All Creation Groans Series
Can you hear the sound?
The sound of groaning
All Creation is groaning
Why?
Suffering
I consider that our present sufferings... Romans 8:18
Frustration
For the creation was subjected to frustration… Romans 8:20
Pain
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:22
The suffering of the world is being addressed by us,
the follower of Jesus, His Church,
and the glory is worth it all.
Temporary actions making eternal differences…
Suffering to Glory, 2
The suffering of the world is being addressed by us,
the follower of Jesus, His Church,
and the glory is worth it all.
Temporary actions making eternal differences…
Suffering to Glory
Romans 8:18
We are not alone in our
suffering, frustration and pain.
All creation is in suffering, frustration, and pain.
As believers, we see the effects of sin
and its effects on all mankind and nature.
Everything created is groaning.
You may not agree with the Democrats
or you may not agree with the Republicans…
But in their own thinking
they are looking for a better life.
The rioters in the streets who bring destruction and harm
are looking for a greater justice.
World leaders who start wars are looking for peace.
Everyone who has ever existed
has felt suffering, frustration, and pain.
You can try to ignore it, run from it,
even deny it, but we all are groaning.
Suffering, frustration, and pain are a part of our world,
it is everyday life.
Jesus said to His disciples…
“In this world you will have trouble.”
But it is not just followers of Christ,
everyone has troubles.
Under the surface of your best days is groaning
over things that upset you.
No matter how much we disagree with each other…
Everyone wants an end to the groaning
of suffering, frustration, and pain.
We all have an answer to fix the problems
of suffering, frustration and pain.
There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.
Proverbs 14:13
From the creation of man…
We have tried to fix the problems and failed.
We still have a world full of suffering, frustration and pain.
Is there an answer?
According to Paul in Romans 8, there is an answer.
God’s intention is to take our suffering
and turn it into glory within us.
Romans 8:18
This happens as we are transformed from…
A life lived to satisfy our flesh
to a life led by the Spirit of God.
Romans 8 repeatedly addresses the difference
between the flesh and the spirit…
The life led by fleshly desire
and the life led by the Spirit of God.
There are fleshly desires that cause suffering,
to the point of death.
The life led by the Spirit,
is a life focused on pleasing the Lord,
which leads to life.
Those led by the Spirit of God
become sons of God, this happens
as we are adopted as sons.
This adoption as sons does not stop suffering…
For we see Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
suffered because of the sins of others.
We, by adoption, become heirs of God which
will in the end turn our suffering into glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing
with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
Jesus, the Righteous One,
was willing to suffer for what was right.
And if He was willing to suffer for what was right…
He also was willing to suffer for what was wrong.
Not things He did wrong,
(as He could do no wrong)
but for the wrongs of others.
It is one thing to go out of your way
to help someone mistreated and a whole ‘nother level
to go out of your way to help sinners...
The people who are causing the sufferings in this world.
There are many who will help the suffering
if you pay them enough.
Jesus did not get rich from helping the suffering.
Jesus from beginning to end
gave of Himself to help the suffering.
He gave us more than temporary relief…
He taught us how to live a life of
laying down our lives for others.
A life of love.
Perfect love drive out fear of punishment
Like Christ, we do suffer for loving,
we don’t fear because we know
we will receive a greater glory.
So our present suffering,
the suffering for being like Christ
and doing what is right.
The perfect love we give in helping others
enter the Kingdom of God reveals a glory in us.
There is a glory the volunteers of Jesus have.
They, like Jesus, give their time, money, resources
even their life to help bring relief to our suffering world.
Imagine what the world would be like
if the followers of Jesus went into hiding
when Christ died and never were heard of again.
Think about the people who have been helped
by the people of the Church.
Jesus said about the church…
The gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Romans 8:18 is true…
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
The suffering of the followers of Jesus
has revealed glory in them.
The believers of Jesus Christ
don’t face the suffering for earthly riches
or for the glory of recognition.
The people of God suffer for Christ
because He suffered for us.
The people of Christ are willing to suffer
because God first loved us.
Paul in Romans 1:35, 36 burst into praise…
A doxology as he makes this point
of suffering servants of Christ.
“Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?”
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen
The suffering of the world is being addressed by us,
the follower of Jesus, His Church,
and the glory is worth it all.
Temporary actions making eternal differences.
Suffering to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Scripture Reading
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
2 Corinthians 4:17
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
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