Alright, now go with me if you
would to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 verse 28 says, And we know, we sure do forget though, don't
we? That all things just dwell on some things. Just
think about some things. work together for good. To them that love God, God, I mean God. To them who are the called, according to His purpose. What
wonderful comfort that is. Every time this verse of Scripture
comes to my mind, it floods comfort to me. And I mean that. Every time. As I was thinking
about this verse in my study on Thursday, I kept thinking
about this verse of scripture in my mind. And one word caught
my attention. The first word. And. I sometimes don't say that word. Sometimes I skip that word. We
know. That one word really got my attention. AND. It says AND we know. What that means is the comfort
and the good news does not start right there. It doesn't start
in verse 28. This chapter is full of comforting
news. And on top of all of this comforting
news, after all of this comforting news has been declared, after
we rest in it and after we feed on it and after we rejoice in
it, After we get to a place where our souls feel like we just can't
hold any more glorious news. Have you ever been there? Have
you ever been to a place where the Lord is flooding glorious
news into your soul? And you get to a place where
you think, I don't, I don't think I can hold anymore. After we get to that place, verse
28 goes on to say, and Like David said, my cup is running
over. My cup is just running over.
I can't hold any more. The scripture says to that and. We're not done there. The good news continues. What
I'd like for us to do tonight. Is less look at this chapter
entering into the comfort that goes along with the word and.
Let's just enter into a big pile of good news. Everything that
goes along with this word and, and then after we've rejoiced
in that and rested in that and found comfort in that, the comfort
that leads up to verse 28, then verse 28 can just be the icing
on the cake. All right, verse 1 says, there
is therefore now No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus
who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. There is
no condemnation. Not for God's elect. Verse 33 says, Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? It's God that justified
us. There will be no examination
from the law. There will be no trial. There
will be no sentencing. There will be no punishment. For God's people who are in Christ,
there is no condemnation. No condemnation. Verse 34 says,
Who is he that condemneth? It's Christ that died. Yea, rather
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. The moment an accusation
of any kind comes against one of God's people, the moment any
accusation comes, Christ immediately speaks up and says, that one
was on me. That one was on me. He cannot
be condemned for it. I died. I died. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Verse 1 says, There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law
of sin and death. For what the law could not do
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son
in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin. The margin in my
Bible says by a sacrifice for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. He made himself to be flesh. So he could make himself to be
sin. That's exactly what he did. He
made himself to be flesh. So he could make himself to be
sin, our sin. And do you know why he did that?
You know why he did that? Why did Christ do that? Verse
4 says, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. He emptied all of our transgression
against the law out of us. He emptied it all out of us so
that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us. Who did Christ do this for? Who did Christ do this wonderful
work of redemption for? Every person that His Spirit
has performed a work of grace in. Every person that the Father
has sent the Spirit to and the Spirit has performed a work of
grace in. Verse 5 says, For they that are
after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are
after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." What
he's saying is, in this world you shall have tribulation. but
be of good cheer, Christ has overcome this world. To be carnally
minded is death and spiritually minded is life in peace. Such peace. Verse 7 says, Because
the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are
in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. How can I know if the Spirit
of God dwells in me? I need to know that. How can
I know if the Spirit of God dwells in me? Look with me at John 14. John chapter 14 verse 16 says, And I will pray the Father, and
He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth
Him, But you know Him, for He dwelleth with you and shall be
in you." The world cannot know Him. The Lord said, but you know
Him because He dwells in you. How can I know if He dwells in
me? Verse 26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things. and bring all things to your
remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you." When he comes,
he teaches the things of Christ to a sinner. That's how you know. When he comes, he teaches Christ. He teaches the truth of Christ
to a sinner. Look with me at chapter 16. Chapter 16, verse 7, Nevertheless,
I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. For if
I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if
I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He
will reprove. That word means convince. The
world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Of sin, because
they believe not on me. Of righteousness, because I go
to my Father and you see me no more. Of judgment, because the
Prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say
unto you, but you cannot bear them now. How be it when He,
the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself,
but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will
show you things to come. He shall glorify Me. For he shall
receive of mine and shall show it unto you. That's how you'll
know when he comes, he won't speak of himself. When he enters
the heart, he will speak Christ to the heart. He'll show the
things of Christ to you. Look with me at John chapter
six. Verse 44, John 6, verse 44 says, No man
can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him,
and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the
prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore
that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me."
