Amen this evening we will be in Romans chapter number eight we're gonna continue with our series
that we typically would do on a Thursday night but due to the guest preachers that are coming
on Thursday we're just gonna go ahead and keep doing it on Sunday nights now this Thursday we
will continue with Romans chapter 9 and then we'll just keep with the regular schedule but
tonight we are in Romans chapter number 8 now Romans chapter 8 can be broken up into really
four parts you have verses 1 through 16 that deals with the flesh and the spirit now obviously in
Romans chapter 6 in Romans chapter 7 we saw that on a constant basis this subject of the flesh
versus the spirit and you said why would God spend so much time explaining and teaching this
matter of the flesh versus the spirit well because we have to live in this flesh okay and many
Christians often don't live at what we would call a victorious Christian life simply for the fact
that they're not walking in the spirit they're constantly giving in to the lust of the flesh
and they're being defeated on a day-to-day basis right so the Bible teaches us here how we can
overcome that we see in verses 1 through 16 the flesh versus the spirit 17 through 25 deals with
really the redemption of our body okay and this is a key doctrine in the Bible this matter of
redeeming the body you see a lot of Christians get confused on this and a lot of false doctrine
is sprung up because of this matter right here they say well once you get saved you should always
desire to do right and always desire to read the Bible and always desire to pray and to not be
involved in sin but no these things are done in the body and the Bible says that we're waiting to
wit the redemption of our body you see our spirit is already saved when we trust Christ as our
Savior but our body is not saved verses 26 through 30 deals with the intercession of the
spirit and the predestination of the believer now predestination is in the Bible but it's not
defined as the Calvinists define it okay we're going to talk a little bit about that this evening
verses 31 through 39 the end of the chapter it gives the assurance of God's love now let's start
in verse number one the Bible says here there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus who walked not after the flesh but after the Spirit now this is important okay
because often we can use this verse almost like a salvation verse right and obviously the Bible
says that he that hearth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and
shall not come into what condemnation in other words those who trust Christ they will never see
hell ever again they will never suffer the vengeance of God's wrath in a place called
hell and praise God for that but that's not what this is actually talking about because if you read
it says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus look what it says
who walked not after the flesh but after the Spirit you see Christians can still fall into
condemnation but it's not the condemnation of hell it's the consequences and the repercussions
of your actions that you suffer here on this earth you say well you know once we get saved
everything roses and daisies and nothing bad ever happens no sometimes it even gets worse
no thank God that we have heaven thank God we have everlasting life we have the forgiveness
of sins but guess what now we have a Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Father will chastise
us and will correct us we'll do whatever it takes to get help us get back on track and we will suffer
the consequences of our actions in our bodies we can suffer the condemnation here on this earth
we'll never suffer for it in hell but yes we will suffer for it here and I think anybody in this
room can testify and say yeah I've suffered condemnation before in my life because I disobeyed
God in his word I lived in sin or I did this I was in the flesh I was not in the spirit because
of it I suffered condemnation it happens now why is it that we can suffer condemnation well the
Bible says be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap
we should never think as Christians that just because I'm a Christian I can sin nothing can
happen no God forbid the Bible says okay what shall we say that should we continue in sin that
that grace may abound God forbids it why because there's consequences attached to those actions and
God is not deceived whatever we sow in our flesh we will of the flesh reap corruption the Bible
says for he that soweth to his flesh shall the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the
spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting verse number two in Romans chapter 8 it says here
for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death
for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own son in the
likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled and us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit so what is it telling
us here now that we're saved if you trusted Christ as your Savior and you're saved the Bible says now
we can fulfill the law we have the but how do you do it by walking in the Spirit because you can't
fulfill the law in your flesh and we'll look in just a little bit the carnal mind the Bible says
is an intimacy with God and it's not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be the Bible
says so it's only when you're walking in the Spirit you're reading the Bible you're praying
you're doing those things which are pleasing unto the Lord then you can fulfill the law of God
that's why you run into these guys who believe in the sins perfection doctrine that as soon as you
get saved you know you're not going to desire to do any wrong you'll desire to do right all your
life that's false and look they may think they're fulfilling the law of God but they're not because
they don't even have the Spirit of God living within them okay why they're in the flesh okay
they're completely in the flesh they're still dead in their trespasses and sin because they're
still trusting in themselves but us we who are the sons of God we who have believed on Christ
the Bible says we can now fulfill that law okay verse number five says for they that are after
the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the
spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace so here
we see a very important aspect of this thing of the flesh versus the spirit why is that because
the Bible talks about the carnal mind okay and Christians often can become guilty of having a
carnal mind now carnal simply means what fleshly think of the Spanish word carne how many know
carne asada of course you know even people who don't speak Spanish know what carne asada means
okay it's meat so carne simply simply means or carnal sorry I was gonna say carnal but that's
like you know me you know carnal simple means fleshly okay when you're fleshly the Bible says
you can have a fleshly mind well when you have a fleshly mind that means you're not minded the
things of the spirit now go with me if you went to James chapter number one brother Philip can
you turn on the brother Perry can you turn on the AC back there it's getting a little warm in here
for to be currently mine is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace so here
it's teaching us that there is a carnal mind and there is a spiritual mind well what happens when
we have a carnal mind it says right there that it's death you know when you live in the flesh
and your mind is fleshly you think of only the flesh and you fulfill the lusts of the flesh
guess what you're gonna experience you're gonna experience death okay if you're only thinking
about fornication adultery lust guess what you will suffer the repercussions of those actions
and by the way you think of those things you're gonna flesh those things out eventually no I just
like to entertain those thoughts and just escape reality no eventually for as a man thinketh in his
heart so is he and when you think those things that will eventually flesh itself out and guess
what you'll experience death okay you say well how what do you mean we're experienced death well
you know when you come in fornication you commit adultery guess what there's diseases involved in
that okay such as AIDS such as HIV there's other diseases chlamydia gonorrhea and all these filthy
