WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.960 Good morning, everyone. My name is James. It's good to be with you this morning. 00:00:07.020 --> 00:00:14.200 During the COVID lockdowns, it made intimacy and close connection with family and friends 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:19.960 and even church quite challenging. People were not able to see family and friends for 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:24.859 long periods of time. And I know a number of people have only been able to go back overseas 00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:33.000 to see family just in the last couple of months. We had to endure lockdowns with no idea how 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:39.799 long we would be locked down for. And I remember spending a lot of time with my family over 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:45.359 Zoom. Do you remember these times? I don't know if you remember them fondly. It wasn't 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:50.460 the same. For us, spending time with some of our family over Zoom was a bit of a chaotic 00:00:50.460 --> 00:00:55.340 mess. Instead of being able to do the big family meal that we would usually do with our 00:00:55.340 --> 00:01:01.359 family, what my family did on one particular Friday night is we each went to our local McDonald's 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:08.340 and we picked up Macca's and we came home and we had a Zoom. And so we had a big family meal 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:16.799 together over Zoom. And it was nice. It was fairly chaotic because you've got kids shouting, 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:21.479 you know, where are my nuggets? Don't touch my chips. People are trying to talk over the 00:01:21.479 --> 00:01:27.500 top of each other. And the way Zoom works, it just doesn't understand voices if everybody's 00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:34.599 speaking at the same time. So we lasted about an hour. And then it was like, okay, this is 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:43.679 nice. We all just need to go now. But even though it was hard and it was not ideal, we still 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:49.820 did these types of things. We still did it. We continued to value important relationships 00:01:49.820 --> 00:01:55.800 and use these kinds of technologies even though it wasn't ideal. We didn't just say, oh, look, 00:01:56.080 --> 00:02:01.660 if I can't actually come and see you, I'm just not going to talk to you for the next three 00:02:01.660 --> 00:02:06.280 months, six months. I'm just going to put our relationship on pause because it's just too 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:14.400 hard. We didn't do that. And yet, I wonder if we can do that with God. God, it's really 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:20.099 hard to talk to you. It's hard to hear from you. It's hard to pray. I'd much rather you 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:28.280 spoke to me directly. And so it's a bit hard to do that. And so maybe I just won't talk to 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:35.180 you that much. Is it possible that the challenges we face, living in a sinful world and struggling 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:45.860 with our own sinful hearts, tempts us to put a distance between us and God because it's not 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:51.860 always easy to talk to him? We have been going through the book of Romans, as Ash has mentioned 00:02:51.860 --> 00:03:00.060 for us already, and we've seen this wonderful picture of God's love for us. Despite our sin, 00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:09.300 despite our shame, despite our rebellion, God would justify us. He would wipe away our sin and our pain 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:16.560 so that we can stand before him, so that we can stand. And with Jesus at God's side, and Jesus can say, 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:26.120 this one, I died for this one. And so we have a new legal standing before God. And today, we're going 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:32.000 to see that we not only have a new legal standing, but we've actually been saved for a purpose. We've 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:39.480 been saved for relationship. And the challenge for us today is to see that we can have wonderful 00:03:39.480 --> 00:03:48.939 intimacy with our God, despite the challenges around us. And so even though there's challenges 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:55.620 and we groan as we wait, that is the challenge set before us. To understand what it means to be a 00:03:55.620 --> 00:04:01.780 child of God. So there's two points for us today, and you can see them in the St. Paul's app or on the 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:09.060 screen. The first point, let's see if I can get my clicker working. Let's see. Let's see, Wendy, if you can 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:14.620 put it over there so I can get... There we go. The present hope of adoption and the future hope of 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:21.100 adoption. Let me pray as we begin. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word to us. And we thank you 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:27.680 for Paul's words to the church in Rome that we get to read and hear and understand today. Be with us, 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:33.600 Lord, so that we would understand more of who you are, of who we are as your children, 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:42.260 that we would get to know you and love you, Lord. Amen. Throughout Romans, Paul has looked at salvation 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:51.120 from a legal perspective. We now have a new legal standing before God. But now he looks at salvation 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:56.939 from a relational perspective. We have a new relationship with God. And so today we're going 00:04:56.939 --> 00:05:03.379 to start off with a beautiful picture of adoption, being brought into God's family. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:07.980 And so we're going to go through the first couple of verses of this passage fairly slowly 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:13.759 before we speed up through the rest of the passage today. So have a look with me at verse 14 in your 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:22.379 Bibles or on the screen. From verse 14, which says, for those who are led by the Spirit of God 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:33.200 are the children of God. What makes a person a child of God? Who decides the adoption? It seems like in the 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:41.759 moment of salvation it is us. I remember when I became a Christian, the year was 1997, I heard the 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:48.439 gospel preached and I went, that's what I want. I want to be a child of God. And in the moment, it seemed 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:57.399 like it was me choosing God. But Paul is reminding us here that it is only at the initiation of God. God is 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:04.419 the one who sends his Spirit so that we can be his children. My feelings in that moment of me choosing 00:06:04.419 --> 00:06:11.259 God are just confirmation of what God was doing in my heart. And it's true of all people who follow 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:18.979 Jesus. If you, by faith in Jesus, are trusting in him, that means that you have God's Spirit. 