All right. All right, Brother James. Amen. And please take your Bibles and stand with me for the reading of God's word. We're going to continue in Romans chapter 8. Our text is verses 18 through 30. Romans chapter 8, verses 18 through 30. Let's go to the Lord first and ask for his help. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for your church. Thank you for the power of the preaching of God's word. Thank you for your power to save. We're so thankful for the testimony that we just heard, and we pray, Father, you would continue to do a great work among us. Father, that you would call men to repentance, call people to repent and believe the gospel, as the choir just sang about God being good. And we know that part of your goodness is to lead men to repentance. And we pray, Father, that work would continue among us through the power of your spirit, Through the preaching of your word, we thank you, Lord, for this great gift you've given us in the Bible text and also in your salvation. We're so thankful for your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the power he has over hell, death, and the grave, for the power in his blood. And it's in his name that we pray. Amen. Amen. Romans chapter 8. Starting in verse 18, the Bible says, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now, and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise, the spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose, for whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified. Thank you. You may be seated. All right. So we see in verse 17, it elevated us to the inheritance in Christ. And the Bible says we're heirs of God and join heirs with Christ if we suffer with the Lord. Isn't that interesting that God put that right in there. He said, if we suffer with the Lord. So interesting, God's word continues to remind us results of salvation In verse 13, the Bible says we're saved, but we mortify the deeds of the flesh. We're saved and led by the Spirit. Number 15, verse 15, the saved experience a relationship with God. And then verse 17, I'm sorry, yeah, verse 16, the Spirit of God will assure us that we're children of God. And then verse 17, the Bible says, saved people will suffer because they live godly lives. And verse 17, if children then heirs, being heirs of God and joined heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together. So the Bible says in Titus chapter 3 verse 12, all they that live godly shall suffer persecution. And again, that's part of the Christian life. And then in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14, it speaks about without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. And then we see chapter 8 and verse 18, the Bible says, for I reckon that the suffering this in present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. So again, Paul is speaking here about the suffering. And he says in different verses, we're going to suffer and so on as part of our glorification in Christ. So part of life involves sorrow, pain, you know, persecution, bad health, distress, injury, hurt, loss, rejection, misery, problems, all a result of sin. And that's the bottom line. If people get hurt, many times the cause of it is sin. And so these things have to be understood about the Christian life. Now, the scriptures address the areas in our lives in which we may experience suffering. For example, think about financially. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6, verse 6 through 8, but godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world and we certainly can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment lets me therefore be content. I think about people who think they can take their riches with them. I mean, it's so bizarre. What, are they going to carry it on their arms? Are they going to fill their pockets? They're going to die and that's it. They go into the grave, their soul and spirit go out into eternity. So there's no taking their riches with them. In verse 9 through 10, but they that be rich fall in temptation, and snare, trap, and into many foolish hurtful lusts, which draw men in destruction and perdition, destruction or destroy, not necessarily extinction, but rather pain, loss, and well-being of spiritual destruction. Then the Bible says, well, the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. So now there's nothing that is inherently wrong with having money. So all those who have money, pass the phone. No, I'm kidding. I don't want you to be tempted. Anyway, the thought is this, is there's nothing inherently wrong with money, but it's the love of it, it's serving it, all these different things. And the Bible condemns that. It's idolatry. And with having money just as nothing is terribly wrong with owning a gun. However, one is not cautious, either one of them can cause great harm. So some of the dangers associated with money are a love for it, allowing it to rule our lives, flaunting it in its pride and greed, and then a greater financial gain is really godliness, or godliness is eternal. And that's what we should be shooting for. is godliness. And that's what God wants us to be. He wants to be godly people. So there's a financial want, and this sickness, another form of suffering. Yet Paul learned through infirmity that it was this, the very weakness that God empowered him the modes Paul had completely relied on and trusted God. When Paul is the one who said, when am I weak, then am I strong, right? And so it's so important that we understand that when we're weak and we trust in God, we're calling on God, if we're not able, I can tell you this, some of the greatest servants we had were the ones that I felt terrible. I was sick, I wasn't, actually really fit to preach, but somehow I got in the pulpit. I did God's will and, you know, God blessed in a great way. So, and then we see number three is persecution. And this is a promise those who are children of a God and they're going to have verbal, emotional, physical persecution, rejection, loss of business, et cetera. Let me see, a pain and hardship just due to the inevitable promises of life, whether disease, wars, tragedies. I mean, these are all things that we suffer. And