Romans 15 7 through 13.

Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God

to confirm the promises given to the fathers and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy as it is written.

Therefore I will give praise to thee among the Gentiles and I will sing to thy name.

And again he says, rejoice, though Gentiles with his people. And again, praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise

him.

And again, Isaiah says, there shall come the root of Jesse, and he who arises to rule over the Gentiles.

In him shall the Gentiles hope.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound

in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Father, I am so thankful that you have not given me or us a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but a spirit of sonship whereby we cry,

Abba, Father, the Spirit himself bearing witness with our

spirit that we are the children of God. How could I dare to stand here if that spirit didn't witness with my

spirit that you were my father and that you would help me.

I pray that that would be the experience now of every person in this room,

that they would know by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and faith in Him

that you are their Father.

If any is not, Grant, I pray that this service would be a means to the quickening of faith in Christ.

And would you be pleased to adopt more children even this morning?

Help me, Father, please, to speak this text with truth and with affections that are fitting the nature of the truth and with an anointing and a fruitfulness that produces change

in our church and in our lives so that the city feels the force of love in Christ and for Christ.

And that the nations are reached, churches are planted, and worship ascends.

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