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The Parable of the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9 – He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

Right now, the world seems to be spinning out of control; wherever we turn chaos seems to rule.  But there is also good news – God is sovereign over all things and circumstances.  Nothing happens without his knowledge.  He has never been and will never be surprised or caught off guard by the events that happen on earth.  Everything that is happening around you is according to his plan.  He will be victorious and we will share in that victory. 

Scripture tells us that Jesus offers us peace during the storms of life:

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

If we want to live in the peace that Jesus offers us, we must be genuinely close to him, living in obedience to his commands, and being led by his Spirit.  With that in mind, let’s take a look at this parable.

Luke 18:10 – “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”

PHARISEE: The Pharisees were the most popular class of the Jewish religious leaders.  They were known for their strict adherence to the rites/ceremonies of the law and the traditions of the Jewish elders.  That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, the law that was designed to draw them close to God became the focus of their all their attention.  They would up serving/worshiping the law instead of the one who gave it.

Their strict observance of the law led them to believe that they were more righteous than other people.  This in turn led to the false belief that God favored them over all others.  They were guilty of boasting in their own righteousness, while openly despising everyone else.  

The other main concern of the Pharisees (besides the outward observance of the law) was their public image.  Everything they did (praying, giving offerings, etc.) was done publicly for the express purpose of earning the attention and admiration of the Jewish public.

As a whole, Jesus soundly condemned this group for being proud, greedy hypocrites who ignored the important matters of God’s law (righteousness, justice, mercy, compassion, faith) while upholding their own sinful traditions (Matthew 23:1-36).      

TAX COLLECTOR:  By contrast, the tax collectors (also called publicans) were the most despised group of people in Jewish culture.  Tax collectors were Jewish men hired to collect revenue for the Roman empire.    

Basically, Rome avoided collecting its own taxes.  It accomplished this by auctioning off the right to collect taxes in each province.  The person who bought the rights set up their own officially sanctioned collection company.  Anything they collected over and above the auction price was pure profit.  As you can imagine, this system led to numerous abuses like extortion, fraud, and over-charging. 

There was another issue at work too.  Remember, the Jews had a very high sense of national identity and honor.  They were God’s chosen people and as such, most Jews considered it was unlawful to pay tribute to a pagan nation.  In addition, the taxes were a very heavy burden upon the people.  Thus, taxation was often considered to be one of the root causes of their continued subjection to the Roman rulers. 

For these reasons, the Jews who collected taxes for a living were generally considered traitors and apostates and were deemed unworthy of respect or honor.  They were often disowned by their families.  In the minds of the Jews, tax collectors and sinners were the worst people in society.

Luke 18:11-12 – “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’”

Based on what we know, we should not be surprised at the prayer of the Pharisee. 

He ‘stands by himself’.  In other words, being full of pride and having a high opinion of his own sanctity, he refused to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other sinful Jews.  He no doubt got as close to the sanctuary (holy place) as he could, putting as much distance between himself and the tax collector as possible.

He prays out loud, in the hearing of all who were in the temple (the common Jews as well as the priests).  He does this because it was important to the Pharisee that everyone hear his prayers, so they would acknowledge his righteousness. Presumably, this would cause the other Jews to think highly of the Pharisee and give him respect. 

We can’t help but notice that his prayer glorifies himself, not God.  Notice that he gives himself full credit for being holy and righteous.  He makes mention of the religious duties he performed, like fasting and tithing.  The only sins he mentions are the sins of other men.

Basically, we find the Pharisee was not praying to God at all - he was going through the motions of prayer while congratulating himself on a job so well done that he didn’t need to ask God for pardon, righteousness, guidance or anything else.    

Luke 18:13 – “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”

Jesus tells his listeners that the prayer of the tax collector was much different. 

The publican made no effort to get a place of honor in the courtyard; he stayed as close to the entrance as possible.  He didn’t stay there because he was forced to, he stayed there because he was ashamed of his sin and felt himself unworthy to get any closer to the sanctuary (the holy place where God’s presence was found).    

He too prayed out loud, but with his head bowed and his eyes either closed or focused on the ground in an attitude of humbleness and deep distress.  He was not motivated by vanity, but by the anguish of his soul as he considered his sin.

The tax collector beats his chest as an act of mourning and deep misery.  He makes no effort to blame others or justify himself.  He readily confesses his guilt.  In fact, in the original language, he refers to himself as ‘the’ sinner – the worst sinner of all. 

After admitting his guilt, he humbly asks God to ‘be merciful’ or literally to ‘be propitiated’ towards him.  This is an unusual word which refers to making reconciliation by blood sacrifice.  Under Jewish law this mercy was obtained by the blood sacrifice of an animal.  In the Christian era, God’s mercy is obtained through the blood of Christ (Hebrews 2:17). 

Luke 18:14 – “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The crowds listening to Jesus would most likely have reached the conclusion that the Pharisee was approved of God and the tax collector was condemned. But they were wrong.  

The tax collector left the temple justified by the mercy of God, after acknowledging that he had no righteousness within himself.  

The Pharisee left the temple with the same sin he came with, because he trusted in his own righteousness to make him acceptable in God’s sight.  In fact, we might say that he wasn’t really seeking justification at all, because he didn’t think he needed it.   

CONCLUSION:  There are numerous lessons we can learn from this parable, but we are going to limit our focus to two items.   

ONE:  If you have never given your heart to Christ, or if you have grown cold in your relationship with him, or if you aren’t 100% sure your sins have been covered, you need to humbly come to God and ask his forgiveness RIGHT NOW.   Don’t wait – the events unfolding in the world right now point to the soon return of Christ. 

Like the publican, you can find peace by being reconciled to God though the blood of Christ.  If you genuinely ask God to forgive you, he will.  If you are having trouble finding the right words, please use this prayer as a guide:

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner who has broken your laws and lived in rebellion against you.  I do not want to continue this way.  Right now, I repent of my mistakes and sins.  I’m sorry I broke your laws.  I acknowledge that you are the Son of God.  I believe that you died on the cross and rose again on the third day.  I ask you to forgive me of my sins, cleanse me with your blood, and send Holy Spirit to live within my heart. 

TWO:  Although the Pharisees have disappeared from history, the spirit of Pharisaism survives and is still present in the church today.  The Pharisees were religious without having a close, genuine relationship with Christ. 

It’s never been easier to be religious without being close to God.  Christians have access to tens of thousands of Christian books, podcasts, blogs, video sermons, radio broadcasts, study groups and opportunities for good works.  If you don’t remain close to Christ and full of Holy Spirit, these things can be come vain religious works, just like the works of the Pharisee. 

If you are a Christian, I strongly urge you to humble yourself in prayer and ask Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of your life that are full of religion but void of his presence.  Do it now, because the peace and victory you need are found in God (Father, Son and Spirit), not within yourself.

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The Value of Trials

You know that life doesn’t always go your way. Being a Christian doesn’t make us problem free. When things go bad, don’t get all bummed out. Get up, dust yourself off, reload, recalibrate and reengage. Trials are certain so come with an attitude that God is working in your life.

James 1: 2-3 -  My brothers, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.

James was a leader in the church in Jerusalem and was Jesus’ half-brother. The book of James was one of the earliest letters, written before A.D. 50. Persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem forced them to be scattered throughout the Roman Empire. James wrote to them as a concerned leader to encourage them in their faith during those difficult times.

James doesn’t say “if” trouble comes your way but “when” it does. It is possible to profit from trouble and turn our hardships into learning experiences. Tough times can teach us perseverance. We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete, not keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth.

The testing of your faith produces endurance. In biblical times, a potter would put a piece into the firing oven to strengthen it. If the piece survived the high heat, the potter would write the word “dokimos” on the bottom of the piece meaning “tested and approved.”

What a great picture of God’s work in our lives! He is the potter forming us into the image of His Son. Occasionally, God puts us into the firing oven…not to break us but to strengthen us. God allows us to experience trials so that we grow in our faith.

Though we may know intellectually that God has a purpose for whatever trial we are going through, we can’t help but ask, “Why is this happening to me right now?” Here are three questions you can ask in the midst of a trial:

1. Am I responsible in any way for this trial? Praying, Lord, is this happening to me because of something in my life where there’s a lesson to be learned? Asking for God’s grace and forgiveness as well as for wisdom and guidance will help us through.

2. Is there anyone I can talk with who has experienced a similar problem? One reason we gather together in church is to strengthen and encourage one another. In fact, God may allow certain problems in our lives so that we can help other people in the future.

In 2 Corinthians 1: 4, Paul wrote, “He (God) helps us in all our troubles so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.”

