Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.759
If you're able, please remain standing
and will give our attention to God's word
2
00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:24.620
in Romans Chapter Eight, the Romans
eight verses eighteen through twenty five, for
3
00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:32.100
I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worth comparing with the
4
00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:37.490
glory that is to be to be
revealed to us. For the creation waits
5
00:00:37.570 --> 00:00:42.570
with eager longing for the revelate revealing
of the sons of God. For the
6
00:00:42.689 --> 00:00:48.369
creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of him who subjected
7
00:00:48.450 --> 00:00:54.799
it. In hope that the creation
itself will be set free from its bondage
8
00:00:55.439 --> 00:01:00.640
to corruption and obtain the freedom of
the glory of the Children of God.
9
00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:06.670
For we know that the whole creation
has been groaning together in the pains of
10
00:01:06.829 --> 00:01:12.349
childbirth until now, and not only
the creation, but we ourselves, who
11
00:01:12.349 --> 00:01:18.819
have the first fruits of the spirit
grown inwardly, as we wait eagerly for
12
00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:23.900
adoption as sons, the redemption of
our bodies. For in this hope we
13
00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:29.340
are saved. Now, hope that
is seen is not hope, for who
14
00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:33.010
who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do
15
00:01:33.170 --> 00:01:40.810
not see, we wait for it
with patience. May God indeed bless his
16
00:01:40.890 --> 00:02:00.560
word to us. Please be seated. Sometimes in life we are called to
17
00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:05.950
do difficult things. We're called to
do things that are are difficult, things
18
00:02:06.030 --> 00:02:10.909
that are perhaps above our paygrade or
beyond what we feel we are capable of
19
00:02:12.030 --> 00:02:16.780
doing. Kids, maybe your parents
come home from Costco and ask you to
20
00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:21.500
carry some giant thing into the house. You say, I can't do it,
21
00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:27.340
it's too heavy. Or maybe you're
given a project at work that really
22
00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:32.169
is just beyond your skill levels and
capabilities, or school assignment that is too
23
00:02:32.370 --> 00:02:38.610
hard. When you're in these kind
of situations, it feels bad, feels
24
00:02:38.729 --> 00:02:45.400
scary, maybe even overwhelming or at
least frustrating. The task that you are
25
00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.479
given to do can feel, in
a situation like this, a somewhat feudal.
26
00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:53.680
How am I going to carry these
three hundred toilet paper rolls into the
27
00:02:53.759 --> 00:03:00.830
house when my arms are only this
big? It just feels udle. But
28
00:03:00.430 --> 00:03:06.789
if the person who gave you the
task knows what they're doing and knows what
29
00:03:06.990 --> 00:03:12.469
you are capable of, then they
will encourage you, at least a loving
30
00:03:12.830 --> 00:03:15.580
one will. They'll encourage you,
they'll support you, that'll let you know
31
00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:20.659
they this is something you can do. Let me show you how, let
32
00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:25.340
me teach you the way. They
give us consolations and remind us that they
33
00:03:25.419 --> 00:03:30.810
haven't given us something beyond our ability, that the three hundred rolls of toilet
34
00:03:30.810 --> 00:03:36.050
paper are rolling only thirty rolls and
that our arms onn't this big, they're
35
00:03:36.050 --> 00:03:40.009
actually this big. Well, that's
what God does here in Romans, Chapter
36
00:03:40.210 --> 00:03:46.039
Eight, verses eighteen through thirty,
he has called us to a very hard
37
00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:51.800
calling. In verse seventeen, we
are told that we are heirs with God
38
00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:57.949
and fellow airs with Christ of this
great inheritance that we receive as adopted children,
39
00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:02.430
provided that we suffer with him in
order that we may also be glorified
40
00:04:02.590 --> 00:04:10.900
with him. That's a hard calling. God calls us to suffer, and
41
00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:15.020
indeed that suffering is not just a
future thing, but it's a now thing.
