Introduction:
Murphy’s law suggests that anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
Some corollaries have been attached – they are true given the right circumstances:
q At the most inopportune time
q Because it is your fault
q And Everyone will see it
Every perceived solution only breeds more complex problems
Mark Twain said it this way, “No good deed goes unpunished”
There is some truth to it isn’t there? We’ve all seen the affects of Murphy’s Law – it’s funny because it bears some truth –
Men, Murphy’s Law suggests that “As the value of the tool increases so does the chance that it will be lost, broken, or stolen before the project is completed” and “Any unbreakable item will be dropped on the only surface hard enough to break it and cause maximum damage to the breakable objects around it.”
Women, Murphy’s Law suggests that “The smudge on the window is always on the other side of the glass… and it is ALWAYS the highest window.” It also suggests that “Anything dropped in the bathroom will automatically land in the toilet or go down the sink. It will be small enough to be lost forever or large enough to completely plug the drain
Students, Murphy’s Law in action means that “The more valuable the document the greater the chance that your computer will crash before you complete it.”
Senior Citizens Murphy’s Law says that “Placing any item in a ‘safe’ place guarantees it will not be found until long after it is needed.”
Do you ever feel like Mr. Murphy?
He was certainly not an optimist. But let’s face it. We live in a glass half empty kind of world.
From flooding, to an economy that is bad, to struggles with health, or family or financial trouble, sometimes life can seem unbearable; sometimes the troubles of life can be overwhelming
How do we deal with the overwhelming problems of life?
Paul writes to the Christians in Rome. They are facing persecution for their faith. And Paul tells them….
Romans 8:18-20 (NIV)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Illustration:
I've spent time with people who have terrible diseases like cancer. The suffering people with terrible diseases can go through can beyond imagination. So when someone chooses to suffer for Jesus, I marvel. In other countries, the brutal torture that followers of Jesus endure can't even be described. Listen to what Paul writes. I consider it not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed one day. I liken it this way. Suffering, even great suffering, is like a thimble full of water. For some that thimble may even be full. But the glory God will reveal in us is like the oceans. There is no comparison. It's not even worth it.
Paul says all of creation eagerly waits for that day when the glory will be revealed in us.
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Paul reminds the Christians in Rome that the world is groaning as if in the midst of childbirth. I’ve never born a child, but I was there when my wife did. Our oldest was born naturally, without an epidural. My wife described it as overwhelming – it was all she could do to concentrate on simply breathing.
In the same way Paul says that the world is overwhelmed with struggles. It is suffering from the corruption of sin. It wasn't responsible for the corruption, it is the result of mankind's fall. Now creation is groaning as in the pains of childbirth.
And friends, Christians are not immune. Read the text. We ourselves, who have the first fruits ALSO groan. I suggest that those who preach a health and wealth and happiness gospel do a huge disservice when they suggest it is always a lack of faith that brings about suffering. Sometimes it is simply the effects of sin.
We see it don’t we? In the world; in our own lives? What the world offers in it’s present state gives us very little permanent hope. All we can see is Murphy’s Law.
But Paul says we have hope. He talks about the redemption of our bodies. Our bodies will be restored one day.
As of now, the hope is not realized. We still have to live in a sinful world. But hope is still there.
Romans 8:24-25
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
A hope that is seen (realized) is no longer hope. And the fulfillment of our hope hasn’t come yet. Christ hasn’t returned yet. We are forced to wait in a Murphy's Law world. So Paul writes that in the meantime we have support.
Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Observation One
We are empowered to endure
The Holy Spirit helps us when we feel weak; when we are feeling overwhelmed? He stands in for us; he speaks to God on our behalf when we don’t even have the word to express. Have you ever been there? In your prayer life? You don’t even have the words to express. The Holy Spirit speaks for us. And He leads us in obedience and He helps us persevere – to stand firm in times of trial
So Paul gives some assurances
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
We have the assurance that God Works For the Good of those who love Him
Please note: It’s a promise for those who LOVE him, who have been called to his purpose – that’s the Christian. The hard truth is that there are some who live according to their own purposes. There are some who don't love God. This promise is not for them. It's for the follower of Jesus.
