WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.740 Page 1135, and it's Romans chapter 8, starting at verse 18. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:16.399 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:00:17.219 --> 00:00:21.760 ! For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:29.900 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:39.340 In hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:47.620 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:59.140 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.920 For in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is no hope at all. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:08.760 Who hopes for what they already have? 00:01:09.460 --> 00:01:13.219 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:17.920 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:01:18.679 --> 00:01:25.459 We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 00:01:25.459 --> 00:01:34.819 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:44.339 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:01:45.139 --> 00:01:54.659 For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:58.459 And those he predestined, he also called. 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:01.219 Those he called, he also justified. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:04.579 Those he justified, he also glorified. 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:09.460 Great, thank you, Robin. 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.139 Let's pray as we come to God's word. 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:11.539 Let's pray. 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:21.840 Gracious God and our loving Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your word to us this morning. 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:30.579 Well, there's many things to distract us from listening and hearing your word. 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:34.880 We pray, please, that you might be at work this morning by your Spirit. 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:41.780 We pray, please, that you would help me to speak truthfully and clearly and faithfully, 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:45.660 and that all of us would listen and hear your voice in your words, 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:50.780 that we might be, as it puts it here, transformed into the likeness of your Son, 00:02:51.600 --> 00:02:52.580 in whose name we pray. 00:02:53.600 --> 00:02:54.100 Amen. 00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:54.680 Amen. 00:02:54.680 --> 00:03:06.040 Now, the Christian life in the book of Romans could be summarized as being union with Christ. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:07.180 Union with Christ. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.620 Now, I know that's probably not a phrase that you use. 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:12.939 You may have never even heard it before. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:17.260 But it is a really helpful summary of what it means to be a Christian. 00:03:18.219 --> 00:03:22.680 It underlines this fact that being a Christian is not just being someone who kind of likes Jesus. 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:26.200 It's not even someone who believes in Jesus. 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:30.060 I mean, they do believe in Jesus in that sense, but not just believe that he existed. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:35.420 It's not even someone who goes to church or someone who has a Christian heritage or Christian parents. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:38.420 Instead, a Christian is someone who, and this is it, right, 00:03:38.420 --> 00:03:48.700 who by faith is counted by God as having union with Christ, being in Jesus. 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:55.679 So much so that what Jesus does is what is done for them. 00:03:56.399 --> 00:03:58.839 So that Jesus' death becomes their death. 00:03:58.959 --> 00:04:01.219 Jesus' resurrection becomes their resurrection. 00:04:01.799 --> 00:04:05.819 His sacrifice for sin is counted as a sacrifice for their sin. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:10.299 His righteousness is counted to them as their righteousness. 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:17.600 Now, listen, I kind of read books quite a lot in the week and read theological books. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:21.120 These are the kind of language that I use, and I know you don't, perhaps. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.819 But let me just say to you, union with Christ is brilliant. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:25.500 It's brilliant. 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:27.600 I hope you see that. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:32.080 It means, doesn't it, that things like righteousness, forgiveness, resurrection, glory, 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.100 all of these things that we're interested in, 00:04:34.100 --> 00:04:38.180 we possess them not because we earn them, right? 00:04:38.260 --> 00:04:43.720 We possess them because Christ possesses them, and he possesses us. 00:04:44.320 --> 00:04:46.420 That's the glory and the wonder, isn't it? 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:51.220 But I want to show you this morning that there is another aspect to our union with Christ. 00:04:51.320 --> 00:04:52.860 We kind of brushed over it last week. 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:54.660 It's there in chapter 8, verse 17. 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:56.000 Let me read it to you. 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:56.920 Have a look down at it. 00:04:56.920 --> 00:05:03.300 Now, if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:11.460 If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 00:05:12.660 --> 00:05:13.319 Here it is. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:17.920 Union with Christ means also sharing in his suffering. 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:20.300 And notice exactly how it's put. 00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:24.720 It's not just, oh, life might be hard in some kind of arbitrary way. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:29.540 Rather, we share with Christ in his suffering. 00:05:30.200 --> 00:05:32.980 Literally, the word there is to suffer along with. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:37.420 Not because our sufferings themselves make atonement for our sins. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:40.480 That work has been done and completed in Christ. 