[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfred, Georgia. It is our prayer that you will be blessed by the preaching of God's Word. We'll take your Bibles if you would and open them to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 if you would.
[0:11] And we're going to read several verses of the Bible this morning. Romans chapter 8, we'll start in verse 18. And before we read that passage of Scripture, let me tell you what's going on. The Bible is going to talk about how that God's people are groaning and the creation is groaning for the day that they will soon experience the glory of God, that they will soon be given all that very special position and relationship that's theirs.
[0:41] And the best way I can illustrate that is in the last few days at our church, we've had three babies born that I can think of right now. Mike and Cindy Shane had a baby.
[0:51] They're at home and they're waiting anxiously for the day. They get to take that baby home. If you can imagine the groaning, you know, your baby is born and it's at the hospital and it needs some extra care and it's there.
[1:02] And you can imagine how they cannot wait to get their baby home. And Tyler and Gretchen Masters in Tunisia had her baby born yesterday, but probably the most recent one, yesterday afternoon, Ryan and Evelyn Murphy, they went out on a date.
[1:17] They bought the popcorn. They were all ready to enjoy the date and her water broke. And she began groaning for a baby to get here. And it lasted all night long and until the early morning.
[1:29] And when we got to church today, I texted and I said, well, what's going on? And he didn't answer me. And so I checked and my text said that please pray for Evelyn.
[1:41] The baby needs to come and spend over 20 hours. And Eve is so ready for the baby to be born. And they have a picture for you for what happened when the glory just happened.
[1:52] So just a few minutes ago was born little. And I can't even remember her name right now because I got so many names coming up. But anyway, that's little Evelyn, Ryan Murphy's daughter.
[2:04] And so I want you to look in that seat. I want you to know what's going to happen today. We're going to talk about your groaning for glory. You can go back to the scriptures. They'll never listen to me. The Romans chapter 8, what's happening is you might not realize this, but on the day you got saved, that's the day that you were destined for glory.
[2:26] That's the day you were destined for glory. And you have no idea where the Father is taking you. You have no idea what's going on. But let me explain something to you. It won't be long until we'll experience something that the Bible calls the redemption of our bodies.
[2:43] We know the feeling of adoption. We know the feeling of being loved. But there's this great day coming when our Father is going to put us on a stand and say, Check him out.
[2:54] That's my boy. Check him out. That's my son. And I can tell you that years ago when Betty and I found out that we were going to have our first baby, actually she was going to have our first baby, I've not really done a whole lot about having babies in our family except stand there and say, Hey, it's not that bad, baby.
[3:13] It'll be okay. You know? I remember when she got pregnant with Joy, she was crying. It was our third child. And she was crying. And she said, I'm scared. I really don't want to do this. I wished I wasn't pregnant.
[3:24] And I said, Baby, it's too late for that. But crying endures for the night. But joy will come in the morning. And the next day Joy was born. And that's how she got her name, actually. But anyway, it was an amazing thing.
[3:37] We were walking down the street. And I'm holding Betty's hand. And I'm so excited about having a baby. And I told her as we were walking, I said, I beg God for a little boy. I'm asking God to give us a little boy.
[3:48] And I would like to name him Christopher. And he'll be a Christ bearer. He will carry the gospel message of Jesus Christ. That was my dream. That was my goal. And then God, you know, those days, you know, you find out you're going to have a baby.
[4:02] Have you ever noticed how long it takes before that baby gets here? I mean, it's like forever. It's like it never happens. It's like the watched pot that doesn't boil.
[4:13] And then finally one day, you know, I mean, I'm telling you, I'm doing everything in the world with Betty. I'm driving her down the roughest, bumpiest roads trying to get everything ready to come out. And she said, I don't think this works. I said, we're going to try it.
[4:24] Amen. And I'm just looking for any way. And finally, Chris was born. Well, here's the story. You're going to be recognized. You're going to look like Jesus.
[4:35] You're going to get a new body. All of heaven and all the demons and all of hell is going to look and say, wow, look what God did when he saved that scumbag that deserved to go to hell.
[4:48] And look what God turned him into. And that will be our great day. And we are groaning. The Bible says even creation is groaning and expecting and anticipating the day when the sons of God will be glorified.
[5:03] So read with me, if you would, Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8, verse 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.
[5:15] The glory which shall be revealed in us. For the manifest expectation, or excuse me, the earnest expectation, the clear, the hungry, the desire, I can't wait for, of the creature, waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God, for the showing of the sons of God.
