Living as Children of God
Series: MADE NEW
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 3rd July 2022
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Good morning, everyone. My name is James. It's good to be with you this morning.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 During the COVID lockdowns, it made intimacy and close connection with family and friends
00:00:14 --> 00:00:19 and even church quite challenging. People were not able to see family and friends for
00:00:19 --> 00:00:24 long periods of time. And I know a number of people have only been able to go back overseas
00:00:24 --> 00:00:33 to see family just in the last couple of months. We had to endure lockdowns with no idea how
00:00:33 --> 00:00:39 long we would be locked down for. And I remember spending a lot of time with my family over
00:00:39 --> 00:00:45 Zoom. Do you remember these times? I don't know if you remember them fondly. It wasn't
00:00:45 --> 00:00:50 the same. For us, spending time with some of our family over Zoom was a bit of a chaotic
00:00:50 --> 00:00:55 mess. Instead of being able to do the big family meal that we would usually do with our
00:00:55 --> 00:01:01 family, what my family did on one particular Friday night is we each went to our local McDonald's
00:01:01 --> 00:01:08 and we picked up Macca's and we came home and we had a Zoom. And so we had a big family meal
00:01:08 --> 00:01:16 together over Zoom. And it was nice. It was fairly chaotic because you've got kids shouting,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:21 you know, where are my nuggets? Don't touch my chips. People are trying to talk over the
00:01:21 --> 00:01:27 top of each other. And the way Zoom works, it just doesn't understand voices if everybody's
00:01:27 --> 00:01:34 speaking at the same time. So we lasted about an hour. And then it was like, okay, this is
00:01:34 --> 00:01:43 nice. We all just need to go now. But even though it was hard and it was not ideal, we still
00:01:43 --> 00:01:49 did these types of things. We still did it. We continued to value important relationships
00:01:49 --> 00:01:55 and use these kinds of technologies even though it wasn't ideal. We didn't just say, oh, look,
00:01:56 --> 00:02:01 if I can't actually come and see you, I'm just not going to talk to you for the next three
00:02:01 --> 00:02:06 months, six months. I'm just going to put our relationship on pause because it's just too
00:02:06 --> 00:02:14 hard. We didn't do that. And yet, I wonder if we can do that with God. God, it's really
00:02:14 --> 00:02:20 hard to talk to you. It's hard to hear from you. It's hard to pray. I'd much rather you
00:02:20 --> 00:02:28 spoke to me directly. And so it's a bit hard to do that. And so maybe I just won't talk to
00:02:28 --> 00:02:35 you that much. Is it possible that the challenges we face, living in a sinful world and struggling
00:02:35 --> 00:02:45 with our own sinful hearts, tempts us to put a distance between us and God because it's not
00:02:45 --> 00:02:51 always easy to talk to him? We have been going through the book of Romans, as Ash has mentioned
00:02:51 --> 00:03:00 for us already, and we've seen this wonderful picture of God's love for us. Despite our sin,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:09 despite our shame, despite our rebellion, God would justify us. He would wipe away our sin and our pain
00:03:09 --> 00:03:16 so that we can stand before him, so that we can stand. And with Jesus at God's side, and Jesus can say,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:26 this one, I died for this one. And so we have a new legal standing before God. And today, we're going
00:03:26 --> 00:03:32 to see that we not only have a new legal standing, but we've actually been saved for a purpose. We've
00:03:32 --> 00:03:39 been saved for relationship. And the challenge for us today is to see that we can have wonderful
00:03:39 --> 00:03:48 intimacy with our God, despite the challenges around us. And so even though there's challenges
00:03:48 --> 00:03:55 and we groan as we wait, that is the challenge set before us. To understand what it means to be a
00:03:55 --> 00:04:01 child of God. So there's two points for us today, and you can see them in the St. Paul's app or on the
00:04:01 --> 00:04:09 screen. The first point, let's see if I can get my clicker working. Let's see. Let's see, Wendy, if you can
00:04:09 --> 00:04:14 put it over there so I can get... There we go. The present hope of adoption and the future hope of
00:04:14 --> 00:04:21 adoption. Let me pray as we begin. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word to us. And we thank you
00:04:21 --> 00:04:27 for Paul's words to the church in Rome that we get to read and hear and understand today. Be with us,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:33 Lord, so that we would understand more of who you are, of who we are as your children,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:42 that we would get to know you and love you, Lord. Amen. Throughout Romans, Paul has looked at salvation