42
00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:18.660
That is defined. In Verse Eighteen, Paul says, I consider that
43
00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:24.019
the sufferings this is the next verse. I consider that the sufferings of this
44
00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:28.970
present time, this time now,
these sufferings that we are dealing with,
45
00:04:30.490 --> 00:04:34.170
are not worth comparing with the glory
that is to be revealed. This is
46
00:04:34.209 --> 00:04:40.839
an encouragement he makes, and there's
actually three big encouragements, three reasons that
47
00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:46.800
God gives in verses eighteen through thirty, eighteen through thirty, that bring us
48
00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:54.189
a lot of consolation and encouragement and
and courage. I'm to suffer to move
49
00:04:54.389 --> 00:05:00.750
forward with patience and what God is
calling us to do. He calls us
50
00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:06.980
to patiently endure the suffering until Jesus
returns. We are to go through difficult
51
00:05:06.980 --> 00:05:16.259
times, hard times, but not
give up and not give in, and
52
00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:21.610
so God encourages us. The first
thing, which will focus on today,
53
00:05:21.689 --> 00:05:27.129
he encourages us with, is with
a world that hopes on the second thing
54
00:05:27.170 --> 00:05:30.290
he'll encourages encourage us with, that
will have in verses Twenty Six and twenty
55
00:05:30.370 --> 00:05:33.730
seven, is a spirit that helps. And then, finally, in the
56
00:05:33.810 --> 00:05:41.560
last versus, we have a good
plan that benefits us today. Is the
57
00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:46.480
first one, the the first big
reason God gives here in Romans eight why
58
00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.670
we can go out into the world
and make this calculation that Paul makes.
59
00:05:50.230 --> 00:05:55.629
We can weigh things and say,
you know what, the sufferings of this
60
00:05:55.829 --> 00:06:00.310
present time are are not little compared
to the things that are coming, but
61
00:06:00.389 --> 00:06:04.740
they're not even worth comparing to the
things that are coming. It's not even
62
00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:11.420
worth comparing them to one another.
That's how great the the glory is that
63
00:06:11.660 --> 00:06:15.579
is to come. So how is
it that we can come to this and
64
00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:20.730
have courage in this and persevere?
inness well, Paul points us to something
65
00:06:20.769 --> 00:06:30.290
perhaps kind of odd. He points
us to a fellow sufferer, fellow growner,
66
00:06:30.529 --> 00:06:34.319
we might say, someone who has
to patiently endure the things of this
67
00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:40.360
world, someone who, in a
sense, knows how you feel and persevers
68
00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:46.230
in hope. Well, might surprise
you to learn who that is. It's
69
00:06:46.269 --> 00:06:51.189
a not a WHO, but a
what. This one who is patiently preserving,
70
00:06:51.310 --> 00:06:57.470
this one who is groaning and suffering
but also doing so in hope of
71
00:06:57.589 --> 00:07:02.699
the things to come, is God's
creation. The rocks and the trees,
72
00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:11.180
the skies and the seas are father's
world. This world is a test of
73
00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:15.529
my provides a testimony to us.
It is a testifier, a witness to
74
00:07:15.649 --> 00:07:23.889
US and in encouragement. So let's
consider what God says. There is apostle
75
00:07:24.050 --> 00:07:28.329
here. Well, for the first
thing to say is that if you hear
76
00:07:28.449 --> 00:07:32.079
this passage right and have never considered
point before, I think you really will
77
00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:39.160
see the world in a whole new
way. I remember having a time once
78
00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:44.040
where my view of the world changed
in a big way. I was little,
79
00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:46.670
I don't remember how a little,
probably seven or something like that,
80
00:07:46.069 --> 00:07:49.990
and my dad took me out in
the backyard and he said, he told
81
00:07:50.069 --> 00:07:54.629
me, if you were to look
at this garden that we were looking at
82
00:07:54.709 --> 00:08:00.060
and put it in fast motion,
you wouldn't see just plants sitting there,
83
00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:03.139
as they seem to do, but
they're clawing at one another and pulling one
84
00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:09.220
another out and expanding and growing and
dying. There's all of this activity going
85
00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:13.329
on and that really fascinated me.
And then the first time I got to
86
00:08:13.449 --> 00:08:18.769
see some fast motion videos of plants
doing this. It's it's amazing. I
87
00:08:18.930 --> 00:08:22.810
watched one the other day of a
bean stock. The IT sends out these
88
00:08:22.889 --> 00:08:26.529
little sprouts with these earth shoots,
I guess you'd call them, with hooks
89
00:08:26.610 --> 00:08:28.199
on them, and they spin around
and around and around and around and around
90
00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:31.360
until they grab onto something and then
they send another one in on their spinning,
91
00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:37.200
Spinning, spinning their amazing things.
