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.

The Love of God is In Christ Jesus

When Hurricane Harvey came this past year, when it ramped up to a Category 3 and threatened to get stronger, the worst of it was headed straight toward Sinton. We were at first going to try to shelter in place at a Category 1, but when the news came of it’s strengthening, plan changed. We figured that there’s no way that the house would stand through that. So we gathered what we thought was valuable and put it in the metal container outside, and basically kissed the house goodbye. I remember as we left, we prayed together, and told God that we were thankful for the house while we had it. It was then, that I remembered this verse. There’s nothing that shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God’s love is not in houses and lands. No. It’s in Jesus Christ. Houses, lands, and things of this world can slip from you grasp, through your finger. Or hurricanes can take them away. But not the love of God because it’s in Jesus Christ.

This chapter began with (8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. And it ends with the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Maybe, if we get anything out of this entire chapter, we can understand that in Christ is God’s love, not condemnation. This may be the last message I ever preach here at Primera. This may be the last word I ever get to speak to you all. So if this was my last opportunity, my last chance, what would I say? If you knew that you had only one day left with your loved ones, what would you do? What would you say? That’s how I kinda see this. If this was my last chance to speak to you, what would I say? What would I use these last few minutes together with you to say?

 #1 Make sure you are in Christ Jesus

Make sure that you are in Christ Jesus; because the love of God is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The love of God is in Christ Jesus. That is where you’ll find God’s love. Nowhere else. And that is where I want to find myself; in Christ Jesus. Jesus told us, even of himself,  (John 3:16-17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. God does not want you to die in your sin. He’s not willing that anyone should perish. No. He but he loves you and wants you to be saved in his Son. That the world through him might be saved! The love of God is in Christ Jesus! Make sure that you are in Christ Jesus.

It is the most important matter of your life. The bible says (Matthew 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? How valuable is your soul to you? It’s valuable to God. He said that not even the whole world could pay for just one soul. You look at Matthew Chapter 7, on that last day: (Matthew 7:22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? These people are trying to find something to give in exchange for their soul. But God said no, if you add up everything in this whole world, it will not pay to redeem one soul. No. (1 Peter 1:18-19) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: The blood of Christ. It came from the same place you’ll find the love of God. The love of God is in Christ Jesus.

When they nailed Jesus to the cross and when they pierced his side, (Can I say this?) it was liquid love that flowed from the fountain. There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains. (1 John 3:1) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.  (Revelation 1:5) Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Make sure that you can say yes to this question: Are you washed in the blood? In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? The love of God is in Jesus Christ. Make sure you are in Christ Jesus.

I beg and I plead with you. Don’t take this thing lightly. (Matthew 7:13-14) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Make sure that your way is the right way. I trust that the way I found is the right way. Your way may be different. I’ll admit that it is possible that we may both be wrong. But you’d have to admit that we both can’t be right. Make sure that your way is the right way. The bible says (Proverbs 14:12) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Psalm 1:6) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Make sure you’ve gone through the strait gate and are on the narrow way. Jesus said (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.

Make sure you’re saved. I’m not trying to make anybody doubt. I’m just glad a man of God came by my way and preached the gospel. He didn’t just assume that everybody between the four walls of that church was okay. I’m glad he preached Jesus one more time. I’m glad he preached John Chapter 3 (John 3:3) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (John 3:6-7) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  Ye must be born again! Ye must! Ye must! Yet must! (John 1:12-13) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Make sure that you’re saved. Make sure you are born again. Make sure that you are in Christ Jesus.

Few there be that find it. (Hebrews 11:7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. Noah, being warned of God… John the Baptist, he stopped those Pharisees and Sadducees coming down to the river to be baptized. (Matthew 3:7) O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Let me ask you this: Have you been warned of God? When Noah found out that judgment was coming, the bible says that he moved with fear. And we all know that the ark is type of Christ and of salvation in Christ. Well, out of all those people that were living on the earth, small and great, young and old, rich and poor, only eight people got in that ark. (1 Peter 3:20) When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved. Only eight. Not eight-thousand. Not eight-hundred. Not eighty. Only eight.

We’re not Jehovah’s witness and believe that there’s this set number going to heaven; that only 144,000 are going to make it. The door of the ark is wide open. The veil of the temple has been rent. The work has been finished. The price has been paid. Jesus said (Luke 14:16-17) A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: ¹⁷ And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. Everything is ready, and the invitation still stands. The bride says Come. The Spirit says Come. And Jesus said (Luke 14:23) Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. God has placed no limit to his love, no boundaries to his grace. But the truth of the matter is that (Matthew 22:14) Many are called, but few are chosen. It’s few there be that find it.

In the days of Noah, only the ones that got in that ark were saved. But you had to get in the ark. In the days of Egypt, the houses with the doorposts and the lintels struck with blood were the only place safe for the firstborn. If you were in that house, the Destroyer would passover you. But you had to get in the house. In the days of Jericho, the house with the scarlet cord hanging from the window was the safe house. Everybody in that house survived. But you had to get in the house. At the pool of Bethesda, it was whosoever got first in that pool was healed of whatsoever disease they had. But you had to get in the pool. You’ve got to get in Christ Jesus. There is where you’ll find it.

Find what, preacher? The love of God which is in Christ Jesus. I’m asking you today have you found the love of God? #1 Make sure you are in Christ Jesus.

#2 Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus

And this really the context of the passage we are in today. I do want to stay in context. Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus. Now you realize that this is somewhat of an oxy-moron. The verse says that Paul is persuaded that nothing can seperate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. And there is nothing that can do that. Death cannot separate us from the love of God. Life cannot separate us from the love of God. Angels, fallen angels, devils, cannot separate us from the love of God. Principalities can’t. Powers can’t. And so forth… If you ever do find the love of God then there is nothing that can separate you from it. So if you ever get in Christ, there’s no getting out.

That is the biblical principle. But that is not what we practice. That is what we believe. But that is not how we behave. So when I say Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus, what I’m really trying to convey is to practice the principle; behave like what we believe; or walk the talk. Talk is cheap. I’m saying what Paul said to the Galatians (5:25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. I think, in a certain sense, Paul is saying, if the Holy Spirit lives in you, (I mean if God lives in you) then we ought to act like it. Look, I believe that Paul is really preaching down where the rubber meets the road. You just look at this list!

Death? There probably isn’t anything in this world that is feared most than death. I think most people, for the most part, like to live. I don’t particularly want to die. When someone wants to die, it’s a testament to how much they desire to live. Life has gone bad and they want it better. They want to live; and have a better life. But somehow they don’t believe it possible, so then they want death. It’s just in us to want to live; to want to survive. The fear of death can paralyze someone, but it can also mobilize someone. Death of our loved ones? It causes pain, sorrow, and tears. It causes hardships. It brings us troubles. Death can create voids and emptiness deep in the soul of man. Death has got real power on this earth!

But Paul, (He knew a few things about death!) who was left dead outside of Listra, who had experienced deaths oft (Go figure that! That is what the bible says), he said (1 Corinthians 15:51-58) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now he said that when this happens. This is the reality of death for the Christian ⁵⁴ …then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And that’s the key word there: Victory! There’s victory in Christ Jesus. That’s why I’m saying Make sure you stay in! That’s why I saying that Paul is preaching where the rubber meets the road. Because death defeats us. And everything on Paul’s list defeats us. It causes us to live in defeat. We’re walk around living defeated lives. Why? Because we’re not practicing the principles. We’re not behaving like what we say we believe. James said  (James 2:17-18) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. If death has truly lost it’s power over us, if death has lost it’s sting, and the grave has lost it”s victory, if that is our faith, then our works ought to show that. It ought to proclaim that.

Paul said I’m persuaded that death shall not separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. I think Paul is saying I’m gonna stay in Christ Jesus. I’m gonna stay in the love of God. Jude said (Jude 21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. That’s what it means to be persuaded. I’m just gonna stay here. I’m just gonna stay in the love of God. I’m gonna stay in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is the love of God. There is the victory.

After Paul says ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. he says this: ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord… Do you see what he’s saying here church? He’s saying don’t give up! Don’t throw in the towel! Stay with the stuff! Lester Roloff used to say Stick with the stuff, and the stuff will stick with you. Stay the course!

And this goes for all of it; all of Paul’s list. We talked about death? What about life? Oh my! All the cares and troubles of this life. And there are many. And O How they defeat us? Life will whip you down and wear you out. I’m not sure which is worst? The up and down roller coaster life, or the day in day out tedious monotony of life. The bills always have to be paid. The clock never stops. The problems never stop coming. You get over one hill, here comes another. You solve one problem, three more on on the horizon. It never ends. Life can defeat us. But Paul said I’m persuaded that none of that is able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Listen, when we were lost all those things did separate us from the love of God, but now that we’re saved, they shouldn’t any longer do that. Remember the parable of the seed and the sower that Jesus told?  (Luke 8:5-8) A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. ⁶ And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. ⁸ And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. Jesus then gave the interpretation of the parable. And I don’t want to preach the whole parable, but look at what he said about them thorns.  (Luke 8:14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The cares and riches and pleasures of this life have dominion over the lost. The saved, is free from those things. See, that’s what we believe, but is that what we practice?

Let me share something with you that’s helped me recently. I was reading back in Romans (Romans 5:20-21) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. This passage talks about Adam, and sin entering into the world, and Moses and the law, and the free gift coming upon all men. It’s written with a third-person ring to it. And because of that, I’ve always had a very external understanding of this. In other words, I see sin abounding in the world and grace abounding in Jesus Christ. I see how sin has reigned in that everybody and everything dies. But the other day, I internalized it. And it’s really helped me. I don’t just see it out there. I see it here in me. Listen he goes on to say in the next chapter: (Romans 6:12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Listen, the reason why sin and all these things get the best of you and defeat you is because you let them.

Let me explain something. (Romans 6:14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. When you got saved you changed masters. (Romans 6:18) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. We’re not under the law, we’re under grace. Sin does not have dominion over us. Grace does. Paul said, (Romans 8:20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly… That means when we were lost, we didn’t have a choice in the matter. We were made subject to vanity, subject to corruption. And to understand this let me say this: We were made the subjects of corruption. That means corruption was the king. Corruption reigned. And we were brought under subjection to this king. We were under the law and sin reigned in our mortal body, not willingly. That means we didn’t have a choice but to yield to the sin. It had dominion. We were under subjection.

But now that we’re saved. We’re not under the law. Sin and corruption and vanity no longer have dominion over us. That’s what we believe. That’s the principle. But if that is not how we behave, if that is not what we practice, if we live defeated and under the power of sin, then Romans 6:12 it’s only because we let it. Before (lost) we were defeated not willingly. We had no choice. But now, if you are saved, and you still live in defeat, it’s by your own choice. You are letting sin reign in your mortal body. And Paul said Don’t do that. (Romans 6:12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Grace is now the king. Where sin used to abound, grace doth much more abound. When we let sin or anything keep us from living a victorious life in Christ, you realize we are letting something that has absolutely no dominion over us, no power over us, no authority over us… We’re letting it be in charge. We’re letting it. Why? Why are we doing this? Paul said (Ephesians 5:22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands. And I’ve heard alot of preachers add and not to someone elses. That is essentially what we’re doing. Remember this doctrine of the bride of Christ that Paul had introduced? (Romans 7:4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. The law and sin is not our husband any more; Christ is. When we let sin or anything keep us from living a victorious life in Christ, we are letting something that has absolutely no dominion over us, no power over us, no authority over us… We’re letting it be in charge. And this is why: It’s because we not fully persuaded. Paul said I am persuaded.

Now, let me try to explain why I know that this is so. We might be somewhat persuaded. Somewhat persuaded is when we got the principles down. But fully persuaded is when we got the practice down. Let me explain how we I believe we go wrong on this. Once we figure out that sin has no dominion and we are needlessly letting it reign in our life… Once we got the principles down, we think that to fix things we can just let grace reign instead. We tell God I’m not going to let sin reign anymore Lord, I’m gonna let grace reign now. Well, I’m not trying to burst anybody’s bubble here, but it doesn’t work like that. Listen, you can’t let grace reign in this life in Christ any more than you could let sin reign while you were lost.

You see this has nothing to do in regards to the choice we made when the Spirit of God convicted us of our lost condition. This is not about getting saved. This is about being saved, and living the saved life. (Romans 6:14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Things changed when you get saved. (Romans 8:20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly. When we were lost we were under subjection to vanity, which is corruption, to sin… When we get saved things have changed. We become servants of God; servants of righteousness, we are placed under subjection, but in hope. (Romans 8:20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. We are servants of righteousness. We are placed under subjection to righteousness, to hope, to grace, to faith, to love. We have to understand that a servant has no rights and no choice and no will. A servant is a slave. We cannot let or allow because we don’t have the power to do so.

So let me back track a little bit. Sin and the law and death no longer reign. The only way they can hurt us is when we let it. And the only reason why we are capable of letting it is because we’re not under it; we’re not under subjection to it. If we were under the law, we’d have no choice in the matter.. But we’re not under the law, we’re under grace. And grace reigns in the life of the Christian. We are under subjection to grace; to hope as the bible says. We are under them, not them under us. Let me repeat that because this sums it all for us. We are under grace, not grace under us. That is why we don’t have the authority to let grace or not let grace reign. It’s just not how it works.  So you see, it’s not a matter of you letting one or the other reign. If we think Well I’m just gonna let grace reign now instead of sin, do you see how you’re essentially declaring that grace truly has no dominion over you, because you think you have the power to somehow let it reign. No. we contradict ourselves when we think like that. Is it possible that just maybe this is why we don’t get the victory in this Christian life?

So when we hear this verse  (Romans 8:38-39) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ 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. It’s an easy verse to say Amen! Glory to God! We all love to hear this verse. We hear that verse on Sunday and we think Yeah! That’s right! Nothing is going to separate us! Wooooooo! But then we wake up Monday morning and reality sets in, and all these things (and I only covered two of them) seem to have dominion over us. Am I the only one that has this problem? They defeat us. They bring us down. They discourage us. You know what they’re doing? They’re separating us from the love of God. They’re driving a wedge between what we believe and how we behave; between our principles and our practice, between what we say Amen to on Sunday morning, and what live throughout the week.

And we go to church next Sunday and do it all over again. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe we’ve got something wrong. (Galatians 2:21) I do not frustrate the grace of God. Look, if you are in charge, there’s nothing more frustrating than when those who you are in charge of think that they’re in charge. Paul said I am not going to frustrate the grace of God. See, we do not let grace reign in this Christian life; grace let’s us reign. (Romans 5:17) Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. If the riches of God’s graces were limited to what our finite minds would allow (or let), what a shallow salvation we would have?

Now let me try to tie this together. I know we’re kind of out there now. But let me try to tie this back together for us. Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God. That is the truth. That is what we believe. That is our principle. But in practice, there is a necessity, as Jude says, to (Jude 21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And the love of God is in Christ Jesus. That’s why I say Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus. I’m saying stay with the love of God.

I’ll say this and move on. #1 Make sure you are in Christ Jesus. How did you get in Christ Jesus? (Romans 6:3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Paul said (Galatians 2:20) I am crucified with Christ: It was At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, And the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day. That’s how you got in. But #2 Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus. I’m not saying that you can lose your salvation. What I’m saying is what Jude was saying, Keep yourselves in the love God. Now how are you gonna do that? The blood that flowed down the cross that saved you is the same blood that keeps you. Stay near that cross. Putting your faith in the blood will save you. Putting your faith in the blood will keep you. Best advice I can give is to do like Fanny Crosby wrote Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me. If you want to live the victory in Jesus Christ, and have grace reign in your life, understand that its not in your power, authority, or even in your responsibility to let happen. There is no substitute for faith in the blood of Jesus Christ; the finished work of Calvary. There is a marked difference between letting and just trusting. Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus.

