DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Groaning (Part 2)

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Groaning (Part 2)
Romans 8:26-27
 
"Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
 
There are times in my weakness when my heart is heavy and I groan (see vs. 23) inside. Sometimes I don't even know why my soul is in turmoil. I don't know what the problem is. I just know something is wrong, but I don't know how to pray. But God knows, and the Holy Spirit steps into my weakness and He intercedes. Sometimes this intercession boils out of my own spirit in a prayer language. It is at these times that I know the Holy Spirit is interceding. And because He knows all things, I am confident that these Spirit-prayers are according to God's will.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When my spirit is heavy and I don't know how to pray, God the Holy Spirit prays through me with perfect intercession.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- No More Groaning

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – No More Groaning
Romans 8:23-25
 
"Not only that, but we have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly await it with perseverance."
 
This is the hope of the Christian – a time when there will be no more pain and suffering. In the present time, my body groans – and the older I get the more it groans! The pain we suffer now will not last forever. We look for a resurrected body – the firstfruits of the Spirit – just as Jesus was the firstfruit from the dead in His resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20, 23). This body suffers pain, but it will not last forever. I look forward in hope to a new body with "eager perseverance."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The pain we suffer in this moral body will not last forever.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A New Creation

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A New Creation
Romans 8:19-22
 
"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God ... For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption [margin: decay] into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."
 
When Adam sinned, God subjected the whole of creation (not just man) to futility – emptiness and decay. But even in the curse God gave hope for the future. Some day, the entire creation will be reborn and delivered from the bondage of corruption. The children of God will be resurrected to eternal life where there is no death. And all of creation will be made new – reborn. Peter foresaw this new heaven and new earth. The heavens will pass away and will melt with fervent heat. "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells" (II Peter 3:10-13). Even now the creation is in labor pains waiting for the new birth. And I live in hope of resurrection to a new body. My body groans under the curse of pain but there is a time coming when I will have a body like the resurrected Christ. "Beloved, now we are the children of God. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:2). Hallelujah!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Christians look forward to a new body and a new creation.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Looking To The Future

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Looking To The Future
Romans 8:15-18
 
"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit [spirit] of adoption by whom we cry out "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
 
When I was a kid and we moved from Independence to Lyons, I don't remember any sense of fear because I trusted my father. I only remember anticipation of the new life in Lyons. I do not fear the future after death because I know my Father has it all under control, and there is only glory that awaits the child of God. As an heir, I know that the riches of heaven will be mine, and I will live with anticipation of the glory of heaven. "Oh that will be glory for me. When by His grace I shall look on His face – that will be glory, glory for me."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: As heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, the Christian looks forward with anticipation – not fear – to death.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Debtors

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Debtors
Romans 8:12-14
 
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit [spirit] you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. But as many as are lead by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."
 
I am a debtor. I owe my life to Jesus. If it wasn't for Him, I would be consigned to a life of death in the flesh. But rather by the Spirit of God, I can put to death the dominating power of the flesh. I cannot do this in my own strength or power. The flesh is strong. The only way to handle it is to kill it. There are not peace treaties or peaceful co-existence. I can live victorious in Christ and I am in debt to Him.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We are debtors to God because we cannot live righteous in our own strength – only by His power.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Spirit Life

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Spirit Life
Romans 8:9-11
 
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit (spirit) if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Sprit (spirit) is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
 
My spirit is alive because the Spirit of God lives in me. My spirit was dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). But He has made my spirit alive to God. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit will also give life to this mortal body in resurrection. All because I am His – I belong to Him. I am His child by the work of the Spirit of Christ. Hallelujah!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: A person's spirit lives because the Spirit of Christ dwells in him, and the body will also live because of the same Spirit of life.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Pleasing God

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Pleasing God
Romans 8:5
 
"So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
 
Pleasing God is not a priority of those who are carnal. In fact, it does not register on the scale They live to please themselves. For the Believer, pleasing God should be the prime motivator. If I love someone, I will want to please him or he. Jesus said, "I always do those things that please Him [the Father]" (John 8:29). When my heart is set on pleasing God, He works in me to do what is pleasing in His sight (Hebrews 13:21). The person who lives according to the spirit pleases God. The person who lives according to the flesh does not please God. I want my life to please Him. Lord, let me please You today.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Pleasing God is the goal of one living in the spirit.