Looking Forward Series

1. TENACIOUSLY (vs 18)

Romans 8:18

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

Let’s not forget the verse that we ended with last Sunday:

Romans 8:17 (NLT2)

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

So, we are reminded that there are times when our relationship with Jesus is costly…life gets tough and life gets messy.

Yet, the difficulty that we are going through right now cannot compare to the good God has in store for us in the future.

Revelation 21:1-5 (NLT2)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”

SO, today, if you are going through some difficulty, I want you know that God has something great for you in store!

2. EAGERLY (vs 21-23)

Romans 8:21-23

21  the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ?22  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ?23  And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. ?

We need to have a mindset that there is more than what we are living in now

In fact, it is something much better than this current life

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT2)

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

A young psychology student serving in the Army decided to test a theory. Drawing kitchen duty, he was given the job of passing out apricots at the end of the chow line. He asked the first few soldiers that came by, "You don't want any apricots, do you?" Ninety percent said "No." Then he tried the positive approach: "You do want apricots, don't you?" About half answered, "Uh, yeah. I'll take some." Then he tried a third test, based on the fundamental either/or selling technique. This time he asked, "One dish of apricots or two?" And in spite of the fact that soldiers don't like Army apricots, 40 percent took two dishes and 50 percent took one!

The eagerness in our expectation should be the mark of the believer!

SO, today, if you are fixated on earthy and temporary things, look forward!

3. PATIENTLY (vs 25)

Romans 8:25

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.

If you are a church brat like me, you have heard this all of your life and still, Jesus hasn’t come back yet.

Matthew 24:4-8 (NLT2)

4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you,

5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.

8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

Luke 21:28 (NLT2)

So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”

Don’t give up and do not lose heart.

This is the time to share the message of the Gospel…not to get discouraged and lose heart!

SO, today, if you have heard this all your life, become passionate about bringing others to Heaven with you.

4. CONFIDENTLY (vs 25)

Romans 8:25