Suffering as a Child of God.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] All right, go ahead and have a seat welcome to Village Church if this is your first time here [0:04] I am so glad to see you. My name’s Steve [0:07] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church [0:09] And if you have your Bibles go ahead and open them to Romans chapter 8. That’s where we’ll be this week [0:15] We’re gonna be starting in verse 18 and by God’s grace. We’ll get down to verse 25 or somewhere near there [0:22] This week is kind of

[0:24] starting a section of Romans that really informs us [0:30] Not so much about the specific [0:33] Gospel but more about the effects of the gospel or even better yet how we view [0:39] The things that happen in our life through the lens of the truth that Jesus has risen from the dead and through his death [0:46] And resurrection has purchased our lives redeemed us from the sin that we fell into and [0:53] Bringing us into a place where we will at some point live with him in his kingdom worshiping him forever

[1:00] And he wants us now to take a look at how that reality [1:05] Affects how you view the world around you and he’s going to begin this week by dealing with the topic of suffering [1:13] Dealing with the issue of pain and then next week [1:16] He’s going to take a look starting in verse 26 about how your view of suffering and how the reality of suffering in your life [1:23] How that affects your prayers and then the following week in verse 28 [1:29] We’re gonna unpack God’s promise that

[1:32] Everything that happens in the lives of those who love God those who are called by him to salvation [1:39] how every single aspect of your life will [1:43] Necessarily work together for good not just some of it not just a little bit of it [1:50] Not just the things that make you smile not just the things that make you laugh [1:54] Not just the things that make you feel pleasant, but every single [1:58] Thing that ever

[2:00] happens in your life will work together for good and [2:06] Then he sets off in verses 29 and 30 and we’re gonna unpack that for two weeks of [2:13] how we can actually trust that promise and [2:17] then ultimately the root of that promise and that we can never be separated from the love of God is how he closes out Romans chapter 8 and [2:25] What we see in the rest of this chapter are some of the tougher aspects of [2:31] Scripture and some of the tougher subjects and today we start with a very difficult

[2:35] Subject that really hits close to home to all of us some of us more so than others [2:40] But it’s the reality of suffering and that’s a tough subject and because of the topics that we’re gonna be covering [2:46] Over the next few weeks after the sermon. We’re gonna be having Q&A and so we’re not gonna have [2:52] Praise and worship at the end of the service instead [2:55] I’m gonna come back up and I’m gonna answer any questions that you may have [2:58] During the service and during the service there should be a phone number

[3:01] That pops up on the screen that gives you a number that you can text your questions into [3:07] And so what I want you to do is that at any point during this service a question pops into your mind [3:13] Or you think I’m being a little bit unclear on a matter go ahead and send that mess that a text message into that number [3:20] We’re not gonna know who you are if you want anonymity on that [3:24] But go ahead and text your question into that number and don’t worry about waiting to see if I address it [3:30] Because if you wait until the end of the sermon

[3:33] We probably won’t get to your question because they’re gonna be compiling them as I preach [3:38] So go ahead and send those questions in through the sermon [3:41] Then I’m gonna come back up later and I’m gonna go over the questions that come in during the service [3:46] But what I want us to understand about this aspect or the journey that I want us to go on through the rest of Romans 8 [3:52] Is that it’s important to us to understand first that I view the scripture as something that is the Word of God [3:59] I believe it’s inerrant

[4:00] I believe that God spoke through men and they recorded the actual teachings of the Holy Spirit and that they’re perfect [4:07] There’s no error in any of them and I also because I believe that I also believe that the scripture is then [4:14] Authoritative in every aspect of life [4:17] I believe that as a follower of Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead that if I believe that then I must also [4:25] Submit my life under the authority of the scripture of Jesus Christ [4:29] So when I’m looking for the words of God in my life if I’m looking for where the spirit is going to lead me

[4:37] In any decision in life the first place that I need to look I believe is the scriptures because this is the [4:44] Objective word of God my emotions don’t dictate it [4:48] It’s meaning but it has a meaning that is set by God and I believe that and because of that [4:54] I want us to over the next few weeks kind of come under the authority of scripture in this journey [4:59] I think one of the issues that’s happening in our culture right now [5:03] It’s probably been happening for a while

[5:04] But I was having a conversation this last week with someone it made me realize something that where we go for [5:10] Inspiration in our lives is oftentimes books about the Bible [5:15] rather than the Bible and [5:18] So when I hear someone tell me that my view on this has been totally changed by [5:23] this book about the Bible [5:27] but rarely

[5:29] Nowadays do we look on social media do we look on blogs do we come to the church and we hear someone say [5:36] My life was totally transformed by this verse and how the Holy Spirit ministered it to my heart [5:44] So what I want you to understand is that I’m gonna come at the next few weeks with the perspective [5:49] That your life needs to be changed first and foremost by the unfiltered word of God [5:57] So I don’t even necessarily want you to filter this through my viewpoint [6:02] What I want you to do over the next few weeks is commit yourself to actually going to the word of God in

[6:09] Romans 8 and then everywhere that it connects to because let me tell you it all [6:14] Connects it’s all one story. No scripture stands in solitude [6:20] It no scriptures an island to itself instead it all works to unveil one great story and that is the story of Jesus Christ [6:28] He’s the central character of every book of the Bible [6:31] He is the theme of where it’s all going and he’s the theme of what we’re all walking into [6:35] He’s the theme of where life is coming out of and he is ultimately as we’re gonna talk about a little bit today

[6:40] He’s the theme of where history is actually going right now in light of everything that happens [6:46] So let us as a people as those who follow Jesus Christ [6:52] Let us submit our lives fully to Jesus in everything that he is saying [6:59] One of the things that we left off with last week is this great reality that our life should be lived [7:04] With the realization that we are children of God if we have faith in Jesus Christ [7:09] God gives us the analogy through the Apostle Paul that we’ve been adopted into his family. We didn’t choose God God chose us

[7:17] He’s called us his children and he’s adopted us into his family and our connection to him is so close that then he can goes [7:23] One step further and he says you’re not just the child that I kind of put off into another room [7:28] No, I’ve been made an heir through my faith in Jesus Christ joint heirs with Christ and a great inheritance of the kingdom of God [7:36] Is awaiting me and then he ends with what you probably don’t expect because what you would expect at the end of that [7:42] Is this great big hallelujah phrase? [7:45] But instead at the end of verse 17 the Apostle Paul gives us something that we may not expect he says

