Illuminate Community Church

1/7/24 - God Is Working His Plan - Romans 9 - Pastor Jason Fritz

In this message, we will be reading from Romans chapter nine. It’s a stark contrast to the end of chapter eight where Paul ends on a high note. He gives a mountain top experience but when you arrive at the summit and look ahead you see storm clouds approaching. After turning the page, you find distress in what Paul writes next. Consider the change in tone... 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. Romans 8:38-39 This is the crescendo moment as Paul speaks of the overwhelming love of God. However, it is quickly followed by anguish in chapter 9 verses 1-2… I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. What happened? Well, Paul’s mind turns toward those who have not accepted God’s love in Christ. Specifically, his Jewish brothers and sisters. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:3-5 These are intense emotions spoken out of love for those who have had every advantage and yet, they have rejected the good things God has blessed them with. Paul goes so far as to say that he is willing to give up his seat on the bus to heaven so that his kinsman can take it. Many of us have gathered with friends and family for the holidays. Some of them don’t yet know Jesus and while we laugh and enjoy each other’s company, we have a deep sadness and underlying pain because they are far from God. Luther said it well, “Love is not only pure joy, and delight, but also great and deep heaviness of heart and sorrow.” Like Paul, our hearts break for those who are lost. One more thing to note about Romans chapter nine. It contains one of the more challenging and hard to follow issues in the entire Bible. Paul speaks of God’s sovereign and unconditional election. I hope to show this gives the believer great peace in knowing God has a plan and has been working that plan from eternity past. When God works, nothing will stop Him!

12/31/23 - God Is For Us - Romans 8:28-39 - Pastor Jason Fritz

In 1660 John Bunyon, the Puritan preacher and author was in deep depression until he began meditating on the words of our text this Sunday. He read this from Romans chapter 8, “If God is for us, who is against us?” 

 

The more he reflected on these words the more the clouds departed. All we have to do is look around us and see what’s happening in the world and it’s easy to become downhearted. Or we can look within and recognize life’s unwanted circumstances and this too can cause a downward spiral. It’s time to look up.

 

Romans chapter 8 contains what might be the most joy-filled, confident expressions in the entire Bible - and not just a few, but many in rapid succession beginning with one familiar to many Christians…

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 

 

The text doesn’t say all things are good because in fact, sometimes life brings us horrible situations. However, even in this God works the bad for good. The Greek words translated as ‘work together' form the foundation for the English word synergy. Synergy is when two or more things come together and produce something better than what each could do on it’s own. Still the question remains...

 

What exactly is meant by ‘good’? The ultimate good is revealed in the next verse...

 

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, Romans 8:29a

 

There it is. Did you catch it? The ultimate good for you and me is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean everything in this life will be easy. It means that God will use all things to produce Christ-likeness in you and this is what serves you best. So your present distresses should not be viewed as destructive. Pleasures, pains, suffering, heartache and disappointments are being used by God synergystically.

 

Sometimes we say, “Why is God allowing this to happen?” Paul reminds us that God gave us His best in Jesus so He won’t withold any good thing from us. This leads Paul to proclaim, "If God is for us, who can be against us!"

12/24/23 - Christmas Eve at Illuminate - Luke 1-2 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Have you noticed that Christmas has become the world’s largest secular holiday? Sadly, the story of Jesus’ birth goes unnoticed and yet the story itself is remarkable. It’s like someone who lives in Arizona and yet never visits the Grand Canyon thinking, “It will always be just a few hours away and when I get time, I’ll make it there.” There’s this incredible place of natural beauty and yet never experienced even though it’s in our own backyard! That’s the way many people treat the birth of Jesus. “Someday, I’ll think more critically about the most talked about and written individual to ever walk the planet. The story will always be there so I’ll explore it when I have time.” This weekend I’d like to bring us to the manger and into the sights and sounds of what took place 2000 years ago.

 

Actually, I’d like to take us farther back in time. 

 

Seven hundred years before the days of Mary and Joseph there lived a man named Isaiah. He was from the same region where Jesus was born. God speaks through Isaiah and gives remarkable insight into future events…

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 

 

Immanuel means, “God with us.” Shockingly, the prophet tells us that Jesus is God in human form and will dwell among humanity.

 

Many people have very little tolerance for Christianity because it is seen as exclusive and intolerant. The idea that Jesus is the only way to God and only through him can you achieve eternal life appears to be extremely narrow minded. The fact is, Christmas is the cause of irritating exclusivity. You see, every other religion believes that if you just follow their founder’s moral teachings then you will gain something better in the life to come. Morality and goodness is the path to God. Christianity says that’s not possible. Your situation is so desperate that morality and goodness will never be enough. Oh, and the reality is, you’re not actually as good as you think you are. So someone has to be good for you.

