1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520
Hello and welcome to the
Middletown Baptist Church Podcast,

2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,480
where we are proclaiming the
truth to the world.

3
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,720
My name is Pastor Josh and I
want to thank you for listening to

4
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:10,480
this podcast.

5
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,680
I hope that this podcast can
be a blessing to you and strengthen

6
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,080
you in the word of God.

7
00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,120
Now come along, let's look
into the Bible and see what God has

8
00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,440
for us here today.

9
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,240
If you have your Bibles, I
would love for you to turn there

10
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:26,760
with me.

11
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,080
Romans, chapter eight.

12
00:00:28,810 --> 00:00:31,890
And today we're going to be
looking at just one verse as our

13
00:00:31,890 --> 00:00:32,570
main text.

14
00:00:33,290 --> 00:00:37,250
This is probably one of the
most quoted verses in all of the

15
00:00:37,250 --> 00:00:37,610
Bible.

16
00:00:38,490 --> 00:00:45,570
I would say that it is also
one of the most misused verses in

17
00:00:45,570 --> 00:00:48,450
all of the Bible because of many.

18
00:00:48,450 --> 00:00:52,770
People'S way that they apply
this to their life or at least maybe

19
00:00:52,770 --> 00:00:55,290
try to hope that this means
that everything is going to go well

20
00:00:55,290 --> 00:00:57,290
for them, everything is going
to go the way that they expected.

21
00:00:57,980 --> 00:00:58,940
And some of you know where I'm.

22
00:00:58,940 --> 00:01:01,020
Going to turn Here it's Romans 8:28.

23
00:01:01,660 --> 00:01:04,860
Romans 8:28 is a verse that
you hear all the time.

24
00:01:05,100 --> 00:01:07,340
It's a verse that you might
see on a card.

25
00:01:07,660 --> 00:01:10,060
It might be a verse that
you've heard preached before.

26
00:01:10,940 --> 00:01:14,380
But what I would like us to do
this morning is to look at Romans

27
00:01:14,380 --> 00:01:17,580
8:28 from a biblical perspective.

28
00:01:18,380 --> 00:01:19,500
Context is key.

29
00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:22,940
We have to understand what
comes before the verse and what comes

30
00:01:22,940 --> 00:01:23,660
after the verse.

31
00:01:24,190 --> 00:01:27,750
We have to understand in the
bigger picture what the whole word

32
00:01:27,750 --> 00:01:28,990
of God has to say.

33
00:01:29,470 --> 00:01:33,390
Because to take one verse out
of context means to have one belief

34
00:01:33,390 --> 00:01:37,150
that is off from what God
intends us to understand, believe,

35
00:01:37,230 --> 00:01:38,590
and live in.

36
00:01:38,990 --> 00:01:45,310
And so in Romans 8:28, we see
that this verse basically says, and

37
00:01:45,310 --> 00:01:49,430
we know that all things work
together for good to them that love

38
00:01:49,430 --> 00:01:49,990
God, to.

39
00:01:49,990 --> 00:01:53,700
Them who are called according
to the per.

40
00:01:53,940 --> 00:01:55,300
According to his purpose.

41
00:01:55,940 --> 00:01:57,380
And so the Bible says here that.

42
00:01:57,380 --> 00:01:58,900
All things work together for good.

43
00:01:59,780 --> 00:02:03,100
Now, many of you might think,
well, you know what?

44
00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:05,580
I've looked at my life and I
don't think things are working for

45
00:02:05,580 --> 00:02:05,860
good.

46
00:02:06,420 --> 00:02:08,740
How can this verse say that all.

47
00:02:08,740 --> 00:02:10,180
Things work together for good?

48
00:02:11,460 --> 00:02:14,260
I'm a believer, but my life
isn't that good.

49
00:02:14,660 --> 00:02:16,820
It must mean this is where a
lot of people turn.

50
00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:19,780
A lot of people say, well,
that must mean that this isn't true

51
00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,360
or that God is not consistent.

52
00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,320
You know, anytime we get to a
place in scripture that in some way

53
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,240
is confusing, or we think that
there's an inconsistency, let me

54
00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,920
just tell you here this
morning, it's not the Bible.

55
00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,040
That'S inconsistent, it is we
who are inconsistent.

56
00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,720
And so when we come to a verse
that's difficult to understand or

57
00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,800
even maybe difficult to apply,
we don't look at the Word as the

58
00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:45,120
problem.

59
00:02:45,730 --> 00:02:48,370
Try to get the Word to fit
into our way of thinking.

60
00:02:48,690 --> 00:02:50,210
We have to understand that the Word.

61
00:02:50,210 --> 00:02:52,330
Of God is perfect, that God is.

62
00:02:52,330 --> 00:02:56,170
Perfect, that he never lies,
that he's consistent in a world of

63
00:02:56,170 --> 00:03:00,370
inconsistency, and recognize
that we are the ones who are inconsistent.

64
00:03:00,530 --> 00:03:03,810
And recognize that we need to
grow in our understanding of him

65
00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:07,610
and His Word so that we can
come in line with the truth of the

66
00:03:07,610 --> 00:03:08,130
Word of God.

67
00:03:08,130 --> 00:03:12,210
So this morning the question
is, do we believe that God's Word

68
00:03:12,210 --> 00:03:12,690
is true?

69
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,960
Well, we know from passage
after passage that the Bible claims

70
00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:17,840
that it is perfect.

71
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,400
The Bible says that it is not
going to contradict itself.

72
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,360
And we know that through
various aspects that the Bible is

73
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,000
consistent, that it is
directly the Word of God.

74
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,360
Therefore, we have to
understand that God and His Word

75
00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,960
are the consistent truths in a
world of inconsistency.

76
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,320
I want you to think about that
phrase this morning.

77
00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,720
We live in a world of inconsistency.

78
00:03:40,870 --> 00:03:45,070
We look at the world from a
perspective of a limited human being.

79
00:03:45,070 --> 00:03:47,110
Therefore, we see things happening.

80
00:03:47,110 --> 00:03:50,470
And we think because we're
humans and because we're limited,

81
00:03:50,630 --> 00:03:53,510
that things are out of
control, that.

82
00:03:53,510 --> 00:03:55,830
That things are chaotic in
many ways.

83
00:03:56,150 --> 00:03:58,230
On the circumstantial level,
they are.

84
00:03:58,470 --> 00:04:01,830
But on the bigger picture of
God's plan, everything is under control.

85
00:04:02,870 --> 00:04:03,990
God is sovereign.

86
00:04:04,070 --> 00:04:09,820
God is completely powerful in
every way to look at the inconsistency

87
00:04:09,820 --> 00:04:13,300
of this world and make things
consistent with his character and

88
00:04:13,300 --> 00:04:14,180
with his goodness.

89
00:04:14,340 --> 00:04:17,300
And so we have to understand
that before we get any further, because

90
00:04:17,620 --> 00:04:20,420
in the Christian life, we have
a lot of expectations.

91
00:04:21,540 --> 00:04:27,420
If we read verse 28 here in
Romans chapter 8 with a selfish expectation,

92
00:04:27,420 --> 00:04:28,300
what would it read like?

93
00:04:28,300 --> 00:04:30,980
It would say, and we know that
all things work together for good

94
00:04:31,460 --> 00:04:35,560
to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to,

95
00:04:35,630 --> 00:04:36,910
to his purpose, meaning this.

96
00:04:37,310 --> 00:04:38,830
Everything's going to work out
for me.

97
00:04:38,830 --> 00:04:42,670
If I love God, everything's
going to happen the way that I expect

98
00:04:42,670 --> 00:04:43,310
it to happen.

99
00:04:44,510 --> 00:04:48,470
Well, point number one is that
this verse is not talking about our

100
00:04:48,470 --> 00:04:49,230
expectations.

101
00:04:49,550 --> 00:04:52,350
This verse is talking about
God's reality.

102
00:04:53,230 --> 00:04:56,710
And so when we see here that
it says all things work together

103
00:04:56,710 --> 00:05:01,470
for good, it doesn't mean
that, hey, I have wants, I have desires,

104
00:05:01,590 --> 00:05:03,100
I. I have expectations.

105
00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:06,700
Therefore God must do these
things or he's not consistent.

106
00:05:07,740 --> 00:05:12,380
It just means that God is
going to take all of our flaws, all

107
00:05:12,380 --> 00:05:17,500
of our issues, all of the
inconsistency in this world and make

108
00:05:17,580 --> 00:05:21,980
those things good because of
his power and because of his all

109
00:05:21,980 --> 00:05:24,860
knowing nature and because of
his eternality.

110
00:05:25,180 --> 00:05:27,940
And what we can see here in
this case is that this verse is not

111
00:05:27,940 --> 00:05:30,420
talking about all things good
going the way that we expect.

112
00:05:30,740 --> 00:05:34,940
It also is sometimes misquoted
this way that this isn't talking

113
00:05:34,940 --> 00:05:38,900
about God making our life
good, it's just he's good.

114
00:05:38,900 --> 00:05:40,380
And then we have to just be.

115
00:05:40,380 --> 00:05:41,540
Miserable in this world.

116
00:05:41,860 --> 00:05:44,940
And so a lot of people will
read this and they'll say, and we

117
00:05:44,940 --> 00:05:48,340
know that all things work
together for his good, meaning I

118
00:05:48,340 --> 00:05:51,700
have to suffer in this world,
but eventually he gets the glory.

119
00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:55,500
Well, that's not what this
says, although we know that God will

120
00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:56,980
work all things out for his good.

121
00:05:57,370 --> 00:05:59,930
His good is our good,
therefore it's good for us.

122
00:06:00,970 --> 00:06:02,890
So, so how do these things reconcile?

123
00:06:02,890 --> 00:06:07,170
Because many of you say, you
know what, Pastor Josh, I know that

124
00:06:07,170 --> 00:06:07,490
you're.

125
00:06:07,490 --> 00:06:09,290
Saying that all things work
together for good.

126
00:06:09,850 --> 00:06:11,450
I know the Bible says all things.

127
00:06:11,450 --> 00:06:13,409
Work together for good, but
the way.

128
00:06:13,409 --> 00:06:15,730
That I see things right now, I
don't see things working together

129
00:06:15,730 --> 00:06:16,250
for good.

130
00:06:16,970 --> 00:06:19,290
And we're going to talk about
this verse, we're going to dig deeper

131
00:06:19,290 --> 00:06:19,890
into this verse.

132
00:06:19,890 --> 00:06:23,970
But anytime we have a
confusing moment, anytime we come

133
00:06:23,970 --> 00:06:27,300
to a place where we're
confusing, thinking that maybe this

134
00:06:27,300 --> 00:06:30,980
isn't what we expected it to
be, we have to come back and say,

135
00:06:30,980 --> 00:06:32,140
where do I need to grow?

136
00:06:32,140 --> 00:06:36,980
And we need to ask God for
wisdom to allow us to grow into a

137
00:06:36,980 --> 00:06:38,700
place of spiritual maturity
where we.

138
00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:40,580
Can see the bigger picture.

139
00:06:41,780 --> 00:06:43,900
And so I want you to see that
here this morning.

140
00:06:43,900 --> 00:06:45,460
So I want you to see point
number one.

141
00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:48,220
We must defer our expectations
to God's.

142
00:06:48,220 --> 00:06:49,940
Outcome, to God's reality.

143
00:06:51,470 --> 00:06:54,990
Expectations are a very
confusing thing because.

144
00:06:55,150 --> 00:06:58,670
Sometimes we think that
something should be a certain way,

145
00:06:59,230 --> 00:07:01,590
but at the end of the day, it
doesn't happen that way.

146
00:07:01,590 --> 00:07:03,470
And we think that God doesn't
love us.

147
00:07:04,270 --> 00:07:06,750
This same thing could be seen
even within a marriage.

148
00:07:07,230 --> 00:07:11,310
I know when I first got
married I had expectations of what

149
00:07:11,310 --> 00:07:15,990
a marriage would be or should
be, or how my wife should act or

150
00:07:15,990 --> 00:07:16,830
how I should act.

151
00:07:17,150 --> 00:07:20,270
And many of those expectations
were built upon lies.

152
00:07:21,150 --> 00:07:24,270
Maybe it was because I watched
a TV show and this is what happened.

153
00:07:24,270 --> 00:07:25,710
And so I thought that's what
should happen.

154
00:07:25,870 --> 00:07:28,390
Or maybe I watched another
couple and I thought, well, that

155
00:07:28,390 --> 00:07:30,670
person does this, so that
should happen this way.

156
00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:35,390
Sometimes in even a human
relationship, we can put unfair or

157
00:07:35,630 --> 00:07:38,830
what we would say, even
inappropriate expectations upon something

158
00:07:38,910 --> 00:07:39,190
that.

159
00:07:39,190 --> 00:07:40,430
Really shouldn't be the case.

160
00:07:40,990 --> 00:07:42,350
And that's the same thing we
do with God.

161
00:07:42,350 --> 00:07:45,320
Sometimes we look at God and
we say, God, you must fit into my

162
00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:45,720
box.

163
00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,560
You have to work the way that
I work.

164
00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,960
You have to answer my prayers
the way that I'm asking.

165
00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,800
And ultimately, what we see
here is that verse 28 is not about

166
00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,320
getting the things that we want.

167
00:07:55,560 --> 00:08:00,080
It's about deferring our
expectations to God's outcome and

168
00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,080
being good with that and
understanding that God is good.

169
00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,680
What we think about is when it
says in the Bible, trust in the Lord

170
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,800
and lean not into thine own understanding.

171
00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,160
In all thy ways, acknowledge
him and he'll direct our paths.

172
00:08:11,350 --> 00:08:12,550
It's essentially saying this.

173
00:08:12,630 --> 00:08:14,790
We acknowledge that God is good.

