God's Purpose In My Problems Series

Part 16

“GOD’S PURPOSE IN MY PROBLEMS!”

Romans 8:28-31

Dr. Randy Deal

August 19, 2007

www.sermonspice.com bolts: Here For A Purpose 1:20

Bolts….Here For A Purpose! And as Pastor Bill taught us last week, GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN OUR PROBLEMS too!

BIG IDEA…When I understand WHAT God’s purpose is in my problems...I will understand WHY He allows problems in my life!

Romans 8:28-31 (NASB) - most familiar passages in the entire Bible. Paul talks about the PROBLEMS of life. Today we’re going to look at God’s Promise in v. 28, His Purpose in v. 29, and His Process in v. 30 and then Our Response to all of this in v. 31.

LET’S JUMP RIGHT IN…OPEN YOUR BIBLES AND TURN WITH ME…

Romans 8:28-31 (NASB)

And we KNOW that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God {is} for us, who {is} against us?

I. GOD’S PROMISE?

TO WORK EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE FOR GOOD!

Great promises of Scripture!

R. A. Torrey called this verse, "The soft pillow for a heavy heart.”

What this verse does NOT say:

• all things are good! Lots of bad in our world!

• all things work out the way I want them to be good!

• all things end good! Does NOT say all things have a happy ending here on earth. OR DOES IT? WHAT’S YOUR DEF OF HAPPY ENDING?

v. 28 And we KNOW that God causes all things to work together FOR good (NASB)

What it DOES say:

"And we KNOW..." Gk. Eidon (ā’-don) a root word

2. to know of anything, to get knowledge of, understand, perceive, of any fact, the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning, to know how, to be skilled in, to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to.

5778 Tense – Perfect. The perfect tense in Greek, just like in English, describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated. Jesus’ last cry from the cross, “It is finished!" is a good example of the perfect tense, in other words, our atonement has been accomplished, completely, once and for all time."

v. 28 And we KNOW

5784 Voice – Active. v. 28 And WE know…

5791 Mood – Indicative. A simple statement of fact!

It does NOT say:

• we hope that God causes ALL things to work together for good

• we wish that God causes ALL things to work together for good

• we want that God causes ALL things to work together for good

• we desire that God causes ALL things to work together for good

• we guess that God causes ALL things to work together for good

It says "we KNOW" with absolute and unshakable confidence!

If going to learn to make it through problems, it’s going to be based on what you KNOW! Not what you think or what you feel! But…what you KNOW!

It may be hard to see how you’re going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this one statement is:

IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT - - - GOD BRINGS YOU THROUGH IT! AMEN?

“YOU EITHER GO THROUGH IT, OR YOU GROW THROUGH IT!”

Dr. Randy Deal

Only people I am aware of who don’t have troubles are gathered in little

neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them…cemeteries!

If you’re breathing, you have problems! That’s life! And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you!

So, you have problems -- no problem! Just tell yourself: "There I grow again!"

Why is it two people can have the same problem: One grows through it and the other is destroyed by it. It’s the difference between what you KNOW!.

Paul says what we KNOW in this verse makes a difference on how we handle the PROBLEMS in life!

Notice: "God causes ALL things to work together for good."

He doesn’t say "almost everything" but "all things". What’s included in "all"?

Financial problems? LOST JOB? HOUSE WON’T SELL? LOST HOUSE?

Illnesses? ALL? TEMPORAL ARTERITIS? BREAST CANCER? THYROID CANCER?

Addictions? ALCOHOL? METHAMPHETAMINE? TOBACCO?

Relationship problems? MY WIFE/HUSBAND LEFT ME/WANTS A DIVORCE?

Any PROBLEM you can think of! “ALL” covers it!

Notice: “God causes all things to work TOGETHER for good”