[7:50] provided or if this is true of us if [7:55] We suffer with Christ [7:57] We say well, I was with you Paul till there it all sounded really good [8:01] I mean, oh man, I’ve been adopted into the family of God. He calls me his child [8:06] He tells me to call him Abba father [8:14] He says you’re gonna suffer if you’re a child of God before you take possession of your inheritance

[8:25] And so that brings us into verse 18 and so join me in Romans chapter 8 verse 18 [8:31] We can read together. He says for I consider there’s that word consider. What he’s saying is I believe I have faith [8:39] This is the way that I think about it [8:44] That the sufferings of this present time [8:47] Are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us [8:54] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God

[8:59] For the creation was subjected to futility [9:04] Not willingly [9:05] But because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption [9:13] And obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God for we know [9:19] That the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth [9:23] Until now and not only creation

[9:27] But we ourselves who have the first fruits of the spirit [9:30] We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly [9:35] For adoption as sons the redemption of our bodies for in this hope we were saved [9:41] Now hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he sees [9:47] But if we hope for what we do not see we wait for it with patience [9:54] This is the Word of God pray with me our father

[9:59] We come before you [10:01] asking [10:02] That today that you would give us faith [10:06] You would help us to trust you [10:10] Help me specifically to communicate the truths of your word without error [10:15] Lord I pray that you would open our minds and open our hearts and our lives

[10:20] So that we can be changed and formed by your word today [10:27] That change would go with us into every day of our lives that we would be people marked by faith in you [10:36] In the name of Jesus Christ I pray [10:39] Amen [10:41] the harsh realities of pain [10:44] Can cause doubt in anyone’s life

[10:48] We need to be very honest about that [10:51] We need to very up front with one another about that that pain is not something that should just be denied [10:57] Pain is not something that you should go through and pretend it has zero effect on you [11:02] Suffering is not something that we should be stoic about and just pretend that we are [11:08] Emotionless that we are thoughtless that nothing affects us. We are not as it would be robots [11:15] experiencing life instead we are feeling

[11:20] thinking [11:21] feeling [11:23] emotional people [11:25] We should be honest about that that when suffering comes in there is not this expectation [11:32] On any of us to just grin and say this is great. I [11:37] Get to lose this I get to hurt here

[11:41] I get to see this person that I love going through this pain or I get to go through this pain myself [11:48] And this is fantastic. I couldn’t be happier. That is not in any way [11:54] The way that God wants you to deal with it [11:57] Or do I think that is the way that the scriptures here talk about it uses words like suffering it uses words like [12:04] Groaning it uses words like the pains of childbirth. I’ve been in the room when that took place [12:10] Didn’t seem very pleasant. My wife did not give me the report of man. I really enjoyed that

[12:20] These real words real pain and real hurt [12:25] But what he wants us to understand is is that it’s all going in a direction of joy [12:31] And it’s all needs to be viewed it through the lens of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ [12:39] He wants us to be suffering that way and he wants us to trust that God will [12:46] use all of it for [12:49] his glory

[12:51] Which ultimately will lead to your joy [12:55] And that is the lens that he’s going through this with remember is not disconnected all of chapter 8 is [13:01] completely connected with one another pain when viewed through the lens of the gospel of Jesus can be a [13:11] Tool to give life to worship of God through our trust and what we hope he’s going to do [13:18] through the gospel [13:19] So number one this morning. I want you to understand that suffering aids us in

[13:25] finding hope in the gospel [13:28] suffering aids us and finding hope in the gospel

[13:34] The end of verse 17, he said a very important phrase he said if

[13:39] we suffer [13:41] if [13:41] We suffer and then he goes into verse 18 and one of the interesting things that you need to know about verse 18 [13:47] To see about it. He then just says the sufferings of this present time [13:52] He doesn’t then continue to say if you go through it, he then goes to yeah, it’s happening, isn’t it? [13:59] You’re experiencing it aren’t you?

[14:02] If you’re not you will tomorrow

[14:05] You’re going to suffer in this life and you cannot avoid it [14:13] But then he says something so amazing

[14:18] And it’s just a blanket statement zero qualification [14:22] You can go through the scriptures sometimes and there will be qualifications to statements in this section of scripture [14:27] There’s no qualification given to this phrase because Paul wants it to be a blanket [14:31] General statement he means for you to understand in verse 18 that no matter what your suffering is

[14:40] No matter how great it is no matter how much it hurts no matter how terminal it may be [14:47] It is not worth comparing to the glory that awaits you

[14:56] So he means for you to look into your suffering and say [15:02] No matter what happens. I [15:06] Know the outcome is the glory of God

[15:11] Therefore my faith cannot be shaken

[15:16] He doesn’t want any other hope to be where you go [15:23] As a first 18 points is to [15:27] Is your hope ultimately is not that you feel better tomorrow [15:34] Your hope ultimately is not the next time you go to the doctor you get a good report [15:41] This is a minor hope [15:43] It’s a tiny hope

[15:46] It’s not wrong to have that hope but if your life is guided by that hope you will be disappointed [15:52] Why because one out of every one person dies? [15:57] That’s why [15:59] You don’t know when you just know you will I [16:04] Hope that you live with a healthy expectation that in the end it stops [16:08] all of it

[16:10] There will be great disappointments along the way. I’m gonna keep it real with you this morning [16:19] This life [16:22] Is pervasively disappointing

[16:26] Pervasively [16:29] If you put all of your hopes in this world [16:35] And that every tomorrow in this world as my heart is beating and the breath in my lungs is happening if all of your [16:42] Hopes are bound up into tomorrow will be better today. You will live devastated

[16:49] Dr. Jerry Falwell once [16:52] Speaking in a meeting that I was privileged to take a part of I wasn’t saying anything because I was like 19 [16:59] But he made this statement to his staff and he said there will be more bad days than good in this life

[17:09] You may think it’s strange [17:12] But that is one of the most helpful things I have ever heard

[17:19] Because it prepared me for some very difficult moments that I’ve had [17:25] Understand friends that your life is a subjective experience [17:29] That everyone suffers to a varying degree and some will suffer more than others [17:36] But the suffering to which you experience in this life will seem severe to you if it’s the worst thing you’ve ever been through [17:44] And it is a very little hope to think that it could be worse sometimes isn’t it? [17:49] Actually that thought could be devastating