174
00:08:14,950 --> 00:08:17,630
And then as God allows certain
things to happen in our life, and

175
00:08:17,630 --> 00:08:20,950
as sometimes we make mistakes
in our life, God can make those things

176
00:08:20,950 --> 00:08:21,190
good.

177
00:08:21,190 --> 00:08:23,190
And ultimately he will make
those things good.

178
00:08:23,990 --> 00:08:27,149
If we go a little bit further,
we have to understand that that doesn't

179
00:08:27,149 --> 00:08:29,750
necessarily mean that life
will be smooth.

180
00:08:30,870 --> 00:08:33,430
Sometimes people think that,
well, if I have faith, everything's

181
00:08:33,430 --> 00:08:34,150
going to be okay.

182
00:08:34,150 --> 00:08:37,310
And there's a movement today
called the Word of Faith movement

183
00:08:37,310 --> 00:08:38,390
which essentially says this.

184
00:08:38,680 --> 00:08:40,840
If you have enough faith, you
will get what you want.

185
00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,960
Well, I want to take you to a
passage of Scripture that teaches

186
00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:46,040
something completely different.

187
00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,240
Because what does Romans 8:28 say?

188
00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:52,440
This is a promise not for
people who are living in sin.

189
00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,680
This is not a promise for
those who are living in rebellion

190
00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:58,040
and ultimately living unsaved lives.

191
00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,920
It's for those, as it says
there, to them, that love God, to

192
00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,160
them who are the called.

193
00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,240
The called are those that are
believers, those that have answered

194
00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,880
the call from God, the gift of grace.

195
00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,920
And so it says here that this
is for Christians.

196
00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,920
And so if Christians have
enough faith, won't God just give

197
00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,080
us everything that we want?

198
00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,160
Won't he save us from every trial?

199
00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,240
Well, not in the circumstantial.

200
00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,600
Here and now I want to take
you to a passage of Scripture that

201
00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:23,080
speaks to that.

202
00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,320
It's in Hebrews chapter 11.

203
00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,680
Most of you know Hebrews
chapter 11 as the hall of faith.

204
00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:31,560
Hebrews chapter 11 gives us
the definition of faith in verse

205
00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:31,840
one.

206
00:09:32,470 --> 00:09:34,950
Then in verse six, it tells us
why faith is so important.

207
00:09:35,590 --> 00:09:38,150
And so verse one, faith is believing.

208
00:09:38,150 --> 00:09:39,350
In something that we don't see.

209
00:09:40,790 --> 00:09:44,230
Verse 6 tells us that it's
impossible to please God without

210
00:09:44,310 --> 00:09:44,790
faith.

211
00:09:44,790 --> 00:09:50,070
And then we see later on in
the chapter many examples of individuals

212
00:09:50,230 --> 00:09:52,510
in the Old Testament who had
faith and.

213
00:09:52,510 --> 00:09:54,150
Were spared in certain ways.

214
00:09:54,790 --> 00:09:57,510
So, for example, you have
Abraham, you.

215
00:09:57,510 --> 00:10:01,800
You have Moses, and you have
Jacob, and you have Joseph.

216
00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,960
All these characters that we
are aware of, that God spared them,

217
00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,720
not in every situation, but he
spared them from.

218
00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,040
Certain struggles and gave
them hope and victory on this side

219
00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:12,640
of heaven.

220
00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:13,760
And that sounds good.

221
00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:15,200
And that's where we usually end.

222
00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,160
But later on in the book of
Hebrews, it talks about how there

223
00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:23,760
are individuals who did have
faith but then faced a lot of difficulties.

224
00:10:24,490 --> 00:10:24,650
And.

225
00:10:24,650 --> 00:10:27,610
And actually what we see is
here, on this side of heaven, they

226
00:10:27,610 --> 00:10:28,970
didn't have victory.

227
00:10:29,530 --> 00:10:32,250
I want you to see something
very quickly with me, Hebrews chapter

228
00:10:32,250 --> 00:10:32,490
11.

229
00:10:32,490 --> 00:10:37,850
And I want you to go to verse
number 35.

230
00:10:41,370 --> 00:10:42,450
Verse 35.

231
00:10:42,450 --> 00:10:47,010
We see all the examples of all
these people were having the victory.

232
00:10:47,010 --> 00:10:49,330
Rahab perished, not right.

233
00:10:49,330 --> 00:10:49,610
And.

234
00:10:49,610 --> 00:10:54,270
And that was all led up to
where it talks about Gideon and Samson

235
00:10:54,270 --> 00:10:55,790
and David and Samuel.

236
00:10:55,870 --> 00:10:59,630
But then we see verse 35, it
says, women receive their dead, raised

237
00:10:59,630 --> 00:11:00,190
to life again.

238
00:11:00,190 --> 00:11:00,910
Well, that's a good thing.

239
00:11:00,910 --> 00:11:03,230
But then we see there that
there is a break.

240
00:11:03,390 --> 00:11:08,110
And it says, and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance

241
00:11:08,749 --> 00:11:11,070
that they might obtain a
better resurrection.

242
00:11:11,550 --> 00:11:14,790
Meaning there were going to be
some that were tortured and eventually

243
00:11:14,790 --> 00:11:18,110
killed, and God did not spare
them in that time.

244
00:11:18,740 --> 00:11:20,660
God did not take them out of
that torture.

245
00:11:20,660 --> 00:11:20,980
Why?

246
00:11:20,980 --> 00:11:23,140
Because there's a better
blessing that is to come.

247
00:11:24,260 --> 00:11:27,300
Further on it says, and others
had trial of cruel mockings.

248
00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:29,460
By the way, these are people
with faith.

249
00:11:29,540 --> 00:11:32,340
These are people that are
being honored here in Hebrews, chapter

250
00:11:32,340 --> 00:11:37,020
11 says, and others had trial
of cruel mockings and scourgings,

251
00:11:37,020 --> 00:11:39,300
yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment.

252
00:11:41,060 --> 00:11:42,820
Further on it says, they were stoned.

253
00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:47,290
They were sawn asunder, were
tempted, were slain with the sword.

254
00:11:47,290 --> 00:11:50,890
They wandered about in
sheepskin and goatskins, being destitute,

255
00:11:50,970 --> 00:11:55,050
afflicted, tormented, of whom
the world was not worthy.

256
00:11:55,050 --> 00:11:58,890
They wandered in deserts and
in mountains and in dens and caves

257
00:11:58,890 --> 00:11:59,690
of the earth.

258
00:11:59,770 --> 00:12:03,610
And these all, having obtained
a good report through faith, received

259
00:12:03,610 --> 00:12:06,770
not the promise, meaning God
did not give them what they were

260
00:12:06,770 --> 00:12:09,770
asking for by allowing them to
get out of that trial in that very

261
00:12:09,770 --> 00:12:10,170
moment.

262
00:12:10,660 --> 00:12:11,300
Verse 40.

263
00:12:11,460 --> 00:12:14,860
God having provided some
better thing for us, that's glorification.

264
00:12:14,860 --> 00:12:16,180
That's being with him one day.

265
00:12:16,180 --> 00:12:18,260
And they without us should not be.

266
00:12:18,580 --> 00:12:20,660
Made perfect or complete in him.

267
00:12:21,220 --> 00:12:23,820
And so ultimately, what we see
here is that there are individuals

268
00:12:23,820 --> 00:12:28,500
that walk this earth that have
faith in God, that God does in that

269
00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:30,860
moment answer their prayer and
give them what we.

270
00:12:30,860 --> 00:12:32,500
Would consider to be good circumstances.

271
00:12:32,900 --> 00:12:36,700
But others that trust in God
don't see those good circumstances

272
00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:37,380
coming to pass.

273
00:12:37,380 --> 00:12:38,565
Here on this side of heaven.

274
00:12:38,565 --> 00:12:40,740
And does that mean that God
loves one more than the other?

275
00:12:40,740 --> 00:12:44,980
No, because ultimately the
glorification which we've been talking

276
00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:48,460
about in Romans chapter 8,
glorification being with him, united

277
00:12:48,460 --> 00:12:49,020
with him.

278
00:12:49,340 --> 00:12:50,700
Remember Romans 8:18.

279
00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:51,580
Go back.

280
00:12:51,580 --> 00:12:52,380
What does he say?

281
00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:55,740
Remember, this is Paul
writing, who did face persecutions,

282
00:12:55,820 --> 00:12:58,140
who eventually was martyred
for his faith.

283
00:12:58,220 --> 00:13:00,060
He, he says in Romans 8:18.

284
00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:04,780
For I reckon, I believe that
the sufferings of this present time

285
00:13:05,830 --> 00:13:08,070
are not worthy to be compared
with the glory.

286
00:13:08,950 --> 00:13:10,790
Which shall be revealed in us.

287
00:13:12,150 --> 00:13:15,310
So, number one, we must defer
our expectations to God's outcome.

288
00:13:15,310 --> 00:13:18,630
But number two, we must see it
from the eternal perspective.

289
00:13:19,110 --> 00:13:20,070
The big picture.

290
00:13:20,790 --> 00:13:25,830
If we are Christians that are
basing our confidence and our faith

291
00:13:26,230 --> 00:13:31,590
and our peace in circumstances
of today, we are seeing things from

292
00:13:31,590 --> 00:13:32,630
the narrow focus.

293
00:13:33,380 --> 00:13:34,980
And what God is saying here is this.

294
00:13:34,980 --> 00:13:39,020
It's bigger than what's
happening today, it's bigger than

295
00:13:39,020 --> 00:13:40,260
what's happening tomorrow.

296
00:13:40,660 --> 00:13:42,660
It's bigger than my doctor's appointment.

297
00:13:42,980 --> 00:13:45,020
It's bigger than someone
betraying me.

298
00:13:45,020 --> 00:13:47,100
It's even bigger than someone
persecuting me.

299
00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:47,380
Why?

300
00:13:47,540 --> 00:13:50,620
Because there's a bigger
picture of a blessing that we have

301
00:13:50,620 --> 00:13:52,020
as believers in Jesus Christ.

302
00:13:52,020 --> 00:13:55,420
And we have so many Christians
today who walk around and say, well,

303
00:13:55,420 --> 00:13:57,300
the Bible says all things work
together for good.

304
00:13:57,300 --> 00:13:59,700
But my, my back is really
hurting me today.

305
00:14:00,050 --> 00:14:01,410
Therefore, maybe God doesn't
love me.

306
00:14:01,650 --> 00:14:04,490
Or maybe in a more serious
note, and we'll get to real stuff

307
00:14:04,490 --> 00:14:07,050
here, that, that God loves me.

308
00:14:07,050 --> 00:14:08,770
How could he take someone from me?

309
00:14:09,250 --> 00:14:12,290
How could he allow someone
that I love to pass away?

310
00:14:12,690 --> 00:14:14,690
And those are hard things for
us to reconcile.

311
00:14:14,690 --> 00:14:16,610
But again, there is a bigger purpose.

312
00:14:17,730 --> 00:14:18,930
There'S a bigger plan.

313
00:14:19,730 --> 00:14:23,690
And again, Christians are told
that we are not living here as our

314
00:14:23,690 --> 00:14:24,770
eternal destination.

315
00:14:25,090 --> 00:14:27,250
Our eternal destination is
with our Lord.

316
00:14:27,550 --> 00:14:28,670
In heaven for eternity.

317
00:14:28,910 --> 00:14:30,750
We're just pilgrims passing through.

318
00:14:31,310 --> 00:14:34,350
And so to see it from such a
shortsighted principle means this.

319
00:14:34,430 --> 00:14:37,950
We miss out on the bigger
picture of what God has blessed us

320
00:14:37,950 --> 00:14:40,030
in the glory that is to come.

321
00:14:40,590 --> 00:14:42,830
So if I have a bad day today,
someone comes up and says, how's

322
00:14:42,830 --> 00:14:43,390
your day going?

323
00:14:43,390 --> 00:14:44,950
I could answer in a few
different ways.

324
00:14:44,950 --> 00:14:47,070
I could answer in my
circumstantial earthly.

325
00:14:47,070 --> 00:14:48,870
Material focus and say, well,
my day.

326
00:14:48,870 --> 00:14:49,790
Is pretty terrible today.

327
00:14:50,350 --> 00:14:52,390
I, I, I, I missed every single light.

328
00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:54,270
I hit every red light coming
into work.

329
00:14:54,580 --> 00:14:56,220
I was late, you know, I didn't.

330
00:14:56,220 --> 00:14:57,220
My coffee was cold.

331
00:14:57,380 --> 00:14:59,060
I, I, someone betrayed me.

332
00:14:59,060 --> 00:15:00,020
Someone lied to me.

333
00:15:00,020 --> 00:15:02,180
I could say all those things
and say, my day is terrible.

334
00:15:02,180 --> 00:15:05,740
Or I could say, no matter what
comes on in my life, no matter what

335
00:15:05,740 --> 00:15:09,140
goes on around me, I have
Jesus as my savior, so it's a good

336
00:15:09,140 --> 00:15:09,460
day.

337
00:15:10,100 --> 00:15:10,500
That's.

338
00:15:10,500 --> 00:15:12,820
That's what he's talking about
here in Romans 8, 28.

339
00:15:13,380 --> 00:15:14,340
Because all things.

340
00:15:14,340 --> 00:15:14,820
And, and.

341
00:15:14,820 --> 00:15:15,980
And a lot of people think this.

342
00:15:15,980 --> 00:15:19,020
A lot of people think that if
God is in complete control, that

343
00:15:19,020 --> 00:15:20,820
he is the author of everything
that's going.

344
00:15:20,820 --> 00:15:21,490
On around us, that.

345
00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:23,160
That he's actually the author
of evil.

346
00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,400
If God is completely
sovereign, he is ordaining this evil

347
00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,400
to happen in my life.

348
00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:28,640
That's not what this is saying.

349
00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:29,000
Actually.

350
00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,960
Most of the struggles that we
face in our life is because of bad

351
00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,120
decisions or sinful decisions
that we make.

