Part 7 Romans 8: Life in the Spirit

Bible Engagement

Part 7

Romans 8:23-27 Diving back in.

Okay Holy Spirit.

I’m sitting here laughing while reading verses 23-27. I hear, “Discuss ‘tandem’ then Go to Psalm 138” first. You cannot make this stuff up but I’m rolling with it.

Two or three years ago, God gave me a word. One word ‘Tandem’. While praying for understanding and direction about tandem, I had a vision of a bike the kind with two seats. The bike was riding down the street on a windy day; two people were on the bike. “Look closer”.

As I looked closer the person on the front seat was the Holy Spirit and I was on the back seat. He was driving the bike so to speak and I was riding along in sync. We were free; it was summertime with a refreshing wind blowing.  When I came out of the vision I heard, ‘tandem’. Looking up the definition of Tandem-I see that it is the name of a bike that has seats and pedals for two riders, one behind the other.

Tandem-

• working or occurring in conjunction with each other (Merriam-Webster.com)
• two people or pieces of equipment that work together to achieve a result, or a team of two people or animals (dictionary.cambridge.com)
• in tandem-If something is done in tandem, two people develop or work on it together or during the same period of time: (dictionary.cambridge.com)
• Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction. (en.wikipedia.org)

Please Pray into this. My hands are on fire. God is speaking here. Tandem………..Read Psalm 133 before you pray over this.

I declare we operate in tandem with Holy Spirit and with each other, on one accord moving in the same direction, in the name of Jesus.

Pray in the Spirit

Psalm 138

138 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Note: The theme for Psalm 138: Thanksgiving for answered prayer. God works out his plans for our lives and will bring us through the difficulties we face. (Life Application Study Bible)

• Vs. 1. Thanksgiving should be an integral part of our lives. This theme is woven throughout the psalms. As we thank God for material and spiritual blessings, we should also thank him for answered prayer. Remember when you asked God for protection, strength, comfort, patience, love, or other special needs and he supplied them? Beware of taking God’s provision and answered prayer for granted.
  • “Before the gods” may mean in the presence of subordinate heavenly beings (angels), or, more likely, it may be a statement ridiculing the kings or gods of the heathen nations. God is the highest in the whole earth.
• Vs. 8 Each of us dreams and makes plans for the future. We work hard to see those dreams and plans come true. But to truly make the most of life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows what is best for us: he alone can “perfect that which concerns me”. As you make plans and dream dreams, talk with God about them.

Romans 8: 23-27 Continued

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

• Note vs. 23 We will be resurrected with bodies, glorified bodies like the body Christ now has in heaven See 1 Corinthians 15:25-58. (Resurrection power both now and eternity)

Reference Scripture Vs. 23

• We have the “firstfruits” the first installment or down payment of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our resurrection life  (See 2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5; Ephesians 1:14).  
• It is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life]. 2 Corinthians 1:22 AMP

• Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise]. 2 Corinthians 5:5 AMP
• Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor. 5:5 NIV

• Who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body. Philippians 3:21 AMP

• Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil.3:21 NIV

*******************************

“The term first fruits here is a concept Paul takes from the Old Testament and applies here to the Holy Spirit. The first fruits were the first fruit of the harvest, which God commanded be offered to Him. When this was done in obedience to God, He then guaranteed that the rest of the harvest would come in. In using the term first fruits here, Paul is telling us that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer is God’s guarantee of the fullness of the harvest of redemption”. (purespiritualmilk.com)

Romans 8:23 Translations:

Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God’s promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which means our bodies will be made free. NCV

And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection]. AMP

And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons). AMPC

Romans 8:23 4 Points

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

1*Firstfruits of the Spirit—First portion. First indicates there is more to follow. Fruit is the outcome or byproduct of having Spirit.

• “Firstfruits” on a farm was the first harvest of ripened crops. In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the “firstfruits” was the first of the harvest that was offered to God. There will be more fruit to come. It is the first installment or foretaste of the greater harvest to come. There will be more harvest to come. We received the Holy Spirit at salvation, but we will reap the greater harvest at our glorification. The Spirit is the down payment or first installment for our glorification in the eternal state.
• The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a promise that Christians will have an eternal harvest in glory. The Holy Spirit is a pledge that God will raise us from the dead. As an engagement ring involves a promise of a future wedding, so the indwelling Holy Spirit is God’s promise to us of our future glorification. (www.versebyversecommentary.com).

2.*Groan-Inner Groan, knowing, hopeful expectation of Believers; Groan is to make a deep inarticulate sound in response to desire, pain or despair. Groan is a sound that doesn’t consist of words.

• No Christian is satisfied completely with the first sheaf of initial salvation; we anticipate the full harvest of our glorification. We have a foretaste of our ultimate salvation in our salvation when the Holy Spirit began to indwell us. It is proper to get homesick for heaven!

