WEBVTT 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:05.099 Good morning everybody. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:07.980 Hopefully that's how that works. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:08.960 Maybe. 00:00:09.699 --> 00:00:10.339 Oh, the other side? 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:11.859 Yeah, come on now. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:13.419 Didn't get here on accident, you know. 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:21.460 All right, well for those of you who don't know me, like Jaron said, my name is Max Plager and I grew up a little bit all over the place, coast to coast to coast. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:26.239 I was born in New York City and then moved to San Diego, California and then to Tampa, Florida. 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:30.660 And so, you know, me and my wife moved here a little over two years ago. 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:34.399 February will be year two, so this is winter number two. 00:00:34.939 --> 00:00:38.460 Much worse than number one is my current grading scale. 00:00:38.659 --> 00:00:41.259 I don't have enough to really have like a good pulse. 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:45.539 Apparently last year was mild, but everyone says that every year apparently is what I'm learning. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:49.259 So, you know, it was a great first year. 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:51.820 This last one, polar vortex, didn't know that was a thing. 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:58.460 I had to cling to God for my sanity, for warmth and other things of that nature. 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:03.799 But I'm gonna give you a little bit of my background so I'm not just some dude who shows up on a Sunday, talks to you and disappears. 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:09.019 You know, so my mom, she became a Christian in 1997 in New York City. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.060 It was awesome. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:17.659 There were some really strong women who would ride the subway into New York City with her and study the Bible with her on the subway or on the train. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:24.459 And then they would say goodbye and then ride back out and then go get their kids up and wake them up for school and stuff. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:25.519 And they did that for a year. 00:01:26.439 --> 00:01:28.159 So really incredible stuff. 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:33.780 There was a girl that worked in the city who would ride the train home with my mom and study the Bible with her as well. 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:36.159 And they're just amazing women of God. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:39.540 We are so grateful for their impact on my family's life. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:41.959 But growing up, you know, my mom became a Christian. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:43.560 My dad was not really about that. 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:46.060 His God was money and status. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:48.180 They were both portfolio managers. 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:49.400 They were for Citibank. 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:53.000 They met in New York City and that was kind of what my dad did. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:54.000 He was very successful. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:02:00.340 He was managing like a billion dollars in 1995 and making a cut on that, which is a lot of money, I think. 00:02:00.939 --> 00:02:06.180 And, you know, we moved to San Diego and he stopped working to help be more present with me and my sister. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:07.879 She's two and a half years older than me. 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:09.699 Tried a little business venture. 00:02:10.038 --> 00:02:14.060 His business partner fled to Mexico with a lot of money and so that was really exciting. 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:18.740 So he went to Florida and then we moved there in 06 and we're in a nice house. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:21.639 And then in 08, housing market crashed, recession. 00:02:21.860 --> 00:02:24.240 He's like, I'll just manage our money until it lets up. 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:27.219 Didn't let up for a while until we filed for bankruptcy in 2014. 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:30.319 So we went from very high highs to very low lows. 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:35.259 I was about a sophomore or junior in high school and we lost our house, kind of lost everything. 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:41.139 And, you know, through that whole ebb and flow, my sister started studying the Bible when she was in high school. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:42.819 And she became a Christian. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:45.960 I remember kind of being like, what's all that about? 00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:47.500 Like, I had kind of like a split family. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:56.520 My mom was really weaving in Christian morals as best she could, but my dad was, you know, he's 6'4", like 260, very gregarious, outgoing personality. 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:59.919 So he dominated most of the things that he was engaged in. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:05.939 His dad is a federal Supreme, not Supreme Court, Federal Circuit of Appeals or whatever. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:07.259 It's one under Supreme Court. 00:03:07.460 --> 00:03:09.719 That was like his big regret is he was never a Supreme Court guy. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.099 But he was in the Oval Office, like, consulting presidents for about a decade. 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:18.039 And so it was always like, excellence is accepted, everything else is rejected. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:19.340 You're the best or you're the worst. 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:20.900 Like, that's kind of how it was growing up. 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:22.460 And that worked for my dad. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:25.319 It worked for his brother, who's like a world-renowned eye surgeon. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.460 And so he was like, I'll just do that for my family. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:33.300 So growing up, my sister and I, we were kind of like, all right, the plaguer way is to be really good at everything. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:35.240 And if you're not good at it, just don't do it. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:37.919 Just, like, pretend you don't know what it is, shy away from it. 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:40.379 And so my sister was student body president. 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:41.740 She was homecoming queen. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:44.000 She went to state in basketball and track. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:45.259 And we went to the same high school. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:46.139 And I was like, can you chill out? 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:49.319 Like, I still have to come through here, you know. 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:51.759 And so I ended up doing, like, a lot of the same things. 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:55.199 I was student body president, homecoming king, made the Allstate baseball team. 00:03:55.419 --> 00:03:57.199 I threw a no-hitter in my junior year. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:57.759 That was cool. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:00.620 I hit a batter with two outs, so it wasn't a perfect game. 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:02.180 If you know baseball, that broke my heart. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:06.800 But, you know, at the end of the day, that was just kind of, like, what you were supposed to do. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:11.300 Like, if you wake up in the morning and you brush your teeth, your spouse isn't like, hey man, like, nice. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:12.719 Like, good job. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:14.159 So that was kind of, like, what it was for us. 00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:18.060 It's like, we'd get home and it was like, that's what you're supposed to do. 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:19.620 Do you want, like, a good job from this? 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.839 And so I had a very weird performance-oriented mindset. 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:26.279 Even coming into Christianity, I had to redo a lot of that. 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:29.639 But I ended up studying the Bible and I got baptized May the 4th, 2014. 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:37.079 And shockingly enough, in August of 2014, after the bankruptcy, my dad studied the Bible and he also became a Christian. 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:45.959 So through a huge roller coaster in addictions and coping with all of the shame and stress, my whole family is disciples now. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:46.839 And it's amazing. 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:47.819 I wouldn't trade it for the world. 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.980 But today, you know, my wife is here, Sabrina. 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:52.519 Shout out. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:54.620 And if you're observant, I'm not wearing a wedding ring. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.620 I broke my finger two weeks ago and it still doesn't fit. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:58.519 So in case you're like, are they okay? 00:04:58.660 --> 00:04:59.040 We're good. 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:00.579 We're still hanging in there. 00:05:00.579 --> 00:05:01.439 We're happy, I think. 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:07.939 But, you know, we're here and we met at teen camp in Florida, which was awesome. 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:13.160 And we were worshiping and she was worshiping and I was too cool to sing, so I was standing there. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:18.120 And we were on the same team and she was like, hey, if you're not gonna sing, like, why are you here? 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:19.759 If you're not gonna worship God, why did you come? 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:25.399 And I was like, I've been a Christian for like a month and I was like, I want to date this girl. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:26.220 Like, this is awesome. 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:27.540 Like, this is really cool. 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:28.040 I like that. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:29.600 So I told my best friend, hey bro, I'm gonna date this girl. 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:32.120 The next day she's like, yeah, my boyfriend leads the gold team. 00:05:32.220 --> 00:05:33.139 And I was like, cool. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.120 Nice. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:35.180 That's really cool. 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:36.060 That's awesome. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:38.420 But God is merciful and he is good. 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:43.519 And I ran into her a few years later at our all-college retreat and she was single. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:44.699 And now we're married. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:48.540 So we celebrated five years in November, so God is good. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.019 But now, now for the lesson. 00:05:50.180 --> 00:05:51.720 Alright, so enough about me. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.680 I've heard you guys are going through a series called Overcoming Me, looking for head nods. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:05:57.620 Okay, okay. 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:00.040 I wouldn't put it past Jaron to be like, yeah, we're doing a series. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:02.000 Come preach and just have me look a fool up here. 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:08.259 So, you know, today, if you're taking notes, the title of the lesson is One Day You'll Be Complete. 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:15.259 And, you know, we're going through three of the really big, pivotal moments in a Christian life. 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:17.180 And you can turn to Romans chapter 8. 00:06:17.220 --> 00:06:18.980 That's gonna be where we're camping out today. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:21.600 And it really describes these three moments. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:26.259 You know, you have justification, sanctification, and glorification. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:27.160 Right? 