[00:55:55]And I want to assure you, my friend, that while your love, while your condition might be worse than it was back in February, God's love for you in Christ hasn't changed.

[00:56:15]Now, isn't that good news to hear that you might say, "My love is cold. My love is fickle.

[00:56:25]I'm not what I ought to be. I'm not what I want to be. I'm not what I hope to be.

[00:56:30]But my friend, you are no less loved by God than you went were when you went to the table full of the joys maybe even a few months ago.

[00:56:48]the perpetuity of God's love.

[00:56:54]Well, as we think about these things, let's sing in response the words of the communion hymn that we often sing. I hear the words of love.

[00:57:05]A wonderful hymn that reminds us that it's not about our love for the Lord, but about his love for his people.

[00:57:14]Please do stand if you're able as we sing this together.

[00:57:33]I hear the words of love.

[00:57:40]I gaze the all the I see the mighty side with the peace with joy us peace.

[00:58:09]Good.

[00:58:11]Oh my god.

[00:58:41]My star this section changes the crosses ever.

[00:58:59]I change the Christ.

[00:59:21]Yeah.

[00:59:28]Heat.

[00:59:39]Heat. Heat. Heat.

[00:59:49]is the same. No changing all I'm becoming more convinced that there are three aspects to the Lord's supper that we should never lose sight of.

[01:00:14]The Lord's supper is a meal of remembrance. It is a meal of communion and it is a meal of anticipation.

[01:00:24]It is a meal of remembrance. We take the bread and we take the wine and we remember the Lord's broken body. We remember his shed blood. We remember his death for his people. It is a meal of remembrance.

[01:00:44]But it's more than a meal of remembrance. It is a meal of communion.

[01:00:50]It is a meal where the believer finds themselves enjoying union with Christ's people.

[01:00:59]And not just union with Christ's people, but union through the spirit with Christ himself.

[01:01:12]Don't ever let someone say to you, "This is just a meal where we remember a past event." It is a meal where we rejoice in our present communion and union with the Lord Jesus by his spirit.

[01:01:30]And finally, it's a meal of anticipation.

[01:01:35]It's a meal where the believer anticipates the day where Christ will be physically and visibly present with his people where faith will have given way to sight and where they will know the reality and the joy of seeing his face. You know, right now we enjoy communion with Christ by his spirit. But never forget the fact that he is physically at the right hand of the father.

[01:02:09]But one day he will be physically with us and we with him.

[01:02:17]And that meal anticipates that day.

[01:02:21]But the question is, well, who can eat the meal? Who can sit at the table?

[01:02:27]We answer that question by going back to Romans 8.

[01:02:32]Romans 8 opens by speaking about those who are free from condemnation and closes by speaking about those who will experience no separation from God's love in Christ. Quite simply, Romans 8 is all about what a Christian is.

[01:02:51]But what is a Christian?

[01:02:54]Well, according to Romans 8, very basically, very simply, a Christian is someone who is united to Jesus.

[01:03:03]Christian is someone who is in Christ.

[01:03:07]A Christian is someone who is spiritually and relationally connected to Jesus where they say of him, I am his and he is mine.

[01:03:20]And so if that's true of you, I want to highlight that the table is open to you. I want to encourage you to eat this meal.

[01:03:33]This isn't a meal for perfect people.

[01:03:37]This isn't a meal for people whose faith is strong and unshakable.

[01:03:43]This isn't a meal for those whose church attendance and prayer meeting attendance is exemplary.

[01:03:51]This isn't a meal for those who have never and will never let the Lord down.

[01:04:00]This is a meal for Christ's people, whatever their circumstances might be.

[01:04:08]And it's been given to sustain them as they make their way through this world.

[01:04:15]We need food.

[01:04:17]We need food to get through each day.

[01:04:21]And the Lord in his mercy and grace has given this meal for struggling saints to give them the spiritual vitality to keep on keeping on.

[01:04:36]But if that's not true of you, if you're here tonight and you are not united to Jesus, if you cannot call him yours, then I want to say three things to you.

[01:04:46]First, I want to say I am delighted that you are here. You could have been anywhere else tonight, but you have chosen to be in this building. And I want to say to you, I am glad that you are here. The last thing I want is for anyone to feel that they are not wanted, that they are not welcome at any high free service.

