Jacob Creighton: Hey everybody, welcome back to the Formed Podcast. This is episode seven of our Romans eight series. We're almost through the whole chapter of Romans eight, so yeah, we got this one and one more. Can't wait, Chris. How you doing today? Chris: We're back. I'm good. This it's it's a good day. It's a good day. So I'm rocking my Steelers stuff today. So yeah. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yep. let's go. Let's go. I got my Sealers blanket in the background. It's a nice little touch there. that's right. That's right. Chris: There it is. It's always there for Jacob. Welcome to Pittsburgh. Jacob Creighton: Chris, we're we're in Romans eight still. We're Chris: Mm-hmm. Jacob Creighton: in thirty five through thirty or sorry, thirty one through thirty five. Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: a lot of questions. A lot of questions. Chris: A lot of questions today. Yeah. You know, I was thinking is yet it Jacob Creighton: This is my jam. Chris: is asking a bunch of questions. If you don't know Jacob, Jacob is a master at asking a lot of questions. so Jacob Creighton: Not to annoy, hopefully. Chris: not to annoy, not to annoy, just to to improve. And he's a wonder, as we say in the office. So, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Right. Chris: but you know, I was as I was preparing for this, I was, you know, because it's we're looking at five rhetorical questions from Paul. So I I was laughing. So in a couple of days is is my dad's is a one year anniversary of my dad passing. So you been thinking about my dad a lot. And Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah. Chris: you know, I was thinking about the rhetorical questions and I mentioned one other day, you know, dad used to ask me, is like, son, are you born in a barn? And you know, and it's like you're not born in a barn, go shut the front door, you know. Why are we why are we air conditioning the the outside or heating the outside? but Jacob Creighton: Yeah. He's worried. Chris: I was thinking about some other my dad would he would always If you'd asked him a question, he would never answer yes or no. He would say, if it was yes, he would say, Can a clap, can a cat climb trees? Is is what he would. I don't know why he would say that. Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: But he would always ask, Can a cat climb trees? And I'm like, Okay, so I can do whatever I asked, Or if the answer was no, he would never say no, especially if it was like a dumb question. He would say, You want a one-word answer or a two? And that's all he would say. So Jacob Creighton: That's it. Chris: Yeah. So Jacob Creighton: What does that even mean? Chris: well it it means you you want me to say no or do you want me to say no? We're on a okay, we're on a Jacob Creighton: I understand. Understand. Chris: we're on a the form podcast. So but that's just the questions always Jacob Creighton: That's good. Chris: got. So take take that for what it is. That's a life a peak in the life of Chris right there. Jacob Creighton: You don't know one word answer or two. That's good. That's good. That's good. Yeah, I was thinking this is funny you say that. I was thinking about some random phrases that are pretty horrible if you think about Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: there's more than one way to to skin a cat. It's one that my professor Chris: Which Jacob Creighton: and I say. Yeah. Chris: which is not does not mean cat like in the thing the animal that I hate, but a catfish. A catfish. So Jacob Creighton: I know, I know, I know, but it's like what what Chris: And I have skinned a cat a couple different ways. So I have yeah. Jacob Creighton: You skin the cat. But also for me it's like, my mind is thinking about the actual cats because I'm too hate them. So there you go. Chris: Yeah, so we're we apologize to any listeners who are cat lovers. We still love you. We just don't love the animal you love. Jacob Creighton: We're trying to get rid of a cat in just a cat stench in the house we thought, which is good. We're getting there. We're getting there. The cat's gone. Anyway, Romans eight, thirty-one Chris: We're getting there. We're getting there. It's been a it's been a labor of love. Jacob Creighton: through thirty-five. Pretty rough start to this. Chris: Well yeah. We'll we'll dive in. I mean there's good Jacob Creighton: So Chris: Lord, this is such a good passage. Holy moly. Jacob Creighton: It is. It is. You wanna read it for us? Chris: Yeah, I'll read it. It says, so Paul is asking, what then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? For it's God who justifies, who is the one who condemns, is Christ Jesus who died. Yes, no, rather is seated who was raised and is seated at the right hand of God and is interceding for us, who will separate us from the love of Christ. Well, tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword. so good. It's Jacob Creighton: That's good. Chris: hard to even stop there because obviously if if Jacob Creighton: Yeah, I know. Chris: you're listening to this go read 36, 37, 38, and 39. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: It's just incredible. Jacob Creighton: Pretty incredible stuff. we've kind of done this the last few episodes. What what clearly you're reading it fresh this morning. You spent some time w prepping and preaching Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: this, but also this morning you read it. what's what's hitting you as you as you read it this morning? Chris: I think the the answers to the questions, you know, the way the way Paul is asking it is, you know, what then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? And then well, the answer for that is nothing. Now he if he asked who is against you or what is against you, you'd have a lot of answers. But if God is for you, who can be against you? And then he says, He who did not spare his own son. But delivered him over for us all, how will he not also freely with him give us all things? And so it's like not only like you have God, it you know, the the all-powerful God of the Bible, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: the all-knowing, the eternal God of the Bible, that's enough. But then you also have proof of God's love for you. Like if he will do that, if he won't even spare his own son. What what will he not give you? What what will he not give you to battle whatever temptation? What will he not give you to endure whatever type of persecution Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: or trial or circumstance? And I think you sit in that and it's a never-ending well of nothing. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: Nothing. If God is for us, who can be against us? No, nothing. I Jacob Creighton: Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Chris: It it it it di it dis a very disarming question. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think what's kinda jumping off the page at me like thirty three who'll bring a charge against God's elect. Chris: Mm. Jacob Creighton: That first question, but then this next question starts off with the statement God is the one who justifies. We've already talked about this, but here it is in like a half a sentence form. God is the one who justifies. Who's the one who condemns that? It's not God. Chris: Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's good. Jacob Creighton: So that's the that was I mean that's pretty strong right there. Chris: Yeah, if if God if if if He is who who the Bible says that he is and He justifies you, I mean, so He is He is declaring you righteous, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: like who can accuse you then? Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: again you kind of you start to follow that and it's so disarming it's like Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah. Chris: no no no no buy Jacob Creighton: Yeah, and you can track those all kinds of ways, okay, so if it's Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: not God accusing me, he's justified me. You know, I f feel accused a lot. So then by who? Is it by God? No. Chris: that's good. Jacob Creighton: Is it by myself, probably? S Satan probably also, you know? Chris: Well, let me ask you that. So how how do you I I think I think it would be safe to say that anyone listening is is dealing with some form of accusation, internally, you know, whatever Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Right. Chris: it is, or even externally at times. But I think Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: a lot of times, you know, the the six senses between our ears is is Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: some of the tough battleground. When you experience that accusation, how Jacob Creighton: Mm. Chris: do you discern? Or how do you stop yourself from reacting to that accusation? Jacob Creighton: Good question. I I feel like more often than not I don't you know. More often than Chris: Yeah, yeah. Jacob Creighton: not. And well, that's the thing is it's like there can be big accusations, small accusations. typically in the small accusations it's easier for me to say that it's the other people that are around me that are accusing me. Whether it's Chris: Uh-huh. Jacob Creighton: like, you know. My wife when there's small things that don't get done. I'm like, I feel like you're and she's not. She just wants things to get done. Or, maybe it's Chris: Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Jacob Creighton: my boss, you no, I'm just kidding. Maybe it's it's different people in my life that you j nobody has said anything, but I'm like playing Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: the voices in my head of like what they're probably thinking. Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: and so I think yeah, how do you how do you stop that in their in their tracks? I think you You have to get ahead of it, which is what I feel like Romans Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: eight is making the case for. Chris: That's good, yeah. Jacob Creighton: Man, I'm I'm already justified by God. And so when like accusations come pouring in, whether big or small, whether it's like from a big thing in my past that I'm still feeling shame and guilt on, whether it's a small thing here in the moment, yeah, who who Who is accusing me? Who can contend me? Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: Is it myself or God's justifying me freely, so Chris: Yeah, and I I think discerning that, I almost wonder if, and I don't know if I've ever looked at the passage this way, but just throwing this out there is I almost wonder if Paul is writing this because of that same very habit. Like Jacob Creighton: Exactly. Chris: I I wonder if, you know, he's gotten through all this. You know, I think often as Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: a as a communicator, I actually communicate what I need to hear. So if you're Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: sitting in the congregation, I apologize. because I'm probably like, I'm actually probably looking in the mirror more than than I am actually looking at you. So if you're getting, if you're getting convicted, it's probably the Holy Spirit, it's not me. I'm probably talking to Chris. And I wonder too here, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: you know, I wonder if Paul is like, you know, what shall I say to these things? I gotta remember if God is for me, who can be against me? Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah, yeah, right, right. Chris: He didn't spare his own son. That's what I gotta remember, is disarming. Jacob Creighton: yeah. Chris: Who can bring an accusation against me? It's God who justifies. It's God who justifies. He's just, I wonder if he kinda is going through that process and then he's Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and we Chris: like, I'm gonna erase this and I'm gonna write this. You know, I wonder if he's doing that. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, it's I and we said at the beginning of Romans eight, but obviously coming right from Romans seven where he is like kinda doing the self accusing. It's like I'm doing Chris: Yeah, no, absolutely, yeah. Jacob Creighton: he's doing the self accusing and so he's like, it's yeah, it's like the run on sentence aspect of the book of Romans where he's writing this, he's like, okay, this is the solution. Come on, Paul. You know? Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: But but then in turn, I mean, that's That's a pretty common line of thought I would say. Probably probably for all of us. Chris: Yeah. Yeah. it hits I I I can't imagine if we were to put a hundred people into a room that you know, these five questions would not be represented pretty, Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah. Chris: you know, significantly within the within the population. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chris: You know, when you hear something kind of go off the rails a little bit, I Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: mean, are you are you being know is do you feel like something is against you do you feel like something's condemning Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: you do you feel like something's accusing you do you feel like you're separated so I think that's the I you know I I I I just wonder how often Paul is writing in a way that is actually writing for himself yeah Jacob Creighton: Self reflective, yeah. Yeah. Chris: what what are you withholding God what are what are you withholding Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: so Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah, and even he's a lot of his letters and everything, like often he is portraying himself as the worst, you know? He's like, Chris: Mm-hmm. Jacob Creighton: bro, I I was on a mission to murder Christians. It doesn't Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: get worse than me from the jump. I'm like the least worthy Chris: Mm-hmm. Jacob Creighton: to receive this new position. And at the same time, I also feel like I'm experiencing the worst suffering among us almost of like I mean I was we talked about this several times on this, but like beaten, shipwreck, all kinds of imprisonments, dangerous travels, like I feel like I got this list Chris: Mm-hmm. Jacob Creighton: so long with everything. So he's kinda he kind of paints himself as the extreme worst and is going through kind of the most. But Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: how he applies it is then okay, so if this is true for me, who's the worst and is experiencing the worst? Chris: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jacob Creighton: yeah, God's the one who justifies. So I want to hear some of your thoughts just as you you kind of prepped this and preached this. you said that it's a a big question I have for you. You said that It's kinda hard to stop where we did. Chris: Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Creighton: why did you stop where we did? And Chris: Yes. Jacob Creighton: yeah, what what do you feel like came out in these five verses that you felt like man it'd it'd be worthy for us to just sit here? Chris: Yeah, I think it's the four, the four first questions kind of kind of come to a head in the last question. And so if if if I can be convinced that let's see, it's it's what's what then should we say he's thinking if God is for us, who can be against us? So if I can be convinced that somebody's against us, that God is withholding something from me, that I am actually accused, there's a charge against me that actually has merit and that I am actually condemned. If I can, if if the great accuser, we we we if you if you read scripture, Satan is the the king of lies. he is the great accuser. Everything his he says is a lie. His native language, his native tongue is lying. And so if the great liar, the great accuser can convince you of any of those four things, Then that fifth one, that fifth question, what will separate me from the love of my God is incredibly impactful. And so I think then that's what Paul I think does. I think he finishes, and and and you'll see in the next, in the next sermon, it's it's this next sermon after we kind of double back into 35, 35 through 39. I think I just wanted to spend. a significant amount of time in the separation piece. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, that's good. Chris: But it's it's hard to ask the first four without asking the fifth one. And so man, if if the if Satan could pick a loophole in Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Chris: in your heart and your mind and your soul of separate or not separation, but condemnation. Well if I'm condemned then I can be separated. If God is withholding something from me then Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah, yeah, right. Mm-hmm. Chris: then why wouldn't he let me go out of his hand? If he's withholding Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: something from me. If if there is a credible charge against me and Jesus died on the cross, then is it enough for to save me? That means I could be separated. You know, so I think Jacob Creighton: Mm. Yeah. Chris: that's where that's why I asked you that question about, you know, when you start to identify that accusation in us, you know, these are sobering questions because if we look at them in kind of a, I don't say logical, because this is not logical at all. Jacob Creighton: No, it's not. Chris: If we look at it from a the truth of of what scripture is saying, the truth of the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ, it gives us access to God and brings us life. If we look at it from that angle, then we we pretty quickly can spiral in in a good way, kind of up into okay, no, I'm secure. No, I Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: there's no charge. I am justified. I am righteous. I am, you know, not on my own merit, on his merit. We can go that direction. But man, if if we're not careful and And we allow the great accuser, the the native, the native language of lies begin to swirl in our head, man, it can get destructive. And I think this is where Jacob Creighton: yeah. Chris: we have to realize what John 1010 says, man, the the the thief has come to steal, kill, and destroy. But then on the flip side, but I have come, Christ has come to give life and life abundantly. And so you you pull this. And I think that has application here because Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: man, if if we if if if he pulls those loopholes and we kind of allow that that loophole to keep getting pulled and we start to believe those lies, man, we Jacob Creighton: yeah. Yeah. Chris: we can absolutely go into an anxiety inducing Jacob Creighton: Mm. Chris: rage almost of fear that we are going to be separated from. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Seriously. Yeah. That's good. Chris: So I won that's why I I think I wanted to spend time unpacking all five of these questions. Yeah, I don't typically do five points in a sermon. but Jacob Creighton: Right. Chris: for this one, I just it it we did. And it we rolled through, we sped through. But man, Jacob Creighton: Yeah, that was great. Chris: I mean, if you were to sit, if you were to take five days and sit in each one of these, each one of these questions, Jacob Creighton: Mm. Chris: and and kind of posture yourself before God, and you begin to ask yourself, okay, if if you are for me, God, who can be against me? I What what is what what's going to come out? Jacob Creighton: Yeah, seriously. Yeah, I think un unfortunately what I really like what you were saying about spiralling upward. I think that's that's cool. Yeah, I I wonder if most of the listeners to this, even I th I think about most of the people in our church, myself, you know, it it's so easy to follow the downward spiral. It's a lot harder Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: to change the trajectory and go upward, but I Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: feel like the the well of what we're missing from the positive side of things, man, what if we what if this was stopped in its tracks? And your belief of what God is actually saying about you is that He's justified you, not condemned you. Yeah. Chris: Well, and this is weird too. I think as followers of Jesus, that we are to live in community. I actually think this is something that we as followers of Jesus need to do a better job of actually speaking over each other. I I I think this Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Chris: is a prophetic word that we could speak over each other. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Chris: it is a hundred percent truth. And I think that as we live in community, as we, you know, think of ourselves. Think of ourselves less, not less of ourselves, but think of ourselves Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chris: less. We're able to see what is going on around us. And I think we need to identify language in those that are close to us and and be able to hear, like, wait a minute, hold on. That was an accusation. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chris: That's not okay. Like there, it is God who justifies. And not as like a holy roller type thing, but in a way to be like, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: No, as your brother in Christ, as your sister in Christ, I am going to protect you. Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: And I'm going to tell you, I there's actually I've I've told a couple people recently in the church, just jokingly, but in in some ways not, because I am your pastor and I love you, you know, I love them dearly. and so I think of myself as like the rock, I got the rod and the staff, you know, the rod Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: beats them off, a staff brings them back, kind of thing. Jacob Creighton: There you go. Chris: And it's I've told them told them jokingly because I picked up in some conversations just some condemnation. they they condemn themselves for certain things. Jacob Creighton: Mm mm. Chris: And I I told them jokingly, I I'm I I will fight whoever condemns you. As your pastor, because I love you so much, I will fight whoever condemns you. And it's been it's been a joke between, a a couple of us. But you know, it's true. Like I think as Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: as followers of Jesus, we should be stepping in. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: with our brothers and sisters in Christ and identify, okay, when when is this person using language that shows that there's a lot of things against them? And Jacob Creighton: Right. Yep. Chris: it's like, no, wait, hold on. God is for you. Or using language that like that God is withholding something from me. No, wait, he did not spare his own son, but he delivered him over for us all. How will he not with him freely give you all things? And Jacob Creighton: Yeah, yeah. Chris: I think I that's something I just think we have to be in tune about. Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: But I think we have to start with ourselves, obviously. So we have to hear the language in ourselves. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: So what is that accusation? But then you'll start once you identify whatever that accusation is for you, you'll start Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: to pick it up in other people too. Jacob Creighton: Yep. That's good. I man, I love that verse. That he who did not spare his own son but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also give us or freely give us all things? you gave a great illustration of a of a your daughter's potential future wedding. and I said but I think it I think it helps. I want you to share it, but it helps because I think we get this as followers of Jesus, we get down this line where it's like, okay, you know, back back then I had a good spiritual encounter with Jesus and now we've got down the line and I'm seeing some things happen, seeing some suffering happen, seeing some things play out where I'm like, Man, has God abandoned me? Like Is he is his favor not on me? What's going on? And I think this verse kinda helps bring us back. But I I wanted you to share your illustration 'cause I think it I think Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: it is a pretty good one for one of how we feel in the Christian life. Chris: Yeah, so I we were we I was just making up a making up a hypothetical statement. I have a 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old daughter. So I'm still a long way, no, I'm a long way away from this. But, Jacob Creighton: She's not about to get married. Yeah. Chris: it's like, okay, the excitement comes. I meet this this guy that my daughter is in love with. He is a I actually approve of this guy, did not have to bring my shotgun out. I can put it away. I actually like this guy. He awkwardly asked me for her hand in marriage because I love this guy, because he loves Jesus. Because he loves my daughter, I'm like, let's go. And of course, being a a dad of two daughters, we we gonna spend some money for this thing, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: you know, and this party because we want to celebrate. And so she gets her dress. I pay for it to ching. Let's go. We get the venue, pay for it to ching. Let's go. yeah, listen. Jacob Creighton: And that bill's racking up. your savings is going quick. Chris: listen. yeah. No, it's it's yeah. I'm gonna be eating ramen noodles and tuna. and so, but I'm like, you know what, I love her, let's go. But bang. I'm not with I'm not gonna withhold anything. All right. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: Like the venue, we in the the recicler, I like to eat. Like we're gonna have some chicken wings there and some some pierogies. I don't think that's wedding food, but whatever. You know, I don't Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah, you can. Chris: make that decision. I just write the check, boom, let's go. And then she has the nerve to come and ask me for $50 for plates for Aunt Lulu's famous lemon bars. Jacob Creighton: On the on the Pittsburgh Chris: no. Jacob Creighton: cookie table. Chris: Yeah, no, we're not no, we're not messing with the pits. we can add the pits for a cookie table, but Aunt Lulu can bring her own plates. no, I ain't I'm not going that far. I'm cutting her off now. this is over. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. Jacob Creighton: Fifty dollars? Heck no. Yeah. Chris: Fifty dollars for Aunt Lulu's lemon bar is put me over the edge. I just can't do it, Jacob. Jacob Creighton: Yep. What happens is your daughter like thinks she's got a blank check for the wedding and the ceremony and everything, And so she's doing the math in her head Chris: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And and I wanna do it. Jacob Creighton: and going, Hey, that's twenty grand for the venue, it's ten Chris: Mm-hmm. Jacob Creighton: grand for the food, it's five grand for the invites just to go out. You know. Chris: Yeah, yeah. But we not spending fifty bucks on Aunt Lulu's lemon bars, I'm tell you that. I'm cutting her off. And that's what we act with God so often. