We Have What The World Does Not Have
Matt Jarvis
We have what the world does not have • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 52:47
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Introduction
Happy to be with you all this morning.
We have been deep in a series in Romans at Cross bridge since May of last year.
Romans has been life changing for many in our church, including myself.
I preached from these verses in March.
I felt like as I prayed about preaching here this morning that this is word which the Lord wanted me to share with you today.
“We have what the world does not have.”
We have three things I want to share with you this morning that the World Does Not Have.
First, We have hope
Second, We have an intercessor
Third, We have certainty
These are three KEY gifts which are found in Christ for the believer
Without these you will not make it in this world
As trouble comes
As trials come
As tribulation comes
As suffering comes
You must hold onto the truth of Romans 8:24-28 in order to survive in these times!
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
I. We have Hope (24-25)
I. We have Hope (24-25)
For in this hope we were saved (24).
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
What is Paul saying here?
He is referring to “this hope”
“this hope” is a hope that he has already referred to.
The hope Paul is referring to is the redemption of our bodies in verse 23
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
“This hope” is the redemption of our bodies in v. 23.
We are groaning for this hope
We are waiting for this hope
It is in THIS HOPE, it is in the hope of the redemption of our bodies that we were saved for in the first place.
The redemption of your body is the glorification of your body.
The changing of our bodies in a moment in the twinkling of an eye.
This is the hope in which we were saved!
Notice, this redemption of our bodies is an unseen reality in v. 24. Notice it says “hope that is seen is not hope”
The unseen reality of our future redemption causes us to groan according to v. 23.
We experience the fallenness of this world and it causes us to groan as we wait for our full salvation the redemption of our bodies.
When we are disappointed, heartbroken, surprised by tragedy, experience the death of a loved one, lied to, church hurt, fall into old sins, loose friends, lose our job, experience economic pressures…it causes us to groan for heaven and redemption.
That groaning is a groaning that the creation participates in v. 22 with us
That groaning is a groaning for heaven and glory, yet our glory is currently unseen.
That is why Paul says in v. 24 that “hope that is seen is not hope”
Our hope of the redemption of our bodies is an unseen reality.
This is the already - not - yet of our salvation
We are already saved, but we are not yet experiencing the redemption of our bodies
Notice v. 23 says = first fruits
The first fruits in the OT = deut and a guarantee of the latter harvest
What that means in v. 23 = the HS is our guarantee, down payment, firstfruits by God.
We do not hope for what we do not see (24)
“For who hopes for what he sees?”
How can we have hope in something we already have?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (25)
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
Notice how Paul says this in Romans 5.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Patience, endurance, and character lead to hope as we wait
Sanctification is produced in our suffering as we wait for glory.
Your character is built by suffering for Christ and suffering in Christ
Your suffering produces endurance in you
What The enemy sent to slay you, God uses to strengthen you!
What the enemy sent to break you, God uses to make you!
Your Hope in Christ will not be put to shame.
What does that mean?
It means that you have the first fruits, the Spirit, poured out into your heart!
The Spirit of God poured out in your heart is the guarentee that your suffering will be worth it all!
That the pain will be worth it all!
That Romans 8:19
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Our waiting with patience
We wait with patience in v. 25
but in v. 23 we are to eagerly wait
Notice the combination
We wait with patience, but no so patiently we lose our eagerness, but not so eagerly we lose our patience!
This is the key to living a balanced Christian life.
Some overemphasize patience
Some over emphasize eagerness
Although we suffer like the world, we have something the world does not have…hope
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
We have hope today
We are not looking for the coming of the next senator, governor, or president
We are not placing our hope in the politics of this world which are fallen and corrupt.
We are not placing our hope in the economy
We are not placing our hope in ourselves
WE PLACE OUR HOPE IN THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
My hope in Christ is never changing!
It is not fixed on this world that is in constant change and constant uncertainty.
MY HOPE IS FIXED ON CHRIST AND HIS COMING!