The world in many ways seems somewhat
92
00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:41.399
static. If you look outside here, you see rock sitting there, a
93
00:08:41.549 --> 00:08:45.149
tree sitting there, shoots of lall
of trees coming up, not much as
94
00:08:45.190 --> 00:08:48.470
happening. But really a lot is
happening. A lot is going on,
95
00:08:48.990 --> 00:08:54.549
though perhaps somewhat imperceptible to us at
times. But that the things that are
96
00:08:54.590 --> 00:09:03.220
going on are described here by Paul
as feudile. He says the creation waits
97
00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:07.899
with eager longing for the revealing of
the sons of God because of a problem
98
00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:13.889
that you read of in Verse Twenty
a groaning world. The world is groaning.
99
00:09:13.090 --> 00:09:18.009
This is the first point, for
the creation was subjected to futility,
100
00:09:20.690 --> 00:09:26.440
not willingly but because of him who
subjected it, in hope that the creation
101
00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:33.200
itself will be set free from its
bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of
102
00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:37.320
the glory of the Children of God. And then verse twenty two. Here's
103
00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:41.029
the word, that word groaning comes
in. We know that the whole creation
104
00:09:41.190 --> 00:09:48.750
has been groaning together in the pains
of childbirth until now. What this means
105
00:09:48.789 --> 00:09:52.269
is that when we look out on
the world, if we perceive it as
106
00:09:52.350 --> 00:09:58.299
Paul describes it here, and as
I think any farmer or household plant keeper
107
00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:03.179
or even a worker in the world
understands, there is a lot of futility.
108
00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:09.090
You plant seeds that don't grow.
Hope. This morning showed me this
109
00:10:09.250 --> 00:10:13.289
beautiful wasp, this powerful wasp with
all kinds of venom in it, that
110
00:10:13.490 --> 00:10:18.049
was hit by a car and she
found it on the road right, this
111
00:10:18.210 --> 00:10:24.200
amazing creature flying along and all it's
glory and then done. This is a
112
00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:28.279
kind of futility that we have in
all kinds of places. You know this
113
00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:33.399
in your own work environment. You
put tons of energy and effort into a
114
00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:37.110
project that fails, or you think
something's going to be easy and it falls
115
00:10:37.149 --> 00:10:41.870
apart. You go into a marriage
and it's not working like you expected it
116
00:10:43.029 --> 00:10:46.950
to. The whole world, even
creation itself, has this kind of futility
117
00:10:48.149 --> 00:10:52.620
in it. Things are not working
as they are supposed to be working.
118
00:10:54.899 --> 00:11:01.860
This is all not a random thing
and it's also not what was originally intended.
119
00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:07.129
The plants that are planted are supposed
to grow. We are supposed to
120
00:11:07.250 --> 00:11:11.850
live in harmony with nature. There
is a supposed to be a goodness and
121
00:11:11.769 --> 00:11:18.159
in a healthiness and balance and all
of these kinds of things. But something
122
00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:24.639
happened. We read of it in
Genesis. The world that God made that
123
00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:31.120
was to enter into a glorified state
did not happen. Instead, the man
124
00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:35.149
that was supposed to care for it
and take care of it and rule over
125
00:11:35.230 --> 00:11:41.909
it with this kind of sovereign wisdom
and discretion, under God's authority and as
126
00:11:41.990 --> 00:11:46.629
a kind of vice regent, failed
miserably. He was called to work and
127
00:11:46.710 --> 00:11:52.299
keep the garden and he failed miserably, and in that, as a curse,
128
00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:58.019
God subjected the world. He cursed
the world. We read of it
129
00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:03.649
in Genesis Three. He says,
cursed is the ground because of you,
130
00:12:05.169 --> 00:12:09.169
Adam, in pain. You shall
eat of it all the days of your
131
00:12:09.210 --> 00:12:16.799
life. Thorns and thistles it shall
bring forth for you, and you shall
132
00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:20.720
eat the plants of the field by
the sweat of your face. You shall
133
00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:24.960
eat bread till you return to the
ground, for out of it you were
134
00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:33.269
taken for your dust, and to
dust you shall return. These famous words,
135
00:12:33.870 --> 00:12:37.909
these words that set a course for
what we see today. When we
136
00:12:39.110 --> 00:12:43.820
look out on creation and we see
dams that break and things that get misaligned
137
00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:50.700
and problems with beetles and forest fires
and the earthquakes and all of these things,
138
00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:56.500
it's because there's a futility in the
world and in that Paul Talks about
139
00:12:56.539 --> 00:13:01.129
it, he personifies it in this
way and says there's this kind of groaning
140
00:13:01.370 --> 00:13:07.009
that you can you can sort of
see in creation oh sense in which creation
141
00:13:07.129 --> 00:13:09.409
itself seems to be saying, this
is not how it's supposed to be.