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:26.060 And as we start to talk about what it means to be adopted as God's children, I can't help but think of 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:34.000 scenes in movies like Annie. You know, you think of a scene in an orphanage and a couple of parents. 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:40.660 I can't remember what's Annie's adopted father's name. Daddy Warbucks. I remember it was something. 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:49.540 Daddy Warbucks. Daddy Warbucks comes in and chooses Annie and takes Annie home. It is at the initiation of 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:56.540 the parents to adopt. I don't think I've ever heard of a child who's in an orphanage going out to a 00:06:56.540 --> 00:07:02.560 street going, adult, you there. I'll take you. You adopt me. Thank you. And I'm going to go home with 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:11.340 you. That's not how it works. God is the one who has come and found us. He has given us his Spirit to 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:20.399 adopt us to be his children. And what does this Holy Spirit do? Verse 15, it changes our relationship 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:28.739 with God. The Spirit you receive does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again. Rather, 00:07:28.859 --> 00:07:35.039 the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Adoption to sonship. This is one of the 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:40.540 the key themes of the entire Bible. You go back to the very creation of the world. God makes the world 00:07:40.540 --> 00:07:48.500 and he puts Adam and Eve there to be his children. They rebel against him. And so after a while he takes 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:56.540 the people, Israel, to be his children. And again, they rebel against him. And so finally he sends his own 00:07:56.540 --> 00:08:04.939 child Jesus to come so that we could be adopted as his children. Adoption to God's children 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:14.199 is the point of redemption. Jesus doesn't just pay for our sins to just make us a little bit better, 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:21.600 but for the purpose of being in relationship with God. God takes us who were slaves, 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:32.320 those who were stuck in fear of God's wrath, and he brings us close. He adopts us into his family 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:40.120 and he adopts us as sons. Now this book is called Romans. It was written to people in Rome. And in the 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:47.080 Greco-Roman world, adoption was a much more customary practice. What would happen is if there was a 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:56.080 wealthy adult who didn't have any children, they would need an heir. And so what they would do is they 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:03.400 would go and find a child, a teenager, or even another adult to be an heir, and they would adopt 00:09:03.400 --> 00:09:10.040 them. And this person who was wealthy would adopt them. And the moment the adoption occurred, for this 00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:17.020 child being brought in, all of their legal debt, all of their debts were paid. If there was any debts 00:09:17.020 --> 00:09:23.520 outstanding, that was paid by their new adoptive parent. Instantly, they were the heir of everything 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:31.279 their father had. And third, the father is now responsible for all of their actions. And this child now has 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:38.579 new responsibility to honor their parent. If you've seen the movie Ben-Hur, which came out about 400 years 00:09:38.579 --> 00:09:46.840 ago, there's a wonderful scene in this movie where the main character Ben-Hur, in this time, is given this 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:54.259 legal standing by the adopted parent. And the adopted parent gives him his signet ring to show that he 00:09:54.259 --> 00:10:03.780 has all authority and power, just like his father. All of this cultural understanding sits behind verse 15. 00:10:05.300 --> 00:10:14.519 God adopts people to be his sons. In our time, it's considered insensitive to refer to men and women as sons, 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:22.139 but it's important to understand the point Paul is making here. In Rome, the status of sonship 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:30.159 was the position of power and privilege. And it was only ever given to males. And so Paul is actually 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:36.960 being radical here when he applies it to everyone, to males and females. All are God's heirs. 00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:44.240 It was a culturally subversive thing for Paul to do then. It's culturally subversive for him to do it 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:54.340 now, to take a masculine-only institution and show that in Jesus, adoption is for everyone. This place 00:10:54.340 --> 00:11:02.019 of power and privilege was for everyone without distinction. God uses different metaphors, masculine 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:06.980 metaphors and feminine metaphors. So women, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable being called sons, 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:11.720 just as men, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable being called the bride of Christ. 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:17.879 Even if it sounds strange to our ears, God is equal with his masculine and feminine metaphors. 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:27.180 So we've seen that salvation and adoption are for relationship. And because God has brought us 00:11:27.180 --> 00:11:34.800 close to him as sons, we can have the greatest intimacy. The second half of verse 15 says, 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:37.840 let me see, Wendy, can you click it over for me, dear sister? Thank you. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:48.259 By him we cry, Abba, Father. Kids, children, I need your attention for a moment. Kids, it's good to 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:56.000 have you in church today. I've got a quick question for you. What do you call your parents? Micah, 00:11:56.060 --> 00:12:04.200 what do you call your parents? Dada and mama. Okay, I don't know if I've actually ever heard him say that. 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:14.920 Dad, dad, mom. Hey, Sophie, question for you. What do you call dad when you really want something? 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:28.259 Dad, you just say dad. I wonder if our kids would ever lengthen that out a little bit. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:34.399 Daddy. Micah, is that what you would say? No, I'd say lollipop. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.460 Lollipop. I'm pretty sure that's not my name. 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:45.819 Our kids are the only ones who can call their parents these very intimate names. Dad, mom. