I surrender all… Romans 8 statements…Suffering and Revealed glory

 

In Romans 12 Paul gives what might be the first altar call. Listen to what he says.…

 

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 

When we surrender to Jesus we gain blessings, not lose them. When we surrender to Jesus we get this;

 

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 

What we gain in our surrender is that our suffering is going to be swallowed up in something called glory.

 

 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer selfis wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

 

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

 

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 

Why so much suffering? Because of the free will of people to make choices. God has given us a say in this world. And our say, for the most part, has been a rejection of God and a gratifying of our own desires and cravings. We call it sin. And we know that sin leaves in its wake hurt destruction and death.

 

The Bible never hides from suffering. Suffering is real. Christians have especially suffered in this world. We all suffer. But for those who surrender to Jesus we get something else. We get this…

 

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 

 2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…

 

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you… But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

 

When we surrender to Jesus we get something just up ahead called glory. It’s glory beyond comparison. It’s so glorious that’ll make our suffering seem like a paper cut.

 

3 ways that this glory his coming to us.

 

Pain will give way to glory. Glory is revealed in pain when we gain Jesus in the midst of pain.

 

2 Corinthains 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

 

He gained something in his suffering. It moved him from self dependence to a place of absolute dependence upon God.

 

The fact is that the suffering of Jesus himself enables you to experience this power of God.

 

Suffering causes us to go through a process where we gain Christ.

 

Pain will give way to glory. Glory will be revealed when we get to heaven.

 

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

 

That is what heaven is all about - being with Jesus.

 

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away…

 

 

Pain will give way to glory. Glory will be revealed when Jesus comes ag