Romans - Week 18

The Holy Spirit

READ

Romans 8:26-27

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Sometimes when you begin to pray, are you are at a loss for words for what you want to express? You can take comfort as a believer in Christ that you have the Holy Spirit living in you. He can express matters to the heavenly Father that you are unable to find the words for. The Holy Spirit knows what is God’s will for you so He will pray accordingly. After all, your desire as a believer should be that in whatever situation you face God’s will is done.

REFLECT     

In times of prayer, are you confident the Holy Spirit knows how to pray for you even though you don’t know what to say?

RESPOND

It can be encouraging to know that the even Jesus prayed that the Father’s will be done. See passages, such as Matthew 6:9-10; 26:41-42.

According to His Purpose

READ

Romans 8:28-29

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

This is one of the most familiar—and most used—verses in the Bible. Verse 28 does not mean that everything at the time will seem good, but that the outcome will be good. No matter what your difficulty, you can be assured that God is working the details together according to His purpose for you. And what is His purpose? Verse 29 gives the answer—that you may be like His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “firstborn” in the sense that He has supremacy above everyone else.

REFLECT

Does this help you to think differently about the problems you are facing? Thank God that it will all be used to help you be more like Jesus.

RESPOND

Read 1 John 4:16-17 that refers to being “like Jesus.” Make this your goal.

His Glory

READ

Romans 8:30

30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

There are excellent truths in this short passage. God has chosen some and called them to come to Him. The result is to be in right standing with God. That in itself would be enough, but in addition God has given them His glory. For believers, in the process begun by God, all will be carried through to the end. Sometimes you may not “feel” like you expected, but this passage assures every believer that he or she is secure in Christ.

REFLECT

Do you sometimes let feelings get the upper hand in your life? Thank the Lord that regardless of your feelings you are secure because you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

RESPOND

Notice another Bible passage that talks about the security of the believer in Christ. With your disciple, read and talk about John 10:28-30.

Who Can Be Against Us?

READ

Romans 8:31-32

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Because God did not spare even his own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

As he was writing these words, Paul rejoiced in the wonderful things God has done for believers. If the heavenly Father did not even spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, think of what else the Father will do for us. God will shower on believers every spiritual blessing, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3. A believer in Jesus is the most spiritually rich person there could ever be.

REFLECT

Think about all the spiritual riches you have because you know Jesus as Savior. Ponder what your life used to be like in contrast to what it is now. Focus on the peace you have about someday seeing Jesus face to face.

RESPOND

Get some writing materials. Draw a line down the middle of the page. On one side write what your life was like before you trusted Jesus as Savior. On the other side write what it is like now. Use some of these contrasts in future testimonies to others. Talk with your disciple about this project.

Who Will Condemn Us?

READ

Romans 8:33-34

33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Many people in the world have no confidence they are ready to step into eternity. Yet, for those who have trusted in Jesus for salvation, they have been made right with God. Others may criticize and try to condemn you, but no one can successfully condemn you because the resurrection of Jesus proves you have put your trust in the right person. There have been many religious leaders in the past, but only the grave of the Lord Jesus Christ is empty. Notice that Jesus is now at the Father’s right hand praying for you.

REFLECT

Pause to think about how blessed you are if you have put your faith in Jesus for salvation. You have something no one can take from you.

RESPOND

Think about the assurance of 1 Corinthians 15:58 that tells you nothing ever done for the Lord is wasted. Read also Colossians 3:23-24 that tells how to serve the Lord.