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:50.019 If any of you started calling me that, I'd be very confused. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:58.960 And what do they call them when they want something? Not just dad or mom, but the most intimate. It's daddy. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.639 It is a very intimate term. 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:10.939 I kind of go in between calling my parents by dad and mom and by their first names these days. 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:18.440 When our children request things of their parents, they do so based on intimacy. 00:13:19.920 --> 00:13:26.000 You know, Micah, Tamara, and Isaac are the only one who can use those very intimate terms with me. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:30.300 Paul tells us that we are brought into God's family as his sons, 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:33.500 with all power, responsibility, and privilege. 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:40.080 But we also get to call on him by the power of the Spirit with a very intimate term. 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.980 Abba. Dad. 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:44.639 Some might even suggest it's daddy. 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:50.200 Which sounds very strange to our ears to call the creator of the universe 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:55.100 who made all things and has power over all things and is outside time and creation. 00:13:55.340 --> 00:14:00.059 But we can call him dad with the most intimate term. 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:04.500 God is no longer distant. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.319 He's no longer just a theological idea. 00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:12.319 He's no longer just something that we believe in intellectually. 00:14:13.359 --> 00:14:16.239 But we get to cry out to him as dad. 00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:22.359 A word which expresses our deep emotion and our real knowledge of our father. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:27.479 And there's a wonderful benefit to being adopted and being able to cry out to him. 00:14:27.479 --> 00:14:29.559 Paul says in verse 16, 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:35.979 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:41.099 It's as if we're crying out to help from God for assurance, for comfort. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:45.679 And the Spirit comes alongside us as a witness to testify. 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:51.199 We can look at our life and we can testify about our own life. 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:54.259 That since we became Christians there's been change. 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:56.279 I've changed in these ways. 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.659 My words are different. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:01.399 What I love is different. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:04.340 It is more like the things that God loves. 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.899 The way I treat people. 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:08.639 I'm far more patient like my heavenly father. 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:13.679 So we can testify to ourselves about how we have changed. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:18.139 But Paul is saying here that the Spirit also comes alongside us to testify. 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:22.319 And it seems to be a direct testimony to our hearts. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:28.120 This is potentially a sense of God's presence in our hearts. 00:15:28.359 --> 00:15:32.519 Something that we're not going to get all the time or even very often. 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:36.980 But there will be times when we cry out to God as Father. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.079 As Dad. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:44.759 When we find ourselves deeply assured that He is there and that He is listening. 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:51.779 When we were in COVID lockdown, meeting together over Zoom was good. 00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:55.299 But made us look forward to the future. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.919 Which wasn't over screens. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.120 Friends. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:02.519 For the Christian we are promised a better future. 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.319 Verse 17. 00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:05.779 Now if we are. 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:07.379 Now verse 17. 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.759 Thank you Wendy. 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:11.699 Now if we are children then we are heirs. 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:14.319 Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:19.879 If indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:23.099 This is again radical for the time. 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:27.240 In the ancient world there was only ever one heir. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:30.740 Usually the firstborn son they would be the heir. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:34.179 And they would receive the vast majority of the wealth. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.639 They would continue on the family name and the family business. 00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:44.459 But now in another radical turn Paul is saying that we are all heirs. 00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:48.819 We all get the majority of God's wealth. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:54.960 It's as if what God has in store for us is so grand and so glorious. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:17:00.760 That it will seem as if we've each received far more than we deserve from God. 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:06.799 This is a truly wonderful picture of what it means to be God's child. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:12.120 There's a quote here from Thomas Watson who was an English Puritan preacher. 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:16.819 He said since God has a son of His own and such a son. 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:20.859 How wonderful God's love in adopting us. 00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:26.399 We needed a father but He did not need sons. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:31.580 He did not need sons and yet He chose adoption. 00:17:32.540 --> 00:17:34.100 To be His children. 00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:36.380 With full standing before Him. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:39.920 With an inheritance that will not fade. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:42.420 With assurance and intimacy. 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:55.220 Have you ever heard of a lifeguard pulling someone out of the water saving them and saying hey do you want to be best friends? 00:17:55.720 --> 00:18:01.480 Or a firefighter pulling someone out of a fire and getting them out and saying hey I'm going to a barbecue later. 