We've been in a series now for several weeks on the book of Romans chapter 8
And so what I'm gonna invite you to do is if you can go with me now to Romans chapter 8 and verse 18
I
Have a message from the Lord today, and I'm gonna do my very best
because as I came into the sanctuary I just I
Had something just gripped my heart, you know, and I really believe that if you would capture the message this afternoon
If you would open up your heart to the word of the Lord
this message could have a
great impact in your life, and I hope it will bring encouragement and perspective about
Many things that God is doing it reads this way and I ask for your patience
I'm going to read all the way from verse 18 to verse
26 it says for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
That shall be revealed in us
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God
For the creation was subjected to fertility not willingly because of him
Who subjected it in hope?
because the creation itself also
will be delivered from the bondage of
Corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God for we know
that the whole
creation groans and
Labors with birth pains together until now
Not only that but we also have the first fruits of the spirit
We ourselves grown
Within us within ourselves eagerly
Awaiting for the adoption the redemption of our body first 24
We were saved in this hope
But hope that is seen is not hope
Why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see we eagerly wait for it with perseverance
likewise
the spirit
also helps in our weaknesses
But we do not know what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit himself
makes
intercession for us
with
groanings
Which cannot be uttered with the help of the Holy Ghost. I want to speak for a few moments today
I want to preach from groans to glory
I'm invite you to pray with me right now father. I come before you humbly God
at this hour and I ask that you would
Continue to move among your people God. It is not me. It's not Jacob. It is not
Myself God, but it is the Holy Ghost
That we need to speak in this place
but thus saith the Lord and I ask that you would anoint and soften the heart of every one of us in this place to
receive this word and
That it would be received with gladness
anoint my lips of clay God put your word in my mouth and be glorified today God and I pray God that you would confirm
your word today Lord
with
miracles
signs and the wonders we ask this in Jesus mighty name a
Man because someone say a man today
Come on because someone say a man a man
As I look at today's passage I am
Touched in many ways over what Paul is writing
to the church as we have been working through this powerful chapter
Which I have already said many consider to be one of the greatest chapters in the Bible
For the depth and for the way that it explains
the purpose of God in the children of God
But there comes a point in his writing where he begins to if you're not careful could miss it because there's a
There is some complexity to it, but it begins to
lift the veil on some spiritual
realities on some things that are taking place and he starts talking about the
sufferings and the heaviness of life and
The the pressures that can
Come down on us at times and as he begins to talk about this he he compares the present
suffering to the future glory that
That shall be revealed in us and ultimately what God wants to
Accomplish in us, but but we are
Caught in between really between two worlds between two destinations
This world is not our home. Amen somebody and
God has a future glory in place for us
And he's so good that he will give us glimpses of that glory here on earth
He's so good that we might taste just a little bit. We might
Have an appetizer if you will of the marriage supper of the lamb that we're going to partake of one day
Because God is good. Someone say he's good
Yes, sir
He's good. Yes, he is
But in the meantime in the meantime between now and then
We have to contend with this life. We have to contend and he
begins to talk about
that
there are times in life where because of the pressure because of the stress because of the
Circumstances that we find ourselves in whether we brought them upon ourselves or not
That all we can do is is grown
All we can do is grown and I want you to know that that God that God can hear
the sound of a groan
He could hear the sound of a groan and I want you to know that the same God who gave us
the ability to speak
Also gave us the gift of groaning
You know that Jesus was a groaner
Jesus groaned
Twice he groaned over the passing of his friend
Lazarus in John chapter 11
Bible says
That that Jesus groaned, you know
He groaned, you know, we know that he also wept but in addition to weeping over the loss of his friend
He also he groaned in his spirit also in Mark chapter 7
he he groaned before he healed a a deaf and mute man and so
What you can begin to gather as you look at the moments where Jesus groaned it
He he groaned in in certain times where
He was faced with the reality of human suffering and pain and loss
Well at the same time
understanding that he was God and that the answer was there and that
He could fix it, but he was
Man at the same time and anytime you see Jesus groaning
It's because he's he's caught in the tension of this the the reality the facts of life that that that life is filled with
with
filled with with pain and and uncertainty and
Disappointment. Well at the same time there is hope for for the future and and there is grace and
and God is powerful and he can do anything but
the times where Jesus groans it's because he is caught in between these these two places and
There is something significant about a groan in
Romans chapter 8 Paul describes a world that is filled with
groaning
Creation
Believers and even the spirit are all groaning in concert together
over
something greater in
anticipation of something more these groanings are not complaints, but they are expressions
expressions of a deep longing for the fulfillment of God's promises a
groaning that is happening on a level that
Perhaps the human ear cannot hear it that