[17:52] It’s like oh my goodness. I can’t imagine how this could be worse. It seems pretty bad right now. I [17:58] Need to know that it’s not going to be worse. Well, it could be but [18:03] What you need to understand is that if all of your hope

[18:10] Is in this life

[18:14] You’re gonna be devastated [18:16] Because you have no idea [18:19] What’s going to come around the corner [18:23] You have no clue. I know that in the past two or three years [18:26] I’ve I’ve walked with some of you have talked with some of you have met with some of you and one of the greatest [18:32] Threads that goes through everyone’s life as I did not see this coming

[18:37] There’s been some great pain there’s been death

[18:41] We’ve wept together we’ve hoped together we’ve prayed together

[18:47] And [18:47] What I want you to understand today is that the gift that God gives us in Romans chapter 8 [18:52] I believe for be personally Romans 8 is one of the greatest gifts that God has ever given his children [18:59] It’s the greatest gifts because he gives us answers [19:03] One of the greatest gifts that he’s going to give you is where your hope needs to be in every single [19:09] Situation of your life and it needs to be grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ

[19:14] Because if your hope is not ultimately in the gospel and in the gospel alone [19:20] Then you will be disappointed [19:22] But what God is promising in this text is that if your hope is in the gospel [19:26] You will not be disappointed because the truth of the gospel goes past the moment of death [19:32] And it goes on forever and ever and ever because here’s what he’s done to lead up to this [19:39] He’s given us God’s perspective at the very beginning of Romans chapter 8

[19:44] He’s wanted us to understand that in God’s perspective if you have faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ [19:48] Then you will never face condemnation [19:51] Because when God looks at you [19:54] Person who has faith in Jesus Christ he sees the very righteousness of his son and he declares over you [20:01] No condemnation [20:04] You have righteousness therefore

[20:06] He will never condemn you and then he sets out onto a journey throughout Romans chapter 8 to show just how that [20:13] Reality affects you that when you live under the reality of no condemnation never facing God’s wrath that changes your [20:21] Mind he went to he said to set your mind on the truth of the gospel [20:26] Saturate your life with it fill your core [20:30] Being with the truth of God’s word in the gospel and it will change your thoughts and [20:38] Then when your thoughts are changed he wants you then last week we talked about it the fact that faith

[20:42] Changes your actions you are called to live a life that reflects a belief that Jesus rose from the dead and [20:50] Because Jesus rose from the dead your life is new and will be [20:54] resurrected to new degrees of obedience as you grow older as a person [21:01] Then he gives us this great pantheon of praise that God has adopted us made us joint heirs, and then he [21:09] Comes back to reality

[21:12] And he says understand [21:14] You’re going to go through some very hard times [21:18] But faith friends must change the outlook that you have on what happens to you [21:25] Jesus suffered and so will you [21:30] You will suffer for your faith in this life [21:34] And you will suffer because of the curse of sin in this world

[21:39] But all of that suffering will lead to glory [21:42] It is tempting for us to believe that faith in Jesus puts a bubble around us a bubble that prevents you from hardship [21:51] pain [21:53] Persecution sickness and anything negative from happening in your life. That’s untrue [21:58] That’s a lie [21:59] But that’s not reality. That’s not the real world this moral life

[22:04] Brings those difficult things into our lives and Paul’s going to explain why [22:11] First I want you to review what he’s already said in the book of Romans about suffering and Romans chapter 5 verse 3 [22:17] He put it this way. He said not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings [22:24] Rejoice and sufferings. They don’t seem to go together very well [22:27] Paul says they do [22:30] We rejoice in sufferings. Why knowing that suffering produces?

[22:35] Endurance how because it gives you something to hope towards if heaven was here. What would heaven there be good for?

[22:44] It wouldn’t be and so suffering produces inside of us an endurance in our faith [22:51] That boss or the Apostle Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wants us to understand that that endurance would not be [22:57] There without the suffering [22:59] So it would not be kind if that is true [23:03] For God to remove all suffering from our lives in this present age in that way [23:09] Suffering then and only then can be viewed as a gift

[23:14] The gospel changes the way that you view suffering and it also changes the way that you experience [23:22] suffering [23:23] Because you can experience it and rejoice at the same time verse 18 [23:30] commands us to put our faith and [23:35] Set it on what we believe is coming [23:39] Wants us to have a future

[23:42] view [23:42] Wants us to believe that a better day through the work of God in the gospel is coming a kingdom [23:50] That is so wonderful [23:52] That our present suffering isn’t even worth comparing to it [23:56] Let’s help the Apostle Paul talks about it in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 starting in verse 16. He writes this way [24:02] He says so we do not lose heart

[24:06] Though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day this light [24:13] Momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory [24:18] Beyond all comparison as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen for the things that are [24:25] Seen or transient with the things that are unseen are

[24:29] eternal

[24:32] You’re going to get old is verse 16 point [24:36] You’re going to some of you will do it sooner than others. I mean you meet some 75 year olds and you’re like

[24:44] You’re a freak man you run 17 miles a day [24:48] You feel better than a 23 year old and it’s like it’s like what in the world [24:52] But then sometimes you meet some 23 year olds and you’re like this life has not been kind to you [25:00] All right, so so so the way you age is kind of subjective in this life [25:05] Some of you are going to check out earlier than others of you and I know everybody was like well [25:10] I hope it’s not me me, too

[25:13] But but it’s going to happen that’s just the way that the world works read the obituaries some live a very long life [25:20] Some sadly live very short lives [25:23] But Paul’s point is that this life will get old you will waste away

[25:32] All right, you will [25:35] Your back will hurt your knees will give out [25:39] You will get sick your skin will get wrinkly no matter what magic potion you think you found [25:46] No matter how many layers you put on [25:49] The wrinkles will come

[25:54] Your hair will get gray or it will just fall away

[26:04] You will get old and he says something very interesting because he then makes another blanket statement [26:09] He just says this light momentary affliction [26:12] You may be saying it doesn’t feel light and Paul says well when you consider [26:19] The glory that is coming the weight of it [26:23] Paul wants the weight of glory to fall on your shoulders for you to look at the gospel and say man [26:29] Look at the links that God went to to save me. He must have something great for me on the other side

[26:35] And he gives a singer he says though your outer self is wasting away your inner self is being renewed day by day [26:42] He says there’s the fountain of youth as [26:46] You get older if you follow Jesus your inner self will be [26:51] Transformed your inner self will be renewed your inner self will be reborn [26:56] And it will grow over and over again so that everything you go through in life seems lighter and everything that you’re going [27:03] Towards which is the kingdom of God will get weightier and

