Views from God’s Everest

God’s call for

re-creation

Romans 8:16-28

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God’s creation

Beauty fades…

Nature red in tooth and claw…

Drought and famine….

Destruction of the environment…

Mankind’s fate of ageing

Our persecuted brothers and sisters….

Disorder in society

Natural disasters

The Creation Mandate

• Genesis 1:26: “let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

• Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

The Curse of the Fall• Genesis 3:17-19: “Because you listened to your wife

and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

• 8:20: For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it

Our glorious inheritance as Our glorious inheritance as children of God…children of God…

• Romans 8:17 “We Romans 8:17 “We are heirs—heirs of are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed with Christ, if indeed we share in his we share in his sufferings in order sufferings in order that we may also that we may also share in his glory.”share in his glory.”

……still one of sufferingstill one of suffering

• John 15:20: “‘No servant is greater than John 15:20: “‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”will persecute you also.”

There is always hope!

• 8:24-25: “For in this hope we were saved…..but if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

• 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

God is in control in our experiences• 8:28: And we know that in

all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God is in control in our prayers

• 8:26-27: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

God is in control in our future

• 8:19 “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”

• 8:21-22 “…that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. “

• 8:23 “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

A new heaven and a new earthA new heaven and a new earth

• Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf will live with the Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf will live with the lamb,the leopard will lie down with the lamb,the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them”together; and a little child will lead them”

• Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”old order of things has passed away.”

And in the meantime?And in the meantime?• 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a

new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”• Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the

pattern of this world, but be transformed by the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”renewing of your mind.”

• 1 Cor 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand 1 Cor 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

• 1 Cor 13:12 “Now we see but a poor reflection as in 1 Cor 13:12 “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.”a mirror; then we shall see face to face.”

• We are called to be Agents of Re-creation

• Agents care for God’s creationAgents care for God’s creation– ““To work the garden and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15)To work the garden and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15)

• Agents share the good news of what God has Agents share the good news of what God has donedone– ““Go into all the world and preach the good news to all Go into all the world and preach the good news to all

creation.” (Mark 16:15)creation.” (Mark 16:15)

• Agents pray for those who are sufferingAgents pray for those who are suffering– ““be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”

(Ephesians 6:18)(Ephesians 6:18)

• Agents seek to defuse quarrelsAgents seek to defuse quarrels– ““Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called

sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

• Agents care for the needy and seek justice for Agents care for the needy and seek justice for themthem– ““He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he

will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)

• Agents might give a gift to charities that further re-creation

• Agents see God’s hand in an adverse Agents see God’s hand in an adverse situationsituation

- And we know that in all things God works - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)(Romans 8:28)

God’s resurrection triumph over death and decay and our call

to be Agents of Re-creation!

Agents of Re-creation• Agents care for God’s creation• Agents share the good news!• Agents pray for those who are

suffering• Agents seek to defuse quarrels• Agents care for the needy and seek

justice for them• Agents may give a Gift to charities

that further re-creation• Agents see God’s hand in an

adverse situation