00:04:42 --> 00:04:51 from a legal perspective. We now have a new legal standing before God. But now he looks at salvation
00:04:51 --> 00:04:56 from a relational perspective. We have a new relationship with God. And so today we're going
00:04:56 --> 00:05:03 to start off with a beautiful picture of adoption, being brought into God's family.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 And so we're going to go through the first couple of verses of this passage fairly slowly
00:05:07 --> 00:05:13 before we speed up through the rest of the passage today. So have a look with me at verse 14 in your
00:05:13 --> 00:05:22 Bibles or on the screen. From verse 14, which says, for those who are led by the Spirit of God
00:05:22 --> 00:05:33 are the children of God. What makes a person a child of God? Who decides the adoption? It seems like in the
00:05:33 --> 00:05:41 moment of salvation it is us. I remember when I became a Christian, the year was 1997, I heard the
00:05:41 --> 00:05:48 gospel preached and I went, that's what I want. I want to be a child of God. And in the moment, it seemed
00:05:48 --> 00:05:57 like it was me choosing God. But Paul is reminding us here that it is only at the initiation of God. God is
00:05:57 --> 00:06:04 the one who sends his Spirit so that we can be his children. My feelings in that moment of me choosing
00:06:04 --> 00:06:11 God are just confirmation of what God was doing in my heart. And it's true of all people who follow
00:06:11 --> 00:06:18 Jesus. If you, by faith in Jesus, are trusting in him, that means that you have God's Spirit.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:26 And as we start to talk about what it means to be adopted as God's children, I can't help but think of
00:06:26 --> 00:06:34 scenes in movies like Annie. You know, you think of a scene in an orphanage and a couple of parents.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:40 I can't remember what's Annie's adopted father's name. Daddy Warbucks. I remember it was something.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:49 Daddy Warbucks. Daddy Warbucks comes in and chooses Annie and takes Annie home. It is at the initiation of
00:06:49 --> 00:06:56 the parents to adopt. I don't think I've ever heard of a child who's in an orphanage going out to a
00:06:56 --> 00:07:02 street going, adult, you there. I'll take you. You adopt me. Thank you. And I'm going to go home with
00:07:02 --> 00:07:11 you. That's not how it works. God is the one who has come and found us. He has given us his Spirit to
00:07:11 --> 00:07:20 adopt us to be his children. And what does this Holy Spirit do? Verse 15, it changes our relationship
00:07:20 --> 00:07:28 with God. The Spirit you receive does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again. Rather,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:35 the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Adoption to sonship. This is one of the
00:07:35 --> 00:07:40 the key themes of the entire Bible. You go back to the very creation of the world. God makes the world
00:07:40 --> 00:07:48 and he puts Adam and Eve there to be his children. They rebel against him. And so after a while he takes
00:07:48 --> 00:07:56 the people, Israel, to be his children. And again, they rebel against him. And so finally he sends his own
00:07:56 --> 00:08:04 child Jesus to come so that we could be adopted as his children. Adoption to God's children
00:08:04 --> 00:08:14 is the point of redemption. Jesus doesn't just pay for our sins to just make us a little bit better,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:21 but for the purpose of being in relationship with God. God takes us who were slaves,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:32 those who were stuck in fear of God's wrath, and he brings us close. He adopts us into his family
00:08:32 --> 00:08:40 and he adopts us as sons. Now this book is called Romans. It was written to people in Rome. And in the
00:08:40 --> 00:08:47 Greco-Roman world, adoption was a much more customary practice. What would happen is if there was a
00:08:47 --> 00:08:56 wealthy adult who didn't have any children, they would need an heir. And so what they would do is they
00:08:56 --> 00:09:03 would go and find a child, a teenager, or even another adult to be an heir, and they would adopt
00:09:03 --> 00:09:10 them. And this person who was wealthy would adopt them. And the moment the adoption occurred, for this
00:09:10 --> 00:09:17 child being brought in, all of their legal debt, all of their debts were paid. If there was any debts
00:09:17 --> 00:09:23 outstanding, that was paid by their new adoptive parent. Instantly, they were the heir of everything
00:09:23 --> 00:09:31 their father had. And third, the father is now responsible for all of their actions. And this child now has