00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:02.640 Do you want to come to a barbecue? 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.779 This just doesn't happen. 00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:10.759 Lifeguards, firefighters, it's their job to save people. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:13.460 But they don't have relationships with them. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:19.819 God doesn't just save people and say there you go. 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.339 I've made your life a bit better. 00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:23.160 Keep going how you were. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.460 I'm not sure what your relationship with your parents is like. 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:32.700 Whether they are good, caring, loving parents. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:38.759 I'm not sure if they were physically present but emotionally distant or even abusive. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:44.579 All of this influences our view of God as a father. 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:50.960 But there is a beautiful picture here from Paul in Romans that we have a God who delights in us. 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:54.039 Who wants us to draw close to Him. 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:59.539 Who has saved us so that He can have a relationship with us. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:03.839 We have been saved for a purpose. 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.139 Called to know Him. 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.319 To be close with Him. 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:11.819 To be able to cry out to Him as Father. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.379 Is this something that we're doing? 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.759 Is this something that we're doing? 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.460 Or is this just something that is a bit hard? 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:24.420 The relationship with God has become a bit distant because it's a bit hard to do. 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:26.720 And there are challenges around us. 00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:31.240 This is a beautiful picture of adoption. 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.620 To be intimate children with God. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:37.240 But Paul's very aware of the challenges around us. 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:38.800 It's our second point today. 00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:41.500 The future hope of adoption. 00:19:42.820 --> 00:19:45.820 Much like the challenge of having a deep relationship over COVID. 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:52.539 Paul moves to speak about challenges that we face while we are awaiting adoption. 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:56.099 And so on the one hand Paul says we are adopted. 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:59.339 But he also says we are awaiting adoption. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.819 It's described as the now but not yet tension. 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:06.319 We have these wonderful blessings. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:10.259 But we're also waiting on other blessings from God. 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:14.200 We get to call Him Abba Father. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:17.659 But we don't yet have full intimacy with Him. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.899 We're still waiting for Him. 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:22.540 And as we wait there are challenges. 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:24.400 There are challenges outside us. 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:26.620 And there are challenges inside of us. 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:32.200 Verse 20 tells us that because of the sin of Adam and Eve. 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:35.720 Creation was subjected to frustration. 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:40.019 There are problems in the world around us. 00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:42.560 Nature is not what it should be. 00:20:43.780 --> 00:20:47.180 It's not as beautiful as it should be. 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:49.040 It's not as it was created to be. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:52.279 Humans were made to care for the world around us. 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:54.319 We were meant to be the stewards. 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:59.599 But because of our sin it's not just damaged us. 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:01.460 It's also damaged the world. 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:04.740 I was at the dentist the other day. 00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:10.200 And one of my favorite things about this dentist is they've got TV screens on the ceilings. 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:16.500 It's a really wonderful thing because it means that while I'm lying back and having people in my mouth. 00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:18.140 They were very happy with me by the way. 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.080 Just in case you were worried. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.519 Thank you for your care and worry. 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:26.080 It means while they're doing whatever they need to do I can be distracted and watch what's happening on the screen above me. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:30.139 And on the screen the other day was a documentary about penguins. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.759 And it was very cute fluffy things. 00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:39.159 But what it continued to show every shot was of ice falling off cliffs. 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:45.080 Of the water you know it was of the ice melting. 00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:49.860 Really heartbreaking shots of penguins on being on the same piece of ice. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.700 But then it cracks and then they're on two different pieces of ice. 00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:55.120 And you're like oh the penguins they're being separated. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.680 But of course they can swim so it's not that bad. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:06.320 But I couldn't help but think about the impact of mankind and our sin on the world. 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:13.060 And whether or not you completely subscribe to the idea of climate change or think it's overblown. 00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:19.820 We don't need to look much further than the fires and the floods that have been happening in the last year and last day. 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:23.820 To realize that there are things wrong in our world. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:29.799 And Paul describes this as the creation is groaning in verse 22. