TEXT: Romans 8:18-28:
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
— PRAYER —
We are in a series of messages titled “Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible.” The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have completed 236 messages in this series.
This is message #237 titled, You Never Have to Pray Alone, Part 7.
Romans 8:28 is a very popular verse of Scripture. It is a “feel good” verse. However, it is one that is most often quoted out of context. The preposition “and” at the beginning of this verse tells us that it does not stand alone. It comes in addition to what Paul has been talking about before, and that is how the Holy Spirit helps believers in prayer. It is only in that context that we can fully understand the meaning of the following words: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Regarding the Holy Spirit’s prayer work on behalf of the believer, we have learned that He helps us pray when we are weak, He helps us pray when we do not know what to pray for, and He helps us pray when we do not know how to pray for a certain situation. He comes alongside us, taking the burden of prayer on His shoulders, so that even when we are experiencing feelings that we do not know how to express, He expresses them to the father in “groanings that cannot be uttered.” More than that, He also abides in us and prays for us according to the will of God. Only when we are in the will of God and receiving those things that He sees fit to give us — be they good or bad — can all things truly work out for our good.
Our highest good is the good that God has for us. This means that everything we experience in life will not be “good” by human standards. Some of what God has in store for us will be downright awful (from our perspective). But we know that God brings good out of ugly situations. That is why the verse says, “all things work together for our good.” Every individual aspect of our lives may not be good in the moment. But in the end, all of that difficulty, pain, tribulation, chastisement, and persecution will work together for our good because, as His children, God has called us “according to His purpose.”
Deborah Ann Belka wrote in “In God’s Training Room”:
In God’s training room,
there’s a lot for us to learn
for, He wants to teach us
He’s with us at every turn.
We wrestle with the pain,
weep long into the night
so God can show us
the joy in His morning light.
We confront our sorrow,
the source of our fears
so God can collect for us
in His bottle all our tears.
We struggle with our past,
we scramble with its strife
so God can help us see
the temperance of this life.
In God’s training room,
He’s teaching us to know
all thing work for good
to them who love Him so!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Now, if you are with us today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your first prayer needs to be what we call the Sinner’s Prayer. First, please understand that you are a sinner, just as I am, and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You have done the most important thing in life. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Gospel Light House of Prayer International 