Steve Teachings
Continuing on from last week's teaching we will remember that the Jews, just before the birth of Jesus, were looking ahead to His first coming whereas we look back at the cross and the price He paid to free us from sin and our own destruction.
We also were shown that we too are now looking ahead, in hope, to His second coming when He will put all things under His subjection and we will be transformed from this temporal body into a glorified body designed to last for an eternity.
We also learned that at times there are rough things that we have to go through because of our belief and trust in God, just like the apostle Paul did, but all those things would be overcome by the Holy Spirit living inside every true believer.
God even gave us the owner's manual to help us find the way, so that we would never be lost or confused, so that we had clear cut directions on how to live a life pleasing to Him in order to get to heaven.
So we read on…
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning's which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
We talked last week about being saved in hope. We learned that if we hope in something that we can see, feel, and touch, then there isn't really much that we can hope for since it is sitting right under our noses.
So by faith we hope to see the second coming of Jesus, because faith and hope go hand in hand even though they are different from each other.
But what is hope according to Webster's Dictionary ?
1: to cherish a desire with anticipation <hopes for a promotion>archaic :
trust
2: to expect with confidence :
trust
synonyms see
expect
So when we are hoping for something, we are in a state of anticipation, we are expecting to obtain something with total confidence. We have complete trust in what it is that we are hoping for.
Jesus said that he was coming back to gather His church, if I really believe that He will do as He said He would, then I wait in confident anticipation of His return. I know that He will come through just as He said He would, in spite of what others might think or say. He said it, I believe it, and that is what hope is.
So isn't faith and hope the same thing ?
Most people think that they are the same thing, but they are really a lot different from each other in a lot of ways.
So what is Faith ?
1 a: allegiance to duty or a person :
loyalty
2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust 3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction ; especially : a system of religious beliefs
synonyms see
So we see that Webster's Dictionary defines it in such a way that there is an obvious difference between faith and hope. So through our allegiance and trust in Jesus we wait for His coming in anticipation by our conviction and trust in Him. So as the scriptures says:
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
So knowing that we have a compassionate God, that knows we will have a few bumps along the way, he gives us the guidelines we need to ensure our success if we do according to what He desires us to do.
If we will do this, then he will bless us with that, a very simple formula for success.
But we are weak, sometimes and we loose our way, but He is always there waiting for us to turn to Him. But sometimes we don't know how to turn, sometimes we don't even know how to pray in a way that we think he hears us.
But that is where the Holy Spirit comes in, He shows us how, even if it isn't all dolled up like a lot of other people's prayers are, we don't even have to try to figure it out, we don't have to sound like we went to a seminary, we just do it, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest, if we are really trying to get right with God.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning's which cannot be uttered.
We don't have to try to formulate the perfect prayer, just a painful moan or cry from our broken hearts is all the Holy Spirit needs to hear what we are trying to say. Sometimes the pain is so great that we can't even get that out, but that's OK too. The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf because sometimes the pain in our hearts keep us from saying things the way we think they need to be said.
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
God knows what we are trying to say even though we might not have the words because the Holy Spirit is there on our behalf, standing with us.
Why ?
Because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
It is God's will, that the Holy Spirit stand in the gap for our well being, it is the will of God, that the Holy Spirit keeps the channels of communication open between God and the creation that He loves so much, and it is the will of God that we have a humble, contrite heart to be able to receive the love that God wants to shower us with.
It doesn't matter where you have come from, or where you are now, or where you will be in the next 5 years, none of that matters, the only thing that matters to God, is that you have a heart willing to receive guidance and communication from God. God loves His creation. He gave his only Son's life for it, so it is His will that the Holy Spirit keep trying to bring you into union with the calling He has placed on every life.
God wants to bring healing into broken lives, He wants to give you the strength you need when things seem hopeless, he wants us to grab onto His hand when there is no way for anything else to work in your life, He wants to turn your life around and make it have meaning. But He can't do that unless you are willing to let him do that.
But why does He want to do that ?
His creation spends most of their time doing everything they can to do what is unpleasing to God and then flaunt it proudly.
Why would we want Him to do that in our lives, when we know we don't deserve it ?
Because there is a promise of a reward involved, if we do what is pleasing to God. Do good, get rewarded, plain and simple.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Do you love God in your heart ?
If you do then all things will work for your good, all things.
You can be on top of the world, or in the darkest valley, it doesn't matter. You can be on a catamaran in the middle of the ocean or in a prison cell, and He will be there with you. He can take whatever situation you are in, and make it work for your good, just because you love Him and want to live a righteous life before Him.
How are things working in your life now ?
Can you say that everything is going just as you would want it to go, or is there a little room for improvement ?
God can take that frown, and change it upside down, if you are willing to trust Him with your life.
You have to choose, life is all about the choices we make, what kind of choices are you making for yourself now ?
Joe and I were just with Eric this last week, some of the people here know him from when he lived here around this park. We were at Restoration Ranch, where he is living now, and he needed a ride back here to Lakeside because he was going to eat dinner with his mother that night.
While we were on our way to drop him off just off of Wintergardens, he told us that the last time he saw his mother, she caught him digging through her dumpster at her apartment looking for cans. He was so ashamed, that it just killed him to see the look on her face, the look of disappointment and sorrow. That was all he needed to see how far down his life went.
As some of you know, it was within a couple of days and he was checked into Restoration Ranch. He has completed the program and graduated, but he has no intentions of leaving that place at the moment. He is happy for the first time in a long time.
On the way to his mother's dinner, we saw a couple of you guys over by the church on Channel St., and you guys saw the change and were amazed at how he looked. He wasn't the same person that you used to know in the park.
He chose to change his life and God turned it around for him. Our lives are defined by the choices we make. God want to make all things work together for good in your lives, but he needs you to be willing to let him just like Eric let him. Choose to do good.
Romans Chapter 8 - Part 4