Romans 261: Romans 8 - LET’S THANK GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church based in Mesa, AZ…my name is Pastor Rory Clark.  Barah Ministries has a worldwide reach and an intimate impact on lives, through the gracious provision of our omnipotent God, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Thank you Lord for the internet, a place where anyone with access can be reached with Your Word.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

LET’S THANK GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

God loves you.  God has always loved you.  He loved you long before you were born…he loved you long before you breathed your first breath… he loved you long before you ever did anything wrong…God has always loved you with unconditional love.  Let me say it another way…there has never been a time when God hasn’t loved you…God loves you right now…and there never WILL be a time when God doesn’t love you.   God has never been mad at you.  God has never been disappointed with you.

 

Who is it that God loves?  Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 10 to 20 describes those creatures whom God created and those creatures whom God loves unconditionally…

 

Romans 3:10

…as it is written, “There is no creature who is righteous, not even one…”

 

Romans 3:11

“…there is no creature who understands God…there is no creature who seeks a relationship with God…”

 

Romans 3:12

“…all creatures have turned away from God, together all creatures have become worthless; there is no creature who does good (we are not kind beings), there is not even one of us who is (doing good).”

 

Romans 3:13

“The creature’s throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep on deceiving, and the poison of asps is under their lips…”

 

Romans 3:14

“…and their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness…”

 

Romans 3:15

“Their feet are even swift to shed blood (murder)…”

 

Romans 3:16

“…destruction and misery are in their paths…”

 

Romans 3:17

“…and the path of peace they have not known.”

 

Romans 3:18

“There is no respect for God before their eyes.”

 

Romans 3:19

“Now we know that whatever the Mosaic Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Mosaic Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God…”

 

Romans 3:20

“…because by doing the works of the Mosaic Law no flesh will be justified in God’s sight; for through the Mosaic Law comes the knowledge of our sinfulness.”

 

In this passage, God brings the entire human race under indictment, a formal accusation of an offense…a crime…wrongdoing…God is telling us who we really are…from birth we are sinners…and when we hear the indictment, our conclusion must be…

 

GOD’S INDICTMENT OF THE HUMAN RACE

 

There is a falseness at the core of each one of us.

Then at Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 21, God turns the corner and tells you what He did for you, each of us despicable creatures…what He did in unconditional love…ten magic words

 

Romans 3:21

BUT NOW, APART FROM THE LAW, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD…has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets…

 

Romans 3:22

…even the righteousness of God the Father through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction…

 

Romans 3:22

…for all creatures have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

 

Romans 3:24

…being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is a result of being in union with Christ Jesus…

 

Romans 3:25

…whom God the Father displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.  This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God the Father He passed over the sins previously committed…

 

Romans 3:26

…for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be considered just and so that He would be considered the justifier of anyone who has faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

 

From Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 21…all the way through Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 38 and 39, God is telling us what He has done for these despicable creatures He describes in Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 10 to 20.  What has God done for these creatures?  He has loved them.

 

Romans 8:38

For I (Paul) am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers…

 

Romans 8:39

…nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God the Father, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

No creature can ever be separated from the love that God has for us.  Welcome to a place where you can learn that you are loved.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

BEYOND ME

Toby Mac

 

As we prepare our souls for worship, let’s enjoy BEYOND ME by Toby Mac.

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father we come to You in times of need with our prayers…we come to you in times when we are confused or hurt or angry or mistreated… thank you for always answering our prayers…we come to you in times of failure… thank you for letting us know that failure is the first and the last step of the learning You provide…we come to you when we are devastated…thank you for restoring us…

 

Help us to pray as we ought to pray…Father…help us to understand the intercession of Your Son and of Your Holy Spirit…let us learn to pray as You and the other members of the Godhead give us instruction…

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name... Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

LET’S THANK GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

Let’s make one thing clear right away…God answers our prayers.  He WANTS to answer our prayers.  Yet if it’s true that we don’t know how to pray as we should…as it says in Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 26…isn’t it great when God doesn’t answer THOSE prayers?  Many people go to God in prayer to boss Him around.  Thanks be to God, for not listening to THOSE prayers!  We’ll learn about this in today’s lesson.  But first, a few announcements…

 

BARAH MINISTRIES ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

NEXT WEEK!

No Face-to Face Teaching

March 6, 2016

 

A lesson will be posted.  Deacons please post the banner on the website.  You won’t want to miss this lesson.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Next Lord’s Supper Celebration

March 13, 2016

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Next Deacon’s Meeting

March 26

7:30A-9:00A

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

VISIT THE VETS

April 3

1:45P-3:00P

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

June Murphy

February 27

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Mike Embree

February 28

 

TAKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO

 

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It’s available at Google Play, at the Windows Apps Store, or at the iTunes Store.  It’s also downloadable from the Barah Ministries website.  Tell your friends about the APP.  It’s never been easier to have the Word of God at your disposal all the time. 

 

BARAH MINISTRIES IS BACK ON THE RADIO

KXEG 1280AM The Trumpet

Sundays at Noon

 

PRAYERS

Barah Ministries Prayer Request Group

 

Join me in prayer directed at all the intercessions and all the petitions of the people visiting the Barah Ministries Prayer Request Group.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

LET’S THANK GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

The fourth passage in Romans, Chapter 8 extends from verses 26 to 30…and we began our study of the first verse last week…Verse 26…here’s the whole passage…

 

Romans 8:26

In the same way God the Holy the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but God the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…

 

Romans 8:27

…and God the Father who searches the hearts knows what the mind of God the Holy Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God the Father.

