Quit Your Groaning Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Romans chapter 8 is one of the richest chapters in the Bible. This chapter offers hope, blessing, encouragement and comfort.
Verse 1 sets the tone for the rest of the chapter when it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
“No condemnation!” Let those words sink in for a moment! They remind us that the child of God is no longer under God’s wrath or in danger of God’s judgment. The believer has forever been delivered from the threat of Hell and from the eternal punishment of sin. The believer is no longer separated from God by a wide gulf of sin, but is “made nigh by the blood of Christ,” Eph. 2:13.
As Romans 8 unfolds, we learn that the aggravation and turmoil that we face in this life will eventually be replaced with glory and joy!
I want to focus on verses 18-23 this morning for the message…Let’s take a look at them:
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
I’d like to preach a little while this morning on the thought of “Quit Your Groaning” - After looking at chapters 6 and 7, especially, chapter 7, you might think that all is negative about the Christian life, after all, fighting with this flesh gets tiring, it gets aggravating, but listen, chapter 8 tells us that the things we have to deal with at this present are not even WORTHY to be compared to what’s in store for the child of God!
Let’s take a look at these verses, the first thing we find is...
1-The Anticipation of the Believer
1-The Anticipation of the Believer
A. What We Endure
A. What We Endure
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
The suffering that Paul speaks of here are those which have resulted from sin, self and Satan. But God can over rule it to His glory.
Hey, wait a second, there’s that word “reckon” again…Ya’ll remember that from chapter 6?
It means, “to calculate, to reach a settled conclusion by careful reasoning and study.”
We take what we feel, and we reckon ourselves to the truth of God’s Word!
Paul may have wondered if all the trials he was going through were worth it all. After much thought he realized that all the suffering he went through, the robberies, beatings, stonings, scourgings, and shipwrecks were nothing compared to what God had waiting for him. The terrible tortures of martyrs, burnings, beheadings, beasts, boiling in oil, and the burden of crucifixion, will seem like pen-pricks when Jesus adorns their brows with the crown of life.
Paul was saying, “If we could focus on the glory to come, envision it, our present trials, troubles, and tribulations would seem trivial to us.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Paul was giving us a secret of how to keep going forward and stay positive in our attitude. We are to look forward to our future with the Lord, to our glory in Heaven, our reunion with loved ones, and our fellowship with Christ.
Thank God we have so much to look forward to, but without Christ, our future is dismal.
If you’re struggling today in your Christian life, then get some encouragement, and be lifted up in the fact that your current challenges are not the end of the story!
B. What We Expect
B. What We Expect
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Paul speaks of the “earnest expectation” of the creature. This word “earnest expectation” is a wonderful word in the Greek language.
It’s a word that is formed by three words put together which means, “head, away, watch.”
The idea conveyed in this word is to be on your tiptoes, waiting in suspense and expectation, leaning or straining forward with intense desire and interest.
This verse is emphasizing the intense longing that all creation has for the ultimate resolution of sin and suffering. The passage suggests that even the natural world is yearning for the fulfillment of God's promises, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the profound significance of God's plan for redemption.
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We should be expecting and earnestly looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ!
The next thing we see in this passage is...
2-The Anguish of the Believer
2-The Anguish of the Believer
A. Anguish for the Creature
A. Anguish for the Creature
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
When God finished His Creation, it was a good Creation, but today it’s a groaning creation...We can only imagine what a beautiful place this earth must have been when it first came from the hands of God.
Genesis 1:31 (KJV 1900)
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good....
Paul says the creature was made subject to vanity. This word “vanity” means “futility, frustration, disorder, without success.” This word describes something that does not measure up to that for which it is intended. It is unable to achieve its purpose.
Adam’s sin affected mankind and all of creation. The ground was cursed and wild animals die violent deaths. Disease destroys birds, animals, and fish. Man’s sin ripples through the world like shockwaves.
Isaiah tells us how things were supposed to be...
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed;
Their young ones shall lie down together:
And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp,
And the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain:
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.
Here’s the thing ya’ll, that’s how things were supposed to be, and thanks be to God, that’s how things will be eventually!
B. Anguish for the Creation
B. Anguish for the Creation
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
The whole creation groans and is longing for the day of restoration.
Groaneth…It means to moan, sigh, grumble, or complain. It’s conveys the idea of strong emotion.
The phrase “travaileth in pain” means “to be in agony like a woman who is in childbirth.”
During labor there is usually awful pain, but at the same time the comforting expectation that a new life will soon be born.
Creation is yearning for the Son of God to return and for the birth of a new Heaven and new earth.
We have the Divine promise that the curse will be lifted.
Revelation 22:3 (KJV 1900)
3 And there shall be no more curse...
We have to deal with sufferings and pains of a sin cursed world, but we have God's promise that there is a new day dawning!
C. Anguish for the Christian
C. Anguish for the Christian
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Along with creation, the child of God groans...
Primarily, Paul is speaking of our desire to be free from these mortal, sinful bodies. He mentions the “first fruits of the Spirit.” This refers to the indwelling ministry of the Spirit of God in the believer’s life. When we got saved, the Spirit of God moved into our spirit,
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
When the Spirit came, He worked in us in such a way that we began the process of seeing sin like God sees sin. In simple terms, the Spirit of God “sensitized” us to sin. We became sensitive to sin around us and in us.
As a result, we are afflicted by the sins we commit and that we see others commit. If sin doesn’t bother you, you have a serious spiritual problem! If you can witness sin and it not affect you, something is amiss in your heart!
All of this serves to produce within the believer a sense of longing. We want to be delivered from the sinful, mortal bodies. Regardless of what anyone tells you, your flesh did not get saved! It is a depraved and as wicked as it has ever been, just remember what was preached here last Sunday from Romans 7!
Aren’t there times when you would do anything just to be free from your flesh? Wouldn’t it be a blessing if you never again had a wicked thought? A wicked deed?
Let me say that there is coming a day!
You know what would do us good today? If we’d stop focusing on today’s groaning and look forward to tomorrow’s glory!
Today’s groaning bondage will be exchanged for tomorrow’s glorious liberty!
Conclusion
Conclusion
I have three more points, but we will have to wait until tonight to finish it up. Make sure you come back at 6 for part 2 of the message.
Whoever said the walk of faith was an easy walk lied! However, I will say that even though it isn’t always easy, it is never impossible!
Will we suffer? Yes!
Will we groan while we are here? Yes!
Will there be times when we will fail and feel like quitting? Yes!
In those times, remember that we have the Spirit of God within us and He enables us to remain diligent and committed as we travel toward a better country!