What God Does For Us

Romans 8:26-31

September 10, 2006

Romans 8:26-31 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. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? KJV

Intruduction: In her classic work, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, Hannah Whitehall Smith begins by stating, "In introducing this subject of the life and walk of faith, I desire, at the very outset, to clear away one misunderstanding which very commonly arises in reference to the teaching of it, and which effectually hinders a clear apprehension of such teaching. This misunderstanding comes from the fact that the two sides of the subject are rarely kept in view at the same time." She then continues on to say, "I would like to state as clearly as I can what I judge to be the two distinct sides in this matter... To state it in brief, I would just say that man's part is to trust and God's part is to work."

In these words, we find the error in which the passage at hand is most often intrepreted. We live as though we believe that God merely helps us in what we do." Here is the cause of the failure of the modern church to see anything much happen which can be explained only by the direct demonstration of the grace and power of God. We have both manipulated the spirit and perfected our skills until the genuine manifestation of the power of God is rarely seen. When Dr. Lewis Drummond spoke of "The Revival That Must Come," he referred to a revival where simple trust produced an outpouring of the Spirit of God.

Before we go further, I would like to read my paraphrase of this wonderful passage of scripture.

26. The Spirit always acts to counteract our weaknesses. For example, we do not know how to pray but the Spirit prays for us and through us with words we cannot even speak.

27. And God, who knows the deep thoughts of our hearts also knows the intent of the spirit as He prays for God's people in accordance with God's will.

28. We know that God enters into all things to work His good on behalf of those who are chosen according to His purpose.

29. God has always known who His chosen ones would be because he had already decided to make them like His Son, in order that his Son might be the first among many children.

30. Much more than that, those whom God had chosen, all of them did He call to salvation, and those whom He called to salvation, He also made them right with Himself, and finally, those whom he made right with Himself, He saw to it that everyone of them continued on to share in His glory.

31. In view of all this, Since God is on our side, who or what can overcome us?

A. WHAT THE SPIRIT DOES FOR US.

B. A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF MAN'S INABILITY.

C. GOD WHO KNOWS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT AND THE INTENTS OF THE HEART ACTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS OWN WILL.

D. SALVATION IS WHAT GOD DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE.

(Exodus 14:13) And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today.

Conclusion:

George Mueller
David Brainard
Welsh Revival of 1904
New Hebrides Revival of 1949

Green Brier Baptict Church

Utica, KY

September 10, 2006