WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:20.480 Lord Jesus. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:31.519 We come to you humbled and just with the desire that we don't want to take the cross out of the center of our lives. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:45.840 Holy Spirit, right now, would you please for all the marriages that are in this room, would you please facilitate gospel-centered marriages that are never over the gospel? 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:53.280 For all the parents that are room with, would you please make them obsessed with a gospel legacy? 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:03.840 God, I pray that we can never we'd never get over the simplicity of the fact that you came to save sinners. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:06.719 Of whom I was the foremost. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:16.000 Lord, now I, as we open up the scriptures, I ask for in dire help, I ask for your help. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:25.840 You know, I I ask now that you can open up our hearts and our minds for your word and for these glorious truths that we're about to digest in this room. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:35.599 God, with the words in my mouth and let the words in my mouth and the meditations in my heart be holy and acceptable to you because you're you're my rock. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:46.000 Holy Spirit, fill this place like only you can help us to walk out of here with a little more Jesus, a little less us. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:50.480 Get our hopes up right now, God. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.359 In these next 30 minutes, get our hopes up. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:55.599 In your beautiful name I pray. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:56.480 Amen. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:09.599 Good morning, How are we good? 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:11.120 Awesome. 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:12.960 Hey, if you have your Bibles, would you grab those? 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:14.800 Go to Romans chapter 8. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:16.400 Romans chapter 8. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:18.000 If you don't have a Bible, just relax. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:20.479 The text is gonna appear here on your screen. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:25.199 But I would love for all of us to follow along with me, whether it's on the screen, on your book, or on your phone. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:28.319 I would love you to follow along with me in Romans chapter 8. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:29.680 My name is Leo Almeida. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:32.400 I'm one of the pastors here at Graham Parkway. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:38.000 And we're exploring one of the mountaintops of the entire Bible, which is Romans chapter 8. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.759 And this series, as you can see, is called Filled. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:47.039 And we're talking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.919 And right now we're at the halfway mark of our series. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:54.800 And since we're at the halfway point, I'm gonna give you a little halftime pep talk, okay? 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.199 So this is a 30-second halftime pep talk. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:03.199 Listen, being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an extracurricular activity. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:08.159 This is not reserved for pastors or ministry leaders or prophets or priests. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.800 This is something that everyone is invited to. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:17.840 Again, this is not about how much Holy Spirit you have, but about how much the Holy Spirit has you. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:20.080 Let's make the drive this point home. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:22.639 I have a proverb that I want to expose you to right here. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:25.439 This is Proverbs 27, verse 7. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:32.159 It says this one who is full loaths honey. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:37.759 But to the one who is hungry, everything bitter is sweet. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:44.000 One who is full loathes honey, but to the one who is hungry, everything bitter is sweet. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:51.680 Friends, this is a food analogy, but listen, whenever you are full, even the most delicious things offered aren't worth it. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:04:00.719 And this is a food analogy, but how how are you how you are filled determines how you act and react to the rest of the world. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:03.439 Are you filled with the spirit of fear? 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.800 Are you filled with the spirit of slavery? 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.800 Or are you currently filled with the spirit of the Lord? 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:15.360 Again, if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, it becomes easier to reject the desserts being offered by the world. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:22.160 And if you're not filled with him, small trinkets and toys become attractive and even addicting to you. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:25.279 Are you currently filled with the Holy Spirit? 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.759 Okay, this is not the extra stuff. 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:30.800 Okay, being filled is not the extra side stuff. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:39.519 In verses 1 through 17, we've seen the ministry of the Holy Spirit, how he fills us and gives us freedom, he gives us power, he gives us kingdom focus. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:54.319 And last week we saw that the Holy Spirit is the great reminder, consistently reminding us to truths that we already know, reminding us to remember who we are, that we are dependent children, that we're made for intimacy and we're scheduled for an inheritance. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:58.000 And we're gonna keep going here in verses 16 through 25. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:04:59.519 It says this. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:21.120 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we also may be glorified with him. 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:30.879 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:38.079 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:51.199 And the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:58.639 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:14.319 Not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly as we await eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.759 For in this hope we are saved. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.399 Now, hope that is seen is not hope. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:22.639 For who hopes what he sees? 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:30.079 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:32.240 That's the word of the Lord. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:40.720 Now, friends, this passage shows us that people who are filled with the Spirit, they hold two big truths intention. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.319 Okay, they're sitting and holding two big truths intention. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:48.079 And truth number one is this the struggle is real. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:51.199 The struggle is real. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:57.199 Friends, the Bible does not, uh I love the one of the reasons I love the Bible is its honesty about the condition of the world. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:06.959 It is not sugarcoated, it is not overly somber, but it's very clear and it's sober about the crew, the status of the world, and that the struggle is real. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:08.959 Look at verse 17 again. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:28.160 If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him, in order that we also be glorified with him. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:35.120 Friends, before you inherit what is coming later, you suffer with him and like him now. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:39.920 Before you get what's coming later, you suffer with him and like him right now. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:45.120 So, fall of my senior year, okay, my team was scheduled to win the state championship. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:49.759 Okay, I played for Seven Legs High School, and we made this plan back in 2005. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:57.920 We made this plan as seventh graders, we're gonna get, we're gonna team up together, we're gonna win state for Seven Lakes High School once and for all. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:01.920 Okay, we were so excited about this, and it was extremely competitive at the time. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.439 Okay, Houston was remarkably competitive when it comes to basketball. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:11.680 So, our coach, to take us over the top, hired a strength and conditioning coach just for us. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:13.279 Coach Lance. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:20.879 Now, pre-Coach Lance, I thought a squat is you get under the bar and you do this. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:24.720 And then you're done. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:29.199 Because the thing was, okay, you work out, and then after you work out, you get to go play basketball. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:32.159 So I get underneath the bar and I do about one, two, nine, ten. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.960 And I got out of there and I would leave. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:44.080 Okay, but then Coach Lance would come, and I remember him being like, if your butt's not touching the floor, it's not a squat. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.559 I can still hear him in my head. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:52.960 And he talked about how if your thighs are not parallel to the ground, it doesn't count. 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:56.000 I can't even do that without weight. 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.039 It's extremely difficult. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.480 Now, he came and he and he worked this out for the first time. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.759 And to be honest, I don't remember our first workout with Coach Lance. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:08.399 I remember that next day. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:22.000 And in a basketball practice, I remember watching our coach crack up as we're warming up because he yells out, side lunges! And our whole team does one lunge, and we all collectively go, Oh. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.039 That's how the Bible is describing the state of the world right now. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:35.279 There's this perpetual and there's this loud and there's this palpable groaning that's going on. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:41.120 Oh and this passage actually gives us some insights about this groaning. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:45.279 So the first thing we learn about this groaning is that this groaning is universal. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:46.799 Look at verse 22. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:10:01.759 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:05.360 So nothing is immune to this groaning. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.840 This brokenness has affected and infecting everything and everyone. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:13.440 Okay, this word right here, um, groaning together. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:21.440 Okay, this it's the it's the Greek word cystonato, which literally means to moan to moan in unison, to moan jointly. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:22.720 I'll give you another example. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:25.360 I went to a big school, okay, Oklahoma State University. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:27.600 Okay, it's a very, very big campus. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:35.919 So oftentimes our professors would be late to class because they'd be teaching over there and have to make it all the way to the other side to come to our class. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:42.320 So sometimes we'd get to class, and if you're nerd, you get like me, I get to class early, and there's no professor there. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:46.799 And time would go by and time would go by and time would go by, and it never failed. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:52.159 Eventually, some goofball would stand up and be like, if he's not here in 10 minutes, let's all leave. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:53.200 Okay? 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:55.919 And I would be like, yes and amen. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:05.519 Okay, and everyone would start their clocks, but okay, we got six minutes left, five minutes left, four, and we would sit there daydreaming about what it would be like if our afternoon just opened up. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:09.360 Okay, and we'd be excited about these things, and it never failed again. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:12.879 Okay, at about the nine-minute mark, the professor would burst again. 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:20.639 Sorry, I'm late, and all of us in unison would go, oh friends, that's the picture here. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:26.080 Okay, Paul is not being pantheistic, saying, hey, the floor is talking, let's listen to it. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:37.360 But what's happening is Paul is using personification to describe that all of creation, he's painting this picture of all of creation looking at one another, going, This is not how it's meant to be. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:38.799 This is off. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:43.679 Okay, so there's a deep fatigue about this world. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:50.240 There is a deep sigh about this world, even though it's beautiful sunset, should be seen with an asterisk next to it. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:52.559 This is not how it's supposed to be. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.720 So we learn in this passage that the groaning is universal. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:00.320 Furthermore, that the groaning, we learned that this groaning is a consequence. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.480 Look at verse 20, verse 20A. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:13.279 For creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:18.960 Friends, creation was given over to endless frustration. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.960 Creation can't be what it actually wants to be. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:26.799 So listen, Christian, care for the environment. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.759 Okay, go create, care for the environment. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:35.279 But as you see the brokenness of this world, know that it's not just pollution and lack of recycling. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.240 We broke the universe on page three. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:44.559 We the the the decay of this universe is tied to man's sin. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.399 God has cursed this world as a response to our sin. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:52.879 Okay, whenever Leo makes his pasta, it is good. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.840 I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna, it is good. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:02.799 But whenever I make my signature pasta with my with my shrimp, it is very good. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.559 And that's what we see in Genesis chapter 1, verse 31. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:12.000 God makes this world and he says, it is good, it is good, it is very good. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:19.120 And he takes a step back, he takes a step back to enjoy it, not not out of exhaustion, but out of excitement. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:23.360 He's like he takes a step back just to take pleasure in his work. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:30.480 And we go from that to Genesis chapter 3, where he curses the ground with thorns and thistles. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:36.399 He tells Adam, by the sweat of your brow, you will eat bread. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:41.200 By the sweat of your brow, you will eat bread. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:48.320 That's the most Houston, Texas in July passage in the entire Bible. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:51.759 I used to be scared that someone was hiding in my back seat. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.120 Not with this weather. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:56.240 They wouldn't survive back there. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.759 It'd be over for. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:02.720 Nevertheless, God has cursed this world. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:10.960 Um I wonder how many people are dealing with endless frustration because they're trying to find ultimate meaning in a place that God has cursed. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:15.759 Friends, you're defined ultimate meaning above the sun, not under it. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.759 Because we see that this groaning is a consequence. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.840 This groaning is universal. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.240 Lastly, this groaning is personal. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.759 Look at verse 23. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:48.240 Not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:52.720 Most Jesus paintings paint him as chill. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:57.600 But what Jesus was doing down here was actually very violent. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:04.960 Okay, his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, that was what he was doing, was he was punching. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:10.960 Punching a hole between the real world and the ideal world. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:20.080 Now I'm here to tell you, if you have the Holy Spirit in you, one of the side effects is that of that is you're gonna start salivating for that world. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:29.200 We talk a lot about the things that come from the Holy Spirit, the power that comes from the Spirit, the gifts that come from the Spirit, the fruits that come from the Spirit. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:34.799 Friends, part of having the Holy Spirit is being homesick, knowing that you do not belong here. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:42.159 Part of having the Holy Spirit is struggling with your sin and feeling the gnawing in your soul, going, are we there yet? 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:53.840 Hearing about a school shooting and engaging in debates about what we should do, but also getting in your car afterwards or getting in your bed afterwards and going, are we there yet? 00:15:54.720 --> 00:16:06.080 Again, part of the Holy Spirit may even be um feeling joy, feeling pleasure, but then feeling you kind of hit a ceiling, kind of like, man, that didn't last like I thought it would last. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:09.039 I didn't feel like I thought it would feel like I advertised it in my mind. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.639 Are we there yet? 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:17.519 A part of having the Holy Spirit dwell in you is he makes us yearn for our supernatural resting place. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.519 Yes, we are adopted, we have been adopted. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:26.240 But right now we are groaning, waiting for our adoption papers to go through. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.159 This isn't just non-believers that are groaning, we are all groaning. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:35.840 So this groaning is universal, this groaning is a consequence, this groaning is personal. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:44.080 Now there is good news, but I want to get an off-ramp of this point by showing you something. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:48.559 Um, there is a man named Alvin Plantaga. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:56.080 Okay, Alvin Plantaga, who read the Bible cover to cover and said something that was very interesting. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:03.519 He said, The Bible is not, the Bible is not the greatest story ever told. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:08.000 The Bible is the greatest story that could ever be told. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.160 What did he mean? 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:19.920 What he meant was if you get the greatest storytellers in human history, you lock them in this room for 10 years, they wouldn't come up with a story better than the Bible. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:23.279 This quote sent shock waves and it was controversial. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.079 Why? 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:29.440 Because Alvin Plantica is not a sweaty teaching pastor saying that. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:34.640 Alvin Plantica is renowned as one of the best philosophers in the world right now. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.559 He's one of the brightest minds on the planet. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.200 He's the head of philosophy at Notre Dame. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.039 Now, why would he say that? 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:44.720 The Bible is the best story that could ever be told. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.480 Let's read the full quote. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:18:02.880 It says this according to the Christian story, God, the Almighty first being of the universe, and the creator of everything else, was willing to undergo enormous suffering in order to redeem creatures who had turned their backs on him. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:09.519 He created human beings, they rebelled against him constantly. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:13.920 They were constantly and go and they constantly go astray to his will. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:21.839 Instead of treating them as some oriental monarch would, he sent his son, the word, second person of the Trinity, into the world. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.880 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:31.119 He was subjected to ridicule, rejection, and finally the cruel and humiliating death of a cross. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:44.240 Horrifying as that is, Jesus, the word, the son of God, suffered something vastly more horrifying: abandonment from God, exclusion from his love and affection. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.680 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:55.039 All this to enable human beings to be reconciled to God and to achieve eternal life. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:03.519 This overwhelming display of love and mercy is not merely the greatest story ever told. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.480 It is the greatest story that could be told. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.720 This is a world-famous philosopher saying this. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.720 And did you hear his reasoning? 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.720 It was in that first sentence right there. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:21.599 It's God was willing to undergo enormous suffering in order to redeem creatures who had turned their backs on him. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:29.599 I bring this up to tell you this, friends, your groaning is not only visible by Jesus, it's understandable by Jesus. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.559 Provided we suffer with him. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:36.079 We're sharing with him in his sufferings. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:40.319 We have a high priest who's able to sympathize with our groaning. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.559 Yes, God has cursed the world. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:49.200 But Galatians 3 tells us that Jesus on a cross became the curse, so he can lift us out of the curse. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:55.920 He went through the ultimate groan of praying, Abba Father, and hearing nothing. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:01.119 All that to buy you access, to give you the right to call him Abba Father. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.920 Yes, the struggle is real. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.480 But our Savior knows it well. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:13.839 Not as a CEO who studied the company real well, but as a fellow sufferer sufferer here on earth. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.319 So people who are filled with the Holy Spirit hold two truths and tension. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:21.359 Number one, that the struggle is real. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:27.200 And number two, and finally, that the glory is coming. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.200 That the glory is coming. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.880 Look at verse 18. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:48.480 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:52.799 Now, friends, the Bible does not call you and I to be absent-minded about your pain. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:58.400 There's a lot of religions and ideologies and theologies that are coaching people into delusion. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.960 You don't really feel pain, you're fine. 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:04.079 The Bible does not call us to stuff our emotions like that. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.880 That is unhealthy. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.920 That is not scripture. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:10.079 Rather, what's happening here is Paul is doing what you and I should do. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:13.119 Hey, think about it. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.960 Really think about what you're going through right now. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.559 For I consider. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.920 That word consider is an accounting term. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.759 It literally means I compute. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:28.799 It means to compute, to count, to calculate, to weigh. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.559 I consider. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.799 He's considered what he's going through. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.559 And he says, it is not worth comparing with the glory that is coming. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:43.440 Everything I'm going through is a paper cut compared to the billions of dollars coming my way. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.799 There is no comparison. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:53.519 Friends, you know you are filled when you have the courage to continually calculate your suffering in light of what's coming. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:22:01.759 You know you're filled when you have the courage to continually calculate your sufferings in light Of what's coming. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.880 Now I don't say it to be trite. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:11.519 In a room this big, there has to be a lot of pain going on. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:16.559 I am sure there is so much pain in the lives of our people right now. 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:17.680 Okay? 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:24.880 In a room this size, there's probably difficult, difficult things that people are daydreaming about right now as I'm talking. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:29.519 So it doesn't matter how upbeat the music gets or how nice the weather gets outside. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:35.039 I've been doing this long enough to know that there's people who've walked in here today completely limping. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.720 Absolutely limping. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.880 But I want to encourage you in this way. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:42.880 Paul didn't write this from Destin, Florida. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:48.400 He didn't write this from an air-conditioned resort. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:54.799 This is a man who was well acquainted with suffering. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:58.000 Let's look at how Paul suffered. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.880 2 Corinthians 11 says this. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:08.319 Five times I received at the hand of the Jews the 40 lashes minus one. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.440 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:14.160 Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:40.559 A night and a day I was adrift at sea, on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, and cold and exposure. 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:49.200 And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.200 And that's not all. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:58.319 He goes on to list greater laborments, great, greater labor and imprisonment and countless beatings and near-death experiences. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:06.480 And after all of this, Paul has the audacity to call all of this light and temporary. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:10.000 Light and temporary. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:48.000 Are you filled in a situation where you can start thinking about the finish line whenever you go through hard times here and now? 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.960 There it's not a secret. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:54.799 It is not a secret that being hungry changes your mood. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.680 Amen? 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:06.079 In the same way that hunger changes, makes you uh makes us less patient, I believe pain makes us bad hopers. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:10.160 John Newton had this quote about being a bad hoper. 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:24.799 He says this suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his carriage should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:27.519 What a fool we should think of him. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:35.839 If we saw him wringing his hands and blubbering all that remaining mile, my carriage is broken, my carriage is broken. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:40.720 That's how we, you and I, tend to believe behave. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:43.200 But the glory is coming. 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.920 Now, what is this glory? 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.519 Okay, I'll land the plane here. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.240 We're short on time. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:50.480 I'll land the plane here these next seven minutes. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.039 Okay. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.160 Two things. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:57.599 Okay, the text mentions A, bodies without badness. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.640 Look at verse 23 again. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:18.400 Not only creation is groaning, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we groan inwardly and wait eagerly for our adoption as sons with the redemption of our bodies. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:21.119 Friends, those words, first fruits. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:24.319 Okay, right now you and I have the first fruits of the Spirit. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:29.200 What that means is being filled with the Holy Spirit is just the beginning. 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.519 Being filled is just the beginning. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:33.039 There is more coming. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:36.640 Okay, this is a down payment for what's actually coming next. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:44.319 Listen, our story, my story, your story does not end with us wearing diapers on clouds, playing the harp. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:47.519 That's not our final destination. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.880 We get brand new bodies. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:54.000 We get redeemed bodies. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:27:00.640 And I don't have time to dissect it like I want to, but 1 Corinthians 15 expounds on this reality big time. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:14.400 1 Corinthians 15, verse 42 says this what is sown, meaning the body that's buried of a Christian, what is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:20.480 No matter how beautiful you are, y'all are all beautiful, by the way, okay? 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:24.160 I better get some compliments on the sermon because of that right there. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:31.920 No matter how cute you are, beautiful you are right now, your body now is perishable. 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:35.279 There's an expiration date on you. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.839 It is corruptible. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:50.480 And this strikes me big time whenever I'm watching the NBA draft, and these analysts on ESPN are talking about look at how fast he can run, look at how high he can jump, he's the next so-and-so. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:54.400 And I'm just thinking in my head, Father Time is undefeated. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.119 Give it 10 years. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:28:00.960 He'll be an analyst, analyzing the next guy. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:07.920 And I'm not I'm not being cynical, but I just know that there's an expiration date on athletic prowess. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:09.519 Okay, you are getting weaker. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:11.039 Our bodies are actually getting weaker. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:14.160 Every stage you hit is a corruptible stage. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:18.079 And I'm not I'm 29, but I'm I'm figuring this out now. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:22.319 There's a time in my life I could I I physically couldn't walk up the stairs. 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.599 I couldn't do it. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.039 I had to run. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:27.920 I saw stairs and I had the energy, I had to run up the stairs. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.799 I don't know what it was. 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.640 I had to run every stairs. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:35.200 And now I turned 29 a month ago, and it's been like 8 p.m. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:37.759 And I'm like, am I tired? 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:43.359 Am I ready to go to bed? 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.720 You are you are dying. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:53.920 Our bodies are getting weaker, but later on, we're gonna get a body that's not subject to decay or subject to aging. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:29:00.400 Verse 43 says this, where the body is sown in dishonor, but it is raised in glory. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:06.160 What that means is, man, some of you have you've let yourself daydream about the beauties of heaven. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:09.119 Listen, your body will match the beauty of heaven. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:12.559 It will match that glory of heaven. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:16.880 Verse 43 says, It is sown in weakness, but it is raised in power. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:19.359 Our bodies now are so weak. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:24.720 All it takes is one cell in your body to go rogue, and you have a huge problem on your hands. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:30.960 Our bodies are so fragile, but there's coming a day where our bodies will not be raised in power. 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:35.839 That means that Leo doesn't have to get intrusive thoughts and start shaking like he always does. 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:38.319 There will be no more mental health stuff. 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:43.519 There'll be no more hand sanitizer, be raised in power, no more hospital visits. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:50.640 It is sown a natural body, but verse 44, it is sown a natural body, but it is raised a spiritual body. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:57.839 What that means is your resurrection body will be animated by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.640 Look at me. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:29:59.599 Only. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:03.839 Animated by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit only. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.079 No more struggling with the flesh. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:08.640 That's all those days are gonna be over one day. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:12.720 He began this work and he's going to bring it to completion. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:17.200 You will get, we will get new bodies. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:21.920 Contrary to popular belief, I like more than just basketball. 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.519 Somebody said, really? 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.680 I like, I no, no one knows, I love camping. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:35.839 Okay, I actually really love camping for about 25, 26 minutes. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:39.839 And what usually happens never fails. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.640 It never fails. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:49.440 Around s'more number three, I'm like, I want torches. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:59.920 And there's the initial adrenaline of setting up your tent and bunking with your boys and talking, but I'm like, this isn't my bed. 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:01.440 I want my bed. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:04.960 I want to lay down like a starfish in my bed. 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:06.640 I don't want to talk. 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.359 Okay. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:11.759 But friends, this is how the Bible describes our earthly dwelling. 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:14.720 This is a tent, this is a temporary structure. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:18.160 As you feel pain, remind this is a temporary structure. 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:22.720 Yes, it's a temple of the Holy Spirit, but this is not our permanent home. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:36.799 Elsewhere, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5, he says this, for we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house that's not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:44.400 For in this tent, in our current tent, we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling. 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:48.000 If indeed by putting it on, we may not be found naked. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:53.039 For while we were still in this tent, we groaned, being burdened. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:32:02.960 Not that we should we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:10.720 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:14.720 Again, your fullness is just the beginning. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.960 It is just the beginning. 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:25.200 So the glory that's coming includes redeemed bodies, and lastly, a new redeemed world. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.759 Look at verse 19. 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:45.119 For the creation awaits with eager longing, for the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:48.319 Creation is waiting for our revealing. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:53.599 Right now, Christians blend in with everybody else. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:33:00.480 In the Bible see here, one creation is excited for Christians to get their brand new body. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.440 Okay, how? 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:04.640 Well, that word right there, eager longing. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:06.799 Some of your Bible say eager expectation. 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:11.680 It literally means to watch with an outstretched neck. 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:15.279 Ever been on the highway when there's an accident? 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.160 Okay? 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:19.440 And you get up there and you realize there was no blockage at all. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:21.279 It was just people doing what? 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.559 Watching. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.680 What's that called? 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:25.119 Rubbernecking. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.039 So this is the picture that Paul is trying to paint. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:32.000 All of creation is currently rubbernecking, waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:37.039 They're waiting for the future of the destiny of the people who are filled with the Spirit now. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:41.920 Creation is on its tiptoes to seeing what to see what happens to you. 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:45.119 Now look at verse 20. 00:33:46.240 --> 00:34:05.680 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself would be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:09.360 Why is creation rubber-necking right now? 00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:14.159 Because creation was cursed because we were cursed. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:18.400 So whenever we get redeemed, all of creation gets redeemed with us. 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.519 Okay? 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:22.639 The same way our bodies will be glorified. 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:26.320