352
00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:35,080
So.

353
00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,280
And a lot of people argue,
well, that is not showing God's power.

354
00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,280
Actually, it shows God's power
even more because God can take all

355
00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:42,440
of our bad decisions.

356
00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,000
Okay, now that's crazy to
think about, because I know how many

357
00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:46,560
bad decisions.

358
00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:47,400
I've made in my life.

359
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,800
And I look out there and I
could only assume that some of you

360
00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,480
maybe have maybe about half of my.

361
00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:52,400
Problems that I've had.

362
00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,240
And if we add all those
problems up just in this room, think

363
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,880
about how God can make all
things good out of all of our bad

364
00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:58,280
decisions.

365
00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,480
He can take our ashes and move
that to beauty.

366
00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,400
He can take the sin of this
world and his sovereignty and make

367
00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:04,320
that good for him.

368
00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,080
That shows his complete power.

369
00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:07,360
Because with.

370
00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:08,760
With love comes a choice.

371
00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,080
And if God made us robotic to
say, well, I must do this or I must

372
00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,590
do that, and I don't have a
choice in the matter that there's

373
00:16:14,590 --> 00:16:15,230
no love there.

374
00:16:15,630 --> 00:16:16,070
What if.

375
00:16:16,070 --> 00:16:17,190
What if I told my wife as.

376
00:16:17,190 --> 00:16:19,630
She comes into the church
today, honey, you better show that

377
00:16:19,630 --> 00:16:20,030
you love me.

378
00:16:20,030 --> 00:16:21,630
You better tell everyone that
you love me, or there's gonna be

379
00:16:21,630 --> 00:16:22,870
big problems when you get home today.

380
00:16:22,870 --> 00:16:24,910
Is that love or is that
forcing her?

381
00:16:24,910 --> 00:16:25,750
No, that's forcing.

382
00:16:25,750 --> 00:16:26,070
That's.

383
00:16:26,070 --> 00:16:27,550
That's not love of a choice.

384
00:16:28,030 --> 00:16:29,870
And so God gives us all the
love of choice.

385
00:16:29,870 --> 00:16:33,910
But with that, that choice of
love comes also the opposite of that.

386
00:16:33,910 --> 00:16:36,790
If God gives us a choice for
love, he also gives us a choice to

387
00:16:36,790 --> 00:16:38,510
not love and to walk in rebellion.

388
00:16:39,230 --> 00:16:41,310
Therefore, that's why we see
sin in this world.

389
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,480
God is not the author of sin.

390
00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:44,760
We see that in the book of James.

391
00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:46,520
God is not the author of sin.

392
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,520
But God does allow that choice
to happen.

393
00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,320
Because to understand good,
there must be evil.

394
00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:53,520
Because if everything was
robotically Good.

395
00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,480
We would not understand the
opposite of that.

396
00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,040
And so with that choice comes
this, that I can make bad decisions

397
00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,040
in my life and cause.

398
00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,560
Or maybe it's not my decision,
maybe it's a decision of somebody

399
00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:02,920
else.

400
00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,640
Ultimately, it was the
decision of Adam and his sin.

401
00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,240
And the world has been marred
by sin.

402
00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:12,259
And so God is so powerful to
take all of our bad decisions, all.

403
00:17:12,259 --> 00:17:14,219
Of the hardships of this
world, all.

404
00:17:14,219 --> 00:17:15,859
The sin in this world, and make.

405
00:17:15,859 --> 00:17:18,619
That good for his purpose and
for his kingdom.

406
00:17:18,779 --> 00:17:20,299
That's an amazing thing to
think about.

407
00:17:21,339 --> 00:17:23,059
And so I want you to think
about number two.

408
00:17:23,059 --> 00:17:26,299
We have to see things in
Romans 8:28 from the big picture,

409
00:17:26,299 --> 00:17:27,579
the eternal perspective.

410
00:17:28,619 --> 00:17:29,899
We don't know what is next.

411
00:17:31,419 --> 00:17:32,299
God isn't done.

412
00:17:32,539 --> 00:17:33,819
That's the other thing to
think about.

413
00:17:33,819 --> 00:17:36,339
A lot of times we think about
it from the narrow focus and from

414
00:17:36,339 --> 00:17:39,640
the here and now, but we don't
know about this circumstance in our

415
00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:39,800
life.

416
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,000
This actually might be
something that God is going to use

417
00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:44,080
for the furtherance.

418
00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:45,960
Of the gospel, the furtherance
of the kingdom.

419
00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,920
There's a lot of stories that
we could tell.

420
00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:55,440
I was listening to a pastor
and trying to remember all of the

421
00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,080
analogy that he was giving.

422
00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,200
So this is not original to me,
and if I mess this up, forgive me,

423
00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,850
but there was a guy who was
living in a town and he had a horse,

424
00:18:05,490 --> 00:18:07,610
and he was a poor man.

425
00:18:07,610 --> 00:18:09,890
And everyone in the town
thought, hey, you know what?

426
00:18:09,970 --> 00:18:13,130
You could sell your horse to
us and you could make some money

427
00:18:13,130 --> 00:18:15,170
and you could have some type
of wealth.

428
00:18:15,170 --> 00:18:16,610
And he said, no, I don't want.

429
00:18:16,610 --> 00:18:17,210
To sell my horse.

430
00:18:17,210 --> 00:18:18,450
God's blessed me with this one horse.

431
00:18:18,450 --> 00:18:19,410
I'm okay with that.

432
00:18:20,450 --> 00:18:20,850
And.

433
00:18:21,330 --> 00:18:22,330
And they said, but if you could.

434
00:18:22,330 --> 00:18:24,410
Just sell us your horse, you
can make money and you could, you

435
00:18:24,410 --> 00:18:25,290
could have everything you wanted.

436
00:18:25,290 --> 00:18:26,770
He says, I have everything I
want here.

437
00:18:26,770 --> 00:18:28,290
This is what God has blessed
me with.

438
00:18:28,290 --> 00:18:29,570
I don't need to know what's next.

439
00:18:30,530 --> 00:18:34,490
One day the horse runs away
and they come to him and they say.

440
00:18:34,490 --> 00:18:35,410
See, we were right.

441
00:18:36,210 --> 00:18:37,530
You should have just sold us a horse.

442
00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:38,450
You lost the horse.

443
00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:40,010
Now you lost all of your possessions.

444
00:18:40,010 --> 00:18:40,770
You're all by yourself.

445
00:18:40,770 --> 00:18:41,410
You have nothing.

446
00:18:42,210 --> 00:18:44,050
And he says, well, that's only
part of it.

447
00:18:44,050 --> 00:18:45,250
We don't know what comes next.

448
00:18:46,370 --> 00:18:52,530
And so later on, his horse
comes back with 12 more horses.

449
00:18:53,170 --> 00:18:54,450
And he says, okay, I've got.

450
00:18:54,530 --> 00:18:56,130
And they say, oh, well, we
were wrong.

451
00:18:56,130 --> 00:18:56,770
You were right.

452
00:18:57,570 --> 00:18:58,610
See, now you have more.

453
00:18:59,010 --> 00:19:00,810
And he says, no, I just have.

454
00:19:00,810 --> 00:19:01,810
12 more horses that came.

455
00:19:01,810 --> 00:19:03,330
But I don't know what
Tomorrow's gonna bring.

456
00:19:04,770 --> 00:19:08,370
So one day the horses are out
there in the.

457
00:19:08,370 --> 00:19:11,250
In the field, and three of
them run away.

458
00:19:11,250 --> 00:19:13,730
And they say, well, you lost a
little bit money, but I guess you're

459
00:19:13,730 --> 00:19:14,010
okay.

460
00:19:14,010 --> 00:19:16,090
The next day, more left, and
there was only one horse left.

461
00:19:16,090 --> 00:19:17,210
They say, see, we were right.

462
00:19:17,210 --> 00:19:18,610
You should have sold all those horses.

463
00:19:18,610 --> 00:19:20,450
And he goes, no, it's just the
here and now.

464
00:19:20,530 --> 00:19:22,290
I don't know what tomorrow's
gonna bring.

465
00:19:22,780 --> 00:19:24,100
One day his son's out in the field.

466
00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:25,580
And they.

467
00:19:25,580 --> 00:19:26,860
They said, well, you still
have that one horse.

468
00:19:26,860 --> 00:19:27,780
You should sell it back to us.

469
00:19:27,780 --> 00:19:28,820
That horse is going to be bad
for you.

470
00:19:28,820 --> 00:19:29,420
He goes, no.

471
00:19:29,500 --> 00:19:30,780
And all of a sudden what happens.

472
00:19:30,780 --> 00:19:32,940
Is his son's out in the field
working with the horse, and the horse

473
00:19:32,940 --> 00:19:35,180
stomps him and breaks both of
his son's legs.

474
00:19:36,060 --> 00:19:38,060
They said, see, you should
have sold us the horse.

475
00:19:38,060 --> 00:19:39,380
And he goes, we were right.

476
00:19:39,380 --> 00:19:40,780
And he goes, no, no.

477
00:19:42,460 --> 00:19:43,820
He goes, that's just what's
happening now.

478
00:19:43,820 --> 00:19:45,020
I don't know what's happening tomorrow.

479
00:19:45,020 --> 00:19:46,060
Just a portion of it.

480
00:19:47,180 --> 00:19:51,950
Then the next day, his country
goes to war, and his son, because

481
00:19:51,950 --> 00:19:54,270
of the broken legs, doesn't
have to go fight in the battle that

482
00:19:54,270 --> 00:19:55,270
he would surely die in.

483
00:19:55,270 --> 00:19:56,070
He says, hey, look.

484
00:19:56,230 --> 00:19:57,270
And they say, you're right.

485
00:19:57,270 --> 00:19:57,670
And right.

486
00:19:57,670 --> 00:19:58,390
You see how it goes.

487
00:19:58,390 --> 00:19:59,590
You see the silliness of the story.

488
00:19:59,750 --> 00:20:01,070
The silliness of the story is that.

489
00:20:01,070 --> 00:20:03,510
Everyone has an opinion of the
here and now, but we don't know what.

490
00:20:03,510 --> 00:20:04,470
God's going to do next.

491
00:20:05,350 --> 00:20:06,430
We don't know what the
blessing is.

492
00:20:06,430 --> 00:20:07,270
Going to be tomorrow.

493
00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:11,150
Because today's bad
circumstance might be tomorrow's

494
00:20:11,150 --> 00:20:11,870
good circumstance.

495
00:20:11,870 --> 00:20:13,390
We don't know that now.

496
00:20:13,390 --> 00:20:13,670
It might.

497
00:20:13,670 --> 00:20:14,390
It might not be.

498
00:20:14,390 --> 00:20:15,230
And you might say, I don't.

499
00:20:15,230 --> 00:20:17,030
I can't see anything good
happening from this.

500
00:20:17,970 --> 00:20:20,970
Well, I myself might not see
what's happening good, but God might

501
00:20:20,970 --> 00:20:21,170
have a.

502
00:20:21,170 --> 00:20:22,530
Bigger purpose and a bigger plan.

503
00:20:23,570 --> 00:20:24,050
I can.

504
00:20:24,050 --> 00:20:26,330
I can tell you through various things.

505
00:20:26,330 --> 00:20:27,690
That have happened in my life in.

506
00:20:27,690 --> 00:20:29,490
That moment, I thought it was
the worst.

507
00:20:29,490 --> 00:20:30,410
I thought it was over.

508
00:20:30,410 --> 00:20:33,530
I thought my life was just
going to end because of that bad

509
00:20:33,530 --> 00:20:34,050
situation.

510
00:20:35,170 --> 00:20:36,490
And I was talking to a pastor.

511
00:20:36,490 --> 00:20:37,850
Friend of mine, and I remember we.

512
00:20:37,850 --> 00:20:39,690
Were taking a walk, me and
this pastor.

513
00:20:39,690 --> 00:20:39,970
We.

514
00:20:39,970 --> 00:20:42,850
We would take walks and we
would just talk about all the.

515
00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:44,240
The struggles that we were
going through.

516
00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,080
And I was talking to this
pastor, and I said, you know what?

517
00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:47,080
It's just so bad right now.

518
00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:47,680
I just can't.

519
00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:48,760
I can't face tomorrow.

520
00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:49,240
I can't.

521
00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:50,720
I can't do what God has called
me to do.

522
00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,720
And he says, you know what the
irony of all this is?

523
00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,840
He says, you're crying today
about a situation that you're in,

524
00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:56,560
and we're going.

525
00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:57,720
To come back to this very same.

526
00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,400
Point in a year from now and.

527
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,560
That problem is going to be
resolved and you're going to have

528
00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:02,800
another problem that you're
crying about.

529
00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:03,680
I said, yeah, I know that's.

530
00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:04,840
And that was the reality of things.

531
00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:06,920
And so, so, so often what we.

532
00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:08,880
Do is we look at the situation.

533
00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,930
Or the circumstance that we're
in in that very moment, and we think

534
00:21:11,930 --> 00:21:13,370
that that's the end all, be all.

535
00:21:13,370 --> 00:21:16,570
But what the Bible says is
that we don't know what's next.

536
00:21:18,330 --> 00:21:19,850
And God isn't done.

537
00:21:19,850 --> 00:21:21,530
God is not done with his work.

538
00:21:22,570 --> 00:21:24,690
I, I want you to see another
passage of scripture.

539
00:21:24,690 --> 00:21:27,770
It's in First Corinthians, 1
Corinthians, chapter 13.

540
00:21:29,050 --> 00:21:33,770
And, and I think that this is
a good illustration of what we're

541
00:21:33,770 --> 00:21:34,050
talking.

542
00:21:34,050 --> 00:21:37,440
About here now, First
Corinthians, chapter 13.

543
00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,600
For most of you, you know that
this is the, the passage of scripture

544
00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:41,160
about love.

