Untitled Sermon (4)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 8:28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

INTRO:We know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him.” But do we really know that?

When times are good—when we have steady jobs, when our families are doing well, when no loved one is sick, and there have been no recent deaths—in times like these, well, it is easy to say, “We know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him.” When COVID 19 is not spreading like wild fire.

But what about the other times?

What about times like those I was describing?

In such times we need to be sure we know what we are professing and are not merely mouthing pious nothings.

Now is the time to make that decision that concise choice that you will respond in faith in trust that God has got this situation under control.

Personal testimony: Suicide when i was young. New records. girl friend ect.....

Building our lives on the truth of almighty Sovereign God will give you strength and give hope to weather the storms of life.

WE KNOW: How does Paul know this? Well Paul Himself Had suffered for the Gospel? As a matter a fact in Acts 9:16 Ananias that Paul is a chosen instrument of mine and I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.

He went through beatings, 3 times ship wrecked, a night and day afloat in the deep, imprisonments, stoning, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst and riots. 3 times beaten with rods, 5 times he received from the Jews 39 lashes. Paul knew personally that God had worked through all these things. 2 Cor 11:24-27 Paul even suffered some sort of health issue to that He beseached God for healing Paul understood that these things made us to rely no on ourselves but on God who raises the dead

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 101

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 12:8–10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Paul was no stranger to difficult times.

We also know through the testimony of all of Scripture:

THOSE WHO LOVE GOD: There is nothing more important in the life of a Christian than loving God.



There is nothing that separates Christianity from all the religions of the world than Love. ANE Religions, Baal, Pagan worship, Egyptians Modern Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism Loving God or God living them is a foreign concept. It is all about fear, good and bad luck and earning favor from their deity. Gaining favor from their deity. Not making them mad by giving them offering and sacrifices to appease them and keep them happy, you know there god got hungry also.

Deuteronomy 6

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Dt 6:4–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Notice that this is a command. Just as in the N T Husbands are commanded to love their wives. Love is not and emotion, or feeling . Feeling change emotion come and good with the weather, they change with age and health, amount of sleep we got the night before. Even the size of tax refund.

NOTICE: The promise is not for everyone Only those who love God

We love God because He first loved Us. Adoption He chose us.

John 3 Nic at Night you must be Born again

the Spririt does what it wills We love God because we are His children. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he

will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jas 1:12).

Why do we want our children to love us? Because we have a big bank account ? No, because we are their parent. Our relationship. It’s natural for the child to love the parent and the parent to love the child. If not something is wrong. John 8 children of the devil, because they not no believe Jesus word.

Romans 8:7-9

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 8:7–9).

s.

A. Hostile to God

B. Does not submit to God’s law

C. not even able to do so

D. Can not please God vs. 8

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOG GOOD:

All things is utterly comprehensive, having no qualification limits. Neither this verse not its context allows for restrictions or limits or conditions exceptions . All things is inclusive in the fullest possible sense. No matter what our situation, our suffering, our persecution, even our sinful failures, our pain, our lack of faith, all things work together for our ultimate and eternal good.

This truth is comforting but also very humbling.

Not that all things are good in themselves but that God uses them for good.

Like the ingredients in a cookie mix. they all work together for good.

Some ingredients are rather dry and bland. Others sweet and still others by themselves would make you sick to eat it. but all together they make a delicious treat.

China missionaries before WWII

So many people so few missionaries

Traveling across china to months if it was even possible at certain times of year due to flooding and snow covered mountains Mules

Finding Bible for the people, differendt people groups spoke different languages, could not read anyway.

Than the Japanese invaded China a chased all the missionaries out.

Than came the communist party who Chairman Mao

Joni Erickson Tada: Paralyzed as teenager has severed the Lord and ministered the Gospel world wide.

Breast cancer in the last couple of years

Over 50 years ago the accident happened;

Fox’s book of Myarters

13  Consider the work of God:

who can make straight what he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ec 7:13–14).

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Co 2:6–9).

Isaiah 55:6-9

6  “Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

7  let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 1

). (Is 55:6–9)

This recharacterization specifies how we should understand “working together for good.” It is not our definition of what good looks like—rather, God’s purposes determine the good. He calls us with a specific purpose in mind, and we can have the utmost confidence that all these things we face—including our present suffering—are working together as part of a larger plan that God has ordained. Paul goes on to describe this scenario in more detail.

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. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 4:17–18). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES: Gen. 50

That these difficult times conform us to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

It is the purpose for which believer are saved. Rom 8:28-29

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B. Joseph in Gen. 50 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

  God’s Good Purposes

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 50:15–21). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Even the Ultimate Evil act of All The Crucifixion of God’s own son brought SALVATION to His people.

A. Just as Jesus himself being prefectly righteous man intrusted himself to his heavenly father and endured the cross that brought salvation for us. The Jews and Pilate and Phases had nothing but hate and evil in mind by putting Jesus to death but God turned it to the GREATEST Good of all. Salvation for us.