[01:05:08]But second thing I want to do is I want to encourage you to let the bread and let the wine pass you by.

[01:05:16]They won't do you any good if you're not united to Jesus.

[01:05:20]They won't make you a Christian. They won't qualify you for heaven.

[01:05:25]It's Jesus who does that. So let the bread, let the wine pass you by.

[01:05:33]And the third thing I want to say, friend, is consider the seriousness of your situation.

[01:05:40]And having considered the seriousness of your situation, I want to urge you to call out to Christ and to cling on to him while it's still the day of salvation.

[01:05:59]With these things in mind, let's sing to the Lord's praise. The words of Psalm 116 singing in Galic verses 13 down to 16.

[01:06:12]Psalm 116 these two stanzas glacam gurum. This wonderful psalm that speaks about taking the cup of the Lord's salvation. We'll remain seated as we sing.

[01:06:30]Oh, heat, heat.

[01:06:54]Yeah.

[01:07:06]More sh Heat.

[01:07:22]Heat.

[01:07:37]Mother heat.

[01:08:04]tears of vision your Heat. Heat. Heat.

[01:08:36]Yeah. Don't me.

[01:09:04]Don't go away.

[01:09:14]Yeah.

[01:09:15]Heat.

[01:09:35]Oh, I get it.

[01:10:06]Good morning. uh what we do this evening is found firmly in the word of God where in uh Paul's letter his first letter to the Corinthians in chapter 11 Paul says for I receive from the Lord what I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me and in the same way also he took the cup after supper saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." Let's seek the Lord's blessing. Now as we come to these elements, our father in heaven, uh we come before you now and we thank you and we bless you for these natural elements, bread and wine that are now pointing us to the most glorious of spiritual realities that point us to the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[01:11:25]And our great prayer is that you would in your mercy and grace set them apart for holy use even tonight that they might be a means of grace to your people strengthening and sustaining them in their faith.

[01:11:45]And our prayer is that there might also be a blessing not just for your people taking these elements, but there might be such a blessing for those not taking the elements whereby they would find themselves even tonight convicted and desirous that this would be the last time that they would let these elements pass them by.

[01:12:13]And so we pray now that we would have a felt sense of your presence being among us as we sit at this table and as we eat this meal together as we pray in Christ's name. Amen.

[01:12:31]We're going to follow the pattern which we followed the last number of years. Um the elders are going to give first of all the bread to the congregation.

[01:12:42]Please hold on to the bread and after the elders have served the bread to the congregation uh I'll serve the elders and then one of the elders will serve me and then we're going to eat the bread together as one body, Christ's body. And then we'll do the same with the wine in due course. And so friends, according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ and following his example, we take this bread and we remember his body broken for us. Please serve the congregation.

[01:13:15]James Yes.

[01:19:29]inside together.

[01:19:40]In the same way, in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus and following his example, we take the wine and we remember Christ's body, Christ's blood poured out for us. James, please wine.

[01:25:33]I see this morning together.

[01:25:48]And over these uh three services, we have given considerable thought to Christ's ascension to the right hand of his father and what that means for his people. How that benefits them. We have thought about his position that he is the one whom God powerfully raised from the dead and seated at his right hand as head over all things.

[01:26:14]We then thought about his posture that he is the one who sits at God's right hand assuring his people that his sacrificial work on the cross on their behalf has been accomplished. But he is also the one who stands at God's right hand, assuring his people of his continued and ongoing care and concern for them, his awareness of their needs, his attentiveness to them.

[01:26:44]And we thought just now about his prayers that he is the one who makes continual intercession for his people.

[01:26:52]He speaks to his father on behalf of his people and for their eternal benefit and I know we've covered a lot of ground and you may not remember it all.

[01:27:08]But I hope friends that these three studies have been an encouragement and a comfort to you.

[01:27:16]And as we bring this service and the short series to a close, I want to give two very simple exhortations.

[01:27:23]There's an exhortation for every person who's here and is a Christian, a follower of Jesus.

[01:27:32]Eight years ago, and the congregation's changing all the time, I know, but eight years ago, our senior elder at the time, Angie McCauley, became very unwell.