545
00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,080
And, but, but Paul is talking
about more here.

546
00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,640
He's talking about putting
away the childish.

547
00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:48,160
Things at the end of this chapter.

548
00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:50,840
And really what he's saying
is, is.

549
00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:52,800
Grow up in your spirituality.

550
00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,360
Put away the spiritually
immature thoughts, put.

551
00:21:56,360 --> 00:21:58,560
Away the spiritually immature actions.

552
00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,320
And he goes on to explain the
principle behind this.

553
00:22:02,540 --> 00:22:06,620
And, and many times the reason
why we're so stuck in the circumstance

554
00:22:06,700 --> 00:22:11,100
is because we are in spiritual immaturity.

555
00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:14,060
Immaturity leads to a small focus.

556
00:22:15,420 --> 00:22:17,340
Some of you that have children
understand this.

557
00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:21,100
We were coming back from
Thanksgiving and the plane flight

558
00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:22,500
and everything was going fine.

559
00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:24,860
And Michael looks up and he's
just like, dad, I'm like, what's

560
00:22:24,860 --> 00:22:25,220
wrong, son?

561
00:22:25,220 --> 00:22:26,220
He goes, I don't want to go.

562
00:22:26,220 --> 00:22:27,020
To school on Monday.

563
00:22:27,260 --> 00:22:28,180
I said, yeah, I know.

564
00:22:28,180 --> 00:22:28,700
It's okay.

565
00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:31,960
He's like, school is just so,
so, so long and it's so hard.

566
00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,080
And I'm like, mike, it's, you
only have a few more weeks and it's

567
00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:35,880
going to be Christmas break.

568
00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:38,360
It's like, it's only be a few
years and you're going to be graduating.

569
00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:39,360
You're going to wish you were
in school.

570
00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:40,560
And he's like, no, right?

571
00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,120
Because, because of his
immaturity and because of the lack

572
00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:45,360
of experience, all he can see
is the here and now.

573
00:22:45,360 --> 00:22:47,320
I'm going to be stuck in
school for another week.

574
00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,880
But as his father, I
understand the bigger picture.

575
00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:52,720
That son, no this is.

576
00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:53,920
This is only a short amount of.

577
00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,200
Time you're going to pass
through this.

578
00:22:56,910 --> 00:22:58,190
It might be hard now, but you're.

579
00:22:58,190 --> 00:23:00,910
Going to get through it, and
then you're going to see other issues

580
00:23:00,910 --> 00:23:01,550
that come along.

581
00:23:01,550 --> 00:23:03,390
I wish I could go back to
school, and that's the only thing

582
00:23:03,390 --> 00:23:04,110
I had to worry about.

583
00:23:04,430 --> 00:23:04,830
But.

584
00:23:04,910 --> 00:23:06,550
But the reality here in First Corinthians.

585
00:23:06,550 --> 00:23:10,190
Is he says, put away the
things of spiritual immaturity.

586
00:23:10,190 --> 00:23:12,910
He says, when I. Verse 11,
First Corinthians 13:11.

587
00:23:12,990 --> 00:23:17,870
When I was a child, I spake as
a child, I understood as a child,

588
00:23:18,670 --> 00:23:20,110
I thought as a child.

589
00:23:20,830 --> 00:23:23,350
But when I became a man, I put
away childish things.

590
00:23:23,350 --> 00:23:25,900
And so we could take this
passage of Scripture to the physical,

591
00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:26,620
and like.

592
00:23:26,620 --> 00:23:29,100
As men, we need to mature and
we need to move on.

593
00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:31,020
And that certainly would be
applied here.

594
00:23:31,020 --> 00:23:33,500
But I think even on the more
spiritual level, it's talking about

595
00:23:33,660 --> 00:23:36,860
focusing not on the spiritual
immaturity, but on the.

596
00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:38,540
The eternal perspective.

597
00:23:38,780 --> 00:23:42,460
Verse 12, he says, for now we
see through a glass darkly, which

598
00:23:42,460 --> 00:23:43,740
basically says, I'm.

599
00:23:43,980 --> 00:23:48,380
I'm looking through a window
that's darkened and I can't see everything.

600
00:23:48,780 --> 00:23:50,780
I can see a little bit, but I
can't see everything.

601
00:23:51,470 --> 00:23:56,390
But then face to face, now I
know in part, but then shall I know,

602
00:23:56,390 --> 00:24:00,190
even as also I am known, and
now abide with faith, hope, charity,

603
00:24:00,190 --> 00:24:00,830
these three.

604
00:24:00,910 --> 00:24:02,910
But the greatest of these is
charity, meaning this.

605
00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:05,070
I can see through the window.

606
00:24:05,070 --> 00:24:07,630
I can't see everything, but
one day I will be able to see the.

607
00:24:07,630 --> 00:24:09,310
Big picture, the way that God
sees it.

608
00:24:09,390 --> 00:24:11,150
But until then, I'm going to trust.

609
00:24:11,150 --> 00:24:12,710
In him and the things that he.

610
00:24:12,710 --> 00:24:13,990
Allows in my life and the things.

611
00:24:13,990 --> 00:24:16,270
That he brings me and the
things that he puts me through.

612
00:24:16,270 --> 00:24:18,110
I'm going to trust in him for that.

613
00:24:18,510 --> 00:24:20,310
And I think it's how all of us
could understand this.

614
00:24:20,310 --> 00:24:23,430
And maybe as we grow in our
spiritual maturity, we can see more

615
00:24:23,430 --> 00:24:25,950
and more of the picture in the window.

616
00:24:26,030 --> 00:24:29,030
But at the end of the day, all
of us are limited in seeing what's

617
00:24:29,030 --> 00:24:29,310
next.

618
00:24:29,390 --> 00:24:31,150
None of us know what tomorrow brings.

619
00:24:31,790 --> 00:24:36,950
None of us know what the news
is going to be next year, next decade.

620
00:24:36,950 --> 00:24:39,070
We don't know that, but God does.

621
00:24:39,070 --> 00:24:43,550
And so instead of fretting and
stressing and being worried and allowing,

622
00:24:43,550 --> 00:24:47,080
all the circumstances of today
caused us to not do the things that

623
00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,120
God has called us to do tomorrow.

624
00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:49,800
What do we do?

625
00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,160
We should just trust in the
one who has it under control.

626
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,280
And so back in Romans 8:28, he
says, and we know there's that confidence

627
00:24:56,280 --> 00:25:00,640
There, as a believer, we have
to have confidence that God is good.

628
00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:04,880
And we know that all things,
not just some things, not just the

629
00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,200
things that make sense, not
just the things that are going my

630
00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:08,640
way, but all things.

631
00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:11,560
All things good, bad.

632
00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,040
And by the way, let me pause here.

633
00:25:13,220 --> 00:25:14,580
This is not God saying that every.

634
00:25:14,580 --> 00:25:16,420
Circumstance you have in your
life will be good.

635
00:25:16,580 --> 00:25:18,820
He just says that all things, good.

636
00:25:18,820 --> 00:25:22,380
Or bad, easy or difficult,
will be working together for the

637
00:25:22,380 --> 00:25:22,660
good.

638
00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:26,940
Not just his good, even though
his good is the ultimate purpose,

639
00:25:26,940 --> 00:25:31,220
but also for ours to them who
are the called according to his purpose.

640
00:25:32,260 --> 00:25:33,780
So how do we know that God's.

641
00:25:33,780 --> 00:25:35,300
Plan is good for us?

642
00:25:37,380 --> 00:25:40,820
How do we know that God's plan
is better than our plan for ourselves.

643
00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,080
Or for the world's plan for us?

644
00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,240
Well, it's a very simple thought.

645
00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,840
Our God is a good God.

646
00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:49,960
His.

647
00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:51,240
His character is good.

648
00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:52,600
He's not just.

649
00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:53,640
He's not just good.

650
00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:54,760
Sometimes like.

651
00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:56,200
Like we would walk around
today and.

652
00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,720
Most of you would look at
someone that's your friend, that

653
00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:00,280
is a.

654
00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,280
What we would call a good
person and say, they're good.

655
00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:03,800
Are they completely good?

656
00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:04,400
Well, no.

657
00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:05,240
No one's completely good.

658
00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:05,800
That's right.

659
00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:10,100
And the question that a lot of
people ask us, why would God allow

660
00:26:10,260 --> 00:26:13,620
bad things to happen to good
people like this?

661
00:26:13,620 --> 00:26:15,220
This person is a good man.

662
00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:17,540
How could God allow the
sickness to.

663
00:26:17,540 --> 00:26:18,340
Come into his life?

664
00:26:18,340 --> 00:26:19,860
This person's a good person.

665
00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:22,500
Why would God allow them to go
through such a trial?

666
00:26:22,580 --> 00:26:24,980
Well, let me tell you
something on the theological level,

667
00:26:24,980 --> 00:26:26,500
and I know this is going to sting.

668
00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:28,500
It stings me when I say it.

669
00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:32,980
But the Bible says that there
is none good, no, not one.

670
00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,440
For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God.

671
00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,320
None of us deserve what we
have in Jesus Christ.

672
00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,160
That's the point of
Christianity, that that's the point

673
00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:47,000
of salvation is that none of
us can earn it.

674
00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,600
None of us deserve any good.

675
00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,520
Every good gift comes from God.

676
00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,840
In Thanksgiving season, we
think about all the good things that

677
00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:53,240
we have.

678
00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,080
That is a gift of grace.

679
00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:57,920
What does the Bible say we deserve?

680
00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:02,100
For the wages or the payment
of sin is a hard life.

681
00:27:02,180 --> 00:27:03,140
No death.

682
00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:06,460
And this isn't popular preaching.

683
00:27:06,460 --> 00:27:09,100
This isn't something that's
going to cause me to say everyone's

684
00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:10,180
going to love me one day.

685
00:27:10,420 --> 00:27:11,700
Maybe you will, maybe you won't.

686
00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:12,540
But I got to say it.

687
00:27:12,540 --> 00:27:15,060
The Bible says what we all
deserve is death.

688
00:27:15,540 --> 00:27:17,860
Physical death and spiritual death.

689
00:27:18,020 --> 00:27:22,060
But then, because of the love
of our Heavenly Father, he sent his

690
00:27:22,060 --> 00:27:25,820
only begotten Son so that we
might have life and so that we can

691
00:27:25,820 --> 00:27:26,260
love Him.

692
00:27:26,590 --> 00:27:31,070
The Bible says we love God
because we're good people, because

693
00:27:31,070 --> 00:27:32,270
we were born in America.

694
00:27:32,430 --> 00:27:36,270
No, we love God because he
first loved us.

695
00:27:36,830 --> 00:27:40,910
And so if you go back to
Romans 8:28, it says that these things

696
00:27:40,910 --> 00:27:43,830
that work together for good,
this gift of grace is only for those

697
00:27:43,830 --> 00:27:44,590
who love God.

698
00:27:44,590 --> 00:27:45,830
Well, how do we love God?

699
00:27:45,830 --> 00:27:49,670
We experience his love to us,
to them.

700
00:27:49,670 --> 00:27:50,510
Who are the called.

701
00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:52,520
Folks?

702
00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,560
We are called for a specific purpose.

703
00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:56,880
We're going to talk more about that.

704
00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:58,280
In verses 29 and 30.

705
00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,080
This isn't a deterministic way
of thinking.

706
00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:03,920
This isn't saying that only
certain people are called and other

707
00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:04,680
people aren't called.

708
00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,840
No, the Bible says, for
whosoever shall.

709
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:08,680
Call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.

710
00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,520
The gift is extended to all,
but only those who receive the gift

711
00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,360
and stand in the truth of God
are part of the called, part of the

712
00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:18,480
ones who are called for the
purpose of the glorification of our

713
00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:19,160
heavenly Father.

714
00:28:21,150 --> 00:28:22,910
Again, this promise is not for everybody.

715
00:28:23,390 --> 00:28:26,670
If I was to walk up to someone
this morning and say to them.

716
00:28:27,790 --> 00:28:33,110
Hey, God loves you and he
wants what's best for you and everything

717
00:28:33,110 --> 00:28:34,430
is going to work out for your good.

718
00:28:34,430 --> 00:28:35,550
And they're sitting there
going, well, I.

719
00:28:35,550 --> 00:28:36,670
Don'T even believe that God exists.

720
00:28:37,630 --> 00:28:38,670
I'm my own God.

721
00:28:39,310 --> 00:28:42,150
I worship this or I worship
that, or I don't worship any God.

722
00:28:42,150 --> 00:28:44,630
And I tell them, hey, well,
it's okay, God's going to work it

723
00:28:44,630 --> 00:28:45,230
out for your good.

724
00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:46,800
That's not what this verse says.

725
00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,520
This verse is for the family
of God, for the children of God.

726
00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,840
I hope you see how Romans 8 builds.

727
00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,160
Because what does Romans 8:16 say?

728
00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,440
The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit that we are

729
00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:01,520
the children of God.

730
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,560
He's talking to people that
are born again believers.

731
00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,320
What's happened is in this
world, we've said this with universalism,

732
00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:12,360
that God loves everybody, in
which he does by the extent of giving

733
00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,170
grace to everybody and the
gift of salvation.

734
00:29:15,250 --> 00:29:18,650
But that doesn't mean that
everybody is a child of God.

735
00:29:18,650 --> 00:29:21,410
Therefore it doesn't mean that
everyone gets to receive this type

736
00:29:21,410 --> 00:29:22,610
of promise and.

737
00:29:22,610 --> 00:29:24,890
Principle of all things work
together for.

738
00:29:24,890 --> 00:29:27,530
Good to them that love God to.

739
00:29:27,530 --> 00:29:28,450
Them who are the called.

740
00:29:29,970 --> 00:29:32,970
And so this is, this is
something exclusively for those who

741
00:29:32,970 --> 00:29:33,770
have trusted in.