[27:07] Heavier as you experience the hard things of this life and you will begin to say things like oh [27:13] I can’t wait till the return of Christ

[27:17] When I was 16, I was like man, I hope he waits I [27:23] Don’t want him to come back yet [27:24] I’m not married [27:26] We know what comes then I [27:29] Haven’t had a family. I haven’t experienced it, but when you get older [27:35] And you experience what life’s really like some of the realities of pain and suffering

[27:41] Then you understand it and you say oh God come back I [27:47] Want to taste your kingdom I want to know what it’s like not so much anymore as you get older [27:53] Maybe some of you can can empathize with but not so much that I won’t have to experience pain [27:56] But when you watch others go through pain, you just say I don’t want them to go through it anymore

[28:03] Imposter pulses

[28:06] You’re being renewed [28:07] You’re being prepared [28:10] For what is coming [28:12] And he says you need to live your life preparing for the weight of that glory, but then he says something very important in the text [28:21] In verse 20 he says for the creation was subjected to futility not willingly

[28:30] Because of him who subjected it and hope [28:34] The three ways of viewing this text [28:38] First way is to say [28:40] Well first off you got asked question who subjected it [28:45] The creations been kind of marred so subjected it. Well Adam could have subjected it [28:50] We sinned

[28:51] Some people would say Satan subjected it [28:54] And then there’s a third option that God subjected you said God no God would never subject it [29:00] Think about it this way [29:01] when Adam sinned

[29:06] There was no hope

[29:10] Satan certainly not gonna give you any hope who’s the only one that would subjected and hope

[29:18] God

[29:21] What we have here is the reality of sin in this world [29:26] And what the Apostle Paul is recounting is the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3 [29:32] When Adam and Eve sinned against God they brought sin into this world they disobeyed God [29:40] And when they disobeyed God God comes down to the garden if you remember the story and he says hey guys [29:46] Where are you? I? [29:48] They were here and now they’ve got clothes on and God says who told you you were naked

[29:53] Well this woman [29:55] Well this man will the snake [29:58] The blame game happens, but the one overarching reality is is that they sinned and so what happens in Genesis chapter 3 [30:05] God judges their sin and one of those judgments is that he cursed the ground

[30:10] And so the Apostle Paul is recounting here is that God brought a judgment because of man’s sin and [30:17] That the earth is experiencing that [30:21] Pain right here right now in your life, but it was subjected and hope [30:28] It was subjected first in the view in Genesis chapter 3 15. He said that Jesus is coming and Jesus will save [30:36] That’s the hope [30:38] Then he subjected it in the reality that after the resurrection. There’s going to come a kingdom later

[30:44] Now you may say [30:46] Now if God is my father he adopted me into his family wouldn’t the best thing for me be that I wouldn’t experience any suffering

[30:54] Wouldn’t that be the best so how in the world could we look at the same scripture that says that I’m to come before him [31:00] Abba father adopted heir joint heir and then God subjected the earth to futility in hope of Jesus in the coming kingdom [31:07] Well the reason you can do that is because that is way better than if anybody else had done it

[31:15] If God were not completely in control of the pain in your life [31:21] You should be absolutely terrified

[31:27] If God was not in control of the suffering that happens in this world [31:31] Then you should be absolutely terrified, and he is not a God worth trusting [31:36] Because his plan can be thwarted by sin [31:41] But the truth that Paul is ministering into our lives right here in this text is that sin [31:48] Did not thwart God’s plan what Adam and Eve and Satan meant for evil God [31:55] used for good

[31:59] It’s what Joseph said to his brother in Genesis chapter 50 verse 20

[32:04] So understand that what we have here is a great reality that in our suffering [32:11] We can trust God because God is in control of it

[32:18] And it’s been subjected in hope what kind of hope [32:23] That’s where he goes [32:25] He says in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and [32:32] Obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God [32:36] The hope that there’s coming a day where we will be glorified in his kingdom [32:44] risen to the identity of a child of God and

[32:50] Then we will look to Jesus and say Jesus’s redemption is now 100% done [32:58] Isn’t he great? This was God’s plan to give Jesus the centerpiece [33:03] Glory of the entire universe [33:07] Because the glory of the children of God reflects the glory of Christ

[33:16] So, how do we get there Jesus gets us there we trust him we suffer we die [33:23] Then we’re risen again to a glorious reality where there is no pain [33:27] There is no suffering and we say how did you get there? [33:31] Jesus isn’t he wonderful [33:34] And so Paul’s point is is that every attempt to thwart the plan of God has simply been a weak and [33:44] useless attempt to a God who was in control the entire time

[33:49] There’s no other way you can believe Romans 8 28

[33:55] He works all things for good [33:57] Only a God in complete sovereign rule could live up to that promise [34:05] Any other God’s not worth following any other God’s not worth trusting any God who any evil being [34:12] Could thwart his plan set him back make him form a holy huddle and say what are we gonna do now?

[34:22] That’s not God [34:24] God is holy God is sovereign God is always in control Charles Spurgeon [34:30] Once reflected on the sovereignty of God and he said through the morning Sun coming through your window [34:35] When you can see the dust mites floating through the air there is not a mite that does not hold its exact [34:42] location because of the absolute sovereign control of God

[34:47] He’s in control of it all [34:48] He’s in control of it all [34:50] Number two this morning understand that because of sin nothing works as it should [34:57] Because of sin nothing works as it should [35:00] Why does creation need to be freed? [35:03] Because the whole creation has been groaning

[35:07] Look in verse 23. Here’s how he says it [35:09] He says not only creation [35:11] But we ourselves who have the first fruits of the spirit grown inwardly as we wait [35:15] Eagerly for adoption of sons the redemption of our bodies

[35:21] What does he compare that to though in verse 22

[35:28] Childbirth [35:29] Have you ever been hurting so bad that you thought you were gonna die I? [35:34] Have once I don’t recommend it [35:38] Wasn’t pleasant, but what happens in suffering in this life and to one degree or another something will happen [35:44] You’ll get injured or you’ll get sick, and you’ll just have this moment [35:48] Where it’s just like I think I might die

[35:51] And it’s awful and that’s how we are programmed because of sin to look at pain [35:57] The Apostle Paul here. He says that all of the pain that you will go through in this life needs to be seen as the [36:03] pains of childbirth [36:05] Childbirth is not pleasant [36:08] Because of the curse of sin, but what happens on the other side of childbirth is [36:13] Is that you have a beautiful baby