You may be going through a particular trial right now so that you can strengthen others who face a similar situation.

3. Is there any benefit that might come from this trial? We can claim the promise of Romans 8:28. “We know that in all things, God works for good with those who love Him, those whom He has called according to His promises.”

Whatever trial you’re facing right now, remember this above all - God is not a distant deity who has no idea what you’re going through. There is a purpose for everything and God knows that the purpose of whatever is happening to you is for your own good.

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The Parable of the Rich Fool – Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13 - And one of the crowd said unto him [Jesus], “Teacher, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.”  

Jesus is busy doing the work his Father called him to do – preaching the gospel, healing the sick and setting the captives free.  In other words, he is ministering to the spiritual needs of a lost and dying world.   

In the midst of this important work, Jesus is interrupted by someone in the crowd asking him to resolve an issue between him and his brother.  The issue was the division of the family inheritance.  In Jewish culture, only male children received an inheritance.  Each son received an equal portion except the eldest son, who received double the amount of the others.  To be fair, the firstborn male also received some additional duties – essentially, he became the new leader of the family and he assumed responsibility for his mother and any unmarried females in the household. 

In this particular case, one of two things was true:  Either the older brother had control of all the wealth and wouldn’t give the younger brother his fair share or the younger brother was unhappy with his rightful share and was demanding that his older brother give him more.  Based on the parable which follows, most scholars believe the second scenario was probably true.

Luke 12:14 - And he [Jesus] said unto him, “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?”

Jesus could have stepped in and easily resolved this dispute, but he didn’t.  Why do you think he refused to become involved?

History helps us answer this question.  It was common practice for kings to settle difficult disputes between their subjects (I Kings 3:15-28, II Samuel 15:2).  If Jesus quickly and wisely resolved this dispute, the crowd would have seen this as a sign/confirmation that he was an earthly king seeking to establish an earthly kingdom.  They would probably have tried to force him to become king (John 6:15).  

The crowds did not yet understand that Jesus was doing something much, much greater than setting up an earthly kingdom.  The mission given to him by the Father was to reveal the spiritual truth of the gospel and to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven through his death and resurrection.  Acting as a judge in earthly matters was not part of his mission.  In fact, it would work against it.  

Luke 12:15 - And he said unto them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

Nevertheless, Jesus used this opportunity to warn believers against the real problem in this situation - the sin of covetousness (not injustice).  In fact, he provides us with a double warning; we are both to ‘take heed’ and ‘beware’ of covetousness.  Jesus uses the following parable to warn us that we must keep a close eye on our own hearts and desires so we do not fall into this trap of the enemy.

Covetousness is an eager and insatiable desire for the things of this world which results in the neglect of spiritual matters.  Covetousness places a person’s chief happiness and fulfillment in the things of this world.  The situation with the brothers centered on the love of money, but the literal translation of the text references ALL covetousness.  You can covet not only money, but power, fame, property, possessions, control, or an infinite number of other things. 

Jesus warns us that the things of this world have no real value.  They cannot lengthen life, ward off disease, or save you from enemies.  Only God has ultimate control of those things.  The things of this world cannot produce true joy or peace or consolation.  They will not follow you into eternity, neither can they prepare you to meet God in the next age.  

What they CAN do is capture our attention and our hearts, preventing us from closely following God who is the giver of all blessings, including eternal life.

Let’s see how Jesus illustrates this truth with the following parable.   

Luke 12:16 - And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:”

The original word translated ‘ground’ signifies a region or country, indicating that this man didn’t just possess a small family farm.  He had extensive real estate holdings.  It would be like a commercial farm in our day.  He is described as experiencing an extremely prosperous year in his worldly businesses and activities.

Luke 12:17 - And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, because I have no room to store my crops?”

This thought reveals the true state of the man’s heart.  Notice that he left God completely out of the picture:

• He did not praise or thank God for blessing him.
• He did not acknowledge God for giving him the health, resources, staff, or rain needed to produce this wealth. 
• He did not acknowledge God’s protection from drought/flood, locusts, foreign invaders, or bad business deals.
• He did not ask God’s advice on what to do with his abundance; he never even considered using his wealth to glorify God. 
• He gave no thought for the welfare of his workers or the poor of his community.
• He never considered the spiritual implications of his situation.

Luke 12:18-19 - And he said, “This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’”

The rich man has been deceived.  He mistakenly assumes that because he is rich today, he will always be so.  He mistakenly assumes that he still has many more healthy years to live on earth.  He mistakenly assumes that temporal goods will make him happy.  He mistakenly assumes that he will continue to be successful in all that he undertakes.

Clearly, covetousness had entered the rich man’s heart.  This is evident in his plan to satisfy his earthly appetites and desires, such as pride, idleness and luxury as well as his blatant disregard for his own spiritual/eternal outcome.  In addition, he has no regard for the will of God and he is unmoved by the needs of others.  

Obviously, covetousness is prompting him to ‘store up’ treasures in this life, rather than treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). 

Luke 12:20 - But God said unto him, “You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have prepared?”

Jesus clearly shows us the futility of covetousness or the insatiable desire for worldly things:  The very night that the rich man had finalized his plans, his soul was summoned into the eternal realm to meet the God he had neglected/ignored for so long!  

As a result of his own foolish thinking, the rich man was completely unprepared for his entrance into eternity.  He entered the eternal realm empty handed; the worldly possessions he spent his life accumulating remained here and were given to others (Psalms 39:6). 

Thus, a life that had the potential to be amazing and fruitful in the kingdom of heaven (John 15:5-8) ended up being a life of vanity and emptiness in the kingdom of man. 

Luke 12:21 - So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Jesus uses this parable to show us the final outcome of any person who shuts God out of their life and spends all their time, thoughts and resources to amass worldly riches for themselves.  In the end, they will be deceived and disappointed; they will enter eternity unprepared while the wealth they worked so hard to obtain will be given to others. 

So, what lessons can we take away from this parable?

• We must remind ourselves that it is God who determines the length of our days.  A life dedicated to the service of God is an extraordinary and fruitful life, no matter how long or short it may be.

• Each one of us should be ready to enter eternity at a moment’s notice.  When we have one eye on eternity, we can see clearly when covetousness comes knocking at our door.  We can also see the opportunities for good works and service that God gives to us, so we may store up treasure in heaven.    

• Temporal riches and success should never be the primary goals of the Christian life.  That being said, there is nothing wrong with having riches, and/or enjoying temporal blessings as long as we steward them according to the word of God and the leading of Holy Spirit. 

Regardless of how many or few earthly blessings we have, we must all be on guard against covetousness, because it is a trap of the enemy, designed to render us ineffective in the Kingdom of Heaven.  

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From Despair to Hope

When we are on the edge of despair, God’s grace can give us a light in the darkness.  This “light” can lead us from despair to hope.  The story of Jesus healing a man who was paralyzed is an excellent example of the movement from despair to hope. 

In Jesus’ time, being paralyzed meant being completely dependent on others for food, shelter and care.  There were no devices to help persons who were physically disabled with movement.  In the following scripture, a man’s friends, because of their concern and loyalty to him, decided to carry him to Jesus for healing.

We can identify with this man not only in terms of his physical disability but other ways as well, because there are other ways to be paralyzed.  Most often what paralyzes us in non-physical ways is fear.  When we are afraid, we would rather not make decisions or take some kind of action.  That fear can hold us back from doing God’s work and living the kind of life God wants for us to live.

Matthew 9:2-8 – 2 Some people brought to Jesus a paralyzed man lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw how much faith they had, He said to the paralyzed man, “Courage, my son!  Your sins are forgiven.”  3 Then some teachers of the law said to themselves, “This man is speaking blasphemy!”  4 Jesus perceived what they were thinking so He said, “Why are you thinking such evil things?  5 Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up and walk?’  6 I will prove to you, then that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”  So He said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home!”  8 When the people saw it, they were afraid and praised God for giving such authority to man.  

Among the first words Jesus said to the paralyzed man were, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Then He healed the man.  Both the man’s body and his spirit were paralyzed - he could not walk and he did not know Jesus.  But the man’s spiritual state was Jesus’ first concern.  If God does not heal us or someone we love, we need to remember that physical healing is not Jesus’ only concern.  We will all be completely healed in Jesus’ coming kingdom, but first we have to come to know Jesus.

The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy in verse three because Jesus was claiming to be God by applying God’s characteristics to himself.  (Since only God can forgive sins, Jesus was claiming to be God when he forgave the sins of the paralyzed man.)  What these leaders did not understand was that Jesus is God in the flesh; therefore, He does have the authority to heal and forgive sins.   