742
00:29:33,770 --> 00:29:35,010
Jesus Christ as savior.

743
00:29:35,090 --> 00:29:37,050
So if someone comes up to me
and they say, well, I don't believe

744
00:29:37,050 --> 00:29:37,930
Jesus is God.

745
00:29:37,930 --> 00:29:40,330
I don't believe that he can
save me, but I want things to work

746
00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:41,090
out good in my Life.

747
00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:41,570
And can.

748
00:29:41,570 --> 00:29:43,050
Can you give me some type of promise?

749
00:29:43,050 --> 00:29:45,970
I'm going to tell you that I
can't give you any promise other

750
00:29:45,970 --> 00:29:49,010
than the fact that there will
be inconsistency, there will be pain.

751
00:29:49,170 --> 00:29:52,050
There was someone that said,
well, I don't believe in God because

752
00:29:52,050 --> 00:29:53,650
there is a world of pain out there.

753
00:29:54,530 --> 00:29:56,610
And I said, okay, well then
don't believe in God.

754
00:29:56,610 --> 00:29:57,489
Is there still pain?

755
00:29:57,570 --> 00:29:58,210
Well, yeah.

756
00:29:58,690 --> 00:30:01,090
The truth is, is that all of
us are going to deal with pain.

757
00:30:01,170 --> 00:30:03,450
The beauty of being a
Christian, the beauty of walking

758
00:30:03,450 --> 00:30:06,610
with Christ, is that we all go
through pain, but we have someone

759
00:30:06,610 --> 00:30:08,580
that we're going through it
because that's going through it with

760
00:30:08,580 --> 00:30:11,700
us that can handle our pain,
that can handle our struggles, that

761
00:30:11,700 --> 00:30:12,780
can handle our sorrow.

762
00:30:13,820 --> 00:30:15,780
And so in Romans 8:28, it's a.

763
00:30:15,780 --> 00:30:18,140
Promise to those who are in
the family of God.

764
00:30:18,300 --> 00:30:19,660
And so I want you to think
about this.

765
00:30:19,980 --> 00:30:22,380
How can we know that God is good?

766
00:30:22,940 --> 00:30:25,980
How can we know that God's
plan is right for us?

767
00:30:26,060 --> 00:30:28,220
Well, the Bible says that he
is the author.

768
00:30:28,300 --> 00:30:29,740
This is Hebrews chapter 12.

769
00:30:30,060 --> 00:30:33,500
He is the author and finisher
of our faith.

770
00:30:34,790 --> 00:30:39,470
So if our God is good and he's
the author, meaning he's the one

771
00:30:39,470 --> 00:30:44,470
who created us, he's the one
who initiated salvation.

772
00:30:44,470 --> 00:30:50,070
And then it says finisher or
sustainer, the author and finisher

773
00:30:50,070 --> 00:30:50,590
of our faith.

774
00:30:50,590 --> 00:30:53,390
And so our faith is not in our goodness.

775
00:30:53,390 --> 00:30:55,830
Our salvation is not in our goodness.

776
00:30:55,990 --> 00:30:57,630
Our life is not in our goodness.

777
00:30:57,630 --> 00:31:01,070
The Bible tells us that we
have been given new life in Christ

778
00:31:01,070 --> 00:31:02,710
and He is the author and finisher.

779
00:31:02,710 --> 00:31:06,210
So God being the author and
finisher of our faith, is a good

780
00:31:06,210 --> 00:31:06,530
God.

781
00:31:06,530 --> 00:31:08,610
Therefore we can know that his plan.

782
00:31:08,610 --> 00:31:09,650
Is what's best for us.

783
00:31:11,090 --> 00:31:12,610
But ultimately we see this.

784
00:31:13,490 --> 00:31:18,770
It's God's plan and purpose
for us that is good.

785
00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:21,490
Again, it's not every
circumstance that's good.

786
00:31:21,490 --> 00:31:23,370
It's God's plan and purpose
for us.

787
00:31:23,370 --> 00:31:26,610
And ultimately the plan and
purpose for his glory.

788
00:31:26,690 --> 00:31:28,450
The plan and purpose for his kingdom.

789
00:31:28,700 --> 00:31:31,020
The plan and purpose for
reaching loss for Christ.

790
00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:32,860
That is what is good.

791
00:31:33,260 --> 00:31:35,820
But we know that God has not
come to make our lives miserable.

792
00:31:36,140 --> 00:31:39,340
I mean, I could go to verse
after verse that speaks to how God

793
00:31:39,340 --> 00:31:41,260
wants us to have a rich and
abundant life.

794
00:31:41,420 --> 00:31:43,980
And you could go to John 10:10.

795
00:31:44,220 --> 00:31:46,900
That'S a wonderful verse that
speaks to the fact that God is not

796
00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:49,660
just wanting us to walk in a
life of being miserable.

797
00:31:49,900 --> 00:31:53,420
John 10:10, it says, the thief
cometh not, but for to steal and

798
00:31:53,420 --> 00:31:54,380
to kill and to destroy.

799
00:31:54,750 --> 00:31:56,110
I am come this is Jesus.

800
00:31:56,110 --> 00:31:59,630
That they might have life and
that they might have it more abundantly.

801
00:32:00,350 --> 00:32:02,350
God has called us to have a
wonderful life.

802
00:32:02,830 --> 00:32:05,630
But the wonderful life is not
about getting everything that I want.

803
00:32:05,630 --> 00:32:08,870
The wonderful life is walking
with our Savior and knowing that

804
00:32:08,870 --> 00:32:12,550
no matter what I do, no matter
what happens around me, no matter

805
00:32:12,550 --> 00:32:15,870
where I live, no matter how
much I'm persecuted, no matter how

806
00:32:15,870 --> 00:32:19,950
many times I stumble, that God
has got me and that he's preparing

807
00:32:19,950 --> 00:32:22,910
me and that he's sustaining
me, and that ultimately I will be

808
00:32:22,910 --> 00:32:23,295
with Him.

809
00:32:23,295 --> 00:32:27,270
But that is what is good, and
that is what the product of this.

810
00:32:27,270 --> 00:32:28,630
Type of faith looks like.

811
00:32:29,510 --> 00:32:31,270
And so, since his plan is always.

812
00:32:31,270 --> 00:32:32,870
Good, he is always good.

813
00:32:33,030 --> 00:32:37,350
Christians can take confidence
that no matter what the circumstances,

814
00:32:37,430 --> 00:32:41,430
no matter what our environment
is around us, that God is actively

815
00:32:41,670 --> 00:32:44,950
taking care of us and will
ultimately make all things right

816
00:32:44,950 --> 00:32:47,830
according to his good purpose.

817
00:32:48,630 --> 00:32:50,170
With this knowledge, we.

818
00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:54,800
We can live a life of
spiritual contentment and joy and

819
00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:55,160
peace.

820
00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,680
Now, I want to take you to.

821
00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:02,040
Another passage of scripture
to kind of conclude our thoughts,

822
00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:03,360
because what does this look like?

823
00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:04,600
So what does the life of a.

824
00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:07,040
Christian who Trust in Romans
8:28 look like?

825
00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,800
Well, for many people it's
taught that.

826
00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:15,200
If I trust in Romans 8:28 and
I have just enough faith, everything's

827
00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:16,000
going to be okay.

828
00:33:16,630 --> 00:33:19,510
That God's not going to allow
my children to go through pain, that,

829
00:33:19,510 --> 00:33:21,950
that in the country that I
live in, we're going to have victories

830
00:33:21,950 --> 00:33:24,070
and we're going to have
successes and that God's going to

831
00:33:24,070 --> 00:33:27,190
make my bank account big and
that my health is going to be completely

832
00:33:27,190 --> 00:33:27,590
perfect.

833
00:33:27,830 --> 00:33:31,150
No, that's not the outcome of
living a life trusting in Romans

834
00:33:31,150 --> 00:33:35,070
8:28, we go to Philippians
chapter four and we see exactly what

835
00:33:35,070 --> 00:33:35,750
it looks like.

836
00:33:36,070 --> 00:33:39,190
Because the same author of the
book of Romans, Paul, that says,

837
00:33:39,190 --> 00:33:39,990
look, the.

838
00:33:39,990 --> 00:33:42,310
The sufferings that you face
now are nothing in comparison to

839
00:33:42,310 --> 00:33:43,510
the glory that you have in heaven.

840
00:33:44,050 --> 00:33:45,490
We know that all things work together.

841
00:33:45,490 --> 00:33:48,090
For good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according

842
00:33:48,090 --> 00:33:48,930
to his purpose.

843
00:33:48,930 --> 00:33:51,930
And by the way, his purpose, not.

844
00:33:51,930 --> 00:33:54,330
Our own, but Philippians
chapter four.

845
00:33:54,330 --> 00:33:55,210
We read it this morning.

846
00:33:55,210 --> 00:34:00,730
This is the natural, or may I
say supernatural outflow of a Christian's

847
00:34:00,730 --> 00:34:05,010
life who was walking with the
confidence to know that God is going

848
00:34:05,010 --> 00:34:06,770
to make all things right, that
God is going.

849
00:34:06,770 --> 00:34:07,730
To make all things good.

850
00:34:09,259 --> 00:34:11,139
Because there's a lot of times
in our life that we say, yeah, I

851
00:34:11,139 --> 00:34:13,259
quote Romans 8:28, But I'm
miserable today.

852
00:34:13,819 --> 00:34:15,419
I don't know if God's going to
handle this.

853
00:34:15,579 --> 00:34:16,539
And we might even.

854
00:34:16,539 --> 00:34:17,939
Maybe we don't say it, but we.

855
00:34:17,939 --> 00:34:19,379
Might even doubt if God is going.

856
00:34:19,379 --> 00:34:20,299
To make all things good.

857
00:34:21,019 --> 00:34:24,779
Well, that type of believer is
not going to be walking according

858
00:34:24,859 --> 00:34:26,379
to Philippians chapter four.

859
00:34:26,859 --> 00:34:28,379
It's going to be the complete opposite.

860
00:34:28,459 --> 00:34:29,499
But look at it with me in.

861
00:34:29,499 --> 00:34:31,899
Verse four in Philippians
chapter four.

862
00:34:31,979 --> 00:34:32,859
This is Paul.

863
00:34:32,859 --> 00:34:34,579
Now again, where is Paul?

864
00:34:34,579 --> 00:34:36,699
Paul is in prison when he
writes this.

865
00:34:37,110 --> 00:34:39,550
Paul is not in a resort on.

866
00:34:39,550 --> 00:34:43,910
The banks of the Mediterranean
Sea and living the good life.

867
00:34:45,270 --> 00:34:48,870
So Paul says, I. I know that
what God is doing right now for me

868
00:34:48,870 --> 00:34:50,390
is going to work together for good.

869
00:34:50,470 --> 00:34:53,269
Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always.

870
00:34:53,270 --> 00:34:54,630
And again I say rejoice.

871
00:34:55,830 --> 00:34:57,590
You ever heard a Christian
that say, I just don't have a reason

872
00:34:57,590 --> 00:34:58,550
to praise God today?

873
00:34:59,270 --> 00:35:00,390
How dare we say that?

874
00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,920
Job says, the Lord gives and
the Lord takes away.

875
00:35:06,240 --> 00:35:07,680
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

876
00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:11,360
You know, sometimes it's easy.

877
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:12,960
Sometimes it's very easy.

878
00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,040
Genesis, Jehovah Jireh.

879
00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:18,320
God will provide.

880
00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,000
When is it easy to claim
Jehovah Jireh?

881
00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:23,680
When you're being provided for?

882
00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:28,360
When our son went through
surgery and we were praying through

883
00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:34,620
different things and we
there's Jehovah Rafi, which is God.

884
00:35:34,620 --> 00:35:35,340
God heals.

885
00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:38,700
It was so easy for us to.

886
00:35:38,700 --> 00:35:40,020
Claim that God is a healer when.

887
00:35:40,020 --> 00:35:41,020
Our son was healed.

888
00:35:42,220 --> 00:35:45,020
It's so easy to claim God's
love when we feel the love.

889
00:35:45,020 --> 00:35:46,940
But that's not when we're to rejoice.

890
00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:48,380
What does he say here?

891
00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:50,540
Rejoice in the Lord when it's good.

892
00:35:51,100 --> 00:35:52,620
Rejoice in the Lord always.

893
00:35:53,420 --> 00:35:54,780
And again I say rejoice.

894
00:35:55,670 --> 00:35:56,950
We say Jehovah Jireh.

895
00:35:56,950 --> 00:35:58,270
When our bank account isn't
what we.

896
00:35:58,270 --> 00:36:00,510
Expect it to be, we say that.

897
00:36:00,510 --> 00:36:04,950
God is the healer, even when
we don't necessarily see the healing.

898
00:36:04,950 --> 00:36:05,310
Why?

899
00:36:05,310 --> 00:36:08,070
Because we're to rejoice in
all senses of the word.

900
00:36:08,070 --> 00:36:08,390
Why?

901
00:36:08,550 --> 00:36:10,950
Because he is ultimately going
to heal.

902
00:36:11,029 --> 00:36:12,790
He is ultimately going to provide.

903
00:36:13,350 --> 00:36:16,470
And so it's so easy for us in
abundance to praise.

904
00:36:17,190 --> 00:36:19,910
But are we willing to be like
Job and say, the Lord gives and the

905
00:36:19,910 --> 00:36:20,550
Lord takes away?

906
00:36:20,870 --> 00:36:22,070
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

907
00:36:22,070 --> 00:36:25,350
Can we worship him in the
midst of the struggle?

908
00:36:26,630 --> 00:36:28,070
Because that's the true test.

909
00:36:28,470 --> 00:36:33,030
The true test of our inner
peace and our inner joy is when things

910
00:36:33,030 --> 00:36:34,830
get tough, are we willing to
worship him?

911
00:36:34,830 --> 00:36:36,630
And he says, rejoice in the
Lord always.