WE HAVE A HOPE IN GLORY FRIENDS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS YOUR WITNESS TO THAT COMING GLORY
LET ME HEAR IT IF YOU HAVE THAT WITNESS TODAY!
II. We have an Intercessor (26-27)
II. We have an Intercessor (26-27)
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
In the context of suffering and waiting for glory, Paul introduces us to our second possession as Christians.
The second blessing from Christ to the Christian, an Intercessor.
The ministry of the holy Spirit as a intercessor in our lives.
So far in Romans ch. 8 Paul has told us about the ministry of the HS:
Ministers to us in relation to the law to enable us to fulfil the law in Christ (2-8)
Subdues our fallen nature (9-13)
Assures us of our adoption as children of God (14-17)
Guarantees us of our final inheritance (18-23
Now we will see Paul tells us more of the work of the Spirit, he is our intercessor!
We have an intercessor who is the Spirit
The Spirit is our intercessor.
“True Christian prayer is impossible without the Holy Spirit.” - Stott
He is the one that causes us to cry Abba Father in v. 15
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The intercession and inspiration of the Spirit are as necessary as the mediation of the Son.
To pray biblically, we can only pray in a trinitarian way, by the Spirit through the Son to the Father.
Notice why we have the intercessor v. 26
First, we have the HS as an intercessor because we are weak.
This points to the frailty of our existence.
The weakness of the flesh.
Our weakness in suffering.
The weakness in our temptations.
The weakness in our trials.
Our weakness in groaning and longing for the redemption of our bodies.
The weakness that comes along with being in an immortal body.
Second, we have the HS because we are ignorant of what to pray.
We do not know how to pray.
Sometimes in suffering we do not know to pray for God to remove it or for God to help us through it.
We do not know the will of God
We do not know the will of God for our particular issue we are dealing with
Often times because we do not know, we are left crying out “WHY?”
Why do we suffer? Why is God allowing this?
Now notice v. 26, we do not know how to pray we are weak, therefore the Spirit helps us and intercedes for us in groanings to deep for words!
Groaning can only be used here in the same context as the other groanings.
This is a groaning waiting for the new day in glory.
This is a groaning waiting for the redemption of our bodies.
The Spirit HIMSELF does this with us, he produces the groaning in us and groans with us.
Like how we cry Abba Father, it is the Spirit who gives us the cry and we cry it out!
The Spirit feels your pain, the Spirit knows your weakness, the Spirit feels your inability to know what to pray,
The Spirit feels the pain of suffering to the point that THE SPIRIT OF GOD HIMSELF groans with you for redemption.
You. Do. Not. Suffer. Alone.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
He who searches is the Father.
The Father when he searches your heart he looks to the mind of the Spirit interceding for you because the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God!
These intercessions and groanings are meaningful.
The Holy Spirit prays the will of God for you when you do not know the will of God!
When you don’t know the will of God for your life, the Spirit prays the will of God for you life to bring it to pass!
The Father searches our hearts to see our desire and the Spirit is there expressing the will of God in us!
I think this is expressed in some ways when we do not know to pray.
I believe this is also the ministry of the Spirit showing us direction
This is the ministry of the Spirit to lead us to sanctification
This is the ministry of the Spirit praying in the Spirit
Let me share a couple of encouragements from this text
First, you are not expected to know the will of God for your life in every respect. It is OK not to know. Paul didn't know at times
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Even when we do not know what to pray for the SPIRIT DOES!
Do not add to your burdens the burden of knowledge of the will of God, the Spirit knows and is praying for you.
Some people try and make “knowing the will of God” the chief responsibility of your life. But sometimes you DO NOT KNOW
Well, the SPIRIT KNOWS!! And He prays for you, through you, and leads you in the will of God!
Second, in our sufferings we are not only watched, but understood. We are joined in our groaning and suffering by the Spirit.
Third, Gods work in your life is far deeper than you can express in words and actions. He is working when you are not. Your pain and prayer are not the limit of Gods work in our life! God is not limited by you, he works for you and in you.