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:33.179 If you can go to verse 22 for me Wendy. 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:40.059 The creation itself is groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.000 There is pain. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.259 There is misery. 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:49.859 No experience in this creation goes without being tainted by pain and by sin. 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:55.439 But just like childbirth there is an end. 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:57.119 There is a joyful end. 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.740 None of this is the last word. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.479 Verse 21. 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:04.699 Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay. 00:23:05.219 --> 00:23:08.079 And brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:10.319 This is a strange thing Paul is doing here. 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:13.740 Paul is making the creation, the entire creation like a person. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:21.680 And it's as if this person is waiting for us to see God fully. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:25.500 To have the glory of God that we're waiting for. 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:29.880 Creation itself is looking forward to us being redeemed. 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:33.839 Because it's going to be redeemed too. 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.400 But it's not just the world around us that's longing for that. 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:42.359 We groan as we wait for Jesus to return to. 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.319 Verse 23. 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:48.759 We ourselves who have the first fruits of the spirit. 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:54.500 Groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship. 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.519 The redemption of our bodies. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:59.859 We now have the first fruits. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.559 The first part of the harvest. 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:04.740 A taste of the goodness of God that is to come. 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.979 But we're also waiting adoption. 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:10.539 We're waiting for the redemption of our bodies. 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:14.019 Creation is eagerly awaiting redemption. 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:17.159 And we are eagerly awaiting redemption. 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:21.759 Paul can say earlier that we are adopted. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.039 But we're also waiting adoption. 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:26.980 It's as if the legal papers have been signed. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:31.440 And we're there at the door of the orphanage waiting with our bags packed. 00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:33.700 Waiting for God to come. 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:38.400 I know of families who have adopted children. 00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:40.819 And they celebrate two different days. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:43.400 They celebrate the child's birthday. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:48.100 But they also celebrate the day that child came home. 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:51.700 And so we wait. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.279 We celebrate our birthdays. 00:24:54.279 --> 00:25:00.799 But we also eagerly await the day we get to go home to be with our Lord. 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:03.759 Now I don't know the day that I became a Christian. 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:05.220 But I know it was in 1997. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.019 So I remember that. 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.740 It was 25 years ago. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:13.779 But I'm really waiting for that day I get to go home. 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.519 Hoping for the redemption of our bodies. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:21.960 Not just from the physical pain of bodies that are falling apart. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:27.599 Not just the longing for an end to flu and COVID and sickness and death. 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.519 Not just that. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:33.259 But in chapter 7 of Romans, Paul talks about the battle in our hearts. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:38.039 And at the battle with our bodies to obey him. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:43.059 And so I'm longing for when I'm not going to desire sin. 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:47.460 My every desire will be to glory in God and to enjoy him. 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.579 And so we groan now. 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:54.000 Because this is not our home. 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:57.140 We are in a fallen creation. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:01.279 With bodies that are against our desire to follow our Father. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:05.240 And God's Spirit helps us to groan to him in need. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.099 This is not our home. 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.660 But we are adopted and awaiting adoption. 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:14.519 And so the Christian is to live with their bags packed. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:18.180 Waiting with the expectation of the hope that is to come. 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:21.240 And so what do we do now? 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:24.420 We enjoy relationship with God. 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:27.220 We grow closer in intimacy with him. 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:34.339 And we see the suffering around and inside as the challenges of labor pains. 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:38.960 Labor pains that have an end because our hope is yet to come. 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:42.539 I had COVID back in January. 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:45.160 And I promise I'll stop talking about COVID soon. 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:47.059 I had COVID back in January. 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.620 And I kicked one of my kids out of their bedroom. 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:52.100 And I took over their bedroom so I could isolate from the family. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.559 Which was good because nobody else in my family got it. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:27:00.720 But one of the few things I was able to do for my family was read books to them. 00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:05.700 And so at the start of isolation they slid some books over to me. 