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:33.740 And justification, as it says in like verse 1 through 4, you know, now there's no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:37.720 And then the past few weeks, you've been talking about sanctification, right? 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:51.379 The process of submitting your body to the will of the Spirit, setting your mind on the things of God, the obligation that we have, because we have been justified, to reciprocate through our life. 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:53.660 And today I'm going to be talking about glorification. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.420 And this is what happens in the future. 00:06:57.019 --> 00:07:03.420 This is the hope that we have in heaven, the hope that we have of what will become of us. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:08.279 And each phase kind of describes a little bit of overcoming ourselves, right? 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:09.800 That's kind of the whole theme. 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:15.560 And so the whole idea here is, you know, if you're in Romans 8.18, you can go there. 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:16.560 It's kind of where we're starting today. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:32.459 If you fall asleep right now, the tagline that I want you to understand and remember is that understanding our present suffering in our future glorification is the key to living a life that is full and fueled with hope and perseverance. 00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:46.279 And in Romans 8.18, you know, we see this idea that Paul says, I consider that our present sufferings, our present moment, he describes as suffering. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:51.639 I hope you don't feel that way right now, but if you do, you know, feel free to talk to Jaron when I leave. 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:55.279 But I'm hoping that this won't be more suffering for you, but maybe less. 00:07:55.860 --> 00:08:01.819 But the idea is that we all overcome, well, experience and hopefully overcome suffering. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:12.040 Suffering from our everyday lives because of sin we commit, because of crucifying ourselves to our nature and trying to overcome sin, it produces suffering. 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:15.259 Trying to live a renewed life is suffering. 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.399 Change is hard, right? 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:22.000 And we also experience the suffering that the world produces. 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:25.019 Sometimes it's your own sin. 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.800 You lie to someone and there is less trust in that relationship. 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:30.699 That is suffering from your own sin. 00:08:31.038 --> 00:08:34.558 Sometimes, you can flip it, when you're lied to, that hurts. 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:36.519 That is suffering because of someone else's sin. 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:47.120 And then also there's just the result of a fallen creation and a fallen world that produces fallen people, circumstances and environments that affect us, right? 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:52.919 You know, if you woke up this morning and your knees hurt, that was sin, you know? 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:55.679 That is the result of a fallen world. 00:08:56.039 --> 00:09:03.720 If you look in the mirror and you say, I don't look like I did 10 years ago, that is a fallen world as the consequence of sin. 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:09.440 Life is suffering, decay and destruction because it has been tainted with the nature of sin. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.100 Life is to suffer. 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:12.620 Have a good day, thanks, right? 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:13.759 Like no, like this is terrible. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.919 Like come on, Paul, there's got to be more than this, right? 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:26.679 So if you keep reading that verse 18, it says, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:30.539 You know, so what Paul is saying is like, let's do a quick experiment. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:31.840 Let's set up a scale. 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:36.639 And on one side, let's take everything that is suffering, right? 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:49.019 You can think about your problems, your hurts, denying yourself, struggling to overcome sin, wrestling with pain and loss, a polar vortex, the lion's losing. 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:51.500 You put that on one side of suffering. 00:09:52.200 --> 00:10:00.120 And he says, it's not even worth comparing to a fraction of the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:02.039 That's powerful. 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:04.759 But it also prompts the question, like what is glory? 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:08.039 Because I don't, it's kind of like a churchy word sometimes. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:14.779 And so if this glory thing is not even worth comparing, then what's glory? 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:16.659 And we'll get there in a little bit. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:18.080 He doesn't just flat-out tell you. 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:20.440 Paul kind of takes us on a little bit of a journey here. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.139 But he says it's not even worth comparing. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:25.700 It's like, who's the best basketball player? 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:28.759 Is it Michael Jordan or is it me? 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:30.139 Like you thought I was going to say LeBron. 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:31.840 No, no, it's like not even worth comparing. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:34.980 You think of that and you're like, okay, I don't even know you, but I know it's not close, right? 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.980 You know, and so we go to verse 19 to continue on this thought. 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:46.419 It says, for the creation waits an eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:49.899 And so what we see here is that he's building a parallel. 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:51.659 It's our suffering. 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:54.559 And then he goes and he talks about creation. 