All of God's people are taught of God by His Spirit. He convinces
every soul when He comes of sin. He convinces of man's sin. And He convinces of God's righteousness
and he convinces of the judgment that was settled in Christ. Totally
settled in Christ. When the Spirit comes, he speaks
of Christ. He glorifies Christ. He takes
the things of Christ and he shows them to his people. They're all
taught who he is, why he came, what he accomplished, and where
he is now. They're all taught who he is,
why he came, why did he come. It's because I could not do anything
for myself but die in my sin. There was nothing I could offer
to God. That's why He came. He came to
make an offering for me. And that's exactly what He accomplished.
Where is He now? Seated in the heavens. Reigning,
ruling, accepted by His Father. Where the Spirit of God is, there
is a knowledge of, and there's a hope in, and there's a belief
on the Lord Jesus Christ. Alright, go with me back to Romans
8. Romans 8 verse 8 says, So then
they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but you are not in
the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of His. If that knowledge of and hope
in and belief on the Lord Jesus Christ is not there, that's the
evidence that the Spirit of God is not there. And if the Spirit
of God is not there, that soul is not one of His. And if Christ be in you, the
body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because
of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised
up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies
by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." That is glorious. We know
that these bodies are dead. Who shall deliver us from the
body of this death? But we know that the Spirit of
Christ in us is alive. Alive unto God. And He said if
Christ is in you, the same Spirit that raised His body from the
death to life is going to raise your body from death to life. Not only will our spirit and
soul be alive, our body will be alive. Totally alive. Completely alive. Verse 12, therefore,
brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the
flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die. But
if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,
you shall live. For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Whoever the Spirit comes
and reveals Christ to is a son of God. John said, Behold what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God. Verse 15, for you have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the
spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. How can we know if God has sent
his spirit into our hearts? We're crying, Abba, Father. Lord, help us. Oh, help us. Look with me at Galatians chapter
four. Galatians 4 verse 4 says, But
when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His
Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God
hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. It's the Spirit of Christ in
us that is crying for us. Abba, Father, but we're crying.
He's crying for us, but we're crying. Verse 7 says, Wherefore
thou art no more a servant, but a son. And if a son, then an
heir of God through Christ. An heir of God. Go back to Romans
8. Verse 15 says, For you have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received
the Spirit of adoption." The Spirit has notified us that we
were chosen, purchased, and welcomed. That notification comes to every
one of His children. That's why we cry, Father, Abba,
Father, You've been chosen, purchased, and welcome. Accept it in. Verse 16, it says, The Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children
of God. And if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Peter said, Blessed be the God
and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his
abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope,
a living hope. We have a living hope. By the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, because God raised
him from the dead, we have the same hope. to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved
in the heavens for you who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time."
A joint heir with Christ. Everything he gets, his people
get. Reserved in the heaven for all
those who are kept by the power of God. Verse 18 says, For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. What do you think? You think
they're worthy to be compared? There are sufferings. We had
better believe it. They are sufferings. They are
sufferings. They are real. They are heartbreaking. but compared to eternity. I mean, just leave this cesspool,
leave this slough of despond for just a moment and just walk
after the Spirit for just a moment and just enter into eternity
with Christ. These things are such light afflictions. Verse 18, For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of
the creature waiteth for the manifestations of the sons of
God. It's not just us who are waiting
for this. All of creation is waiting for all the manifestation
of the sons of God. Verse 20, For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope. because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only
they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, Waiting for the adoption
to know the redemption of our body. Everything is waiting on
the redemption of this body. Our souls have already been redeemed.