• It is because Christians have the Spirit that they anticipate ultimate salvation of souls and even of creation itself. The Spirit Himself is God’s first pledge to the believer of future salvation. The Holy Spirit is the firstfruits or pledge of both present and future redemption.

3*Adoption as sons—Our new legal Identity as sons of God.  Ad-option to choose to take as one’s own. A formal acceptance, endorsement, or permanent choice.

4*Redemption of our bodies—Glorified bodies; the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. Redemption means something has been paid for or bought back, like Christ redeemed us. Redemption refers to deliverance of Christians from sin and its consequences. Redemption the necessary part of salvation to obtain eternal life.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. KJV

Notes Verses 24-25:

• It’s natural for children to trust their parents, even though parents sometimes fail to keep their promises. Our heavenly Father, however, never makes promises he won’t keep. Nevertheless, his plan may take more time than we expect. Rather than acting like impatient children as we wait for his will to unfold, we should place our confidence in God’s goodness, his wisdom, and his perfect timing.
• In Romans Paul presents the idea that salvation is past, present, and future. It is past because we were saved the moment we believed in Jesus Christ as Savior. Our new life, eternal life began at that moment.
• And it is present because we are being saved; this is the process of sanctification. But at the same time, we have not received all the benefits and blessings of salvation that will be ours when Christ’s new Kingdom is completely established. That’s our future salvation.
• While we can be confident of our salvation, we look ahead with hope and trust toward that complete change of body and personality that lies beyond this life, when we will be like Christ (1 John 3:2).

References to Romans 8 Vs. 24:

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) KJV

• We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. NCV
  • for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—AMP
  • For we walk by faith [we [a]regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. AMPC

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober (spiritual stability), putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. KJV

I want to encourage you to become intentional about living your life in the Spirit. This is God’s design; divine strategy for life. Live life in the Spirit by cultivating how God speaks to you. By cultivating your awareness of the voice of God. I have found that engaging and studying the Bible helps me to hear clearer. John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. God speaks to you through Holy Spirit.

Cultivate-to loosen or break up the soil; to foster the growth of; to improve by labor, care, or study; to make friends with. Cultivate is to develop. The Holy Spirit is our Helper our cultivator.

Life in the Spirit is for everyone, it is for You. God loves you and wants you to connect with Him on a different level. From carnal thinking to Spiritual thinking. From thinking with your natural mind to thinking with your Spiritual mind. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; now we have the mind of Christ. When living life in the Spirit, we have to die to self. When we die to self we are not easily offended. Not easily provoked. Not easily distracted and tossed by the enemy.

The natural mind is full of pride, arrogance, self determinaton. Make room in our lives for the Holy Spirit to shake us up. To grab us by the shoulders and shake us; come to yourself. He may shake us; shift us; rock us; break us down to our knees to build us up stronger, better; cause us to cry out in thanksgiving; take the limits off of our individual worship to God. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth John 4:23-24.

2 Corinthians 4:18  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. KJV. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1 KJV.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels (compassion) and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11.

The Warfare over this word Part 7 has been intense. Desperate times call for desperate measures. God is calling His church to Ascend. We must go higher in God, on an individual level; first. It’s Personal. God is taking us to deeper depths and higher heights. We are in a season of ‘Advance Preparation’ and Hope is off the chain. Hope in God. Be Encouraged! God can send a fresh wind—directly to you and change your life in an instant. Set your eyes on Jesus.

Acts 1: 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus Ascends to Heaven: 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weakness): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

• Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us. The Spirit speaks to God with deep feelings that words cannot explain. ICB
• Our Victory in Christ–26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings (too deep for words or wordless groanings). NASB

God loves us so much. Many times, we think about all the things we need to do. We need to pray, need the Word, need to praise, need to express our worship to God; we are instructed to always pray and not to faint or lose hope. To pray without ceasing. However, sometimes we become so performance based that we forget Holy Spirit is our intercessor. Jesus is Sovereign Lord over our lives. If we are not able to perform or do all the things we know to do to fight; we have Holy Spirit who will intercede for us with groanings too deep for words. Therefore, we can Rest. We can get it done with ease and not with strife. We have Help, we are not limited to self reliance.

I have experienced verse 26 in a powerful way. My daughters: Stacey and Tracey. My 33-year-old twin daughters died within 6 months of each other (2022/2023). Stacey had a chronic medical condition which God performed miracle after miracle but she chose not to listen to her doctor’s recommendation. Went into cardiac arrest was revived four times but eventually declared brain dead from lack of oxygen to the brain and Tracey was murdered almost 6 months to the date of Stacey passing.   