[5:34] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, bondage of corruption, unto the glorious liberty of the children of God.
[5:52] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain, has labor pains like a woman in labor together until now.
[6:03] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the spirit. We groan, we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body.
[6:18] The day we get that new and glorious body, the day we enjoy all these wonderful things that our Father has prepared for us. For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope.
[6:31] For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait for it. Likewise also the spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.
[6:43] But the spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[6:57] Father, I pray that you would do a work in our hearts. I pray, dear God, that you would help us today to realize the wonderful future you have prepared for us.
[7:08] I pray, dear God, that you would help us to understand that you are at work in our lives and we can rejoice and be amazed and at the same time relax in your presence and who you are in our lives.
[7:21] Build us, work in us, and magnify yourself in us and we'll give you praise for it all. In Jesus' name, amen. Do you remember Christmas when you were a kid? Do you remember counting down the days?
[7:32] Do you remember how slowly Christmas comes when you're a kid? I mean, it's like it's forever before it gets there. Now, when you're older, it comes real quick because you've got to buy gifts again.
[7:45] And you've got to spend all that money and you've got to get in debt. You haven't paid off the ones you bought last year. And here comes Christmas again. But when you're young, man, doesn't it take forever? I want you to go with me to realize we're talking about we are earnestly hoping for, waiting for, and groaning for the glory.
[8:01] Sin messed up everything. It messed up man. It messed up our environment. Even the creation cries out to God for the day things we backed like they were supposed to be.
[8:13] If you understood your past, it would humble you. If you understood your future, you'd be extremely excited. If you understood that already you get to experience and live out a small part of your future, you would love Jesus more and more.
[8:27] First thing we should write down, you are destined for glory. You are destined for glory if you're a born again child of God. Romans chapter 8 and verse 18.
[8:39] Would you read that verse with me? Romans chapter 8 and verse 18. I reckon, I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[8:52] Now, I reckon it's good southern talk. Now, you Yankees that don't understand that, it's like, man, I figured it out. I'm thinking about it. I'm placing it together. I'm counting it up. I count it to be the truth.
[9:02] Let me tell you, when I think about it, it don't matter what we're going through now, it's going to be worth it then. I remember in August the 18th, 1973, I was going to get married. And I had gone home from college for the summer and Betty and I were going to get married just before college started back.
[9:18] And every day, all I could think about, go home from work and just go to bed. The only way you get time to pass fast is sleep. And so I just could not wait for those days to get her. And I'll tell you this, I reckoned that all that summer of being without her and all that summer of writing her notes and her never writing me back.
[9:35] I mean, I wrote her every day. She wrote me once every 10 years. And I thought about all of that. And I'll tell you, it doesn't matter how much, how long that summer was, it was worth it for that day to come.
[9:47] Now, look at this. The glory which shall be revealed in us. Would you underline that? The glory which shall be revealed in us. He not only changes our nature, guarantees our future, confirms our relationship.
[10:01] He guarantees our glory. He guarantees our glory. Let me just stop right here and add to that. You know, do you understand you're destined to glory?
[10:12] Some of you might be wondering if you can lose your salvation. You're destined for glory if you're a born again child of God. Let me give you a few things that the Bible says for you. Number one, we are predestined.
[10:24] And that applies only to us as believers. And it's given as a great promise. Look at Romans 8.30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called.
[10:35] And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified. Do you understand something? Listen to this. Look, look, look. The day you were born again, he said, I got big plans for you, buddy.
[10:50] You're going all the way. I have predestined you to be conformed to the image of your son, the son of God. And some prostitute or some drunkard or some good moral guy comes to Christ and gets saved.
[11:01] On that day you can mark it down, buddy. You have a predestined route. You're headed to glory. He is going to turn you in to the image of the son of God. He has been at work in us and continues to be.
[11:14] What he started, he will finish. You need not worry about your destiny. It's fixed. You're his. And he will get you home. There's nothing you can do to separate yourself from his love or stop the process of sanctification in your life.
[11:30] If you're truly born again, nothing you can do to stop this process. Look at Romans 8.38. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[11:54] Some of you think. Some of you think I got saved. I just hope I can make it through. When you got saved, if you really got saved, you were predestined for the whole route. But, and some of you might be wondering right there and you might say, well, what could I do to make him quit loving me?
