Living in the cursed earth is a difficult thing to do and is quite challenging. In this installment in our teaching through the epistle to the Romans, Pastor Landis Fisher teaches an excellent word of spiritual encouragement in a message he has entitled: Focusing on the Future.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Genesis 6:1 – 6 (KJV)
Gen 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Romans 8: (KJV)
Rom 8:18 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.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 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.
Rom 8:24 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?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26 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.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) God was grieved at the fall of Adam and made a promise that His Spirit would not always strive with man, but at the same time, He knew that there was an appointment made in eternity to redeem man via the death of His Son and His supply of His Holy Spirit to all who believe in Christ Jesus and His resurrection.
2) There is nothing we are going through that comes even close to what our Savior endured to put away our sin once and for all; therefore having an ever increasing knowledge of His love and grace, we should pray to believe the Holy Spirit and focus on the future.
3) Christ Jesus satisfied the Father on behalf of all of mankind who believe and assures all believers a hope for future glory with Him that surpasses everything we are going through no matter how painful and even death and the grave have no power over the victory that is ours in Him!