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:44.640 Everything that needed to be done to save us has been done by him. 00:05:45.020 --> 00:05:50.920 But the point is this, that Jesus became the perfect saviour through suffering. 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:56.220 And so we suffer to be made like the perfect saviour. 00:05:58.020 --> 00:06:00.860 I realise this is not a great sell for being a Christian. 00:06:01.080 --> 00:06:02.400 Maybe you're not a Christian this morning. 00:06:03.140 --> 00:06:05.160 And you're thinking, this sounds utterly terrible. 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:13.700 Union and communion with Jesus sounds great if you're talking about victory over death or power over sin or eternal glory. 00:06:13.700 --> 00:06:17.879 But now you're saying it involves communion with Christ in suffering. 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.800 Suffering along with Christ sounds awful. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.160 I mean, it does sound awful, doesn't it? 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.079 So bad that lots of people gloss over it. 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:29.600 You could go to lots of different churches. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:36.620 You could go to churches in London today and they will tell you that to become a Christian is to be victorious over all suffering. 00:06:37.660 --> 00:06:42.060 Or that if you're a good Christian, that will mean that you're kept safe from suffering. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:44.259 But that's not what Paul says here. 00:06:44.259 --> 00:06:50.560 Instead, he says, union with Christ brings communion with Christ in suffering. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:07:07.600 I think it's just worth stopping here just for a moment and say, if you're a Christian this morning and you're suffering and life is particularly difficult and you think somewhere in your mind, I'm suffering because I'm a bad Christian. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:12.020 God is making me suffer because I've let him down. 00:07:12.960 --> 00:07:16.879 My diagnosis is a punishment because of things that I've gotten wrong. 00:07:17.400 --> 00:07:19.200 My poverty is payback. 00:07:19.960 --> 00:07:21.200 Then listen, what you need to hear. 00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:22.140 Let me say this gently. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:25.140 You need to hear that is not true. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:26.839 It's not true. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:31.879 Jesus was the perfect believer in his father, right? 00:07:32.659 --> 00:07:33.699 Utterly faithful. 00:07:34.659 --> 00:07:36.039 And he suffered. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:42.399 And we suffer along with him, not in payback, but in union with him. 00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:45.039 So think about the suffering of Christ. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:47.060 What were the sufferings of Christ? 00:07:47.539 --> 00:07:50.759 Well, for a start, Christ suffered the brokenness of the world, didn't he? 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:53.019 He was born into poverty. 00:07:53.019 --> 00:07:57.079 He escaped his own country as a refugee under threat of his life. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.339 He worked very hard for very little money. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:05.560 He doubtless had to learn to swing a hammer as a carpenter in the way that everybody learns to swing a hammer, which is how? 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:07.839 By hitting your thumb more than once. 00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:12.699 He knew what it was to be hungry, to be homeless, to be weary. 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:14.599 He lost friends. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:16.799 He wept at their gravesite. 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:22.939 He knew human weakness, the frailty of a fallen human body, like we all do. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:25.279 But it didn't end there, did it? 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:31.219 Because he also suffered, not just the brokenness of the world, but he also suffered because of who he was. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:36.139 Because of who he was in his person. 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:40.100 He was misunderstood, misrepresented, betrayed by his friends. 00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:43.919 He was despised and rejected, flogged and crucified. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.899 So Paul says, expect the same. 00:08:47.779 --> 00:08:55.279 Union with Christ will mean communion with Christ in his suffering, in the brokenness of this world. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:59.799 Jesus was not sheltered from the brokenness. 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:01.319 And neither will you be. 00:09:02.339 --> 00:09:03.439 We will get sick. 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:08.419 We will face uncertainty, hunger, poverty, grief. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:10.639 We ourselves will die. 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:18.519 But like him also, in union with him, we will have communion with him in his suffering for being a Christian. 00:09:19.479 --> 00:09:25.439 You will, if you're a Christian, be misunderstood, misrepresented, betrayed even. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:27.460 You might lose a job. 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:29.180 You might lose a friendship. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.100 You might lose the country that you wanted to live in. 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:34.960 You might lose your life. 00:09:35.920 --> 00:09:40.300 Because union brings communion, not just in glory, but also in suffering. 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:43.399 Now, I realize that's very gloomy. 00:09:43.939 --> 00:09:48.219 But what I really want you to see this morning are three comforts. 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:49.919 Three great truths. 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:54.659 Three realities that we need to remember as we share the suffering of Christ. 00:09:54.979 --> 00:09:58.039 And these three comforts come from verses 18 to 25. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:59.559 So let's look at them together. 00:09:59.719 --> 00:10:00.799 Comfort number one. 00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:02.839 Comfort number one. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.819 Future glory is bigger than present suffering. 00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:08.259 This is where Paul starts. 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:10.299 So if you look down at verse 18, he says, 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:19.559 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:23.200 In other words, Paul says, like, put these things in the balances, right? 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:26.759 Present suffering over and against future glory. 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:34.799 And it's not just that kind of future glory tips the scales so that on balance it's probably going to be roughly okay. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:38.479 No, rather future glory breaks the scales. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:41.279 It's in a totally different category altogether. 00:10:42.199 --> 00:10:44.519 The comparison is not worth it. 00:10:44.579 --> 00:10:45.519 It's just not possible. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:49.620 Literally, the language here is that this is an unworthy comparison. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:55.940 Future glory is in a totally different league to present sufferings. 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:03.060 This is like the Arsenal football club playing the kids at Paddington Rec. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:03.460 Yeah. 00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:05.500 It's completely unfair. 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:07.620 The kids at Paddington Rec would run them ragged. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.720 It's an unfair comparison. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:12.360 But Paul doesn't stop there, does he? 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:14.639 Instead, he goes on to explain why. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:22.659 Look down at verse 19, you'll see that he tells you that the whole of creation is waiting for the glory of the children of God to be revealed. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:28.620 In other words, in the suffering of our world, it's not just us that are aching for something better. 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:41.220 In fact, all of creation is aching along with us, hoping for the day when Christ returns in glory and his children, who look and suffer along with the rest of the world, are revealed. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:46.279 Now, remember, Paul's point here is to show how big future glory is. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:49.420 Look down at verse 20 and see how Paul expands this some more. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:57.480 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:06.519 in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:14.220 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:17.120 Now, notice carefully what's been said here. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.500 This isn't a comment on environmentalism. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:26.500 Paul isn't saying it doesn't matter if you slash the rainforest or put plastic in the ocean or pump the atmosphere of CO2. 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:34.299 No, his point is that decay and weakness is in creation because of God's decision. 00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:36.879 It has been placed there. 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:41.599 And so glory for creation is still future. 00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:43.099 It's still ahead of it. 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:45.000 It is still awaited. 00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:49.359 And that, he says, is an indicator of how big glory is. 00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:51.599 In other words, think about it like this. 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:54.659 Think about a majestic mountain range, right? 00:12:54.659 --> 00:13:00.719 Or maybe a deserted Caribbean beach with the turquoise sea just lapping at the shore. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:06.219 Or think of the brilliance of a coral reef with multicolored fish swimming around. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:11.699 And Paul says, listen, for all of the breathtaking beauty of all of those things, 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:17.559 actually what you are seeing is something that is in bondage and is groaning. 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:22.539 The true beauty of all of those things is yet to be seen and be revealed. 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:29.899 All of those things are really like, you know, if you walk around Queen's Park or something now in the winter, 00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:34.860 it's muddy, there are puddles all over the place, there are no leaves on the trees, 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.779 there's no flowers in the flower beds. 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:41.639 Because it is waiting for spring. 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:47.759 And Paul says, listen, there's a sense in which all of creation at the moment is in its winter, 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:52.939 waiting for the spring of God's glory, when the children of God will be revealed. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:14:01.340 You know, Jamaica's blue mountains are brilliant, but not half as brilliant as they will be. 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:06.960 The great barrier reef is currently holding back its beauty. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:13.519 The golden sunset which takes your breath away is still hiding its true majesty. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:19.639 Because future glory is so weighty, so real, so physical, 00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:24.399 that you can only just glimpse it in the beauty of the world right now. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:27.519 Creation is groaning and waiting for its freedom. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.759 Can you imagine it? 00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:32.840 I don't know whether you've ever been to those places, 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:34.980 whether you've ever seen a view that just takes your breath away. 