[12:07] Well, here's what Paul says in Romans chapter 8. The last part he said, hey, there's nothing up there, nothing down there, nothing over there, nothing over there. Nothing ever been made, nothing ever been thought of. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
[12:19] I'm a child of God. Can you say amen right there? That ought to excite you. You know what? Sometimes I ain't too sure about how much you love me. And I'm not too sure about what not you might dump your relationship with me. I'm not too sure about our relationship, but I'm really sure about his relationship to me.
[12:33] Nothing can separate me from the love of God. He will finish what he started. He will finish what he started. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6. The Bible says, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
[12:50] Christ, on May the 6th, 1962, a little boy who hardly understood what was going on realized he was a sinner, realized he deserved to go to hell, and trusted Jesus Christ that day.
[13:02] That little boy didn't understand a whole lot of Bible, and that little boy didn't understand what God would do with him. That little boy had no idea what God was going to do. But on that day, God did a work in my life.
[13:12] I didn't do it. The Baptist church didn't do it. The baptistry didn't do it. And the pastor didn't do it. God saved me. Can you say amen? And on that day, he started a work in me.
[13:24] And here's what he said. I started and I finish what I start. I started and I finish what I start. Now, you do need to know before I go on from this verse that salvation is a continual growing process in us.
[13:40] You get saved. You get saved. You might say we got saved, we're being saved, and we're going to be saved. In other words, you've got to understand that it didn't just happen and it's all over.
[13:51] God's growing you and maturing you, and he's sanctifying you, and he's making you holy. And so, in other words, past justification would be sanctification. 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18, the Bible says, But we all, with open face, beholding as in the glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image.
[14:14] Are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of God. I look in a mirror and I see the ugly, hideous face that I have.
[14:25] But as I look into Jesus, he says, don't worry, Austin, I'm fixing you. I'm changing you. I'm working in you. I'm taking away the rough spots. I'm knocking off the edges.
[14:36] And I'm changing you to glory. From glory to glory, he's changing me. Number two. Second thing you write down. Romans 8, 19. Our great glory will be the day he makes it clear.
[14:49] Our great glory will be the day he makes it clear we're his sons. Romans 8, 19. The Bible says, The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
[15:03] For the showing of the sons of God. We're his sons now, but we're not enjoying the full privileges of who we are. This is like a coming out party.
[15:14] The quinceañera party for a Spanish person. The debutante comes out. It's the day we're publicly recognized for who we are. Not long ago, I suppose the last wedding I think I participated in was Jacob and Hannah.
[15:28] Jacob and Heather. What's your name? Anyway, my granddaughter's Hannah and my grandson's Jacob. That's where that mess up came from. Sorry about that. And they ain't getting married to each other. But anyway. But anyway, you know, it's amazing.
[15:40] You got all this stuff going on. You got all this stuff going on. You got this groaning going on because you're kind of like waiting. I wasn't all that worried about it. I figured we'd get the wedding done. I'd go to the house. But we were in this back room back in the chapel up there.
[15:52] And we were supposed to come out right on time. And we can't see what's happening. And we're sitting in the back room. And 15 minutes passed and 20 minutes passed. And I told Jacob, she probably ain't coming.
[16:02] I think she left. And finally we go walking out. And then all these people come walking down the aisle. But you know, I mean, honestly, you know, everybody else is looking going, oh, isn't that cute?
[16:14] Look at little snow girls. Aren't they so cute? That's not what Jacob's probably thinking. I hope not. Jacob said, get the kids out of the way. Bring everybody in out of the way. Bring in the woman. I want to see the manifestation.
[16:26] I want to see the showing. I want to make it clear. She's mine. And then she comes up the front and says, who will give this girl? And all of a sudden the dad says, hey, her family and I do. Shotguns at us. We don't have any choice. And they give the girl.
[16:37] That's the big day. That's the big day. We're waiting for that. Look in your Bible. Romans 8, 19. The manifestation of the sons of God. We're the children of God. But to be blunt honest, we look just about like everybody else up and down the street.
[16:51] You can't spot who we are. It hadn't been made clear. We haven't been set up on the pedestal. We know what's going to happen, but it hadn't happened yet. By the way, we're even going to get a new body. Look at Romans chapter 8 and verse 23.
[17:03] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits. We've already got the Holy Spirit. We're already experiencing a little bit of it. We've already got the engagement ring, but we've grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption.