#3 Make sure you grow in Christ Jesus

I want to read to you Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:14-21) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (I remember one of my teachers, Brother Kyle Miller, had once said that this was like us getting to listen in on Paul the Apostle praying. This is what his prayer would sound like.) ¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Now, I want to say this: This is a prayer for the saints. (3:16) This is according to the riches of his glory. That’s for saints, not sinners. He prays that they might be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. The Spirit’s abode is the inner man of the saint. (3:17) Now here he says That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Some preachers might say that he’s praying for their salvation in this verse. And I think that has a lot to do with how people say that Jesus came into their heart or that is how people are instructed to pray to be saved: Jesus, come into my heart. I really think we’re kinda pre-programmed to associate Jesus in the heart with getting saved. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just that we just finished reading about the riches of his glory and the Spirit in the inner man. So they’re saved in verse sixteen, and lost in verse seventeen. I think not. Plus, this is the only verse in your bible you’ll read about Christ in the heart. Go figure. Search the scriptures… So… this prayer is for the saved.

Anyhow, the verse goes on to read being rooted and grounded in love. I think that this is the same thing that Jude really was saying when he said to Keep yourselves in the love of God. That’s #2 Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus. But #3 Make sure you grow in Christ Jesus, I believe, is covered in verse 18 and 19 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Remember my initial question and thought? If this was my last opportunity to speak to you, what would I say to you? #1 Make sure you’re in Christ Jesus. Make sure you’re saved; you’ve been born again; you’re washed in the blood of the Lamb. #2 Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus. Don’t be discouraged by all the things that are trying to separate you from the love of God. Don’t let them have dominion. Instead, stay near the cross. Keep yourself in the love of Christ. Trust in the finished work of Christ. Don’t give up. Don’t let go of that! Now #3 Make sure you grow in Christ Jesus.

Purpose in your heart that by the grace of God, you are not going to stay a babe in Christ all your Christian life. God never intended for us to be stagnant. He wants us to grow and learn. He sent the Holy Ghost for that very reason, to teach us all things, to guide us into all truth. (Jude 20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, He gave us pastors, teachers, that we might learn some things. (Ephesians 4:11-16) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The love of God is in Christ Jesus. God doesn’t want us to just be in it, but to know it; to  comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. So you see, we need to develop our comprehension skills, Amen? And that comes with growth. The perfecting of the saints? That’s maturing. The edifying of the body of Christ? That’s growing in strength. He said that we henceforth be no more children. Children are at a disadvantage is some things because they’re not mature; because the lack strength. But as they grow, mature, strengthen, they become alot more useful, amen? I remember when the boys couldn’t use the weed-eater. They were too young. I couldn’t trust them, and they could carry the thing. But now they’ve grown; matured and strengthened. God wants us to grow up, amen? Spiritually. That’s what he said, isn’t it? But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Make sure that you grow in Christ Jesus. The love of God is in Christ Jesus. And it’s in love that we grow. Love is fertile ground where fruit is brought forth unto God. And trees don’t bring alot of fruit until they’ve grown some. Make sure that you grow in Christ Jesus. If there is something I wanted to tell you, if this was my last day with you. This is one. Make sure that you grow in Christ Jesus. And the more we comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of God’s love, the more we grow. If this list that Paul has given us (death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, depth, height, creatures) defeats us and has us under subjection. (I’m don’t feel right saying if they defeat us. I know they do. Paul knew they did. That’s why he wrote what he wrote.) If we live defeated lives, that is a testament to how well we comprehend the love of God.

Now the bible says that we ought to comprehend it, but it also says that it passeth knowledge. This means that it’s not an education, it’s a revelation; revealed by his Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Paul said, in what we just read (Ephesians 4), that God has given us pastors and teachers that we might mature and grow in strength (4:12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. He said we ought to grow for this reason: (Ephesians 4:13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: And what did he say back in chapter 3? And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. The fulness of Christ and the fulness of God.

I’ll tell you what my pastor and teachers told me. (Ephesians 5:17-18) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; The love of God is revealed in the will of God. That is how we come to comprehend, as the bible says, the love of God, by finding and doing the will of God. And it’s the Holy Spirit of God that knows the will of God. (Romans 8:27) 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. We must be filled with the Spirit know the will of God; to comprehend the love of God; to grow in Christ Jesus.

Make sure you grow in Christ Jesus. This means that we should not be satisfied with our comprehension of the love of God. We shouldn’t be satisfied until we know and do the will of God. It means that if the bible says to be filled with the Holy Ghost, then we ought to say with all our hearts That’s what I want. That’s what I want for me and my family. That’s what I want for my church. Paul was never satisfied with himself. (Philippians 3:8-14) That I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

And there it is again! It’s in Christ Jesus! It’s all in Christ Jesus. That’s the same place you’ll find the love of God. It’s in Christ Jesus. Paul said, that I may be found in him. To be in Christ is to be in love! Don’t ever be satisfied with your comprehension of God’s love. Go back to Ephesians (4:15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things. You grow up in love. (4:16) Maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. You’re strengthened in love; established in love.

Dont’ be satisfied with your comprehension of the love of God. If God can open your understanding when you were lost and dead in trespasses and sin, and reveal to you the love of Christ, how much more, now that you’re saved, now that the Spirit of God dwells in you, now that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free from the law of sin and death. How much can God reveal his love for you? How much more now that he’s renewed your spirit? How much more now that he’s given you a new heart? How much more? Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!

(2 Peter 3:18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Make sure that you grow in Christ Jesus. Make sure that you are rooted and grounded and tapped into God’s fertile fields of love. (Psalm 1:3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Get a hunger and desire for fruit. Fruit is growth.

(Romans 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Get a hunger and a desire to know and do the will of God. (Hebrews 10:7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Preacher Allen always says Get on the ‘possom trail for God’s perfect will for you life and don’t let anything get in your way. (Hebrews 12:1) Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Purpose in your heart that you are gonna go with God no matter what the cost. Make sure that you grow in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Get off the bleachers and run the race! Get off the sidelines and run the race! Get off the bench and run! Don’t ever be satisfied where you are at  until you reach the finish line. Don’t ever think that God can’t use you, or bless you, or grow you. Don’t live in the defeat of death, life, angels, and all those things. But live in the love of God. Stay in the love of God. And grow in the love of God. The love of God is in Christ Jesus. In him we’ll find everything we need. And God’s love covers just about everything. In Christ we’re saved. In Christ we’re safe. In Christ we’ll sprout.

If this was my last opportunity to speak to you, what would I say to you? #1 Make sure you’re in Christ Jesus. Make sure you’re saved; you’ve been born again; you’re washed in the blood of the Lamb. #2 Make sure you stay in Christ Jesus. Don’t be discouraged by all the things that are trying to separate you from the love of God. Don’t let them have dominion. Instead, stay near the cross. Keep yourself in the love of Christ. Trust in the finished work of Christ. Don’t give up. Don’t let go of faith. Now #3 Make sure you grow in Christ Jesus. Purpose in your heart that by the grace of God, you are not going to stay a babe in Christ all your Christian life.

Last time we preached out of verses 32-35; the first verse being (8:32) 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? And the next three verses, 33, 34, 35, were the three point. Honestly, I really didn’t have the time to develop the message. I got my three points and I praise God for that. I used to think back in elementary that intro/3 points/conclusion was boring and unimaginative. Now I praise the Lord if I can get at least that. And it must have been God’s will because I was able to spend most of the time on the second point, and we covered some great things about the resurrection of the just and the unjust. And we covered some things about the judgment seat of Christ and the white throne judgment. And I got to preach it all over again at my mom and dad’s house. God’s perfect will. I just couldn’t think of a title, but the three point were this.

1. There will be no charges. (8:33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. There will be no indictment. There will be no charges levied against us. There will be no trial for us to answer accusations. There’ll be no prosecution. We’ll need no defense. As far as our sin is concerned, this things was settled out of court (sort of). Jesus settled this at Calvary. He said it was finished. If we have to appear in court for our sins, then Jesus appeared before the high priest and Sanhedrin for nothing; he appeared before Pontious Pilate for nothing; he appeared before King Herod for nothing; and the sentence handed down and carried out as a result of that trial was in vain. If we have to stand trial then why did Jesus stand trial? (Galatians 2:21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. We will not have to go to a court of law to determine our righteousness because we went to Jesus.
2. There will be no condemnation. (8:33) 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. Paul said in the beginning of Romans (8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… If there’s no condemnation now, there will be no condemnation later. Since there is no trial, then no sentence will be given, no decision will be made, no judgement will be handed down, no verdict will be read against us. There will be no condemnation.  (Ephesians 5:25,27) Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. There will be no charges and there will be no condemnation.
3. There will be no separation. This is where we are today (8:35-39) Romans Chapter 8 Started with no condemnation and it ends with no separation. In a court of law, when a defendant is convicted, when the judge says Guilty as charged! he is no longer a defendant, but a criminal. And as far as I know the sentence begins immediately. If the verdict comes back guilty, he is going to jail. He is going to be separated from his family; separated from his wife; separated from his children. He is to be separated from society; incarcerated as a prisoner for his crimes. Oh, but if you’ve made peace with God… The bible says (Romans 4:8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. If you’ve come to God.. He said (Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you’ve been saved, born again, there will be no separation. And that is what we’ll preach on today.

There Will Be No Separation

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. (Romans 8:35-39)

No Separation Implies God Is Now With Us

There will be no separation from the love of Christ. There will be no separation from the love of God in this life. Jesus told those disciples that he was going to have to go. And the disciples were troubled at the news. But he said (14:1) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  He said he was going to pray the Father, and he was going to give them another Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth. He said that (14:17) He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Now, separation is a condition (an uncomfortable condition at that). And I’m getting a good lesson on separation right now because my wife and kids are up in Georgia at Concord waiting for us. We come home and it’s cold, and quiet, and lonely. The boys know what I’m talking about. Even with us four there, it’s still depressing and uncomfortable. That’s called separation. We are separated for the time being. Thank God is just for a season. So separation is a condition and separation cannot happen but for one thing. Those that are separated, must at one point first be together. You cannot separate two things, unless they are first joined together. We are joined with Christ. Jesus prayed in the garden (Jon 17:21) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us…

Now when were you first joined with the Lord Jesus Christ? It was at Calvary. Paul said (Galatians 2:20) I am crucified with Christ… And then in the tomb, for Paul said (Romans 6:4) Therefore we are buried with him.. And then in his ressurrection, for Paul said (Romans 6:8) We believe that we shall also live with him. Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. That’s the gospel in a nutshell; the death, burial, and ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We were joined with Christ in the gospel. We were crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, and raised with Christ. We were first joined Christ at Calvary. We began this journey at the cross. That’s why we sing: At the cross, At the cross, Where I first saw the light, And the burdens of my heart rolled away! That is where we began this walk with God.

Now the prophet Amos said (3:3) Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amen? We agreed with God at Calvary. We agreed that we were lost and in sin, and that there was no hope for us, but in his Son, Jesus Christ. We agreed that we deserved hell for our sin. The bible says that all have sinned. We agreed with God. The bible says that there’s none righteous. We agreed with God. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? And ever since we came into agreement with God, we’ve walked together with Him. The first step was Calvary. Now I want to keep this in it’s context. We’re talking about a now Savior, a very present help in time of need. He was with us in the begining. He is with us now.

God told Joshua (Joshua 1:9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. God is with us. The bible says (Matthew 1:3) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Amen? God is with us. There’s no reason to be afraid. There’s no reason to be dismayed. And it doesn’t matter where we go as long as God is with us. I don’t know where whithersoever is, but if God is there, that’s where I’m gonna be.

John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and the he said in the bible (Revelation 1:12)  I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man… Jesus was in the midst of the seven candlesticks. And Jesus goes on to say (1:20) and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. God the Son is walking in the midst of the churches today. I’m telling you God is with us.

Jesus, before he ascended in to heaven, he gave the church what we call the great commission. Some people call it the great command. (Matthew 28:19,20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. He is with us in this great commission. He is with us in the work of God. We are co-witnesses.

(Romans 8) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Revelation 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Jesus said to the disciples in John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. God is with you in this life. God has not left you alone. If you feel alone… If you feel abandoned… If you feel that nobody cares… If you feel that God has forsaken you… I want to say to you this day You cannot go by feelings. Feelings are a very fickle things to chart the course of your life. Put your faith in the Word of God.  Put your faith in the promises of God.

Don’t go by feelings. Now I’m not trying to belittle your feelings, but we have to realize that this is sin. We’re talking breaking the ten commandments. I know that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. But we got to confess them and forsake them. (Hebrews 13:5) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. When we don’t trust that God is with us and that God will see us through, that’s covetousness; and the bible says Thou shalt not covet… Discontentment no matter what it’s of, is covetousness; not trusting God is with you and that he walks with you and guides you. It’s covetousness; wanting and envying for certain things that God has not saw fit that you should have; discontentment. The bible says (1 Timothy 6:6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 I was looking at the making of the ark of the covenant; and not on the Discovery Channel. I was reading about it in the bible. In the desert, God was with the Israelites. He dwelt above the mercy seat which was above the ark when they were stationary. He led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. That tabernacle that they set up and carried around and set up again was the dwelling place of God. God said (Exodus 25:8) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. He said (Exodus 25:22) And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony…

So I was looking at the instructions to build that ark. And there’s some very specific things that God tells them to do. It was to made of shittim wood, he gave the dimensions, is was to be overlaid with gold, there was a crown moulding to be place around it, four rings were to be fastened to it. And they were to make staves to go through the rings in order to carry the ark with them. God told them everything they were to do, but then he changed his tune, and tells them one thing of what not to do. He said (25:15) The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. Don’t remove the staves.

And then in Numbers, God orders them to make coverings for the ark and the instruments so that they could be protected on the journey, but most of all so that no one would touch them. (Numbers 4:15) And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. Nobody could touch the ark. Remember the account of Uzza, when he stretched for his hand to ark, God struck him dead. They couldn’t touch the ark, but they could touch the staves. And God said, don’t ever remove the staves. God is holy and full of glory, but (Hebrews 4:15) We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…

Those two staves sitting on those rings, the staves that would never be removed, the staves that they were allowed to grab hold of and carry the dwelling place of God with them, they remind me of Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. God is with us on this journey. And we can lay hold on God.

I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Alway is short for all the way! How much is God with us? He’s with us all the way, even unto the end of the world. How far will God go with you? He’ll go with you all the way, even unto the end of the world. How long will God stay with you? All the way, even unto the end of the world. He told the disciples I am with you alway! To say that there will be no separation is to declare emphatically and with certainty that God is with us.

Separation Implies That God Was Once With Us.

Now I said earlier, separation is a condition, and separation cannot happen but for one thing. Those that are separated, must at one point first be together. You cannot separate two things, unless they are first joined together. Now we were first joined together at Calvary, yes. But I want us to understand something before we go any further. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)

So before we got saved, before we were washed in the blood of the lamb, the bible says we were aliens, strangers, and without God. Can I say this: Before we got saved, we were once separated from God. We were enemies of God. The bible says (Romans 8:7) The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So we were at one point separated from God. Now what I said still holds true. Separation is a condition, and separation cannot happen but for one thing. Those that are separated, must at one point first be together. You cannot separate two things, unless they are first joined together.

(Genesis 3:8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… There was once a time when man knew the voice of God. They were friends; not enemies. God made himself a Garden and he made man and gave man dominion in that garden. Man had the privilege to dress and keep God’s garden. He had liberty to eat out of God’s garden. He was honoured to give a name to all of God’s creation. And God so loved and cared for man that he made a woman and the bible says that he brought her unto the man. He gave him a wife because he loved and cared for his well-being. You see there was fellowship and peace between God and man.

Until that sad day when they disobeyed God. They took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; the one that God said not to touch. And the bible says (Genesis 3:23) Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden… The bible says (3:24) He drove out the man… And between the man and God’s garden, God put a flaming sword which turned every way. Man was separated from God. Where once he was together with God, now he is separated.

I have a question for you. At the end of all this, in Revelation 20, when the lost are cast in the lake of fire, and death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, the bible says (20:14) This is the second death. Let me ask you this: If that’s the second, then when was the first? That old devil, the Father of lies, told Eve (Genesis 3:4) Ye shall not surely die. But God said, who’s words are true and faithful (2:17) In the day that thou eastest thereof thou shalt surely die. Can God lie? (Hebrews 6:18) It was impossible for God to lie… (Titus 1:2) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. He said In that day. 

I know we all have to go through a physical death. But Adam and Eve did not suffer a physical death on that day. So who’s telling the truth? God or the devil? This what I believe and I don’t know if you’ll hear this anywhere else. The second death is Revelation 20:4 The bible explicitly says so. This is the second death. The first death, you’ll find it in the last half Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, (Here it is) she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. That is the first death. For as in Adam all die.