912
00:36:36,709 --> 00:36:38,230
And again I say, rejoice.

913
00:36:38,230 --> 00:36:38,630
Why?

914
00:36:39,590 --> 00:36:41,630
Let your moderation be known
unto all men.

915
00:36:41,630 --> 00:36:42,630
The Lord is at hand.

916
00:36:42,710 --> 00:36:44,630
When we have this type of praise.

917
00:36:44,870 --> 00:36:47,870
When we have this type of
worship, when we have that type of

918
00:36:47,870 --> 00:36:51,150
testimony that says, hey, even
though I'm going through this trial,

919
00:36:51,150 --> 00:36:52,070
God is good.

920
00:36:52,070 --> 00:36:55,910
What happens is that the world
knows that the Lord is at hand.

921
00:36:55,990 --> 00:36:58,870
Our moderation, our lifestyle
is made known unto all.

922
00:36:59,030 --> 00:37:00,870
That's when the testimony resonates.

923
00:37:01,910 --> 00:37:04,350
If I came up to you and said,
hey, you know, God just gave me a

924
00:37:04,350 --> 00:37:05,990
million dollars, praise God
for that.

925
00:37:06,070 --> 00:37:08,230
He is so good and he's
providing for me.

926
00:37:08,310 --> 00:37:10,390
And, and, and you're sitting
there going.

927
00:37:10,710 --> 00:37:12,310
Well, I could have used a
million dollars.

928
00:37:12,700 --> 00:37:13,220
I don't have.

929
00:37:13,220 --> 00:37:15,140
I don't have enough money to
pay for my next meal.

930
00:37:15,140 --> 00:37:15,820
What's going to happen?

931
00:37:16,220 --> 00:37:17,940
The thing is, is that it's not.

932
00:37:17,940 --> 00:37:19,900
About the circumstance that
gives us the praise.

933
00:37:19,900 --> 00:37:21,900
It's about letting the Lord be
made known.

934
00:37:23,340 --> 00:37:25,660
And so it's yes, God is going
to give us abundance.

935
00:37:25,660 --> 00:37:27,180
He's going to talk about that
here in a moment.

936
00:37:27,260 --> 00:37:30,620
But I want you to see that
it's worshiping God in the blessings

937
00:37:31,260 --> 00:37:34,860
of materials and in the
blessings of the spiritual in the

938
00:37:34,860 --> 00:37:35,900
midst of having nothing.

939
00:37:36,140 --> 00:37:37,220
And he goes farther here.

940
00:37:37,220 --> 00:37:39,500
He says, be careful or anxious
for nothing.

941
00:37:39,500 --> 00:37:42,650
So he says, this the result of.

942
00:37:42,650 --> 00:37:44,970
Living the life of saying,
God's going to make it all good.

943
00:37:45,530 --> 00:37:47,370
We know that all things work
together for good.

944
00:37:47,530 --> 00:37:48,330
What's the result?

945
00:37:48,330 --> 00:37:50,890
He says it in verse 6, be.

946
00:37:50,970 --> 00:37:52,570
Careful or anxious for nothing.

947
00:37:52,570 --> 00:37:55,690
That word careful just means
anxious, having anxieties.

948
00:37:55,690 --> 00:37:58,330
He says, be careful for
nothing but in everything.

949
00:37:58,490 --> 00:38:01,610
So don't ever get anxious
about anything but in everything.

950
00:38:01,690 --> 00:38:02,570
What does it say?

951
00:38:02,970 --> 00:38:04,770
By prayer and supplication.

952
00:38:04,770 --> 00:38:05,690
With thanksgiving.

953
00:38:06,260 --> 00:38:07,060
With thanksgiving.

954
00:38:07,620 --> 00:38:09,540
Let your request be made known
unto God.

955
00:38:10,020 --> 00:38:11,060
Bring it all to him.

956
00:38:11,060 --> 00:38:11,380
Why?

957
00:38:11,380 --> 00:38:12,180
Because he's in control.

958
00:38:13,140 --> 00:38:14,420
He's the one that cares for us.

959
00:38:14,420 --> 00:38:15,700
He's the one that has the good plan.

960
00:38:15,860 --> 00:38:18,980
Instead of struggling with the
things that we cannot control, we

961
00:38:18,980 --> 00:38:21,300
get over to the one who can
control those things.

962
00:38:21,700 --> 00:38:24,100
We say, lord, I don't
understand why this is happening.

963
00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:26,340
I don't understand why I have
to go through this.

964
00:38:26,420 --> 00:38:28,340
I don't understand why I got
this news.

965
00:38:28,420 --> 00:38:30,380
I can't reconcile this with
anything right now.

966
00:38:30,380 --> 00:38:32,900
But I know you are good and I
know you're going to take care of

967
00:38:32,900 --> 00:38:33,140
me.

968
00:38:33,410 --> 00:38:35,770
And it says, with
thanksgiving, let your request be

969
00:38:35,770 --> 00:38:36,770
made known unto God.

970
00:38:37,090 --> 00:38:38,250
I give it over to him.

971
00:38:38,250 --> 00:38:40,570
How freeing is it to know that.

972
00:38:40,570 --> 00:38:41,650
I am not in control?

973
00:38:41,650 --> 00:38:43,330
God is in control, folks.

974
00:38:43,970 --> 00:38:47,210
All of us today would realize,
hopefully we should realize that

975
00:38:47,210 --> 00:38:49,890
in comparison to God, we are
so insignificant.

976
00:38:50,130 --> 00:38:53,010
Our power is limited, our
wisdom is Limited.

977
00:38:53,330 --> 00:38:54,850
Our resources are limited.

978
00:38:55,090 --> 00:38:58,290
And how silly would it be for
us to say, I've got it under control.

979
00:38:58,290 --> 00:39:01,990
God, no, we give it over to
him because eventually, whether you

980
00:39:01,990 --> 00:39:02,390
find out.

981
00:39:02,390 --> 00:39:05,430
Early or later, you're going
to be overwhelmed by the circumstances

982
00:39:05,430 --> 00:39:05,950
of this world.

983
00:39:05,950 --> 00:39:07,190
And he says, give it over to him.

984
00:39:07,190 --> 00:39:08,470
And what's the result of that?

985
00:39:09,030 --> 00:39:12,150
What's the result of living
with this type of confidence that

986
00:39:12,150 --> 00:39:13,830
all things are going to work
together for good?

987
00:39:14,550 --> 00:39:15,870
And the peace, verse 7.

988
00:39:15,870 --> 00:39:19,630
And the peace of God which
passeth all understanding, shall

989
00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:21,830
keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.

990
00:39:22,710 --> 00:39:24,870
It's a type of peace that the
world can't understand.

991
00:39:25,990 --> 00:39:30,280
It's, it's, it's a, it's a
peace regardless of the circumstance

992
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:30,680
in our life.

993
00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:34,680
It's a peace that passes all
comprehension in this world, and

994
00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:36,240
it's only found through Jesus Christ.

995
00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:38,360
He goes further to say this.

996
00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:40,440
In verse eight, he says, then we.

997
00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:42,760
Set our minds on the things
that are proper, right?

998
00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:46,400
Because if we're always in
doubt that God is good, if we're

999
00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:49,120
always in doubt that God's
plan is right, we're eventually going

1000
00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:51,480
to set our minds on the things
that are not of God.

1001
00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:54,055
And that's why we find
ourselves falling into traps of sin.

1002
00:39:54,055 --> 00:39:56,540
And, and he says, finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true,

1003
00:39:56,540 --> 00:39:59,260
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever

1004
00:39:59,260 --> 00:40:01,580
things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things

1005
00:40:01,580 --> 00:40:02,180
are of good report.

1006
00:40:02,260 --> 00:40:05,100
If there be any virtue and if
there be any praise, think on these

1007
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:05,380
things.

1008
00:40:05,380 --> 00:40:07,180
He says, you want to have pure thoughts.

1009
00:40:07,180 --> 00:40:08,740
Think about the goodness of God.

1010
00:40:09,140 --> 00:40:10,740
Dwell upon what he has done
for you.

1011
00:40:10,740 --> 00:40:12,580
Dwell upon what he is going to
do for you.

1012
00:40:13,300 --> 00:40:16,420
And he says, those things
which you have both learned and received

1013
00:40:16,420 --> 00:40:16,980
and heard.

1014
00:40:16,980 --> 00:40:17,660
And seen in me.

1015
00:40:17,660 --> 00:40:18,660
This is Paul speaking.

1016
00:40:18,740 --> 00:40:22,060
Do, and the God of peace shall
be with you.

1017
00:40:22,860 --> 00:40:26,220
Speaks of the presence of God,
the provisions of God.

1018
00:40:26,620 --> 00:40:27,260
Verse 10.

1019
00:40:27,260 --> 00:40:29,300
He speaks of how they gave him.

1020
00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:32,580
He says, but I rejoice in the
Lord greatly that now at the last,

1021
00:40:32,580 --> 00:40:34,140
your care of me have
flourished again.

1022
00:40:34,140 --> 00:40:36,940
Meaning he's thankful for
these people that have given him

1023
00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:38,860
goods to support him.

1024
00:40:39,180 --> 00:40:43,020
He says, wherein ye also
careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

1025
00:40:43,340 --> 00:40:44,660
And then this is verse 11.

1026
00:40:44,660 --> 00:40:47,020
Verse 11 is the, is the culmination.

1027
00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:47,740
Essentially.

1028
00:40:48,310 --> 00:40:49,550
He says, not that I speak in.

1029
00:40:49,550 --> 00:40:53,190
Respect of want, just I don't
need to tell you what I'm struggling

1030
00:40:53,190 --> 00:40:53,510
with.

1031
00:40:54,230 --> 00:40:55,510
For I have learned.

1032
00:40:55,830 --> 00:40:57,910
This is not something that
naturally happens.

1033
00:40:58,310 --> 00:41:00,950
We learn this in our spiritual maturity.

1034
00:41:01,110 --> 00:41:04,670
In whatsoever state, I am
therewith to be content.

1035
00:41:04,670 --> 00:41:07,270
Meaning this, whatever's
happening in my life, I'm Content?

1036
00:41:07,270 --> 00:41:07,550
Why?

1037
00:41:07,550 --> 00:41:08,470
Because I have Jesus.

1038
00:41:09,270 --> 00:41:10,310
I have salvation.

1039
00:41:11,590 --> 00:41:11,990
Now.

1040
00:41:12,470 --> 00:41:16,170
I'm preaching this to you not
as someone who's accomplished this

1041
00:41:16,170 --> 00:41:16,770
in my life.

1042
00:41:17,250 --> 00:41:20,290
There are still days that I
wake up and I'm not content because

1043
00:41:20,290 --> 00:41:21,330
I want something more.

1044
00:41:21,570 --> 00:41:22,850
I want something different.

1045
00:41:23,890 --> 00:41:24,810
I want.

1046
00:41:24,810 --> 00:41:27,730
I want to have more material blessing.

1047
00:41:28,290 --> 00:41:29,210
But what does he say here?

1048
00:41:29,210 --> 00:41:29,850
He says, there.

1049
00:41:29,850 --> 00:41:30,809
There will be days.

1050
00:41:30,809 --> 00:41:31,850
He goes, Verse 12.

1051
00:41:31,850 --> 00:41:37,130
I know how to be abased, which
means torn down, pulled down to the

1052
00:41:37,130 --> 00:41:37,810
lowest state.

1053
00:41:37,970 --> 00:41:39,170
Paul understood that.

1054
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:42,620
And I know how to abound,
meaning, I know how to be lifted

1055
00:41:42,620 --> 00:41:42,780
up.

1056
00:41:42,780 --> 00:41:43,820
I know how to succeed.

1057
00:41:43,820 --> 00:41:49,140
I know how to have all this
type of blessing everywhere and in

1058
00:41:49,140 --> 00:41:49,660
all things.

1059
00:41:49,660 --> 00:41:51,260
I am instructed both to be full.

1060
00:41:51,260 --> 00:41:53,180
He says, there's been times
where I've been full.

1061
00:41:53,340 --> 00:41:54,060
I'm Vince.

1062
00:41:54,060 --> 00:41:56,060
Some of us at Thanksgiving
understood that feeling.

1063
00:41:56,140 --> 00:41:56,780
Be full.

1064
00:41:57,100 --> 00:42:02,060
And then he says, and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer

1065
00:42:02,060 --> 00:42:02,380
need.

1066
00:42:03,660 --> 00:42:06,140
He says, I've been in both at
the same time.

1067
00:42:06,140 --> 00:42:07,340
I can be content in both.

1068
00:42:07,890 --> 00:42:08,130
Why?

1069
00:42:08,370 --> 00:42:10,770
Because of the blessings of
God in my life.

1070
00:42:11,170 --> 00:42:12,450
Because He's a good God.

1071
00:42:12,450 --> 00:42:14,210
Because he has an ultimate
plan for my life.

1072
00:42:14,210 --> 00:42:16,210
And then we get to another verse.

1073
00:42:16,610 --> 00:42:19,730
Philippians 4:13, another
verse that gets highly misquoted.

1074
00:42:20,850 --> 00:42:23,410
I can do all things through
Christ, which strengtheneth me.

1075
00:42:24,050 --> 00:42:27,050
That doesn't mean that I can
do whatever I want and God will just.

1076
00:42:27,050 --> 00:42:28,690
Bless me because I'm a Christian.

1077
00:42:29,010 --> 00:42:30,730
Very similar to Romans 8:28.

1078
00:42:30,730 --> 00:42:33,810
Romans 8:28 is not about just
loving God, and He gives me everything

1079
00:42:33,810 --> 00:42:34,290
I want.

1080
00:42:34,580 --> 00:42:37,660
Philippians 4:13 is not just
about, hey, just doing whatever I

1081
00:42:37,660 --> 00:42:38,980
want to do and God will bless it.