maybe not in our country, but other countries. I mean, you know, in other countries, they're suffering greatly. and a lack of visible success. Our success is spiritual success. Sometimes it cannot be seen with the physical eye. But consider this. Noah preached for 120 years and only his family was saved. The multitude rejected Christ during his personal ministry. A man named Adoniram Judson, the great missionary to Burma, who produced the Burmese Bible, lived in Burma seven years before his first Burmese convert. And throughout his ministry there, he buried his two wives and three sons, and in the end saw very little fruit. But there was much further that came later throughout India and Burma and Bangladesh. And then we see the reason for suffering. We see the curse of sin, there's to be more fruitful, the work of obedience in our lives, God's work in our lives, molding, shaping us, forming us in the image of the Son of God. Suffering produces holiness and suffering humbles us. So we see Romans 8 in verse 18, let's look there. The Bible says, I reckon that the suffering in this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. So in describing the conversion of Saul, the Bible tells us when Saul met Ananias, Our Lord said in Acts chapter 9 verse 16, I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Isn't that interesting? So here's Paul, he gets saved, and now God said to Ananias, I'm going to show him how he's going to suffer for my sake. So Paul still maintained that the things which he suffered here on earth was not to be compared to the things God had prepared for us in eternity. A great perspective. Paul looked at things spiritually. And the world under Satan's rule is a world of sin. And man suffers. Spirits are wounded, heavy and brokenhearted. Lives wrecked, disease crippled, truth is dismissed, eyes weep, nerves tremble, suffering continues, and illness awaits lives and death rules, and the Son of God is rejected. The two, the world is temporal. We have strangers and pilgrims passing through. and we will not find here a holy city built by God, not on this earth. In Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28, wherefore we receive a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. So how do we serve God? The Bible says with reverence and godly fear. We can't be flippant with God. You know, when we consider revival, revival is, you know, a new beginning with the Lord, a new love for Christ. And one of the things that's going to be missing in your life will be irreverence. And we're not to be irreverent with God. We're to respect God. Let our nays be nays and yays, yays. So there's three signs or sighs, groans due to the curse of sin. So creation sighs, and verse 19 to 22, let's read here. 19, for certain expectations of the creature waited for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to that and not willingly, but by reason of him who had subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also also shall deliver from the bondage of corruption unto the glorious liberty of the children of God. So verse 22, for we know that the whole creation groweth and travaileth in pain together until now. So the reason for the size is because of Adam's sin. And the earth was perfect and beauty and the formation, it was called paradise. And there was no decay, no rot, no diminishing. It was perfect every way, no tornadoes, no hurricanes or earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, floods, harsh winds, bad weather, famine, et cetera. There was none of it. No thorns on the bushes, no poisonous leaves. no snakes in the middle of the road, no carnivorous animals, venomous snakes and insects that bite or sting. Oh, that man wrought when he sinned, what man wrought when he sinned against God. And he cursed himself and all mankind, his descendants, his world, and all the animals and insects, how the world sighed under the curse of sin. So we see the plan of salvation. Notice, if you would, verse 19, the Bible says, for the earnest expectation of the creature waiting for the manifestation of the Son of God. And then verse 21, because the creature itself shall also deliver from the bondage of corruption unto the glorious liberty of the children of God. So the expectation is pictured a person standing on their tiptoes in order to see something or expecting something. So that's the idea, and we see that creation sighs, and the Christian sighs. Verse 23, please. And the Bible tells us in verse 23, and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruit of the Spirit, even ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the wit and the redemption of the body. And there's a reality in that. There's times that we groan and we moan because we want to be raptured. We want to have our lives changed permanently. We want to see our bodies saved. And we see the Spirit's authenticity, which have the first fruits of the Spirit. And Paul is consistent in his teaching. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5, 17, Therefore, if any man Be in Christ. He's a new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things become new. And then notice in Romans 8, verse 9, the Bible says, but you're not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. And so be this Spirit of God dwelleth in you. And so this is evidence of the Spirit's presence in our life. Ephesians 5, verse 9, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. You know, you've been with people before where you're sitting and talking and fellowshiping, and really fellowshiping about the Lord, speaking about God's work in your life and God's work maybe in our church and God's goodness to us, whatever it may be, but it's fellowship. And we can sit around and talk about, you know, the Spirit and His goodness and His righteousness and truth. You know, there's something just to be fellowship about truth. Truth is a wonderful thing. I mean, if you don't have truth, what do you have? Falsehoods, lies, false doctrine, so on. But praise the Lord, God gives us truth. Titus chapter 2, verse 11, the grace of God that bring us salvation and the peer to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, godly in this