Why are you telling us this, preacher? Because Paul said (Ephesians 2:1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; He said (2:5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ… Does anybody remember that movie the Wrath of Kahn. It was a Star Trek movie. The Enterprise was damaged and could not escape. Spock had went into the reactor compartment to repair the engine and he got it fixed and the ship regained power just in time and escaped disaster. And they were all happy until they found out about Spock. The compartment that he was in was flooded with radiation because of what he was doing. And he’s not going to make it, but they can’t go get him because of the radiation. So they left him in there. And when Kirk gets there he sees him still alive, he races to him and tries to open the door to save him, but Scotty and Bones grab him and stop him. And Scotty says, He’s dead already.

Sinner friend, you’re dead already. You are separated from God. You are an enemy of God. But thank God for the cross. (1 Corinthians 1:18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. The bible says (Romans 5:10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  Now reconciled? When a man and wife reconcile, what does that mean? It means where they were once separated, they are now back together. Back together. That means you have to go back in time and see that they were once together. You can’t divorce someone that you’re not married to. Reconciliation implies that they once were together. It means that there was once a relationship and that relationship was broken.

The bible says (1 Corinithians 15:22) In Adam all die.. In Adam all are separated from God. But I think it would help us to understand that in Adam we were all once with God also. John said (1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:19) We love him, because he first loved us. He first loved us even before the first death. When God formed Adam from the dust of the earth and looked into his eyes, he looked into your eyes. When he beheld the face of Adam, he beheld your face. He first loved us in Adam.

That’s why we can say we were reconciled to God. The bible says that Christ has (Ephesians 2:15) Abolished in his flesh the enmity… That he reconciled us unto God (2:16) by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. (Colossians 1:21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. Reconciliation is when you join together that which is separated. But the beauty and joy and glory in it is that what was separated was once in another time joined together. Reconciliation is restoration.

I know that we’re born into sin. I know Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: I know what David said (Psalm 51:5) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. I know that’s our doctrine. But it didn’t start like that. It didn’t start on this side of that flaming sword. It started in cool of the day in God’s garden, in his presence, with his provisions, under his favor, amidst the sound of his voice. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

In Adam (bless his soul) there was a separation. But in Christ there will never be another separation. (1 Corinthians 15:22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. So again, to say that there will be no separation is to declare emphatically and with certainty that God is with us, that God if for us, that God loves us and cares for us, that God fights our battles. In Christ? What a blessed position to be. And when we were without Christ, alienated and enemies, separated from Christ, it implies that God has was with us at one point, and that God has from the beginning of time been for us, and has loved us and cared for us. God has loved us before the foundation of the world. Paul asked do you despise (Romans 2:4) the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 No Separation Implies That God Is With Us Forever

So #1, No separation implies God is with us now. And #2, Separation implies that God was once with us then. But #3, No separation implies that God is with us forever. Jesus said, (John 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Do you know what that phrase for ever means in the Greek. It’s pronounced eis ton aiōna. You know what that means? It means for ever. Amen! It means that in eternity to come, there will never be separation.

We read this earlier. (Matthew 28:19,20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Yes, Jesus is going to be us all the way, even unto the end of the world, but I want to say, Jesus is going to be us even after that. Amen? John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. The heaven and the earth passed away, the end of the world came, but guess who’s still there. Even after that he saw the bride. And she was beckoning with the Spirit to saying Come! Come! Come!

It implies that God will be with us forever, and that he wants to be with us forever. And he wants to be with us. He said to his disciples (John 14:2,3)  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. There ye may be also. He wants us there. He wants us to be with him. He’s preparing us a place. He’s getting ready to spend eternity with us. He told his disciples I want to be with you. I’m going to my father to arrange all this. This is what I want. I’m going to prepare. I want us to be together.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Right now, he’s with us in Spirit, amen? But one day, (1 Corinithians 15:53) This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 John 3:2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Right now, he’s with us in Spirit, but one day we’ll be with him, face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.. We’ll be with him face to face.

God was with us when we got saved. God is with us now. God is with us alway, even unto the end of the world. And even after the end of the world, after the great white throne judgement, after death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, after the second death, he’ll still be with us. He loved us before the foundation of the world, and he’ll love us after the end of this world. His love is everlasting. A great voice out of heaven told John (Revelation 21:3) Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. God is with us and that will never change. You know what that means? That means that there will be no separation. There is no separation now. There is no separation at the end of the world. And there will be no separation to all eternity. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? To say that there will be no separation is to declare emphatically and with certainty that God is with us forever.

And while the ages roll, I’ll keep on praising him. And my voice will never tire and grow old. And my song shall ever be, Praise the Lamb who died for me. And I’ll sing it while ages shall roll…Our union… And that’s what no separation is, it’s a union. Union is the the opposite of separation. Our union will get better and better; sweeter and sweeter. Isn’t that true in marriage. At least, that’s how it should be. A marriage should get sweeter and sweeter. The relationship should get deeper and deeper. It ought to be better and better and better.

I love my wife more than I did when we first got married. I know her better. It’s leave and cleave. (Genesis 2:24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: That word cleave means to hold on to. And as the years go on, we ought to hold on a little tighter, and a little stronger. You shouldn’t grow weary of each other; you should grown closer together. Likewise, our union with Christ should get better and better. One day, we’ll be with him face to face.

When I think about the staves on the ark and they remind me how we can touch God. We can lay hold on God and carry him with us. I think of that precious song He Leadeth Me. And that verse: Lord, I would clasp thine hand in mine… We see these truths like this through types and pictures. We have faith in them and believe them. It’s in our heart and mind. But one day, it’s going to get better. With mine own eyes, I will behold his nail-scarred hands. I’ll be able, like Thomas, with my own hands I’ll touch his hands. It’s gonna get better and better and better. There will be no separation and God is going to abide with us forever and ever and ever and ever!

 Separation Implies That God Will Part With Them Forever

NO separation, eternal union, gets better and better. Likewise, separation, disunion, get’s worse and worse as the ages roll.

Jesus spoke of the rich man with no name and of Lazarus the beggar. The rich man was without God in his life. And when he died, it got worse. In his life, he had money; he had land; he had clothes; he had riches; but he didn’t have God. And when he died, it got worse. The bible says the rich man died (Luke 16:23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments… (16:24) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me… But Abraham explained to him (16:26) Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. In his life, when he was alive, that rich man could have passed and God could have passed to him, but he wouldn’t have it. Now, it’s too late. Now there’s a gulf that cannot be passed. Separation gets worse and worse and worse.

And in the last day, that same rich man is gonna be delivered up and stand before the white throne judgment. Jesus said he lift up his eyes in hell. And the bible says that (Revelation 20:3) death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged… So death is going to deliver up this rich man to stand before God at the white throne judgment and Jesus is going to say unto him (Matthew 7:23) I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. And separation from God is going to get worse and worse and worse. (20:15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Eternal separation! You’ll never be with God, and never know the love of God and of Christ. Oh but it doesn’t have to be like that. The thief that was crucified with Christ had it right when he said (Luke 23:40-42) Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And with that, his eternal destination and outcome was changed forever; for Jesus said unto him (23:43) Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Right now, we hang on these crosses together, but in a short while, we’ll be together in paradise. Separation gets worst and worst, but union with Christ gets better and better and better.

That song we sing Higher Ground? I like that verse For faith has caught the joyful sound of saints on higher ground. Oh if our faith could just catch that joyful sound! If we would just believe that it gets better and better. Paul said (8:38) 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. No, it doesn’t get worst. I’m persuaded that it gets better.

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 any thing 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? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Introduction

This is incomplete. I’ve got alot of changes and notes that I have yet to add in here, but you can read what I got… 🙂

I really love this beginning verse of the message. It’s got to be one of my favorite verses: Romans 8:32 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? This is kinda of a summation of what we believe as believers. Especially as baptists this about sums up our religion. I know it’s not a denomination that’s going to save you and you know that too. But do you realize that there’s a millions upon millions out there in the so-called Christian religion that will die and go to hell because they think that they’re going to get to heaven or paradise or whatever they believe by their works. They don’t believe that he’s going to freely give us all things. They believe that they’ve got to earn them, not receive them.

If you believe that it doesn’t matter what you believe, that everybody believes the same God, that we’re all going to make it if we just sincerely believe whatever it is we believe, then I want to say that you are sincerely wrong. We’re not all God’s children. We’re not all gonna make it to the other side. There is a hell according to this bible. And there will be everlasting judgement to who don’t make it to the other side. There is a lake of fire and there is eternal torment that every lost sinner will endure. You say I don’t believe that. I don’t think God’s gonna do it. He’s too loving. I think that when it comes down do it, God’s just is not going to go through with it. John, the apostle, got a glimpse of the last days. You say How are we supposed to know what’s going to happen? Nobody really knows what’s going to happen in that last day! John knew. God showed it to him and told him to write it down.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

When you stand before that great white throne of judgment, do you think that God is going to change his mind at the last second? That He’s gonna close those books and say Never mind. Oh you’re not in the book of life. No problem. We’ll just over look that. You can come in anyway. Listen, God is not going to change his mind. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Five verses later, he told John (Revelation 21:5) Write: for these words are true and faithful. John said in Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, God is not going to change. He said by the prophet Malachi (3:6) For I am the LORD, I change not.

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? We believe that he does that now. Today. We believe 2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Now, not later. Most all of the other so-called Christian religions believe that if you get baptized and try hard and do your best and stay faithful that somehow in the end, God is going to freely give you all things at that white throne judgment. And my heart breaks for those that believe that. God is going to give them all things. But it will be all things that they deserve. Jesus said (Matthew 7:22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You say Preacher I really don’t see the difference between what they believe and what we believe. I pray that God will open your eyes that you may see. Lord willing we’ll cover some of those things today in the message. Last time we preached, we preached on that great truth that God is for us. We talked about those four pillars that hold this truth up: predestinated, called, justified, and glorified. (Romans 8:31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? And we preached that God is for us. And really that’s just half that sentence. The rest of that sentence is the question is Who can be against us?

And just like we’ve been preaching for months, this is now. This is present time truth. God is for us now. What can be against us now? 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? This is a now question. He that spared not his own Son. That’s God the Father. The bible says (James 1:17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. No variableness, neither shadow of turning? Do you know what that means? That means God doesn’t change. That God is faithful. That verse in Malachi that we just read For I am the LORD, I change not; The rest of that verse says therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 

Isn’t it strange that the same faithfulness that sustains us and provides for us and protects us is the same faithfulness that will judge the sinner on that last day? John said his name is Faithful and he doth judge and make war. He told John that whosever was not written in the book of life he was going to cast into the lake of fire and he said write it down because the words are faithful. God is faithful. He is faithful. So you see if God would change his mind about what he told John to write down in Revelation, then he would cease to be faithful. He said these words are true and faithful. If God changes his mind, then he will cease to be true and faithful. But he says For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

So we enjoy the provisions, protection, and affections of the Father today and now and this present time because He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all is faithful and true.

#1 There will be no indictment, charges

(33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

When we got saved, all the record was wiped away. All the charges that were against us were dismissed. If someone wrongs you, steals from you, hurts you, or violates you in some way shape or form. There’s probably a law against it. So what we can do it press charges. We can bring these charges before a court of law and a judge will determine if there’s going to be a trial. Or sometimes they’re brought before a grand jury. And if there’s enough evidence then we go to trial. So when someone commits a crime, before a trial date can be set, before the witnesses testify, before all that, charges need to be pressed.

Before I got saved, the charges were building up. Like the old song says That an Old Account was standin’ for sins yet unforgiven. My name was at the top there were many things below. But I went unto the keeper and I settled it long ago. When that account was settled, the charges were dropped. But what I want to say is that not only was my slate wiped clean, but it was also broken and thrown away, never to be used again. All the charges were dropped. Past, present, and future. How can God forgive sin that hasn’t happened yet, future sins? When Jesus died on the cross, all you sins were future sins. (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? He offered himself through the eternal Spirit; the spirit of the past, present, and future; no begimning and no end.

There will be no charges, no indictments. It is God that justifieth. And I believe he’s really referring to the previous verses. In other words, we can say that it is God that justifieth. It is God that glorifieth. It is God that has called us. It is God that has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son. We preached about last week how God is so for us that it’s not even funny. He is so on our side, it’s amazing. That’s the amazing grace of God. He is for us. We are his elect. So Paul asks, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? Who’s going to go to God and accuse God’s people of something?

Have you even had to deal with those parents that think that they’re kids can do no wrong?

(Rev 12:10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

There will be no sentence given, decision, doom, judgement, no verdict against us.

(34) 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 is he that condemneth? I want to take this opportunity to cover some things about comdemnation. I want to cover something about this white throne judgment that we spoke of earlier. I want to cover some doctrine here.

When you hear the word condemnation I want you to hear the loud echoing final slam of the judge’s gavel. I want you to place yourself in the courtroom; where the judge orders the accused to stand and receive the verdict; where the judge says Guilty as charged. And in the case of capital punishment, the judge says The court doth order you to be taken from hence to the place from whence you came, and thence to the place of execution, and that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead and may God have mercy upon your soul… And the gavel comes down. The trial is finished, the verdict has been given, and the sentence has been declared.

The bible says (Hebrews 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: There is going to be a judgement. And we call this the white throne judgment of Revelation 20 where the dead, both small and great, will stand before the judge. The books are going to be opened. You say What books? (Holding up my bible) These books. These 66 books are going to be opened up. And more particularly the first five books, the law of God. And the dead will be judge out of what is written in the books.

I want to remind you that Paul said (Romans 3:20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. When those books are opened they will not reveal righteousness, but they will give the knowledge of sin. Paul said (7:7) I had not known sin, but by the law. Those books were not written to reveal righteousness in man, but sin and iniquity. The law was never given to man as a ladder to gain heaven. It was not given to save, but to condemn. (Romans 5:13) For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. The law was given to impute sin; to convict of sin. (Romans 7:12,13) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. The law was given to reveal sin, to impute sin.

The dead will stand before God and he books are going to be opened. And if those books that are opened are the books of the law we have to understand what Paul told Timothy (1 Timothy 1:9) We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, I want to say this. You don’t want to go to the white throne judgment. You will not stand before those books when they’re opened. How do I know that? Because (Romans 3:10-12) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

My friends, the white throne judgment is a court of law. It’s a trial. You can’t have a trial without law. You can’t have a judge without law. Those books are the law of God. (Romans 3:19,20) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

So if you think that somehow when you get to that white throne judgment, and that you’ve been good enough by whatever standards you got… If you think that it’s going to be enough to get you in, I hope you realize that you are expecting the everlasting, eternal, almighty God that has never changed and never will change, to change for you at the last second. I warn you that God is not going to change.

I want to say this. And I’ve debated as to when to say this. But if you think that at the white throne judgment that your hope is in that other book that was opened, the book of life, you better think again. I believe with all my heart, nobody that stands at the white throne judgment will be found in the book of life. You say Why is it opened then? It’s opened so you can see for yourself that you’re not in there. You think God don’t know who’s in that book? Do you think God needs to search the book?

Jesus said (John 10:14) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep… (2 Timothy 2:19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. (1 Corinthians 8:3) But if any man love God, the same is known of him. Brother Jeremy been saying alot lately that it’s good to know God, but what really matters is does he know you? Matthew 7:23, the saddest words in the bible, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. It’s not God that needs to look at that book. He knows who’s in and who’s not in that book. (Psalms 1:6) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What I want you to get out of this and understand is that there’s two resurrections. He said This is the first resurrection. Those who are in this first resurrection, they will live and reign with Christ a thousand years. And the bible says Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. Sounds to me like you want to be in the first resurrection. You don’t want to take part in the second resurrection because at the second resurrection is the second death. When death and hell and whosoever was not found written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, the bible says (Revelation 20:;14) This is the second death. You want to be in the first resurrection because Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power. They say if you’re born twice you’ll die once, but if you’re born only once, you’ll die twice. If you’re born twice, of the flesh and the Spirit, if you’re born again, you’ll only have to endure a physical death. But if you’re never born again, only born of the flesh, then not only will you die once, but you’ll have to suffer the second death.