00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:58.299 And it's waiting for the same thing we're waiting for. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:05.419 Like the glory that the children of God are going to experience, creation waits for as well. 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:10.000 And why does creation wait in the same way that we wait? 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:18.879 Well, it's because glory in creation will receive the same thing that we receive, which is reprieve from sin. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:25.919 You know, you keep reading in verse 20 and you see it says, for the creation was subjected to frustration. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:29.139 You know, and part of suffering is frustration. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:33.639 I'm sure, I am subject to suffering. 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:35.679 I'm typically not super pumped about it. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:36.679 I'm frustrated. 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.940 Why would they say that? 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:39.200 Why would they do that? 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.980 Why can't the Sun come out? 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.179 It's been three weeks. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:43.399 I'm sad, right? 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:46.340 You know, these are all things I think people feel, maybe just me. 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:55.759 But it says that the creation was subjected to frustration, which is equivalent to our present age being subjected to suffering. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:02.980 And so the sin issue that we see here doesn't just affect you, but affects everything. 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.639 Death is here because of sin. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.639 Earthquakes because of sin. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:12.759 Violent winds, hurricanes, abusers and overusers of Earth's resources. 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:14.759 The water is dirty because of sin. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:16.600 Animals kill each other because of sin. 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:19.899 Cockroaches and mosquitoes exist because of sin, I think. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.000 Polar vortexes, maybe. 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:25.519 These have asterisks, those last two, they weren't in the original manuscripts. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:29.639 But, you know, sin touches everything, not just your life. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:35.659 In Genesis 3, 17, God said to Adam, cursed is the ground because of you. 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:40.419 The whole of the world has been fighting sin since like day five. 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:42.240 It's not just you and me. 00:12:43.159 --> 00:13:01.059 You know, so when we look at verse 20 and 21, it says that, you know, the earth was subjected to frustration in the hope that creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:13.320 So creation waits for glory to be revealed because what sin does is it decays, it is death, everything tends towards chaos. 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:21.259 And so we wait, and creation waits for glory to be revealed. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.320 And how does it wait? 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:32.039 In verse 22, keep reading, it says, we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.120 And so how does it groan? 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:39.379 Does it groan as someone who has just played too much basketball and their body hurts? 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:40.340 No. 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:42.620 Does it groan as someone on their deathbed? 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.440 No. 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.940 Someone who is sick? 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.240 No. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.539 Someone about to experience death? 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:47.879 No. 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:52.059 It groans as a mother about to give birth. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:55.659 You know, childbirth, I imagine, is pretty painful. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.700 I have not experienced this. 00:13:57.820 --> 00:14:00.059 I cannot speak personally to this, but that's what I've heard. 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:09.299 But it has one thing going for it that no other suffering does, and that it is groaning unto life, not unto death. 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:14.820 It groans because life is coming, not because death is coming. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:22.340 This is the opposite of the suffering of sin that we think about, is suffering towards decay, destruction, and decline. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:28.039 But here, it says suffering as in childbirth, because life is on the way. 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:41.019 So everything is frustrated, terrible, everyone is suffering, everyone is groaning, but we groan not as those about to die, but as those who are about to come into life. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:50.980 You know, in verse 23, it says, not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:54.379 You know, so this is the idea, like, we groan inwardly. 00:14:54.440 --> 00:15:00.820 This kind of, this idea of groaning is linked with suffering to mean just like the production of something. 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:19.419 And so you are here because inwardly you groaned at one point to sacrifice your comfort, your leisure, your relationships, and to come to church, at a church here in Kalamazoo, at some random high school, because there was a promise for community. 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:23.720 There was a promise to be fulfilled, to be with God's people, to bring Him glory. 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:30.940 So you sacrificed, you groaned inwardly, and you see it has produced something that is real and tangible and beneficial. 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:34.059 This is the firstfruits of the Spirit. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.840 It is a sign of what is to come. 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:39.799 A little picture of the eternal harvest. 