Becoming “Super” Conquerors
Romans 8:18–39
THESIS: To show how God helps us overcome suffering.
INTRODUCTION
Have you noticed lately that you can’t buy just plain dish detergent any more? How about detergent? Even bleach, you can’t even buy just plain bleach anymore. Everything today is Ultra. New Tide Ultra or Ultra Clorox bleach. Everything is New and improved, better than the original, which was quite good in its own respect.
In Romans 8:18–39 Paul shows the Christian how to become, not just your plain ordinary, everyday conqueror; Paul shows us how we become ‘More than Conquerors.’ We can become Super Conquerors.
Do you know someone who is suffering, either Physically or Emotionally? Have you ever suffered? Have you ever seen suffering that seemed unfair?
We are indeed living in a time of suffering. What we have here is a statement from God that shows us how to conquer suffering.
MAIN BODY
I. Remember your Hope of Future Glory. Romans 8:18
A. It is the dream of all men to be freed from the suffering of this life.
1. People spend millions on self improvement. (Diets, herbs, etc.)
2. We are all looking for the “magic pill” that restores youth or helps us escape disease.
B. Present suffering vs. Future glory: Life can be hard. Suffering seems to come at us in waves. We get discouraged. It seems that when one child gets sick they all get sick. The mortgage comes due, the car insurance comes due and the medicine your children need to take is not covered by your insurance plan. Now the bank account is dry. You didn’t expect all this and on top of it all, now your throat is getting sore. That’s when you learn about one of your friends. Only one of their children is sick but it turns out that it’s cancer. Both the mom and dad are required to be at the hospital to help with the treatments. Neither one can work. They don’t know how they are going to eat their next meal let alone pay the mortgage. Right now your life is looking pretty good. The kids are sick but it’s only strep throat. The bank account is dry but at least all the bills are paid. All of a sudden my suffering doesn’t seem all that bad.
C. Human suffering is a matter of perspective. To the amputee, a person with all their limbs is blessed. To a quadriplegic, the amputee is blessed. To the family of a young man who has been rendered brain dead, the quadriplegic is blessed. To the Christian the reality of our Future Glory erases all our suffering down to a mere hindrance, a mere “bump in the road.”
D. DEFINITION: Hope; not a mere wish that something would happen but an anticipation of a promise.
Transition: Another way Christians are aided with suffering is through:
II. Receiving the Help of the Spirit. Romans 8:26
A. All Christians have the Spirit of God living in them.
1. 1 Cor. 6:19–20a 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
2. Romans 8:15
B. When we are weak, then we are strong.
1. 2 Cor. 12:10 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2. Paul says that when we are weak and rely on God then we are made strong.
C. This is accomplished by the Spirit which is in us praying for us. He prays that God’s will be done in our life.
Transition: Christians are told that, although we may suffer, we:
III. Have Assurance that all things work together for good.
A. Sadly, this promise is not for everyone.
1. It is for those who love God.
2. 1 John 2:5-6 5But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love
B. But Gladly, for those who love God, there is nothing that can separate us!
1. Not trouble.
2. Not hardship.
3. Nothing!
CONCLUSION
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37–39