 

Suddenly, Christianity doesn’t seem so exclusive does it? Because God did for you what you couldn’t do for yourself. This is the meaning of Immanuel, God WITH us. This shatters many people’s view of Him. They think God is distant and far off and only mildly interested in human affairs. Christmas gives correction to that. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul, For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

 

In other words, God gives light in the darkness by sending Jesus to be THE light who is the very representation of God himself. Now that is something to celebrate!

12/17/23 - Advent: Peace - Luke 2:14 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Advent - Peace

Luke 2:14

 

You may not speak Hebrew but you know the word shalom. The peace symbol is one of the most recognized in the world. Worldwide recognition is given every year to those who are considered great peacemakers. Meanwhile the 20th century has seen more bloodshed in war than all previous centuries combined. Currently there are two major ongoing conflicts. In reality; peace on earth is elusive.

 

Last Sunday we looked at the first part of the angel’s glorious birth announcement. Shepherds were the first to hear about the true source of joy arriving in the form of a baby. The second part of the angel’s announcement proclaims this virgin born baby is the ultimate peacemaker.

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

 

There is no mistaking this - we please God by accepting his Son, Jesus. He is the only one that can remove the barrier of sin between us and the One who created and sustains all life. Once you have made peace with God, you can then have the peace of God in your life.

 

As Jesus prepares to leave his disciples, he says this, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27

The world cannot offer inner peace. This is a deep security in knowing you are loved by God every moment of your life – in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, in bad times and good. It’s a comfort the world cannot know apart from God and found only in Jesus.

12/10/23 - Advent: Joy - Luke 2:1-14 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Christian joy is not dependent upon circumstances, it is dependent upon a person.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14


God comes to those who are attentive no matter what society thinks of them.


There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:41

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Luke 2:1-2

And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:3-5

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5


Christians have the ability to look beyond the suffering and look to a sovereign God who uses suffering to refine our character because He loves us. 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11

Jesus says if you want joy that transcends your circumstances then do two things: obey His word and remain in His love.

12/3/23 - Advent: Love - John 3:16 - Pastor Jason Fritz

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

 

The Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard reflected on the reason for the incarnation and said this…

 

Imagine a prince desiring to get married. Each day his gold carriage traveled through the marketplace on its way to the castle. One day his eye caught the beauty of a peasant maiden. He fell in love with her. But how could he get her to marry him? As prince he could force the girl. Or he could have put on an incredible display of wealth and power. But he wanted a marriage of mutual love, not manipulation or force. So he exchanged his royal robes for peasant clothes and became a commoner. The prince lived as a poor man, worked as a laborer and ate scraps. Eventually, the girl took notice of him as a hard working and kind man. Soonafter, they wed.

 

You see, the prince became as she was so that she could understand his heart for her. 

 

That’s why God sent Jesus. So that we would understand God’s heart for us. This method is far better than any external voice shouting from heaven or some powerful ruler announcing a decree. God’s love can be a difficult thing for us to grasp. We tend to withhold love if we have been wronged. We tend to think of what is in our best interest first. Sometimes we harbor bitterness and grudges toward those we love the most. God however, withholds nothing from us.

 

Consider this: The greatest gifts are both useful and costly. The gift of Jesus is the most useful and costly thing you will ever receive.

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

 

Through Jesus you recieve eternal life. I would say that is very useful! However, it will come at a sacrifice and not of your own. It will require the death of Jesus. That is costly. Useful and costly is this gift from God. A clear expression of his love for you!

11/26/23 - Advent: Hope - Romans 5:13 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday we start our Advent series in preparation for the most significant event in human history - the birth of Jesus. The word advent means “arrival” and beginning in the fourth century AD Christians have been preparing their hearts, minds and homes with the hope of Christmas. We use the word hope several different ways. We might say, “I hope next summer won’t be as hot as the last one!” There is an element of pessimism in this. That’s not the kind of hope we are talking about. Instead, Biblical hope is a confident assurance that what God promised, He will deliver. Read slowly this comforting truth from Paul... May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 5:13 God is the source and supplier of hope. Certainly our world today needs a confident assurance that is rooted in the nature of the One who created and sustains all life. There are two major wars with no end in sight and more people are taking their lives than at any other time in recorded history. The number of those seeking professional mental health has never been higher. Why is this? It’s because we pour our hope into leaky containers only to realize they are soon empty. In God, we will never be depleted because our hope is in His son Jesus Christ born long ago and alive today. Johnathon Edwards said this about the Christian life… "Our good things can never be taken away from us, even our bad things turn out for good, and the best things are yet to come.” This is the hope of Christmas!