Jesus offered the man wholeness through a new relationship of love and forgiveness with God.  This “inner” healing of forgiveness is also what Jesus offers us in our emotional and spiritual paralysis.  The words, “You are forgiven” are the most hopeful words we can hear.  When we are laboring under a burden of guilt over things we have done or things we should have done but we didn’t, we can despair of ever being whole or free.  Forgiveness heals us by making whole a life torn by guilt.

Summary:  To be paralyzed emotionally or spiritually can be a cause of hopelessness.  When you don’t have the will and energy to move forward in any area of life, paralysis can be a source of despair.  With forgiveness comes hope for a new and restored relationship with God, others and yourself. 

Once the crushing burden of guilt is lifted, we need not be “paralyzed”.  We need to overcome those fears and reach out to others, witness God’s unconditional love and His grace and share our stories of what the Lord means to us.  Then we can live the life God wants us to live.  

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The Parable of the Talents

During his ministry on earth, Jesus often used parables to teach his followers. The word ‘parable’ signifies the placing of two or more objects together for the purpose of comparison.  Specifically, parables reveal something that is unknown by comparing it to something that we already understand.

In his parables, Jesus used common everyday objects like seeds, lamps, yeast and weddings to reveal or explain truths about the kingdom of heaven.  Thus, parables are sometimes described as ‘earthly stories with heavenly meanings.’

In today’s post, we are going to examine the parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25:14-30.  Please take a few minutes to read this passage.

In this parable, a rich man (the Master) was going on a journey.  He entrusted three of his servants with money and each was to conduct business on his behalf while he was away.  Scripture tells us that each received a different amount:

Matthew 25:15 – To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.   

Then he went on his journey.  As you probably know, the servant with five talents set to work and earned five more.  Likewise, the servant with two talents got to work and earned two more.  Upon his return, the Master called his servants in to give an account of their service.  He was very pleased with his first two servants:  

Matthew 25:23 – His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  Enter into the joy of your Master.’

But that was not the case with the third servant.  Instead of using the talent his Master gave him, he chose to bury/hide it and consequently there was no increase.  When he gave an account of his service, The Master strongly rebuked him, calling him wicked and lazy.  The one talent he had was taken from him and given to the servant who now had 10.  Instead of entering into the joy of the Master, he was cast out of the kingdom.

In this parable Jesus is the Master, we are the servants and the money represents the talents God gives to us.   

While there are several amazing lessons contained in this parable, we are going to focus on just one:  The divine law of increase.  This principle states that whatever we use multiples/increases, while whatever we neglect dries up and disappears. 

This principle is true in the physical realm.  For example, the athlete who consistently works out increases the size of their muscles while the ‘couch potato’ finds the muscle mass they have slipping away.  The person who continuously practices cooking soon finds they are capable of producing an award-winning meal without a recipe, while those who rarely cook will give up altogether or burn everything.

This principle is true in the mental realm.  The person who continuously uses their mind in reading, solving puzzles or learning new things sharpens and increases their mental acuity.  However, the person who does not exercise their mind soon loses the ability to think and reason; they become mentally dull. 

This principle is true in the spiritual realm.  Scripture tells us that God gives each person a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).  When we use or exercise that faith, it grows/increases, allowing us to accomplish more or greater things in the kingdom of heaven.  But those who do not use their faith become slaves to fear.  The small amount of faith they had eventually withers away and they are incapable of living in victory. 

Likewise, those who actively seize opportunities to do good works will find more and more opportunities open to them.  Those who refuse to do anything soon find themselves on the sidelines of the kingdom, have nothing to do.

It may seem intuitive, but let me just state that the divine law of increase does not mean everything goes perfectly.  I have no doubt that the servants who used their talents faced some set-backs, some learning curves and even some failures.  But they didn’t give up and as they continued learning and growing, they prospered.

Now let’s apply this truth/principle to our own lives.  What talents has God given to you?  How are you using them to glorify his name and expand his kingdom?  What growth have you experienced over the years?

Are there any talents that you’ve been neglecting?  If so, I encourage you to pick them up, dust them off, and begin to use them.  If you do, you can be sure that God’s law of divine increase will bless your efforts.  And most importantly, you will hear God say to you, ‘well done!’  

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Romans 8:34 – 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.

Welcome back dear readers!  Today we are going to conclude our study of Romans chapter eight. 

GENERAL SUMMARY: Who dares to condemn God’s children?  Is it Christ who died for them, rose again and now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for them?  Of course not!  How can the believer be condemned, since Jesus will plead his case? 

DIGGING DEEPER:  Who is to condemn:  Again, this image is taken from the idea of a tribunal of justice or a court room.  In this scenario, the believer is the defendant, Father God is the judge, and Satan is the plaintiff.  

Satan goes before the throne of God and accuses us of all our sins and faults.  There is no doubt that we are guilty.  He then demands that we be sentenced for our crimes. 

What he doesn’t seem to realize is that he will never be successful in his quest to have believers condemned, because Jesus paid our debt in full and he advocates for us before the Father.

I John 2:1 – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that, who was raised:   Stop and think about this for a minute… Jesus left the glory of heaven to come down to earth, take on a body of flesh, reveal the Father to us, then die and rise again to the role of Mediator for the sole purpose of securing our forgiveness and salvation. 

He paid the full price required by the law and justice of God.  He secured our pardon by his blood, and he obtained our justification by his obedience; no condemnation of Satan can touch us.  In reality, the only one who has a right to condemn us is Jesus himself and it is absurd to think that after all he has done to secure our pardon that he would turn around and condemn us.

 Who is at the right hand of God:  In ancient times, the right hand of the king was the seat of honor.  Sitting in that particular spot automatically made you a person of distinction – you had honor, respect and prestige.  It also signified participation in royal matters; you would wield some level of power in the royal court. (I Kings 2:19, Matthew 20:21, Psalms 45:9).  Long ago scripture predicted that our Savior would sit at the right hand of God (Psalms 110:1) and sure enough, we know that Jesus is sitting there right now:

Mark 16:19 – So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 

After Jesus rose from the dead and returned to heaven, he sat down at the right hand of the Father, clothed with all the power, dignity and authority of heaven. 

Furthermore, his participation in kingdom affairs far surpasses anything known in the earthly realm.  Everything in the universe has been put under his feet/authority.  Therefore, Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:20-23).  This gives us yet another reason why Jesus will not condemn believers – we are under his protection and guidance.

Not only is he our head, protector and guide, he is our intercessor or Mediator:

I Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Who indeed is interceding for us:  Jesus assumed the role of Mediator between God and man.  As he sits at God’s right hand, he pleads our cause and presents our interests before the mercy seat of heaven. 

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

Over and over in different ways, Paul repeatedly confirms that because of the work of Jesus, Christians are secure from the condemnation which passes upon unbelievers. 

Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword?

GENERAL SUMMARY: Believers have no cause to doubt or fear their ultimate outcome because nothing can come between Christ and the believer.  Nothing can break the bond of love that Jesus has for them, or that they have for Jesus.  Specifically, no condition of life – no outward trouble, no inward distress, no evil nor any fear - can break our relationship. 

DIGGING DEEPER:  Who shall separate us from the love of God:  There are some commentators who believe this phrase refers to the love of God for mankind, but that seems unlikely because we know that God never changes - once he starts something, he always finishes it; nothing can stop him.  Since the Christian’s salvation is rooted in the eternal purposes of God, we have the assurance that he will accomplish his original plans regarding mankind.  Also, if he loved us before the world was ever formed, he still loves us now – that isn’t going to change.

We also know that Jesus will never leave us even when we sin or when we experience our darkest and most discouraging days.  He is always with us; he is our ever-present help in times of trouble:

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 The point is that it is much more likely that Paul is talking about the love of the believer for Christ.  Since God’s love and faithfulness can never fail, the only real possibility of separation between God and the believer is if man fails or is unfaithful. 

Why would believers become unfaithful to Jesus? 

One: Remember, the early church in general suffered a lot of persecution.  They lost their families, their friends, their jobs/income and sometimes even their lives.  Even now there are believers around the world who are still suffering for their faith.  One argument is that Christians might grow weary in the midst of these trials/sufferings and withdraw from Jesus, in order to make persecution stop.

Two: Another explanation says that if believers have not renewed their minds, they may be tempted to think that the trials and other difficulties they experience are examples of God’s wrath.  These same difficulties might lead them to believe that God has forsaken them and if that is the case, there will be no end to their suffering, unless they withdraw from God.

But the apostle argues against these scenarios.  He assures us that our love for the Savior is so strong and so intense that none of the things listed here, nor any other circumstance for that matter, can cause a separation between God and his children.  The love which Christians have for their Redeemer is so strong, it will survive and conquer all opposition and all trials.