142
00:13:11.769 --> 00:13:18.799
It struggles along, it groans,
and in that it has the world around
143
00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:24.080
US shares the same kind of groaning
that we feel in our daily lives,
144
00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.830
as Paul puts it, and not
only the creation. This is verse twenty
145
00:13:28.870 --> 00:13:37.070
three, but we areselves who have
the first fruits of the spirit grown inwardly.
146
00:13:37.429 --> 00:13:43.460
There's something about our lives that is
not right and the sufferings that we
147
00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:48.940
are under, the difficulties and frustrations
that we feel do not feel right.
148
00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:54.059
We warnt something more and we groan
and we say this is really hard.
149
00:13:58.610 --> 00:14:01.649
I don't know what your weeks were
like. Some of you I know a
150
00:14:01.730 --> 00:14:05.690
little bit because I had a chance
to talk with you, but if you
151
00:14:05.769 --> 00:14:11.240
had a normal week, chances are
there was a fair amount of groaning.
152
00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:16.039
And I don't just mean complaining,
I mean heart ache, I mean trouble,
153
00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:28.470
sadness, death, frustration, futility. This is our life and the
154
00:14:28.549 --> 00:14:33.789
Bible recognizes this. God doesn't take
this kind of Pollyanna view of the world
155
00:14:33.110 --> 00:14:37.590
and act as though everything is just
fine and you should be happy about it.
156
00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:43.700
Everything is not fine. We grown, we have heart aches, we
157
00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:54.289
are frustrated and sad, we go
to the hospital. It's hard and that,
158
00:14:54.929 --> 00:14:58.129
Paul says, is something you see
all around you. It's not just
159
00:14:58.330 --> 00:15:01.009
in you, it's not just in
your heart, it's everywhere. And we
160
00:15:01.129 --> 00:15:07.399
have this fellow sufferer in the world
itself, everything around us, the context
161
00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:13.759
we are living in, speaks to
this kind of groaning. But the groaning
162
00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:20.159
world is also a hopeful world.
The futility is not an ultimate futility.
163
00:15:20.669 --> 00:15:26.110
It feels that way. There is
this kind of subjection that's happening, but
164
00:15:26.269 --> 00:15:31.909
that's not the end. What does
the apostle say? Well, he says
165
00:15:31.950 --> 00:15:37.580
in Verse Twenty One that the creation
was subjected to futility, but it was
166
00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:41.899
subjected, at the last two words
of that verse, in Hope. There's
167
00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:50.210
something else that characterizes the kind of
frustration and groaning and futility and darkness the
168
00:15:50.370 --> 00:15:58.409
world faces and that we face.
Hope. That hope is not a general
169
00:15:58.570 --> 00:16:06.360
feeling. It's very specific and it's
listed in it's a it's a specified in
170
00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:14.080
verse twenty one that the creation itself
will be set free that's the hope that
171
00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:17.679
what it feels, it's doesn't feel
forever, that what you feel, you
172
00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:22.029
won't feel forever. It will be
set free from its bondeds and corruption and
173
00:16:22.269 --> 00:16:30.230
a tame freedom. Paul gets even
more specific about that freedom. Notice what
174
00:16:30.309 --> 00:16:33.899
he calls it, and let this
encourage you. He calls it they will,
175
00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:38.179
the creation will obtain the freedom of
the glory of the Children of God.
176
00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:48.210
It will obtain the freedom that is
your freedom as children of God.
177
00:16:48.490 --> 00:16:53.690
That's what the creation is longing for. It's waiting to participate in what you
178
00:16:55.090 --> 00:16:59.570
are already participating in. In that
sense, you're a little farther down the
179
00:16:59.649 --> 00:17:03.360
road. We're going to get to
this in a moment. But Paul Compares
180
00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.960
the world in this groaning and anguish
to a woman in the pains of childbirth.
181
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:12.440
In this sense that it's like the
the the world is in their next
182
00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:21.509
room, just having come in,
and she hears US screaming. There's that
183
00:17:21.630 --> 00:17:26.069
there's a way in which we're ahead
in the process because we already have the
184
00:17:26.190 --> 00:17:30.940
first fruits of the spirit. The
creation is longing to participate in something that
185
00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:37.940
we has already begun in us.
That should be somewhat encouraging, as we
186
00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:42.900
see the creation waiting in hope.