 

Romans 8:28

And we know that God the Father causes all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

Romans 8:29

For those whom God the Father foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), so that the Lord  would be the firstborn among many brethren…

 

Romans 8:30

…and these whom God the Father predestined, He also called; and these whom God the Father called, He also justified; and these whom God the Father justified, He also glorified.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

LET’S THANK GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

Let’s look at the different parts of the first verse of the new passage…

 

Romans 8:26 (NASB)

In the same way God the Holy the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but God the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…

 

Here’s another way to look at this verse in translation…

 

Romans 8:26 (Rory Translation)

In the same way we groan within ourselves (Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 23), waiting eagerly for our adoption as adult sons, and waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies, and waiting eagerly for the freedom of the glory of the children of God…just that way, God the Holy the Spirit, the “first fruits” of our salvation, groans to help our weakness; for example, we do not know how to pray as we should…but God the Holy Spirit Himself personally intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…

 

God the Holy Spirit Helps Our Weakness

 

Our weakness is a permanent infirmity.  It’s “the flesh” resident in our body. Our weakness is a total disability. <VISIT THE VETS>   And the apostle Paul’s words take on a new meaning for us as we study this Romans verse…words from in Second Corinthians Chapter 12, Verses 7 to 10…

 

Second Corinthians 12:7

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

 

Second Corinthians 12:8

Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

 

Second Corinthians 12:9

And the Lord has reminded me that He said to me in the past, “My grace is sufficient for you, for divine power is perfected in human weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

 

Second Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with (the suffering gauntlet)… with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Because of our weakness, we have boundless need, and all three members of the Godhead intercede for us because of this weakness.  Don’t be surprised that in God’s plan He does EVERYTHING for you.

 

Let’s take a quick music break and then we’ll continue our study.

 

MUSIC BREAK

HAVE EVERYTHING

David Dunn

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

LET’S THANK GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

 

Romans 8:26 (Rory Translation)

In the same way we groan within ourselves (verse 23), waiting eagerly for our adoption as adult sons, and waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies, and waiting eagerly for the freedom of the glory of the children of God…just that way, God the Holy the Spirit, the “first fruits” of our salvation, groans to help our weakness; for example, we do not know how to pray as we should…but God the Holy Spirit Himself personally intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…

 

God the Holy Spirit Helps Our Weakness

 

Let’s reflect on the words of some of the songs that express sentiments about our our infirmity…our weakness that God the Holy Spirit helps us with…the first…

 

HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT

 

I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength

But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me?

No great success to show, no glory on my own

Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

 

HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT

 

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone

He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on

Raised in His power, the weak become strong

His strength is perfect…His strength is perfect

 

HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT

 

We can only know the power that He holds

When we truly see how deep our weakness goes

His strength in us begins…where ours comes to an end

He hears our humble cry and proves again

 

Next…

A FEW GOOD MEN

 

God doesn’t need an Orator who knows what just to say…

He doesn’t need authorities to reason Him away…

He doesn’t need an army to guarantee a win…

He just needs a Few Good Men.

 

These things are especially true in prayer…so let me repeat the words…

 

<REPEAT>

 

Next…

 

INDESCRIBABLE

 

Indescribable, uncontainable

You placed the stars in the sky

And You know them by name

You are amazing, God…

 

INDESCRIBABLE

 

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart

And You love me the same

You are amazing, God

You are amazing, God

 

We don’t know how deep our weakness goes when we have surgery…or any health procedure…we want to rush back from the surgery…we want to pretend we are strong, and our body shows us we need to slow down, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book. 

 

We don’t know how deep our weakness goes when we start our own business…we don’t know how deep our weakness goes when we are out of a job…we don’t know how deep our weakness goes at keeping relationships together…we don’t know how deep our weakness goes at having faith…we don’t know how deep our weakness goes at maintain hope…a focus on Christ and our very certain future. 

 

So God the Holy Spirit Helps Our Weakness

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 26…

 

Romans 8:26 (Rory Translation)

In the same way we groan within ourselves (verse 23), waiting eagerly for our adoption as adult sons, and waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies, and waiting eagerly for the freedom of the glory of the children of God…just that way, God the Holy the Spirit, the “first fruits” of our salvation, groans to help our weakness; for example, we do not know how to pray as we should…but God the Holy Spirit Himself personally intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…

 

We Don’t Know How to Pray as We Should

 

You can come as you are with God…sometimes the best way to pray is just to be silent…

 

PRAYER:  OUR PROBLEM AND GOD’S SOLUTION

 

We Don’t Know How                           God Knows How

We are Unable                                      God is Able

We are Inadequate                                God is Adequate

We are Ignorant                                    God is Wise

We are Needy                                       God Provides

We are Limited                                     God is Unlimited

 

Well this brings up the question, “How do I pray?”

 

Prayer does have parts…the GIVE THANKS part… the INTERCESSION part…the PETITION part…and we don’t know how to pray as we should using those parts.  So you’ll certainly want to tune in to our next lesson to get some insights from God’s perspective on praying…as you should and how you should.

 

When the Lord Jesus Christ

Promises Salvation, It’s a Guarantee!

 

Acts 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

Acts 4:12

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given to mankind by which we must be saved (except the name of the Lord Jesus Christ).”

 

Luke 19:10

“For the Son of Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

First Timothy 2:9

…the Lord has saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and through the grace which was granted to us in union with Christ Jesus from all eternity…

 

CLOSING SONG

BECAUSE HE LIVES

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

          THANKS- INTERCESSION- PETITION

 

And we pray You protect our steps as we go out into the world, Father…and that you keep us on the narrow way, completely dependent on You and Your Guiding, Mentoring Spirit…we ask this in Christ’s name, Amen.

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

www.barahministries.com