God kept me together to get through the funeral and kept the family together. After things settled, I had a conversation with God—-I’m done. I begged God to take me now, right now because I cannot survive this kind of pain. The hurt was deep and unbearable I was sure I would just drop dead. I was speaking all kinds of hopelessness and defeat, and death over myself. Saying, I cannot go on. Please take me. I want to die. I need to die God. Why won’t you just let me die?

He makes intercession; Holy Spirit interceded for me with groanings too deep for words.

Holy Spirit interceded on my behalf and surrounded me with God’s Beautiful People. I thank God for our family, friends, church family, community, online community; the love, prayers, and support was like a floodgate had been opened for us. If you have ever been in a fight for your life, you know what it means to have Christians, Believers, Spirit filled Believers with evidence covering you. It is a beautiful thing. You gain hope when you hear their voice or receive a text. I typically start my videos out with greeting ‘God’s beautiful people’. God’s people are beautiful. I mean it, there is nothing like God’s beautiful people. We represent what is good and beautiful on the earth.

Thank God for my brothers and sisters in the ministry. They had a thick wall of prayer around me and my family and I felt it. Prayer was coming from everywhere and I needed all of it. God literally had a circle of prayer around me. I didn’t have the strength or the mind to ask for it. I was sleep deprived; exhausted; in delayed grief; still trying to work every day. Afraid to let my true feelings out because I thought if I go down I may not make it back up; I must fight.

…He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The first court date for Tracey, I insisted on driving myself and being alone. While driving to court, I heard a voice screaming screaming no no no no no screaming why why why and crying. It was my voice. I tried to pull myself together to drive safely—-but the dam broke. Holy Spirit said, “Let it Out”. I was not aware of driving, the route, the traffic or anything. I arrived at the court safely, parked and went inside. Held it together and made it through. Hallelujah.

On the drive home, I was under the influence of the power of God;  declaring  Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. In the name of Jesus. Hallelujah in the name of Jesus thank you for increased strength. Father Thank you for renewed strength.  Lord, thank for endurance to run the race and not grow weary in the Mighty name of Jesus. Father thank you, you got me walking by faith, I will not faint. Hallelujah—in the name of Jesus.

I arrived home. When you feel like you’re going to flood the house with tears but instead your tears do a backward flip and turn into praise. Praise erupts into prayer. Prayer saturates the room and shifts the atmosphere. When you find yourself in the glory. Under a cloud of glory. Experiencing a glory eruption.

At times when heaviness tries to take over, you start feeling down. Holy Spirit said, go look at yourself in the mirror. You stand there looking at yourself in the mirror. And the spirit of prophecy comes upon you. Praying in the Spirit. I will bless the Lord at all times, and His praise shall continually be in my mouth. You start prophesying to the walls, doors and the floors—-Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together. Let the weak say I am strong. I said let the weak say I am Strong. I’m an overcomer. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…..in the name of Jesus.

Glory Glory Glory. Victory Victory Victory. Revive us Oh God by your Resurrection power in the name of Jesus. It won’t look like what we are used to because it is God’s doing and His timing, the Spirit maketh intercession according to the will of God. It is God’s will that we are girded up for the things to come. It’s new—it is different—but it is for the glory of God.

Our Victory in Christ: 26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. Romans 8:26 NCV

In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 AMP

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Reference Scripture to Romans 8 Vs. 27– Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God

• 1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV. So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. AMP

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Notes to Romans 8 Verses 26 & 27

• As a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems.
• Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers.
• With God helping you pray, you don’t need to be afraid to come before him.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to plead for you “according to the will of God”. Then trust that he will always do what is best.

I believe that God is preparing us for more; more encounters, more souls; our families; the next level, the next generation of Believers. I believe the preparation will be different, less individual performance based and more of team reliance. We are moving from performance to reliance. We will perform, because faith without works is dead. But our performance will be in tandem with Holy Spirit. The shift involves performing but the outcome of the performance will come from our reliance on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The new thing God is doing involves us working in tandem; with one another and with the Spirit of the living God. Tandem requires unity and togetherness. Love is what will align us, line us up to work in tandem; on one accord. In our family, homes, ministry, community, job, business; in the various spheres of influence God has assigned us. Worship will take us from performance to reliance. Yielded-fully Surrendered. Worship will put all eyes of God. Together in unity, in tandem, led by Holy Spirit; and ushered into the glory. Worship is the bike that will transport us to the new thing. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isa. 40:5

People Revived. Revival on another level! Bible Engaging with Holy Spirit is like, an unmapped out conversation. You walk away from the conversation ‘full’. You cannot limit the engagement it to one theme or narrow it down to satisfy your flesh. Who knows what might happen during the conversation. You might get checked, corrected, challenged, stretched and delivered. All you know is that you walk away from the conversation feeling Loved.