[36:17] Paul wants you to understand that your pain is like the pain of childbirth [36:22] Something better more joyful and great that would be totally worth it is on the other side of that [36:29] It’s not the pains of death it is the pain of childbirth [36:34] That’s what Jesus said in Mark chapter 13 8 so Paul’s just repeating the words of Christ [36:38] Jesus said for nation will rise against nation kingdom against kingdom earthquakes in various places [36:43] Famines these are but the beginning of the birth pains

[36:48] In other words there’s going to come a glorious reality of celebration. It’s like every childbirth should be a celebration

[36:58] Every Christian needs to understand verse 23 every single Christian. We are not yet in the kingdom of God

[37:07] We’re not yet [37:09] And he gives us some interesting words for us to understand that first in verse 23. He gives us the term first fruits [37:16] The harvest has begun when you get the first fruits, but it’s not over [37:22] There’s more harvesting to come and pauses. We’re the first fruits, but then he uses the term [37:29] Grown I know we’re not in the kingdom of God why pain? [37:33] It’s not here yet, we’re still suffering he says wait eagerly

[37:40] He says we are to be expecting something better in the future [37:45] And then he uses a term that we will experience more redemption of our bodies

[37:54] So we are talked about redemption Jesus completed that but then Paul comes around here [37:59] He says there’s more redemption to be experienced [38:02] We will not just be redeemed in the sense that we will not face condemnation in the future [38:08] What Paul’s saying is that the future is going to come and not only are we not going to face condemnation [38:13] But our bodies are going to be totally [38:16] Redeemed our bodies are going to be totally resurrected

[38:19] So we will never experience any kind of suffering ever again [38:24] When the resurrection of Jesus is the basis for everything that happens in your life [38:28] You have an answer to everything that happens in your life

[38:33] You say why is pain happening because sin exists

[38:38] So why is there coming a day where pain won’t be here because Jesus rose

[38:44] And he wants us to live in this already, but not yet reality [38:49] Where I am a child of God [38:51] But I have not yet experienced the glorification that awaits all children of God the total [38:57] Redemption of my bodies Christians should not be marked by a denial of the effects of evil [39:04] on this world and even on our own lives [39:09] But instead we should answer it with the hope of Jesus

[39:13] because friends the pain of the curse of sin is [39:16] Universal it’s universal [39:18] This section is the great corrective to the false prosperity gospel [39:25] The prosperity gospel of the word faith movement promises that if we have faith in Christ [39:32] then pain sickness healing health wealth it all must be [39:39] eradicated through our faith

[39:42] Romans 8 22 and 23 is [39:47] Necessarily the proof that that is a lie [39:52] Is a lie that way of thinking will create nothing but frustration [39:57] One struggle that many have is not so much necessarily [40:02] mentally believing the lie of the prosperity teaching but functionally living as though you do [40:09] So I want you to understand two things first the prosperity gospel is no gospel at all. It’s not good news. It’s all bad news

[40:16] All it’s gonna lead you to is frustration and a feeling that you don’t measure up

[40:22] But then secondly what I want you to understand is I don’t want you to [40:26] Functionally believe the prosperity gospel as I see many doing [40:29] when you functionally believe the prosperity gospel understand that there is a lot of frustration to be found and [40:36] Trying to make your life here on this earth perfect and painless [40:42] Because I think that’s what a lot of you are actually seeking in the way that you live your lives [40:46] That is impossible and God tells us that you cannot build heaven on earth

[40:53] That does not aid your faith. It does not prepare you for the kingdom [40:58] It can actually prevent you from growing in Christ as he teaches endurance through hardship and struggle [41:04] The pain of the curse is only eased by faith in hope in five years [41:10] Following Jesus because it gives hope in suffering but note where he then goes with us [41:17] He then tells us well what then is hope [41:21] You see friend we will groan

[41:25] We will we will hurt we will suffer sometimes it’s because of personal sin, but I’ll be frank with you most of the time [41:32] It is not [41:33] It’s not your sin causing you to hurt. It’s just that sin exists [41:38] Is why you hurt and if you believe the wrongness [41:44] If I could just believe more everything be better

[41:50] Disappointment disappointment [41:53] Because God wants us to have a faith that says [41:55] I’m experiencing hardship. I’m experiencing struggle. I’m experiencing sickness. I may even be terminal. Oh [42:04] God is still so good

[42:07] Because I’m gonna be with him forever [42:10] And if that’s not where you go then you have two options number one a works based gospel in which you’re disappointed [42:17] Because you don’t measure up or number two you have to say God is not good

[42:25] Finally this morning I want you to understand that God is worshipped when our hope is in his will not ours [42:33] God is worshiped when our hope is in his will not ours [42:37] We don’t see the fullness of the redemption of our bodies yet. Oh, I can’t wait till I do [42:45] Because then my waistline won’t expand and contract on its own schedule [42:51] Seemingly though it does interact greatly with my eating of lots and lots of bad food [42:56] So there does seem to be a correlation, but there’s coming a day where that won’t be an issue for me any longer

[43:03] We haven’t experienced the fullness of that yet there’s an emphasis in this passage on waiting look in verse 24 [43:11] He says for in this hope [43:12] We were saved what hope that we’re eagerly awaiting the adoption as sons in the redemption of our bodies [43:19] And this hope we were saved so he says when you heard the gospel [43:23] What you were saved by is a hope of what God’s going to do in his kingdom [43:28] Through you for you and for all of his people and then he says now hope is in his will

[43:32] Hope that is not excuse me now hope that is seen is not hope [43:36] For who hopes and what he sees but if we hope for what we do not see we wait for it in patience [43:42] I’m beginning to think because he says hope so many times that hope may be an important part of that part of the passage [43:48] Okay, what he’s going to do is he’s contrasting. He’s saying this is what hope actually is and this is what hope is not

[43:55] hope is [43:56] Waiting for something that you have not seen yet on the timeline of the God that raises the dead

[44:04] Hope is not [44:07] Give it to me right now, or you’re not a good God [44:10] So that’s not hope because the minute you get it [44:13] You don’t have hope anymore because you don’t need it when it’s in front of your face [44:17] Friends when we are in the kingdom of God you understand that we will not have hope for anything because it’s just gonna be there [44:24] We will not need to have faith

[44:26] Faith will end because we will see God face to face [44:30] So there’s coming a day where faith and hope will be absolutely unnecessary [44:33] We’re not there yet [44:36] We are in a day where faith and hope are the two most important things in your life [44:41] And you cannot know what love is without them [44:45] See you need faith you need hope hope is what you need look at what he says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 the author

[44:52] Hebrews says now faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen [44:59] There is a certainty in [45:03] faith and hope [45:04] Connects them here there is a certainty that what you’re hoping for will come if you haven’t seen it though [45:11] How can you be so certain it’s going to happen the answer to that is Jesus I?