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:42.639 Well, Paul says, listen, glory to come is like that having your breath taken away, 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:45.559 but only bigger, more glorious. 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.899 There's another side to this as well, isn't it? 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:51.699 Because just as creation groans and waits, so do we groan. 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.819 Look down at verse 23. 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:56.520 Not only so, as in not only is creation groaning, 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.700 but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:02.560 groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.660 the redemption of our bodies. 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:06.480 For in this hope we were saved. 00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:09.240 But hope that is seen is no hope at all. 00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.780 Who hopes for what they already have? 00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:13.080 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.160 we wait for it patiently. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:18.500 I wonder if perhaps these verses don't need very much explanation at all. 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:21.200 We all know, don't we, this ache for life that we have. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.900 This desire to be rid of suffering. 00:15:24.520 --> 00:15:27.560 That sense that we all have that life is over too quick. 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:30.040 That we were made for more. 00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:31.900 Death has arrived too quickly. 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.280 Death and suffering robbers of life. 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.700 And we hope for more. 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:41.700 I wonder if you could just think with me about how this works. 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:45.420 You know, Paul is not in any sense trying to minimize your suffering. 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.940 Life is hard this morning. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.400 Paul is not saying to you, listen, just pull your socks up. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.159 It's going to get better. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.600 Stop being sad. 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.659 He's not saying that. 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:56.659 Rather, what he's telling you is to say, listen, 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:03.860 don't forget that glory is a future thing, not a past thing. 00:16:04.959 --> 00:16:06.139 Glory is still ahead. 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.019 It's not behind. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.500 You've not left it behind. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:17.799 And future glory is so brilliant that your present suffering will just seem like a blip on the timeline of eternity. 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:26.139 I don't know about you, but I think my sort of hardwired... 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.519 Oh, hello. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.240 It's brilliant. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:42.279 I asked him to do that so you'd all just have a little breather, right? 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:52.919 I don't know about you, but I think when I'm finding life difficult, my hardwired sort of instinct is just to run to ideas of escape. 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.600 Life is short, isn't it? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.180 We know that. 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:02.080 So surely the best thing is just to kind of run away and live life to the full, whatever that might look like. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:12.000 You know, indulge in experiences, travel, live in a nice home, get a nice view, get some good pictures, escape to the country or escape from the country. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:14.880 I'm sure you all have a version of that. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.539 Maybe it might be slightly different to mine. 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.400 I think for mine, it's probably... 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:26.759 I just run away and live somewhere in the Scottish mountains away from it all, just me and my dog, no mobile phone, right? 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.000 Perhaps for you... 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.220 I don't mean to upset my family, but just me and the dog. 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:41.660 But perhaps for you, it's like a beach or I just want to be somewhere where the sun is shining and I can feel the warmth on me away from the cold. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.059 But I think what I'm... 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:53.880 In those moments, what I'm thinking is that present suffering can be outweighed by present pleasure. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:54.579 Yeah? 00:17:55.319 --> 00:18:05.799 I'm seeking to medicate myself for the challenges and the difficulties of life now in some kind of pleasure or comfort now. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:10.299 And Romans 8 says, listen, Steve, stop being so shallow. 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:14.700 There is a deeper, richer comfort to come. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:27.460 Why would you look for a temporary escape in a groaning creation when you can have an eternal one in a creation that's no longer groaning, in a body that's no longer groaning? 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:36.120 It's not to mean I don't think that it's wrong to go away on holiday to a beach or the mountains. 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:41.959 But it is wrong to think that that's an adequate answer to the suffering of this life. 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:45.400 If you think that you have not understood. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.579 You know, maybe I could put it this way. 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:58.259 You know, the glory of Barbados or Jamaica or the West African coast or the Isle of Skye is just simply not enough to compensate you for the suffering of this life. 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:02.279 The suffering is too deep and that solution is too shallow. 