[17:19] Waiting for the adoption. To wit. So you understand what I'm talking about. The redemption of our body. Now you see, I'm a brand new creature. I'm a brand new creature.
[17:30] But I still live in a sinful body. I still live in a sinful world. I still have sin all around me. But there's a day coming not too far away. When the Lord Jesus is going to say, come here, son, stand up.
[17:42] Check it out, world. This is my son. In whom I am well pleased. That's happening for us. That's coming for us. We're his children. We understand the feeling of adoption.
[17:54] The security. The intimacy. But we still live in a world with dying bodies. When he comes back, we reach our full potential. We'll be given our new bodies.
[18:04] We'll be free from the very presence of sin. We have been freed from the penalty of sin. We have victory now over the power of sin. But we will soon be free from the very presence of sin.
[18:15] Its effects. Dying and death. And we'll be in a perfect place. In a perfect body. The manifestation is the public showing of his sons. He will publicly and proudly make clear the where he is.
[18:30] It's kind of like that night. Spanish people really have a beautiful thing they do. There's many Mexicans. They like it better than anybody I know of. They do bigger deals about it than the Peruvians.
[18:42] The rich people in America did it with the debutantes. You know, the girl comes out and it's that night. It's the night her daddy throws a massive party that cost a wad.
[18:52] And he said, this is my daughter. In whom I'm well pleased. Here's what happened. You are destined for glory. And when it happens is the day that we get our new body. And Jesus tells the world, these are mine.
[19:05] And by the way, the devil and the demons are going to go, wow. Can you believe what the God of heaven did? Can you believe what he's done?
[19:15] By the way, did you know that the creation even eagerly awaits that day? Write that down. The creation eagerly waits for that day. Look at Romans chapter 8 and verse 21. Because the creation, the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
[19:33] When Adam sinned, all the creation was plunged into corruption, rotting. Thorns and thistles and weeds and rocks and everything in the way.
[19:45] As beautiful as the world is, it was placed under a curse. It's not what it was. You should know that this planet and earth are not like they originally were designed to be. The earth is in bondage.
[19:57] Slavery to corruption, rotting. That should help you understand some things about life. That should help you understand some things. Don't be surprised when things go wrong in life.
[20:08] This life. Even the creations under the consequences of sin. Don't ever put your ultimate hope in anything that men can do for you. Or to improve this world's conditions.
[20:22] Keep your eyes on Jesus. He's the only answer. Did you know the world was never meant to be a dog-eat-dog world? You want to hear what it's going to be like when he fixes things?
[20:34] In Isaiah chapter 11 and verse 6 and following the Bible says some of the wildest things. It says the wolf and the lamb will be friends. The leopard and the calf will be friends. And the young calf and the fat lady.
[20:45] And the little child will be able to lead them around. And the cow and the bear will eat together. And the young ones of all those animals will lay down. And lions will eat straw with an ox. And a suckling child will play with snakes.
[20:57] And there will be no worry. That's just in the millennial kingdom. We ain't even talking about eternity. God's creation was messed up by man's sin.
[21:09] The creation did nothing wrong. But has been suffering the effects of man's sin for all these years. Look at Romans 8.20. You got your Bible open?
[21:19] For the creature. Creation was made subject, submitted to, made a slave to vanity, to emptiness, to worklessness. Not willingly. But by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope.
[21:33] When we get our total position in Christ. The creation will be free to live up to its original intention and potential. Romans 8.21. Got your Bible there?
[21:45] This is your future. Romans 8.21. Because the creature, creation itself, shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption. From the slavery to the dying.
[21:55] And this world wasn't meant to die. Our God's a God of light and life. But sin brought death. And to the glorious liberty of the children of God.
[22:07] If you think creation is beautiful and fantastic now. You'll not be able to imagine it when it's like what it was before the curse. And even greater. The creation is still great enough for anybody to see it and get saved.
[22:21] You know, when you look out at the world today. I want you to know that though it has been affected by sin. When creation itself screams loudly, there's a God. The Bible says in Romans 1.20.
[22:33] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen. Being understood by the things which are made. By the things that are made. Even his eternal power in Godhead.
[22:44] Leaving them without excuse. You can't look around. You can't see the rocky mountains and an eagle flying above them. And the fish in the ocean. You can't see the human body.
[22:55] You can't see any of this without saying. Somebody did something to make all of this. And creation itself. Even under the curse is still great enough to scream. There is a God.
