The Spirit Helps Us As God Works For Good
Romans 8:26-30
Jeremy Bell
December 1, 2024
Sermon Recap PDF
Sermon Theme: Anticipation of something good is a great motivator. That’s exactly what Paul is doing in our text. He is reminding the church in Rome of their heavenly hope in order to encourage them to persevere in faith through the difficulties and trials of life. He is building faith in their hearts by reminding them of the glory that is promised to come!
Key Quotes:
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” – v.26
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” — Romans 8:22-23
“And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” – v.27
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” – v.28
“Suffering teaches us that the greatest good of the Christian life is not the absence of pain or the presence of comfort but Christlikeness.” — Joni Erickson Tada
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! — Matthew 7:7-11
“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not with Him graciously give us all things?” — Romans 8:32
“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” – v.29
“…who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” – Romans 4:17
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace” – Ephesians 1:3-6
“And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.” – v.30
Application
- Sometimes we just don’t know how to pray. We experience a deep groaning within our spirits, deep longings within and we don’t even know how to pray. But be encouraged, the Spirit is praying for you!
- The children of God have an incredible future, sharing in the glory of Christ Himself. As co-heirs with Christ, we will receive all that Christ receives – which is everything.
- Though we suffer in this life, the sufferings that we experience in this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that awaits all children of God.
- In heaven, our new realities as the children of God will mean that we will finally be satisfied – satisfied in Christ and sharing in His eternal joy.
- While there are mysteries in this life, perplexing things that we don’t understand (that we pray would change), we can trust our sovereign God.
- We can know for sure that He is weaving the story line of our lives in such a way that He’s working ALL THINGS together for our good. That good that He intends is to shape us and conform us into the image of Christ.
- That’s what we’ve been predestined for – to be conformed to the image of God’s Son.We can be confident that God will continue this great work until we are fully glorified.
Questions for Discussion/Application:
- Consider taking time to read Romans 8:26-30 out loud. What initial insights or observations of the text do you have?
- What do you find most encouraging and/or comforting about this passage?
- How can considering our heavenly hope, encourage and motivate us as we make our way to heaven? How can the hope of what is to come strengthen us now amidst the trials and difficulties of life?
- How does the knowledge that the Holy Spirit is praying for you (verse 26) minister to you?
- Read Romans 8:28 out loud together as a group. What situations in your own life do you in particular need to apply Romans 8:28 to?
- Consider listening to the Sovereign Grace song, “All Things” together. Lyrics can be found here. What truths from that song most encourage and strengthen you?
- Consider taking time to pray, asking God to help us to live day by day with our eyes fixed on our eternal hope knowing He is working all things for our good.