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:06.079 What you need is future glory. 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:14.119 And future glory, available only through union with Christ, is bigger than present suffering. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.559 Secondly, we do not suffer alone. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.319 This is what we looked at with the children, isn't it? 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.940 Look down at verse 26. 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:25.220 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:32.019 We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:37.299 We saw earlier that creation is groaning and we are groaning. 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:41.640 And now we find that God the Spirit is also groaning. 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:43.000 Three groaners. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:48.880 And in the midst of our suffering, he draws near and prays with wordless groans, verse 26. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:52.740 And the point is, as we saw before, that we're not suffering alone. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:59.940 We are joined in our suffering by the Spirit who dwells in us and who advocates for us, speaks for us. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:08.020 He gives a voice to our groan, even as he groans with us, seeking relief and comfort from our Father in heaven. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.820 Verse 27 puts it like this. 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:25.939 This means, doesn't it, that in the midst of suffering for the Christian, even when you and I, we don't have a clue what to pray. 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.720 I don't know whether you've ever felt that. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.899 Where you just don't even know what to pray. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:32.939 You open your mouth and you're not even sure what words to say. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.119 All you can do is just groan. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:39.839 Still, the Spirit of God knows. 00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:41.819 He knows the mind of God. 00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:45.039 So he knows exactly why we are where we are. 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.819 He knows exactly what's happening. 00:20:46.979 --> 00:20:49.079 He knows exactly what God's design is for us. 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:52.899 And secondly, he searches our hearts so he knows us. 00:20:53.219 --> 00:20:54.899 He knows exactly what we feel. 00:20:54.979 --> 00:20:56.639 He knows exactly what we're longing for. 00:20:56.959 --> 00:20:59.459 He knows exactly what's going on in our hearts. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:07.559 And then with all of that information, the divine information and the information from us, what does he do? 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.860 He prays in perfect alignment with the will of God. 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.799 Prayers that will always be answered. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:19.980 A number of years ago, I had a friend called Gary. 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.600 He used to be a quick fit fitter. 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:24.200 You know what a quick fit fitter is? 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.819 Remember those adverts, We're the Boys Trust, yeah? 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:27.640 And they jumped in the air? 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.000 Yeah, he was one of them. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:33.200 And he suffered from years of bad health. 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.019 His marriage failed. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.059 He had a difficult relationship with his children. 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:41.680 He lived alone in a small flat down the road from me. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:45.120 And he mostly drank just to kind of forget his pain. 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:53.779 On his journey through life, he met a Christian who had shared the gospel with him and walked him through Mark's gospel. 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:55.380 He became a Christian. 00:21:55.380 --> 00:22:03.380 But in becoming a Christian for Gary, the suffering didn't end and his addictions didn't go away. 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.840 His marriage didn't heal. 00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:08.780 His kids still only got in touch with him when they wanted his money. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:15.240 But I think for all of Gary's struggles, the greatest, he would have told you, was loneliness. 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:19.120 That feeling that he had no one cared. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:23.899 Gary would have spells in hospital where no one would visit him. 00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:28.019 He'd be in pain or just in his own mess. 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.979 And he had no one to press the buzzer for him. 00:22:31.219 --> 00:22:33.779 No one to say, please, can you help my friend? 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:39.139 In the end, Gary died on his own in his flat. 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.680 I turned up a few days later. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.839 I stood outside and wondered why there was no answer. 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.879 He'd been found by a neighbor. 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:50.440 But in the times that I spent with Gary, this is the comfort that we would talk about. 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:54.519 This is what would bring a smile to his face and a tear of joy to his heart. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:59.299 It's, listen, you feel alone, but you're not alone. 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.879 You're not alone. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:03.820 God, by his spirit, is with you. 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:09.920 In the darkness of the night, in the loneliness of the hospital bed, in the absence of friends or family, 00:23:10.020 --> 00:23:18.340 when the list of people who have betrayed you is so long, still God will never let you, has never let you go. 