There’s two resurrections! (Daniel 12:2) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And this is where alot of people go wrong. Those Sadducees that came to Jesus, remember? They didn’t believe there is a resurrection. The bible says (Matthew 22:29) Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (31-32) But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

I’m glad I’m of the living. (Romans 6:11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The reason we don’t have to go through the white throne judgment is because Christ has already been through it for us. We don’t have to go this court of law, because law and sin hath no more dominion over us. We are not under the law, but under grace. (Galatians 4:4,5) But when the fulness 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. God sent forth his Son made under the law. And when I was crucified with Christ, it was under the law. The law was satisfied. The account was settled. (Colossians 2:13,14) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 

Look, you only go to court of law if you’ve been accused of breaking that law. The bible says (Jude 1:24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Thank God he’s forgiven all my trespasses. He’s blotted out all the handwriting of ordinances that were against me. He took it out of the way. My sins are gone gone gone! I don’t have to see the judge when this is all over. I already saw the judge. (John 5:22) For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: I already went to him for judgment. And I found out (John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. I went to him and he didn’t cast me out. He told me that he loved me and wanted to save me. Oh, I’m telling you that if you go to him now, you’ll find mercy. But if you wait until you’re summoned on that last day, it will be too late. The white throne judgment is not for the saved, but for the lost. It’s not for the living, but for the dead.

Look, you only go to court of law if you’ve been accused of breaking that law. If you have no charges, then you have no business before the judge (Ephesians 5:25,27) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Then you look at Solomon, the bridegroom, talk to his beloved bride. This is a picture of Christ and his bride (Song of Solomon 4:7) Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. They’re gone gone gone. My sins are gone. And I am the bride of Christ.

And let me bring this all the way back to our text. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died… Paul is operating under the premise that his readers understand that it is Christ that will judge. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Why would Christ put us through a trial that he’s been through himself for us already? And paid the price and died in our stead? And took his blood and washed us in it? He shed his own blood to make atonement for our sin; to cover them; to forgive them. Why would we have to stand trial for that again? Because we’re not. The white throne judgment is not for the living, but for the dead.

Like I said, let me try to bring this back to where we are today.  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.  God is for us. And at the great white throne judgment at the last day, if God is for us then and not against us, how could he ever be against. 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? Do we really think that that he who has kept us from the wrath to come, from the second death, the lake of fire, is going to be against us? And then on top of that, we know that he is risen again at the right hand of God making intercession for us. I guess Paul is just driving home the point of what a ridiculous notion it is to think that God is against us.

There will be no sentence, decision, doom, judgement. There will be no verdict against us. There won’t even be a trial. The Holy Spirit is praying for us down here. And the Son of God prays for us up there. With his nail scarred hands and his wound in his side. Before the throne my surety stands. He’s my advocate, my representative in heaven. And then The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. So if we are the bride of Christ, our husband is not only advocating before the judge, but he is the judge. We’ve got alot going for us amen? For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

• Judgement seat of Christ
  • 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10
• 2 Resurrections
  • 1st Resurrection
    • 1 Firstfruits: 1 Corinthians 15:20
    • 2. Main Harvest: 1 Corinthians 13:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; John 14:16-18
    • 3. Gleanings: Revelation 20:4-16
  • 2nd Resurrection
    • Revelation 21:11
• 2 judgments:
  • Explain the difference between the two judgments
    • White throne judgment: Revelation 20:11-15
    • Judgement seat of Christ: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

#3 There will be no punishment, defeat, death, sentence carried out.

(35-36) 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.

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?

I’ve heard several times these verses preached in a chronological order. Let me eplain. This list that Paul has given us: predestinate, called, justified, and glorified. I’ve heard it preached that this list has an order to it. It’s very difficult to think along these lines for me for this takes things out of the context of Romans 8. I spend an entire message explaining that this predestination has nothing to do with a sinner being saved. So when we put it to this chronological explanation, it really takes away from that and puts us right back into a Calvanist reality.

So, I just can’t go that way with scriptures. Assigning a chronological order to all this, to me, is dangerous. And I say this because Paul does not signify this in any respect other than the plain order in which they’re mentioned. Preachers, and commentaries, say that a sinner is predestinated, and then at some point he’s called, and when he answers the call he is justified, and then one day he will be glorified.

I don’t like this because that is not what the context is dealing with. And to go off on some tangent like this is incredibly short-sighted, in my humble opinion. So how should this text be preached? What are we to take from this list instead? Predestinate? Called? Justified? Glorified? I believe that Paul tells us exactly what we are to take from this in the second verse of this passage. He asks what I presently ask: What shall we then say to these things? And to this he answers: If God be for us, who can be against us? I like it when the bible interprets itself! Amen?

Has anyone heard of the first-mention principle? In bible study, the first-mention principle directs the student to always go back to the first time something is mentioned and learn that first. This is so because if the bible in inerrant then an interpretation should line up with the interpretation of the first time in was mentioned. And that’s some good stuff. You can really learn alot studying like that.

But also, consider the last-mention principle. I invented this princple. Ha! Actually, all I’m saying is that more light can be shed on a text if you just go back a few verses and look at was said about that topic to help you determine what is meant in the text at hand. It’s just contextual examination. There’s a big phrase for you! Stay in the context.

This list of things prove that God is for us. The main point to these things is that God is for us. So to look at these as a chronological lesson is to take away from the quantity and quality of this great truth that God is for us. So I want to look at these not as a sequence but rather pillars that hold up what Paul is trying to emphatically say, that God is for us. That God is on our side. That our welfare, our good, our best interests are always what God is for.

The Pillar of Predestination

Let’s remember that this has nothing to do with being lost folk being predestined to salvation, but rather saved folk being predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. Using the last-mention principle we look back one verse to verse 29: 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. Why does has God predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son? It’s nice when the bible answers questions right off the bat. The answer is the next line there, That he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This gets me thinking of Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. I’ve heard or read that Jesus is known as the Second Adam; the Second Adam, I suppose, because everything we lost in Adam, we gained in Christ. (Romans 5:18,19)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

So when I read That he might be the firstborn among many brethren I think of Adam. He was the first man. And the bible says (Genesis 2:18) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And the bible goes on to say (Genesis 2:21,22) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

So you see Adam and Eve is a type of Christ and his church or Christ and his bride. That deep sleep that God caused to fall upon Adam is a type of that sixth hour when there was a darkness over all the earth (Luke 23:44) and when Jesus cried It is finished (John 19:30). That deep sleep was a picture of Jesus when he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46) and thus gave up his Ghost. It’s a picture of the death of Christ.

And then when God took one of those ribs out of side of Adam and made him a wife, that’s a a picture of how God made Christ his church. The bible says (John 19:33,34) But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. It’s the water and the blood. The bible says (1 John 5:5,6) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. Paul said to the Ephesians (5:25,26) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, And then in Revelation, John began his letter saying (1:5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Amen it’s the water and the blood.

That is how God has sanctified and cleansed Christ’s church, by the water and the blood; seen coming from the side of Christ as they pierced him after he had died; much like God created Eve out of the side of Adam after he fell into that deep sleep. Christ is the second Adam. Now God made Eve for Adam; and Cain and Abel and Seth and Enos and all his family. Now look at the family that God has created for Jesus Christ, the first begotten of the dead? (Ephesians 3:14;15) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Paul said 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. So this pillar, this foundational truth is one of family. God is for us because of predestination. God is for us because we’re family. Family is this foundation. There is nothing on this earth more concrete and stable as a good family. You look out for family. You stick up for family. You defend family. When someone is sick, it’s family that cares for him or her. When someone dies it’s family that gathers and grieves. You love family. And we are members of God’s family. If you are one of the brethren, then you are part of the family; the family of God. If you got saved, you were born again; born into the family of God.

And I don’t know of anything else more concrete and stable as family. I remember Lester Roloff said one time on the radio, “If you lose your family, you’ve lost everything!” I want to say likewise, here on earth, if you have family, you’ve got much. Your family always loves you. Your family always cares about you. Friends come and go, but family is for the long haul… here on earth. But Jesus said, (Matthew 7:11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Romans 8:32) 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?

That he might be the firstborn among many brethren. I want to thank God that I’m one of the brethren. I thank God that I’m in the family of God. To be in the family is to be favored. Do you not favor your children? When Christmas rolls around are you buying gifts for everybody else’s children or yours. Do you feed everybody else’s children or yours? Do you buy clothes for everybody else’s children or yours? Why? Because it’s your family. They’re your children. God is our father and we are his children (Romans 8:17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; Because I’m a child, I’m highly favored, I’m loved and cared for. I’m in the family! And God is for his family. God is for us!

I know alot of things we go through don’t make sense. There’s alot of pain and suffering out there. And we wonder if God even cares; if God is truly for us. We got alot of questions. But I think we’re gonna find that alot of it is just part of being in the family, Amen. It’s because of this pillar of predestination. We that are in God’s family, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. God did not save us to enslave us. God did not save us to leave us. And God did not save us to forsake us. No, he saved us to conform us. If you got saved, you were born into the family of God. And God is not going to enslave his family, but make you free. (John 8:36). God is not going to leave his family, but he’ll be with you withersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9) God is not going to forsake his family, but he’ll keep you from falling (Jude 1:24).  God is for you. Though being conformed to the image of his Son might entail sufferings, and trials, and heartaches, remember that God is for you. And if God be for us, who can be against us?

I explained the other day about what it meant to be conformed. Conformed means to be formed together with. He wants you to be formed together with the image of his Son. Have you ever tried to mix two different colors of play-dough. To put those two together you must squeeze them and shape them and tear them apart and put them back together and mush them and mash them. And those colors never really mix. But they are bonded together, inseparable now. And you can shape (or form them) them into whatever you desire. But know this, you cannot move or touch one color without touching the other. Does that make sense? (Hebrews 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities… God might be pushing on you, and squeezing and shaping you, I wish that we could see that he’s not forming us, but conforming us to the image of his Son, to be who He wants you to be. Amen? But why is he doing this to me? Because you’re family.

In the great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, it says (24,25) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, He said No, I’m not in Pharaoh’s family, I’m in God’s family. I thank God that I’m in God’s family. There may be affliction, but God is for his family.

The Pillar of Being Called

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: So we have the pillar of predestination which we’ll call the foundation of family. Now we come to the pillar of Being Called. Now remember, I’m using the last-mention principle as a spring-board. For predestination we went back to verse 29. Now for being called we go back to verse 28: 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. Now I mentioned this before. And I’ll go ahead mention it again. All things work together for them who are the called. All things don’t work together for them who are called. They work together for them who are the called.

You say, what’s the difference? Well, Jesus Christ himself said to us (Matthew 22:14) For many are called, but few are chosen. Everybody is called to salvation, but not everybody answers the gospel call. (Matthew 7:14,14) Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. I believe in a whosoever will salvation. The gospel call has gone out to all the ends of the earth. But that doesn’t mean that all have heeded the call. (Romans 5:18)  By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men… That’s what is it says and that’s who the gospel is for; all men. But the book also says (Revelation 20:15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So everybody is called, but only few are THE called. So all things work together for good not to them who are called, but to them who are the called. Paul said (Romans 1:6,7) Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. See, Paul is talking to the church in Rome; not to all of Rome, but all the church in Rome. So called is but an adjective, but the called is a title. The is a definite article. And the called are those that have answered the glorious gospel call.

Now the greek word eklesia, or in spanish it is iglesia, in english it is church; it means “the called out assembly!” To be called is to be called out, called out of a lost and dying world that is imprisoned and in bondage to sin and death. Now it used to be, we didn’t have telephones, and iphones, and things like that. Calling someone has taking on a new meaning in these recent years. In the past, though, when you called on someone, that means you visited them. When someone went calling that means they actually showed up. Can I say this? When God called me to salvation, he showed up. He showed up to personally invite me. The Holy Ghost paid me a very special visit; a visit in which I was saved. Praise God!

The church is the called out assembly. And Christ is for the church! He told Peter (Matthew 1618)  I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So the pillar of predestination speaks of the Foundation of Family and being in the Father’s family. But being called, this pillar of being called speaks to us about the the Foundation of the Church; particularly of Christ’s church.

Now being called means a few things. Being called means someone has called. There is the called and then there is the caller. Do you remember the old hymn. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me… Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling; Calling, “O sinner, come home!” Jesus, our beloved, is the caller. (SOS 5:2) I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled… Jesus is the caller and it’s His voice that knocks on our heart’s door. (Revelation 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Being called means someone has called, and also that he’s calling for a reason. And this reveals to us  the heart of God, the will of God, the desire of God, and the plans of God. It speaks to us of the love of God and the compassion and ardent longing that God has for us. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us first. And how that love was manifested in his Son. He stood up before all Jerusalem and declared, (Matthew 23:37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings… How often? How often? How often would I have gathered you? How many times has my desire been to bring you close to me? Jesus has a reason to call.

His call to us is his desire. The bride in Song of Solomon, (she represents the church) when she hears her lover’s call, (that is the Lord Jesus Christ) when she hears his call, she says (SOS 5:2) It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled…  The call of God speaks to us and tells us that Christ has intentions for us and desires. We are members of His church because Christ has called us to be and wants us to be in it.

I shared somethings similar to this with you all the other day: If I use my imagination, I can hear the angels asking me, “Why are you here?” and I can respond, “I am not here on my own accord, but I have been called!It was not my desire, but someone else’s desire and someone else’s summons and invitation that he has called me here! I stand here now in Christ’s church because I have been called to be here. Not my will that I be here, but His will be done!” O bless his holy name, that he saw fit to call me out of this old sinful world and into his beloved church. What a glorious peace just to be favored in the mind and heart of God; that it was God’s desire to put me in the church. It was his idea and his calling to me. To be part of the called out assembly, the church, is to be called by someone who wants me and longs for me. God the son, Jesus Christ has written out the invitation in his own blood, even before the foundation of the world. He has sent his Holy Spirit. He has sent forth His angels. He has propagated His Word; his holy bible. He has sent out his evangelists. He’s done so much just to present His invitation; to call me! And to call you. To build his church!

And Christ loves his church! (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, How can we ever think that Christ is not for us? How can we ever think that he doesn’t love us? When he shed his blood for the church? He laid his life down for the church? He loves us and longs to be with us. He said (John 14:2,3) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Wherever I am, I want you to be there too. I’m gonna make a place for you in my Father’s house. And I’m gonna come back. And I’m gonna claim you and take you and bring you back with me. Everybody? No. The church! The called! The called out assembly!

God is for us! God is for his church. He said the gates of hell shall not prevail. If the gates of hell cannot prevail, then nothing shall prevail, not even death. (Romans 8:38) 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. The love of God is in Jesus Christ. The bible says, (Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The love of God is in Jesus Christ, and the only way to have his love and return his love is to answer the call and to become the called of Jesus Christ… beloved of God, called to be saints.

The Pillar of Justification

So we’re working on that foundation. The pillar of predestination is the foundation of family and the love of God. The pillar of being called is the foundation of the church and the love of Christ. And now we come to this pillar of justification. So using the last-mention principle we go back and see what Paul had to say about justification.

I’d like to take you back to Romans 5:9 where he says this Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. I want us to see that this pillar of justification speaks to us about the foundation of Blood and the law God.

Let me say a few things before we move on. God is for us. You say, why do you keep saying that preacher? I really believe that if we can truly get hold of this, it will help us. It’s helped me. It’s that simple song: Jesus loves me, this I know; For the bible tells me so… Or that other song: He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. This I know. He gave himself to die for me because He loves me so… It’s helped me. Everything in the book of Romans is told to us with that in mind to help us. We’ve got so much going for us. So much working for us.

• (1:7) We’re called to be saints
• (1:16) We’ve got the gospel of God, the power of God unto salvation
• (3:28) We have faith
• (4:22) We’ve got the imputed righteousness of Christ on our side
• (5:1) We have peace with God
• (5:17) We’ve got abundance of grace
• (6:5) We’re raised in the likeness of his ressurrection
• (6:6) We’re crucified with Christ, and buried with him
• (6:14) We’re not under the law, but under grace
• (6:17) We’ve obeyed that form of doctrine which was delivered to us.
• (6:22) We’re made servants to God
• (6:23) We’ve got the gift of God and eternal life
• (7:4) We’re married to him that is raised from the dead
• (7:17) Even if we do sin, it’s no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
• (8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation
• (8:9) We’re in the Spirit
• (8:14) We’re led by the Spirit
• (8:24) We are saved by hope
• (8:26) We’ve got the Spirit praying and interceding for us
• (8:28) We’ve got all things are working together for good for us
• (8:28) We’re called according to his purpose
• (8:29) We’re predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son
• (8:32) He’s freely given us all things.
• (8:33) Nobody can lay anything to our charge
• (8:34) Nobody can condemns us
• (8:34) We’ve got Christ is at the right hand of God also interceding for us.
• (8:35) Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ
• (8:37) We’re more than conquerers.