Technology has not been invented to pick up the decimals and
the the frequency of this this groan
There is a there is a type of groaning that is taking place
Even right now as I preach as I stand before you you may not hear it with your natural ear today
But but there is there is a groaning that is taking place and
I want to dial you into that this afternoon and perhaps at the same time help somebody
Understand what possibly God is doing in your life this afternoon
As believers we live in that tension. I spoke about we live in that tension
Between our present struggles of life and the future glory that God has promised to us
We we live in that space
We live in that that that that continuum we live in that that in-between
place of
Being saved but not having the fulfillment yet of our salvation
And we are we find ourselves in a groaning place and a groaning and and I want you to understand
Today that groaning could be the key to you enduring
The season that you're in enduring the times that we're living in
I believe that every believer needs to learn how to groan
Amen
Let us first look at the universal groaning that is occurring all around us
It is the groaning of creation
Paul
Be kind to your heart
Paul begins
His teaching on this by
Observing how creation itself is groaning
It's groaning in frustration because it was subjected to the curse of sin
When Adam fell all of creation was affected
the natural world which was
Created in perfect harmony and in perfect order now suffers under the weight of sin
Resulting in decay in death and disorder
Without a doubt we're living in a fallen world in this fallen world
It's constantly feeling the pressure of its fallenness and its brokenness
from natural disasters in the earth
earthquakes and tremors and
hurricanes and all kinds of
Changes that are happening in the in the natural world
Down to the very aging of our bodies of our human bodies
To the cycles of life and death. I want you to understand that all of these things are groaning
They are groaning creation itself all
Of creation including our own bodies all of creation all of the natural world
Is is groaning under this weight that we are living in is groaning
Together and what is this groaning? It is a groaning field with hope and anticipation
of our future
redemption
It is groaning in in in anticipation of the glory of God
Of the glory of God being revealed it is groaning all of creation
The signs that we are seeing and and the shakings and the turbulence in the earth and in the world is all it's all groaning
together in concert for the anticipation of its ultimate renewal
Because one day
Jesus is going to come back and he's going to restore order in this world
He's how many of you believe that amen. He's going to restore order in this world
And make everything new again. Hallelujah
He's going to restore the beauty and the splendor and the and all of the things that he originally designed
And back before man fell god is coming back one day real soon
to bring everything back
into the proper order and the proper beauty and the symmetry and the way that he designed it to be
And so right now we are living in a time where creation is groaning
And is yearning and is longing for the return of his creator
I want you to have this perspective today church
So that you not live in fear over what you see and feel happening in our world today
Because all of the groaning that is taking place
All of the uncertainty and the turbulence and the shakings in our natural world
And the aging and the disease and and the viruses and all the stuff that is happening is simply creation
And saying god we're ready for you to come
Whenever you're ready to come
God we're ready for you to redeem us and restore this world back to you
Somebody clap your hands and give god
Some praise
Even the earth knows that something better
Is coming
It feels it
It longs for it
I feel like every volcano that erupts
Is like the earth giving god a praise saying come
We're ready for you lord
Redeem us god
And this ought to shape our perspective don't live in fear my brother or sister don't live in panic
Don't go and crawl and hide under a rock somewhere. Hallelujah
Hallelujah, and don't put your trust and your hopes in man or in this world
Because this creation is all groaning for the coming of the lord
And so along with the groaning of creation
There is the groaning of the christian
Of the believer and so paul says not only
Is there a a universal groaning in in the world?
But then there is also the groaning
Of our personal lives the groaning of the the believer
There is a groaning within believers who are awaiting the completion
Hear me today the fulfillment
of our salvation
This is an inward groaning. It is a longing for the glory of god
To be manifest fully in our lives
Uh both in this present life and in the life to come. I don't know if you have the next slide. Hallelujah
There we go. The next slide point number two point number two. There we go the groaning of the believer
There is a groaning within us
to to uh
In anticipation for what god is going to it's an inward groaning. It's a longing
It's a longing. It's a longing that's saying god
Get me out of this place lord
Lord, I I need you lord to rescue me. I need you lord to deliver me
I need you god to save me from where I am
And this is that tension. This is that place
I need you to understand that a church that the process of salvation is not complete
We are not only saved but we are being saved
Why do you think the bible says to work out your own salvation?
With fear and with trembling you can gain salvation and friend
You can also lose your salvation
If you're not living in a way that is groaning in anticipation
For the coming of god in your life for his glory to be revealed in your life
But in the meantime, what are we to do?
What are we to do? What are we to do with the fact that we are kind of stuck here on this earth?
What are we going to do? What can we do? Are we just going to curse the earth and run in the other direction?
No, my friend you still live here
You still live here
What are we supposed to do torn between these two realities between the heaven and earth?
