Intro: FDR and listening. Telling people that he murdered his grandmother.

Someone finally heard him:

This takes on serious tones though when we start to ask: Does God Listen? Does he care?

Illustration:
Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died
Police released disturbing audio of an Arkansas woman who called for help in the final moments of her life,
drowning in her car, but was met with mockery and disdain, drawing public outrage.
Debbie Stevens, 47, was on her regular paper route in Fort Smith Saturday, Aug. 24 when a flash flood swept
up her car. Panicking, she dialed 911.
The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks earlier
according to the Fort Smith Police Department, replied flippantly telling her authorities will get there when
they get there and that she's not going to die, at one point telling her to "shut up."

Stevens pleaded for help and prayer but received a lecture:  "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in
the water," Reneau responds. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so."
https://apple.news/ANPPqd975QBCsMNMlDe5TXA

Often times because of formative experiences, whether care to admit it or not, we picture God is like that.

We often picture him as someone whom we need to please. Maybe someone whom we need too get his
attention.

Illustration:: Elijah and the priests cutting themselves trying to get their God’s attention.

But God does it even better than merely listen to you. The Spirit does better than listen he speaks for you.
This is for those who trust in Jesus.

The Great intercession! We’re not in this alone! The Spirit intercedes for us!
We’re not in this alone!

The Spirit Intercedes with wordless groans. We’re not in this alone!
Because of v.26-27

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,
26 

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.

we can take comfort in v.28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
28  [i]

called according to his purpose.

All things working for God’s purposes in being part of God’s family centered on Christ.
This can be quite misunderstood and misapplied!

we usually focus on this: “…in all things God works for the good”

But keep the whole verse and context in mind: 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.

Illustration: My own experience the most painful things in life being used to help others.

“One day this pain will be of use to you.” One day your pain will be of use to another.

Illustration: Example of Phillip Cary saying that he heard one preacher say she felt the HS lead her to a parking
place. My friends the HS doesn't want to lead you to a parking place, he wants to lead you into becoming more
like Jesus!! And he will use all of our experiences in doing so..
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.

29 
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

This is no just a generic goodness but specifically centered in Christ. (The Spirit that groans through us and
joins his voice with our Spirit is, as Paul made clear earlier in this chapter: the Spirit of Jesus Christ)

In the midst of our suffering God’s Spirit cries out in intercession for us so that we can be shaped like Christ
Just because we’re promised that we’ll be part of new family of God doesn’t mean life is going to be pain free:
Invited into a family and we’re meant to resemble that family:.
29 
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

John Calvin: “Those whom the Lord has chosen and honoured with his friendship must be prepared for a hard,
strenuous and testing life, full of many different troubles.  It is the Father’s will to exercise his followers in this
way, putting them to the test.  He put Christ his firstborn through the course, and… the Apostle declares that
all God’s children are destined to be conformed to him.”
Christ died to make us like him:
Illustration: dead log as other little pine trees growing in it. Christ died to make other children of god who
will look like him.
In other words: as Christians God will shape us to have a family resemblance to Christ.
This doesn’t mean there’s not hardship.

Illustration: dead log as other little pine trees growing in it. Christ died to make other children of god who
will look like him.