[45:16] Will believe anything he says and since he said it’s coming and he rose from the dead [45:21] I think he has some authority that could make it happen and [45:24] Hope then changes the way that you live [45:27] Romans chapter 2 verse 7 let me remind you of what he said here puts it this way to those who by patience [45:33] Look at that patience [45:35] patience patience in well-doing

[45:39] Seek glory and honor and immortality [45:43] He will give eternal life [45:47] What does he say marks your life at the end of Rome of verse 25 he says but if we hope for what we do not [45:53] See we wait for it [45:56] patience

[46:02] Patience is seeking glory through obedience

[46:08] Verse 24 states that salvation is marked by hope therefore when you come to faith in Jesus [46:13] It’s a belief about the future we live his mission because we believe that the future is defined by and [46:22] Set by God I believe that there will be nothing that comes into my life that catches God off guard [46:30] There will be no prognosis there will be no diagnosis there will be nothing that takes him by surprise [46:37] Because he’s got it set he’s got it determined [46:40] He’s got a life prepared that I’m going to walk into and through for all of my days

[46:46] But [46:48] Here’s what I want you to understand [46:52] There is coming a day

[46:58] When all wrongs will be made right I [47:02] Believe it [47:04] There’s coming a day where all children will be healed [47:08] Every single one

[47:12] All sickness will be healed [47:17] Well better than that all pain will be turned to laughter

[47:24] All hate will be turned to kindness

[47:31] And as Revelation 21 puts it all tears [47:37] Wiped away friends until that day I [47:44] Find joy and the fact that God controls all [47:51] He’s working creation to the most glorious conclusion at the perfect time [47:57] When I struggle to understand why it hasn’t happened yet, and I do I [48:03] Go to the Word of God and consider that Christ died and rose at the perfect time

[48:14] God will use all of my pain to bring glory to Jesus [48:18] Therefore I am blessed to have it. I [48:21] Trust God with it because he will make it all joy therefore faith has joy now [48:29] through it all [48:31] Every experience [48:34] every hardship

[48:35] every trial every moment of grief every moment of pain every moment of suffering as [48:42] Well as every moment of happiness every moment of jubilation [48:47] Every moment of laughter our God is a God who is so powerful [48:53] That he will through the resurrection of Jesus Christ take all of it

[49:01] Glorify me and therefore glorify his son

[49:11] As the musicians make [49:14] His way up I want you to understand that [49:17] pain [49:19] Can make you feel empty and hopeless. I know that and we must admit that

[49:27] But in those moments the answer to that pain is faith

[49:35] Faith but there’s a God who loves you to the extent and in the way [49:41] That he sent his only [49:44] begotten son [49:47] To die for you to then rise for you as proof [49:51] That you can trust him with it all [49:56] And in those moments where we feel empty he calls us he says be filled by my gospel

[50:02] And that’s why we take communion here [50:07] Because God calls us in our moments of doubt our moments of joy and our moments of pain and our moments of laughter [50:14] He says understand that the only thing that makes all of that true [50:20] It’s him [50:22] So he calls us to come and share a meal with him and he determined the meal [50:27] It’s the cup. It’s bread

[50:30] The bread represents the broken body of Jesus. You’ve never felt pain that Jesus himself has not felt [50:37] The cup represents his shed blood you’ve never lost more than Jesus lost

[50:44] He was broken he was poured out so that you can be filled forever [50:51] And he says you don’t have to bring anything he’s providing everything and then he says if you believe me if you trust me [50:57] Come eat drink then walk into this world with an answer for pain and an answer for joy [51:05] If you’re a follower of Jesus when you’re ready

[51:12] All right [51:13] Right now the ushers are going to make their way down [51:16] and we’re going to take part in what really is another part of worship here at village church and that is [51:23] Stewarding the gifts that god has given us financially [51:26] Together as a people and giving to the work and mission of the local church if you’re new here [51:32] Please don’t feel obligated to take part in that that’s for someone that’s people that call village church home

[51:37] But I also want to thank those of you who gave online [51:40] This week or this month and thank you for taking part in that as well now [51:45] We’ve got a lot of questions here. I’m gonna do my best [51:49] If I don’t make it to the question that you had please feel free [51:53] to send that to me by way of email or also you could [51:57] I just try to schedule some time where we get together over some coffee or a meal

[52:02] Uh and spend some time talking about these issues, but i’m gonna go ahead and begin the first question is is sickness [52:09] Or suffering caused by personal sin [52:12] Do my works determine the amount of suffering that I will endure now the book of james [52:19] Does tell us that there are some [52:22] Who suffer and it actually says some who have fallen asleep or or what that means in the language [52:27] Is that some who have died because of sin that goes in their lives? So there is at times?

[52:32] a correlation between [52:34] Sin and suffering whereas personal sin is concerned but not always [52:40] And really not a lot of the time has been my experience [52:44] Some of the suffering that we endure and a lot of the suffering that we will endure is simply because of the fact that [52:51] The world is currently in a cursed state under the judgment of god awaiting the time [52:59] Where we will

[53:01] Rise again [53:04] It can determine how much you suffer but not always again same thing [53:11] Um in the old testament there were different levels of judgment for sin [53:16] So understand there is a correlation there in the old testament if you murdered [53:21] What was the outcome? [53:23] capital punishment

[53:24] All right, and we have that in our nation as well. So that’s a suffering that is marked under [53:30] The justice of god in romans 13 we can have that debate later [53:33] But it gives the country and the sovereign nations the right to determine those types of things [53:38] But that is suffering for sin prison time suffering for sin some communicable diseases happen because of personal sin, but not all [53:47] This is very good to understand the tensions [53:52] That lie in there if suffering is unavoidable