present world. Philippians chapter 1, verse 11. Bible says, being filled, filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. So we see the Spirit's authenticity and the Christian anticipation. And notice verse 24 and 25 of chapter 8. The Bible says, For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For when a man seeth, why doth he yet have hope for? So, but we hope for that which we see not, then do we, with patience, wait for it. And we have a hope that the Lord's going to return. And why do we have that hope? Because of what the Bible says. We believe in 1 Thessalonians chapter four, and we try to comfort one another with these words, but we have a hope. And I praise the Lord for that. I have that in my heart, my soul. So hope, our definition of hope usually means I wish or I want it, I might work out that there might be a chance. But the Bible used the word in this particular context, and it means an assurance based on conviction. And hope for the saved is not a fond wish, but a surety based on the promise of God. And that's what we look to. We look to the promise of God. That's where we have hope. That's what we believe. And the Bible tells us, and that is why there's a groaning in the life of a child of God. Notice chapter 7, verse 24, please. Oh, where's the man I am? Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? And we know that death rules in our life, and we're going to all experience it one day. But those of us who are going to be raptured will never experience death. I hope I'm around for rapture, I really do. And David said in Psalm 17 verse 15, as for me, And I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. And won't it be a great time, beloved, I mean this, try to imagine this if you can, being raptured and meeting the Lord in the air. I mean, that's gotta be, And we say, I'm going to hug Jesus when I see him and so on. I don't know how it's going to work out. I mean, you know, when we go up, will Jesus be a little higher? Will he be there with open arms? Will he embrace us? Will he say, it's so good to see everyone? Who knows what's going to happen, but it's going to be wonderful. And, you know, then to go on to be with the Lord in heaven forevermore. I mean, What a wonderful time. Well, we're going to be on Earth for 1,000 years, but outside of that, we're going to be with the Lord forever, and the Bible says that. The Lord Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father and interceding for us. Now, think about that. That's where God is. Jesus Christ is interceding for me. He's interceding for you. You have a prayer request? George was just sharing some requests that he had, and God's interceding for you, George. Know that. Have that confidence. And if you're praying, you're praying for revival, you're praying for God's will, you're praying for lost souls, God's hearing your prayers, and He's interceding for us. And the Spirit is within us, groaning and sighing and crying out in our state and for our needs. Our utterly, how utterly we bask in ignorance and the inability to discern our needs at times. And then we realize the infinite Godhead is so concerned about us individually. Groanings, sighings, what words the scripture uses to describe the spirit of God working with us and in us. And may us prayers reveal our appreciation to God the Father and Spirit for the great interest in both the saved and lost. Now think about this lost person. Think about the times you have broken God's laws. You sinned against God. You made him blasphemed. Excuse me, you spoke evil about God and, you know, things you say flippantly and so on, and yet God is interceding for you. He loves you. And think about for the same person how much he loves you and he cares for you and he's on your side. I say that with all sincerity. He's not against you. You're saved. He's for you. And we see that. the importance of Romans 8, 28. The Bible says, and let me read it for you, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and then that are called according to his purpose. Now, the world says everything works out, everything works for good. Well, that's not true. You have to first of all love God. Do you love the Lord today? Do you love him with all your heart? Are you experiencing revival in your life? And then he says in the last line, and to them that are called according to his purpose. So one man translated this verse as, we know that in everything God works with those who love him. whom he has called in accordance with a purpose to bring what is a good. In other words, God has a plan for each life. And I don't like that line, God has a plan for your life. Yeah, after you repent of your sin and put your faith in Christ. So it's not just like I have a plan here and look at this. It's not that. God has a wonderful plan for you and throughout your life. But you've got to be saved. You've got to love God and be called. He says in verse 29 that we might be like Jesus. So God is working things out in our lives and bring us to Christ likeness. And that's sometimes the suffering we experience in our life is because God's trying to work in our lives to make us like Jesus. And may I say this? For God to find interest in me, and then find interest in making me like Jesus, that's a miracle. Amen. And I mean that with all my heart. This is the promise, Colossians 3.10, that we have put on the new man, which we renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. in 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse 4, that we might be partakers of the divine nature. God wants to make us like the Lord. In Galatians 4 verse 19, my little children of whom I travail in the birth again until Christ be formed in you. So God finds such interest in us that he wants to make us as the Lord. And notice it would, chapter 13 of Romans, chapter 13 and verse 14. And the Bible says, but put you on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not, here it is, provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. So God says this repeatedly throughout his word. Don't yield to your lust. Don't submit yourself to your lust. Don't don't do what the Bible says that lust is war against your soul. Don't give in