Supernatural Assurance Series

Supernatural Assurance

Romans 8:26-3

Bruce Miller

Supernatural Assurance

We are in a powerful series: Supernatural, a study of Romans chapter eight. At Christ Fellowship a series such as this involves more than worship services. We follow a simple discipleship pattern, a rhythm that grows us to be better followers of Jesus: Study the Word, Hear the Word, Discuss the Word and Live the Word. Each week study the Word yourself as you engage God on the biblical text we will teach that week; then come to worship gatherings where you hear the Word in a sermon; then connect in a group where you discuss that same biblical text and finally go live the Word to impact others. It’s a very simple, powerful weekly discipleship rhythm that will change your life: Study the Word, Hear the Word, Discuss the Word and Live the Word.

If you have missed elements of the weekly discipleship rhythm during the Supernatural series, you have the opportunity to get into the rhythm with our next series. Let me tell you what’s coming. Right after spring break on March 20th we are starting a new series that drives to the heart of Christ Fellowship and unfolds where God is taking us with our vision to multiply. This is a directional series for our entire church. We’re calling it: Movement to Multiply our Heart. I want every Life Group to do the sermon-based study this time. We are entering a unique season in the life of Christ Fellowship to come together not only in our study, but in our hearts and in our vision. In your heart right now, I’m asking you to make the decision that you will do the next study and ask your group to do it too. This is a pivotal time in the life of Christ Fellowship and perhaps in your life.

Right now let’s open our Bibles to the amazing Romans chapter eight. What’s the big point of this chapter? You can live a supernatural life by the Spirit because of God’s amazing gifts in Christ. Today we are diving into verses twenty-six to thirty-one, a section in which we will discover supernatural assurance. One aspect of a supernatural life is living with supernatural assurance no matter what you face.

The Bible is realistic. It says that we are weak. In ourselves we fall apart. At times we can’t even pray and don’t know what to pray for. Life can be really hard, insecure, scary. It’s a rough world. This last week, I’ve prayed for people with these situations and more: a grown daughter has a major car accident, unconscious in ICU with bleeding on the brain; being told you need to go look for a job because you will not have yours; a fellow parent calls to tell you your son was at a party where everyone was smoking pot. He confesses.

Life is crazy hard; why?! Is it all just meaningless; does God care? There is so much opposition in this life; sometimes it can feel like everyone is against you; everything is against you. You just want to give up. This is when you need Romans eight, especially the section we are looking at today. The point of our passage today is that you can enjoy supernatural assurance (in spite of your weakness and in the difficulties that happen) by knowing three amazing things God does for you. Let’s walk into the biblical text to see the amazing things God does for us that enable us to live with supernatural assurance.

Please stand for the reading of God’s Word. I am reading from the NIV (2011) translation that just came out:

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 through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.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. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

What’s the point of this text: you can enjoy supernatural assurance (in spite of your weakness and in the difficulties that happen) by knowing three amazing things God does for you: one, the Spirit helps you in your weakness by interceding for you according to the will of God; two, God works everything for your ultimate good by completing your salvation until you are conformed to the image of Jesus in glory; three, God is for you! So nothing can prevail against you! You can follow along with the outline in your program as we unpack this rich, comforting, strengthening truth.