00:09:31 --> 00:09:38 new responsibility to honor their parent. If you've seen the movie Ben-Hur, which came out about 400 years
00:09:38 --> 00:09:46 ago, there's a wonderful scene in this movie where the main character Ben-Hur, in this time, is given this
00:09:46 --> 00:09:54 legal standing by the adopted parent. And the adopted parent gives him his signet ring to show that he
00:09:54 --> 00:10:03 has all authority and power, just like his father. All of this cultural understanding sits behind verse 15.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:14 God adopts people to be his sons. In our time, it's considered insensitive to refer to men and women as sons,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:22 but it's important to understand the point Paul is making here. In Rome, the status of sonship
00:10:22 --> 00:10:30 was the position of power and privilege. And it was only ever given to males. And so Paul is actually
00:10:30 --> 00:10:36 being radical here when he applies it to everyone, to males and females. All are God's heirs.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:44 It was a culturally subversive thing for Paul to do then. It's culturally subversive for him to do it
00:10:44 --> 00:10:54 now, to take a masculine-only institution and show that in Jesus, adoption is for everyone. This place
00:10:54 --> 00:11:02 of power and privilege was for everyone without distinction. God uses different metaphors, masculine
00:11:02 --> 00:11:06 metaphors and feminine metaphors. So women, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable being called sons,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:11 just as men, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable being called the bride of Christ.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:17 Even if it sounds strange to our ears, God is equal with his masculine and feminine metaphors.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:27 So we've seen that salvation and adoption are for relationship. And because God has brought us
00:11:27 --> 00:11:34 close to him as sons, we can have the greatest intimacy. The second half of verse 15 says,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 let me see, Wendy, can you click it over for me, dear sister? Thank you.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:48 By him we cry, Abba, Father. Kids, children, I need your attention for a moment. Kids, it's good to
00:11:48 --> 00:11:56 have you in church today. I've got a quick question for you. What do you call your parents? Micah,
00:11:56 --> 00:12:04 what do you call your parents? Dada and mama. Okay, I don't know if I've actually ever heard him say that.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:14 Dad, dad, mom. Hey, Sophie, question for you. What do you call dad when you really want something?
00:12:21 --> 00:12:28 Dad, you just say dad. I wonder if our kids would ever lengthen that out a little bit.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:34 Daddy. Micah, is that what you would say? No, I'd say lollipop.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 Lollipop. I'm pretty sure that's not my name.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:45 Our kids are the only ones who can call their parents these very intimate names. Dad, mom.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:50 If any of you started calling me that, I'd be very confused.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:58 And what do they call them when they want something? Not just dad or mom, but the most intimate. It's daddy.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 It is a very intimate term.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:10 I kind of go in between calling my parents by dad and mom and by their first names these days.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:18 When our children request things of their parents, they do so based on intimacy.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:26 You know, Micah, Tamara, and Isaac are the only one who can use those very intimate terms with me.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:30 Paul tells us that we are brought into God's family as his sons,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 with all power, responsibility, and privilege.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:40 But we also get to call on him by the power of the Spirit with a very intimate term.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 Abba. Dad.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 Some might even suggest it's daddy.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:50 Which sounds very strange to our ears to call the creator of the universe
00:13:50 --> 00:13:55 who made all things and has power over all things and is outside time and creation.