Let's not give up, seeing that we
187
00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:49.289
ourselves have the first fruits of the
spirit and that the that the creation has
188
00:17:49.410 --> 00:17:57.089
this same kind of hope. Well, as I said, this hope as
189
00:17:57.369 --> 00:18:03.279
and and and is described as and
groaning, as described as a woman in
190
00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:07.440
the pains of childbirth. I have
not been in the pains of childbirth,
191
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:14.309
but I have seen it several times
and it's terrible. The first time with
192
00:18:14.630 --> 00:18:22.509
Samuel, when Samuel was born,
my wife screamed a scream that was terrifying,
193
00:18:22.549 --> 00:18:26.740
chills up my spine. I've never
heard anything like it in my entire
194
00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:37.380
life. It was extremely, extremely
painful and in many ways she, like
195
00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:42.650
many women, wanted to give up. This is too hard, I can't
196
00:18:42.690 --> 00:18:47.569
make it, and she often describes
how people stood around her saying very weird
197
00:18:47.690 --> 00:18:52.049
things like you're doing fine, everything's
going great. She's like, it's not
198
00:18:52.210 --> 00:18:56.920
going great, I'm dying. This
is the experience right of being in Labor,
199
00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.680
of having a child. It is
terrible. Everything inside of you feels
200
00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:06.680
like this is going wrong, this
is going to fall apart, I am
201
00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:11.829
not going to make it through.
But God is speaking to us outside like
202
00:19:11.029 --> 00:19:15.470
our our good doctor and saying it's
going to be okay, you're doing fine,
203
00:19:15.829 --> 00:19:22.269
you can do this, you're gonna
make it. The world testifies to
204
00:19:22.589 --> 00:19:26.779
that as well. It's persevering on
in hope, and it does that not
205
00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:33.900
just like a woman in Labor,
pushing on, pushing on, pushing on,
206
00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:41.089
knowing that what's coming is totally worth
it. It does it not just
207
00:19:41.329 --> 00:19:48.210
like a woman, but because of
a woman. Back in Genesis three,
208
00:19:48.609 --> 00:19:56.200
when God cursed the earth and cursed
man, he also makes a promise that
209
00:19:56.519 --> 00:20:06.400
through the woman would come a child
who would set all things right, who
210
00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:11.029
would make it so that the ground
wouldn't be cursed forever, so that man
211
00:20:11.190 --> 00:20:15.390
wouldn't always have to eat by the
sweat of his brow, so that the
212
00:20:15.589 --> 00:20:19.990
sin that came into the world through
Satan would be crushed and put out forever.
213
00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:29.579
The world perseveres for a very specific
reason, because of the promise of
214
00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:36.130
God and because of the Work of
God. The creation doesn't just the world
215
00:20:36.170 --> 00:20:37.730
doesn't just spin on and on and
on because, well, you know,
216
00:20:37.849 --> 00:20:45.690
that's what happens. It does it
because God makes that happen, so much
217
00:20:45.730 --> 00:20:48.650
so that God has even made a
covenant in with Noah, where he says
218
00:20:48.930 --> 00:20:55.640
the world will continue on and I
will preserve the world until those last times
219
00:20:55.960 --> 00:21:02.279
when, until Jesus returns. This
perseverance of the world by God and according
220
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:07.670
to his promise, so that salvation
can be achieved, is the reason for
221
00:21:07.950 --> 00:21:14.109
the hope that creation has. It's
why it perseveres and hope not just because
222
00:21:14.150 --> 00:21:18.509
it does and that's what creation does, but because that's what God is doing
223
00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:23.420
in the world. Well, if
that's true of the world, how much
224
00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:29.339
more for you, who have the
first fruits of the spirit? Is God
225
00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:33.410
working in you? Is the creative
power of God in you? Has He
226
00:21:33.650 --> 00:21:37.609
brought you to new life? Has
he given you the first fruits of the
227
00:21:37.650 --> 00:21:41.690
spirit? Well, if your faith
is in Jesus and his work for you
228
00:21:41.809 --> 00:21:48.079
on the Cross, then absolutely that
work has begun. The Salvation, the
229
00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:55.920
the the glory, the hope that
is to come is in some ways already
230
00:21:55.960 --> 00:22:03.150
here. As those who are saved, we have this hope and we have
231
00:22:03.349 --> 00:22:10.150
this labor buddy, so to speak, creation itself, and this is the
232
00:22:10.269 --> 00:22:15.190
consolation God gives us. He calls
us to look at the world and see
233
00:22:15.190 --> 00:22:21.140
it's groaning and see its futility and
recognize corruption and bondage for what it is.