[23:06] And he made us. Did you know that right now creation is anxiously awaiting for the day of our adoption? Our manifestation. It's like creation is ready to give birth.
[23:17] It's like it's time for the pain of sin to be over. Everything will live up to what God wanted. Before sin entered and messed it up.
[23:28] Just a few minutes ago. I'm sure Evelyn was hurting. And anxious. And 20 hours had already passed. And I watched it with my own wife.
[23:41] They reached and get that baby. And they just reach up and lay it on that lady's chest. And all of a sudden all the groaning and all the pains like. It's worth it. It's worth it.
[23:52] And here's what the Bible is saying. We're born again Christians. Even the world. Even the creation groans for the day it's back like it was before sin.
[24:04] And it will be worth it all. Read Romans 8.22 with me. Romans 8.22. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails.
[24:16] Has labor. Childbearing labor. And pain to gather until now. Paul said the whole world's hurting. It's trying to give birth. It's looking forward to the day Jesus comes back.
[24:29] And sets up his kingdom. And Jesus comes back and makes us into a new earth. Jesus comes back and everything gets like it ought to be. It ought to be. You were destined for glory.
[24:43] Those of you that love Jesus. You want that. You wish you had victory. More victory over sin. You hate the fact that you're surrounded by sin.
[24:53] You hate the fact that sin still affects you. You hate the fact that temptation is still there. You hate the fact of death. Something inside of you screams. I can't wait for Jesus to come. I can't wait for the day it's all glorified and made right and perfect.
[25:08] Romans 8 24. Fourth thing you can write down if you do that. God's people know that what is going on and they anxiously await that day. We're waiting. Just write that down. We're waiting for the day.
[25:19] Can't wait for the day. Can't wait for the day. Our oldest son was born on August the 5th. My dad was born on August the 6th. My dad said, I think you could wait one more day and the baby could be born on my birthday.
[25:35] And Betty said, forget it. My wife had been groaning long enough. And she was ready for the baby to be born. Look at what's happening. Romans 8 24.
[25:46] You got it? For we are saved by hope. But hope that seems not hope. For what a man see it, why does he yet hope for it? But we hope for that we see not.
[25:58] Then do we with patience wait for it. Now this word hope here is not doubtful. But it's exciting waiting. It's like I can't wait. That's the word here.
[26:09] The hope here is I can't wait. The baby is going to be born. It's amazing. They give you a due date. And then they say you're late or you're early. Really what it means is the doctor was right or wrong. Huh?
[26:21] Because the baby is going to come when the baby is ready. Amen. Unless they just take it out. But the truth is, they give you this due date. And everybody, man we groan. How long do you lack? Six weeks. How long do you lack?
[26:31] Four weeks. How long do you lack? 28 days. 22 days. How long do you lack? And they're groaning for it. And we're hopeful. But it wouldn't be hope if it had already happened.
[26:41] We're anxiously, expectantly waiting to see the day. We can't wait to see God turn his creation into what he meant it to be. We can't wait for him to give us our bodies.
[26:54] The new, transformed, resurrected bodies like his. We wait patiently enduring. Can't wait God. Lord, one more day.
[27:06] Could today be the day, you know, you wake up. And every day I can remember waking up and I say, baby, is it going to be today? I don't know. Come on, baby. Come on.
[27:18] When's a baby going to be born? You're enduring. You're patiently and not so patiently waiting. Patient doesn't mean you're setting up shop here.
[27:28] It doesn't mean you're making this world your home. It means I can't wait for Jesus to come and get me and give me all he's promised. I will live here serving him until he comes.
[27:39] But I'm going to keep an eye on the horizon. The idea of hope is I can't wait. I know what's going to happen. I just don't know when. It's a girl waiting and wanting him to ask her to officially marry him.
[27:52] And, you know, there's that girl. She knows she's going to get married to him. He knows and she knows. It just hasn't been made official. And she can't wait. You know, these guys who make these big YouTube, they ask somebody on YouTube or on national TV.
[28:11] I would assume the girl has already given some indication she'd say yes. I keep wishing one of them would just go, are you crazy? You're asking me on national TV.
[28:22] Drop dead. I have no interest in you. But that's usually not what happens. It's always, oh. The whole crowd goes wild. And here's what's going on. We know it's happening.
