From Groans to Glory

We've been in a series now for several weeks on the book of Romans chapter 8

Romans 8 · chapter mention

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

Romans 8 · chapter mention

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

John 11 · chapter mention

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

Mark 7 · chapter mention

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

Romans 8 · chapter mention

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