1082
00:42:38,980 --> 00:42:40,740
No, it says this in verse 13.

1083
00:42:41,060 --> 00:42:42,260
Again, context.

1084
00:42:43,940 --> 00:42:45,940
Struggles, blessings.

1085
00:42:46,900 --> 00:42:48,620
Whatever God has for me, he has.

1086
00:42:48,620 --> 00:42:49,940
Given me the strength to do it.

1087
00:42:50,579 --> 00:42:53,580
If God is allowing me to go
through this trial right now, he

1088
00:42:53,580 --> 00:42:55,700
has given me the strength to
overcome this.

1089
00:42:55,700 --> 00:42:58,060
In his power and his provisions.

1090
00:42:58,060 --> 00:42:59,500
So we really kind of see Romans.

1091
00:42:59,500 --> 00:43:03,960
8:28 and Philippians 4:13 as,
as we would call, like, verses that,

1092
00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:07,040
that cross across the pages.

1093
00:43:08,720 --> 00:43:10,080
And what we can see here is this.

1094
00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:13,440
Romans 8:28 speaks of the provisions.

1095
00:43:14,880 --> 00:43:16,400
All things work together for good.

1096
00:43:17,440 --> 00:43:17,839
Right?

1097
00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:19,480
All the circumstances that I
have, he's.

1098
00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:20,240
Going to provide for me.

1099
00:43:20,240 --> 00:43:20,560
Good.

1100
00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:23,440
And then Philippians 4:13
speak of the power.

1101
00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:27,190
I can do all things through
Christ, which strengthens me.

1102
00:43:28,060 --> 00:43:33,100
And so God gives us the
provisions of goodness in our life,

1103
00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:33,460
no matter.

1104
00:43:33,460 --> 00:43:36,260
What the circumstances are, to
say that he is good.

1105
00:43:36,260 --> 00:43:40,940
And then he gives us the power
to utilize those gifts for his kingdom.

1106
00:43:42,460 --> 00:43:43,780
And so I want you to think.

1107
00:43:43,780 --> 00:43:46,740
About that here this morning,
that we must defer our expectations

1108
00:43:46,740 --> 00:43:47,740
to God's outcome.

1109
00:43:48,540 --> 00:43:51,180
We must see the eternal
perspective, the big picture.

1110
00:43:53,350 --> 00:43:56,030
We have to understand that we
don't know what's next, but God is

1111
00:43:56,030 --> 00:43:57,110
not done working yet.

1112
00:43:57,990 --> 00:44:00,910
We have to understand that our
God, the author and finisher of our

1113
00:44:00,910 --> 00:44:01,750
faith, is good.

1114
00:44:02,230 --> 00:44:05,710
And we must understand that
it's God's plan and purpose for our

1115
00:44:05,710 --> 00:44:07,510
lives and not our own plan and purpose.

1116
00:44:08,070 --> 00:44:10,910
That's what it means to rest in.

1117
00:44:10,910 --> 00:44:12,630
The knowledge of God's goodness.

1118
00:44:12,630 --> 00:44:16,230
And then, then, then we can
say, and we know.

1119
00:44:16,310 --> 00:44:17,510
And this takes faith.

1120
00:44:17,670 --> 00:44:20,170
This takes complete, in utter faith.

1121
00:44:20,170 --> 00:44:21,530
Because it's not what we see.

1122
00:44:21,690 --> 00:44:23,850
Because what we see is in this.

1123
00:44:23,850 --> 00:44:25,610
World, pain, suffering, struggles.

1124
00:44:27,530 --> 00:44:28,290
But we take.

1125
00:44:28,290 --> 00:44:29,690
Remember what faith is he just talked.

1126
00:44:29,690 --> 00:44:30,730
About in Romans 8.

1127
00:44:30,810 --> 00:44:33,450
It's believing and having hope
in something that we don't see.

1128
00:44:34,490 --> 00:44:43,330
So it takes faith to know that
all, all things work together for

1129
00:44:43,330 --> 00:44:43,610
good.

1130
00:44:44,010 --> 00:44:47,280
Not all things are good, but
all things that happen in this world,

1131
00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:54,760
God will make for good to them
that love God to them who are the

1132
00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:55,080
called.

1133
00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:58,840
I want you to see this last
phrase here, and then we're done.

1134
00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:07,560
According to his purpose, not
Josh's purpose, not so and so's purpose,

1135
00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:10,320
but it's good in his purpose.

1136
00:45:10,320 --> 00:45:11,080
And what's his purpose?

1137
00:45:11,310 --> 00:45:11,550
This.

1138
00:45:12,750 --> 00:45:18,590
His purpose is to extend the
gift of grace so that so many people,

1139
00:45:18,590 --> 00:45:19,630
so that all people.

1140
00:45:19,790 --> 00:45:22,470
He is not willing that any
should perish, but that all should

1141
00:45:22,470 --> 00:45:23,230
come to repentance.

1142
00:45:23,230 --> 00:45:23,790
Meaning this.

1143
00:45:23,870 --> 00:45:31,150
The purpose of this life is to
glorify God, worship him by proclaiming

1144
00:45:31,150 --> 00:45:34,590
his goodness and his gospel to
all those around us.

1145
00:45:35,950 --> 00:45:38,450
My struggles can point people
to Christ.

1146
00:45:40,610 --> 00:45:43,890
My inadequacies, my
infirmities, as Romans 8.

1147
00:45:43,890 --> 00:45:45,570
Says, can point people to Christ.

1148
00:45:46,770 --> 00:45:47,330
I'm gonna.

1149
00:45:47,330 --> 00:45:48,290
I'm gonna tell you something
this morning.

1150
00:45:48,290 --> 00:45:51,530
It's very hard to say, but.

1151
00:45:51,530 --> 00:45:52,770
But we're gonna say it.

1152
00:45:53,410 --> 00:45:56,210
Our losses can point people to Christ.

1153
00:45:57,490 --> 00:46:01,410
Because when we stand in the
truth of God, what better testimony

1154
00:46:01,410 --> 00:46:06,170
is it than we sit here and go,
in my pain and my tears and my brokenness,

1155
00:46:06,410 --> 00:46:07,610
God is still good.

1156
00:46:07,690 --> 00:46:08,010
How.

1157
00:46:08,010 --> 00:46:09,490
How much more does that preach than.

1158
00:46:09,490 --> 00:46:11,570
Someone who has everything and
goes, you know what?

1159
00:46:11,570 --> 00:46:13,130
I need a third private jet just.

1160
00:46:13,130 --> 00:46:14,490
To make my life better.

1161
00:46:14,890 --> 00:46:15,210
That.

1162
00:46:15,210 --> 00:46:17,130
That's not the gospel.

1163
00:46:17,450 --> 00:46:18,570
That's not Paul.

1164
00:46:19,130 --> 00:46:19,449
That.

1165
00:46:19,449 --> 00:46:19,690
That.

1166
00:46:19,690 --> 00:46:21,450
That's not what it means to
walk in faith.

1167
00:46:21,450 --> 00:46:24,490
What it means to walk in faith
is I praise him in the good.

1168
00:46:24,890 --> 00:46:26,010
I know how to abound.

1169
00:46:26,330 --> 00:46:27,530
I know how to be abased.

1170
00:46:27,530 --> 00:46:28,570
I know how to be full.

1171
00:46:28,570 --> 00:46:29,690
I know how to be Hungry.

1172
00:46:30,430 --> 00:46:33,990
How many of us would say,
today, no matter what's going on

1173
00:46:33,990 --> 00:46:34,270
in my.

1174
00:46:34,270 --> 00:46:35,710
Life around me, God is good.

1175
00:46:36,670 --> 00:46:37,790
I'm not going to fret.

1176
00:46:39,630 --> 00:46:41,390
I'm going to be as Paul says.

1177
00:46:41,390 --> 00:46:44,910
In Philippians 4, 11, I know
how to be content.

1178
00:46:45,150 --> 00:46:47,470
Whatever circumstance I'm in,
I'm going to be content.

1179
00:46:47,630 --> 00:46:48,870
It doesn't mean you have to like.

1180
00:46:48,870 --> 00:46:50,510
The bad things going on around you.

1181
00:46:50,750 --> 00:46:52,990
This doesn't mean that you
celebrate pain.

1182
00:46:52,990 --> 00:46:54,750
This doesn't mean that you
celebrate loss.

1183
00:46:55,640 --> 00:46:58,280
Biblically speaking, there's a
time for mourning, there's a time

1184
00:46:58,280 --> 00:46:59,080
for sadness.

1185
00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,440
There's a time to recognize
evil around us.

1186
00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:05,960
So it's not justifying evil
around us by any stretch of the imagination.

1187
00:47:06,040 --> 00:47:08,960
It's actually condemning that
and knowing that God is going to

1188
00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:10,440
address that evil around us.

1189
00:47:11,320 --> 00:47:13,400
But until then, we keep
trusting in Him.

1190
00:47:15,240 --> 00:47:16,760
Now, will God answer your prayer?

1191
00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:18,600
He might answer your prayer in
the affirmative.

1192
00:47:19,320 --> 00:47:20,680
That's not my job to say.

1193
00:47:21,410 --> 00:47:22,570
You might be praying for God to.

1194
00:47:22,570 --> 00:47:24,970
Work a miracle in your life,
and he works that miracle in your

1195
00:47:24,970 --> 00:47:25,250
life.

1196
00:47:26,210 --> 00:47:28,930
But I have to say the other
side of the coin, you might be praying

1197
00:47:28,930 --> 00:47:31,730
for something for years, and
he doesn't give you what you expected.

1198
00:47:32,850 --> 00:47:35,810
At the end of the day, God
still is a God of miracles.

1199
00:47:36,530 --> 00:47:37,730
He's still a healer.

1200
00:47:39,250 --> 00:47:40,730
He is still the same God, the.

1201
00:47:40,730 --> 00:47:41,530
Part of the Red Sea.

1202
00:47:41,530 --> 00:47:43,410
He's still the same God that made.

1203
00:47:43,410 --> 00:47:46,290
The sun stand still there in
the book of Joshua.

1204
00:47:47,180 --> 00:47:48,500
But at the same time, God has.

1205
00:47:48,500 --> 00:47:51,420
A bigger plan and a bigger
purpose than our expectations.

1206
00:47:52,460 --> 00:47:55,300
And so if God doesn't answer
the prayer the way that you're praying,

1207
00:47:55,300 --> 00:47:57,100
it, it doesn't mean that he
stopped loving you.

1208
00:47:57,260 --> 00:47:59,500
It just means that there's a
different plan and purpose.

1209
00:48:00,620 --> 00:48:03,540
And I pray that all of us can
see that and understand that and

1210
00:48:03,540 --> 00:48:04,140
rest in that.

1211
00:48:04,140 --> 00:48:04,940
Here this morning.

1212
00:48:06,140 --> 00:48:07,580
It's a difficult passage.

1213
00:48:08,300 --> 00:48:08,860
It's still.

1214
00:48:09,100 --> 00:48:12,860
It's still because of our
experience, is still a passage that

1215
00:48:12,860 --> 00:48:15,020
many of us will struggle with
at some point in our life.

1216
00:48:16,720 --> 00:48:17,560
But at the end of the day.

1217
00:48:17,560 --> 00:48:20,680
What we do is we look to it
and we say, not a question of why

1218
00:48:20,680 --> 00:48:23,520
does God allow bad things to
happen to good people?

1219
00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:24,640
It's the other way around.

1220
00:48:25,120 --> 00:48:26,280
And I'm just going to say this.

1221
00:48:26,280 --> 00:48:28,640
This morning, the true
question we should be asking is,

1222
00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:30,800
why does God allow good things
to happen to bad people?

1223
00:48:31,440 --> 00:48:32,480
Because that's what he's doing.

1224
00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:35,640
He's allowing beautiful things
to happen to.

1225
00:48:35,640 --> 00:48:37,040
People that don't deserve grace.

1226
00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:39,720
That's essentially what grace is.

1227
00:48:39,720 --> 00:48:41,280
Grace is getting something
that we don't deserve.

1228
00:48:42,300 --> 00:48:46,620
And so as a Christian, if I
see everything as a blessing, if

1229
00:48:46,620 --> 00:48:47,180
Thanksgiving.

1230
00:48:47,180 --> 00:48:50,300
Is every day of the week,
every day of the year, and I say.

1231
00:48:50,300 --> 00:48:51,820
Wow, I didn't deserve to wake
up today.

1232
00:48:52,540 --> 00:48:54,460
I don't deserve this family
that I have.

1233
00:48:54,540 --> 00:48:56,300
I don't deserve this job that
I have.

1234
00:48:56,700 --> 00:48:58,500
I don't deserve this day at all.

1235
00:48:58,500 --> 00:48:59,620
But at the end of the day,
this is.

1236
00:48:59,620 --> 00:49:01,740
If we see it that way, every
day is a blessing.

1237
00:49:02,140 --> 00:49:03,420
If we see every gift is a.

1238
00:49:03,420 --> 00:49:07,460
Blessing, we're a lot more
willing to live in that life of contentment

1239
00:49:07,460 --> 00:49:07,660
and.

1240
00:49:07,660 --> 00:49:09,910
Joy and rejoicing in worship.

1241
00:49:10,230 --> 00:49:11,590
Folks, if you can only worship on.

1242
00:49:11,590 --> 00:49:12,950
Days that things are going well.

1243
00:49:14,550 --> 00:49:16,270
It's like Paul says, and this is.

1244
00:49:16,270 --> 00:49:17,270
I'm preaching to myself.

1245
00:49:17,270 --> 00:49:20,230
But it's like Paul says, get
rid of those things that are childish.

1246
00:49:20,630 --> 00:49:23,510
It's childish to only be happy
when things are going good for me.

1247
00:49:24,310 --> 00:49:26,630
Like, my kids are only happy
when they get candy.