00:13:55 --> 00:14:00 But we can call him dad with the most intimate term.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:04 God is no longer distant.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:09 He's no longer just a theological idea.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 He's no longer just something that we believe in intellectually.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 But we get to cry out to him as dad.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:22 A word which expresses our deep emotion and our real knowledge of our father.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:27 And there's a wonderful benefit to being adopted and being able to cry out to him.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 Paul says in verse 16,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:35 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:41 It's as if we're crying out to help from God for assurance, for comfort.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:45 And the Spirit comes alongside us as a witness to testify.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:51 We can look at our life and we can testify about our own life.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 That since we became Christians there's been change.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 I've changed in these ways.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 My words are different.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 What I love is different.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 It is more like the things that God loves.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 The way I treat people.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 I'm far more patient like my heavenly father.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:13 So we can testify to ourselves about how we have changed.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:18 But Paul is saying here that the Spirit also comes alongside us to testify.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 And it seems to be a direct testimony to our hearts.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:28 This is potentially a sense of God's presence in our hearts.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:32 Something that we're not going to get all the time or even very often.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:36 But there will be times when we cry out to God as Father.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 As Dad.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:44 When we find ourselves deeply assured that He is there and that He is listening.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:51 When we were in COVID lockdown, meeting together over Zoom was good.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 But made us look forward to the future.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 Which wasn't over screens.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 Friends.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 For the Christian we are promised a better future.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 Verse 17.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 Now if we are.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 Now verse 17.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 Thank you Wendy.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 Now if we are children then we are heirs.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:19 If indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 This is again radical for the time.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:27 In the ancient world there was only ever one heir.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 Usually the firstborn son they would be the heir.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 And they would receive the vast majority of the wealth.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 They would continue on the family name and the family business.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:44 But now in another radical turn Paul is saying that we are all heirs.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 We all get the majority of God's wealth.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:54 It's as if what God has in store for us is so grand and so glorious.
00:16:54 --> 00:17:00 That it will seem as if we've each received far more than we deserve from God.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:06 This is a truly wonderful picture of what it means to be God's child.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:12 There's a quote here from Thomas Watson who was an English Puritan preacher.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:16 He said since God has a son of His own and such a son.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:20 How wonderful God's love in adopting us.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:26 We needed a father but He did not need sons.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:31 He did not need sons and yet He chose adoption.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 To be His children.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 With full standing before Him.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 With an inheritance that will not fade.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 With assurance and intimacy.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:55 Have you ever heard of a lifeguard pulling someone out of the water saving them and saying hey do you want to be best friends?
00:17:55 --> 00:18:01 Or a firefighter pulling someone out of a fire and getting them out and saying hey I'm going to a barbecue later.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Do you want to come to a barbecue?
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 This just doesn't happen.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 Lifeguards, firefighters, it's their job to save people.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 But they don't have relationships with them.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:19 God doesn't just save people and say there you go.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 I've made your life a bit better.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 Keep going how you were.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:28 I'm not sure what your relationship with your parents is like.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 Whether they are good, caring, loving parents.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:38 I'm not sure if they were physically present but emotionally distant or even abusive.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:44 All of this influences our view of God as a father.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:50 But there is a beautiful picture here from Paul in Romans that we have a God who delights in us.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:54 Who wants us to draw close to Him.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:59 Who has saved us so that He can have a relationship with us.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:03 We have been saved for a purpose.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:07 Called to know Him.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 To be close with Him.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:11 To be able to cry out to Him as Father.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 Is this something that we're doing?
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 Is this something that we're doing?
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 Or is this just something that is a bit hard?
