Romans 8:28-30

"And we know that in all things, all things work together for good to those who love God - to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He forknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called".

I want to read that to you again because it's that line I want to close this message on by unpacking the revelation in that one line. (v30); "Moreever whom He presdestined, these He also called".

Everyone is predestined by the way. I've studied Calvinism and Arminianism for decades - those He predestined He also called. Let's read on; "Whom He called - these He also justified". God called you and when He called you before you were born, He already justified you and declared that you were righteous - no more sin in His eyes. He doesn't see your sin! He just sees you as righteous. That's pretty powerful! "Those He called, He also justified and those He justified He also glorified". This is all past tense now. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us - who can be against us?". Now that Greek word "Called" - those He predestined, He also called. The called according to His purpose.

The New Testament was originally written in Ancient Greek - not the modern Greek. The Greek word is; "kaleo". The word actually means that God "screamed". He screamed in time; "You can do it! You can do it! You may have felt overwhelmed but you can do it! You may have been overlooked but you can do it! You may have been misunderstood and failed many times but you can do it!".

The "kaleo" is the scream of God".

Rob Rufus - "The Struggle for the Authentic - Part 2" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 14th September 2008.

Hebrews 11:4

"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks".

"Their son Abel understood the blood and Hebrews 11:4 says that by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain through which he obtained witness that he was righteous. God testifying to His gifts and through it "He being dead speaks today". That's an amazing Scripture! That through blood Abel FELT righteous but Cain brought just fruit from the land and God was not pleased with his sacrifice so at the beginning of humanity, we see that Abel though he is dead, still speaks today. That without blood there can be no approach to God, no favour of God, you cannot know God experientially, you cannot walk with God - there is no grace, no blessing, no power in your life without the blood - the manifest Presence of God is absent".

Rob Rufus - "The Blood - Substance or Shadow?" - City Church International, Hong Kong.