[53:55] Does that mean we should seek it? Is it wrong to want to be happy? [53:59] Um, this is something that has happened in wake of some good [54:04] Books that have come out recently about the types of lives that we should live [54:08] Stewarding our wealth to the glory of god [54:10] But also understand that we were not created to be just simply creatures of leisure who are worshiping [54:16] Just laziness and idolatry and apathy but suffering is not something that you should seek

[54:23] Because here’s what I mean by that it can become idolatry [54:27] So if you were to go to a very dangerous [54:30] Part of the world to live for the mission of jesus and your chief aim was to be a martyr [54:36] That is sinful [54:38] Because your god is to die [54:42] Number one, that’s silly

[54:44] really foolish [54:45] but number two [54:47] That’s not to be your chief aim [54:49] The worship of god is to be your chief aim and the stewardship of the body is to be your chief aim [54:55] So if you willingly put yourself into positions where harm is going to take place [55:00] Understand when the scripture says your body is the temple of the holy spirit

[55:04] There’s an understanding that you’re going to hurt but there is no calling to put yourself into a position to hurt [55:11] Now you should risk big and if the hurt comes [55:16] Glory to god [55:17] But if you do it specifically for the pain then that’s foolish [55:21] And I don’t think it’s wrong to want to be happy either [55:24] All right, it’s not wrong to steward wealth for the glory of god. There’s some in our

[55:29] Culture that would say that those who have monetary wealth are simply sinful because they have that monetary wealth [55:35] That’s not the writings of the new testament. Jesus also didn’t die to nullify the book of proverbs [55:41] The book of proverbs sets up standards [55:43] It says that if you act in wise ways and use your money and use your brain in wise ways [55:47] You could experience great wealth [55:50] But then in the new testament the apostle paul instructs timothy he says teach the rich

[55:56] Among you to steward their wealth in such a way as to show that they know what real life is [56:02] What is real life real life’s the gospel therefore they’re to be generous with their wealth and they’re to steward it in such a way [56:08] That it makes the gospel look great, but it’s not wrong necessarily to be to be rich [56:13] Now I do have conversations with some people where every way that they want god to use them [56:20] Ends with them being rich

[56:24] And I have to kind of scratch my chin on that one and be like I think you’re missing the point [56:29] You actually just want money and that’s really where the prosperity gospel will lead you [56:35] But we need to do all things to the glory of god [56:38] Whether you’re suffering great [56:41] Greatly rather to a degree or whether you’re in a time in life where you’re I mean, it’s just like all peaches and cream [56:46] I mean where it feels like suffering is not around but you always need to be prepared because it is on the horizon at

[56:52] some point in your life [56:54] Why does god allow bad things to happen to good people? How could a good god receive glory through suffering? [57:01] um [57:02] I think that when we ask questions like that, I think we misunderstand [57:07] One of the first teachings of scripture and that’s with the effects of genesis chapter 3 and you may have heard this before [57:12] But there are the only good guy is jesus

[57:17] The only good person that ever existed is jesus christ and what did he experience?

[57:24] suffering [57:26] and death [57:27] Philippians chapter 2 says it it really [57:29] Exalts the deity of jesus christ and then it says that he humbled himself to the point of becoming part of his creation [57:35] Even more so he humbled himself to the point of death even more [57:37] So he humbled himself to a criminal’s death on the cross which was the worst type of death you could have at that time

[57:43] Because it’s not only physically taxing [57:45] And and hard to endure but it’s also extremely embarrassing

[57:51] And so when we experience suffering we need to do it through the lens of faith in a jesus who was the only good person [57:59] And trust god with it as jesus trusted god with it when he said not my will but thine be done [58:04] And what was the effect of jesus trusting the father through his suffering resurrection? [58:10] Says that he has now been elevated in the book of [58:15] The book of the prophet and the prophet has rejected his authority [58:18] How could a good god receive glory through suffering?

[58:22] Number one, I think it’s very important to understand in this that because he said so first [58:27] And and I really do say that in all seriousness [58:31] If god does it [58:34] Then understand because of the teachings of scripture [58:37] Then it is then necessarily [58:40] the best world that could ever exist in all worlds that could exist

[58:45] Okay. Now this is kind of a philosophical approach here, but understand that if god does it he’s good. He’s holy [58:50] Therefore it makes what he does good [58:52] If he’s good and if he’s holy [58:55] Now remember what is the chief aim we have it wrong in our theology our theology really does sometimes reflect that i’m the centerpiece [59:02] Of god’s plan therefore everything should be good and I should always be healed [59:06] The scripture sets up that jesus is the centerpiece of god’s glory and that everything exists to glorify him

[59:12] What’s the greatest sin that ever happened? [59:15] the murder of jesus christ [59:18] And isaiah 53 says god did it

[59:22] Why did god do it [59:24] Because jesus would get more glory through his death so that he could be resurrected so that he could bring children into his kingdom us [59:32] To show how great he is [59:35] All right, and if you didn’t track with me, that’s okay. We can talk more about that later

[59:41] How can we trust god when disaster strikes innocent people why are [59:45] Their children born into suffering from day they enter this world I answered the first one in the last [59:49] One I think but why are their children born into suffering from the day they enter this world?

[59:57] That’s one of the harder things and the first reason is because sin exists [60:01] There’s tension here [60:03] Understand that god didn’t sin man did [60:08] So it’s because of us [60:10] And it’s because [60:12] Justice hasn’t fully been felt yet

[60:15] There’s coming a day [60:18] Where there will be no more children born into poverty [60:21] There will be no more children born with diseases [60:24] There will be no more children born into unjust conditions with parents who abuse them and neglect them [60:31] That day is coming [60:34] And in our joy then we trust god with that

[60:40] And we say there’s coming day, but until then what should we do? [60:44] Friends we should fight for justice [60:47] When we see someone hurting when we see someone in pain, we should do something with our lives to try to stop it [60:53] Ultimately, the greatest thing that you can do to bring justice to all situations is preach the gospel [60:57] Because the more people who believe the gospel the less abusive mothers and fathers there are

[61:03] You see our goal is for them to believe the gospel I can give you some tips to be a better husband and father [61:09] And not help you [61:11] Get to jesus, but I can’t get you to jesus without helping you be a better husband and father [61:16] And so we seek justice through preaching the gospel. We also seek justice by helping those who are hurting whenever we see it when we have opportunity

[61:27] How do you tell a parent their child died so god could be glorified

[61:32] Um, I i’ve been through this, uh in this church and uh, and I you’d have to ask them, uh [61:40] If I did it well, um, I did it imperfectly [61:44] um [61:46] But the key is is there are some times where having all the answers isn’t as helpful as you want it to be