things that come with the filthy acts of this world and guess what they come with repercussions
okay you experience death James chapter 1 verse 13 says let no man say when he is tempted I am
tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempted he any man but every man
is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed then when lust hath conceived it
bringeth forth sin and when sin when it is finished it bringeth forth pleasure that what
says no it bringeth forth death now sin is pleasurable for a season but guess what at the
end of that season guess what it brings death always no matter what for the wages of sin is
death that's always the end game the end result and let me say this if you're ever tempted to do
something you're not supposed to do just think of this you're you'll die you know it keeps a lot of
people from fornicating and getting involved in wicked sins the fear of dying okay cuz look God
killed fornicators in the Bible thousands of them thousands of them and no one is the exception was
like well you know I love the Lord well you know what if you love me keep my commandments the Bible
says and one of the commandments is flee fornication you know for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus they should abstain from fornication the Bible says these should know how to possess your
vessel and sanctification and honors what the Bible says so these are the commandments of God so if
we do those things guess what we're not gonna experience death we'll experience life okay go
with me for what the Galatians chapter number 5 so the Bible says in Romans chapter 8 that when
you mind the things of the flesh you're gonna experience death you know that's why it's good
to fill your mind with good things with godly things that's why it's good to just have the
discipline of listening to sermons on a daily basis right reading your Bible on the daily
basis praying without ceasing trying to walk in the spirit look that's why we all not to listen
to the wrong kind of music well you know I just you know Takashi 6 9 a little pump and you know
a little reggaeton here and a little of this here you know that can that can you know I just like
the way that no no you're filling your mind with a bunch of junk and eventually it'll cause death
in your life okay and look music is powerful okay it has the ability to flesh itself out in your
actions okay and it indoctrinates you is what it does you know you wonder why all these people who
listen to rap and hip-hop are so violent you know why it's because the music is filled with violence
and you wonder why there's so involved with so much uh immorality and there's so many whoremongers
within that music it's because that's all they talk about you know you wonder why they're so
covetous and so greedy because that's all they talk about the bling bling you know they love
talking about the bling bling and the platinum and the diamonds well yeah you listen to that
you're gonna cover you're gonna be discontent with the things that you have okay that's why
you shouldn't fill your mind with those things but look at Galatians 5 22 says but the fruit of
the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance
against such there is no law and they that our Christ have crucified the flesh but the affections
and lust if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit you know the Spirit produces
these fruits within us as we walk in them okay as we walk in the Spirit he produces love joy
peace and isn't it funny that Jesus Christ said my peace give I unto you not as the world giveth
give I unto you see the world is also offering peace but it's a false peace it's a peace that
comes through money and through debauchery and through sin and wickedness but what is the end
result of those things death okay whereas God offers joy he offers peace and it doesn't have
to do with happenings or things or or or you know possessions look a man's life consists of
none of the things that he possesses right it consists of just having the right relationship
with the Word of God living a life that's holy unto the Lord look we can have a good time without
drinking amen we do have a good time without drinking and then I mean you stick around long
enough you're gonna have a joyful spirit a merry heart does good like a medicine okay we don't need
alcohol we don't need marijuana we don't need drugs we don't need ecstasy to have a good time
no we have the joy of the Lord but that comes as you walk in the spirit okay and look if you have
a hard time having a good time as a Christian okay that probably means you're you're a car
you have a carnal mind okay and you're filling your mind with look if you just sit in there
when we're singing the songs you ought to pay attention when we're singing the hymns and look
you gotta sing along too you said why is that because the Bible says to speak to yourselves in
Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing to make a melody in your hearts unto the Lord and
guess what that is the end result of being filled with the spirit is that you sing songs but you
know why you're not discontent with the songs that we sing it's because you're filling your
mind with the wrong kind of songs see what's the opposite of a spiritual song a carnal song you
know the beatings like where's the beat I need the beat in this you know can we put a beat to
come down fountain they're like you know trying to put a beat to it no why don't you fill your
mind with spiritual things and you enjoy the hymns just as they are what the good melody and you
enjoy it okay now go to 1st Corinthians chapter number 2 so the Bible tells us in Romans chapter
8 it says for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace man
some of the most peaceful people you'll meet are those who are just plain spiritual they just love
the Lord they're not perfect okay they love the Word of God they love soul winning they love the
things of God and they just have peace they don't need things to have to be happy they have the
peace of God the past self understanding as the Bible says 1st Corinthians 2 15 says but he that
is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is judged of no man for who hath known the mind of
Christ look how these are intertwined one with another for who have known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him but we have the mind of Christ so again what is it to be spiritually
minded is to have the mind of Christ and what does that do that it causes us to be spiritual
go to Philippians chapter number 2 Philippians chapter number 2 I'm sorry go to Philippians 4
I'm gonna read to you from Philippians 2 verse 5 where the Bible reads let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus so that's it's it's a command but it's based upon our decision
that says let it right we don't automatically have the mind of Christ we got to allow the mind
of Christ to be in us through the Word of God look at Philippians 4 verse 8 finally brethren
whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever
things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there
be any virtue if there be any praise think on these things so the Bible is commanding us that
these are the things we ought to think about okay and look we live in a society I can't tell you to
throw out your television because I don't even know if anybody has televisions anymore you know
everyone you know we have iPads and phones and stuff like that but you know what if you're always
on the television you know you're gonna have a short attention span when it comes to the things
of God okay could you hear a verse and it's just like you just like start thinking about something
else and there's like and now the service is already over like whoa you know you just have
this like lapse into fantasy land okay where you're missing out on a lot of biblical truths
that you can glean from that can help you with these things but the reason for this because of
the television or we like to call it the hella vision okay now look a TV is not necessarily bad
it depends on what you watch on television right but most things on television are not good if not
all things on television all right now if you're using your television to watch them preaching