234
00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:25.059
But he doesn't just want us to
see that. He also wants us
235
00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:29.339
to see that the groaning world is
a hopeful world. How do you see
236
00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:36.490
hope? You see hope in perseverance
and continuing on and striving on and moving
237
00:22:36.890 --> 00:22:41.089
one foot in front of the other. Why does the creation hope as it
238
00:22:41.210 --> 00:22:48.119
does? Why does it persevere as
it does? Because of God, because
239
00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:53.599
of God's plan for the end,
because of the revealing of the sons of
240
00:22:53.759 --> 00:23:00.230
God, because of the redemption of
our bodies. Sometimes we feel the futility
241
00:23:00.309 --> 00:23:06.789
of our lives and suffering, most
presently, I suppose you could say,
242
00:23:06.910 --> 00:23:11.190
in our bodies. They don't work
as they ought to, and the older
243
00:23:11.230 --> 00:23:15.859
we get, the more that seems
to be true. The more it is
244
00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:23.859
true. And Death itself is the
end, the very feudal end of what
245
00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:32.329
was all previous to that called life. But God promises to overcome these things.
246
00:23:33.210 --> 00:23:37.609
He already has in causing you to
be reborn and bringing you to this
247
00:23:38.450 --> 00:23:45.160
salvation. He promises this mercy and
he gives it to us and he makes
248
00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:51.200
covenantal promises and he secures all this
by the very blood of his son by
249
00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:56.829
the work of Jesus on the Cross, the redemption of our bodies is guaranteed.
250
00:23:56.269 --> 00:24:00.990
Jesus himself, who did all of
this for us, has already risen
251
00:24:00.029 --> 00:24:06.349
from the dead. We have a
lot to look forward to. We have
252
00:24:06.470 --> 00:24:10.299
a great hope, a glorified hope, a hope of the future, a
253
00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:15.619
hope we're bondage and corruption and suffering
no longer remain, and only the freedom
254
00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:26.690
of the glory of the Children of
God. One of the things that often
255
00:24:26.769 --> 00:24:34.009
surprises women is that they want to
have babies again after going through this near
256
00:24:34.289 --> 00:24:41.759
death experience. They say when can
we have another one? Why is that?
257
00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:48.480
Well, I don't know, but
I think something of it has to
258
00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:52.150
do with it. The glory that
is revealed, so to speak, that
259
00:24:52.470 --> 00:25:00.109
baby is not worth comparing to all
the suffering and pain that came before.
260
00:25:00.789 --> 00:25:04.990
It's sort of goes away. I
mean, you remember how hard it was,
261
00:25:06.109 --> 00:25:07.900
you remember how difvidal old it was, but then you go, but
262
00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:12.619
that was so wonderful. Realize I'm
giving my mother's Day sermon a week early,
263
00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:21.650
but so goes it. There is
this wonder and beauty and joy and
264
00:25:21.849 --> 00:25:29.690
glory in the newness of life.
If that's true of children being born,
265
00:25:30.089 --> 00:25:36.839
is it not true of the new
birth, of a birth that will not
266
00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:41.079
end in death, that moves on
forever and ever, that lives with God
267
00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:48.000
into eternity, without bondage, without
corruption, with complete freedom and absolute glory?
268
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:57.509
Absolutely so, brothers and sisters.
That's why we persevere. We persevere
269
00:25:57.670 --> 00:26:02.430
because we have a very real hope
that is secured for us in Jesus,
270
00:26:03.390 --> 00:26:07.420
hope that is guaranteed by a spirit, a hope that's already begun in us,
271
00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:11.900
a glory which we already are participating
in. But we have to keep
272
00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:15.220
putting one foot in front of the
other. We have to endure the sufferings
273
00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:18.690
and do so with patience. But, old boy, you can do it
274
00:26:21.009 --> 00:26:26.529
because God is in you, God
is working in you. He is the
275
00:26:26.650 --> 00:26:29.970
one who is sustaining you, he's
the one who gave you to the hope
276
00:26:30.289 --> 00:26:36.039
and he's the one who will keep
you to the end. When you feel
277
00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:41.079
discouraged, remember these things and look
out at the world that is itself continuing
278
00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:48.430
on and persevering and hope and be
encouraged and wait for the same. Let's
279
00:26:48.470 -->
pray