1248
00:49:26,870 --> 00:49:29,070
But dad sees the bigger
picture and says, son, it's not good

1249
00:49:29,070 --> 00:49:29,750
to have candy.

1250
00:49:30,070 --> 00:49:33,070
Thanksgiving, we went to this
candy store and there was these big

1251
00:49:33,070 --> 00:49:33,390
candy.

1252
00:49:33,390 --> 00:49:34,550
It's called Candy Barrel.

1253
00:49:35,080 --> 00:49:37,040
And they filled up their candy
and they're eating candy.

1254
00:49:37,040 --> 00:49:38,560
And I'm like, guys, don't get
used to this.

1255
00:49:38,560 --> 00:49:39,480
This isn't every day.

1256
00:49:39,880 --> 00:49:40,840
You're not going to go home and.

1257
00:49:40,840 --> 00:49:42,760
Go to Candy Barrel and fill up
your candy every day.

1258
00:49:42,760 --> 00:49:43,120
Why?

1259
00:49:43,120 --> 00:49:45,160
Because I understand as the
Father, the.

1260
00:49:45,160 --> 00:49:46,600
Bigger picture of the.

1261
00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:50,520
The problem with that same
thing with God.

1262
00:49:50,520 --> 00:49:54,080
Sometimes God allows to us to
understand this.

1263
00:49:54,080 --> 00:49:55,840
But there are certain times
where we.

1264
00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:57,760
Can'T understand why God isn't
doing this for us.

1265
00:49:57,760 --> 00:50:01,170
But we just have to trust that
he's dad and he knows the bigger

1266
00:50:01,170 --> 00:50:01,570
picture.

1267
00:50:01,890 --> 00:50:03,490
And I'm going to trust in his goodness.

1268
00:50:03,970 --> 00:50:05,330
He's never going to fail you.

1269
00:50:05,730 --> 00:50:09,730
The Bible says that he will
never leave us nor forsake us, that

1270
00:50:09,730 --> 00:50:10,130
nothing.

1271
00:50:10,130 --> 00:50:11,370
We're going to get to this in
Romans 8.

1272
00:50:11,370 --> 00:50:13,250
And I'm just wanting to get
there so bad.

1273
00:50:13,570 --> 00:50:16,050
Nothing can separate us from
his love.

1274
00:50:17,330 --> 00:50:19,410
And that's why we have to say,
okay, it's okay.

1275
00:50:19,410 --> 00:50:19,970
It's okay.

1276
00:50:19,970 --> 00:50:21,650
Today we're going to make it through.

1277
00:50:22,290 --> 00:50:25,170
There's days where you just
cry all day.

1278
00:50:25,980 --> 00:50:26,420
That's okay.

1279
00:50:26,420 --> 00:50:27,660
He's there with you and you're crying.

1280
00:50:28,620 --> 00:50:30,460
He's there with you in your questions.

1281
00:50:30,940 --> 00:50:32,860
It's okay to ask God questions.

1282
00:50:32,860 --> 00:50:35,940
It's not okay to question
God's goodness, but it's okay to

1283
00:50:35,940 --> 00:50:36,740
ask God questions.

1284
00:50:36,740 --> 00:50:39,300
And sometimes he gives us
answers and sometimes he doesn't.

1285
00:50:39,300 --> 00:50:40,460
And we say, okay, Lord, I don't.

1286
00:50:40,460 --> 00:50:42,940
Know the answers, but I give
you, I give you the glory.

1287
00:50:43,420 --> 00:50:47,060
Remember, be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer

1288
00:50:47,060 --> 00:50:49,820
and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your request be

1289
00:50:49,820 --> 00:50:50,220
made known.

1290
00:50:51,020 --> 00:50:52,930
Come to him this morning.

1291
00:50:53,410 --> 00:50:55,730
You're struggling with that verse.

1292
00:50:56,450 --> 00:50:58,690
I don't see how it's working
together for good.

1293
00:50:58,770 --> 00:51:01,410
The first thing you gotta take
care of is your eternal destination.

1294
00:51:02,850 --> 00:51:06,490
If you've got that taken care
of, it's then understanding how God

1295
00:51:06,490 --> 00:51:10,130
meets you in your daily walk,
in your daily struggles.

1296
00:51:11,090 --> 00:51:13,890
But for many of us, it's a
matter of faith.

1297
00:51:14,450 --> 00:51:16,650
It's a matter of trusting that God.

1298
00:51:16,650 --> 00:51:18,050
Has the best plan for me.

1299
00:51:19,580 --> 00:51:22,380
And also to know that God is
not the author of evil.

1300
00:51:23,420 --> 00:51:29,260
There's a lot of people that,
that will say this because of whatever

1301
00:51:29,260 --> 00:51:29,780
happened.

1302
00:51:29,780 --> 00:51:32,140
God must not love me because
he did this to me.

1303
00:51:32,620 --> 00:51:35,180
Just know that God did not
author evil.

1304
00:51:36,220 --> 00:51:37,820
Evil is the absence of God.

1305
00:51:37,820 --> 00:51:40,300
But again, evil must be there
because of the good.

1306
00:51:41,100 --> 00:51:43,020
Hate must be there because of
the love.

1307
00:51:43,670 --> 00:51:45,590
And what we have to understand
is that we have a choice.

1308
00:51:46,310 --> 00:51:49,190
Do we have a choice to trust
in God or we have a choice to question

1309
00:51:49,190 --> 00:51:49,670
God?

1310
00:51:50,950 --> 00:51:52,390
Well, we have a choice to do both.

1311
00:51:52,550 --> 00:51:54,470
The question is, is what are
we going to do here this morning?

1312
00:51:54,790 --> 00:51:56,070
Are we going to trust in Him?

1313
00:51:57,510 --> 00:51:58,950
Are we going to give the glory
to Him?

1314
00:52:00,630 --> 00:52:03,070
There's times of abundance,
that's when we give him praise.

1315
00:52:03,070 --> 00:52:05,270
There's times of brokenness,
that's when we give him praise.

1316
00:52:06,150 --> 00:52:07,990
And I don't know where you
stand this morning.

1317
00:52:08,470 --> 00:52:09,510
Some of you, you might be in.

1318
00:52:09,510 --> 00:52:10,270
That day of abundance.

1319
00:52:10,270 --> 00:52:12,620
For some of you, you might be
in that day of brokenness.

1320
00:52:12,700 --> 00:52:15,260
Either way, the day of
blessing and the day of brokenness

1321
00:52:15,260 --> 00:52:16,780
is still a blessing in Jesus Christ.

1322
00:52:17,020 --> 00:52:18,860
And so here this morning, you
might need to come to him.

1323
00:52:18,940 --> 00:52:22,940
Just say, lord, give me the
strength, give me the faith, give

1324
00:52:22,940 --> 00:52:26,820
me the hope that I can look to
you in the midst of everything in

1325
00:52:26,820 --> 00:52:26,980
my.

1326
00:52:26,980 --> 00:52:29,260
Life and say, I know that all
things work together for good.

1327
00:52:29,580 --> 00:52:31,100
Help me see the bigger picture.

1328
00:52:31,580 --> 00:52:33,860
So I'm going to ask if you're
able to stand with me here this morning,

1329
00:52:33,860 --> 00:52:37,710
every head bowed, every eye
closed as the music plays Today a

1330
00:52:37,710 --> 00:52:38,630
time of response.

1331
00:52:39,030 --> 00:52:42,630
We only went over one main
verse that we know.

1332
00:52:43,350 --> 00:52:45,990
Can you say that for your own
testimony this morning?

1333
00:52:45,990 --> 00:52:48,470
Do you know that all things.

1334
00:52:51,030 --> 00:52:51,390
All.

1335
00:52:51,390 --> 00:52:53,350
Things work together for good?

1336
00:52:56,310 --> 00:53:00,550
To those who love God, to
those who are the called according

1337
00:53:00,630 --> 00:53:02,390
to his purpose.

1338
00:53:03,520 --> 00:53:06,320
Is the expectation my purpose
or his purpose?

1339
00:53:08,080 --> 00:53:11,560
Well, if it's my purpose, I'm
going to see all the flaws.

1340
00:53:11,560 --> 00:53:14,320
But if it's his purpose, I'm
going to trust that he has what's

1341
00:53:14,320 --> 00:53:14,960
best for me.

1342
00:53:15,680 --> 00:53:18,440
Some might say, well, how does
this hardship in my life work out

1343
00:53:18,440 --> 00:53:19,440
to the bigger picture?

1344
00:53:19,600 --> 00:53:21,040
That's above my pay grade.

1345
00:53:21,600 --> 00:53:23,280
I don't know how all of that's
going to work.

1346
00:53:23,920 --> 00:53:26,880
But we trust that God's got it
all under control.

1347
00:53:27,920 --> 00:53:30,220
And when we trust that, it allows.

1348
00:53:30,220 --> 00:53:33,860
Us to live with peace and contentment.

1349
00:53:34,180 --> 00:53:39,100
And hope and joy and worship
and all the things that God has called

1350
00:53:39,100 --> 00:53:40,020
us to do in our lives.

1351
00:53:40,660 --> 00:53:42,140
And so here this morning,
maybe you.

1352
00:53:42,140 --> 00:53:44,180
Need to start with just faith
in Him.

1353
00:53:44,500 --> 00:53:47,060
If you haven't trusted in
Jesus Christ as your personal savior,

1354
00:53:47,060 --> 00:53:51,540
if you're living in the Bible
says the wages of sin, today is the

1355
00:53:51,540 --> 00:53:52,740
day that you can trust in Him.

1356
00:53:53,460 --> 00:53:57,080
He sent his only begotten Son
for you to die on the cross.

1357
00:53:57,720 --> 00:53:59,400
The conquered death through
the resurrection.

1358
00:54:00,120 --> 00:54:05,120
As the song is playing here,
just as I am, we come broken to be

1359
00:54:05,120 --> 00:54:05,520
mended.

1360
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:06,840
We come wounded to be healed.

1361
00:54:06,840 --> 00:54:09,400
We come desperate to be mended.

1362
00:54:10,680 --> 00:54:13,400
And so ultimately here this
morning, how, how many of us are

1363
00:54:13,400 --> 00:54:13,720
willing to.

1364
00:54:13,720 --> 00:54:15,160
Come to him in brokenness and say.

1365
00:54:15,160 --> 00:54:16,920
I need you Lord, for salvation.

1366
00:54:17,000 --> 00:54:18,080
But maybe we've done that.

1367
00:54:18,080 --> 00:54:21,640
But maybe for some of us, we
need the Lord sustaining power and

1368
00:54:21,640 --> 00:54:24,050
grace in our life to see his plan.

1369
00:54:24,050 --> 00:54:26,010
In the midst of the inconsistency.

1370
00:54:26,490 --> 00:54:28,090
And so this morning, think
about this.

1371
00:54:28,170 --> 00:54:29,850
Are we willing to trust in the.

1372
00:54:29,850 --> 00:54:34,890
Consistency of our Lord in the
midst of a world of inconsistence?

1373
00:54:35,370 --> 00:54:37,130
For some of us, we need to do
that here today.

1374
00:54:37,530 --> 00:54:40,170
So in this time of invitation,
you can come forward, some have already

1375
00:54:40,170 --> 00:54:40,490
come.

1376
00:54:40,570 --> 00:54:43,050
You can kneel here at the
steps, or you can kneel in your pew

1377
00:54:43,210 --> 00:54:46,130
and you can ask the Lord to
help you see his plan and purpose

1378
00:54:46,130 --> 00:54:46,730
in your life.

1379
00:54:47,850 --> 00:54:49,810
Because he has a plan and
purpose for your life.

1380
00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:54,400
And sometimes we have to just
be open and ready to follow that

1381
00:54:54,400 --> 00:54:55,160
plan and purpose.

1382
00:54:55,400 --> 00:54:56,800
His plan might be for you to.

1383
00:54:56,800 --> 00:54:58,920
Have a good circumstance.

1384
00:54:58,920 --> 00:55:01,720
His plan might be for you to
have a difficult circumstance.

1385
00:55:01,720 --> 00:55:02,720
But at the end of the day.

1386
00:55:02,720 --> 00:55:03,880
It'S all for his glory.

1387
00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:05,839
May we give him his glory here.

1388
00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:08,320
This Lord, I pray that you be
in this time of invitation, working

1389
00:55:08,320 --> 00:55:09,000
hearts and lives.

1390
00:55:09,320 --> 00:55:11,520
We thank you for all that you
do for us in Jesus name.

1391
00:55:11,520 --> 00:55:12,000
Amen.

1392
00:55:12,000 --> 00:55:13,440
As the music plays, some have
already come.

1393
00:55:13,440 --> 00:55:14,840
Follow as the Lord leads here
this morning.

1394
00:56:31,510 --> 00:56:33,990
Thank you again for listening
to the Middletown Baptist Church

1395
00:56:33,990 --> 00:56:34,550
podcast.

1396
00:56:35,120 --> 00:56:37,200
I hope that this sermon has
been a blessing for you.

1397
00:56:37,840 --> 00:56:40,120
If you would like to find out
more information about our church

1398
00:56:40,120 --> 00:56:40,800
or this sermon.

1399
00:56:40,800 --> 00:56:44,800
You can find us at
middletownbaptistchurch.org or find

1400
00:56:44,800 --> 00:56:46,480
us on Facebook or YouTube.

1401
00:56:47,200 --> 00:56:51,640
You can also email me directly
at Josh Massaroiddletownbaptistchurch

1402
00:56:51,640 --> 00:56:56,120
dot com if you've enjoyed this
podcast, please subscribe and follow

1403
00:56:56,120 --> 00:56:58,880
along for future podcast and updates.

1404
00:56:59,600 --> 00:57:00,480
Thank you so much.

1405
00:57:00,720 --> 00:57:01,440
God Bless.

1406
00:57:01,760 --> 00:57:03,040
Have a wonderful day.