that's different obviously if you're using it to watch the day of the dead documentary that's
different amen if you're using to watch the vaccine well you can't watch the vaccine yet
because I haven't released it amen but demon-possessed that's not bad at all all right but here's the thing
when you're filling your mind with the television you know television is one image after another and
it's quick so it conditions your mind to expect one image after another you know something always
new has to come up right so when you come to church what happens it's just like I'm preaching
the Word of God you're hearing the songs and you're just like this is not entertaining me I
want to be entertained you know that's what you're thinking why because it's a carnal mind but the
spiritual mind always wants to listen to the preaching of God's Word it always wants to glean
wisdom what God has to say through his word go back to Romans chapter number eight so there's
there's this constant theme within Romans six five and seven and eight that talks about this
matter of just being spiritual and being carnal and it's very important really it's it's essential
if you're gonna live a successful Christian life you'll experience death or you'll have life you'll
have peace verse 7 says because the carnal mind look what it says is enmity against God for it is
not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are in the flesh cannot
please God man that's a scary thought you know if you're in the flesh like oh I got a relationship
with God if you're in the flesh you ain't pleasing God well me and him have this thing you have
nothing okay it doesn't exist all right and you need to get that out of your mind because it's
not in the Bible the Bible teaches us that if you're in the flesh you can't please God point
yourself and in fact it goes it even goes as far to say is that you're at enmity with God another
word for enmity is what enemy you become an enemy of God well hold on a second I thought that you
know now now we have peace with God we're no we're no longer enemies of God we're gonna explain that
in just a bit but it's interesting to see that in Romans 7 22 it says for I delight in the law of
God after the inward man but I see another law and my members warn against the law of my mind
and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members a wretched man that I am
who shall deliver me from this body of death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so then
with the mind I myself serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin so Paul is saying
in Romans 7 he said look with my mind I serve the law of God but unfortunately because I live in
this flesh I serve the law of sin so how does that work with Romans chapter 8 where it says that we
can have a carnal mind and be an enmity with God well simply this the Bible talks about renewing
the spirit of your mind it's not talking about like our mind has like a spirit okay often when
you hear someone say you know how's your spirit today or you know man that guy has a bad spirit
basically I'm almost like the personality or the the the perspective of your mind right and here
it says in Ephesians 4 23 that we need to renew the spirit of our mind you see the inward though
the outward man perish the inward man is renewed day by day well how to renew the inward man
through the Word of God you have to constantly read the Bible to renew your mind to do that
which is pleasing in the eyes of God now go to Colossians chapter 1 Colossians chapter 1 Romans
8 is a scripture that people can use to say oh you see you guys say you guys hate the enemies of
God you know but you yourself can be an enemy of God I mean the Bible says it right there huh you
know it says the carnal man is an enmity with God but you guys say that you guys hate the enemies
of God how do you reconcile that well I mentioned this already prior in prior chapters in Romans but
here's the big difference between those who are enemies of God and us who could become enemies or
were enemies before salvation okay because the Bible does say that before we got saved we were
enemies of God as well but what is the difference there well the difference is this in Romans
chapter 1 the reprobates are enemies because their mind is reprobate the Bible says right
they were given over to a reprobate mind now what does reprobate mean it means it's rejected okay
that means God has rejected that person based upon their rejection of God okay now I for instance
today this this afternoon when we went soloing I went to a 12 year old boy and he overcame and
when I mean overcame I mean he overcame pretty much nothing because he didn't have no five false
ideologies you know he even said this when I gave him the gospel I was explaining the eternal
security to him he said I told you know after I explained I give him the illustrations you know
can you lose your salvation what if you killed yourself can you lose it and he said no and I
said why he said because any kind of he goes well I did nothing to gain it so I guess I can't do
anything to lose it my partner started like laughing I'm like wow that's I've never had
like 12 year old boys say that you know let alone any adult but his friend I started witnessing to
him he was a little younger and honestly he's just as sincere as the day is long but he didn't get
saved because he just couldn't understand and I ran explain to him you just go I don't understand
I said okay and I would try to bring the cookie down to the bottom shelf and try to explain it a
little more and I said you do you understand he would go I don't understand explain to him again
and he third time as sincere as the day is long just said I don't understand at that point I
realized okay maybe he's a little too young he's not rejecting Christ he just can't understand
right we would say he hasn't reached the age of accountability where he knows and we're stuck on
the first point of being a sinner okay but that is a huge difference from someone who literally
rejects Christ and hates God he said oh what do you mean they hate God because the Bible says they
do not want to retain God in their knowledge rarely will you meet a sinner who just says I
don't want to retain God in my knowledge they'll just say no no thank you or you know I don't it
kind of goes over their head so this is a special category of people who literally don't want to
retain God in their knowledge and the Bible says in Romans chapter 1 that they're literally haters
of God you know someone who like I don't have time I got to go that's not a hater of God he
just has better things to do in his mind right he just has to go do his groceries shopping or
whatever it may be but he's in hey God this is actually talking about people who hate God now
look at Colossians chapter 1 verse 21 it says in you obviously who's he talking was talking to
Christians there were some time alienated in enemies in your what mine by wicked works yet
now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable
and unreprovable in his sight so according to the Bible we were enemies of God in our minds by
wicked works right and according to the Bible in Hebrews chapter 6 the Bible says that we have to
repent of our dead works and the faith toward God okay so those who were unsaved before who were
enemies of God not reprobates what were they they were trusting in their works right they're the
ones who are doing their many wonderful works I went to a lady yesterday and she specifically
said you're right I am trusting in myself to get to heaven you know and thankfully she got saved
she understood that and she turned to Christ but here's the thing is the enemies before salvation
are enemies in their mind by wicked works the enemies who are the reprobates are those who
have a reprobate mind they're the ones who have rejected Christ does that make sense okay now go
to Hebrews chapter number 11 Hebrews chapter number 11 now here's the thing though is that
we can still become enemies of God not a reprobate but we could become enemies because we have a
carnal mind okay we don't subject ourselves until the law of God all right Hebrews 11 verse 5 says
by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had
translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God why but without
faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him so according to the Bible the way we please God is
by exercising our faith okay and but look if you have a carnal mind you're not exercising faith
you're just not you know you're not living by faith we walk by faith and not by sight but you're
not living by faith if you have a carnal mind you're trusting in yourself trusting in your
works you're trusting in whatever it is to get through the day okay look some people look it's
good to have character and it's good to be disciplined and it's good to have your ducks
in order but guess what depend on God first you know it's often we think well you know why should
I pray for my paycheck and why should I pray for food you know I already know the paycheck's coming
in we know God could take your legs tomorrow then what you know it's better to just ask God for rain
in the latter rain you know ask God for his provisions when you already have them exercise
your faith today why because that pleases the Lord okay go back to Romans chapter number eight
now in Romans chapter 8 in verse number 9 it starts getting into this matter of it almost
it almost said like people can use people have used this to say see you got to be in the spirit
in order to be saved brother you know if you're not in the spirit you know if you don't desire
you're not you're not safe well we're gonna explain it verse 9 says but you're not in the
flesh but in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ he is none of his why is that well according to the Bible when you get saved
when you trust Christ as your Savior the Bible says that the Holy Spirit of God comes to live
within you okay and the Bible says that he is sealed there unto the day of redemption
redemption means the day that you die and you go to heaven right or when Christ comes back and
raptures you that's the day of redemption right but it says there the Bible teaches us in
Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14 that he seals us with the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day
of redemption that he's the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase
possession that's what the Bible says so the Bible says here that we're in the spirit if so
that the Spirit of God dwells in us verse 10 and if Christ be in you the body is dead because of
sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness but the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by a spirit that dwelleth in you so basically he's given the assurance of the
believers look you're gonna have to war against the flesh all your life but rest assured one day
God will quicken your mortal bodies you see we got to think of this thing that we're not always
gonna be battling the flesh it's hard for us to think alike to think like that you know it's it's
it's almost like trying to explain how to live on land to a fish right I don't know how to do that
I was trying to explain to a human being how fish lives in the water it just doesn't it doesn't make
sense the best way that they could for us it's like the fish it's in the fishbowl looking through
the glass and two humans that are walking around and say one day I'm gonna be like them right it's
just hard to explain it to them but for us that's exactly how we see it we see through a glass dark
we don't know exactly what's gonna be but one day our bodies will be redeemed and the reason the
Bible says that the by our bodies will be redeemed is because our spirit is already redeemed our
flesh is not so don't get judgmental when people that you know are sinning and they're doing wrong
and whatever it may be and you say man I don't know if that person say no it just means they're
carnal now let me say this the Bible obviously teaches that there's certain sins that you can't
be in the church if you're committing those sins right and that's clear as day that's not us being
a respecter of people that's simply what the Bible teaches us but we're talking about in generalities
outside of the church whether you know a Christian whatever it may be and you say man they're
involved in drunkenness they're involved in adultery they're involved in all these wicked
things and they say they're saved well you know what they probably are saved because Christians
commit a lot of bad stuff too I mean let's think of David who committed adultery and he even you
know put a hit out on someone mafia style okay that's bad but yet he was a man after God's own
heart and when he got right with God he said restoring to me the joy of thy salvation he said
restoring to me salvation he just said give me back my joy okay so it goes to show that people
can be fleshly but we ought to remember man there's gonna be one day when we're not gonna
have to fight against the sins of my body it's hard for us to fathom that but that will take
place one day you think of the sin that you struggle with the most okay whatever may be
whether it's drunkenness or lust or or covetousness greed well there will be one day if you're saved
there will be one day where you will no longer struggle with that ever again and thank God for
that because it is a day-to-day battle with the flesh now look what the Bible says verse 12 it
says therefore brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if you live
after the flesh you shall die but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body and
you shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God now this
is what the Calvinist will use see brother if you're not being led to the Spirit you know the
Son of God he went out from us because he was not of us for if he had been with us you know he would
no doubt continued with us or whatever they say you know it'll say hey if you're not being led
to the Spirit brother Alex you know you're not a son of God I mean it says it right there in
Romans there well here's the thing when you're born again your spirit is born again and the part
of you that's a son of God is not this flesh that's just how it works what's the Son of God
the Spirit that lives within you okay because that's the part that was quickened quickened
means brought to life okay we were dead in our trespasses and sin but God has quickened us
together with Christ by grace are you saved the Bible says okay now go to go to let's see here
go to 1st John chapter 3 1st John chapter 3 now look obviously our spirit is saved our flesh is
not but that's not to just say okay I guess I was just sin so you know cuz my flesh is not the Son
of God so I you know and it's just like well yeah it's not me it's sin that dwells in me you
know to me I just I just can't stop doing this cuz my flesh is not redeemed and I just yeah the
Bible says it you know no that's not the way it works because the Bible says there to mortify the
deeds of the body okay so if you struggle with fornication by the way what does mortify mean
means just kill it kill that thing you know I remember years ago my father-in-law preached
this message I'm mortifying the deeds of the body he brought out a knife he's like what am
I supposed to do and he was just like wow he's just like started slashing that thing he's like
kill that thing kill fornication kill and he started calling out all these sins Jesus just
kill it and it's just like but that's really spiritual what we have to do mortify the deeds
of the body okay starve it whatever it is that you're struggling with starve it kill it and look
you don't overcome it by giving into it once a month or once a week that's not how it works you
kill it by just killing it and not allowing it to live starve it out yeah but no one's perfect
we're not saying anybody's perfect but guess what God commands us to mortify the deeds of the body
look we're not all perfect but we're not all fornicators we're not all perfect but I'm not
a pothead you know we're not all perfect but we don't have to be drunkards you know we don't have
to give in to these desires of the flesh obviously we're sinners and the Bible says that our flesh
sins but there's specific sins that we don't have to give in to we can mortify the deeds of the body
we have to kill it okay what would I have you turn first John chapter 3 verse 6 so this is what
this explains what Romans 8 is talking about here in verse 6 says whosoever abideth in him
sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him little children let no man
