tollie.org/blog thoughts and reflections of Tollie Williams

Notes from 2-19-2009 Sermon – Radical Depravity

Romans 3:9

=== I ===

There is no difference between ministers past and present, here or there. All are under sin. Compare Romans 3 to Genesis - a moral change took place in their beings; same today.

=== II ===

Romans 8:7 - People fall under two categories. Those whom are saved (the Spirit has fallen) and those in whom the Spirit has not worked (the unrepentant).

The unrepentant, unsaved: (a reminder) Hostile to God. Enemies of God. May be religious. May be church going people who worship a god of their own making. For example, may worship a god who doesn't mind that they are living in sin; a god who "tickles them" in the midst of their sin. Romans 8:8 - they _cannot_ please God.

=== III ===

Romans 3:10-18 is what God says about self-righteous Israel.

Human beings are in a state of mutiny.

Anecdote: We are like individuals who are blind and arguing about whether there is a sun or not, yet the very reason we are having this discussion is because we feel the suns rays! We can not see the full glory of God's face, but we certainly should recognize that he is there.

=== IV ===

It is to people in this state of rebellion that believers are called to preach - "repent or perish."

IMPORTANT: Why? We just said that they _can't_ turn from their sins. They can't please God. They are dead in their sin, and spiritual enemies against their God.

Truth: they _can't_ turn from their sins, this is to the glory of our God - it is his grace redeems them. So that when anyone repents and turns from sin, it can be entirely to the glory of God. This also demonstrates that God is not a passive savior of the past, but he is an active savior in the present, reaching out to sinners. It is in this goodness of God that is our hope. God knows who are his and, through the preaching of the gospel, will bring them to himself.

Related to the anecdote above: "It is in this pitch black darkness of depravity that God is saving souls."

=== V ===

Let us fill the church with unconverted pagans. God, let them hear the Word, and God be glorified.

Notes from 2-15-2009 Sermon – Seek the Lord

Media link: Video - Starts at 3:43 mark.

My thought: today, we behold the bare cross as a sight of hope and somber remembrance. In glory, we will behold the actual countenance of God in complete satisfaction.

Speaker: Conrad Mbewe - pastor from Zambia.

Psalms 2:1-12.

Psalms chapter 1 and 2 serve as introduction to Psalms. They weren't written first.

Psalms 1:1 starts with "Blessed."
Psalms 2:12 ends with "Blessed."
Because true human happiness is only found in God.

Psalms 1: Microscopic view.
Psalms 2: Macroscopic view.

Psalms 2 is divided like scenes from a play; 3 verses per scene.

* Psalms 2:1-3: (Video @ 48:59) God empowered David. David acted boldly because he knew that it was only by God's permission that he was empowered at all.

* Psalms 2:4-6: (Video @ 56:35) God laughed. Consider: Parents walking down hallway, listening to their children in their rooms plotting an overthrow. The parents can't help but laugh- they are plotting the overthrow of the their parents who own the house, bought the clothes, and paid the electric bill. It is laughable their desire to overthrow. The parents further realize that this behavior is wrong and sinful, and ground the children.

* Psalms 2:7-9: (Video @ 67:19) "Son" is talking. Compare these verses to Acts 13 talking about the resurrection. Don't attempt to judge God by the church or by the weaponry of the Gospel.

* Psalms 2:10-12: (Video @ 78:31) Listening to a town crier who is decreeing the news of the King so the people can relate appropriately. Message: "stop - you are headed to destruction."