And we’ve only gone through half the book and we’ve got all these things working for us. I’m telling you church that God is for us! Why in the world do we not have the victory? Why in the world do we go around feeling sorry for ourselves? Why in the world are we in the dumps? When God is on our side? He’s not against us! He’s for us! And the Holy Ghost is inside of us saying Go! Go! Go! Why don’t we just get on board? Why don’t we just trust him? Why don’t we just chunk it all and cast ourselves upon him?

And this one more thing, the pillar of justification by the blood of Christ, we have the law of God on our side. We’re not under the law anymore. The law that was once against is now for us. No. I like the way Paul puts in in Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Why do we establish the law? Or how do we establish the law? Because the law requires blood to make atonement for our sins. And through the blood of Christ that atonement is made. (Romans 5:11) We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. You see the bible says (Hebrews 9:22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The pillar of justification, the foundation of blood, holds up and declares that God is for us. We saw the blood in the Garden of Eden, when those animals were killed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. We saw the blood in Egypt struck on the door posts and the lintels, when the angel of death passed over the blood. We saw the blood flowing from the tabernacle as Moses and the Levites performed the law of God. We saw the blood at Jericho when Rahab hung that scarlet cord out the window, when the armies of the Lord passed over her and her family.

Justification is a legal term. It’s an verdict which must be obtained legally. Listen, one of the biggest questions that people ask is this: If God is so good and loving, why doesn’t he just save everybody? Why does he have hell? Why doesn’t he just forgive everybody? The love of God and the mercy of God is not going to override, overshadow or abolish the holiness of God. Neither is the holiness of God going to cancel out the love and mercy of God. Remember this scripture (Romans 12:9) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. That expression without dissimulation means genuine, sincere, without hypocricy. God loves sinners, but hates sin.

God is good. That means he’s just. If someone murdered all your children and the murderer stood before the judge and the judge said, “You know, I love you, I’m just gonna let you go.” Would you think that the judge was just? God being the righteous judge of all men, should he not be just? If God did not give what was just, he would cease to be holy. If he’s not holy, then he can’t be good. No God is good and God is just. And the justification that I have received was obtained legally and lawfully. The bible says to let everything be done decently and in order.

According to the law, the high priest entered into the holiest place of the tabernacle, the place where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat was. He came in there with the blood of bulls and goats and offered it to God for the sins of himself and the sins of the people, to make an atonement for their sins. The sacrifices were performed in the tabernacle which God had instructed Moses and the people Israel to make. And then later, the vessels and instruments were brought into the temple made by Solomon. And the sacrifices were carried out in there.

Now when Moses first made the tabernacle, God shewed him what it was going to look like. Here in Exodus 25:8,9 is says And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. And when I read this, I’ve always had the impression that what was made on earth was made after a pattern. It was a copy of the real thing. It other words it wasn’t the genuine article. It was patterned after the genuine article. It was an earthly tabernacle patterned after the heavenly reality.

And I believe this is confirmed in Hebrews where it say (9:11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, Christ was a better high priest than the earthly one. He entered into a better tabernacle than the earthly one. The bible says (9:12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place. He had better blood than the earthly blood. And then the bible goes on to say having obtained eternal redemption for us. He obtained better results than the earthly results. That high priest had to go back in year after year to offer blood. Why because it was temporal and didn’t last. It wasn’t like Christ’s blood, that obtained eternal redemption for us.

I said all this to this (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? We’ve been given so much in Christ Jesus. I’d tried to list some. But above all that, we’ve got the blood of Christ. We’ve been declared justified in presence of angels, before the mercy seat in heaven. We carry no more the weight of our sin or the weight of the law. We are truly washed in the blood of the Lamb. Just like Moses said before the people, Christ, our high priest, has said, (Exodus 24:8) Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you!

My goodness. We have a blood covenant made in the holiest of the heavens on our behalf. Why?  Listen to this again. (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? So we can serve the living God. We’ve been given so much. And now, through the blood, through it’s cleansing power, our conscience is purges so that we can serve the living God. Why in the world don’t we serve him? Why in the world do we not submit ourselves to him? When God is for us!

This pillar of justification. The foundation of the blood; the blood of Christ. Where the law was once against us, by the blood of Christ, it is now for us. (Romans 8:3,4) God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. (Romans 3:31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. God is so for us. 

The Pillar of Glorification

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. So the last on this list is glorification. Now like I said, most preachers preach this in a chronological fashion and this glorification is usually preached as a future event. We’ve got predestination, then called, then justified, and one day soon when we cross this river Jordan, we’ll be glorified, or when Jesus comes and dead in Christ shall rise, we recieve a glorified body. That’s all good and fine. The problem is all this that is written is past tense. It’s doesn’t say that whom he justified, them he shall also glorify. No, it says and whom he justified, them he also glorified. In other words, right now, if you are saved, you are just as must glorified as you are justified.

When something is turned to stone, it’s been petrified. If some has been made beautiful, it’s been beautified. If something has been made to look bigger, it’s been magnified. If someone has been made just, they’ve been justified. So it seems to me that if you’ve been born again, born into the family of God, added to Christ’s church, washed in the blood, then there’s also something different about you that has got something to do with glory!

I want to take you for a moment back to Exodus. Remember the second tables of stone with the commandments. Well, when Moses came out with those tables of stone to speak to the children of Israel, the bible says that (35:30) the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. The bible says that they had to put a vail upon his face. I don’t know where preachers get this, but they call that the shekanah glory of God. Now listen to what Paul said about this in (2 Corinthians 3:7,8) But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

I want to say this: The pillar of glorification speaks to us about the foundation of the Spirit. Ezekiel was brought in a vision to the gate of the temple and the bible says (Ezekiel 43:2) Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. The bible says (43:5)  The spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. Do you remember the words of Isaiah (6:1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. That train is his kingly robe and the glory of it. The bible says that the the whole temple was filled with smoke. We see another picture of this at Pentecost when (Acts 2:2) suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting… (Acts 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.

Let me say again, if you’ve been born again, born into the family of God, added to Christ’s church, washed in the blood, then there’s also something different about you that has got something to do with glory! (2 Corinthians 3:11) For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Amen. In the dispensation of the law, God gave us tables of stone to put inside an earthly tabernacle. In this dispensation of grace, God has given us His Spirit to dwell inside of us. (1 Corinthians 6:19:20) Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. There’s that glory again. I believe the only way possible that we can glorify God is because somehow, we’ve been glorified. When God put the Holy Ghost inside of you, he gloried you.

So let’s look back at the last time glory was mentioned in Romans and it takes us to Romans 8:18 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. And I know that the text is really talking about a future event: but I want you to see that he’s not necessarily talking about the redemption of our bodies. It certainly will take place at that time. But what he says is that the glory shall be revealed in us. 

And I’ll say what I’ve told you before:  What is soon to be revealed is now hidden. Paul says it’s the glory which shall be revealed “in us.” I’m saying that whatever it is that God is going to reveal when the time right, is already there. The glory that God will reveal in us is already in us. It just can’t be seen. It’s yet to be revealed. It’s hidden.

Jesus prayed in the garden before he went up to Calvary (John 17:5) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. And he went on and prayed (17:22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them. I have given them. I have given them. He didn’t say I will give them. No. I have given them. I have given it to them. The glory that God will reveal in us is already in us. It just can’t be seen. It’s yet to be revealed. It’s hidden. (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

When Paul speaks about the sufferings of this present time that are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us he is saying that there’s something inside of me at this present time.  When you think of that word revealed, what do you think of? I always think of a magician. He’s got something behind that napkin that he’s gonna let the audience see. I think of the presentation of a portrait. That white sheet hangs over the painting. Whatever is going to be revealed is already there. It’s just covered up right now. It’s behind the veil. When a bride is presented to her husband, she comes veiled. Sometime before the minister pronounces them man and wife, sometime before the husband kisses the bride, that veil is removed. One day this veil of flesh will be removed and what God has prepared for his Son will be revealed to him and all the universe.

The bible says (1 Corinthians 15:53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. We’re going to disrobe from the corruptible. We’re going to throw off the veil of mortality. And what will be revealed is what we believed all along. The bible says that Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The bible says, That he might present it to himself a GLORIOUS church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)

I’ve preached some of this to you before, but O if we can ever get a grasp on that. That God has already sanctified and separated and chosen for his Son the bride. Like the Old Testament story of how Eleazar, Abraham’s servant, had gone and found a wife for his son Isaac. You know the story of how he told God, Let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for they servant Isaac… (Genesis 24:14) And how Rebekah came out and met Eleazar and it all came to pass as he had asked God. And she agreed to go with Abraham’s servant.

And along the way back home, the Bible says: And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. (Genesis 24:63-65)

Listen, I said all that to say this: That veil did not change what it concealed. And it did not change the events that would shortly come to pass. The bible says, “Isaac brought her into his mother’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.” And somewhere in that verse that veil was removed. Don’t forget what is behind this veil of flesh; the beautiful, GLORIOUS bride of Christ! And whom he justified, them he also glorified.

When God put in you the Holy Spirit, he changed you for eternity. He changed your make up. Jesus said, (John 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; God put something glorious inside of you that glorifies your soul and spirit. (Romans 8:9) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Now if you have the Spirit of Christ, then you are his. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price:

I know alot of people don’t like this. They don’t want to be God’s. They want to be their own. Their own boss. Their own provider. They want to call the shots. But listen to this (1 Corinthians 3:16,17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Do you see the divine place of protection that God has placed us because he has given us his Holy Spirit? Because he has glorified us?

Do you see that this is just one more way that God is trying to tell us that he is for us. Instead he is against all our enemies. We’re the temple, and he’s against anyone that is against His temple. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy! Don’t mess with God’s temple. He’s not talking about you. He’s talking about anything or anybody that will stand in the way of God’s holiness for us. God is for us! Amen!

Conclusion

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? 

• The pillar of presdestination, the foundation of family and the love of the Father
• The pillar of being called, the foundation of the church and the love of Christ
• The pillar of justification, the foundation of the blood and the law of God
• The pillar of glorification, the foundation of the Spirit and the temple of God

These four pillars. These four foundations hold up steadfastly this great truth: That God is for you. I say to you this Christmas Eve morning. (John 3:16,17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. God is for you.

(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God is for you.

(John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. God is for you.

(Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. God is for you.

Introduction and Review

Several weeks ago, I preached to you all a message on Praying in the Holy Ghost. And the text we covered was Romans 8:26,27:

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. 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.

And there were two ways we were gonna look at this. Let me just read to you my introduction from that message:

This verse brings to our attention the New Testament principle of praying in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit. The bible teaches us and encourages us to pray in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18, Paul says, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; In the letter to Jude, chapter 1, verse 20 it says, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

And of course this brings to us many questions: Are we praying in the Holy Ghost? What is praying in the Holy Ghost? Is this something that we are practicing? Now answering this is not necessarily easy in certain respects. Now I’ve come to this: There’s two ways to answer these questions. There’s two ways to look upon this matter of praying in the Spirit. Both ways are beneficial to study. I’ll preach on one today and the other another time. Both ways may very well be right.

Preacher Allen would always say that there are always two train tracks traveling side by side. One track is the Sovereignty of God and the other is the Free Will of Man. If you ever wake up in the morning and only see one track, go back to sleep. There’s something wrong.

And what we did was go down the track of the Free Will of Man. At least we tried to. I tried to shed some light on our part of this praying in the Spirit. I tried to present this as something that we should strive for. Something that you can’t just sit on your haunch and expect the windows of heaven to open to you. Something to strive for. Something to learn about. I had said: On this side, there’s a free market to this matter of prayer. The benefits of our prayer life is directly proportional to how hard we work at it. James said (James 5;16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And I brought you three points:

#1 The Holy Spirit Knows Why to Pray

We need help. In this current state, in our infirmities, in our weaknesses, we are in desperate need of help. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… That’s our motive for praying in the Spirit. It is to this end that the Father has sent him to us. He said I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. (John 14:18) We need help in this world. We need a Comforter.

#2 The Holy Spirit Knows What to Pray

And we talked about the teaching ministry of the Holy Ghost. And that the Holy Ghost will teach us to pray as Jesus taught his disciples to pray. (John 14:26) 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. And the text read for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. So we looked at the Lord’s prayer. This is the matter in which we should pray. I tried to demonstrate to you through the scriptures that the Holy Spirit is very much concerned about every aspect of the Lord’s prayer: the Father, the kingdom, the will of God, our daily bread, forgiveness of our sins and other’s, and protection (deliverance from evil).

#3 The Holy Spirit Knows How to Pray

…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. There is an intensity to the intercession of the Holy Ghost. God is groaning for us. There’s a fervency and an effort made on our behalf before the throne of God. And this is the manner in which we should pray.

So all these things: the Spirit knows why to pray, what to pray, and how to pray. I brought all this to us (the motive of prayer, the matter of prayer, and the manner of prayer) that we might yearn and strive to pray under these constructs, that we might endeavor to pray in the Holy Ghost. We have a free will. And it should be our will to pray in the Holy Ghost.

The Sovereignty of God

However, I said there are two ways to look upon this matter of praying in the Spirit. And I said we’d cover one that day and cover the other another day. Well I believe that day has come upon us. We went on to Romans 8:28 and 29. But I feel that it would be good to go back and look at this again from that other perspective.

There’s two tracks. There’s the free will of man on one side and the sovereignty of God on the other. You need both tracks. You can’t go anywhere on one track. So I want to look at this text again through the perspective of the Sovereignty of God.

You say, Preacher, you keep saying that, the sovereignty of God. What is sovereignty? Well, you’ll find out when somebody encroaches on your sovereignty.  I believe that the word sovereign comes from two words super and reign. Super means above. Reign means to rule. So in a sense, it means the super ruler; or can I say this: the ruler above rulers. (Revelation 19:6) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. There’s you a biblical definition for sovereign: King of kings and Lord of lords.

#1 The Holiness of God

In this first section, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, To declare our infirmities, is to declare the goodness and holiness of God. To admit that we are sick is to declare that God is pure and clean. (Romans 7:16) I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d truly gain an understanding of this verse or use it effectively, but I know no other verse that demonstrates this truth so well. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. If we admit, or if we ascribe our infirmities to ourselves, then we ascribe holiness and purity and goodness to God. (Mark 2:17) They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

In this first section, I see the holiness of God, the righteousness, the purity and goodness of God. God is not like us, infirm, sickly, and plagued. (Romans 3:4) …yea, let God be true, but every man a liar… I see the holiness of God. So when we enter into prayer, praying in the Holy Ghost, we are entering in the holy of holies, the very presence a holy God. (Hebrews 10:19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

The bible says (1 Corinthians 3:16,17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Do you see that the temple is made holy by reason of him who has dwelt in it? God told Moses (Exodus 3:5) …put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Can I say this: God’s presence makes right that which is wrong. God’s presence heals that which is infirm. God’s presence makes clean that which is dirty. God’s presence makes pure that which is impure. I remember Brother Lester Roloff once said that death and sickness and sin could not stand before Jesus. Everywhere he went, where sin was it fled. Where sickness was it fled. Where death was it fled. It all fled from the face of Jesus. The blind were made to see. The lame were made to walk. The lepers were cleansed. And the dead were raised up. Things changed when Jesus passed by. God said (Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Remember that woman with the issue of blood. (Matthew 9:21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch (the hem of) his garment, I shall be whole. Brother and sisters, we got more than just the hem of his garment. Can I say this: We are the garment! We are his temple. He lives in us. He walk in us. He dwells in us. Paul said, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. The temple is made holy by reason and merit of him who dwells in it. The Spirit helpeth our infirmities.