00:19:20 --> 00:19:24 The relationship with God has become a bit distant because it's a bit hard to do.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 And there are challenges around us.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 This is a beautiful picture of adoption.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 To be intimate children with God.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37 But Paul's very aware of the challenges around us.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 It's our second point today.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 The future hope of adoption.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:45 Much like the challenge of having a deep relationship over COVID.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:52 Paul moves to speak about challenges that we face while we are awaiting adoption.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:56 And so on the one hand Paul says we are adopted.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 But he also says we are awaiting adoption.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:03 It's described as the now but not yet tension.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 We have these wonderful blessings.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:10 But we're also waiting on other blessings from God.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14 We get to call Him Abba Father.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 But we don't yet have full intimacy with Him.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 We're still waiting for Him.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:22 And as we wait there are challenges.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 There are challenges outside us.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 And there are challenges inside of us.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:32 Verse 20 tells us that because of the sin of Adam and Eve.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:35 Creation was subjected to frustration.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 There are problems in the world around us.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 Nature is not what it should be.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:47 It's not as beautiful as it should be.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 It's not as it was created to be.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:52 Humans were made to care for the world around us.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 We were meant to be the stewards.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:59 But because of our sin it's not just damaged us.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 It's also damaged the world.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 I was at the dentist the other day.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:10 And one of my favorite things about this dentist is they've got TV screens on the ceilings.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:16 It's a really wonderful thing because it means that while I'm lying back and having people in my mouth.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 They were very happy with me by the way.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Just in case you were worried.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 Thank you for your care and worry.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:26 It means while they're doing whatever they need to do I can be distracted and watch what's happening on the screen above me.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:30 And on the screen the other day was a documentary about penguins.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 And it was very cute fluffy things.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:39 But what it continued to show every shot was of ice falling off cliffs.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:45 Of the water you know it was of the ice melting.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:49 Really heartbreaking shots of penguins on being on the same piece of ice.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:52 But then it cracks and then they're on two different pieces of ice.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:55 And you're like oh the penguins they're being separated.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 But of course they can swim so it's not that bad.
00:21:57 --> 00:22:06 But I couldn't help but think about the impact of mankind and our sin on the world.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:13 And whether or not you completely subscribe to the idea of climate change or think it's overblown.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:19 We don't need to look much further than the fires and the floods that have been happening in the last year and last day.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:23 To realize that there are things wrong in our world.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:29 And Paul describes this as the creation is groaning in verse 22.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 If you can go to verse 22 for me Wendy.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:40 The creation itself is groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 There is pain.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 There is misery.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:49 No experience in this creation goes without being tainted by pain and by sin.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:55 But just like childbirth there is an end.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 There is a joyful end.
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 None of this is the last word.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 Verse 21.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:04 Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:08 And brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 This is a strange thing Paul is doing here.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:13 Paul is making the creation, the entire creation like a person.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:21 And it's as if this person is waiting for us to see God fully.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:25 To have the glory of God that we're waiting for.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:29 Creation itself is looking forward to us being redeemed.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 Because it's going to be redeemed too.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:38 But it's not just the world around us that's longing for that.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:42 We groan as we wait for Jesus to return to.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 Verse 23.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:48 We ourselves who have the first fruits of the spirit.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:54 Groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 The redemption of our bodies.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 We now have the first fruits.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 The first part of the harvest.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:04 A taste of the goodness of God that is to come.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 But we're also waiting adoption.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 We're waiting for the redemption of our bodies.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:14 Creation is eagerly awaiting redemption.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:17 And we are eagerly awaiting redemption.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:21 Paul can say earlier that we are adopted.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 But we're also waiting adoption.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 It's as if the legal papers have been signed.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:31 And we're there at the door of the orphanage waiting with our bags packed.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 Waiting for God to come.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:38 I know of families who have adopted children.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 And they celebrate two different days.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 They celebrate the child's birthday.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:48 But they also celebrate the day that child came home.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 And so we wait.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 We celebrate our birthdays.
00:24:54 --> 00:25:00 But we also eagerly await the day we get to go home to be with our Lord.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 Now I don't know the day that I became a Christian.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 But I know it was in 1997.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 So I remember that.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 It was 25 years ago.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:13 But I'm really waiting for that day I get to go home.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 Hoping for the redemption of our bodies.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:21 Not just from the physical pain of bodies that are falling apart.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:27 Not just the longing for an end to flu and COVID and sickness and death.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 Not just that.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:33 But in chapter 7 of Romans, Paul talks about the battle in our hearts.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:38 And at the battle with our bodies to obey him.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:43 And so I'm longing for when I'm not going to desire sin.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:47 My every desire will be to glory in God and to enjoy him.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 And so we groan now.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 Because this is not our home.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:57 We are in a fallen creation.
