Romans 8:26-28

Romans 8:18–25 HCSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility —not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it —in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits —we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Current State

To describe our current state I could call Kylie up on stage and because I call her up on stage then what does this mean as a family. You are going to get a $. Now Kylie do you have this dollar yet? No. Do you now have hope that you are going to get a $? Yes! Are you pretty well guaranteed to get a $? Yes!

To even take this a step further, we are given the Spirit as a deposit that guarantees our inheritance. So here is a quarter as the first fruits of what is to follow.

This describes our current state of suffering/living.

If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, then you are saved in hope. In our illustration you got a $ coming to you.

Hope is New Creation that is New Heaven and New Earth which we will sometimes refer to as the Holy City or New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).

We don’t have it yet but it is coming!

Not only are we saved in Hope but we also live in Hope. We live like we have the $ coming to us. We don’t live like everyone else in the world. We live in Hope of the Holy City.

When Jesus returns, it is then that we will enter into the Holy City to live for ever. We will have the dollar!

This is Genesis and the Garden of Eden restored.

I love pointing out the fact that one thing that our loved ones and heroes of the faith who have passed away before us hold in common is that they are also awaiting for the Holy City or New Heaven and New Earth.

so

We live in hope, we are saved in hope and we don’t yet have the full possession of what we are hoping for.

N.T. Wright

Royal Priesthood

The temple was the place where God met with His people. Priest in the Old Testament would go into the temple on behalf of the people. They were the intercessor between the people and God.

The Priest is the one that stands at the intersection between Heaven and Earth.

What would happen when the priest went into the temple?

God would show up! God would meet with them in grace.

The beginning of this chapter makes it very clear that the current day temple is located where?

It is the people who are with Christ or in Christ

Take your finger if you are a believer and point right here at yourself. The Spirit of Christ is dwelling inside of you.

Through God’s Spirit you are being transformed into the God filled human beings that we are supposed to be. Last week, I described the first fruits of the Spirit with parts of love filling me then one day in the Holy City I will be full of love. I will reap the rest of the harvest and be full. Until that day, Christ continues to transform my heart through his Spirit into a more loving person.

(Bible Project Video)

Question to help you understand

You are in Christ and called as Royal Priest. Can you as Royal Priest Help or change what the Holy City or New Heaven and New Earth consist of?

Yes! At the bear minimum you can share the Gospel and tell people about Jesus and the Holy City may have one more person because you shared with them about who Jesus is.

One of the ways to illustrate this idea of Royal Priesthood is to bring back the chain analogy. Hook it around my wrist. Ask someone to come on stage and share Jesus and talk about the Gospel message. When we share the Gospel, we are acting as Royal priest and ambassadors for the King of kings and Lord of lords. How cool is that?

I believe this goes even further.

The original mandate in the garden is to steward and cultivate that is make it better. I see every aspect of our lives is Royal Priesthood work.

Examples:

Jeff and Tammy caring for the land well (Why do you do that) Share the Gospel

Darryl building with excellence (Why do you do that) Share the Gospel

Bonnie Working with 5th and 6th grade girls teaching scriptures

Geoffrey Taking photos of planes (why do you do that) share the Gospel

Steve Driving the bus (Why) share the gospel

Jane City alderman

No matter where you stand on what it looks like when Jesus returns than your work can point others to Jesus.

Where is God in all this?

This is incredible!

Romans 8:26–27 HCSB

26 In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

God is at work in His praying people. God Himself by His Spirit is present praying in the midst of the world that is in pain.

The Spirit is interceding for us with unspoken groanings or sighs and groans that don’t even come into speech.

We are to be the people of God in prayer at the place where the world is in pain.

The job of the church is to be the people of God at the heart of darkness in the world as it groans and awaits redemption we are to be there in prayer interceding and longing for redemption. In that moment, God is present and the Spirit is there also interceding with signs and groans that don’t even come into speech.

He who searches the hearts

God the Father.

Paul for Everyone, Romans Part 1: Chapters 1–8 Prayer, Sonship and the Sovereignty of God (Romans 8:26–30)

But verse 27 of the present passage goes a step further. The word ‘searcher’ comes from a root which suggests someone lighting a torch and going slowly round a large, dark room full of all sorts of things, looking for something in particular. Or perhaps he is searching in the dark, by listening. What is he wanting to find, and what happens when he finds it?

Paul for Everyone, Romans Part 1: Chapters 1–8 Prayer, Sonship and the Sovereignty of God (Romans 8:26–30)

No doubt God, in searching the dark spaces of our hearts, comes across all sorts of things which we would just as soon remained hidden. But the thing he is wanting to find above all else, and which according to Paul he ought to find in all Christians, is the sound of the spirit’s groaning.

What an image!

The Father searches the heart and the thing he longs to find is the Spirit’s groanings and the Father knows the Spirit’s mind-set. He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We have talked about the present day sufferings and the current world that we live in. Where is God in all this? He is present in the hearts of believers and interceding.

This is the work of all believers to be a people of prayer in the present day sufferings. Longing for new creation sitting in the Spirit in present day sufferings longing for the world to be made right. Ruling and reigning as Royal Priest interceding on behalf of the groanings of this world.

Romans 8:28 HCSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

All things work together for good by the means of those who love God

If you suffer with Him you will be Glorified with Him.

It’s as if Paul is saying yes you who suffer with Him God will use to bring about His saving rule will be brought about in His creation.

You are His Royal Priesthood and God will use you to work things out for His good.

I get pretty passionate about this subject because so many people in our church and community at times have expressed that they don’t know what their purpose in life is.

My hope is that this morning that scripture has been broken down and communicated in such a way that you understand that in the current state of suffering God has called you as Royal Priest to be ruling and reigning in this world and God is wanting to use your life as the means by which He is carrying out His purposes.

In caring out His purposes he does not say you are in charge so go do it. Go carry out my purposes but He dwells inside of of through His Spirit and the Spirit is groaning in the pains of the World and interceding for us on His behalf.

The enemy wants you to stay so focused on your problems that you don’t live in the purpose God is calling you too.