07.04.2010 Riley Russell - An American Hero

07.04.2010 Grace Summit Sermon - Riley Russell - an American Hero - by Rick and Carol Reynolds from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

07.04.2010 Grace Summit - The Proposal! Kyle VanderKaay to Lisa Jaster from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

07.04.2010 Grace Summit Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Download the PDF of what Carol read HERE: EulogyOfRileyRussell

SermonAudioCarol read a eulogy for Riley Russell (Carol's Dad) which was given by Bryan Luton in 2009. Then Rick brought out some of the highlights as listed below:

Act 1: pg 2 – his concern was not for himself (are you thinking about others?)
Act 2: pg 3 – turned him over (are you performing acts of kindness?)
Act 3: pg 3 – noticed a slight movement (are you paying attention to those around you?)
Act 4: pg 3 – gave blood (are you giving sacrificially of yourself?)

1) Always viewed life within the context of doing his duty.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

2) Guided by a desire to do what was right – not that which was merely expedient.
“Be holy for I am holy.”
I Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
“Offer your bodies”
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

3) Focused more on their moral responsibilities than on their personal rights.
Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:19-23 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.




4) There can be little doubt why this man viewed life from a perspective that only those who have faced death can understand. He could appreciate so much of what the rest of us only take for granted.
Crucified the sinful nature
Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
If old self is crucified, we are freed from sin
Romans 6:6-7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE? TO BE TRULY FREE FROM SIN?

WARNING FROM GOD:
Romans 8:5-8 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God
Jeremiah 34: 17 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the LORD—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Living like this is like being a spy – you say you are on one side, but you are actually doing the bidding of the other side.
How does it happen?
• Complacency
• Life of ease
• Familiarity
• Little sins that “don’t mean much” or don’t hurt anyone else
• Justifying your actions
DON’T GIVE IN! FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!

Here’s the kicker – to be truly independent of sin, you must be wholly dependent on God!
How do we do this?
Galatians 5:16-18 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Psalm 119:41-48
May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;
then I will answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws.
I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,
for I delight in your commands
because I love them.
I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,
and I meditate on your decrees.