(1 Corinthians 6:19) …know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God… I think one key things to understanding in this praying in the Holy Ghost is just that: He’s the HOLY Ghost! And He is the Spirit of a HOLY God! Praise the Lord for His holiness! Praise the Lord for his cleansing power! Sin cannot stand before his presence. Impurities and stains are washed away. Dirt is swept away. The dross is burned away. Thank God that the HOLY Ghost makes the temple holy.

And another key thing in understanding this things about praying in the Holy Ghost is the Holy Ghost praying in you. Praying in the Holy Ghost is the Holy Ghost praying in you. But you see, I’m preaching about the the Sovereignty of God and the holiness of God. This doesn’t have anything to do with my free will. This is just so. If you are saved, it’s just so. In this first section we see the holiness of God.

#2 The Knowledge of God

When we look at this next verse part of the verse, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, there’s a little word there: know. We know not. And our lack of knowledge brings to mind the knowledge of God. God knows everything! God is omniscient. That word omniscient means all knowing. God knows everything!

• (1 Samuel 2:3) …for the LORD is a God of knowledge…
• (2 Peter 2:9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations…
  
• (Psalm 1:6) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous…
  
• (Nahum 1:7) …he knoweth them that trust in him.
  
• (Psalm 94:11) The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man…
• (Psalm 44:21) …for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
• (Proverbs 2:6) …out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

God knows everything! God knows what you’re going through. God knows your weaknesses. God know how all this is gonna pan out. God knows the beginning from the end. There’s all kinds of things I suppose we can say about this, but let me share something that I understand.

At the shop, there’s a saying that I have that I’ve been using for years and I just realized just how true this is. Here it is: Knowledge is responsibility. At the shop, the best way to get out of having responsibility in a matter, is to not have any knowledge of it. There’s a lot of times that my Dad is giving me information about a job that isn’t mine. It’s my brother’s job. So I’m like no, no, no! I don’t need to know this. I’m not responsible for this job. I gained the knowledge of how to troubleshoot and fix those waterjet machines we have. Guess who’s responsible for fixing them? Knowledge is responsibility. Sometimes my brother is giving me information about a job or something, and it’s alot of information, I’ll just interrupt and say, “Do I need to know this?” Am I going to be responsible for this information? Because if I’m not, I really don’t want it.

But God knows everything! Therefore, he is responsible for everything. And if he’s responsible, then He will see it through. Sometimes, we just have to learn, to take our hands off a situation and let God handle it. He knows what’s going on anyhow. If he knows, then he’s responsible. Knowledge is responsibility. If He has all knowledge, then he has all responsibility. When you give someone responsibilities, what does that mean? It means you trust them. It means you trust them to see it through. It means you have confidence in them and trust them to take care of that task or that job or that situation, amen? (Proverbs 3:5,6) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

He’s got all the knowledge and all the understanding. That means we can put all our trust and confidence in him. And God is not like man. God is faithful. God is not going to shirk the responsibility that is laid upon Him by his knowledge. This is an attribute of His sovereignty. Have you ever heard the #1 rule of leadership? It’s always your fault. Why? Because the leader is who is responsible or who is held responsible. Leadership (sovereignty) is responsibility. Well Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord or Lords. Amen? We ought to sing as that old song Living by Faith. 

The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything, and all of my worry is vain…

For we know not what we should pray for… That means, in a sense, we’re not responsible. If knowledge is responsibility, and you don’t have the knowledge, then that means that you don’t have the responsibility. I’m not responsible for the outcome when God is in control. All I have to do is obey. If things aren’t working out, then that’s God’s problem. But when he does work it out, then he get’s the glory. Amen? Amen brother Rick.

#3 The Prayers of God

So we see the holiness of God and the knowledge of God. In this next section …but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered we see these words maketh intercession. In the following we verse, (27) we have it used again because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. So I just cannot get this thought out of my head when I see this maketh intercession. And that is that God the Holy Spirit prays. I guess for sometime now, I never thought of the Holy Ghost on his knees as Jesus was on his knees praying for me to God the Father. But it says it. Maketh intercession. That means he’s interceding for me. That means he’s intervening on my behalf. He’s pleading my case. He’s advocating for me. He’s my representative before God down here. And Jesus is my representative up there. So I’ve got alot working for me. The Holy Spirit and Jesus are just as much God as God is God. So when we look at these parts of the text, we see the Prayers of God. I see a few things in the prayers of God.

The People of God

He makes intercession for us and he makes intercession for the saints. Us and the saints? These are the people of God. (Psalm 100:3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. We may not be perfect. We may need help and intercession, but that does not take away from the fact that we are his people. We are his church! (Matthew 16:18) … I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I thank God that I am one of his people. I thank God that I am in the church.

(Revelation 21:3) …and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. We don’t have to wait until Revelation Chapter 21 to be his people. If we are not his people now, we will have no part in Revelation 21. He’s praying and interceding for HIS people. We are the people of God. There has always been a people of God. (Genesis 4:26) And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. That’s us. We are God’s people. (Romans 10:14) Whoseoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And the fact that God has a people makes exalts His sovereignty. Amen? Kings have kingdoms. Kingdoms have subjects; people. Amen? The kingdom of God is not of the people, by the people, and for the people. No. The kingdom of God is of God, and by God, and for God. He is the King and we are his people. And if you have a problem with that, you better check up. He intercedes for us; for the saints of God. Some people got it all backwards. They think the saints are interceding for them. No. The Holy Ghost intercedes for the saints; the holy band.

I’m glad I’m in that holy band. I’m glad I’m in the church. I am a part of the body of Christ. I’m one of them. I’m one of His People. I’m not my own. I’ve been bough with a price. (1 Peter 1:18,19) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. I’ve been born into his family. There’s that sovereignty again. Birth is a miracle. Once you’re born into a family. There’s nothing you can do to get out of it. My children are my children no matter what they do. I’m a child of God and there’s nothing I can do or not do that is going to change that. It’s just so because God said it’s so.

The Passion of God

We see the people of God. We also see the passion of God. but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And I covered alot this when we preached about prayers last time: The Holy Spirit knows How to pray. With groaning which cannot be uttered. Let me repeat a few things from that:

God the Holy Spirit groans like God the Son. If you want to get a picture of what that looks like, take a little visit to the garden of Gethsename. (Luke 22:44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. That’s Jesus Christ praying, amen? Like the old songwrite wrote, “Not a tear for his own grief, but sweat drops of blood for mine.”

Jesus loved the family of Lazarus; Mary and Martha. When Jesus showed up to the town in which they lived after Lazarus had died, the bible says (John 11:32,33) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, God is concerned with the affairs and hearts of the those he loves. The bible says that he groaned and was troubled at the weeping of Mary. He hurts when we hurt. Those who saw said, Behold how he loved him! He mourned with those that mourned. He groaned in the spirit, in the depths of his person, he groaned.

And when we preached this last time, I used these verses and truths to encourage us to want to pray like Jesus and the Holy Spirit; to pray earnestly; to reach down and pray from within. We were preaching on the manner of prayer. But what I want us to step back and see is that God has a passion for his people. God has a passion for his people. He loves his people. He cares for them. He’s concerned for them. You don’t groan for someone you don’t love.

He’s demonstrated that on the cross. (Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He died for us, gave himself for us. We are the object of his passion. (Hebrew 12:2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. That joy is you and me and the people of God. He endured the cross for me. He endured the cross because he had a passion, a passion for sinners.

• He has a passion for this old sinful world. (John 3:16,17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
• He has a passion for his church, his people. (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
• He has a passion for me. Paul said (Galatians 2:20) ..the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  

You don’t give yourself to something unless you are passionate about it. He gave himself. He gave everything he had. This reminds me of the greatest commandment: (Mark 12:30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. That’s what God did for us. He put all his heart, and all his soul, and all his mind, and all his strength into loving us. It took him seven days to set this world in motion. He’s spent already 6000 years building his church. He’s the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. We’re worth something to God. Jesus said (Matthew 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  You are worth more to God than this whole world.

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting outside on the side of a ditch I had carved out. I was just sitting out there in the open. And all of a sudden there comes this man running down the street. Well he turns in toward me. So I get up. I figure he wants to talk to me. And he’s running. And I’m wondering what in the world is this guy up to. Well as he’s coming he’s asking me if I seen his silver pug. Apparently, that’s a dog. It’s a dog with that ugly smooshed face. He said it had run out and he was looking for it. He asks me if I see him, could I call him and let him know. And he held out his business card with his name and number on it. Well, as I took the card I look up at his face, and there were tears running down his face. He said “That dog is all I got. She means everything to me. She ran out and I can’t find her. I love that dog.” And I said okay I will. And I shook his hand and he ran off looking for that silver pug. That man had a passion for that dog.

You might not think that you’re much worth much more than a dog, but God has got a passion for you. You might be like that woman with the daughter who was sick. Jesus said to her (Matthew 15:26)  It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said to that (27,28) Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Can I say this? God has a passion for us dogs. At first glance, Jesus seemed reluctant to answer the woman. But do you realize that in verse 21 Jesus came into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon and in verse 29 he went out of Tyre and Sidon and he never returned there again. And from verse 22 to verse 28 the only person that Jesus dealt with was that woman with the sick daughter.

(Song of Solomon 4:9) Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes… with one chain of thy neck. You think about that! Just one of thine eyes will ravish his heart. Just one little peak up to heaven and God is moved in the heart. We’re sitting here thinking that we’re not good enough. That we fail all the time. How can God ever love me? God doesn’t care about me. Oh but if we would just peek up to heaven, if we’d just look up to heaven, we’d touch the heart of God. He has a passion for his people. He intercedes, he prays with groanings which cannot be uttered. His groanings have given away his heart.

The Purpose of God

In the prayer of God, we see the people of god, the passion of God, but we also wee the purpose of God: because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The purpose of God is the will of God. (Ephesian 5:17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. The Holy Ghost’s purpose in prayer is that we might find, know, and do the will of God. And this thing about finding God’s perfect will, is getting bigger and bigger to me as this life in Christ presses forward.

Being in God’s perfect will is the greatest peace that this Christian life affords. Being out of God’s will is the greatest misery for the saint of God. I want to be in God’s perfect will. His will are his desires, his plans, his heart, his passion for his people. The Holy Ghost groans on our behalf to God the Father that we might be in his will.

Preacher Allen has always said “Get on the possom’s trail for God’s perfect will in your life, and don’t let anything stand in your way!” When I think of this, I think of a hound dog just sniffing around trying to catch the trail of that possum. He might go left. He might go right. He might circle a tree. He might circle a bush for a little while. Ah, but when he catch the scent gets on that trail, it’s Arooo! Arooo! Arooo! He’s got the trail. And he’s on the move.

God has a plan. (expound) ?

It’s not my will, but thy will be done. (expound) ?

When God’s will become important in your life, then you can sing that song:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I’d rather be his than have riches untold. I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land. Yes I’d rather be led by his nail pierced hand.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is seeking the Sovereign will of God. If we had any part in determining that, then God would not be sovereign. He’s either in control or he’s not. Don’t ever give up in searching for God’s perfect will. Keep praying to that end. Keep asking. Keep seeking. And keep knocking. (Luke 11:10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (1 John 5:14,15) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Don’t think for one second that God doesn’t care. That’s all he does. (1 Peter 5:7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. The Holy Ghost is groaning and travailing for God’s people that we might find and do the will of God. God’s will in not some haphazard plan. He’s not making this up as we go along. It’s of old, it’s from everlasting. It’s conceived in the eternal mind of the everlasting God before the foundations of this world. God knows what he’s doing. I just want to be part of it.

Conclusion

There’s two tracks. Remember that there’s two tracks. The freewill of man and the sovereignty of God. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh weak. That spirit has a little s. That’s your spirit. Your spirit is willing, but that old flesh is weak. When things are looking weak on your side of track… When the wheels start coming off… And they will. (Rom 7:18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Remember there’s a whole other side to this journey. Trust and lean on the holiness, the knowledge, and prayers of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God.

(Romans 8:28,29) 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. 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.

#1 And we know…

This is in direct opposition to Romans 8:26, where Paul says, for we know not. There’s things we don’t know, but there’s things we do know. So Paul just finished telling us that we don’t know what to pray for. We need help because of our infirmities of our flesh; the temptations and weaknesses. We have no power or knowledge of these things, we don’t know. We need help. And our lack of knowledge of God’s will. The Spirit of Christ knows the will of God and intercedes for us. He steps in where we fail. He’s an advocate. Like I said, we ought to know as Paul says, but we don’t know. There’s things we just don’t know.

But now he says and we know. There’s some things we can know. I was looking back at Romans 6 lately and that whole chapter is about things we can know.

• (6:3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
• (6:6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
• (6:9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
• (6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

God wants us to know some things. And there’s one more things that we can know. And that is that all things work together for good to them that love God. He said And we know! We might not know what we should pray for or know and understand the will of God, but we can know, rest assured, take it to the bank, set it in concrete, that whatever those things are, they work together for good to them that love God. We don’t have to wonder if any of the things that befall us are going to work to are harm, because the bible said all things work together for good.

This kinda makes me think of Hymenaeus and Alexander. (1 Timothy 1:18-20) This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. It doesn’t sound too good to be delivered unto Satan, does it? It doesn’t sound good to have made shipwreck. And I know that there’s much controversy and lack of knowledge concerning this thing about being delivered unto Satan. But if it will teach them not to blaspheme, I’d say that in the end, that’s good! All things work together for good.

No matter how bad or evil it may seem, it’s for your good. Now, I’m not saying that bad is good or evil is somehow good. But I am saying that God has a way of working good in us as he deals with the bad and the evil. Before we were under the law. (Romans 7:12-13) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

But now, see? We’re under grace. And grace is also holy and just and good, Because it comes from God. So the question is, was that which is bad and evil made good unto me? God forbid. Can I say this: But grace, that it might appear grace, working good in me by that which is evil, that grace might become exceeding graceful. That’s what Paul is saying when he said, (Romans 5:20,21) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. Think about those Israelites and the journey through the wilderness. They had alot of problems in the wilderness, they murmured, they provoked God, they doubted God, there were snakes, thirst, hunger, alot of things that on the outset, yes they seem bad. They’d cry Let’s go back to Egypt. There were plagues. The earth opened up and swallowed them up. They didn’t start real good. But it was all for their good.

At Kadesh-Barnea they refused to go into the land that God had given them to possess. So God said, (Numbers 14:29-30) Your carcases shall fall in the wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land. God condemned all of those to die in the wilderness. Sounds bad, doesn’t it?

But God also said. (Number 14:20) I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” He said “My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” God confirmed his promise he made with Abraham and once again established his covenant with Caleb and Joshua. He said, “… you little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.” So it was for the good of Israel. God was purging Israel and shaping it and molding it.

Remember the typology. All of Israel is a type of the Christian. Israel as a whole was purged, refined, and prepared. And he’s gonna do the same thing for you and for me and to all them that love God. We have to know this. So when we bow our heads in prayer, we may not know what’s going on or what God is doing, but we can know that it will be for our good.

#2 All things…

We must be careful not to just pull this verse out of it’s context. People quote this verse all the time and they may or may not have a working understanding of what really Paul is trying to accomplish in this passage. So I find it important to once again bring to our rememberance what exactly is going on in Chapter 8 and Chapter 7. Now when Paul says all things does he mean all things in general, or is he talking about all things in Chapter 7 & 8? What things do Paul refer?

I want us to remember that the climactic problem in Chapter 7 is there is (23) another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. And climactic cry of desperation in this state is (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? And it’s to this truth and question the the things refer.

One thing I believe that we know from Chapter 8, is that the deliverance of the body of this death is one thing to which Paul declared that (8:27) we with patience wait for it. He said (8:21-23) 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 wit, the redemption of our body. So in light of Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to them that love God we are to understand this hoping for that we see not and the waiting that God has subjected us to, is in God’s purpose designed as such to work good to us. We are to understand that this state of waiting and hoping is for our good. It’s for our good and for the good of others that love God.