deceive you he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that
committed sin is of the devil for the devil's sin is from the beginning for this purpose the
Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil whosoever is born of God
doth not commit sin for his seed very key there remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is
born of God in this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil whosoever
doeth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother so here it's telling
us that if you sin or excuse me here's telling us that whosoever is born of God does not commit sin
referring to the Spirit because when the Spirit now that the Spirit is born again it doesn't
commit sin you said what's the sin that what then what are you doing when you come in fornication or
drunkenness or all these things that's the flesh okay now it does say there in verse number six
whosoever abideth in him sin is not so how do we keep from fornicating or drunkenness or pot
smoking or or doing any type of sin and wickedness well the way we do is by abiding in the Lord John
chapter 15 abiding in his word okay because the word works as a cleanser this is not personal
willpower that will get you out of sin you know I think I can I think I can I think I can I can
I can get rid of the power of positive thinking no you need a power of negative thinking and say
I hate sin because the Bible says you that love the Lord hate evil right and you need to get this
negative thought that say you know what I should hate sin because God hates sin I should hate this
specific sin because God hates that sin and and get into the Word of God so it can cleanse you
of those thoughts okay cleanse you of those actions of those deeds why whosoever abideth in
him sin is not the Bible says okay now go back to Romans chapter number eight so it's very clear
that when you're saved your spirit is born again okay and and you know and thank God for that
because you know there are things that do change when you get saved what is it now you could
understand the Bible you know I remember I tried to read the Bible before I was saved and you know
I would start in Genesis because I used to like reading and I would read in Genesis and it was a
King James Bible and I'm like I'm gonna read through this whole entire book all 66 books I
didn't even get past like Leviticus I when I got to Leviticus is like let's I'm gonna go read Moby
Dick instead or something you know it's like I can't I don't understand this this is not making
sense to me because I'm not saying I wasn't saved I am saved now sorry I wasn't saved just like I
can't understand it but you know now that we are saved we can understand the Word of God the Holy
Spirit can teach us it resonates with us okay verse 15 says for ye have not received the spirit
of bondage again to fear but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father
now hold your place here and go to Galatians chapter number three Galatians chapter number
three now this is a great verse verse 15 in Romans 8 because the Bible says that we receive
the spirit of adoption why is that because Jesus Christ is the Son of God but the Bible says that
you know but as many as received him to them give you power to become the sons of God even
unto them that believe on his name so Jesus Christ is Son of God but he's begun of God he's
got him he's got himself right but we were adopted into the family by the we were begun
through the gospel so therefore we are adopted into the family all right and look what Galatians
chapter 3 verse 26 says it almost basically says almost the same terminology as is for year all the
children of God by what faith in Christ Jesus for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither
male nor female for year all one in Christ Jesus and if you be Christ and a ye Abraham seed and
heirs according to the promise go to Galatians 4 in verse number 4 verse number 4 says but when the
fullness of the time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem
them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons and because your sons God has
sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father I mean that's a great promise
right there the spirit dwells within us and it cries Abba father God treats us as if we're his
actual sons amen and the Bible even says in 1st John chapter 3 behold what manner of love that
we should be called the sons of God I mean that's a great love okay go back to Romans chapter number
8 so the Bible is teaching us there that we're adopted all right and we'll get into this in just
a little bit but it says that we're heirs with Christ what are we heirs of the kingdom of God
but then it talks about that we can be joint heirs okay we'll get into that just a little bit verse
16 says the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God you
know one thing that's a for sure is that when you get saved you know the spirit does bear witness
that we're the children of God I mean have you ever met a backslidden Christian someone who's
just like been away for a long time and and you talk to them and and you kind of witness them to
make sure that they were maybe they weren't even saved in the first place you want to see if
they're safe and they're like no I'm saved I trust that in Christ I know I'm saved have you
ever met someone to say they're like they've been away for like 20 years or something and maybe they
went to some liberal church or whatever but they had the right kind of gospel and they got saved
years afterwards they won't question their salvation they won't doubt it they're like no I
know I'm safe you know why cuz the spirit bears witness okay now hold your place there go to John
chapter 15 because this is this is a great way to test if you're saved okay so how do I know if
I'm saying what does it mean that the spirit bears witness is it is it like echoing in your body like
you're saved Bruce you're saved you know it's like I'm it's bearing witness right now you know like
I can hear it no John 15 26 look what it says he bears witness to the Word of God but when the
comforters come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceeded
from the Father he shall testify of me and he also shall bear witness because he have been with me
from the beginning so what is the spear but how does the spear bear witness to the Bible when you
understand what the Word of God is saying that's why no Christian can ever come up with some
damnable heresy why because they have the Spirit of God living within them okay and even if they
get in get off track into some false doctrine eventually they'll get back on track why because
the Spirit of God dwells in them okay that's why people who say oh I'm saved but they're reading
like an NIV or an ESV or some other version of the Bible and they're reading it day in and day out
I'm not saying that they carry and they said this is their Bible I'm talking about they read a day
in and day out and they understand it that by that person is not saved like oh I don't think it's
right for you to question someone's salvation just because they don't they believe that the
the NIV is the Bible well here's the thing the Bible literally teaches this Jesus said my sheep
hear my voice and a stranger will they not follow okay I'm not talking again I'm not talking about
the people who just tote an NIV or an ESV and they say that's their Bible but they never read it
okay because let's be honest most people in these churches and these types of churches that use
different versions of the Bible they don't read the Bible or their NIV you know they don't read
it they'll bring it to with them in church they'll read the verse that the pastor is talking about
that's about it and sometimes they don't even have to do that it's on the screen or something
right that's all I have to do I'm talking about people who say that they actually read the word
they read the NIV they're reading the ESV day in and day out and they're just like they're just
eating it up you know I remember I read a book years ago and it was by some liberal guy and it
was about devotional time I don't remember what the guy's name was right now but he was talking
about how he read the NIV day in and day out he just loved the he loved NIV that was his Bible he