Fourth, The spirit is praying for you not against you in suffering. God is FOR you, not against you today!
Fifth, the Father never rejects the prayers of His Spirit.
WE HAVE WHAT THE WORLD DOES NO HAVE…THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
We have the Spirit as the down payment
We have the Spirit as an intercessor’
We have the Spirit that is our power today!
We need the ministry of the Spirit in our lives today more than ever before!
You need the power of God’s spirit in your life!
Praise God we are a Pentecostal Church and know about this power!
If you do not know about this power you are missing out on the blessings of Christ for your life.
You were NOT MEANT TO DO IT ALONE!
Let the Spirit of God work in your life!
Sometimes that groaning too deep for words is expressed in us through speaking in tongues. That is the minsistry of the spirit in your life!
III. We have Certainty (28)
III. We have Certainty (28)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
We “know” = We have certainty, this is something we are sure of and we know about.
Notice what we do not know:
We do not know when the Children of God will be revealed v. 19
We do not know how to pray v. 26
We do not know when our suffering will end
But what we DO KNOW is that God works ALL things together for the good.
“All things”
Must include suffering.
That is the context.
God works your suffering for the good
Even when it don’t look good, smell good, feel good, or sound good, God is working it FOR YOUR GOOD!
Thats the power of God today, Do not think you serve a small savior.
He is so mighty and sovereign that he can take the bad and work it for your Good!
Notice, this promise is not for every person.
This is for those who love God and are called according to his Purpose.
Love for God IS NOT love for his gifts or love only when things are Good.
To love God only when it is good is not loving God
Imagine if you only loved your wife or husband when its good, that’s not love. That’s an immature affection masquerading as love.
True love is love when its good and love when its bad, love when youre healthy and love when your sick, love when youre rich and love when youre broke, love when youve got it all togehter and love when its all falling apart!
LOVE is not only for the good times AND GOD is not only for the good times this morning!
Love for God is a matter of the heart’s affection for God before there is anything else. It is an internal affection. It is only for those who have the Holy Spirit.
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
This verse only applies to Christians.
You love God because the Spirit of God is working that love in you.
If you only love God in the Good times and lose it in the bad, then the spirit of God is not working in you.
If you are not saved you do not have certainty that all things are working for good.
IN fact, this verse says that that it works for the good of a certain class of people.
Those who love God and are called according to his purpose!
This verse when taken out of context can hurt more in suffering than any other verse.
This verse is not for unbelievers who have no hope.
In fact, this verse can hurt them.
How can we quote this in a bad situation?
This verse also does not mean that every BAD thing that happens to us is actually good in some way. NO. the Bad is BAD. But the BAD is not the end, in fact, God will put an end to the BAD and bring his glory to the earth in spite of the BAD.
That BAD is working toward the Glory that is to come. The Bad is not comparable to the glory. The bad is not good, but one day the bad will be forgotten and the goodness of the glory of God will be worked out in you!
We do not understand how the BAD works for the ultimate Good always.
But we are not called to understand, we are called to know that God is working it for our good. We may not understand it, but we must KNOW it is working for our good!
We do not live in a meaningless world! God works in this world. God works on your behalf. God is FOR YOU. God is ON YOUR SIDE TODAY.
What GOOD?
What good is he working out for me?
What good am i looking forward to?
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The good is that he will put an end to the Bad.
God has called you for Glory!
God is in the business of working all things for good in his plan!
Josephs life.
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
The people of Israel
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Christ on the cross
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
We have what the world does not have!
We have hope.
We have the an intercessor.
We have certainty.
I don't know what you are going through (maybe this is for me), but i want to remind you today of the God you serve. HE IS A BIG GOD. He is a GOOD GOD. He is a GOOD FATHER. He is working on your behalf. He has a plan for you that ends in glory! I don't know the middle parts of the plan, but i KNOW the END! GLORY.