The temporal and the eternal the broken and the whole
When we are torn between these realities of justification and glorification between our current state
And our future state
What are we to do?
What are how are we to how are we to manage in this life when we still must wrestle with this flesh?
I don't know about you, but i'm still wrestling with my flesh
I hear too many amens out there praise god
Some people think they've already been glorified
But we're still here someone say we're still here
And as long as we're still here, we're still wrestling with this flesh
Which is why every day of our life. What do we've got to do? We've got to crucify this flesh
Amen somebody and we have to say like paul i die daily
Because within our own flesh there is a war that is taking place
We're still wrestling and enduring the struggles of life physical emotional mental
Financial you name it we're still dealing with these things
And I got a good I got bad news and good news the bad news is these things are not going away
I got bad news and good news. The bad news is these things are not going away
Jesus said in this world
There will be trouble
How many of you know that's true
But he also said be of good cheer
Because i've already overcome the world
Hallelujah, come on clap your hands and give god some praise today
hallelujah
But the fact remains is that while we are here, we've got to deal with problems. Amen
perilous times with people with issues with sickness with all of these things that just kind of remind us that we're still human
And we're still living in a broken world and we're surrounded by broken people and imperfect people
And they're on the outside of the church and they're on the inside of the church
They're everywhere because that's the state that we are in at this time and yet at at the same time
There is a groaning within us. There's a groaning. There's this groaning that that that it's going to get better. Oh
I'm waiting for you to change this. Oh god
I'm i'm groaning god within myself lord
That is going to get better
But I need to tell somebody this afternoon if you give me just a few moments more of your time
Is that there is a difference between groaning?
and grunting
There's a difference between a groaner and a grunter
Oh pastor, isn't it all the same? No, it's not groaning and grunting sound very similar to each other
But you got to understand there's a big difference between the two and some may think they're groaning, but they're actually grunting
And you have to examine your heart today and ask what of the two have you been doing
Groaning is a spiritual response to the brokenness of of this world
The brokenness of people the disappointments of life of daily life groaning is rooted in hope
But it comes from a place of of surrender. It comes from a place of trust
It comes from a place of ultimate submission to whatever god is doing
It comes from a place of allowing god to have full control of our lives
Groaning is that response in us that says god?
I don't know what to do lord, but I submit it all to you and i'm gonna have a good attitude while it happens
Uh groaning is saying lord, yo, you slay me yet. Will I trust you groaning?
Is saying the lord gives and the lord takes away but blessed be the name of the lord groaning
Is saying I don't understand at all. I don't get why people do things
I don't get why the world is upside down. I don't get why
Oh bad things happen to good people, but i'm groaning god because I know that one day
My redemption draws nigh
And everything will be set in order
I'm groaning and groaning what it does. How do you know if you're groaning or grunting groaning softens your heart?
grunting hardens your heart
Because grunting on the other hand is a fleshy
reactionary response to the challenges and concerns of life
It is marked by frustration and complaining and self-pity
It comes from a place of impatience
It's the opposite of groaning it comes from a place of trying to seize control
It comes from a place of trying to make things go according to your way
It comes from a place of trying to take the place of god in your life
And all that does is produce a hard heart
Makes you hard to the things of god hard to the spirit of god
Hard to the man of god hard to the word of god hard to the people of god
And it hardens your heart and the thing about a hard heart
Is that the person with the hard heart is usually the last one to find out that their heart has been hardened
And I have come to ask you today
And I have come to ask you today. What is your heart?
Have you been groaning? Oh god?
I give it all to you
Lord, I surrender god
With tears in my eyes lord. I'm trusting in you
You're in control of my life. You're still on the throne god
And i'm gonna just trust in you and let you sort it all out god
Or have I been grunting?
I'll say god i'm gonna do it but i'm gonna do it with a frown
That's grunting
God
Is not looking for grunters. He's looking for groaners
Oh god
I feel the holy ghost today groaning produces first fruits
It produces a true christian maturity godliness conduct and giving of ourselves
He says there and paul talks about the first fruits
Those groaners have first fruits in their life. They're giving the first fruits. They've got first fruits
One day i'm going to preach real soon about the first fruits and what that represents
People think it's just your tithe and your money. You know, that's only a part of it hallelujah
But it's a very important part of it hallelujah to bring your first fruits because they belong to the lord
But not just the first fruits of our monetary resources belong to god
But also the first fruits of our spirit the first fruits of our hands
The first fruits of our of our ministry the first fruits of our of our of our attitude the first fruits
Of our praise the first fruits of our time. That's why we're here on sunday afternoon
We're giving god the first day of the week because that's part of our first fruits. Amen
Oh, there's a groan within our spirit, but grunting produces sour grapes
Bitterness
Anger
Produces all that
You know, i'm telling you today
That that there is a groaning happening
And I believe that the church needs its groan
It needs its groan. I need to groan you need to groan
And there is one third groaning that takes place because if you can understand the groaning of creation
And the groaning of the believer
Then it qualifies you for the third dimension of groaning. Not everyone gets to this third level
Not everyone
I can can can get to this this next place in the groaning process
And that is the groaning of the spirit
Someone say the spirit
Come on, help me today say the spirit
There is the groaning of the spirit paul says that the holy ghost
groans
Within us it groans in our weaknesses
This is interceding with groanings that are that are too deep for words
groanings that that that our language our vocabulary cannot
Capture groanings that are so deep and so real
And so spiritual that it's not even us that is groaning anymore
Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. Jesus. He is talking about a holy groaning
a groaning that flows out of our yashunda that flows out of the spirit a
groaning when we don't even know
How to pray or what to pray?