I believe that may be why Paul can praise God in the wretched state that he finds himself. He cries (7:24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? But then the next verse, he says (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, and with the flesh the law of sin. He says I’m in a pretty wretched state. My mind wants to serve the law of God. My flesh want to serve the law of sin. But I want to thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord, that this is the state that God has put me in. This is the state that God has subjected me in. Because in this state, God hath said to me… (2 Corinthians 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. In this state, Paul can say Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

It is those weakness and those infirmities that God has purposed to work for good to us. All our problems, all our weaknesses, all our troubles and trials? Amen? He said all things. All things work together for good. Well, in Romans 7 & 8, Paul isn’t talking about the good things. He said, (7:18) I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. No, he’s talking about those evil things; the temptations, the trials, the troubles, the sufferings of this present time. He said (7:21) that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

No, he’s not talking about the good things. He’s talking about the evil things, the weaknesses, the infirmities, the temptations, the sufferings. All those things work together for good… Besides, if it was good, why would he even say it? If they were already good, why would they work for good? That wouldn’t make any sense. No, he speaks of the evil things, the undesirable things…

#3 Work together for good…

But even all those things, work together for good to them that love God.  Even all those things that the power of Christ may rest upon me. So it’s not that evil somehow becomes good. It’s that there is no power in us, but that there is power in the overcoming, persevering, victorious love of God. We can try, but in the end, that Christ may receive all the glory and honor. It’s him that worketh good in us.

That’s why we can thank God; thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul said, (2 Corinthians 12:10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Is there ever a reason to not be thankful to God. Is there ever a reason to not be grateful. I can thank God “for all the good things he’s done for me. I know I’m unworthy of them all…” But I can thank Him, even through the evil things, even through the hard times, and the weak times. Because I know it’s for my good.

So in that context, we read also Romans 8:28 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 want us to see that Romans 8;28 is to be read and understood with Romans 8:29 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. My brethren, God’s purpose in Romans 8:28 is that we might be conformed to the image of his Son in Romans 8:29. So why is it that all things work good? Why do these things that befall us work good to us? Because it’s in God’s purpose that they might work in us to conform us to the image of his Son. It’s not just to teach a lesson. It’s not just to humble us. It’s not just teach us patience. But it’s of God’s good design and purpose, that we might be conformed to the image of his Son.

Did Paul not say (8:16,17)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. If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Is so be… that we may be… That we may be means that God has a plan and that God has a purpose. And it’s a good plan. But that if so be part means that God has some prerequisites. We may have to suffer some, but it’s for our good; that we may be conformed to the image of his Son. (Romans 8:18) 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.

• (Philippians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
• (Colossians 1:21,22) And you… hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
• (Colossians 1:27,28) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
• (Jude 1:24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

“It’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish.” And God wants us to finish good. (Romans 8:28,29) 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. Do you love God? Whatever is you’re going through. If you love God, trust in him that it will all work together for good. I know that’s easier said than done sometimes. But God knows what he’s doing. God is working on us in ways we could never do ourselves. We are truly His workmanship.

#4 He also did predestinate…

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.

The conformation of His saints to the image of His dear Son we are to understand that he predestinated this. So, some of us concern ourselves with controversial doctrines such Calvanism and predestination. And I know little of these things, but I can tell you that concerning Romans 8:29, predestination has absolutely nothing to do with choosing who and who is not saved or God choosing who will or will not be saved. In Romans 8:29 predestination has nothing to do with a sinner; or a sinner getting saved. But this is in regards to God’s saints. Only saints are predestined, not sinners. So you’re gonna have to get in the boat first, before you concern yourself with predetermined destination. You’re gonna have to be saved first, then you can get on that predestined path.

Jesus said (Matthew 7:14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. The gate is where you enter in. That’s where you begin. But the way, the narrow way, must be walked. The gate is before all sinners, but you have to enter in the gate before the way presents itself.

You will not find salvation there, but salvation will place you there. And the Holy Bible speaks much about this path; this narrow way so to speak.

• On that predestination path of Romans 8:29, you’ll find the all things of Romans 8:28 that work together for good. On that predestination path, you’ll find the divine purpose of God. Off that path, there is no purpose, but vanity. Off that path all things don’t work together for good.
• And on that predestination path of Romans 8:29, you’ll find the it of Philippians 1:6. You can be confident of this very thing: that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: On that path, you’ll see the heavenly performance of God in you. Off that path, it’s your performance; your show. The wonderful it of Philippians 1:6! You either got it or you don’t.
• And on that predestination path of Romans 8:29 is where we should walk. (Ephesians 2:8) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. On this path, we’ll find the work that God has for us to do. There is no predestinated idleness. God hath not for ordained that you should do nothing. If your are idle in the things of God, good possibility that you’ve stepped off that path. On this path is work, responsibility, effort. We are his workmanship… There’s growing and learning and maturing and improving.
• And on this path is provided the strength to endure. You’ll not only find the all things of Romans 8:28, but you’ll also find the all things of Phillippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. It’s very possible those are all the same things. I don’t think that God would ask from us anything that his strength and grace were not enough to see it through. Does that mean that you’ll conquer everything and have victory in everything that comes down that path? Absolutely not. But by the grace of God, and the hope that is laid in our hearts, we will endure to the end of this predestination path. And it will be for good to them that love God.
• And this ties us also to the preceding verse (8:27) 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. The all things that work in Romans 8:28, and the all things endured in Philippians 4:13, and the it performed in Philippians 1:6, and the good works done in Ephesians 2:8… All these things are the perfect will of God, to which the Spirit prays for us, intercedes for us, and helps us.

Before we were saved, in (Romans 7:5) We were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. And even now after you are saved, (Romans 7:23) there’s  another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is (still) in my members. But the there’s Romans 8:10 But if Christ be in you, there is another way, another path, another plan. And I want to say this: It is the path of the Holy Spirit.

God has a plan for us, that we might be conformed to the image of his Son, to which the Holy Ghost’s mind is bent toward. That is the aim and purpose of the Spirit of God. That is his what He is intent on accomplishing. All his methods will be designed to this purpose. What’s on the Spirit’s mind? 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.

The Holy Spirit has got you on his mind; the saints of God. I can hear the Father asking the Holy Ghost as he communes with Him, “Holy Spirit! What’s on your mind?” He says “Why nothing more than the saints of God! (1 Corinthians 2:2) For I determined not to know any thing among (them) you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Listen to what I’m saying. Paul says this to the church; not the sinner. (Repeat) He pleads with God that we might walk that path and carry out that plan. And Paul knows that only by the aid and power of God’s Holy Spirit can this be accomplished. (Galatians 5:16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. But if we walk in the Spirit, we shall fulfil the desires and passion of God himself, the predestinated will of God.

#5 To be conformed to the image of his Son…

And what is the predestinated will of God? What is God’s purpose, his design? 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. I believe that God wants a people that are very much like his Son. Does that mean that he wants a bunch of little Jesus’s running around. No. Every child is different. I’ve got seven children and every single one of them is different from the other, but that doesn’t mean only one of them can love their Father or obey their father. No, all of them can do that, but still be themselves. All of them can take upon themselves the traits and manners of their father, but still be themselves. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

(Philippians 2:5-9) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

(Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God wants to change the way you think. If you change the way you think, you’ll change the way you act. It will change the trajectory of your life. A trajectory is “a path followed by… an object moving under the action of given forces…” It’s the course that you take, the route in which you go. Paul said (Philippians 3:13,14) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The target of our trajectory, the cause of our course, the end of this route is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our standard, our goal, is to be conformed to the image of his Son. And what do we know about His Son.

(Isaiah 53)

1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there isno beauty that we should desire him.

3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

That is our standard. Paul said, (Philippians 2:5-9) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 

(1 John 3:1) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

(John 14:16,17) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(Galatians 4:6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

(John 1:14-15) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

God did not travail with you and strive with you and birth you into his family so that you can go on and be who you want to be. (1 Corinthians 6:18,19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. We are God’s children. We ought to be able to say like Jesus said, I was about my father’s business. He said it’s not my will Father, but thy will be done.

And it’s God’s will that we be transformed and conformed to the image of his Son. And it you think that this happens the moment you get saved, then you are all you’ll ever be. No, sanctification takes a little time. Sonship is learned and earned. You may have the power and the standing and the right to be the Sons of God, but if we don’t want walk in the calling that God has called us to, we live beneath our privileges. God wants to change you.

Being a son (as opposed to just a child) carries with it a responsibility, a task, a purpose. You share in these things with the Father. Sonship is learned and earned. I remember when I first met the Lord Jesus Christ. And that’s what I did when I got saved. I met God. I remember the overwhelming, undeniable, sense of wrong that I was. I wasn’t just wrong about something. No I was wrong. Everything was wrong about me. Every ounce of my being was wrong. (Romans 5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. I was the ungodly; a wretched sinner fully and duly deserving of hell. Jesus said (John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do…

God wants to change that. God wants to transform you, and conform in the image of His dear son. Transform means he wants to change your form. He doesn’t want to change you into Jesus Christ. No, he wants to change your form, by conforming you to the image of His son. And conform means he wants us to form us together with the image of His son. He still wants you, but he wants the image of His son in there too.

If you look up to someone, if you esteem someone highly, their ways, their person, then many times we want to be like them. You want to do what he does. You want to live like he does. You want to be like who he is. And I’m not talking about taking the place of Christ. But I’m talking about walking in the place that God that fore ordained that we should walk. You think about this: Jesus told his disciples (John 14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

(Romans 8:28,29) 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. 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.

Romans 8:26 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.

Introduction

This verse brings to our attention the New Testament principle of praying in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit. The bible teaches us and encourages us to pray in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18, Paul says, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; In the letter to Jude, chapter 1, verse 20 it says, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

And of course this brings to us many questions: Are we praying in the Holy Ghost? What is praying in the Holy Ghost? Is this something that we are practicing? Now answering this is not easy in certain respects. Now I’ve come to this: There’s two ways to answer these questions. There’s two ways to look upon this matter of praying in the Spirit. Both ways are beneficial to study. I’ll preach on one today and the other another time. Both ways may very well be right.

Preacher Allen would always say that there are always two train tracks traveling side by side. One track is the Sovereignty of God and the other is the Free Will of Man. If you ever wake up in the morning and only see one track, go back to sleep. There’s something wrong.

The Sovereignty of God

The first way, which we’ll save for later, will see praying in the Spirit as something that all Christians do, and can do without effort, really. The Holy Ghost prays all the time for you and that the key to praying in the Spirit lies in simply being in the Spirit. Paul says very clearly and emphatically (Romans 8:9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. If you are saved, born from above, then the Spirit of God dwells in you. You are in the Spirit. If the Spirit of God be in you, then you are in the Spirit. So in regards to praying in the Spirit, we are half way there. Did you get that? If you want to pray in the Holy Ghost, and you’re saved, you’re half way there. So what’s the other half? If you’re in the Spirit, then just pray. Pray. Just Pray. Pray always. Pray. Pray. Pray.

And this takes the burden of whether or not we are praying in the Spirit off of us and really encourages us to just pray. We don’t have a choice of the matter as far as praying in the Spirit. It’s just so. So you see how this exalts the sovereignty of God. And it strengthens our faith in God. And it encourages us to pray. So if you look at it this way, the second I bow my head in prayer, if I’m saved, I’m praying in the Holy Ghost. If I could be so bold as to say this: Even if you don’t pray, the Holy Ghost is making intercession for you and praying for you. When you look at this way, honestly, I’m not sure how a saint of God that is in the Spirit can not pray in the Spirit.

Are you in the Spirit of not? Paul said (Romans 8:9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. In this way of looking at things it is incumbent on us to do our part of the praying in the Spirit which is to pray, pray, pray. I see many benefits to looking at it like this.

The Free Will of Man

Now the other way at looking at this is where we’re going to preach today. On the other side of the spectrum from the sovereignty of God is the free will of man. And in this respect, we have much to do about praying in the the Spirit. In other words, praying in the Spirit is not something that every saved person does without a choice in the matter. Praying in the Spirit is something we should strive for and work towards and believe is possible and beneficial. On this side, there’s a free market to this matter of prayer. The benefits of our prayer life is directly proportional to how hard we work at it. James said (James 5;16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

This way I feel compelled to say that we pray in the Spirit, as much as we are filled with the Spirit. As much as we are walking after the Spirit will determine whether or not we are praying in the Spirit. So here we are again at Ephesians 5;18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; In order for us to pray in the Spirit; pray in the Holy Ghost, it’s incumbent upon us to be filled with the Spirit, to be surrendered to God’s will, to be as much as lies possible with us submitted to our Lord, sensitive to the leading of the Holy Ghost.

So I want to look at this verse from this point of view. In this point of view I believe we have much to learn about prayer from the Holy Ghost. It’s not our prayers but his prayers that are most important. (John 16:3) Howbeit 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… I want to hear what the Spirit of God has to say on this matter of prayer. Seven times in God’s final letter to man, he says, (Revelation 2:7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. I think that this verse, Romans 8:26, is an example and admonishment to us on prayer. The bible says he will teach us all things, and I think one thing we can learn from the Holy Ghost is about prayer.

I believe that praying in the Holy Ghost is when we enter into the prayers of the Holy Ghost. I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled years with my prayer life. I’m not the prayer warrior that I wish that I could be. But I know this, I don’t have to struggle when the Holy Ghost shows up. I may not be a prayer warrior, but the Holy Ghost is a battle hardened prayer general that knows how to get a prayer through. I’m not sure if I’ll ever know truly how to get a prayer through. But I know that the Holy Ghost knows how. Maybe you don’t even get a chance to pray. Maybe you don’t even know what to pray for. Thank God we’ve got someone that does. The Holy Ghost knows how to get a prayer through. The Holy Ghost prays. And in this verse, Romans 8:26, I see three things about the Holy Ghost and prayer.

#1 The Holy Spirit Knows Why to Pray

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…

In this first part of the verse, we see the why of the Spirit’s intercessions; the why of the Spirit’s prayers. And that undoubtedly, without debate, but to help our infirmities. The Holy Ghost prays to God, intercedes for us, calls out to God, for this one reason: to help us, and more specifically with our infirmities.

1) We need help.

The first thing I want us to see in all this, and in why the Spirit prays for us, is what goes without saying and is without question: We need help. I need help and you need help. Jesus said, (Matthew 26:41) the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Paul said, (Romans 7:18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. It doesn’t matter, how much you want to do good, how much you want to do right, how much you want to do the will of God; without the Spirit of God, and especially the interceding prayer of the Holy Ghost, I want to say good luck!

Let’s see how that works out. Go on up to heaven, and stand before Almighty God and tell him, “I did it on my own, Lord! I did it all by myself! I didn’t need any help!” Let’s see how that turns out. He’ll turn you out like he does with that crowd in Matthew 7. Didn’t we prophecy in your name? Didn’t we cast out devils in your name? Didn’t we do many wonderful works in your name? Jesus will say unto them, (Matthew 7:23) I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. That’s right. The bible says (Matthew 7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. How are you going to do will of God without the help God?

No, the bible says no good thing. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing… O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me? Who is going to help me? Who is going to help me in this condition? You know what this verse tells us? It tells us it’s okay to cry Mayday! That’s what Paul is saying when he says, O wretched man… He’s saying, and it’s what we all should be saying, Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! That’s the international distress signal that boats and airplanes put out when they’re in trouble and they need help! Mayday! Help! We need help.

This reminds me of that song, “It’s a battlefield, brother; not a recreation room; a fight and not a game.” We’re gonna need help. If you go out into the battlefield, it’s not going to be long before you find yourself in trouble. Oh yes, but (Psalm 34:17) The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The righteous cry. Do you know what I see when I see those the three words, the righteous cry? That right there, the righteous cry, is praying in the Holy Ghost, praying in the Spirit. The righteous cry? Why? Because the righteous need help.

2) We need help because of infirmities.

The second thing I want us to see in all this, and in why the Spirit prays for us, is why we need help. Paul says Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. Our infirmities is to what Paul refers. Our infirmities is what God has enlisted his Holy Spirit to help. Our infirmities. Jesus said, (Mark 2:17) They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick…

In the Gospel of Luke, the bible says (Luke 13:11,12) And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. I believe that Paul is mainly speaking of spiritual infirmities, spiritual weaknesses, problems that are of an internal nature. The next verse says And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit… We’ve got weaknesses in the heart, infirmities in the heart., maladies of the heart, diseases of the heart. Oh but (Psalm 103:2-3) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; He said ALL thy diseases. And all means all of them; physical and spiritual.

