Romans 8:16-27
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by his own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is not seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 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 with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
When students don't know the answer to their teacher's question, the teacher pokes and prods, dropping all sorts of obvious hints that turn out to still be of no help to the students. Eventually the teacher gives the answer, just to hear the students say it themselves. Same with God. He drops hints all the time until finally the answer to what you've been looking for is given to you somehow, and it all clicks together. The teachers don't give up. God sure doesn't give up. He keeps going until you understand, then continues working with you. God calls multiple times a day, but mostly gets the answering machine--if that. Try something new: pick up!!! Key things to remember: Suffering, then glory. Suffering, then restoration (see a pattern here?). God cares so much that he intercedes himself for you. Spiritual groans: when you struggle, God struggles right alongside you. One more thing. Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by his own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is not seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 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 with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
When students don't know the answer to their teacher's question, the teacher pokes and prods, dropping all sorts of obvious hints that turn out to still be of no help to the students. Eventually the teacher gives the answer, just to hear the students say it themselves. Same with God. He drops hints all the time until finally the answer to what you've been looking for is given to you somehow, and it all clicks together. The teachers don't give up. God sure doesn't give up. He keeps going until you understand, then continues working with you. God calls multiple times a day, but mostly gets the answering machine--if that. Try something new: pick up!!! Key things to remember: Suffering, then glory. Suffering, then restoration (see a pattern here?). God cares so much that he intercedes himself for you. Spiritual groans: when you struggle, God struggles right alongside you. One more thing. Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
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