God's Treasure - Our Security Series

INTRODUCTION,

A $75 basketball in my hands is playing a pickup game in the church gym. A $75 basketball in the hands of Michael Jordan is a world championship and an NBA MVP.

A $900 set of golf clubs in my hands is spending $25 for a green fee and an afternoon of frustration. A $900 set of golf clubs in the hands of Tiger Woods is over $6,000,000 in annual winnings.

A $50 football in my hands is playing catch in the park. A $50 football in the hands of Dan Marino is a future a Hall of Fame quarterback.

A hammer and nails in my hands is a misguided home improvement project. A hammer and nails in the hands of Jesus Christ is the glory of God and the salvation of mankind.

It makes a difference whose hands are at work. And according to our text today, for those who love God and place things in his hands, ... things work out for good.

This doesn’t mean that all circumstances are good in the Christian life. But it means that even the most difficult of circumstances, when controlled by God, can work out for our good.

We are looking at a series entitled “God’s Treasures”. Those unique gifts from God which emphasis his love for us. We have looked at Forgiveness, The Holy Spirit and Hope and today we turn to the idea of Our Security in God’s hands.

When you think of security today what comes to your mind?

Financial Security – this kind of security gives us options, we can go places, we can buy things, and we can enjoy the good things of life if we have financial security.

Homeland Security – Security which gives us protection against terrorist, our government is spending 100’s of millions on this type of security

Social Security – a monthly check to help supplement your income in your golden years

Security of Health

Security of Serenity – that all of your life is working out just as you had hoped for and planned.

Webster Defines SECURITY – as the freedom from risk or danger, the freedom from anxiety or something that makes us feel safe. Lets look at those again “security thoughts” again

Finance – can be fleeting

Homeland – since 9/11 we realize we are not always secure

Social Security – not very much is it?

Security of Health – bodies are changing

Security of Serenity – a phone call or a knock at the door can change that instantly.

SO WHERE DO WE FIND OUR SECURITY?

There is only one place – In the arms of God

Warren Wiersbe - There is no security in things. In fact, things are deceptive: they appear to be satisfying and lasting when they are actually temporary and unable to satisfy the deepest needs of life. ... Certainly, God wants us to enjoy the blessings of life. There is nothing spiritual about sitting grimly in a corner and saying, "These things will not last anyway! Why enjoy them?" God wants us to enjoy his good gifts, just as we want our children to enjoy what we give them. But he does not want us to depend on things--He wants us to depend on Him.

God wants to provide for us a security that comes from trust him. Today I want us to see the benefits of his security and how we can live in a world full of insecurity.

READ TEXT ROMANS 8:28-34

1. A Promise if Given

Paul begins in verse 28, saying we know that all things.

The word “know” conveys an idea of absolute certainty. It is not something we wish or hope for but we can know this without a shadow of a doubt.

All things God works for the good

The text does not say God causes all things to occur. The Bible tells us he does not cause sin and evil. Rather God is constantly working things out for good. The idea is that the Lord is using everything that comes into our life and working it out for good. We may not be able to figure out the why and how of a particular situation we are going through, But God is crafting it, molding it and shaping it to turn out to be good.

The promise is given to certain people.

Last part of verse 28 reads he is working things out for the good for who? Those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The idea is not that God is this benevolent Grandfather trying to make everyone happy, but there are a group of people to whom he is actively working in their lives. THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE CALLED BY HIM. The promise has two distinct conditions