More than Conquerors

Romans 8:17-39

Spanish Armada defeated by English in 1588

God failed His end of the bargain

The evil is pointless

Holiness, silence, and sacrifice are beautiful in themselves, even without promise of reward. I still will have used my life well

1 Cor 15:19

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied (ESV)

If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot (The Message)

1. Is Suffering Optional for a Christian?2. How do we overcome our suffering

Suffering is our path to glory

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Rom 8:17 A real condition that must be met for

glorification

Justification

Sanctification

Glorification

Suffering

Nature of the Christian Life

Why Suffering is necessary?

Survive in the world

Renounce

Sin...Self

Persecution

Prioritize His

Kingdom

Fallen

world

Suffering is our path to glory

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Phil 3:10-11

Our willingness to step out in faith to accept the suffering and depend n His power

Know Him

Experience His Power

His Suffering

His Death

Justification

Sanctification

Glorification

Suffering

Transformation

I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

.........that I may know him

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matt 7:14

Declare peace with Sin

1. Is Suffering Optional for a Christian?2. How do we overcome our suffering

1. Regain the biblical perspective on the true nature of suffering.

Victoria Azarenka Wimbledon 2013

Bert Trautmann1956

Chris Simms

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

It's insignificant compared to the glory

Focus on being HEIRSTwo men same job

Cruelty of God Ichneumonoidea wasp

Reason: It was God's decree due to our sin

• For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it,.

Don't over personalize your pain...it is common lot of man

It's the sign of the impending renewal

• in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now

Great pain anticipates great joyWe think it anticipates dosaster

NASCA Indians of Peru

It's a reflection of our inner yearning for final redemption

• And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Saved in hope not yet fully realized

• For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.24-25

To combat overrealised eschatology...healing we see are first fruits....not everyone healed.

CS Lewis

• If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

No more beyond

2. Rely on prayer because the HS intercedes for us

Romans 8: 26-27

The Holy Spirit intervenes for us

• Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

• It's not speaking in tongues

• It's us groaning not HS..metaphorical

• HS picks up where we are unable to express..provides precise intercession

• God totally involved in prayer

• Our dependency glorifies Him

Tow parts of prayer..groaning and asking HK girlfriend

3 Rest on the fact that Gods purposes for us will be accomplished

• V 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Our Bad Things will be Turned to Good

Injustice at work

Painful joint

Job security Child's disability

Integrity

Kindness

Endurance

Faith

Circumstances Character

His purposes cannot be thwarted

• 29.For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Joseph's life..vision of shelves

GODS Master plan

Foreknowledge

Called

Justified

Glorified

Predestined to be like Jesus

Gen 50:20

• As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

4. Reassured that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God

Romans8: 30-39

Our good things will never be lost

• V 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?.......

33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34a Who is to condemn?

High CourtHigh Court

Sessions CourtSessions Court

Court of Appeals

Federal CourtGOD

B.God has already given His Best

• V 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Nurse with 1 carat diamond ring

• "Most women don’t want to look better than they did before they were pregnant; they just want to feel comfortable and look good for their husbands,".

Dr Steve Merten Plastic Surgeon ,Sydney

If you married her would you stay?

C. Jesus is interceding for us

• Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

• I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. John 17:9

AccessEffective..

D. We are more than conquerors through Christ: the best is yet to come

• Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

• “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Live by the Spirit and serve Him

• Persevere in patience and hope

• Conduct our lives in triumphant confidence