to it So the Bible says in Romans 8 28 and we know that all things work together So there's an assurance. We've seen verse 17 and 18. I And if little children and heirs, heirs of God join heirs with Christ, if so be that they suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. So there's an assurance that we have. And again, the Bible says, and we know. It's not, and we hope. and we believe and we trust, we know that everything I'm doing because I love God is going to work out exactly the way God wants it. And I have confidence in that. And so should you. So we see here, and we know this speaks of assurance, not because everything worked out, but rather we can and hope, and we should be confident in God that all things work together for good. Paul's not writing here, work together for our good. Remember, Paul is writing from a palace, but from a rather a pen of a man who suffered greatly for Christ. He was not sitting up in some swanky hotel. Paul was suffering for Jesus. And a man who had been imprisoned, beaten, many sorrows, persecuted, misunderstood, blind, stoned, shipwrecked, without yet Paul states, great assurance that the Lord had a plan for all his children. Psalm 145, 17, the Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works. Praise the Lord. So we see there's an assurance. And then second of all, there's an action. Not many things, not some things, most things, but the Bible says, and we know that all things. All things. So you think you have your life come, come, come, you know, broken off in different areas, and this is for me, and this is God's, and this is, no, no, all things. All things. Why? Because God loves you. Isn't that wonderful? And God loves me so much, he knows what's best for me. So we see an action. Represents dictionary all the number of the the greatest possibility the whole number of some of every any whatsoever God works all things for good in the life of his children and the things we see or do or not see The the things that seem against us God's worked them out for good in our lives and I say this all things are Together for good. God is omnipotence. His sovereignty will work all things out for good. Whatsoever may come our way, for His glory. The Lord is always in control and will have His way in every situation. Simple preacher, what if I allow something in my life and I'm not right with God? God's going to work it out for His glory. Either way, they may be a payment, they may be humbling, but God's going to give glory. Mark that down, you belong to Him. And the Bible goes on and tells us, now it is easy to be sidetracked in life. We see that in Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1 and 2, teaches about running a race and we fail the Lord, we take our eyes off Him. The Bible speaks of weights that so easily beset us, and the things which do not enable us to finish the course God has laid out for us. There's things external and materialist, again, extracurricular, the interest in things that take too much time away from God and will for our lives. And sadly, sin besets us. the will of God in the right course He has set for us. In our text, God is stating that He will perform what is good and needed in our lives to make us more like Jesus. Let's turn our Bibles and Hebrews chapter 13, please. Hebrews 13 and notice verse 21. The Bible says, make you perfect in every good work to do His will working in you that which is well-pleasing in sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever. That's Romans 8 28 in Hebrews. Same verse. God's working in our lives. And remember this Philippians 1 6 being confident in this very thing that he would have begun a good work and you will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a few questions and we'll close. I appreciate your patience. Do you really know that you're saved? Again, God's word says you know. Not hope, not wish, I believe. As if you're saying God I believe, I don't know if you got this right, but I believe. But you may know. Obedience in another identification mark of the saved. Another way to know that you love God. If you love me, keep my commandments. And lastly, Romans 8, 28, the Bible says called according to his purpose. So we see salvation, the service, and the sanctification. And all three of these should be working out for God's glory in our lives. Salvation, being free from sin, become servants of God, and then our sanctification. Jesus said that he overcame the world, and the Bible says our faith overcomes the world. And that's a great thing. You know, I don't have to be working myself to death, sanctify myself to the Lord, it's going to take place naturally because we love God. And so it's going to happen because we're walking in the spirit, we're doing God's will for our lives and so on. So we praise the Lord for this chapter, right? And then Wednesday night, we'll finish up chapter eight. There's so much in here that we're going to look at. And then next Sunday I'll preach two different messages, Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Sunday afternoon for revival. And then before you know it, Brother Fryman will be coming in that Tuesday and we'll have revival. Amen? So let's go to Lord in prayer. Let's take our time and spend there with the Lord and make sure we're right with God and make sure that we're doing God's will for our lives. And if you're going to get baptized, please go in the back. And then if you're not saved, please come forward and come to Christ. All right, let's all stand, please. Father, thank you so much for this time. Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings we have in Christ. And to think of the great work that you're doing in our lives. Help us to set our affection on things above. Help us set an affection on the things of God. And help us, Father, to allow the work of the Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of our flesh. Father, I know this is about a church. We strive to be faithful to you. We love you. And we're asking for revival in our lives. We pray, Father, that you'd help us to do our work, which only you can do. I say this for your glory and honor. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.