Our souls are redeemed. Everything is waiting on the
redemption of this body. Our bodies are going to be redeemed. The whole creation is going to
be redeemed. Everything is groaning in pain
because of sin. And as soon as God removes sin,
everything is going to be redeemed. Verse 24, For we are saved by
hope. Hope means expected anticipation. You know, if you put money into
your retirement account looking for an end number, that's not hope. You can't have
any hope in that. Hope, that kind of hope is, oh,
I hope the market doesn't crash. It's real iffy. The hope that God gives is expected
anticipation. It's finished. It's done. It's
ordered. It's sure. Everything He said,
if He said it, it's done. Even if it hasn't happened yet,
it's already done. Verse 24, we're saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not
hope. For what a man seeth, why does
he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see
not, then do we with patience wait for it. Now I love this
right here. And I hope that you need this
as much as I do. Verse 26, it says, Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should
pray for as we ought. But the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." God's
own Spirit who comes to us cries out to God for us. God's Spirit who comes to us
cries out for us with groanings that are not even possible for
a man's mouth to utter. Not possible. Sometimes you can't
enter into this until you're put into this. Sometimes we are
in a place that is so low and so helpless. Sometimes we are in a place where
we're so distraught. All we have the energy to get
out is help, Lord. Sometimes that's all we can get
out. Like when Peter was going down in the water. He was walking
on the water. But all of a sudden, here he
is going down and he only had enough time and energy to cry,
save me, Lord. Lord, save me. Help me, please
help me. You ever think to yourself when
you're in that condition, My condition is so dire. It is so,
so great. There is no way I can get across
to God how desperate I am. I just cannot. The words I'm
praying to Him don't do my need justice. Do you ever find yourself in
that condition? Do you ever feel like you're
at a loss for words? Well, the whole time we are sitting
there wallowing in our simplicity. The Spirit of God is crying out
groanings to Him on our behalf that we could never imagine.
Words we could never utter. Groanings of deep, sufficient
need. Groanings of need. I need, I
need. The Spirit is crying, He needs
you. Oh, He needs you. The Father hears Him pray. His
dear anointed One, He cannot and He will not turn away the
presence of His Son. The Spirit answers to the blood.
It tells all of His people, you're born of God. God will take care
of you. Be not dismayed whatever be tied.
God will take care of you. Verse 27, and he that searcheth
the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he
maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
That's the will of God concerning the spirit to plead on behalf
of his people. He knows what the spirit is saying. He sent the spirit. He's one
with the spirit. And it's His will for the Spirit
to cry out on our behalf. Verse 28 says, and if that's not enough, if it's possible for us to hold
any more, just in case we need another round of comfort. Verse
28 says, 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. I'm going to tell you something,
and I'm all strong about it right now, I'm going to say it confidently.
But when I'm in my moment, would you say it back to me? Whatever has just happened to
you, it is the best possible thing that could ever happen
to you. Whatever it is that has just
happened to you. There is nothing better in life
that could have happened to you. Everything that happens is for
the furtherance of the gospel. Every single event that happens
is for the furtherance of the gospel and for the salvation
of man's soul. Every single, there's not a thing
that happens that is not on purpose according to His purpose for
the end result of good. And we can substitute that with
the word God. There's none good but God. All
things work together for God to them that He's caused to love
Him. Everything is according to His
purpose. It will bring the furtherance
of His message, and it will bring the salvation of the souls of
His people. It may not be easy, and it's
not going to be. It may be very painful, but whatever
it is, in the end, we will see His good in it. In the end, we
will see it was so good. If God did it, it was good. He will not harm His children. He will not do it. He will not
leave His children. He will not forsake His children. He will not. Verse 29 says, For
whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among
many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate,
them He also called. And whom He called, them He also
justified. And whom He justified, them He
also glorified. What shall we then say to these
things, if God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, How shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword? As it is written, for thy sake
we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Let's all stand together.