(Psalm 91,2,3,5,6) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence… Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness…

Pestilence? You know what that is? It’s defined as a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. And that word virulent means poisonous, toxic, venomous, noxious, deadly, lethal, fatal, dangerous, harmful, injurious, destructive… When Paul says in Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. It’s like a poison that runs through my viens. I think about that old serpent, the devil, and the venomous bite he gate Adam and Eve. It wasn’t a physical bite with a physical venom, but it was a toxic, venomous, deadly, spiritual blow to the all of man. Paul said, (7:23) I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

And it is to this, our infirmities, that the Spirit of God runs to help us. Now will the Spirit help us with our football game, or our track meet, or our TAKS test. Well, that’s between you and God. But I can tell you with surety that the sweet Holy Spirit of God is here to help us with our infirmities; and to heal us in our weakness and our failures. Jesus said (Luke 4:18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted… And that great scriptures (Malachi 4:2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…

That’s why Paul said (2 Corinthians 2:9,10) My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. So the Holy Spirit know why to pray, because we need help in our infirmities.

3) It’s the Spirit of Almighty God that gives us help.

And this bring me to the third thing regarding the why the Holy Spirit prays. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… To answer Paul questions (Romans 7:24) O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me? Lord, who is going to help me? Take away the extra words, and what’s left: The Spirit helpeth. It’s the Spirit of Almighty God that helps us; God the Holy Spirit. He’s just as much God as God is God. Why does the Holy Spirit pray for us? Because he’s God, and that’s who God is and that is what God does. He helps us in our infirmities.

(Hebrews 2:18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. God has not left us alone to wallow in our infirmities, but has given his Spirit to help us in our infirmities. The Holy Spirit prays for us because (and I mean no disrespect by this) that’s his job. That is what he was sent from the Father to do. Thus the Holy Spirit must be able to help us. The bible says He is able to succour them that are tempted.

The bible says (1 Cor 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. That way is the Holy Ghost. God is able, therefore ye may be able… 

(1 Cor 6:19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God… The Holy Ghost has showed up to the temple, the house of God. And Jesus said that his house would be a house of prayer. So what’s the Holy Ghost doing in his house? He’s already praying. You don’t have to call 911. You don’t have to wait. You don’t even have to post it on Facebook, “Everybody pray!” The bible says, (Psalm 46:1) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The Holy Ghost is present and accounted for. Why? Because somebody needs help. And that somebody is you. That somebody is me.

You talk about the 1st responders. The Holy Ghost is our first responder. The Holy Ghost is first on the scene. And I don’t have to call 911 and wait 20 minutes. He’s already there. In fact, he’s there before I get there, amen? It’s the Spirit of Almighty God that gives us help. (Psalm 121:1-3) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Our God never sleeps. The Holy Spirit is from heaven. He’s from above. He comes from the Father. Up there (Revelation 21:23) …the city (has)… no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it… the glory of God (does)… lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Our God never sleeps. In the garden of Gethsemane, everybody was falling asleep, but my Lord Jesus Christ prayed on. And the Spirit of Christ is not any different.

Conclude Remarks: The Holy Spirit Knows Why to Pray

I’m glad that I don’t have to deal with my infirmities on my own.  I’m glad that when I bow my head in prayer, the Spirit of God Almighty bows his head with me and prays with me, and for me, and for my infirmities. He know why to pray.

#2 The Holy Spirit Knows What to Pray

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought…

I find this very helpful to know that Paul said, we know not what we should pray for. I struggle in my prayer life, and it gives me comfort knowing that I’m not alone. I’m not the only one having this problem. He didn’t say you know not what you should pray for as you ought. No, he said we know not what we should pray for as we ought. He said we ought to know, but we don’t.

When the disciples asked Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray, Jesus gave them what some of us call the model prayer. Some people call it the Lord’s prayer, but some call it the model prayer. And we know that the Holy Ghost is only going to speak and teach what Jesus spoke and teach. Now these are two very important verses concerning the Spirit of God

(John 14:26) 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.

(John 16:13-14) Howbeit 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 shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

So in this day, in this present hour, it’s the Holy Ghost that’s going to teach us what to pray. Now Jesus already showed us how to pray in the model prayer (Luke 11:2-4) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

The Holy Ghost only going to teach what Jesus taught. He knows what Jesus knows. Now the Holy Ghost knows what to pray, amen? We don’t know what to pray, that’s why we need the Holy Ghost praying for us. There’s nothing to be ashamed about. The disciples didn’t know how to pray, amen? John, Peter, James… They didn’t know how to pray. That’s why they said, Lord, teach us to pray. The Holy Ghost knows what to pray. (John 14:26) 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. The Holy Ghost is going to teach what Jesus taught.

1) The Spirit teaches us to pray to the Father

Jesus said When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be they name. The Holy Spirit know that we’re praying to the Father. Paul said, (Romans 8:15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Holy Spirit knows the Father because he comes from the Father.

• (John 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter…
• (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…
• (John 15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father…

Just like there was an intimate relationship between Jesus, the Son, and the Father. There is also a relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Father. And I’m not gonna get into that right now, but suffice it to say that the Holy Spirit Spirit intimately and directly prays to the Father and teaches us to pray to the Father. (Galatians 4:6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son… Did you catch that. The Spirit of his Son is crying, Abba, Father.

2) The Spirit teaches us to pray for the kingdom to come

Jesus said When ye pray, say… Thy kingdom come. The Spirit of God is concerned about the kingdom and is very much involved in workings of God’s kingdom. (Matthew 12:28) But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. John the Baptist, who was filled from his mother’s womb with the Holy Spirit, and what his message? (Matthew 3:1,2) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

We look at Jesus, after the Holy Ghost was descended upon him, and he was filled with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit drove him into the wilderness and there he fought that great battle with the devil. The bible says (Luke 4:4) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee… Jesus began his ministry there and the bible says (Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Spirit of God is concerned about the kingdom and prays that the kingdom would come.

Yes, the Spirit knows about the kingdom of God. So much is he concerned and involved with the Kingdom, that nobody shall enter the kingdom of God but by his hand. For the bible says (John 3:5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Say amen right there. Sometimes I wonder about Genesis 3:24 after Adam and Eve sinned and were drove out from the garden of Eden. Is says, He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. It doesn’t say that the Cherubims were turning that sword. The bible says he just put a flaming sword which turned every way. And doesn’t the bible say that the Holy Spirit has a sword? (Ephesians 6:7) Take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

I just wonder about that. Listen, nobody shall enter the kingdom of God but by the hand of the Spirit of God. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

3) The Spirit teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done

Jesus said When ye pray, say… Thy will be done. (1 John 5:14,15) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. This is probably the single most important qualification to our prayers being answered. Are we praying according to his will. Do we know God’s will. I think maybe we tell ourselves when our prayers don’t get answered that God said no or God said later or God has something better. It’s possible that we deflecting from the truth that we just don’t now God’s will. And that we are not praying according to his will. We’re praying according to our will. We are asking for our will be done, and not God’s will be done. We may want good things and honorable things, but we must not put our will above God’s will.

When we pray in the Spirit we are praying according to God’s will because the Spirit of God knows and does and prays according to the will of God without fail, everytime. (Romans 8:27) 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. Preacher Allen always said Get on the possom’s trail for God’s perfect will for your life and don’t settle for anything less. (Ephesians 5:17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And as Brother Fain Jordan used to say, the key to understanding what the will of the Lord is, is the very next verse. (Ephesians 5:18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit of God teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done. I don’t know about you, but I sure like to see my prayers answered. It seems to me that the only prayers that get answered directly are those that prayed in accordance to the will of God. It’s incumbent upon me to know the will of God.

4) The Spirit teaches us to pray for our daily bread

Jesus said When ye pray, say… Give us day by day our daily bread. I’m not so sure that Jesus is talking about physical bread. If he was, that would be the only physical thing that Jesus put on the list. All the other things are spiritual. I think it might also be contradictory considering Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we’re not so much as to think about attaining bread, then why pray for it? We ought to thank him for it. But Jesus said, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. I believe our daily bread is spiritual food and spiritual nourishment.

(Revelation 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna… Manna? That brings our minds all the way in the wilderness with the wandering Israelites. God said to the people of God (Deuteronomy 8:3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

When Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness and had that contest with the devil. The devil said to Jesus (Luke 4:3,4) If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And Job said (Job 23:12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

We need the Word of God. And it’s much much more than just words on a printed page. (John 1:1) n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Our spiritual food, our manna from above is much much more than just a book. (Revelation 19:13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Oh, how we need spiritual food, how we need manna from above. Jesus said, (John 6:33-35) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us THIS BREAD. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; When you pray, Jesus said ask for bread!

(1 Corinthians 10:1-4) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

(Revelation 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna… The Spirit teaches us to pray for our daily spiritual bread. (John 3:6) That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. That which is spiritual must be procured spiritually, amen? (Jeremiah 15:16) Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. The Spirit teaches us to pray for our daily spiritual bread.

5) The Spirit teaches us to pray our forgiveness

Jesus said When ye pray, say… Forgive us our sins. The Spirit of God knows about forgiveness. He knows our need for forgiveness. He know that we sin and that we fail God. (Romans 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us… That intercession is priestly intercession, intercession for sin. (Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us… The Holy spirit knows about forgiveness. He knows about the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

David said after he committed that horrible horrible crime against Bathsheba and Uriah (Psalm 51:7-12) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. He is the Spirit of God Almighty, merciful and tender, faithful and just to forgive us our sins. David said (Psalm 51:13) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. The Holy Spirit knows about forgiveness.

The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray for our forgiveness. (Romans 8:11) He’s the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead that dwelleth in you. (Hebrews 9:13,14) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Jesus said When ye pray, say… forgive us our sins. The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray for our forgiveness.

6) The Spirit teaches us to pray for us to forgive.

Jesus said When ye pray, say… We also forgive every one that is indebted to us. The Spirit of God teaches us to pray for us to forgive others. (1 Corinthians 2:12,13) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth… God has freely given us mercy and forgiveness and the Holy Ghost teaches us these things that are freely given. But Jesus takes it one step further. Jesus told his disiciples (Matthew 10:8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

(Phillippians 2:1-8) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. If God, was merciful to us and forgave us our sins. God wants us through the Holy Spirit to do the same, to do likewise, to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. (Phillippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

(Ezekiel 36:26,27) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. We out not to have a heart of stone, but tender hearts, merciful hearts. Praying in the Spirit? Being filled with the Spirit for the service of God? There will be long-suffering, gentleness, goodness. If you’re always putting people down, judging their every move, looking down you nose, quick to fight, nothing good to say? That’s not the Spirit of God. That’s the spirit of the devil, the accuser of the brethren.

(2 Corinthians 3:3) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. When God forgives you, god will change you. You will never be the same. When the Spirit of the living God, takes to writing something in your heart, it cannot so easily be denied. There will be ramifications. There will be consequences and not in a negative way. (Phillipians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Freely ye have received. Freely give.

(1 Peter 1:22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: The Spirit of God teaches us to pray that we would forgive, pray that we would be forgiving one toward another, to love on another. The Holy Ghost knows what to pray.

7) The Spirit teaches us to pray for our protection

Jesus said When ye pray, say… Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And truly we have already covered this when we spoke about why the Spirit prays: to help us in our infirmities, to help us in our weaknesses. We battle the flesh, the devil and his devils, and the world. The’re all against us. They’re all enemies. Principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. They’re all against us. And all of them, like Romans 7:8,11 are taking occasion by the commandment are trying to drag us down and bring us under the bondage of the sin which is in our members. But thank God for the Holy Spirit of God. (Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

There is victory in the Holy Ghost (Romans 8:13) If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. I found this verse the other day that gave me some joy. (Isaiah 59:19) So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

He’ll lift up a standard, Amen? That means he’s come to fight. That means he’ll fight our battles. He’ll wage our wars. When the enemy comes from every side. And we don’t know what to do. And we don’t know what to pray for. When we’re crippled and paralyzed by our infirmities, our weakness against the enemies of this world. When we need help, the Spirit of God lifts up the flag. He lifts up the standard. Amen. We are no alone in this thing. (John 14:18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 

Jesus said When ye pray, say… Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. The Holy Ghost teaches us to pray for our protection.

Conclude Remarks: The Holy Spirit Knows What to Pray

(Luke 11:2-4) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

(John 14:26) …the Holy Ghost… shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 16:13-14) …the Spirit of truth… will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: The Holy Ghost will teach us what Jesus taught the disciples.The Holy Spirit know what to pray. That’s why we need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Because we don’t know. He knows. That’s why we need to pray in the Holy Ghost. Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT… He knows what to pray.

#3 The Holy Spirit Knows How to Pray

But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

How does the Spirit pray? The bible says with groanings. The Holy Ghost makes intercession for us with groanings. Let me ask you this: Have you ever groaned in prayer for someone like the Holy Ghost groans for you. Paul said, …but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves… The Holy Spirit groans in prayer. That word groanings, stenagmos, comes from the word to groan, stenazó, which comes from the word stenos, which means small, narrow, contricted, constrained. That’s the word that Jesus uses when he says that way is narrow and gate is strait. The way that leadeth to life is stenos. So when we see this word groanings or stenagmos these are expressions of pressure, sighs of an intense pressure, expressions of anguish, pain, and travail. The Holy Ghost groans for us. You don’t groan and moan and experience anguish over someone unless you love them, unless you care for them, unless there’s something that you want for them that it consumes you. And when you pour your heart to God about it, it comes out in groans. The Holy Ghost groans for us.

If you want to get a picture of what that looks like, let’s take a little visit to the garden of Gethsename. (Luke 22:44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. That’s Jesus Christ praying, amen? Like the old songwrite wrote, “Not a tear for his own grief, but sweat drops of blood for mine.” Romans 8:10 says, And if Christ be in you… If Christ be in you!

They brought unto Jesus one that was deaf and mute. The bible says (Mark 7:34,35) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.The bible says that he signed. That’s the same greek work that Paul used when he said in Romans 8:23 We ourselves groan within oursleves… That’s the same word that Paul used when he said (2 Cor 5:1,2) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan… If we want a picture of the Spirit of Christ praying for us, take a look at Christ as he prays for this deaf and mute man. He looks up to heaven and groans for him. And the Spirit of Christ groans for us.

Jesus loved the family of Lazarus; Mary and Martha. When Jesus showed up to the town in which they lived after Lazarus had died, the bible says (John 11:32,33) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, God is concerned with the affairs and hearts of the those he loves. The bible says that he groaned and was troubled at the weeping of Mary. He hurts when we hurt. Those who saw said, Behold how he loved him! He mourned with those that mourned. He groaned in the spirit, in the depths of his person, he groaned. And if Christ be in you?  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and prays for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.

If we were to pray in the Spirit, I believe that we would also groan. Groan for ourselves, our infirmities, groan for our loved ones, groan for the things of God. Groans come from within. Groans come from the bowels, the reins, the inner man. If we pray in the Spirit, along with the Holy Ghost, we’ll groan for God, groan for God in our life, groan for God in our children’s life, groan for God in the church. Jesus said to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all they soul, and with all thy might. If you’re giving it your all, you’re gonna groan, groan with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost knows how to pray.

The bible says (Luke 11:1) And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray… Teach us to pray they asked him.  And the Lord Jesus said to his disciples (John 14:26) 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. The Holy Ghost is our instructor in prayer and he doesn’t do anything different from the Lord Jesus Christ, for he is the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit prays as Christ prays. And if the Spirit of Christ be in you… (John 16:13) Howbeit 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… The Holy Ghost intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

God, the Spirit, groans for us in prayer. He know how to pray. I believe in this matter of praying in the Holy Ghost, if we are to pray in the Spirit, and tap into the heart of God, we’ll do some groaning within ourselves..

Conclusion

The Spirit of God is our instructor in prayer. He knows why, what, and how to pray. But more than that, he is our prayer. He knows all of prayer because that’s what he does. He is the Spirit of prayer and supplication. (Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We can come boldly only because of this great truth, Romans 8:26,27 (Quote) Bless the Lord, we can pray in the Spirit. When we pray, he prays. When I bow my head and cry unto God, He cries and groans to God with me. He is the power in prayer. (Jude 1:20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Oh that we might labor to enter into the prayers of the Holy Ghost. The benefit of our prayer life is directly proportional to how hard we work at it. (James 5:16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. With that I urge you to pray. Pray Pray Pray.