And we just begin to pray and call on god
And begin to groan. I don't know if there's like a witness in the house today
Hey that understands this groaning that i'm talking about when you get into prayer and suddenly it's no longer you
It's no longer your words
But there is a groaning in the spirit
That the spirit of god begins to intercede and pray through you
Oh
Isn't it a comforting truth to know then when you don't know what to pray that the holy ghost always knows what to pray
I don't know what to say brother when I don't know
What to say
How to say it
There is a groaning
There is a groaning when i'm at a loss for words. Let me tell you
When you're at a loss for words
God is not silent
The spirit is groaning within us
Come on up brother the spirit is groaning within us
Your weakness doesn't silence god my friend it
Your weakness
invites
the spirit of god
to speak for you
The spirit's groaning
The spirit's groaning is god's way of saying i got you
Let me
How many of you got some stuff in your right in your life right now?
That you just need to let god handle come on. Amen
But you know it's one thing to say it but it's another thing to actually do it
And what god is saying is listen if you get to a place of groaning in the spirit
And start
Really let see here's the thing
See here's the thing. Oh lord
I'm getting a download right now and and and my bucket is full man. I'm trying to get this thing out to you. Phew jeez
There is a difference between having the holy ghost and the holy ghost having you
I don't just want to have the holy ghost
Brother when you have the holy ghost anybody can pray in tongues
You're praying in tongues
Paul's not talking about praying in tongues
He says there is a there is a language there is a groaning that happens
That is beyond just speaking in tongues because like paul once wrote. He said, you know, you can speak in the tongues of angels
You can have the gift of prophecy
You can have the gift of prophecy understand all mysteries and all knowledge and all wisdom
Didn't he say that in corinthians, right? But if you don't have love
In other words if your heart isn't right
You can speak in tongues 24 hours a day if you want to
But there is a groaning at god
Does that when we really say god, I don't just I don't just want you
You I want you to have me
Does god have you today?
Jesus we get to a place like paul. I'm I'm
I'm done here. Listen
I'm gonna close my ipad so you know i'm done with my notes even
We get to a place like paul where he said that which I have apprehended
Has apprehended me
Have we been apprehended by you?
Because when you've been apprehended brother, you can't just turn the holy ghost on and off whenever you want
Oh jesus
When god's really got a hold of you
Even if I don't want to my hand starts to go up
Oh hallelujah jesus
He says even if I even if i'm not in the mood, I say, you know what god i've got to praise you anyhow
Even if I don't want to get up and pray tomorrow morning because i'm tired
All right
Something compels me. It says you've got to pray you've got to pray
Oh my god. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Even when I don't want to submit
It's not about what I want
The holy ghost
I'm no longer my own whoo. Shalom. Akanda. Yesi
I'm a slave to him
When you are in that posture hear me when you are in that posture
And you start to pray
It gets easier because you're saying god I don't have to have it all figured out
I don't have to tell you how to be god
I don't have to tell you how to do your job
All I gotta do is let the spirit
Let the spirit right now I feel the holy ghost in this place right now
I'm gonna invite you right there where you are and
Before we sing any song before we get to that next step
I'm gonna invite you right there where you are just to let the holy ghost
Have this work in you. I invite you to close your eyes and invite you to just tune out
Everything else block everything else out. I just want you to let the holy ghost
Who she alamaka the god dealt with me
He said son
The church can't lose its groan
We can't let go of our groan because if we let go of our groan
That means now it's the flesh that's in control of things
Now it's it's it's the carnal man in control of things
But if we get to a place
Where we fully surrender to god in my life some of you need to do this for the sake of your family
You need to do this for the sake of your children
For the sake of your marriage alabaya for the sake of your own mind
For the sake of your salvation brother or sister
You need to do this for your own sake
Let the spirit of god take over
And let it I wonder right there if you could just begin to pray she alamaka