This is possible because Christians can stand firm in their faith knowing that all things work together for their good, and nothing can separate them from the love of the God they trust in. 

Shall tribulation:  This word is best defined as pressure from without; affliction arising from external causes, or more loosely a trial, trouble or evil of any kind.

Or distress:  Distress is an inward feeling, an anxiety of mind, that arises when a person is hemmed in on every side and does not know where to turn or what to do for relief.   All of us have no doubt experienced this at one time or another.

Or persecution: Generally speaking, persecution is the infliction of violence, loss, pain or death for adherence to a particular creed or type of worship.  Specifically, it is used to denote the violence by which the children of God were/are undeservedly harassed by the ungodly.

Or famine or nakedness: This refers to the lack of food, water, or general necessities of life.  Christians in the early church commonly experienced lack as the natural result of being cut off from their Jewish families, being forced to leave home and being excluded from all business dealings.

Or danger:  This loosely refers to danger of any kind; a state of continual exposure to injury, loss or peril.  It also includes danger that is feared; many times, the fear of something is even worse than the danger itself!

Or sword:  The sword is symbolic of death.  For the early church, the most common sources of martyrdom were government officials or Jewish leaders.  This was a constant threat for them, and it remains a real issue today for many Christians in foreign countries.

The bottom line is that Christians in all eras of time have suffered various tribulations because of their attachment to Christ.  And again, there may have been some fear or concern among the church that believers would drift away from Jesus because of this.

However, Paul assures all Christians that the opposite is true – the more painful the trials which we experience on account of our relationship to Christ, the stronger and more unwavering our love for him becomes.  Trials only serve to increase our confidence in his ability to save and keep us; we are inexorably bound to Christ.

Romans 8:36 – As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

GENERAL SUMMARY:  This Old Testament verse is quoted to remind us that God’s faithful people can expect hatred, persecution and even death from their enemies during any dispensation of time. 

The saints of old endured all manner of suffering (including death) and yet were not separated from the love of God; therefore, such sufferings cannot separate the contemporary Christian from Christ either.

DIGGING DEEPER: As it is written:  This verse is a quote from Psalms 44:22.

For your sake we are being killed:  This psalm was apparently written during a period of great national distress.  It refers to the Old Testament saints who were frequently persecuted and even put to death for the sake of their belief in God and their worship of him.  Similarly, it was not uncommon for the New Testament saints suffer and die for their love of Christ and adherence to the gospel.

All the day long:  This denotes the continuance of the persecution, the patience of the saints and the unwavering attacks of their enemies.

We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered:  This is a reference to the temple, where lambs were slaughtered on a regular basis.  The thought is that the enemies of Christ regard Christians as appropriate subjects for slaughter.  They hold the lives of Christians in such low regard they are no more valuable than a lamb.  

Paul’s point is that suffering and even death have been the common lot of the saints in all generations.  This is an encouragement to the saints in the gospel dispensation because it lets them know that their situation is not unique.  It is a reminder that any Christian, in any place, at any time, may be called upon to give their life up for Christ. 

Having a firm understanding that nothing can separate us from the love of God gives us the courage to face whatever circumstance (even death) comes our way.

Romans 8:37 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  In all trials and tribulations (even in death), believers are victorious in Christ.

DIGGING DEEPER:  No, in all these things:  The things just discussed including trials, tribulations, distress, danger and even death.

We are more than conquerors:  The goal of the devil is to harass, oppress, scare, persecute, injure or otherwise afflict Christians to try and separate them from God.  But he is defeated before he even begins because God gives his children a spirit of victory; sufferings only serve to deepen our commitment, love and zeal for the one who has saved us.

Through him who loved us:  The victory of the believer does not come from his or her own strength, but from Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who won victory for us on the cross.

I Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

With Christ as our Mediator, our Redeemer and our strength, there is no way we can lose.

Romans 8:38-39 – For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul states that all Christians should have full assurance of faith that no power or Satan or circumstance of this life has the power to separate us from God’s love towards us in Christ Jesus.

DIGGING DEEPER: For I am sure:  I am utterly persuaded; I am fully convinced by the spirit of faith.

That neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation:  This list is intended to poetically include every possible scenario or category of existence (both good and bad) which the Christian faces in this life or in the life to come.  It literally refers to anything or everything.

Will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord:  Paul’s strong belief that nothing can separate a believer from Christ is founded upon the nature of the love of God itself, upon God’s eternal purposes, upon our adoption as the children of God, upon our security in Christ, and upon the divine power of Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

Taken together, the meaning of the whole passage is that the believer has no cause to fear for his ultimate spiritual safety. His or her present state of reconciliation with God is not accidental and neither is it temporary.  It is the result of the long-settled purpose of God.

This is a work which God has undertaken and we have full confidence that he will accomplish what he has begun.  We also have full confidence that our Redeemer Jesus, who gave his life for our salvation, will act as our constant Mediator now that he is seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Regardless of what we may be called to endure, Christ will never leave us – he will give us the strength to endure until we are glorified with him in eternity.  

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

The glorious promises and assurances that we read about in today’s post are reserved for the children of God – sinners just like you who have repented and submitted their lives to Christ Jesus. 

Are you a child of God?  If not, you can become one right now.  The bible says this about salvation:

Romans 10:9-10 – If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 

If you are truly sorry for your sin and you want to repent and become a child of God, you can do so by saying a simple prayer from your heart.  You don’t need any special words, just tell Christ that you are sorry, that you believe he is the risen Son of God and that you want him to forgive you and reign in your life. 

If you feel more comfortable with a written prayer or if you can’t think of what to say, you can use the following prayer, which was written by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association:

Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.  I believe Jesus Christ is your Son.  I believe that he died for my sin and that you raised him to life.  I want to trust him as my Savior and follow him as Lord, from this day forward.  Guide my life and help me to do your will.  I pray this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer of salvation, you are now a child of God.  Please be sure to share this information with someone.  Your next step is to find a bible believing church who can assist you in growing in your walk with Christ.

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Romans 8:31 – What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Welcome back to our study of Romans chapter eight. 

In our last post, we discovered that God demonstrated his love and divine purpose by establishing the plan of salvation before the world was ever created.  Then, at the perfect time, he sent Jesus to earth to bring us the gospel message and to be the effectual cause of our salvation by sacrificing himself on the cross and rising again. 

Because of that sacrifice, we can secure the free gift of salvation and become justified in the sight of God.  As if that were not enough, Jesus also baptizes us in the Holy Spirit who forever dwells within our hearts and assists us in multiple ways throughout our lives (especially in the area of sanctification).  Furthermore, God promised that we will be glorified with Christ in eternity. 

Since God has done all this (and more) for us, it is obvious that he isn’t going to allow anything or anyone to interfere with his plans for us.  Victory in Jesus is our only possible outcome!  Knowing this, we can truly say that all things work together for the good of those who love God.  

From verse 31 until the end of the chapter, Paul uses a number of questions which help us draw logical conclusions based on the powerful truth just revealed.  Let’s take a look at what he wants us to know.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Given the facts that were just stated, what conclusion can we draw in regard to the trials and hardships of the Christian life? 

Based on the benefits and privileges God has given us (adoption as sons/daughters, justification, sanctification, glorification, etc.), it is clear that one omniscient, omnipotent, merciful God is on our side; he is making sure that all things work together to make us victorious.  Since that is the case, who can prevail against us?

DIGGING DEEPER:  What then shall we say to these things:  In other words, what conclusions can we reach based on the astonishing love that God has demonstrated towards us? 

As a side note, let me just say that the infinite greatness of God’s love/gifts towards us is beyond expression.  No human words in any language can adequately express the richness, fullness and generosity of his love for us.  In light of this, the only thing we can do is be thankful and give him praise and glory.  

If God is for us:  If God is on our side, NOTHING can defeat us – not people or circumstances or things or problems or even death itself. 

Psalms 56:9 – When I cry unto you [God], then shall my enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

The fact that God is ‘on our side’ is clearly evident.  He has proven it by adopting us as his children (Romans 8:15), by giving us both his Son and his Spirit (Romans 8:16-17), by his gracious and merciful determination to save us (Romans 29-30), and by the support and strength he gives us during our trials.   

Who can be against us:  We might phrase it this way: Who can harm or destroy us? 

Since he who is infinitely wise directs us, he who is infinitely powerful protects us, and he who is infinitely good saves us, who or what could possibly be victorious over us?  The obvious answer is nothing! 