11/19/23 - Grief and Hope - Romans 8:18-27 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Romans 8:18-27

 

Friends, the Scritpures are honest in describing an inescapable reality: there is pain in human existence.

 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

 

Paul is honest in describing a life modeled after Jesus and guided by the Spirit includes suffering. He would know. This is his testimony…

 

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28

 

Down through the ages some believers have had it worse than this. Notice he begins verse 18 by saying, “I consider,” which means he has taken time to think things through and develop a conclusion: 

 

Earthly hardships are temporary. The joy of heaven is eternal.

 

Paul suffered physically and emotionally, but one day he, like us, will have a mind and body immune to pain. He has been without food but in heaven he has a feast. He bears the scars of several beat downs but his unbreakable body awaits. Best of all, he is in the presence of the one who saved him. There’s no comparison between what our lives are like now and what they will be in eternity.

 

 C. S. Lewis said this…

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward … promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.” 

 

In other words, consider what your heart truly desires. The best of what this earth has to offer is a mere shadow of what is to come. Wash your hands of the mud and lift your eyes toward heaven. Whatever your earthly pain or pleasure it cannot be compared with what awaits you Christian. Through grief there is hope!

 

11/12/23 - Live and Let Die - Romans 8:1-17 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Romans 8:1-17

Last week we heard some brutally honest words from the apostle Paul. He reveals his own personal struggles in Romans chapter 7…

 

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. vs.24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:14-15; 24.

I can relate to this and so can you. We want to do good but we end up doing the very thing we do not want to do. Our inner being wants to please God and recognizes the destructive patterns but yet we continue down the same road. Chapter 7 paints a bleak picture of the believer's ongoing struggle. At the same time there is something else present in the life of a Christian.  Something even more powerful. If chapter 7 reveals the battle, chapter 8 gives us the victory. It is the Spirit of God that has the power to set us free from sin’s bondage. In the first seven chapters Paul has spoken of God’s Spirit only twice, but in chapter 8 the Spirit is mentioned 20 times!

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:2

The law shows us we are sinners and brings condemnation and death, but the law of the Spirit brings liberation and life. This was accomplished when Jesus took on human flesh and was without sin. He stood apart from it, therefore he could judge it. Through his resurrection Jesus conquered sin’s penalty. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you and now gives you the power to overcome life's daily temptations.

Paul explains how the Spirit of God works in cooperation with the Word of God and this gives you a new mindset, a new lifestyle, a new identity and new purpose. You are part of a new humanity and you are not in this alone. What a great comfort!

11/5/23 - The Struggle is Real! - Romans 7 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This is a very poignant description of somebody who cares deeply about people, the Word of God, and what God wants for him. This is the person who desires to obey God’s laws, but is disappointed with himself, because in spite of what he desires he is pulled and pushed away from what he wants to do into the very thing he hates. It is the personal conflict of a soul in turmoil. The struggle is real. It is so intense and so strong that it dominates the life of Paul, and it dominates our lives also.

 

You’re probably familiar with the classic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Dr. Jekyll creates a potion in an attempt to separate himself from his dark and evil side which becomes Mr. Hyde. Dr Jeykll is kind and has many friends, but Mr. Hyde is evil and cruel. Two very different personas living inside one person. Have you ever said to yourself, “I can’t believe I did that! Why did I say that…again!” It’s like this little dark closet that exists within your heart and at times the beast inside reveals itself rather abruptly. Just as quickly it goes back into the darkness and closes the door…until next time.

 

Romans chapter 7 explains how that beast enters your life. 

 

It might surprise you to know that Paul makes this admission at least 20 years after being a Christian, sharing the gospel and planting churches. The more Paul studies his Bible the more he sees the contradiction in his life. The law brings recognition of the magnitude of sin. Sin has consequences far beyond what we first realize. As I get older I realize this truth more and more. Sins I committed in the past have their effect on me to this day. That’s the weight of it. Alternatively, I’m more aware of my need for God’s grace daily and am thankful for it.

 

Once you recognize what fuels the beast you can begin to defeat it. The end of chapter 7 makes you want to quickly turn the page to chapter 8 becasue it’s there we are told how to win the victory, but first comes the struggle.