The Closeness of God Part Two

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 511: Power

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.

After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave his car running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work.

J. B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians 1:19–20, “How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us.

: 18-21

Sufferings Transformed to future Glory

This moment right now in your life is a moment. This moment will be gone and the next will come. For Christians There is a future Glory that coming. It is one with out suffering, it one with in the midst of the very presences of God.

All Creation Waits in EAGER expectation!

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What in the World is Paul talking about here?

Paul is making the case that when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden that it had a it effected the entire universe. That the scope of the fall is on a universal scale that spans all creation.

Expectation of what? FROM DECAY

This creation even waits eagerly for it!

The Spirit of HOPE!

There is a longing in all of creation that desires salvation and freedom form decay, pain, death.

As Christians we have something that non-believers have! We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that lives with in us.

We who have the firstfur

This hope is not what saves us, but rather this hope of deliverance is result of Faith in Christ.

Explain Salvation.

: 26-27

Spirit of Intercession

Pauls Comparative use of the word groaning. Creation groans in expectation, the believer groans in expectation, and the Holy Spirit groans in expectation. What is the Point?

No passage of Scripture provides greater encouragement for prayer. The Spirit comes to the aid of believers baffled by the perplexity of prayer and takes their concerns to God with an intensity far greater than we could ever imagine. Our groans (v. 23) become his (v. 26) as he intercedes on our behalf.

We are not talking about speaking in tongues, but rather we are talking about heart of prayer. The Spirit acts on the behalf of the believer and becomes the hub of communication with God.

Last week I talked about prayer being the Closeness of God.

Switching Gears

If we are going to talk about the future glory that awaits all of creation, we should understand that all is included.

What if we as a church would pray like this not only for ourselves, but for one another?

Have you ever noticed that prayer not only bonds us to God, but it creates a deep bond between people.

Church we need to pray for and with one another, and we will start to feel the koinōnia.

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament κοινωνία

κοινωνία

Means fellowship/participation

“Christian community is supposed to be rooted in koinonia, an intimate intertwining and sharing of life in which Christ is present with us as we are present with one another.”

Why?

Video Clip

Zirschky, Andrew. Beyond the Screen (p. 16). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

koinōnia