Satan may torment us in this life.  He may even cause our physical death.  Nevertheless, neither man nor Satan has the power to revoke our status as a child of God and therefore, regardless of what happens here on earth, we will be victorious for eternity.  Satan’s ultimate destination is hell, ours is heaven with Jesus.

Romans 8:32 – 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?

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The greatest gift/blessing that God could possibly give mankind was the atonement of our sin through the suffering and death of his Son.  Since God has already given us the best he had to offer, there is no reason to think that he will deny us any of his lesser blessings. 

This passage also indicates that God did not lighten the amount or severity of punishment that Jesus endured; he had to pay the full cost of our sin as determined by the law. 

DIGGING DEEPER:  He who did not spare:  To spare is to refrain from inflicting punishment or harm.  When the apostle says that God did not spare Jesus, two things are indicated. 

First, he means that God did not withhold his Son from us – he was willing to let Jesus die in our place in order to redeem us.   

Second, he means that God did not lighten or mitigate the punishment that was due for our sin.  The complete/total amount of suffering that divine justice required as payment for sin was paid in full through the suffering and death of Christ: 

Isaiah 53:4-6 – Surely he [Jesus] has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

His own Son:  Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.  Giving him up for our sin is the highest proof of love that our heavenly Father could possibly give us.  It is also the highest possible demonstration of his willingness to do good to mankind.  

But gave him up:   In a sense we can say that many people gave Jesus up.  Judas gave him up for money, Pilate gave him up for fear, and the Jews gave him up for envy.  But none of them gave Jesus up for us.

Paul tells us that God the Father delivered or gave Jesus up for our sin.  While that is true, we want to be careful not to paint a one-sided picture of this situation.  Scripture tells us that this was not just a mandatory decision on the part of Father God.  Rather, it was a divine agreement between the Father, Son and Spirit. 

John 10:15 – As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep.   

Jesus was a willing participant in the salvation of mankind.  In the predetermined plan of the Divine Trinity, Jesus agreed to assume a human nature, to bear all the iniquities of mankind and to endure the punishment due for sin.  And once again, we should note that nothing was deferred; the entire debt of sin was paid in full by Christ according to the strict standards of divine justice. 

For us all:  It is very evident from the scriptures that Jesus gave his life on the cross so that any/all human beings can be saved.  However, in this particular context, ‘all’ should be understood as all Christians.  The passage in general proves that God shows equal love for all his children – Jesus died for the Jews as well as the Gentiles.  He died for the poor and obscure just as much as for the rich and famous; he died for the apostles as well as the thief on the cross.

All Christians can take consolation in knowing that Christ died for them personally and that his death expressed the highest level of love for them which we can conceive to be possible.

How will he not also with him graciously give us all things:  Here we find Paul making an argument by comparing the greater to the lesser.

What is the most valuable thing in the universe?  Obviously, it is the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for our sin.  Since there is no greater gift, anything else we might ask God for is inferior – it is of less value, less worth, less cost. 

Paul’s argument is that if God already gave us the most valuable thing possible, why would he hesitate to give us any lesser gift that is needful for our welfare and good?

We cannot help but notice that God gives us gifts.  By default, gifts are free to the one who receives them.  God’s first and greatest gift to us (Jesus) was free, so it only makes sense that all of God’s comparatively lesser blessings/gifts are also free – we cannot buy them with money or earn them by merit.  We receive them only by the generosity and mercy of God.  As we have already noted, every phase of our salvation, from beginning to end, is all a work of grace.

Thus, we have been given the highest proof/assurance of the Trinity’s divine love for us.

Furthermore, since God has given his Son to die for mankind, we can rest assured that he will not withhold lesser mercies that are necessary to our salvation.  On the contrary, he will freely give us whatever we need.   

Romans 8:33 – Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.

GENERAL SUMMARY: Verses 33-35 center around a series of questions designed to show us the safety of the state of those who have believed the gospel. 

With that in mind, Paul asks this question: who can accuse or bring legal charges of sin against God’s elect?  Will God who justifies them do it?  Of course not!  And if he isn’t doing it, then no one can.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect:  God's elect are Christians - those who have been called and redeemed according to God's eternal purpose as discussed in Romans 8:28.  The overall truth in verses 33-35 is this:  If neither God nor Christ will bring any charges against those who love him, then certainly no one else could.

Because God justifies us through Christ, they are the only two who have the legal right to bring charges of sin against the Christian.  And we know they aren’t going to do that.  In fact, God did the opposite – he freely forgave all our trespasses.  And since that is the case, Christians have no reason to fear.  The God who provided our salvation will keep us until the day we are glorified in eternity.

Nothing can frustrate or oppose this truth either on the side of God (for when he justifies no one can condemn), or on the side of Christ (whose death, resurrection. ascension and intercession are all pledges that nothing can separate us from his love).

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect:  This expression is taken from the courts of law.  It means this: who shall accuse or condemn or bring criminal charges of sin against the Christian before the tribunal of God so as to cause their condemnation?

The obvious answer is no one – no one in heaven, no one walking the earth, not even anyone in hell (including Satan).  No thing can do it either - sin can’t do it, the law can’t do it and even our consciences can’t do it.  Since the person whom God justifies has nothing to be accused of, we can rest assured that no charges brought against us in God’s court will result in our condemnation.

Just to be clear, this includes all sin, regardless of how heinous or apparently harmless.  Justifying grace fully discharges all accusations against us.  

It is God who justifies:   It is God who pardoned us and admitted us into his family and pronounced us just in his sight.  It would be absurd to think that he would then turn around and condemn us (he would never justify and condemn us both at the same time).  Therefore, the final outcome of the Christian is secure.

With this in mind, what does the Christian have to fear?  When God himself pronounced us as justified, who could possibly come along and condemn us?   

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

Satan often tries to get Christians to doubt the love that God has for them.  This was part of his plan in the Garden of Eden, where he insinuated to Eve that God was withholding good things from her (and we all know what a lie that turned out to be).  

So the next time you are walking through life and you suddenly feel that God doesn't love you, stop and remember Romans chapter eight.  Remind yourself of all that God has done to work out your salvation.  Remind yourself that the Father, Son and Spirit were united in their decision to sacrifice Christ on your behalf.  Remind yourself that the same God who justifies you will not turn around and condemn you - God has the ability to keep you securely in him until you are called into eternity. 

Let me offer you some strength:

For most of us, salvation is the beginning point of our earthly relationship to God.  Once we are his children, we need to grow in our faith because God's ultimate plan includes us partnering with him to bring others into the kingdom.  It also includes exposing the lies of Satan and destroying his work on earth.  In order to do these things, we will certainly need additional assistance from God - wisdom, knowledge, faith, spiritual gifts, Holy Spirit boldness and even finances (just to name a few). 

With this in mind, Christians can rest assured that God will not withhold lesser blessings and gifts from us (everything is a lesser gift compared to the blood of Christ).  He will freely give us all that we need to be victorious in this life.    

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Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Paul has been showing Christians the power of the gospel to do things which the law could not do.  In verses 28-30, he gives us the assurance that all things work together for the good of the Christian, since all things are connected with the purposes of God. 

This truth should be of immense comfort to every Christian, because we all have times when we don’t fully understand what God is doing/working out in our lives.  During these times we sometimes feel confused or defeated.  This portion of scripture reminds us that even when we can’t fully comprehend it, God is working to bring about our ultimate good through every circumstance.  Let’s explore this interesting truth more fully.   

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Regardless of what happens to us or what circumstances we face, Christians have the assurance that all things are really working together for our good.  In other words, all things (the seemingly good and the seemingly bad) work together to complete our salvation.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And we know:  Paul says that, as Christians, ‘we know’ or understand that the circumstances of our lives work together for our good.  

• We know this is true because we know God.  We have the assurance that he is infinitely wise, loving and powerful.  We know that he has purposed and made possible our salvation; there is no way he is going to allow anything to prevent our adoption as his children, because all things are under his direction.

• We know this is true because we have biblical examples that demonstrate it.  For example, we can see the hand of God at work in the life of Joseph.  He was captured by his brothers, sent to a foreign country, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and forgotten by men, yet we find that all these circumstances prepared him mentally, physically and spiritually to assume the role that God had created him for – to save the Hebrews and much of the Gentile world as well (Genesis 37, 38-50).

• We know this is true based on our own experiences in life.  We may not understand this at the exact moment of our blessing or affliction, but once we get to the other side of that situation or once we arrive at the end of our earthly lives, we will most certainly be able to look back over our time on earth and agree that our circumstances (whether we perceive them as good or bad) were beneficial to us.  