[28:35] We just don't know when. Here's your little story. A Jewish girl would be asked and paid. The dowry would be paid and everything would be ready and she'd be waiting. You remember when Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you and I will come back and I'll get you.
[28:51] You know what was happening? He was saying, you're mine. I got you. I'm coming to get you. When? When everything's ready. I'll be back. When's that going to be? No idea.
[29:02] And then all of a sudden the horns would blow and the crowds would shout. And here comes the bridegroom walking into town. And here's what's happening. You and I have been saved and born again by the grace of God.
[29:13] We got a new body coming. We got a new life coming. We're going to be out of this sinful world. We're going to be out of this dying stuff. The cancer is going to be over. It's all going to be over. When? I'm just anticipating, hoping, and waiting for that day when Jesus comes back.
[29:29] Last thing I'd like to show you real quickly. Weak people praying. Look at verse 26. Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities, our weaknesses.
[29:40] Because we don't even know how to pray like we ought to pray. So the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, it makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. He searches the hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[29:53] Look at this. Now listen to me. Listen. Listen. We got saved and here we are in human bodies. Man, we do not understand the divine. We do not understand heaven. We don't understand our new life.
[30:05] They're about to take us somewhere we've never been and see things we've never seen and live a life we've never lived. We're going to be in the presence of Almighty God and even praying is hard for us. We don't know how to pray, what to pray.
[30:17] We don't know how. And He said, I know you're groaning. I know you can't wait. And so let me tell you what happens. Even when you're in your weakness and even while you're still in those sinful dying bodies, when it comes time to pray, you can trust me.
[30:30] I'll pray through you. I'll come and I'll bring your prayer requests. According to the will of God, I'll take them to the Father. We're weak. We're human. We have failing bodies and minds.
[30:40] We do not understand God. We don't know what's best for us. We don't even know how to pray. If you ever got down to pray and said, God, I just don't even really know what to pray. I don't know how to say this. I don't know how to get through to you. I don't know what to say.
[30:51] Here's what He said. He said, I'm giving you the Spirit. I will. We're to pray. No excuse not to pray. But when we pray, God in us actually prays to God. That's a great promise.
[31:02] You little peon who cannot understand how to talk to God. Don't worry. God moved into you. The Holy Spirit's in you. Say amen. And when you get down to pray and you say, I just don't know if I understand how to translate what I need and how to talk to God.
[31:17] Here's what God said. You don't. I do. So trust me. I'll take care of that. We pray and God actually prays for us. God searches our heart. God prays through our weakness.
[31:28] That's not speaking in tongues. That's not some stupid noise. It's God saying, you're weak. You're still struggling to know what it's like to live with me. You're still in that sinful place and that sinful conditions.
[31:41] But I'm in you. Will you believe that God has great plans for you and get off your petty dreams and aspirations? Some of you are too this world focused.
[31:52] Some of us, me included. Man, we've forgotten who we are. We're destined for glory. We're destined for the presence of God.
[32:03] And we're building houses here and laying up money for here and thinking about this place. When you need to know something, the day you got saved, you were destined for glory. Have you been having problems, doubting your salvation?
[32:16] This lesson ought to clear that up for you. Rest in that he who saved you will carry you through. There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.
[32:27] God, he will finish what he started. He's at work in you, making you into what you should be. You are not an accident. Things are not just happening.
[32:38] God has a purpose and a plan and he's taken you to maturity. You were destined for glory if you're born again. If one of us, there's a day coming that's going to make the most fancy wedding you've ever seen.
[32:56] Look like junk. There's a day coming for you that's going to make the presidential inauguration look like they didn't spend any money on it at all. There's a day coming when our great God and Father steps out and says, come on, kids.
[33:11] Come home. New bodies for you. A new place for you. Sin's gone. No sun's needed here because the Son of God is the light. And he's going to stand us up and say, throw that old body away.
[33:23] I've got you a brand new transformed body. And we are going to revel in the greatness that our great God has prepared for us. And something inside of you ought to be saying, oh God, I want that.
[33:36] Please God, do it in me. He's going to do it in you. Don't play with junk. Why are you playing in the dirt when you are destined for greatness?
[33:47] Father in heaven, I love you. And I pray you'd be honored and glorified by this passage of scripture and my feeble attempt to teach it. I pray your people would love you and thank you and believe in you and look to you.
[33:58] I pray they'd be excited about what you've got planned for us. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your wonderful promises. Thank you for your word.