Romans 8: v15, v18-27
Part two of a mini series by Nigel Beynon on prayer looking especially at the phrase “by him [the Holy Spirit] we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ “
This week: ‘Cry’ - Suffering and prayer - groaning to God.
Please note: this is a recording from Zoom. Due to a blip at the time of recording there is no picture throughout.
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Transcript
Good to see everyone. You may know we’re spending a few weeks thinking about prayer. Our last Sunday in June is going to be a question time. So if a question comes to mind – or you want to ask something else about prayer - please send it to me – email on the notices.
We’re focusing on this phrase in v15 – by him, the Spirit, we cry Abba, Father. Last week we thought about Abba Father, being adopted as children of God.
This week we’re focusing on the word ‘cry’. By the Spirit, we cry Abba Father. Now I thought that word just meant ‘call out’ or ‘say’. But I’ve learnt that the word often means cry out in distress – or pain.
And you may have noticed in our reading there’s a lot about suffering and pain. Back in v17 Paul talked about suffering with Christ. Then v18 we get our present sufferings, then creation being in the pain of childbirth and so on. Paul talks about suffering a lot - so it seems he is talking about crying Abba Father – in suffering.
So we’re going to be thinking about prayer in suffering, but let me make two quick general comments at the start – the Bible says lots of other things about facing suffering – in addition to what we get here. So don’t think this is all the Bible says about suffering.
Secondly – don’t think life is nothing but suffering - elsewhere Paul talks about the many good things God gives us – family, friends, food, nature, art etc. He says we should receive those things as gifts, enjoy them and thank God for them.
But here, in our verses, Paul is facing the reality of suffering.
That raises the question – how do we respond to suffering or hardship.
It’s a relevant question for now - coronavirus is causing great suffering – in illness and death. The news of racism – another death yesterday - makes us aware of unjust suffering. At a personal level – we might be finding lockdown has a way of taking the difficulties we already faced – and intensifying them. Our own failings. Relationships. Family life. Work – lack of work.
How do we respond to all that?
Some people can tend towards denial. They pretend it’s all good. Put on a brave face, don’t talk about it, try not to think about it. Distract yourself, keep busy. Don’t emotionally invest in anything for fear of being hurt. Various forms of denying the reality of suffering
Others can tend towards despair. They don’t deny suffering - they focus on it - they look at the world – look at my life – it’s all bad. You can become cynical, think Jesus is a waste of time, feel hopeless.
Denial – we try and run from suffering. Despair we’re overwhelmed by suffering.
But Paul – he responds to suffering in a very different way. Before we get there I need to mention one other theme here. And that is hope.
V18 ‘I consider our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’
We’ll see Paul is talking about the glory of heaven or God’s new creation. But v24,
Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
We don’t have this new creation yet – it’s a hope we wait for.
Now – when you take suffering – combine that with this hope of glory. Put those together – Paul says that produces – groaning.
We’re going to talk about prayer as groaning.
In this chapter we get three things that groan. First of all,
Creation groans
In v22 ‘We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth’.
Why – well v20 – ‘For the creation was subjected to frustration’ and v21 it longs for the day it will be ‘liberated from its bondage to decay’.
Back in Genesis, when humanity rejected God - he says – now the earth is cursed - it will produces thorns and thistles. Creation isn’t not going to work right. As Paul says – it’s been frustrated.
It’s not just thorns and thistles – we can think of earthquakes and tsunamis – or today of course we think of viruses and pandemics. Here’s the ultimate cause – creation is fallen or put in bondage to decay.
But it longs to be right – it has a hope of being liberated to be what it was meant to be. Released from its lockdown if you like. And God promises one day there will be a new creation – and it will be perfect.
And so now creation groans.
Notice the two sides to groaning. There’s frustration with now. Creation says, I shouldn’t be like this.
And there’s hope - longing for the future – one day I won’t be like this – I’ll be put right and be what I was made to be.
We groan, v23
Secondly we groan, v23– ‘we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for …. the redemption of our bodies.’
We groan because we’re not right. In Romans Paul has described our problem with sin – our rebellion against God – the wrong we do. Even for the Christian cries out - I do what I don’t want to do.
We also face the problem of our mortality – physical weakness, illness and ultimately death.
The answer to both of those things is what Paul calls – the redemption of our bodies. Being raised with new bodies – sin free – disease free – perfect in every way.
And so now we groan. Again groaning is expressing frustration – we shouldn’t be like this. And expressing longing – one day I’ll be what I was made to be.