For those who love God:  Make no mistake – this principle does not apply to everyone.  The people in whose behalf all things work together for good are those who love God and who live in a state of willing obedience to him as a result of that love:

John 14:15 - If you love me [Jesus], keep my commandments.

John 14:21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me [Jesus]: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Obviously, there are no perfect Christians.  We all stumble and fall into sin on occasion.  But that is not the same thing as continuously walking in flagrant sin.  If you are picking and choosing which of God’s commands to live by, or if you are in defiant rebellion against a specific command, then this verse does not apply to you.  All things are NOT working together for your good.

All things work together for good:  As you have no doubt already discovered, when all things work together for our good it does not mean that everything falls into place and we can expect a life of ease and comfort.  It does not mean the automatic fulfillment of all our earthly desires. 

Rather, it means that all things shape us, guide us and teach us to both know and walk in the ways of God.  When we do so, we will glorify him and ensure our own personal growth and blessing (spiritual, temporal and eternal). 

So… what does it mean to have all things working together for your good?

First, let’s point out that everything is under the direction of God, our loving heavenly Father who is an infinitely wise and powerful being.  He has designed and made possible the salvation of each person and it is under his direction that all things contribute to that salvation, as well as our spiritual, eternal and even temporal good.

‘All things’ specifically refers to the events, circumstances and facts of our lives, whether good or bad.  Thus, whether we experience adversity or ease, health or sickness, abundance or lack we can be sure that God’s glory and our good will certainly be advanced by these conditions.

Under the orchestration of our heavenly Father, his providence, his Holy Spirit and our circumstances work together to produce what is best for us.  (As a side note, keep in mind that what is best for you may or may not be best for me.)  This process cannot be stopped or thwarted by Satan.   In fact, when the enemy seeks to destroy us with a trial or problem, God merely presses those circumstances into his service as well, using them to contribute to the general good of those who love and serve him. 

Oddly enough, it’s often the adverse circumstances, events and things that provide us with the most benefits:

• They show us that God is active in our lives.
• They help increase our faith. 
• They take our focus/affections off of this world, and place them in the eternal realm. 
• They teach us the truth about the limits and brevity of our mortal lives. 
• They lead us to the hope of a life in God which ultimately results in a heavenly home. 
• They motivate and encourage us to be fruitful in God’s kingdom, and to be faithful soldiers in his army. 

Simply stated, all things work together for our salvation, our subsequent spiritual growth, our eternal good and even for the good of our lives here on earth.  When we understand this, we can truly say along with the Psalmist that it was good for us to be afflicted in this life:

Psalms 119:71 – It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your [God’s] statutes.

Before we move on, let’s look at one final point - all things are working together for our good right now - in the present.  In other words, this is a constant state of affairs.  Right now, at this very moment, God is managing our circumstances to bring about the best outcome for us and he will continue doing so until we enter the next age.  

For those who are called:  The word translated ‘called’ is sometimes used to denote an invitation or an offer.  There is no doubt that God has called or invited ALL of mankind to accept salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16, I Timothy 2:4).  But sadly, not everyone will accept this call or invitation.  The promise of this verse (that all things work together for the good of those who are called) applies only to those who have accepted the offer of salvation.  In other words, the ‘called’ are Christians:

I Corinthians 1:2 – To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together will all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours;

Revelation 17:14 – They [Satan and his servants] will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him [Christians] are called and chosen and faithful.

According to his purpose:  A purpose is the ultimate aim of any plan, design or intention; it refers to something that is to be reached or accomplished. There can be no doubt that the salvation of mankind was always God’s purpose/plan:

II Timothy 1:9 – [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

Furthermore, God has eternal designs and plans for each individual which existed before they were born.  Thus, we know that our salvation is not pointless or meaningless.  Though we experience trials and afflictions our loving heavenly Father ensures that they fit into the perfect plan he has mapped out for each individual Christian.  Since our circumstances are used to further our spiritual, eternal and even temporal good, we can rejoice and be glad in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  

In conclusion, let me make this point:  As Christians we are the adopted children of God.  We have Holy Spirit living in our hearts and our desire is to love and serve God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Therefore, we might wonder why God would allow calamities and trials to touch our lives.  We might further wonder why he does not remove said difficulties when we cry out to him in prayer, and in fact, we sometimes think he does not even hear us. 

In response to these misgivings, Paul asserts that God DOES hear us and he DOES answer.  By his own miraculous wisdom and power, he turns those things which seem evil into things that promote our spiritual, eternal and even temporal well-being as well as his glory.  

Genesis 50:20 – As for you, you meant evil against me [Joseph] but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Though sinners and saints are indiscriminately exposed to similar evils there is a vast difference between the two – God trains his faithful followers through difficulties thereby promoting their salvation and eternal good.  Satan simply seeks to destroy those who follow him.   

Furthermore, the truth Paul presents here is of great benefit to believers in their daily lives.  For example, we can be victorious over murmuring and complaining when we realize that even trying circumstances are used by God to work out his highest and best good in our lives.  What might otherwise be annoying or frustrating can be understood as the building blocks of God’s divine love and mercy; if we accept our circumstances and difficulties as being under God’s control, they will be a means of blessing as we learn from them. 

One thing is certain:  A day will surely come when we will look back upon this life and truly see that God has lead us in a way that promoted both his glory and our good.

Romans 8:29 – 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.

Paul ended the last verse by mentioning the purpose of God.  He now enlarges upon that topic.  In the next few verses, Paul shows how our calling (our acceptance of the gospel/Jesus as our Savior) is an argument for the fact that all things work together for our eternal benefit/happiness.  He does this by showing us the basic steps which the wisdom and goodness of God have taken to bring us to salvation.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  God, in his infinite wisdom and understanding, knew that we would be in need of a Savior before he even created us.  He therefore deliberately (with clear intent) purposed or predestined (determined beforehand) to save us and conform us to the image of Jesus.  This happens in such a way that Jesus is the firstborn among the infinite number of his children.

Because this is the case, we can be sure that whatever happens to the Christian in this life will contribute to his/her good.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For those whom he foreknew:  To foreknow is to know before hand; to have previous knowledge of something.  God knew that we would need his salvation before the world was ever created: 

II Timothy 1:9-10 – [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus…

Thus, we find that the first step in our salvation was the purpose and grace of God; he knew and favored us before we were even created.  Scripture clearly shows that he favored ALL of mankind.  In other words, it was always his plan to offer salvation to both Jews and Gentiles:

Ephesians 2:12-14 - …remember that you (Gentiles) were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made us (Jews and Gentiles) both one … 

Obviously, we as individuals had nothing to do with this; the root cause of our salvation is found in the plans and purposes of God, not within anything that we have done.  Here is one reason why that is important:

We are called, invited or chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, who has the right to give his blessings to anyone he chooses.  We are therefore guaranteed to receive the blessings of the gospel, because it was God himself who invited us to partake of them.

He also predestinated to be confirmed to the image of his Son:  Under God’s perfect plan of salvation, he calls all his adopted children to be patterned or modeled after the example of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

As Paul has shown us here in Romans chapter eight, in this life we are conformed to Christ in holiness and suffering.  In the next life (eternity), we will be conformed to him in glory (Ephesians 1:4-6, I Corinthians 15:49, I John 3:2). 

The final outcome of our conformity to Christ is that we become the adopted children of God and joint heirs with Christ in the next age.  Our conformity to Jesus will become evident when we are raised from the dead and our bodies are transformed into new bodies that are fit for our eternal existence in heaven.

Philippians 3:20-21 – But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

So we find that the foundation of our salvation is the foreknowledge or gracious purpose of God.  The finishing stroke is our being joint heirs with Christ, as evidenced by the resurrection and transformation of our bodies as we enter the eternal realm.  

Based on these truths, we can be certain that in our current state (in our lives here on earth) all things work together for our good, because God intends for us to have eternal glory in Christ. 

In order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers:  Throughout this passage, the kingdom of God is described as a family.  God is our Father, Jesus is his only Son and we are his adopted children.  The object of our salvation (foreknowledge, calling, justification, glorification, etc.) is to make us sufficiently like Jesus that we might be added to the family of God as his brothers/sisters. 

Jesus is the head or firstborn of all the redeemed because he was the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead - he was the first human to pass through death and be raised to eternal glory.  We might say that he is the elder brother of the saints and we are co-heirs with him.  

1 Corinthians 15:20 - But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Because of the plan of salvation, Jesus will not stand alone in isolated glory, he will be surrounded by a countless number of saints fashioned after his likeness just as He is in the likeness of God.

