April 25, 2024 – Are You Living in Defeat?
Romans 8:22-23
Sermon: 1980 How to Make Sense out of Suffering, Part 2
Pray Over This
“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
Romans 8:22-23
Ponder This
When we are fully redeemed in Heaven, the human kingdom is going to be changed. Our bodies are going to be redeemed. We’re going to be like Jesus. That’s the reason the Psalmist said, “I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Psalm 17:15b).
This great God who has redeemed us is going to turn every hurt to a hallelujah, every tear to a pearl, every Calvary to an Easter, and every sunset to a sunrise when Jesus comes. That’s why we can hope. We have a present hope because we know this is not the end. We know God is at work in the things of this moment, and He has a wonderful eternity waiting for those who believe. The groans we endure are temporary, and the glory we expect is eternal. That’s the reason Paul said in Romans 8:18, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Do we share in this hope? Do we treat our sufferings and disappointments this way? We don’t have to live defeated, we have hope today because of Christ.
- What are some present sufferings that make you feel defeated?
- How can you keep perspective, meditating in hope on the life that is to come?
Practice This
Share with someone the hope you have because of Jesus.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.
You can also listen to Adrian Rogers at OnePlace.com.