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah, that's what it is. That's how we act. That's how we act. Yeah. Chris: It's like he gave us his son, he gave us creation, he gave us, he gives us air every morning, oxygen. Jacob Creighton: Or Yeah. Or we put ourselves in the position of the bride and go, I don't really know if I can ask my dad for fifty dollars for the wedding bar. Chris: Yeah. Yeah. It's like, is he gonna cut me off now? And it's like, no, he did not spare his own son. And yeah, how often do we go down that rabbit trail? Jacob Creighton: Yeah. It's like I'm not really even gonna ask now. When Chris: Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Creighton: honestly if you took a second to look at the track record of God's faithfulness for all of time, sure. Chris: Mm. Jacob Creighton: even just what you can read in scripture. But even as you trail through your own life, I think if you look back, there's plenty there to go. Okay, Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: I can ask him again. Chris: Well, and then you even look forward. you look into the glory to come and and Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yeah. Chris: it's like, Why would you not ask? Why would you not seek? we'll be talking about that a lot here in the future, Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Yep. Mm-hmm. Chris: but that ask seek not mentality, man. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, why do you think we don't ask? Chris: Well, because I think it's I think that's part of the the lie that gets that gets told to us. It's like I I think the great accuser, it's it you look at it in the garden and it's like, did God really tell you that? Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Chris: Did God really tell you that? And and I think it it makes us it makes us pause and say, Hold on, did he? Did he? Did he not? I mean and it just takes time to go kind of like un Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: unravel. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: the lie and say, no, wait, he did say that. He did say I could ask, seek and knock. He did say that I'm a a good father who loves to give good things to my children. yeah, so I I think again, it's it's we begin Jacob Creighton: Mm-hmm. Chris: to believe the lie. Jacob Creighton: Yeah, I think there's that. I think there's also I don't like hearing no. And so Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: if there's things that I'm gonna step out on a limb and ask for Maybe I have asked for a lot of things and the answer is no. man, I don't like hearing no. I like to hear Chris: Yeah. Jacob Creighton: that I've got it I can I can figure it out and sort it out on my own for just the things that I want. And so I think that is also a factor too of man, there's things that I could take a a list to God of the things that I'm asking for. Could if the answer is no on some of these things, I'm all right with that. And that there's a trust component. And if it's no, typic there's Chris: Yeah. Well i a and is it Exactly. Jacob Creighton: there's things that are it's it's for my good. It's for it's yeah, it's for the best. So yeah. Right. Chris: Yeah. And that's a hard thing to that's a hard thing to sit back on. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. any other thing you want to hit with this talk about? Chris: Man, I think we did. I I have really enjoyed, you know, going through this, obviously. I'm excited about the next one. I mean, as he finishes, I mean, just the the culmination. He I can just like almost envision Paul just kind of just building and he's just getting more and more excited as he's finishing up Romans eight. And, you know, I think just to our listeners, I I I think that we underestimate the craftiness of Satan. And and his schemes and and his evil desires for you. I mean, he has come to steal, kill, and destroy. And I think that is a prominent thing within the Christian sphere where we don't realize how much joy is being squelched, how much goodness and and gentleness is being squelched. Not because we're not good people, but because there are lies that we're allowing to Jacob Creighton: Yeah. Chris: to be picked at. Jacob Creighton: Yeah. One thing that we've been really trying to lean into with the sermon series is is responding in response. I feel like if you're listening to this podcast, if you're looking at these verses and these questions, the the potential trap of a rhetorical question is that it gets asked and then we like think about it in a brainy sense, but we don't respond and let it seep into a heart sense that man God is the one who's justified me. He's spared his own son and graciously gives gives all things. So I I think yeah, if I were to lean in and and press in and give an encouragement, man, how are you gonna respond after hearing these rhetorical questions? Maybe Sit in some silence today with God with one of these questions. allow it to seep into your heart and yeah, affect how you how you walk. So yeah, thanks for joining us. We've got one more of these coming soon. So thanks for listening. See Chris: Let's go. Jacob Creighton: you next time.