PRAY This morning I want to invite you to turn with me once again to the eighth chapter of Romans. This will be our third week in this chapter – a chapter that contains some of the most awesome promises and some of the most comforting words in the entire Bible. We United Methodists don’t put as much emphasis on memorizing Bible verses as we once did. I think that is unfortunate. Verses committed to memory come rushing into our consciousness in times of need. Cherished words of faith provide us with comfort and strength. They remind us who we are and to whom we belong. They challenge us to rise above adversity and to strive for excellence. How can we expect to live by the word, if we don’t know the word – if the word of God hasn’t taken up residence in our hearts and in our memories? If you decide to do a little memory work, if you’re looking for a few verses to remember, Romans, chapter 8, is a good place to start. Here are a few classics: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (vs. 1-2). Through faith in Jesus Christ we have been set free from sin and free from judgment. We have no reason to fear death, for we have not and we will not be condemned for our transgressions. Not only have we been set free from condemnation, we have been adopted into the family of God. Our future is secure. Listen to verses 14 and 17: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God … and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” In verse 18 Paul gives us a word about suffering. “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” Those are some great verses worth remembering. Our passage for today contains several more memorable phrases. Please follow along as I read the last section of chapter 8, beginning with verse 26. (Read Romans 8:26-27.) “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Remember Paul has just been talking about suffering. He said, “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us” (v. 18). Then he says whenever we feel weak, the Spirit will be present to help us. Furthermore, the Spirit helps us stay connected to God. “We do not know how to pray as we ought,” so the Spirit prays with us and for us. That’s what the word “intercedes” means. The Spirit stands before God to plead our case, to put our thoughts into words, to represent us before God. We don’t need to worry about how to pray. We don’t have to pray eloquent prayers. God doesn’t care about our word selection. God just wants us to spend some time with him. When we come to God in prayer, the words don’t matter. It is our attention and our intention that matters to God. The Spirit will take care of the rest. God knows what is in our heart. Verse 28 is another verse worth remembering. “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” It is important to notice what this verse does not say, as well as, what it does say. For this verse has often been misused by well-intentioned people. Paul does not say that everything that happens is good. Paul experienced persecution and understood suffering. He knew full well that terrible things happen to good people. You know that, too. Some of you have lived through real tragedy. In every life there are disappointments and heartaches. Sometimes our grief seems impossible to bear. I don’t believe God planned those things or willed those things to happen. The promise of Scripture is that God will walk alongside us in the midst of life’s pain and that God will provide strength for us to rise above our setbacks. Scripture teaches that God’s greatest desire is for our ultimate good. The classic illustration of this truth was given by Dr. Ralph Sockman, long-time pastor of Christ Church in New York City. Dr. Sockman pictured a great battleship afloat on the high seas. He then pointed out that if you took it apart and threw it into the ocean, piece by piece – steel plates, guns, engines, and chains – it would sink immediately to the bottom. The parts will not float by themselves, but build them together into a great ship, and with majesty it will ride out the worst storms that the raging ocean can hurl upon it. That’s the way it is with life. Many of the incidents of life are not in themselves good – they won’t “float alone.” But if you build those incidents of life together into a complete life, a life shaped by the love and grace of God, you will be able to ride out triumphantly all the storms that life can hurl at you. In all things God is working for our good. God has a plan for your life and a plan for my life. I believe God has two purposes in that plan: our good and God’s glory. No matter what happens in life, God will never give up on us and God will never stop working on us. For God is preparing us for glory – to live with him and Christ Jesus for eternity. Now let’s continue with verse 29. (Read 29 and 30) These verses can be confusing and have generated a lot of controversy over the centuries. As United Methodists we don’t believe in predestination. That is, we don’t believe God decided before hand which people will go to heaven and which ones will go to hell. I find no text in the Bible that says God predestines some people to be condemned no matter what they do. What is predestined is the way to God – the plan of salvation: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Predestination applies to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and are trusting in his grace. God has predestined us “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Let us continue with the rest of the chapter. (Read verses 31 through 39.) Throughout chapter 8 Paul is trying to emphasize our security as believers. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have eternal security. We do not need to fear the past, the present, or the future because we are secure in the love of Christ. We will not be condemned for our mistakes. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). We don’t have to worry about being left out or excluded. We have received “a spirit of adoption.” Through faith in Jesus Christ we are “children of God” and heirs to the kingdom – “joint heirs with Christ” (vs. 15-17). We don’t have to worry about saying the right thing whenever we pray, for the Spirit of God intercedes for us (vs. 26-27). We need never despair when bad things happen to us, for even in the worst of times God is working for our good (v. 28). And if God is for us, who can be against us? (v. 31). Finally, we don’t need to be worried about anything, for nothing, absolutely nothing, nothing “in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 39). There’s lots of Good News in the Bible. There are a lot of really important passages spread throughout its pages. We’ve looked at several of them today – some of the most important promises of God’s word. And they are right here in chapter 8 of Romans. If you’re looking for some memory work, this is a good place to start. Thanks be to God! AMEN! |