00:25:58 --> 00:26:01 With bodies that are against our desire to follow our Father.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:05 And God's Spirit helps us to groan to him in need.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 This is not our home.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 But we are adopted and awaiting adoption.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:14 And so the Christian is to live with their bags packed.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 Waiting with the expectation of the hope that is to come.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 And so what do we do now?
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 We enjoy relationship with God.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:27 We grow closer in intimacy with him.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:34 And we see the suffering around and inside as the challenges of labor pains.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:38 Labor pains that have an end because our hope is yet to come.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 I had COVID back in January.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:45 And I promise I'll stop talking about COVID soon.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 I had COVID back in January.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 And I kicked one of my kids out of their bedroom.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:52 And I took over their bedroom so I could isolate from the family.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 Which was good because nobody else in my family got it.
00:26:54 --> 00:27:00 But one of the few things I was able to do for my family was read books to them.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:05 And so at the start of isolation they slid some books over to me.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 And they were like, that's my book now.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 This isn't leaving this room.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 And so at night I would read to them.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 As much as I was able with an incredibly sore throat.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:18 And so what would happen is they'd be sitting on one side of the bedroom.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Of one side of the doorway.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 And I'd be on the other doorway.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 And I'd read.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 And it was fine.
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 And it was good.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 It was something I was able to do.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 When I couldn't do much else.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 But I remember Micah saying,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:36 Dad, I just want to hug.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 And it was really hard to say,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 No, you can't actually cross this line here.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 I don't want to make you sick.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:47 And whilst I longed to hug them,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 I didn't cut off relationship.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:52 I didn't cut off connection because it wasn't perfect.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:55 Despite the challenges of the season,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:59 there was still relationship and longing made a couple of days.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 Longing for what was to come.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 And brothers and sisters, that is where we sit right now.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 Longing for what is to come.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:11 It's as if we are relating to God through a Zoom screen.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 It is not ideal.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 It is not a preference.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 We talk in prayer.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 We hear and read His word.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:22 Waiting for the full adoption where we will see Him face to face.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:27 But that doesn't mean we ignore Him now because it is not as we want it to be.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 Brothers and sisters, if you're not following this God,
00:28:30 --> 00:28:34 maybe you're not sure what it would look like to talk to Him.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 Maybe you're thinking, I want this relationship.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 I'm groaning.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 I tell you what, I'm groaning.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 There are challenges.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:44 I've never felt loved or valued by my parents.
00:28:45 --> 00:28:48 Let me tell you, there is a Heavenly Father
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 who not only forgives you and loves you,
00:28:51 --> 00:28:54 but wants to know you, to talk to you, and values you.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 If you want to know that God,
00:28:56 --> 00:29:00 if you want to come and talk to me after
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 and get to know this God,
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 I'm going to be down the front straight after church.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 But I know some are sitting here today
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 wondering if God is even hearing their prayers.
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 Some of us are crying out to God for help.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 God, I've got challenges at home.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 I've got challenges at work.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:21 I turn the TV on and I see the challenges around the world.
00:29:22 --> 00:29:26 I'm groaning, Lord, because I've got challenges with my body.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:30 I'm groaning because I've got challenges of the flesh.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:33 I'm tempted to sin and I don't want to do that.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:39 The wonderful promise of the Bible is that our God adopts us.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 He calls us into his family
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 and we get to call out to him with intimacy.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 God, come and help me.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 He knows our struggles,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 the challenges we face from creation,
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 from the creation groaning
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 and the challenges of our lives.
00:29:56 --> 00:29:59 And so we get to call out to the God who knows us,
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 who loves us and is with us
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 as we are waiting to be with him fully.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 Let me pray.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 Our Heavenly Father,
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 we thank you, Lord, for your word to us today.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:16 God, we ask that you would call us
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 to know you and to love you,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:22 that we would get to talk to you daily.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:26 Lord, even though it is not ideal,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 we want to talk to you face to face.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:33 Lord, remind us that you are with us,
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 that you hear us.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 We thank you for your spirit
00:30:36 --> 00:30:39 by which we get to call you Dad,
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 a very intimate name.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 Remind us today
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 of your love for us
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 in this relationship, Lord.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:51 We pray this in Jesus' name.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 Amen.