got so much out of it it would just bother me like how can you get anything out of there because
it's not the Word of God look any Bible that omits verses out of the Bible you know there's
a there is a huge condemnation to someone who does that and you say getting something it's not true
okay and according to this verse in John chapter 15 the Spirit bears witness what through the Word
of God okay and then here's the thing it doesn't mean that when you get saved you're just gonna
understand every single doctrine that you hear from the King James Bible we're not saying that
at all what we're saying is this you will understand something you will understand it
and when you read it like oh man that makes a lot of sense you know I get that now okay now
go back to let's see here go back to Romans chapter 8 now here's the the interesting part
of this chapter here and look we're gonna talk about a lot of different things in this chapter
because it's covering a lot okay and we're not gonna do like a two verse today and a two verse
next week and spend like four years going through Romans chapter 8 all right we're just gonna go
ahead and just take it up we're gonna deal with it today all right if you don't know what I'm
talking about ask the old IFBers in our church they'll tell you verse 17 says and if children
then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we
may be also glorified together now hold your place or go to Matthew 25 Matthew 25 so the Bible says
here that if we are children then we are heirs of God what does that mean we've received the
inheritance which is the kingdom of God and anybody who believes on Christ guess what they're
saved they're going to heaven and they get to they they get everlasting life look at Matthew
25 34 says 31 excuse me when the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with
them then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all
nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divided his sheep from
the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left then shall the
king say unto them on his right hand come he blessed of my father inherit the kingdom of the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world and that's what's gonna happen we're
gonna inherit the kingdom of God one day because we're saved right now go to Hebrews chapter number
11 because in Romans 8 it says there will be heirs but then it says this and joint heirs well
what is a joint heir what does that mean what does it mean to be joint we think what's that
together right that means you inherit something that Christ's Christ inherits as well okay does
that make sense joint heir but it gives a condition to that it says if you suffer you see
the condition to inherit the kingdom of God is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ but to be a
joint heir with Christ okay you have to suffer for Christ now look at Hebrews 11 32 says Hebrews
11 chapter 11 is what we would refer to as the faith chapter okay a lot of people stepped out
in faith the latter end of the chapter refers to the people of whom the world was not worthy
look at verse 32 says and what shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and
of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah of David also and Samuel and of the prophets who through
faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions
quench the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword that of weakness were made strong waxed
by a valiant in fight turned to flight the armies of the aliens and that's not talking about you
UFOs and ET okay verse 35 women received their dead raised to life again and others look what
it says we're tortured not accepting deliverance let that ring in your heads for a little bit not
accepting deliverance that they might attain obtain a what a better resurrection what does
that mean the joint heirs they're like no don't deliver me I'll suffer for Christ's sake because
I'm gonna obtain a better resurrection because I don't just want to obtain the kingdom of God I
want to be a joint heir with Christ why because whoever suffers for his namesake will rule and
reign with Christ you see in the millennial reign there's gonna be a lot of people I mean there's
billions and scores of Christians will be there save people but not everyone will reign not
everyone will get a reward you know thank thank God for those who even they just get to be there
it's better than hell amen better than the fire and the torment and and no resting day or night
the blackness of darkness forever the weeping and wailing a gnashing of teeth hey I'll take
that any day right other aside from from from hell no but here's the thing there's gonna be
people in the kingdom in the millennial reign there are joint heirs of Christ they get to reign
with Christ kings and priests reigning you know be thou over ten cities but you know what it comes
with the price with some suffering this this is this is reserved for people who work for God and
are willing to suffer for his namesake you know often we think like I was telling my wife even
before this is you know some people our family sometimes look at us and they're like you guys
are crazy you know and my family don't they're sincere but they'll often tell me like it's my
mom often tell me this because she's heard my preaching my mom speaks Spanish she speaks a
little bit English but she often tell me she goes Bruce I'm so happy for the church and you're in
the church and all these things she goes but you just you should lay lay off the homos a little bit
you know you know maybe you shouldn't preach against them so hard because what if something
happens and I tell her I'm like mom if something happens the more the better okay because that
infirmity it just is is very dim in comparison to the glory that we'll receive okay now look is it
pleasurable to suffer for Christ's sake course not but you know it's worth it to be a joint heir and
you know what there's a lot of Christians on YouTube okay who think they're gonna be
joint heirs because they think they're partaking in the sufferings along with the churches that
are established because they're watching it on YouTube yeah I'm with them little comment there
and someone cusses them out like yeah I'm getting persecuted for Christ's sake no you're not you
don't even you don't even put your profile picture in there cuz you're afraid that someone might know
who you are okay you're not doing anything for God that's not you you're not suffering for Christ's
sake because you got rebuked on Facebook or Instagram or YouTube okay that's you're standing
on the sidelines okay you're the kid who throws the rocks like you know from from on the top of
the building here and then you like hide or something no you know what we need we need
Christians who are willing to step up and be on the front lines and suffer for his sake and look
cheer on those who are on the front lines but you know what we need more people on the front lines
people who are willing to bear the reproach and be a part of the war be a part of the battle and
look it doesn't happen you just being one foot in and one foot out gotta be all in be disciplined
in your Christian life be in church read your Bible pray win souls to Christ and repeat rinse
was it wash rinse and repeat do it over and over and over you said what about the suffering I mean
do I bring that on myself no yay all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution
you live the right type of life the persecution will come okay and look sometimes it doesn't just
come from the world it comes from other Christians it comes from other Christians you know but hey we
get points for those two amen but here's the thing what is it for it's for a better resurrection look
we've already here inherited the kingdom of God and thank God for that but let's be some joint
heirs I want to rule and reign with Christ I want to be the mayor of El Monte one day or of Los
Angeles you know in the millennial reign you know I want to I don't want to own an alley in the
millennial rain or be put to sweep you know the corner of El Monte of Tyler and Elliot I would
suck okay no I want to be a joint heir I want to be able to to to to get the most I can out of this
