SUFFERING AND INTERCESSION
OPEN IT:
Of all the people you’ve ever known, who has suffered the most and what did they suffer from?
Romans 8:18-27
18. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21. that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26. 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 through wordless groans. 27. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
DIG INTO IT:
1. Read Romans 8:18-21 and answer the following questions:
a) Why are our “present sufferings” not worthy to be compared to the “glory” to be “revealed in us”? (v. 18)
b) At what time will the creation and the “sons of God” be revealed? Who are the sons of God? (v. 19)
c) Why and how is the creation in “bondage to decay”? (vv. 20-21)
2. Read Romans 8:22-25 and answer the following questions:
a) How does the analogy of childbirth correspond to the redemption we await? (vv. 22-23)
b) If we are adopted and redeemed when we accept Christ as Savior, is there a future adoption and redemption to look forward to? Explain what you think it is: (v. 22)
c) What exactly is it that we hope for? (vv. 24-25)
3. Read Romans 8:26-27 and answer the following questions:
a) In what way does the Spirit intercede for us? Why? (v. 26)
b) Who all is involved in this intercession?
REFLECT ON IT:
1. Has there ever been a time that your suffering, or the suffering of someone you knew, led you to doubt the goodness and mercy of God?
2. Has suffering ever caused you to draw closer to God? Please explain how and why.
3. Do you ever “groan” (vv. 22-23) as you wait on Jesus’ return? Are you patient as you wait?
4. What do you look forward to the most when Jesus returns?
5. Have you ever been so distressed that you could not pray and the Spirit took over for you? What brought on the pain?
6. What are you suffering from right now that the group could join with you and the Spirit in prayer?
PRAY ABOUT IT:
“The Spirit, when He prays through us, or helps us to meet the mighty “oughtness” of right praying, trims our praying down to the will of God…” ~ R.A.Torrey
Davis, Barry L.. Instant Bible Studies for Small Groups (p. 4). GodSpeed Publishing. Kindle Edition.