And Paul reminds the follower that God is still active. He is not standing on the sidelines of heaven watching. He is still working. We may see it; we may not. We may be able to look back and see God directing events to lead us on a path / but we may not / the promise is not that we will understand, but that God will work it out for the good of those who love him
I. Our worldly circumstances do not dictate God’s activity.
God works. Look at how He works.
Romans 8:29-30
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
We take on the identity of Jesus. We are conformed to His likeness. And we become family – we call each other brothers and sisters – we become part of the Church. We share in the rewards of being family – laughing -- crying -- and celebrating together bonded together through Jesus and the Holy Spirit by the promise. So Paul asks a question.
Romans 8:31
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
I played a football when I was in Jr. High School. There was one week of practice that I hated. It was the week we practiced against the High school team. Folks, they were better. They were bigger, stronger, faster, and more experienced. They beat up on us all week. I remember thinking during that week of practice, “How cool would it be to have those high schoolers playing on our team?”
Paul says God is on OUR team / He’s on our side / He is playing for us. God is the biggest, strongest, fastest, and most experienced and he’s on our side! If God is playing for us, who can defeat us? And God is FOR us.
He reminds them of this fact when he writes in verse 32
Romans 8:32 (NIV)
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
God acted for us when he sent His Son – Jesus. Jesus is the guarantee of the promise. And if God sent His Son Jesus, why would he not fulfill his promises to us and graciously give us the things we need to endure.
Look at what Paul writes starting in verse 33
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
In Rome, Christians were being accused of wrong doing in being followers of Jesus. Paul reminds them, God is the one who justifies your actions. And the risen Christ is acting as your defense attorney in the heavenly courts sitting at the right hand of God. The right hand in these terms of is a position of counsel and great influence.
So the Holy Spirit speaks within us as He indwells our lives He speaks for us when we don’t have the words ourselves to understand, and Jesus also speaks for us standing in a position of influence in the presence of the Father
So Paul asks a question – verse 35
Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors (NASB Overwhelmingly conquer) through him who loved us.
More than conquerors. Not JUST conquerors / we are MORE than that. We are BEYOND conquerors. We are not just victorious by a slim margin. There is absolutely no chance that the suffering can overwhelm us and steal away the victory. And did you catch it. WE are conquerors. God includes us in the His victory. That’s an amazing promise isn’t it?
We have the assurance that because God is victorious, we conquer
Observation Two
We become conquerors despite our present circumstances
Have you ever viewed yourself as a conqueror?
In the midst of trials / in the midst of suffering it can seem like the power of sin has won / But the truth in this text is
II. Our circumstances do not dictate God’s ability.
It’s this assurance that Paul says hold us in the times of storm. God has not abandoned us or lost sight of us when things get tough. God is more the capable of handling the problems the world brings. (He did so when He sent his Son Jesus!)
So Paul clings to the assurance.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God – NOTHING!
III. Our circumstances do not dictate God’s love in Christ Jesus!
Paul says “Not nakedness, or famine, or danger, or hardship or sword.
Not death or life, not angels or demons, not our present or our future, not any power, not any height nor any depth.” So it begs the question, “If these things cannot separate us from God’s love, can cancer?” Doesn’t seem like it? Can Arthritis? Not really. Can financial troubles? Nope. Loneliness? Auto Accidents? Pain? Family problems? Torture because of the name of Jesus. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sometimes life can seem overwhelming. We live in a Murphy’s Law world.
TAKE HOME POINT:
But when the troubles of life seem to be overwhelming we can depend on an overwhelming God.
I. A God who overwhelmingly works
II. A God who overwhelmingly conquers
III. A God who overwhelmingly loves
One day, someday, Christ will return. Our bodies will be redeemed, and we will be glorified. The power of sin in this world will be no more; the world will no longer groan, instead it will celebrate it's redemption as the thimble full of suffering gives way to an ocean full of glory. Our hope will be realized and those who have accepted Christ will live under God’s perfect love for eternity
INVITATION
What troubles are overwhelming you today? Past? Present? Close your eyes. Listen to the words again. We can trust our overwhelming God!
Reread passage.