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.159 And they were like, that's my book now. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.279 This isn't leaving this room. 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:11.700 And so at night I would read to them. 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:14.740 As much as I was able with an incredibly sore throat. 00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:18.720 And so what would happen is they'd be sitting on one side of the bedroom. 00:27:19.179 --> 00:27:20.599 Of one side of the doorway. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.700 And I'd be on the other doorway. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.419 And I'd read. 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:24.080 And it was fine. 00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:24.980 And it was good. 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.900 It was something I was able to do. 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.480 When I couldn't do much else. 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:31.640 But I remember Micah saying, 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:36.480 Dad, I just want to hug. 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:40.140 And it was really hard to say, 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:42.440 No, you can't actually cross this line here. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.500 I don't want to make you sick. 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:47.099 And whilst I longed to hug them, 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.920 I didn't cut off relationship. 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:52.259 I didn't cut off connection because it wasn't perfect. 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:55.000 Despite the challenges of the season, 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:59.200 there was still relationship and longing made a couple of days. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.440 Longing for what was to come. 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:04.579 And brothers and sisters, that is where we sit right now. 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:07.339 Longing for what is to come. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:11.359 It's as if we are relating to God through a Zoom screen. 00:28:11.459 --> 00:28:12.399 It is not ideal. 00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.500 It is not a preference. 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.559 We talk in prayer. 00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:16.939 We hear and read His word. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:22.259 Waiting for the full adoption where we will see Him face to face. 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:27.119 But that doesn't mean we ignore Him now because it is not as we want it to be. 00:28:28.459 --> 00:28:30.619 Brothers and sisters, if you're not following this God, 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:34.479 maybe you're not sure what it would look like to talk to Him. 00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:37.019 Maybe you're thinking, I want this relationship. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.659 I'm groaning. 00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:39.000 I tell you what, I'm groaning. 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.779 There are challenges. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:44.599 I've never felt loved or valued by my parents. 00:28:45.919 --> 00:28:48.179 Let me tell you, there is a Heavenly Father 00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:50.659 who not only forgives you and loves you, 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:54.819 but wants to know you, to talk to you, and values you. 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.759 If you want to know that God, 00:28:56.819 --> 00:29:00.019 if you want to come and talk to me after 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.700 and get to know this God, 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:03.759 I'm going to be down the front straight after church. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:07.000 But I know some are sitting here today 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:09.799 wondering if God is even hearing their prayers. 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:13.619 Some of us are crying out to God for help. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:16.339 God, I've got challenges at home. 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:18.160 I've got challenges at work. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:21.660 I turn the TV on and I see the challenges around the world. 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:26.019 I'm groaning, Lord, because I've got challenges with my body. 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:30.220 I'm groaning because I've got challenges of the flesh. 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:33.299 I'm tempted to sin and I don't want to do that. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:39.680 The wonderful promise of the Bible is that our God adopts us. 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.900 He calls us into his family 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:43.900 and we get to call out to him with intimacy. 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:46.039 God, come and help me. 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.460 He knows our struggles, 00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:51.359 the challenges we face from creation, 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:53.219 from the creation groaning 00:29:53.219 --> 00:29:55.139 and the challenges of our lives. 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:59.039 And so we get to call out to the God who knows us, 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:01.459 who loves us and is with us 00:30:01.459 --> 00:30:03.599 as we are waiting to be with him fully. 00:30:03.939 --> 00:30:04.559 Let me pray. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.199 Our Heavenly Father, 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:10.659 we thank you, Lord, for your word to us today. 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:16.880 God, we ask that you would call us 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:19.259 to know you and to love you, 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:22.400 that we would get to talk to you daily. 00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:26.220 Lord, even though it is not ideal, 00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:28.540 we want to talk to you face to face. 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:33.380 Lord, remind us that you are with us, 00:30:33.560 --> 00:30:34.740 that you hear us. 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.900 We thank you for your spirit 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:39.300 by which we get to call you Dad, 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:42.580 a very intimate name. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.240 Remind us today 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:47.519 of your love for us 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:49.340 in this relationship, Lord. 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.380 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.180 Amen.