life okay but how is that by a better resurrection verse 36 is and others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings yay moreover a bonds and imprisonment they were stoned they were sauna
sunder we're tempted we're slain with the sword they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins
being destitute afflicted tormented verse 38 of whom the world was not worthy Wow they wandered
in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth and these all having obtained a good
report through faith received not the promise God having provided some better things for us
that they without us should not be made perfect you know they understood there's something better
okay than this just this life and look this ought to be a wake-up call this sermon ought to be a
wake-up call to you get in the fight get in the battle and look if you're in our church get in
the fight get in the battle start coming out soul winning with us be a part of what's going on he
said why is that this this is a spiritual battle that's taking place for the souls of men and in
the future obviously go to go to Daniel chapter 12 obviously in the future persecutions are gonna
come in different forms right but we got to keep in mind that we that was suffering for Christ's
sake guess what we're gonna be joint heirs and we'll have a better resurrection look what Daniel
12 verse 2 says great verse here in verse number 2 says and many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt and
they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars forever and ever man you said what's that soul any man when you turn
people to righteousness God says I'm gonna make you shine you know you know the problem is
Christians today they want to shine and be famous today they want to be a star today no God says I'll
make you shine for all of eternity if you turn many to righteousness okay first Corinthians 15
says there are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial but the glory of the celestial is one
and the glory of terrestrial is another there is one glory of the Sun in another glory of the moon
another glory of the stars for one star deferred from another star in glory so also is the
resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption is raised in incorruption you go outside well not
in LA but you know if you go to like the mountains or something tonight if you look at the stars you
see like one and it's probably not even a star okay it's some artificial star that the government
made or something you know to make us feel like we have stars or something but you go to the you
go to the mountains big rare mountains you see clusters of stars everywhere and one thing you'll
notice is some shine brighter than others and God is saying that's how the resurrection is
gonna be there gonna be some Christians they're just gonna shine brighter than others and there's
some that aren't even gonna shine at all because they never did anything for God they never want
any souls to Christ they never suffered any persecution no I want to make sure that I do
as best as I can in this lifetime so we can have a better resurrection and then I can shine you know
for the Lord so I can have a better resurrection go to Rome back to Romans 8 we got a we got to move
through some of this quickly we're almost out of time Romans 8 verse 18 says for I reckon and this
goes along with what we just talked about and this is the reason why he's saying this is 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 Wow he says look the sufferings that you're going through that's it's
it's it's not even worthy to be compared you can't compare your sufferings to the glory that will be
revealed in you okay now why does it say in you for the earnest expectation of the creature waited
for the manifestation of the sons of God now we'll skip down verse number 20 we'll keep reading for
the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected
the same in hope because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God for we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth in pain together until now and not only they but ourselves also which had the first
fruits of the Spirit even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption to
it the redemption of our body 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 but if we hope for that we see not then we do then do we with
patience wait for it now the Bible says that the creation groaneth it's not talking about are the
creatures grow it's not talking about like the animals okay because the Bible says preach the
gospel to every what creature creatures sorry God refers to us as creatures all right but the reason
he refers to us as creatures because we are his creation creature creation okay but it says that
we groan why is that because we're in this flesh there's sicknesses involved okay there's sufferings
in this flesh and look the older you get you can testify yeah there's some sufferings that come as
you get older right the body doesn't work as well as it used to well the but that's what it's
talking about says the creation groans okay we groan for that for that glorified body that will
receive one day and no your glorified body is not like some huge guy with a six-pack and you know
somebody was like yeah I'm gonna be like this cut muscular glorified body no it just means sinless
okay it'll be without sin now why does it say that we're saved by hope because the Bible says
that faith is the substance the evidence that substance of things hope for the evidence of
things not seen okay so hope is just another word for faith all right now let's see here I'm gonna
read go to first Corinthians chapter 15 I'm gonna read to you from Hebrews 6 verse 18 the Bible says
that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong
consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as
an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast and which enters into that within the veil so
often the world uses the word hope right like man I hope this happens I hope my team wins or whatever
so that's almost like a hope that you're not sure if it's gonna happen or not you're just you're
waiting an expectation that hopefully it will but that's not the kind of hope that the Bible
actually refers to the hope is it's gonna happen and it's based upon the immutability of God that
he cannot lie the hope that is set before us is what the Bible calls it first Corinthians 15 52
says in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the trumpet shall sound and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed for this corruptible must put on
incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality so when this corruptible shall put on
incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written death is swallowed up in victory now the Bible clearly tells us that our
bodies will be glorified it'll be changed but that's not to say you just let it go to mush and
you just sin all you want because eventually you're gonna get a glorified body no the Bible
says we ought to press towards the mark right we're not supposed to be perfect but we're supposed to
be pressing towards the mark so in order for us to live a life that's pleasing unto the Lord here
we have to mortify the deeds of the body and one day the Bible says that death will be swallowed up
in victory okay I'm gonna skip a couple verses here go back to Romans 8 I only got a few minutes
verse 26 to 28 is is very good because you know in church we often talk a lot about doctrine we
talk a lot about the practicality of the Christian living we also got to talk about this matter of
just going through a hard time you know cuz you're gonna go through a hard time and look what the
Bible says in verse 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 and he that searched at the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit because
he maketh intercessions for the Saints according to the will of God and we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose
so it says here that the Spirit that dwells in us the Holy Spirit and makes intercessions for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered what does that mean so basically have you ever had so much
pain maybe it was emotional pain that it moved you to go pray but you didn't even know what to