But with us there’s another element - notice how Paul says it’s we have the first fruits of the Spirit who groan.
The picture of first fruits is – you’re growing crops and when it’s ready you pick the first bit of corn or whatever – that is the first fruits. And the point is – it shows you what is coming. It gives you a taste, a sense, a guarantee of what is coming – because here it is – the first bit.
Well the Spirit is the firstfruits of being saved - we said last week the Spirit gives us life with God, he makes us new inside, makes us children of God.
If you like – it’s a taste of heaven. There’s much more to come – new bodies – new creation – perfect world – but the Spirit gives us the first fruits of that – a taste of knowing God, being forgiven, being in his people.
And Paul is saying – this taste of that future – makes us groan.
I want to try and illustrate this – not sure if this is a bit contrived – but run with me on this.
Imagine a situation where food is awful. Maybe – you’re in prison – hospital – don’t want to be rude – but imagine its bad food. Day after day.
One day – someone from your family comes to visit you. They say – we’re really looking forward to having you home. When you come back we’re going to cook you your favourite meal.
The thought of home food – the flavours – the taste – you can’t wait.
Then they say – actually I brought you a snack – it’s a little bit of what we’re going to have.
You eat the little morsel – and wow – the flavours, the depth, the richness – it’s wonderful. It kind of makes it worse – because it’s gives you a sense – of that meal you want. So it makes you long for it even more. You groan even more.
It’s something like that for us. We groan – frustrated with what’s hard now.
We groan – longing for that perfect future.
And the Spirit gives us a taste of it now – knowing God as father, being forgiven and at peace, being changed to be like Jesus, the goodness of that - it’s like a taste of heaven – and makes us more frustrated, and more longing.
Spirit groans
I said three things groan in this chapter – creation, us, but also the Spirit. V26 ‘we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.’
Sometimes we don’t know what to pray for. Especially in suffering.
Do I pray for my friend to get well, or to have patience while ill? Do I pray for my annoying boss to be moved on or for godliness to bear with it? Do I pray my missionary friends to stop being persecuted or pray they will be a great witness as they suffer? We don’t always know.
But the Spirit helps us – as we groan he groans with us – and v27 he intercedes in accordance with God’s will – he knows God’s plan – so he prays the right thing.
So even when we can’t find the words - our groaning is not wasted – the Spirit takes it and prays it to the Father in the right way.
So hope you’re still with me – to sum up - we face hardship or suffering. We have the certain hope of glory – everything put right. And we have a taste of that by the Spirit. That should lead us to groan.
What does this look like?
Thought I’d finish by trying to give a picture of what this might look like – I’ve got three.
This morning I read about another shooting of a black man in the States. So I groan. Oh Lord, thinking of your perfect world where everyone is equal - makes me feel how wrong racism is. I grieve over it. And repent of what is wrong in me. Please help now – bring greater justice now – thank you that one day just and equality will be complete - I long for that day.
Or maybe we’re struggling in lockdown.
So I groan – Lord I’m struggling. Lost it with kids today trying to work and homeschool. I’m worried I’ll lose my job, I’m stressed about finances. I miss my friends, I’m lonely. Thank you that one day you’ll put me right and I’ll trust you completely - I’ll delight to serve you perfectly in everything I do. What a thought. One day relationships will be perfect and we’ll just enjoy and celebrate each other. One day I’ll be so rich and so secure – I won’t have a worry in the world.
Thank you - I long for that day. Please help me now – change me by your Spirit – and help me live for you today.
Or we think how Jesus said pray for God to be glorified. So I groan. Lord – it’s tragic how so many think so little of you. That is so sad and wrong. Thank you one day – you will be seen for who you truly are and will receive all the praise and adoration you deserve. I sense how good and right that is by your Spirit. So may you be praised today – help me praise you and praise you to others.
Well there are my rather poor efforts at what groaning might look like. I’d love to hear from you your thoughts of how we groan. Sometimes we don’t get to express words – it’s just a groan. I hope you get the sense of holding suffering and glory together – and that leads us in prayer.
I asked - how do we respond to suffering?
Denial? – pretend it’s all good - not face up to it. Paul says – suffering is very much part of life.
We can despair – it’s all bad - think there’s no hope. Paul says that’s not right – there is hope. Certain hope of a new world – you can taste it now by his Spirit.
I think Paul wants us to face up to the suffering and have a firm grip on our hope – as we get both of those – let it come out as a groan. This week whatever hardships and difficulties come – face them – think of God’s wonderful future – how it will answer everything. Put them together – and groan.