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:27.480 In the groans of his pain as he moved from his bed to his chair, in the half-silent plea just for help in the middle of the night, 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.540 all of that was heard. 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.460 All of that was understood. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:38.480 All of that was picked up by the spirit who dwelt in him, taken to his father in heaven to ask just for what he needed. 00:23:41.260 --> 00:23:42.080 How about you? 00:23:43.020 --> 00:23:44.120 Do you feel alone? 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:47.680 Does your suffering cut you off from people? 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:50.440 People that you loved and cared for? 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:55.160 Maybe you feel this morning no one really knows your pain, no one knows your anxious thoughts, 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:57.920 no one knows the trouble that wakes me in the middle of the night. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:00.420 I never speak about it with anybody. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.600 Well, here is comfort. 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:09.080 If you're a Christian this morning, if you are in union with Christ by faith in him, 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:14.200 then whatever it is, whatever it might be, you are not abandoned. 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:18.500 God is with you and not just kind of passively with you. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:23.420 God is actively with you by his spirit in your heart. 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:30.440 And the point is here that the father in heaven, your father in heaven, is fully briefed on your situation. 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:34.660 There's not a groan that you have that he's not heard. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:38.340 There's not a tear that you have shed that he's not counted. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:44.900 There's not a sleepless night where you've tossed and turned in bed, worried and anxious that he's not noticed. 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.900 There's not a moment that you've been away from him. 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:54.500 Because all of it has been brought to his attention by the spirit who dwells in you and prays for you. 00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.960 So take comfort. 00:24:57.540 --> 00:25:00.300 Future glory outweighs present suffering. 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.540 And you are not alone. 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.700 You are not alone. 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.099 Comfort number three. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:08.639 Our suffering is good for us. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.859 Our suffering is good for us. 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:11.079 Verses 28 to 30. 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.960 This is the final comfort. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.299 It's probably the best known, isn't it? 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.619 Have a look down at verse 28. 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.619 Let me read it to you. 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:24.680 And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:27.240 Now notice carefully how this verse works. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:31.319 This is not a promise, is it, that everything works out in the end for everyone. 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:35.200 It's not a kind of flippant, don't worry, it will all be all right. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.339 It's not that, is it? 00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:45.679 Rather, this is a specific promise for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:50.079 In other words, this is a promise not for everyone, but for Christians. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:26:02.480 And the promise for the Christian is that in all things, not just in some things, but in everything, specifically here, including the suffering that we might right now be facing. 00:26:02.939 --> 00:26:07.939 All of this in the final analysis will work for our goods. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:10.900 Now what is good there? 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:17.420 Well, good in the context of Romans 8 is not a temporary good, but it's an eternal good. 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:21.460 It's the good of a glorious new creation. 00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:25.500 It's the good of being conformed to the image of his son. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:29.920 So the promise is not, you will always understand your suffering. 00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:32.880 Oh, I know I'm suffering this, so I might learn that. 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.320 It's not promising that. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:40.119 It's not promising that you will always see the lessons that you need to learn from every difficult thing that happens. 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:45.960 Rather, the point is that in eternity, you will see that it was all good. 00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:49.700 All came together for the good purpose that God is working towards. 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:54.819 So whilst I might never know why I got sick, why I lost that job, why I had to suffer in that way, 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:58.579 still in glory I will see that I am transformed. 00:26:58.579 --> 00:27:06.099 And the suffering of this life now was instrumental in it, in God's wisdom. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:16.859 Now, of course, you will only think that this is a comfort if you are persuaded that being made like Jesus is that good, right? 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:23.619 If you don't think being made like Jesus is really good, then your suffering will always seem out of proportion. 00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:27.579 This is the statement that by faith says, 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:34.619 I would rather suffer now to be like Christ than I would be to be in comfort now and left in my sin. 