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:47.360 When you sacrifice for God and you see Him come through, you have experienced part of the promise. 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:53.559 You have been testified to by the Spirit that you are groaning to life, not to death. 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:57.500 You don't experience frustration as the world does. 00:15:57.940 --> 00:16:00.720 You don't groan against sin as everyone else does. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:05.059 As disciples, our frustration and groaning should lead us to life. 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:07.559 To life as God intended. 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.259 We die to ourself. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.820 We put up our cross every day. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:20.460 We no longer go to the things that we used to cope with, the things that used to satisfy us, and we choose something else. 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:22.340 And the process is groaning. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.820 No one wakes up like, you know what? 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:28.419 I don't want to be entertained the same way I have in the past 30 years. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:32.980 That's an intentional choice, to go to a different well, in a different source. 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:38.960 You know, we suffer because something good is on the other side, just like childbirth. 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:41.720 You know, the promise of glorification. 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:45.919 And so here we are, and we still don't know what glory is. 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.559 Let's keep going. 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:47.679 Verse 23. 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:53.039 For our adoption to Sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:17:02.120 So, I don't know if you're like me, but when I read this and I saw that glory was the redemption of our bodies, I was like, is that it? 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:06.920 Like, I don't, I, I must be missing something, surely. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:14.640 Because he's talking about the earth groans, sin destroys, everything is frustrated and suffering, but you get a new body. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:21.318 And I was like, I feel like that's great, but maybe my lack of maturity in life doesn't understand. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:23.078 And it's true, I didn't understand. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.059 I had to dig a little more. 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.660 And so, stay with me. 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.740 Like, this is good. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.160 This is a good thing. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:36.539 You know, the body, our flesh, since the beginning has been decaying, wasting away and struggling. 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:40.839 A timer starts, and every day we experience it in our body. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:47.059 There is no place the stain of sin is felt more, or experienced more, than in our body. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:53.059 You know, in college, I idolized grades and achievement, which I'm sure is very shocking based on how I grew up. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.259 You know, and I would treat my body terribly. 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:59.660 I would drink, like, the equivalent of eight to ten espresso shots a day. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.160 I'd study for, like, ten hours for this one class, and I was taking, like, four other classes. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:08.140 And I would just pound energy drinks and stay up super late. 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:14.299 And it was all just to get, like, a number on a grade that would define me, or open doors, and all that stuff. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.980 And, you know, I ended up going into ministry. 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.319 Thank you, University of Florida. 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:25.500 But, you know, I ended up developing a peptic ulcer, which is, like, from stress, and the acidity of coffee ate away at my stomach. 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:28.079 And it still fights me today, you know. 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:30.559 And my body is stained because of sin. 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:38.799 My idolization produced a literal, physical, tangible consequence that might go away maybe one day. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:42.380 And maybe that one day is when the redemption of my body and glory happens. 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:47.079 You know, but we feel anxious, depressed, weak, tired. 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:50.240 And every morning we drink some coffee and hope we can shake it off. 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:55.480 And at the end of the day, we are beat up, exhausted, and ready to go to sleep. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:59.880 And we do so, oftentimes, with groans and grumbles, right? 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.220 We go from spry, beautiful, 22 to something else. 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.099 Something happens along the way. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.200 It's decay. 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:09.519 We look in the mirror, like, how did this happen to me? 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:13.380 I was just doing what I've always done, and somehow this has produced this. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.079 You know, I was 18. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.819 I was playing basketball for four hours. 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:17.819 Now I'm 26. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:19.220 I play basketball for two hours. 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.119 I need two days off. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:22.099 I couldn't imagine being as old as Jared. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.619 I don't get it, you know. 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.960 Eventually, you transition to golf. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:29.500 And then you go from golf on to glory, right? 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:36.480 You know, and this illustration of the pain and destruction of sin is our body. 