Week 35 - Free Weekend Program For Street & Vulnerable Children

Text : Romans 8: 26-30

Theme: The Eternal Purpose of God

Verse 26 ‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans”

In the same way that the creation groans waiting for its redemption from the curse , in the same way that we groan waiting for adoption as sons, waiting for glorification, to be just like Christ, The Holy Spirit agonises under the burden and weight of sin in our lives because He lives in us.

He is continually grieved with our sin as He lives patiently in our body, interceding- praying for us according to the will of God , leading us to repentance and doing the effective work of on-going sanctification. it’s like a mom constantly wiping defecation, potty training. The Holy Spirit understands our weakness due to the body of sin, the effects of the curse. We don’t know how to pray properly, but the Spirit prays silently in us and for us in a way that aligns and agrees with God’s will. God’s will for us is our glorification as sons! To be like Christ and to reign with Him (Heir of God and Joint heir with Christ).

The Holy Spirit is not “praying in tongues”, speaking gibberish, pacing around or nodding heads repeatedly like agama lizard that has fallen from a height, no! The Holy Spirit prays silently in us and for us. He does it without words (wordless groan). The Spirit understands our desires, our needs, the dangers we face always in regards to temptation, sin and more and He prays for us accordingly. We are not left alone as orphans, He is here! He lives in us, He is our great help. Our eternal redemption from damnation as a result of sin is secured by the Spirit.

Verse 27 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

It is God that searches the heart, He knows exactly what the Holy Spirit is praying for on our behalf and He supplies the answer because the Spirit is praying, interceding according to the will of God; God understands our deepest needs and desires, and He responds accordingly through the Holy Spirit’s prayers.

Verse 28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

God’s providence controls even the tiniest details to bring about good for us that love God. Remember that God has put His love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5

When we consider all the forces of sin, temptation, trials, sickness, poverty etc around us, including those who may betray us and our own weaknesses and wickedness (envy, jealousy), it is amazing that God assures us that everything is working for our benefit. God’s nature of providence is unlimited, He works for our good in all situations, whether they are good or bad. Birthday celebrations, parties, shopping, meals, marriages, sickness, death, accidents, Everything - sadness, success, or struggle works for our good, for every on in Christ; this is not so for unbelievers.

God chose certain people for a special purpose, drawing them to Himself and causing them to love Him by faith. His purpose is unchanging and absolute, and everything ultimately leads to His predetermined purpose, the good of them that love Him.

Verse 29-30 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

God knew us before we were born, before our hands and legs were formed in our mom’s womb, he knew us. Psalm 139:16 He predestined us, what is destiny? It is who you will be in the future. God has already decided those that will come to Him by faith, through the power of the Holy Spirit, He has made them alive in Christ, He prepared all these before we were born. He raised Jesus from the dead, He will also raise us from the dead by the same Spirit. Because God already has a plan and had made a decision regarding us, to make us one with Christ, He called us to Himself. Remember the story of Lazarus, he was dead but Jesus called him and he came out from the grave.

This is how God call everyone He has chosen to be His children, He gives them a new nature, a new life from the dead; we were all dead in sin and trespasses, but He made us alive, gave us faith to believe the gospel that Christ dead for our sins and we are forgiven! Also, He sends the Holy Spirit to live in us so we can bear fruit for God, the Holy Spirit helps us through our journey as pilgrims on this earth, heading to the celestial city - the Eternal Home of Our Heavenly Father, which is our inheritance as sons. Remember that He has adopted us through the blood of Christ [made payment] 1 Cor. 6:20 and has made us heirs and joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17

If you are in Christ, you know your sins are forgiven, you know you’re blessed beyond measure because God chose you before you were born and has given you the gift of salvation; rejoice continually over this reality and depend continually on the Holy Spirit, don’t grieve Him constantly with your sin, seek help daily from him to overcome sin and to obey God and you will bear fruit for God - fruits of holiness; your joy will increase continually and overflow. John 15:11

If your faith is not in Christ, repent! Come to Christ; believe in Him who was raised from the dead and you will see a changed life, He will produce holiness in you by the power of the holy Spirit and you will experience the assurance and the joy of salvation.