However, it should be clearly noted that in our conformity, we have a likeness to Christ but NOT an equality – Jesus forever retains the dignity and honor of the first-born and only true Son of God:

I John 4:9 – In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

(See also John 3:16-18, John 1:18).  Obviously, Jesus is far, far greater than we are.  He is the Head and Ruler of the family of God in heaven and on earth.  He has preeminence in all things:

Colossians 1:18 - And he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Romans 8:30 – And those whom he predestined he also called. And those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  God deliberately (with clear intent) purposed to save mankind from his wrath through the plan of salvation.  Using the gospel message, he called mankind to salvation.

Those who accept his offer of salvation as outlined in the gospel have been justified by Christ, according to the sovereign will and power of God.  They are now reconciled to God.   

Those who have been justified by Christ and are reconciled to God have also been glorified or brought into final glory (Romans 8:17-18).  Granted, this final glorification has not yet taken place, but Paul regards all the steps of our salvation as being already accomplished because predestination, calling, justification and glorification are all parts of the same salvation experience.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And those whom he predestined he also called:  As we already established, before the foundations of the earth were laid, God determined to provide a way of salvation to mankind.  Logically speaking, that method of salvation would be useless if mankind didn’t know about it or wasn’t invited to participate in it. 

So God made it known throughout the earth, to both Jews and Gentiles.  This was accomplished through the incarnation of Jesus on earth.  Jesus revealed the Father to the world.  He then chose 12 apostles, taught them, trained them and entrusted them with the gospel message. 

He then gave up his life on the cross, rose from the dead on the third day, and went back to heaven as the Mediator between God and man.  

Hebrews 9:15 – Therefore he [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

The apostles began the work of calling/inviting people to salvation by spreading the gospel message throughout the world.  That invitation is still circulating today.  If you’ve received it, then pass it on!

And those whom he called he also justified:  God pardons the sins of all those who turn to Christ in faith with true repentance.  This is the heart of the gospel message.

I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   

And those whom he justified he also glorified:  Justification implies or includes the concept of sanctification.  Let’s take a brief look at these two concepts.

To be justified means to be forgiven of sin.  Justification is an instantaneous process – it happens the moment you ask Christ to forgive you. 

Sanctification is the process of denying your flesh/old man and dedicating your life to holy living.  This is a life-long process that begins just after justification and continues until you die or Christ returns.

Those who are justified and sanctified are also glorified (or more accurately will be glorified in the next age).  This glorification consists of a likeness to Christ, eternal communion with him, and freedom from all that is evil.  It also includes enjoyment of all the rights, privileges and benefits of being a child of God and a joint heir with Christ.

Now we can see the overall sequence of events in salvation – predestination (which took place in eternity past) precedes and secures our calling, while the calling precedes and secures the justification (which takes place during the era of time as we know it), which leads to sanctification, which precedes our glorification (which takes place in the next age).  

Let me offer you some encouragement:

It has often been said that the gospel is so simple a child can understand and accept it, but at the same time it is so rich and complex that even the most mature Christian is in awe of its many facets.

When is the last time you stopped to consider the incredible plan of salvation that God has granted to us?  When was the last time you reminded yourself that you did nothing to deserve this astonishing gift; it was completely the result of God’s rich, gratuitous mercy and grace? 

Today I encourage you to take a fresh look at your salvation.  Allow its many facets (predestination, calling/invitation, justification, sanctification and glorification) to prompt you into praise and worship of our Heavenly Father, who made it all possible.  

 Let me offer you some relief:

Nothing in your life is a surprise to God.  He sees you every moment of every day for your entire existence on earth.  He knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30).  He determined the day you would return to him (die) before you were even born.  He knows when you sit down, when you get up and he knows what you will say before you even utter a sound (Psalms 139:1-18).  

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us that our infinitely powerful, loving and wise God is more than able to make all of the circumstances of our lives work together under his guidance to result in our spiritual, eternal and temporal good.  The next time you walk through a difficult time, don’t be dismayed and don’t fear.  Instead, rejoice and seek to bring him glory, knowing that God is using that thing or situation for your good!

Let me offer you some strength:

If you have accepted Christ as Savior and made him Lord of your life, he is going to make sure that you find yourself glorified with Christ Jesus in eternity, in spite of the failures you sometimes experience.  Scripture confirms this by telling us that when God begins a work in us, he will surely finish it:

Philippians 1:6 – And I [Paul] am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

When you stumble or fail, the enemy will encourage you to quit or to give up, but don’t you listen to that nonsense!  Take strength in knowing that salvation does not come as a result of your actions (no one can be saved by the law); it comes solely as a result of God’s firm intentions to bless you and reconcile you to himself.  He knows your weaknesses and he will forgive you again and again.

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Romans 8:26 – 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.

In verses 18-25, we discovered that Holy Spirit (a gift given to the adopted children of God under the provisions of the gospel) sustains the soul of the Christian during their earthly trials/tribulations by providing them with a sure hope of future deliverance from sin. 

This final deliverance will be evident when we receive the complete redemption of our bodies - when Christ raises us from the dead and changes our mortal bodies so they are fit for life in heaven.  

In verses 26-27, we will see the strength and support/aid given to us by Holy Spirit to sustain us during the difficulties of this life.  This priceless help stands in opposition to the law, which is powerless to assist us during our struggles.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  When Christians experience great trials and do not know what type of relief to pray for, we have the comfort of knowing that Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  He does this by means of an internal work; he inspires us to groan or cry or pray according to the will of God.  Because he influences us to pray for the true will of God, we can be assured that God will grant our petitions.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Likewise:  ‘Likewise’ is a connective word.  It draws a comparison between the spiritual truth in verses 18-25 and the current statements of Paul. 

In the prior verses (18-25), we discovered that the reality of the future complete redemption of our bodies is a source of encouragement (hope) that sustains us in times of affliction or difficulty.  This source of strength is available to any believer who chooses to fill their mind/understanding with the word of God. 

Here’s how it works:  As you meditate on the truth of God’s word, Holy Spirit works through your faith to firmly implant that word into your heart.  Once that promise takes root, hope is produced and it gives you the strength and courage to continue in your Christian walk regardless of your circumstances.  Clearly, this form of support is a partnership between the Christian and Holy Spirit.

In the same way, Holy Spirit is our divine partner in prayer.     

The Spirit helps us in our weakness:  As Christians, we MUST exercise control over our minds.  We should be filling them with the truth of the word of God, which includes the promises of future redemption and salvation.  Exercising control of our minds is actually a form of spiritual warfare:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

But as we all know, we can never rely solely on our own strength.  If that was all we had to depend on, we would quickly sink under the burdens of life.  But thankfully, God has given us Holy Spirit as our divine, ever-present, ever-comforting companion and helper!   

Paul tells us that Holy Spirit helps or supports us when we are spiritually weak.  Specifically, the word translated ‘help’ literally means ‘the assistance that any two persons gain from each other, as they mutually bear or carry the same load between them.’  Again, we see the partnership between the Christian and Holy Spirit.

Can you think of a time when you were unable to accomplish something on your own, but someone else helped you get the job done? 

The first thought that pops into my mind was the last time I got a new computer.  I did my best to set it up correctly, but mistakes were made and errors abounded!  I had no idea what to do next; I fervently regretted buying the new laptop, even though it was a necessity!

In the midst of my frustration, my daughter-in-law offered to assist me.  She helped me correct the errors and understand some of the computer’s new functions.  It wasn’t long until the new computer was working perfectly.  In fact, I am using it right now to write this blog!

Similarly, there is no Christian who is strong enough or knowledgeable enough to successfully walk their earthly journey alone.  All of us need the divine help of Holy Spirit in order to be victorious in our Christian walk/duties.

Before we get into the specifics of how Holy Spirit helps us in prayer, let’s just remind ourselves that we are discussing a partnership – when we do our part, Holy Spirit comes alongside and does what we cannot do.  Hence, the Christian who prays receives help from the Spirit of God, but the one who does not pray receives no help.

Think of it this way:  As we wait for our full redemption, we must wait both passively and actively.  We wait passively by reminding ourselves that the day is coming and by rejoicing in that knowledge.  We wait actively by doing the will of God here on earth – by praying, proclaiming the gospel, doing good works, etc.

In the midst of all our weaknesses and trials, Holy Spirit is with us.  He gives us the patience to wait, the strength to bear our burdens and the energy to pursue our appointed kingdom tasks/ministries regardless of our circumstances. 

