The Assurance of Hope

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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.24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 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. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because [a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, [b] for those who are called according to his purpose. 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 whom he justified he also glorified.

Prayer: Father thank you for another opportunity to hear your gospel, preach your gospel, and teach your gospel, which is the good news. Allow this moment to be a time of transformation in the hearts that are gathered at dream church and listening to your scriptures. Allow everything that is done give you glory in your name amen!

The assurance of hope. “Life with Christ is an endless hope, without Him a hopeless end” The assurance of hope brings us to this crescendo of understanding and made me reflect on two different hymnals of yesterday and today

Blessed assurance,

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long

My hope is built,

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness And I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly trust in Jesus name

When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all

This is our assurance and our hope! The assurance of hope! Our crescendo!

Paul continues to outline the believer's future. Through a myriad rollercoaster of lifelong turns and difficulties, Wins and losses, pains, and gains, leading us to victory. Taking us from suffering to freedom, freedom to waiting, waiting to hope, hope to praying, praying to being called, being called to glorification!

17 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.

Point 1- Gods glory will be revealed to us

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

That is why I do not think there is any comparison between the present challenging times and the coming good times.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

In the present many of us will suffer but good times are ahead.

“For believers, the glory ahead is not only greater than our present suffering. It is so much greater that we look back on our earthly existence from the joys of eternity, our only response will be... suffering? What suffering?”- Tony Evans

*You have something to live for*

What is that something? Freedom!

Point 2- Obtain the freedom of glory

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We obtain the freedom of glory as it pertains to the scripture that as all creation waits, we should wait for Gods revelation of the sons of God. We need to understand that human sin corrupted creation and dragged it down into the messes we see today. But our righteousness, paid for and perfected by Jesus Christ, will act as the agent of change in creation and in us. So, this change will set you free from being bound to eternal corruption. But when the children of God are ruling, the world will once again have order, perfection, and beauty.

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

John 1:12

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--

Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Are you a child of God? Are you a son of God?

When you know who you are, you can then pursue God to be redeemed. With understanding in this hope, we are saved.

Point 3- In this hope we are saved

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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.24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

What do we see? Pain, Spirit, Groaning, redemption, hope

Hope is a joyful expectation about the future, a trust that our tomorrows will be greater than our yesterdays. Real hope displays radical trust in God. If we admit it hope allows us to trust God when we cannot trace God. We may not know the details about our futures, but what we do know outweighs what we do not...

In this hope we are saved... In this hope you can be saved to the unbeliever.
Once saved it is the spirit that empowers us to live according to the will of God. How do I live in harmony to His will? By praying to God as the Spirit intercedes. Point 4- The Spirit intercedes for believers according to the will of God

26 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. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because [a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

When we are weak, fragile, and tired of waiting God’s Spirit is right there with us. If we do not know how or what to pray, it does not matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our deep wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and

keeps us present before the. almighty God. That is why we can be sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

God weaves everything together for good for his children.

*Are you one of the Kingdom Kids? * Point 5- Called and Glorified!

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, [b] for those who are called according to his purpose. 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 whom he justified he also glorified.

The good in this context does not refer to earthly comfort but it refers to the conformity to Christ, closer fellowship with God, bearing good fruit for the kingdom and final glorification.

When you believe in Christ you can be sure that all things work together for good. God has always been good to his people starting before creation, which is the (distant past), continuing in their conversion which is the (the recent past), and then on the day of His return. which is (the future). Jesus be glorified!

He foreknew reaches back to God’s covenantal affection for his people it’s the chain that begins with and leads to those who are predestined by God that are also called effectively to faith through the gospel. And those who are called are also justified. And all those who are justified will also be glorified receiving resurrection bodies

God always finishes what he starts. All who are called will reach glorification, which guarantees the eternal security of all believers

You have been called and glorified!

“The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our Hope today. It is our assurance that we have a living savior to help us live as we should now, and that when, in the end, we set forth on that last great journey, we shall not travel an uncharted course, but rather we shall go on a planned voyage__ life to death to eternal living”- Raymond MacKendree