[01:27:44]And the doctor informed Angie that he didn't have long to live.

[01:27:50]And Angie calmly informed the doctor that he wasn't afraid. He wasn't fearful because he had a friend.

[01:28:00]The Jesus whom he had known, the Jesus whom he had followed in a life that was often filled with many tears and many tragedies was the one whom he was looking to in his final hours in this world. the risen and ascended Jesus had been and continue to be at God's right hand for him. And this evening, I want to encourage every Christian who's here to never forget your friend.

[01:28:36]Some of you might be going to homes and situations that are filled with joy, that are filled with excitement.

[01:28:47]But some of you may be going to homes and situations that are filled with tears and filled with sorrow.

[01:28:55]But whatever you are facing, whatever you may go through, you have a Jesus who stands at God's right hand for you.

[01:29:07]He sits at God's right hand for you. And he makes intercession for you.

[01:29:18]That is your comfort. That is your hope in life and in death.

[01:29:25]You've got this friend.

[01:29:29]And I just encourage you tonight to go out this building knowing that you have this friend who sticks closer than a brother.

[01:29:43]But there is also an exhortation for every person who's here who may not yet be a Christian, may not yet be a follower of Jesus. Tonight, the risen ascended Jesus sits and he stands at the right hand of God where he makes intercession for his people. And he calls you through the proclamation of the gospel to come to him, to receive him, to embrace him.

[01:30:15]But the day is coming when the opportunity to do so will be gone and it will be gone forever.

[01:30:28]A day is coming when every person who refused and resisted and rejected Jesus will find themselves standing before God's throne looking for a friend.

[01:30:44]Looking to Jesus to speak up for them.

[01:30:51]looking to Jesus to say my sacrificial death was for them.

[01:30:59]And all he will say to those who rejected him in this life are the solemn words, I never knew you.

[01:31:11]And that is why I urge you friend tonight to come to this Jesus and call out to this Jesus while you have the opportunity to do so.

[01:31:28]You might have many more years hearing sermons from me or you may have many years hearing sermons from some other preacher.

[01:31:39]But equally, you may have very little time to hear and respond to sermons and preachers.

[01:31:49]And I plead with you and I implore you, don't leave it, friend, until it's too late.

[01:32:00]Let's pray.

[01:32:02]Our father in heaven, as we consider these solemn matters, we do thank you for Jesus.

[01:32:13]And we thank you for that friend who stands at the right hand and sits at the right hand and makes intercession for his people.

[01:32:25]Thank you for Jesus.

[01:32:27]And our prayer is that every one of your people would leave this building looking to him and rejoicing in him.

[01:32:36]And that for any who may be here tonight, not yet his people.

[01:32:42]That even this evening they would say that they cannot leave it another day to come to him. that even tonight they would seek him and call out to him while he is near while it is still day and while it is the opportunity of salvation.

[01:33:06]Oh apply the truths of the gospel to our minds and our hearts we ask we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

[01:33:18]We'll close by singing the words of Psalm 72, the Scottish Psalter version, and singing verses 17 down to 19.

[01:33:29]Psalm 72 from verse 17.

[01:33:33]His name forever shall endure last like the sun. It shall men shall be blessed in him and blessed all nations shall him call. Now blessed be the Lord our God, God of Israel, for he alone doth wondrous works and glory that excel. And blessed be his glorious name to all eternity. The whole earth let his glory fill. Amen. So let it be. Please stand if you're able.

[01:34:09]Heat.

[01:34:15]Heat.

[01:34:25]Heat. Heat.

[01:34:36]Hey, heat.

[01:35:02]Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat.

[01:35:14]Heat. Heat.

[01:35:24]Yeah.

[01:35:29]Heat.

[01:35:49]Now, I am conscious that you're sitting a little further forward than usual, but I'll be going to the back door just uh for the benefit of those who are uh unable to use the steps there. And if you're able to make use of the back door tonight, please do so because I would love to see everyone in the congregation if if able to. Now please uh raise your heads and your eyes to receive the Lord's blessing and benediction. Now may your experience be like the psalmist who said surely God is my help. The Lord is the one who sustains me. May your confidence be as the apostle who said the one who calls you is faithful. He will do it. And all God's people said amen.

[01:36:50]We done