It Can't Compare Future

HELP OVERCOMING PERILOUS EXPERIENCES - IT CAN'T COMPARE

In we learned Part 1 we learned that Faith is for the Now and Hope for the Future

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 15:13 (NLT) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

We express our hope in God, by what we do while waiting for hope.

Psalm 37:4-5 (AMP) 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; Trust in Him also and He will do it.

Main Text: Romans 8:14-28 (AMP)

Romans 8:14

14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

A. Paul uses adoption to illustrate the believers' new relationship with God.

B. In Roman culture the adopted person lost all rights in his whole family and gained all the rights of a legitimate child and his new family.

C. He became a full heir to his new father's estate.

D. Likewise when a person becomes a Christian He or she gains all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God's family.

E. One of these outstanding privileges is being led by the spirit.

F. We may not always feel as though we belong to God But the Holy Spirit is our witness.

G. His inward presence reminds us of who we are and encourages us with God's love.

Romans 8:15-17 (AMP)

15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God's judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, "[b]Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. 17 And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.

A. We are no longer the fearful slaves, instead we are the masters' children.

B. God has already given us the best gifts his son, his Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life and he encourages us to ask him for whatever we need

Galatians 4:4-6 (AMP) 4 But when [in God's plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, 5 so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God's children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. 6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:18 (AMP)

18 For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!

A. There is a price for being identified with Jesus.

B. There is a price for following Jesus.

C. In many parts of today's world Christians face pressures just as severe as those faced by Christ for us followers.

D. To live as Christ did serving others giving up one's rights

E. resisting pressures to conform to the world always exact a price.

F. Nothing we suffer however can compare to the great price that Jesus paid to save us

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (AMP) 17 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! 18 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (AMP) 9 but just as it is written [in Scripture], "Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed]."

Romans 8:19-22 (AMP)

19 For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay [and gain entrance] into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been moaning together as in the pains of childbirth until now.

A. Sin has caused all creation to fall from the perfect state it was God created.

B. The world is in bondage to death and decay so they cannot fulfill its intended purpose.

C. One day all creation will be liberated and transformed.

D. Until that time it waits eagerly for the resurrection of God's children.

E. Christians see the world as it is physically decaying and spiritually infected with sin

F. But Christians do not need to be pessimistic because they have hope for future glory.

G. They look forward to the new heaven and new earth that God has promised and they wait for God's new order that will free the World from sin, sickness and evil.

H. In the meantime Christians go with Christ into the world where they heal peoples bodies and souls and fight the evil effects of sin in the world

Romans 8:23 (AMP)

23 And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection].

A. We will be resurrected with glorified bodies like the body Christ now has in heaven

B. We have the For takes the first installment or down payment of future glory the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our resurrection life

2 Corinthians 1:22 (AMP) 22 it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].

Ephesians 1:14 (AMP) 14 The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God's own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

Romans 8:24-25 (AMP)

24 For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.

A. It's natural for children to trust in their parents Even though parents sometimes fail to keep their promises.

B. Our heavenly father however never makes promises he won't keep nevertheless his plan may take more time than we expect

C. What are we waiting for? New body's ,a new heaven and new earth, rest and rewards, are eternal family and whole the absence of sin and suffering and being face-to-face with Jesus

D. In Romans Paul presents the idea that salvation is past, present, and future.

E. It is past because we are where we were saved the moment we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.

F. Our new eternal life begins at that moment and it is present because we are being saved; this is the process of sanctification.

G. But at the same time we have not fully received all the benefits and blessings of salvation that will be ours when Christ's new kingdom is completely established.

H. That's our future salvation while we can be confident of our salvation we still look ahead with hope and trust toward that complete change of body and personality that lies beyond this life when we will be like Jesus Christ

1 John 3:2 (AMP) 2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory].

William Barclay says, "The key note of the Christian life is hope. The Christian waits for life, not for death."

Romans 8:26-27 (AMP)

26 In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God's people in accordance with God's will.

A. As a believer you are not led to your own resources to cope with problems.

B. Even when you don't know the right words to pray to the holy spirit and pray with and for you as God answers.

C. with God helping you, you don't need to be afraid to come before him.

D. Ask the Holy Spirit intercede for you in harmony with God's will

E. Then when you bring your request of God, trust that you always do what is best

Romans 8:28 (AMP)

28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

A. God works in everything and not just isolated incidents for our good.

B. This does not mean all that happens to us is good.

C. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, But God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long range good.

D. Note that God is not working to make us happy but to fulfill his purpose.

E. Note also that his promise is not for everybody.

F. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called by him

G. That is those whom the Holy Spirit convinces to receive Christ.

H. Such people have a new perspective and a new mindset.

I. They trust in God not in worldly treasures the security is in heaven not earth their faith is in God

J. Does not waver in pain and persecution because they know God is with them

WISDOM KEYS:

WISDOM KEY #1 GOD'S PREPARING A PLACE FOR YOU

JOHN 14:1-6 (AMP) 1 "Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way."

Discussion Questions

1. Romans 8:15-17 describes believers as "adopted sons" and "heirs of God." How does understanding your identity as an adopted child of God change the way you view your relationship with Him?
2. Romans 8:18 says our present sufferings are "not worthy to be compared" with future glory. When facing trials, how can this eternal perspective help us persevere with hope?
3. The notes explain that in Roman adoption, the adopted person gained all rights as a legitimate child. What "rights and privileges" do we have as adopted children of God?
4. All of creation "groans" waiting for redemption (Romans 8:19-22). How does this truth about creation's brokenness help explain the suffering and decay we see in the world?
5. The Holy Spirit is described as a "guarantee" or "down payment" of our future inheritance. What does this mean practically? How does the Spirit's presence give us hope now?
6. Romans 8:24-25 says "hope that is seen is not hope." Why is it important that our hope is for things we don't yet see? How does this challenge our "I'll believe it when I see it" culture?
7. The notes list what we're waiting for: new bodies, new heaven and earth, absence of sin and suffering, being face-to-face with Jesus. Which of these future realities excites you most and why?
8. Romans 8:26-27 says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don't know how to pray. Have you experienced seasons where you were too overwhelmed to pray? How is it comforting that the Spirit prays for you?
9. Romans 8:28 is often quoted but sometimes misunderstood. The verse says God works "all things together for good" but not that all things ARE good. How does this distinction help us process painful circumstances?
10. William Barclay said, "The Christian waits for life, not for death." How does Christian hope differ from the world's understanding of hope? How should this affect the way we live today?

Stay Connected

Submit a prayer request

Join us online

View our devotionals