pray for I mean even when you open your mouth it's like tears just came out of your eyes you're in
so much pain and you don't even know what to ask for okay it's just like I'm going through a hard
time and I don't even know what to say I'm just going through a hard time you know what God says
the Spirit that dwells in you he makes those intercessions for you with groanings which cannot
be uttered and he doesn't say well Lord you know just give him the million dollars or you know he's
Lord just help him to be rich so he can be happy all his life or no the Bible says that he prays
according to the will of God so what he does is he sees your heart the your grieve that your burden
that of your contrite spirit as the Bible says and what does he do he seeks what the Bible says
and and asks God for those petitions according to God's will he will never ask for anything you
know help him win the lottery you know he'll be happy if you just help him to win the lottery you
know no that's not gonna happen that's contrary to God's will help him to be rich not gonna happen
because God doesn't want any Christian to be rich okay because rich near riches riches of this world
it just makes you evil okay we'll get into that right now but what I'm saying is this is that the
spirit what it does is he makes intercessions okay and he basically prays for you he asks
God for the things that you need according to God's will now here's a great promise 828 very
famous verse and we know that all things work together for good to them and that's it right
no but you know a lot of people like to stop right there you know they're living in sin and
they're doing bad stuff and what happens all things work together for good brother no it says
to them to love God and not every Christian loves God not every Christian loves God because the
because love is not just like an emotional I just love God you know I just love him you know he's
just doesn't work that way the Bible says that if you love me keep my commandments see God bases
love based upon your obedience to his word you want to show God do you love him keep his word
then you'll be like that person loves me right there because he's keeping my commandments in
fact John 15 21 says he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest myself to him
let me say well you know maybe they don't love God does that mean they're not safe no it doesn't
say it just means they don't love God you know those who love the world the Bible says the love
of the Father is not in them they don't have a love of the Father if they love the world right
verse 29 says for whom he did for no he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
son that he might be the firstborn among many brother now this verse is often used by who
Calvinists right we believe in predestination and the the historical eschatological theologians
of of times past have we can see the writing shut up predestination let me just go ahead and define
what predestination means right here predestined to be what conform to the image of a son because
Calvinists believe that people are predestined to go to hell or to go to heaven so let's say this
this is how they think God is you're going to hell you go to heaven you're going to hell you're
definitely going to hell you're going to heaven heaven hell hell hell heaven heaven heaven hell
I mean you think I'm joking but that's exactly what they believe okay and they think that they're
predestined from time that they're born and they're they can't even believe on Christ and
they'll point to this verse to say see predestinations in the Bible no it's just
predestined to be conformed to the image of his son well you said well isn't that part of
salvation after salvation now you can be conformed to the image of his son and by the way we're all
people who are saved are all predestined to be conformed to the image of his son so we all have
that destination of being conformed to his image okay now look what the Bible goes on to say verse
30 moreover whom he did predestinate then he also called and whom he called them he also justified
in whom he justified them he also glorified another scripture that uses that word predestination is in
Ephesians 1 verse 11 you don't have to turn that I'll read it for you it says in whom also we have
obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory who first
trusted in Christ so those who trust in Christ get what gets what they're predestined to do to
obtain the inheritance okay that's the way it works verse 31 what shall we then say to these
things of God before us who can be against us he that spared not his own son but delivered him up
for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things now that's not a verse for you
to claim and say see I can have all things Ferrari the Bentleys the bling bling of this world all
things no in context is talking about the resurrection you know the the joint being a
joint heir who is he that condemneth is it it is Christ that died excuse me I'm sorry I skip
verse number 33 who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect it is God that justified
who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the
right hand of God who also maketh intercessions for us who shall separate us from the love of
Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as it is
written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter
nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us for I am persuaded that
neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come
nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord so why does Paul finish the chapter talking about that because
he's talking about the redemption of our bodies he's talking about the sufferings of Christ or
excuse me the sufferings that we will that we will experience in this world so he's trying to
tell us look all and look you look at the list it's a lot of suffering sword peril nakedness
hunger all these things are sufferings persecution sufferings and he just said this just remember
when you're going through those things you will never be separated from the love of God and that
is a key point for Christians to always remember because the hardest time to remember that God
loves you is when you're going through a hard time because then you wonder man does God really like
look I'm going to such a tough time right now so-and-so died in my family I'm going through
the sickness or whatever it may be and you begin to question you begin a doubt which is very normal
but when that happens go to Romans 8 and remember these things shall not separate us in the love of
God God still loves you okay and his love is not demonstrated by the afflictions he allows you to
go through his love was demonstrated when he allowed Christ to die for you on the cross that's
the greatest form of his love that he could express toward us right and if he was willing to do that
how much more is he willing to give us if we just go through the suffering he shall give us all
things right the cities and they'll be able to reign and ruling reign with Christ and we need
to keep those things in mind so what does this chapter have to do with it really is helping us
to have an eternal perspective so many times Christians are very temporal minded they're
thinking about what's what are we gonna eat for dinner what are we having for lunch now why don't
you start thinking about what am I gonna have in heaven okay and then you'll base your decisions
and your perspective on suffering off of that thought right there all right let's bow our heads
and have a word of prayer father we thank you so much for your word thank you for Romans 8 so much
truth and doctrine packed into that chapter and I pray that you'd help us Lord to remember these
things when we go through sufferings and Lord it's promised we are gonna suffer for your sake I pray
that you'd help us to do so and and may we trust in you and keep your commandments and do all that
we can to to live a life that's pleasing to you when we're a base and when we abound when we when
we have abundance or when we're suffering need and I just pray that you'd help us to be those
kind of Christians that we would walk in the spirit that we may not fulfill the lust of the
flesh that we look forward to the redemption of our bodies one day so we can rule and reign with
you in Jesus name we pray Amen