[61:54] And those are moments where you just sit

[61:58] Sometimes in silence [62:01] And then there are moments where you just trust the spirit to give you the right words [62:06] And by god’s grace, I think he’s endured some of the families hear through that

[62:12] But the greatest thing that you can do is always point people to jesus

[62:17] Sometimes just reminding someone of romans 828 doesn’t feel that great almost kind of like a I know situation

[62:27] But oftentimes we need to hear the things that we don’t want to hear [62:31] And we need to be reminded of the things that we don’t necessarily want to be reminded of in those moments

[62:40] If I am not suffering does that mean that I am not fully following jesus not necessarily [62:46] So you have to qualify some of these things [62:50] um [62:51] You know 10 over 10 years ago when I got married [62:54] I mean there’s a couple of months there where it’s like you could probably punch me in the face and I might not [62:57] Even feel it because I was just happy

[62:59] I mean, it was like some terrible things could have happened around me. I don’t remember them [63:04] I just don’t remember them [63:06] Um, so you do go through some periods in life where it’s like man life couldn’t be any better than this [63:13] um, but here’s what I will say [63:16] if [63:17] Your lack of suffering

[63:20] Is being caused by a lack of sacrifice [63:25] For the kingdom of god then yes, you are not fully following jesus [63:31] but if [63:32] You’re obeying the scriptures. You’re living the mission. You’re sacrificing for the mission [63:37] And you’re just in a season

[63:41] Praise god from whom all blessings flow

[63:46] but [63:47] Do not equate that and say that if this season ends and I enter into a season of suffering then god does not love me anymore [63:54] [63:55] Use your good seasons to prepare for the bad seasons [63:58] There are some times in the old testament where we make silly allegories and we shouldn’t [64:02] but you know when

[64:04] Joseph told egypt that use your moments of harvest to prepare for moments of famine. I just think that’s good life advice [64:11] It’s like if you make ten don’t spend ten [64:14] Spend as little as possible for the moment. You don’t make ten

[64:22] How does, because of sin, nothing works as it should work with the idea of God being [64:27] in control? [64:29] I go back to my statement on the reason that sin exists in the first place, and the reason [64:36] that pain brings about the redemption of our bodies. [64:39] It’s the same thing. [64:42] What God is trying to do is hewn in, in your life, the reality that this is not his kingdom,

[64:50] so that you will hope for the kingdom that’s coming. [64:52] Why do I think that? [64:53] Because of verses 24 and 25. [64:58] I get lost when I don’t have my Bible in front of me. [65:01] Because of verses 24 and 25. [65:03] Hope that is seen is not hope.

[65:05] So God wants you to be hopeful. [65:07] Therefore, he’s in control. [65:08] In Isaiah 45 verse 7 says that God creates both the pleasant things as well as calamity. [65:17] In Isaiah chapter 7, excuse me, in Exodus chapter 7 verse 11, the text, either chapter [65:24] 7 or chapter 4, the text says that God makes people deaf, God makes people blind. [65:30] In Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 38, the scripture says that I am the Lord.

[65:35] I kill and I make alive. [65:39] I wound and I heal.

[65:44] God says it. [65:45] Therefore, I have to believe it. [65:49] What are some examples of prosperity teaching? [65:54] Any teaching that says that if you do something for God, you will reap money, you will reap [66:04] health, you will see things manifested in your life with sevenfold whatevers. [66:12] That’s prosperity gospel and that person’s a liar.

[66:17] In Virginia, I wake up in the morning and I think it’s 6 a.m. [66:23] One of the channels, there’s two that come on back to back. [66:27] Andrew Omack, Kenneth Copeland, false teachers. [66:30] CREFLO Dollar, liar.

[66:36] A bunch of them.

[66:40] 95% of TBN.

[66:44] Every once in a while, they’ll throw a good guy on there.

[66:47] Good guys just don’t have a network. [66:49] I don’t know why we didn’t do that.

[66:53] But those are what I would call some examples. [66:55] I got time for one more.

[66:59] Let’s do this one. [67:00] What are practical ways to focus on Jesus and the cross during times of suffering? [67:05] First thing that I would say is I think I’ve already said it, but when we are preparing [67:14] young guys for war, all right, and it’s really smart to send the young guys because when [67:20] you get to your mid-30s, your back hurts too much. [67:23] But we don’t just draft them and send them.

[67:28] We train them. [67:31] Okay. [67:32] We don’t train them on the battlefield, do we? [67:35] No.

[67:38] The greatest thing that you can do for moments of suffering in your life is to prepare when [67:42] you’re not suffering. [67:43] Saturate your mind with the Word of God. [67:45] James McDonald says that a lot of the reasons that you can’t find hope from the Spirit [67:50] in times of suffering is because when you weren’t suffering, you weren’t in the Word. [67:55] So be in the Word constantly.

[67:57] But secondly, understand that if you haven’t done as you ought in the moments of suffering,

[68:06] surround yourself with good people. [68:09] Don’t surround yourself with the guys Job did. [68:13] Read the story of Job and his suffering. [68:14] All of his friends just kind of rallied around him, and one of them is like, well, you’re [68:17] disobedient. [68:18] The other one’s like, God hates you.

[68:20] And I forget what the other one said, but they weren’t good friends. [68:23] That’s why we tell people to get into community, so that we can be surrounded with people [68:28] who will tell us the truth and who will help our faith when we’re struggling to help our [68:32] own faith. [68:34] And that’s really wise counsel. [68:37] Beyond that, saturate your mind with scriptures.

[68:40] Go to God in prayer. [68:41] And we’re going to talk about this next week, but prayer is the tool that the Scripture [68:46] constantly points us to for suffering. [68:48] Over and over and over and over and over and over again. [68:53] And we will do that next week. [68:55] I’m about to start preaching next week’s sermon right now, but I’ll make you wait for that.

[68:59] So please be here for that. [69:01] How does suffering correspond with prayer? [69:04] But I thank you guys. [69:05] If I didn’t get to your question, by God’s grace, email me or send it next week, and [69:09] maybe I’ll get to it then. [69:11] Pray with me.

[69:11] Our Father, we love you. [69:13] We are thankful for you. [69:15] Our hope is in you. [69:19] May we be a people who follow you ruthlessly, who trust you endlessly.

[69:26] Thank you. [69:27] In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.