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.079 And that's the challenge, right? 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:42.439 Because if you remember from Romans chapter 7, it's not so much that we just slip into doing a few things wrong. 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:47.039 The problem, the challenge for us as Christians is that even though we're in union with Christ, 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:51.580 we still have this old nature that hears it, it loves to sin. 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.019 It loves it. 00:27:55.320 --> 00:27:58.720 And to suffer is to lose it. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.200 To sacrifice our reputation. 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.100 To lose our pride. 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:06.440 To say goodbye to our independence. 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:09.360 To miss our selfish dreams. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:11.779 And God says, that is good. 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.740 That is Christ-like. 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.899 That is glorious. 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.779 And it's not purposeless. 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.659 It's not meaningless. 00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:26.399 Rather, every tear and every pain is designed by God not to destroy me, but to grow me into Christ's likeness. 00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:28.179 And here's the thing. 00:28:28.959 --> 00:28:30.559 How can God make such a promise? 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:33.119 How can God make such a promise? 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:40.219 What is the assumption of Romans 8, 28 about the power of God? 00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:46.639 What is it implying about God's involvement in your life and your circumstances if you're a Christian this morning? 00:28:46.699 --> 00:28:48.619 Look down at verse 29 because that explains it. 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:51.419 It starts with the word for, which means it's the reason. 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:51.739 Yeah? 00:28:51.959 --> 00:28:54.859 This is the reason that verse 28 works. 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:59.819 For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:03.679 That he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:06.639 And those he predestined, he also called. 00:29:06.959 --> 00:29:08.839 Those he called, he also justified. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:11.659 Those he justified, he also glorified. 00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:14.759 This then is how this incredible truth works out. 00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:21.219 You cannot have the consolation of verse 28 without the sovereign power of God, verses 29 and 30. 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.979 You might want it, but you can't have it. 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:30.579 But God can work all things for your good because he is sovereign over all of your life in all of its detail. 00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.299 Work through it with me. 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:35.039 First, you see, don't you, that he foreknew you. 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.980 Which doesn't mean just that he kind of knew about you, right? 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:41.039 Knowing in the Bible implies way more than that. 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:46.279 When Abraham knew his wife, it means more than just he knew about her, right? 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:51.120 This is God entering into a relationship with you eternally. 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:54.500 Before you knew, he knew you. 00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:59.599 And then in that foreknowledge, he predestined, literally pre-decided. 00:29:59.919 --> 00:30:01.819 God's decision before your decision. 00:30:01.979 --> 00:30:07.299 He chose you to conform you to the image of Christ, to Christ-likeness. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:10.500 So that Jesus would have many siblings. 00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:15.039 Next you hear that he called you to belong to him. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:17.139 Again, not just in a general way. 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.759 Hey, anyone want to have faith in Jesus? 00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.299 Not that. 00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:20.819 No, a specific way. 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:29.379 Hey, you, Steve, Robin, whoever it is, come, follow Jesus. 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.639 I've chosen you. 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:35.500 Maybe it is this morning that he's calling you right now. 00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.619 You know in your heart. 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:39.299 You hear him. 00:30:40.239 --> 00:30:41.519 Come, follow me. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.459 You belong to me. 00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:46.199 I knew you before time began. 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:49.799 I predestined you and I'm calling you right now. 00:30:51.679 --> 00:30:52.519 Don't resist him. 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:56.579 And in responding to that call, we see that we're justified, 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:59.439 declared not guilty in Christ, and then glorified. 00:31:00.239 --> 00:31:03.759 Foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified. 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:07.000 And so it scans, doesn't it, of course, verse 28 is true. 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:10.859 Of course, my suffering is in his hands, working for my good, 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:14.440 because God has been eternally invested in my salvation. 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:18.000 He's worked all things to bring me to this point. 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:23.799 Suffering, sin, the devil himself is not able to stop the eternal counsels of God. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:24.980 Who could? 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:30.140 Another friend of mine was called David. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:32.559 He was a big, big guy, right? 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.259 He was strong. 00:31:34.679 --> 00:31:35.419 He was capable. 00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:37.460 David could build almost anything. 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:43.579 He worked as like a fixer and a mechanic for a mission agency, 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:47.919 getting supplies into some of the most difficult countries in the world. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:51.899 He would drive through different war zones. 00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:56.399 He replaced gearboxes on Land Rovers at the side of the road. 00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:01.620 And he'd love to tell you the stories kind of over and over and over again. 00:32:02.780 --> 00:32:05.720 But David got sick, got cancer. 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:08.860 And he was determined, right? 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:11.519 Really determined that he wouldn't be defeated by it. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:14.259 So he lost his mobility. 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:19.420 And so he got a mobility scooter on the NHS or whatever it was. 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:22.400 And that wasn't quite good enough, so he adapted it, right? 00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:24.379 So he cut it in half. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.539 He lengthened its chassis. 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:27.279 And he made it so that it could go off-road, 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:30.680 so that he could still go on the trails that he quite liked to go on. 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:37.580 He'd sleep in the back of a van that he parked his mobility scooter in 00:32:37.580 --> 00:32:39.220 and go off to wild places. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:43.160 But eventually the point came that he couldn't do that anymore. 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:46.500 And in my last conversation with David, he said, 00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:49.340 I'm so strong. 00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:51.019 I was so strong. 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:53.900 I had things I wanted to do. 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:56.420 I had people I still wanted to help. 00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:58.539 I'm weak and I'm dying. 00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:03.940 I spent a lot of time with him in the days before he died. 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:06.720 And we looked at these verses more than once. 00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:10.019 Because the truth is, he was never strong. 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:16.720 Before the cancer, with the cancer, he was never strong. 00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:19.139 It was always, only, ever the Lord. 00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:23.079 Jesus doesn't need you. 00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.259 He doesn't need me. 00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:25.700 He doesn't need my strength. 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:27.440 I need him. 00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:30.700 I don't hold on to him. 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:33.099 He holds on to me. 00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:37.539 He stands behind all of my successes. 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:40.879 And he designs all of my weaknesses. 00:33:41.899 --> 00:33:45.680 In order that I might be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:48.240 That I might be with him in glory. 00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:52.240 Can I say to you, if you're a Christian this morning, please take comfort. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:56.339 Future glory is bigger than anything you're facing right now. 00:33:57.880 --> 00:34:01.460 God is with you by his spirit and has not left you on your own. 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:11.159 And suffering, as painful and as difficult as it is, is ultimately that we might be like his son. 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:14.659 For our good and his glory. 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:16.099 Let me pray. 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:17.599 As I close. 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:35.839 Heavenly Father, we thank you. 00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:40.019 That in the midst of our suffering, 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:46.420 we are comforted by thoughts of future glory. 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:50.440 By the reality of your presence with us by your spirit. 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:56.139 And of this conviction that all things work together for our good. 00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:59.199 Lord, please. 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:04.599 I pray especially for brothers and sisters in this room who are really suffering this morning. 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.879 May they know your comfort. 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:13.019 I pray for people in this room who don't yet know the Lord Jesus. 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.940 May they hear your call this morning. 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:19.139 To be united with Jesus by faith. 00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:22.639 So that his blessings are their blessings. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.480 Forgiveness. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.400 Righteousness. 00:35:28.279 --> 00:35:28.659 Glory. 00:35:29.859 --> 00:35:30.759 And even suffering. 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:34.019 We praise you. 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:37.119 That you hold us and keep us. 00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:39.019 And will not let us go. 00:35:40.279 --> 00:35:40.639 Amen. 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:40.819 Amen. 00:35:40.819 --> 00:35:40.859 Amen. 00:35:40.859 --> 00:35:41.679 Amen. 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:41.759 Amen. 00:35:41.759 --> 00:35:41.759 00:35:41.759 --> 00:35:41.759