Romans 8:24-28
From A Minor Key To A Major

Introduction
1. Sanctification is the subject of Romans 6-8. Sufferings (plural) are a part of that process. We
all have unredeemed bodies in an unredeemed universe. God doesn’t keep us in a safe, sterile
bubble. Sufferings are a part of life. (vss. 22, 23)
2. As we learned last week all of creation (every sound of creation) is in a minor key. To change
a major key to a minor only takes one note, but to change a minor to a major only takes one
note.
3. One note makes a difference…defeat, discouragement, depression, disease, divorce, dejection
are all minor keys.
4. Do you find yourself in a minor key? How can we move from minor to major? Look at the Insert:
God’s Perspective #1 and #2.
5. Romans 8:24-28 Paul gives three notes:

Do you find yourself in a minor key? How can we move from minor to major?
I. OUR HOPE 8:24-25
A. The Initiation of Hope 24a
We are saved in hope. To understand verse 24, we must go back to verse 23.
1.Salvation here is of the body. This verse does not refer to eternal life.
2.Hope means ‘expectation’ ‘anticipation’ that is not yet a reality. The word is not uncertainty. The word here is confident expectation, confident anticipation. Wrapped up in my salvation is anticipation!
B. The Inauguration of Hope 24b-25a
The verses say this expectation (redeemed body) isn’t realized just yet.
1.This is evident as we walk into a hospital room. The child lay lifeless in a parking lot.
At this stage we groan because of the limitations of this body.
2.The day is coming when this body will be changed. That it may be fashioned like unto
His glorious body (Phil 3:21) One day there will be no need for hospitals or funeral homes. There will be no more death neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there by anymore pain; for the former thing are passed away! (Rev. 21:4)
3.We are hoping, anticipating, expecting…it is as certain as the resurrection of Christ! Who has this hope? We who know Jesus Christ.
4.Hope is used less than 50 times in extra biblical material. Jesus literally brought hope. Do you know Jesus Christ? Have you surrendered your life to Him? If not, you have no hope, no anticipation…an eternal hell awaits!
C. The Invitation of Hope 25b
With patience we eagerly wait for it.
1.With patience. When we are suffering waiting is difficult.
2.Impatience…have you been there? We are saying, “God I don’t like the way you are running things.” We are dissatisfied with God’s design and rather than rest, we struggle, and it isn’t long until we are worn out!
3.We eagerly wait for it. We sit on the edge of our seats (vss 19, 25). We stand on our tip toes. Anticipation that looks ahead to a new day, a new body, someday…but not now. A new body…our hope…this isn’t all there is!

Do you find yourself in a minor key? How can we move from minor to major?
II. OUR HELP 8:26-27
In the same way In suffering, we have hope…we have help!
A. The Spirit Helps Our Infirmities 25a
1.Infirmities is weakness. The word is used in (Lk 10:40) Bid her therefore that she help me (lend me a hand). Helps by bearing our burden
2.In Daniel the 3 Hebrew children in the fiery furnace: I don’t see three. I see three and one is like unto the Son of God.
3.In our pain, agony, weights “I’ll life the load!”
B.The Spirit Helps Our Intercession 26b-27
1.We don’t know how to pray as we ought. “I just don’t know how to pray.”
2.Intercession When by children were 2 and 3 years old, they would write to grandma…little sketches, scratches “Grandma, I love you.” “I miss you.” We don’t know how to pray. The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that could not be uttered. He is agonizing before the Father on our behalf. Every time I pray, I pray in the Spirit!
3.Verse 27 God the Father searches our hearts…It is not for the purpose of finding sin, but to know the mind of the indwelling Spirit. The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV) If we pray the will of God: If we ask anything according to the will of God…he will answer us. (I John 5:14, 15) It is nearly blasphemy to say that God did not answer my prayer: He says, ‘Yes’ ‘No’ or ‘Wait’.

Do you find yourself in a minor key? How can we move from minor to major?
III. OUR HAVEN 8:28
A. Our Haven Is Positive
And we know
1.In suffering or life there is so little we know for sure.
2.God says there is something I can know for sure.
B.Our Haven Is Plenteous
All things work together…
1.“All means all, that’s all that all means.” Whether Satan, Nature, Reversals, Disease, Debt, Death, Divorce, even the dumb things that we do.
2.Look at your situation right now…all things There is no room for questions here. Complaining is unthinkable. Every event is either planned or permitted by God. Looks can be deceiving!
C.Our Haven Is Powerful
All things…work together…
1. Powerful In Combination It is like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Every piece will not be beautiful. The more pieces the longer it takes…BE PATIENT! God is creating a masterpiece.
2.Powerful In Conclusion
*For good…All things…let’s name some ‘good things’: money, luxury, pleasure, success, health, popularity usually will make the list.
*Verse 29 brings us the context for ‘good’. That we might be conformed to the image of His Son. Good is to make me look more like Jesus. Every pain, pressures, suffering, sorrow, trial, burden…every minor key of life is designed to bring me to the end of myself and allow His strength to be mine, producing His character in me!
D. Our Haven Is Particular
Suffering in and of itself does not produce ‘good’ (Christ likeness)
1.To those who love God This is a relationship. Love is an end and aim of life.
*He who did not spare His own son would never permit or ordain anything that was not for His ultimate good.
*Love promotes trust even when we don’t understand. “The worse times in my life have been the best times of my life.” It is then I came to know Him intimately!
2.To those who are called according to His purpose
*There is a partnership. This is one whose plans have given way to God’s plans.
*God is intermingling all things. The promise has nothing to do with those in rebellion against God, and have no interest in His purpose. These are interested in His purpose. We want His best. Part of that purpose is to look more like Jesus!

When Circumstances Are Confusing:

1. Settle in your own mind that God has forever demonstrated His absolute love for you on the cross. That love will never change.
2.Do not try to understand what God is like from the middle of your circumstances.
3.Go to God and ask Him to help you see His perspective on your situation.
4.Wait on the Holy Spirit. He may take the Word of God and help you understand your circumstances.
5.Adjust your life to God and what you see Him doing in your circumstances.
6.Do all He tells you to do.
7.Experience God working in and through you to accomplish His purposes.

You Cannot Know the Truth of Your Circumstances Until You Have Heard From God.