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Romans 8: Living In & Experiencing the Power of the Holy Spirit... (5 of 6)
Our Weakness & God’s Provision
Romans 8:26-30
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all believers is a recuring theme in Romans 8 – we’re called to consider His indwelling presence and transforming work. We’re called to consider perspective transforming promises that as believers in Jesus Christ, we ought to claim.
Romans 8:1 (ESV) –
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:9 (ESV) –
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
Romans 8:14-16 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...”
Romans 8:15 (ESV) –
“Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:18 (ESV) –
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 8:28 (ESV) –
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:31 (ESV) –
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:33-34 (ESV) –
“Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?”
Romans 8:1 (ESV) –
“There is therefore now no condemnation...”
Romans 8:37-39 (ESV) –
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These promises should move us to joyfully praise the Lord and give thanks to Him. The only fitting response to the grace of God is living for the glory of God.
We see the need for disciplemaking. These promises belong only to believers and it’s heavy to consider that most are not headed for future glory but rather for everlasting punishment.
Romans 8:26-30 (ESV) –
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
God has made provision for us as we wait for our ultimate redemption: The Holy Spirit helps us pray, God in His Providence directs absolutely everything in such a way that all things that come our way serve our ultimate good and considering God’s initiative in our salvation leads us to celebrate the security that we have in Christ.
1. The Holy Spirit helps us pray.
Romans 8:26 (NLT) –
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
Romans 8:27 (ESV) –
“...the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
As believers we’re enabled to wait in hope for the fulfillment of God’s promises because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit – He helps us in our weakness.
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...”
Jude 20 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.”
2. God in His Providence directs absolutely everything in such a way that all things that come our way serve our ultimate good.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) –
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (KJV) –
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
We need to note the qualification; this is for those who love God for believers in Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) –
“...for those who love God...”
When difficult, confusing and painful circumstances arise the most common question is – Why? Why God? We need to acknowledge – we’re not God, we’re not from everlasting to everlasting.
Psalm 90:2 (ESV) –
“...even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
Romans 8:29 (ESV) –
“...conformed to the image of his Son...”
Our ultimate good doesn’t promise that things will resolve positively in the short term. That said – God is in control. The future is certain and He is working all things together for our good.
This does not ignore or downplay suffering and heartache it allows us to trust God in the midst of it.
Our ultimate good is our glorification, the glorious future that awaits us when we see Jesus face-to-face.
Romans 8:18 (ESV) –
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 12:15 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
In suffering as we weep, we cling tightly to the fact of God’s sovereign control and we know that whatever we’re facing works for our ultimate good. This is a firm anchor in the midst of the storms of life.
Genesis 50:20 (ESV) –
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Back to the question – Why? We may not understand but we know because God tells us that He always works for His glory and our ultimate good.
Verses 29-30 have been called the unbreakable gold chain of our salvation.
Romans 8:29-30 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
John 6:44 (ESV) –
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
If you’ve personally received the Lord Jesus as your Savior – this is because God was working in your life first.
He foreknew and predestined you (in the distant past); He effectually called you to conversion (in the recent past) and He will glorify you at Christ’s return (in the future).
Acts 2:23 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“...this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”
Why are you a Christian? The answer is – Because of God! Considering God’s initiative in salvation leads us to celebrate the security we have in Christ!
The context speaks about groaning and struggling awaiting the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption and this tells us that God finishes what He starts. This always true, 100% of the time. This unbreakable chain is the source of wonderful assurance.
Romans 8:30 (ESV) –
“...and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) –
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
John 10:27-28 (ESV) –
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Ask – What promises do I need to claim today?
• Do I need to hear and embrace the truth that the Holy Spirit helps us pray?
• Do I need to cling to a Romans 8:28 perspective?
• Do I need to ponder the security that comes from the Lord?
God has made provision for us as we wait for our ultimate redemption: The Holy Spirit helps us pray, God in His Providence directs absolutely everything in such a way that all things that come our way serve our ultimate good and considering God’s initiative in our salvation leads us to celebrate the security that we have in Christ.