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VICTORY IN JESUS - PART 3

Introduction:

We left off in last week after talking about how the Spirit helps us in our prayer life with groanings that cannot be uttered.

The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God because He is God! And so He takes our feeble approaches to prayer and makes intercession for us according to the will of God.

We will see tonight that Verses 28-30 are vitally connected to these truths!

Besides John 3:16, Romans 8:28 may be the most beloved and claimed promise of the New Testament. And, there is good reason for that!

This life is so filled with trials and troubles, it is good to know that everything is being worked out according to the plan of a great God!

(Vs 28)

This statement may be hard to believe, but it is one that is absolutely true nonetheless! This is the ironclad promise of God! His reputation rides on this verse being true, and it is!

Now understand, He did not say that all things are good, but that they will work for good. It is a promise that is as good as the God Who made it!

I.           NOTICE THE CONFIDENCE!

              “And we know. . .”

              This is not a “hope so” or “maybe so.” It says “we know!”

There are a lot of things in this life that we can’t know! But this is something we can know!

II.         NOTICE THE COMPLETENESS!

              “. . .all things”

              Not "most", not "some", but "ALL"!

              Webster defines this word “all” as:

              1)        The whole of, the greatest possible;

              2)        Every member or individual part of;

              3)        The whole number or sum of;

              4)        Every;

              5)        Any whatever.

              i.e.       All means all and that’s all that all means!

In fact, every thing in the life of the child of God is working for his good!

              That means that even the things we don't understand.

              That means even the things we don’t like!

              CONFIDENCE. . .COMPLETENESS. . .

III.        NOTICE THE COMPOSITION!

              “. . .all things work together for good. . .” 

Let’s talk about some of these areas where God is working out our good and His glory.

               A.        Sweet Things Work For Our Good !

It is easy to see how the sweet things in life work for us.

(When things are going well with our home, family, our jobs, our health, our finances, etc.)

Those are the things that make life good and make us feel good about things.

In fact, these blessings from the Lord ought to cause us to want to be better Christians!

Romans 2:4–“. . .the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

We ought to thank and praise Him for His blessings!

1 Thessalonians 5:18–“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Hebrews 13:15–“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”

                          Sweet Things Work For Our Good!

               B.        Sorrowful Things Work For Our Good!

What if we were invaded by another nation and carried off into slavery. Would that be good? No, but God says that it will work together for our good!

What if you lost a loved one tonight to death? Would that be good? No, but God says that it will work together for our good!

There are several examples in the Word of God where extremely sorrowful things happened to people and it all worked for their good in the end.

                          Jacob - Genesis 42:36

                          Joseph - Genesis 50:20

                          Manasseh - 2 Chronicles 33:10-13

                          The Psalmist - Psalm. 119:67, 71 

                          Judah - Jeremiah 24:5

Often the sickbed, the valley of suffering, or the time of sorrow can teach someone better than any sermon or lesson that I might bring!

When God allows a time of sorrow, suffering or pain in our lives, it is always for our good and for His glory.

He never said we had to like it, but we should still strive to be thankful! Someone once said, “it is the eye that is washed with tears that sees the best!”

            C.          Satanic Things Work For Our Good!

                          (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Paul endured Satanic attack and affliction. But, God allowed it and gave him grace to use it to grow in his life!

God can even use the devil to work out good things in our lives. Even Satanic attack is used by the Lord to grow us up more into His image.

              D.        Sinful Things Work For Our Good!

Christians ought not sin! But, when we do, we will suffer for it!

Revelation 3:19–“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

But God can take the suffering brought about by our sin and use it for our good!

God uses all the circumstances of life for our good!

We may not see the good right now, but we can still take comfort and rejoice in the completeness of God's promise!

              CONFIDENCE. . .COMPLETENESS. . .COMPOSITION. . .

IV.        NOTICE THE CONDITION!

This promise is not for everyone. But, rather it is only to those who love God!

If all things work together for good to the lover of God, the opposite must be true for those who do not love him!

If you went to a physician whom you didn't trust, you wouldn't follow his prescription and treatment and as a result, you wouldn't experience the blessing of healing.

If you do not love God, and trust His wisdom, you will rebel against Him and refuse to submit to Him for your life.

How can I tell if I really love God?

               1.         Are you saved? You can't love Him until you know Him

                          1 John 4:19–“We love Him because He first loved us.”

              2.         Are you obedient?

                          John 14:15–“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 14:21–“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them , he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

You have no right to claim Romans 8:28 unless you qualify as one who loves Him!

CONFIDENCE. . .COMPLETENESS. . .COMPOSITION. . . CONDITION. . .

V.          NOTICE THE CAUSE! (Vs 29)

These things aren't "just working out" for the believer! They are taking place because of the personal concern and work of God in the life of that believer!

The cause is the awesome power and purpose of God!

He is all-powerful, all-knowing and He is able to take control of every situation in life!

It's easy for us to forget sometimes that God is in control!

Matthew 28:18–“. . .All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Ephesians 3:20–“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.”

              Luke 1:37–“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Job 42:2–“I that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.”

When we get our eyes off Him and on our circumstance, we are in for a fall! (e.g. Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:28-31.)

Martin Luther was prone to periods of deep depression. One day, during one of those times, he came to the breakfast table to find his wife dressed in black garments. She looked as if she were gong to a funeral. Luther asked his wife who had died and she replied "God." Luther raised his voice and said, "Woman, that is blasphemy!" She replied, "It is no more blasphemy to say that God is dead than it is to live as though He were dead." Luther got the point and repented of his foolishness!

When life closes in on you, remember something. If you belong to Jesus, God is behind every circumstance you face!

(e.g. Job in chapters 1 & 2)

Whatever comes your way has to pass across God’s desk and receive His approval before it gets to you!

God's purpose in working everything to our good is not to make us happy, or healthy or wealthy.

God is doing all that He does to make us more like Jesus!

God didn't finish with us at salvation! He will continue to shape us until we reflect the image of His Son perfectly.

The whole purpose of Romans 8:28 is to teach us that God has an eternal plan and that nothing will ever be able to change that plan! God is busy reproducing Himself in each of us!

Conclusion

1.           Verse 28 tells us that God is working out His purpose in us. What is that purpose? He is making us in the image of Jesus!

2.           Verse 29 tells us that God has already decided that we will be like Jesus some day. It is a done deal!

We may never get the workings of salvation figured out while we are in this world, but we sure can enjoy the end result.

That is because in spite of life’s trials, there is a confidence we can be assured of! We have true Victory In Jesus!

Are you in Christ tonight? If not, these verses don’t apply to you.

The trials of life are just that–trials! And you have no assurance that anything is working out to your good! But that can change if you come to Christ!

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!