Righteous Living: "Weakness Redeemed, Strength Revealed"

Romans 8:26-30

Intro:

“The man who delights in God’s word being taught by it, bring forth patience in the time of suffering, faith in in the day of trial, and holy joy in the hour of prosperity. Fruitfulness is an essential quality of a gracious man, and that fruitfulness should be seasonable” Charles Spurgeon

Weakness is a good thing

God cares about our trials- Last week we were reminded that we are to persevere, The spirit leads us to Jesus

Can I say perseverance looks different for most of us- but where we relate is that we try to get through our trials on our own…we don’t rather what we are learning is that in our best attempt we fall short and this is good news

The Spirit helps our weakness What is this weakness this isn’t sin this is the weakness to do anything about it

Lets think about this- our weakness keeps us where we are supposed to be humble, this sounds like a pretty place but let us listen to this scripture

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 “7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

What are the tools of the enemy, well he will exploit our weakness and say you are not worthy, or you shouldn’t have such weakness.

I would rather say what may happen as we surrender to the spiritual truth that your weakness draws you and me closer to God

God always has a correct call for your life.

How does the God Help in our weakness

Intercession (vs 26-27)

There is a sharing of the burden of our suffering

These groanings aren’t they only thing He does

If you are here today not thinking that God does not care for you, may I remind you if you are here it is to here this what you are going through is not far from the mind of God, there are groanings.

We can get caught in the lull that God approves what goes on in our world- nothing could be further from the truth.

We do not know how to pray as we should

Is this an inditement?

No rather many times we are praying for the relief of the stress or the trouble but rather we are in it as God is guiding us to rely on Him.

Can you trust the Lord enough in your weakness?

Phillip Bennet- Weak belivers are now ready to make excuses for us, and we are to ready to make them for ourselves; Instead of rising above the weakness of the flesh we take refuge under it and use it as an excuse. To trust when only apperances are favorable, is to sail only with the wind and tide, to believe only when we can see… seek the unreservedness of faith which will enable us to trust God, come what will.

should these keep us from praying no.

Ephesians 6:18 “18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

No but rather another loving care of a helper- groaning to deep for words

Intercession for us- The goodness of God, that as we do not pray as we should there is the one who intercedes on our behalf.

There is no rolling of eyes or like ok I will take over.

Prayer is a discipline a cry to the Lord.

For the Lord it is not the same prayer- He is the one who is able to search our hearts and ask for us to be in the will of that father.

You make think that the trial is one to be relinquished from and yet God keeps you in it becuase you and I have not surrendered to it

This intercession is done as our heart has been searched and what must still take place

2. Causes all thing to work together for good (vs 28)

Why are we interceded for?

So we would be ones who would love God and we would see how all things are working together for good

Now we also being interceded for so the good we are speaking of is not for our good but the Lords.

According to His purpose

Faith- righteous living

Our good His glory

We cannot forget God will be glorified and is desiring for our good

For those who love God

I know that God desires for all to come to know Him. But this is not for the wicked for those who do not know God.

How do we know that we love God- well it has to go beyond words, I believe it is seen on how we live our lives.

There are so many determinations that I can give you concerning if you love God or not but should I have to convince you or better yet ask the Lord.

There is action beyond our words. This is one of my favorite parts of the Bible.

John 21:15–17 “15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

Peter denied Him 3 times then proclaims His love for Him (What was his weakness- well it was fear, this lead to the denial) (Fear of men- little child)

Did Peter do these things? Yes cause of the Love He had for the father- you know ministry is a interesting word ( a call into ministry) Yes the Lord calls us but it is this call asking us do we love God. i am here to tell you all that you are all called into some type of ministry.

It may be in your home, work, church, its not for notoriety it is for the public answer to the question do you love me?

He works all things together for good.

Think about your life and my life.

3. God does a work in us (vs 29-30)

He started the work in our lives

2 Timothy 1:9 “9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”

1 Corinthians 2:7 “7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;”

He Continues the work

Philippians 3:21 “21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

Colossians 1:18 “18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

He does not stop working

1 Corinthians 6:11 “11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

John 17:22 “22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;”

Application: What can we walk away with today: God is redeeming your weakness, as the Strength of Christ is evident in our lives

1 Know God is with you

2. Know your weakness is producing strength

3. God continues His work in your life