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:43.759 We were given our bodies to understand the destructive nature of sin, the decaying nature of the DNA of sin. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:45.720 It doesn't bring things together. 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.720 It tears things apart. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.799 So you go to your doctor and your dentist, and you don't sleep well. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.900 You have cavities. 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.440 Things are horrible in the body. 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:56.480 And maybe you're super fit right now and healthy in your life. 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.380 Those are pretty good. 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:57.740 Amen. 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.680 God bless you. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.940 I'm so pumped for you, you know. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.319 But what is redemption? 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:05.319 It is the redeeming of our body. 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:08.740 You are free from the bondage of sin. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.319 You will be fixed. 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:23.279 There will be no more pain, suffering, no more war, no laziness, selfishness, retaliation, gossip, road rage, polar vortexes. 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:25.420 There will be no more sin. 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:30.720 And all of creation will rejoice in the same way that we do. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.839 Because sin will be gone. 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:35.299 There will be a new order of things. 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:40.880 You know, in Isaiah 65, you see, Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:44.079 The former things will not be remembered. 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:46.700 Not will they come to mind. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:51.299 The sound of weeping and of crying will be heard no more. 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:55.440 Your worst memories in life, gone. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:59.779 The things that keep you up, the things that you wish you could change, gone. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:03.740 No more pain, tears, sorrow. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.759 God is working on you now. 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:09.019 And one day His work will be complete. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:14.539 You know, and this idea is, it's perfectly ironed out in Romans 8 28. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:28.180 As we kind of wind down to land this plane, you know, it says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.119 What is the good He's working for? 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:33.440 It's the coming good. 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.880 It is glory. 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:38.740 It is the removal of the struggle with sin. 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.700 This is such good news. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.420 You know, and this should be an encouragement for you. 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:47.400 And the idea of God's commitment to you. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:53.619 It's like you heard weeks ago, like He has called you perfect before you have learned to live that way. 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:58.319 And He is working on you now knowing that one day it will be finished. 00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:02.680 And the only obligation, expectation that we have is just to not give up. 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:10.140 To persevere through the suffering because we know that the suffering is work that God is doing in our hearts, right? 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:17.279 And in verse 24 and 25 you see, For in this hope, the hope of glorification, we were saved. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:20.039 The hope that is seen is no hope at all. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:22.500 Who hopes for what they already have? 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:28.500 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:32.839 You know, God is still fighting for you. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:36.140 He has saved us and redeemed us. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:39.640 And so in turn we continue to fight for righteousness. 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:43.000 And the key word is what in verse 25? 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.380 It is wait. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.859 You do not have your new body yet. 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:48.539 So what do we do? 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.299 We wait. 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:53.920 And you know, wait here does not mean to twiddle your thumbs or to sit on your hands. 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:57.299 It means to continue going in the way you're going. 00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:59.440 To continue striving. 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:05.039 Live with an expectation that whatever the world throws your way, you can push through. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:09.559 You can fight and you can groan and you don't groan in vain. 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:13.839 Waiting is that we fight because we are expecting. 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:19.980 Just like a pregnant mother is expecting, she knows through pregnancy will come challenges. 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:22.019 My sister is pregnant right now. 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:27.559 They're having her a baby shower down in Atlanta and she talks about how she just feels like so full all the time. 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.619 Her feet hurt. 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:30.460 She can't sleep the way she wants to sleep. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:35.539 But these are expected pains for the coming glory of bringing a child. 00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:45.619 You know, of course in the moment we can complain and wish things are different, but you wouldn't trade a few months without morning sickness for your child. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:49.279 In the moment maybe you feel that way, but not when they are there. 00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:50.880 You would never say that's their face, right? 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.619 You know, so we wait. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.119 We suffer. 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.259 We keep believing. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:05.980 We keep coming to church, confessing our sin, obeying, reading our Bibles, praying, doing the things that we do not want to do because we know God wants us to do it. 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:10.119 Or not doing the things we want to do because we know God does not want us to do it, right? 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.559 Kind of goes both ways there. 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:13.960 You know, and this is hard. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.960 This is challenging. 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:18.740 And in verse 26 there is a promise from God. 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:23.200 It says, in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:29.980 We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:39.480 And he who searched our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.279 Amen. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.420 The Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:46.700 And I am so grateful for that because I am often weak. 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:51.759 In this world of help, it translates to bear our burdens, right? 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.619 You know, there's a lot of different kinds of help. 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:55.880 There's sometimes where help just means a word of encouragement. 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:59.440 Sometimes where help means, hey, you get to this side of the desk and I'll grab the other. 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:02.099 And help is sometimes, hey, you sit down and I'll take it from here. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:05.319 And this is the Spirit saying like, hey, I'll take it from here. 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:08.180 Like, I know you've done everything you can. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.799 You've groaned enough. 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:12.220 I will come and groan on your behalf. 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:14.839 Which is an interesting thing to think about, but I love it. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:18.000 But what is the, what is the conclusion that we find in Romans 8? 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:22.240 That we live in a fallen world under the curse of sin. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:28.599 It brings pain so much that our current and present moment is described as suffering. 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:32.460 But you can persevere through that pain because you have hope. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:35.240 Hope of a new creation to come. 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:37.779 A new resurrected body. 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:42.119 A body that is decayed and broken that will be renewed. 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:47.559 And because our suffering is so challenging, God has given us the Spirit to help. 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:52.480 Hope means that you don't have to just wait and one day die. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:57.339 Hope means that you fight today so that you can receive glory. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:26:02.380 When you come across things this week, know this is your present suffering. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.180 This is your fight. 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:10.700 This is part of your body removing a little bit of itself and letting the Spirit take its place. 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:15.740 The slow transformation and glorification that takes time. 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:18.420 God looks at the stack of marble. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.420 He sees you inside and is slowly chipping away. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:24.940 And time doesn't pass the same for everybody. 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:27.579 And what I mean by that is not all time is good. 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:30.920 You can spend time poorly and you can spend time well. 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:38.359 You will have a finite amount of opportunities to deny yourself and pursue glorification this week. 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:40.319 Don't miss the opportunities. 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:43.200 The suffering is not in vain. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.839 You are not suffering because one day you will die. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.839 You are suffering because one day you will live. 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.400 Thank you for your time guys. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.420 I'm going to pray and close out. 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.700 God, thank you so much for today. 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:57.339 Just for this church God here in Kalamazoo. 00:26:57.400 --> 00:27:08.019 It's so encouraging to come out here and to see all of the faces, God, who are suffering, God, and who are fighting to bring your name here to Kalamazoo. 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:11.599 God, God, please continue to just work in our hearts. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:15.579 Give us the strength to give everything we have. 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:21.880 And when we are spent and weak, help us to rest knowing that the Spirit is interceding on our behalf. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:24.740 God, we are so ready for glory. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:36.740 We are ready to be redeemed and I pray that that creates an earnestness and an eagerness in us to just seize the opportunities to make you known, God, and continue to make you Lord of our life. 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.380 We love you. 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.700 In your son's holy name we pray. 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.160 Amen. 00:27:45.470 --> 00:27:46.710 Oh yeah, and you guys are dismissed. 00:27:47.009 --> 00:27:48.130 There's a potluck after this.