In other words, Holy Spirit isn’t going to do the work for you.  But if you step up and engage in prayer (or any other kingdom work), he will come alongside you and assist you until you obtain victory.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought:  Now let’s talk specifically about prayer.  Prayer is both a duty and a privilege.   There are many aspects to prayer that we understand clearly:

• We know that we pray to God in the name of Jesus.
• We know that we are to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).
• We know that we are to pray in faith with perseverance and humility (I Timothy 2:8, Matthew 21:22). 
• We know that we are to pray for all men; both our fellow saints (Ephesians 6:18) and our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
• We know that we can come boldly before the throne of God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16).
• We know the model prayer that Jesus gave the disciples as a guide (Luke 11:1-4).

Nevertheless, we often do not know exactly how to pray (what to specifically ask for) in regards to the things of this life.  There are several reasons for this: 

One:  We are still under the influence of our old man/fallen nature.  While we are the redeemed sons and daughters of God, our redemption is not yet complete; we are still influenced by sin.  We tend to pray for things that make us more comfortable, or that make our lives easier, or that provide more benefits for us in this life rather than in the next.  We also have a strong tendency to pray for things that feed our pride or vanity.

Two:  We do not always know what would be best for us.  Based on our limited perspective of life, we may be praying for a situation to turn out in a specific way, but that resolution may not be the best thing for us.  Only God can see the future; he might be using that situation to steer you in a different direction.

Three:  We often pray for deliverance, instead of praying for victory.  At one time or another all of us have prayed for some situation to just ‘go away’.  But the reality is that God keeps us there for a season in order to bring about something good (spiritual growth, understanding of kingdom principles, suffering for his kingdom, etc.). 

Four:  We tend to pray for something that others have instead of what God has prepared for us.  If you have multiple children, you know that each one of them is unique.  They all have different talents and capabilities.  That is true in the family of God as well.  If you are busy praying for a ministry just like Mr. or Mrs. Jones, you are missing the boat.  You are unique.  God has given you a set of talents, skills, capabilities and opportunities that no one else possesses.  Don’t pray to be like someone else or to have a ministry like someone else – pray to discover the unique plan that God has for you!

Five:  We are sometimes hindered in our prayers because we are ignorant of God’s character and/or the principles of his kingdom.  For example, we might be diligently praying for God to give us an increase in wealth, when all we really need is to do is follow kingdom principles – honor God with your tithes, give to the poor, go to work and live within your means.  

Another example is faith.  We might be praying for more faith, but that is a wrong prayer.  Scripture tells us that faith comes by hearing/meditating on the word, and by exercising the faith we already have. 

Six:  Sometimes we desperately need help in prayer because we are blinded by our current circumstances.  If we are in the midst of intense pain, or a devastating circumstance, or if we have been blind-sided by the actions of another person, we may be so overwhelmed that we don’t have the first clue what we should be asking for. 

Furthermore, we are often subject to doubts about whether or not we are praying for certain situations correctly (whether our prayers are pleasing to God or not). 

All things considered, we would be liable to endless mistakes in our prayer lives if not for the assistance of the Spirit.  Thankfully, he comes along side us and bears the burden of prayer with us, using his power to help us bring our petitions before the throne of grace.

But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words:  Holy Spirit makes intercession for us by helping us to pray.  He reveals what we should pray for and then assists us in finding suitable expressions for our prayers.

When we turn to him for help, he will touch us deep within our hearts.  As we lean into him, he shows us our true need, and then stirs us up to pray.  At times he will put words in our mouths (suggest to us how to pray or what to ask for).  He will remind us of promises in the bible which we can stand on or use for direction.  As we are praying, he causes faith to rise up within us, which fuels a spirit of fervency and results in boldness to come into the throne room of God to obtain the answers/help that we need.

At other times, Holy Spirit touches our hearts in such a way that we do not pray with normal words.  When our prayers are too deep and too intense for words, they often come in the form of a sigh, a sob/tears, a groan/cry straight from the heart, or even as a silent plea (like Hannah – I Samuel 1:13), as opposed to intelligent speech.    

He stirs up tears/sighs/groanings within our hearts when we are unable to fully or clearly express what we need because of how great our burdens or needs are.  When that happens, we know that these utterances are prompted by the Spirit himself; it is he who is praying to God for us.  In these situations, our groaning is heard by God, understood by God and will be answered by God.

Holy Spirit also helps us to pray through our heavenly prayer language.  All Christians have the opportunity for Jesus to baptize them in Holy Spirit. 

Mark 1:8 – I [John the Baptist] indeed have baptized you with water: but he [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

When that occurs, we are given a personal heavenly prayer language.  This is referred to as speaking in tongues and it is one of the gifts of the Spirit.

Acts 19:6 - And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.  

When you speak in tongues, it isn’t a language you understand.  But that’s okay.  By yielding yourself to the Spirit, he is able to pray through you; he will intercede on your behalf and ask God for the exact thing you need. 

All Christians need to be reminded that even when we aren’t perfect in our prayers, God still hears us.  Whether we are praying in a language we understand, or with groanings or in a heavenly language, God hears us – and he answers. 

Psalm 65:2 - O you that hears prayer, unto you shall all flesh come.

God guarantees that those who seek him with a humble and sincere heart will always find him; we never seek him in vain.

Isaiah 45:19 – I [God] have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the descendants of Jacob, Seek me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 - Then shall you call upon me [God], and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, says the LORD…

Romans 8:27 – 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.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  We have full confidence that God recognizes the voice of his own Spirit; the prayers that the Spirit prompts us to pray are in strict accordance with God’s will.  Thus, we have full confidence that our prayers are correct (pleasing to God and good for us) and they will be answered.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And he who searches hearts:  God is the one who made our hearts and minds; he and he alone is able to fully search the heart of each person.  Angels cannot do it, mankind cannot do it, and even we ourselves cannot fully know our own hearts.  Only God thoroughly and perfectly understands all of our thoughts and motivations. 

For the children of God, this is a very good thing.  Sometimes we intend to do good but we fail or our actions backfire.  At other times, the world judges us as insincere.  But in all cases, God can judge us accurately because he can see what is in our hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

Knows what is the mind of the Spirit:  God approves, favors and is pleased with the mind of the (his) Spirit.   As we just noted, God does not need for our deepest emotions to be expressed in human language.  He is able to know and understand the anxious feelings of the soul expressed by his Spirit through us.  He is ready to aid and bless us in those requests.

Because the Spirit intercedes for the saints:  To intercede on behalf of someone else is to mediate or negotiate; to plead the case of one party to another for the purpose of reconciliation. 

Jesus intercedes for every Christian by negotiating or managing all the affairs that pertain to our salvation (Hebrews 7:25).  Holy Spirit also intercedes for us, but in a different way.  He directs our prayers by influencing our hearts/minds (II Corinthians 5:2-5) so that we pray according to the will of God for us.  And when we pray according to his will, we receive exactly what is best for us.  

According to the will of God:  Prayers that are offered through the work of the Spirit are according to the intention, design or plan of God. Thus, all the prayers or groanings uttered by the Spirit are pleasing to God.

Whether we pray with words, groans, sighs, tears or even silent cries, God understands us because he is one with the Son and Spirit; he fully understands the language of these prayers regardless of what form they take.  Because the desires/urges that the Spirit places within our hearts are in perfect harmony with the will of God, we know will receive the answer we need.

1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we desired of him.

We might think of it this way:  Holy Spirit can be said to supervise the prayers of the saints.  This does not mean that we will never ask an improper prayer, or that we will always get what we want when we want it.  Rather, it means that in so far as we yield ourselves to Holy Spirit, he will provide general supervision or guidance over our minds and help us to pray according to the will of God, which in turn gives us the answer we need. 

Let me offer you some encouragement and some relief:

In today’s post we noted that we are in a partnership with Holy Spirit.  When we pray, he shares the burden with us and assists us in making our requests.  However, he will never do the work for us.  If we don’t pray, there is nothing he can do to aid us.

With this in mind, take a few moments to take an honest look at your prayer life:

Do you pray consistently?  Do your prayers center mostly on comfort in this life or are you seeking to be used in God’s kingdom?  Have you consciously asked Holy Spirit to help you pray for God’s will in your life?  Do you have a personal heavenly prayer language? 

Based on today’s post and your answers to these questions, I encourage you to consider making some changes in your prayer life.  When we get to the day of final redemption, you’ll be glad you did!

Let me offer you some strength:

As Christians, we should never, ever, EVER underestimate or take for granted the help available to us through Holy Spirit.  Next to our salvation, his presence in our lives is the best gift we have ever received. 

If you’ve neglected your relationship with Holy Spirit, please make it a priority to get to know him better.  Search the scriptures to find out who he is, what he does and how he can help you.  Invite him to be a part of your everyday life.  Ask him for guidance, wisdom, help in prayer and strength to meet the challenges of your Christian life.  I guarantee he will be there for you!