Blessings for Believers
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” KJV
Romans 8:28 We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Introduction: Some of the greatest encouragement found anywhere in God’s Word is found in Romans chapter 8.
I. The Providence of the Sovereign
- God working around us
a. The scope of His providential care – All things
In 1937 Walt Disney released the first full-length animated movie which has garnered almost one billion in total sales: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Producing an animated movie was a gargantuan task. Disney artists drew over one million pictures. Each picture flashed onto the screen for a mere one-twenty-fourth of a second.
As we watch the movie run at regular speed, it seems so simple. We have no idea all that goes into it. Our lives are like that movie. God puts infinite thought, skill, and careful attention into every detail. Yet as our lives run at “regular speed,” we have no idea how much God’s providence fills every single second.
b. The signs of His providential care are sometimes hard to see.
Tony Evans described God's providence this way:
“There are many times in our lives when God is nowhere to be found.
There are many times when we look for God, but He cannot be located.
There are many times when it seems like God is letting things happen to you and me that He wouldn’t allow if He loved us and cared about us.
But there is a term for God’s invisibility, when He cannot be located. That term is His providence, His unseen hand at work.”
- Tony Evans
c. The surety of His providential care
PROVIDENCE
The word 'Providence' is made up of two words:
* "Pro" means "Before" and "Video" means "to see";
* The word 'Providence' simply means "to see before"
* So when we talk about the providence of God;
* We mean that God 'sees before' and plans accordingly.
II. The Plan of the Sovereign – God working in us
ILL : I'm not sure if I am the only one that does this or not. Growing up, if I was ever walking down a dark country road by myself, I found myself whistling, or singing, or humming an old familiar gospel song. It seemed like it made everything safer. It made me feel protected as I drew myself closer to Jesus in praise songs.
I also find myself today, when in heavy traffic, turning up the radio and singing along to praise music to God. It seems to lower my blood pressure, reduce my anxiety, and it simply calms my spirit.
I will sing most every Christian song I hear on the radio. I still may have been all by myself on that dark country road, or I am still in heavy traffic just as much as I was before, but the darkness of my heart faded. The tangled emotions of the heavy traffic seem to smooth out. I felt as if God was walking with me. I feel like Jesus is sitting next to me as we travel along.
I think that we have all had times when we've felt alone, but as followers of Christ, we're never truly alone. The presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit is always with us. Jesus promised that, before He left this earth.
a. Indwelling us
Romans 8:But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
b. Interceding for us
An intercessor is someone who intervenes on behalf of someone else, especially in prayer.
Romans 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
c. Identifying us – Our identity is in Christ
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
III. The Purpose of the Sovereign – God working through us
a. His Will for our lives
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
BOUGHT TO BE FREED
A young girl was being sold at auction one day. She was a beautiful girl, tall and slender. The bidding was keen, and quickly mounted higher and higher until at last only two men were left bidding for her ownership: the one a low, uncouth foul-mouthed fellow who raised his bid every time to outbid the other, a quiet man of refinement.
Finally the bidding stopped, and to the gentleman who had bid so very earnestly were given the papers which made him the lawful owner of the young girl.
With a shove the auctioneer presented her to her new master. Proudly, defiantly, she stood before him, hating him with every part of her being.
Suddenly, a change came over her face: first there was a look of pure amazement closely followed by one of utter disbelief.
Her owner was ripping up the papers of ownership, and, with a smile of kindness said to the now trembling girl, “My dear, you are free. I bought you that I might free you. You are set free.”
Too stunned for speech, the girl merely stared till finally, with a cry of happiness too deep for words, she cast herself at the man’s feet, and through her tears exclaimed, “Oh, master, I’ll love you and serve you for life!”
What the papers of ownership could not do, the man’s kindness had won completely.
(Source: Evangelical International High School Quarterly. From a sermon by Bill Butsko, "Set Free" 7/27/08,
b. His work in us
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
c. His walk for us
A young girl once consulted with her minister. “I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign.” “Will you tell me,” asked the minister, “where lights are placed?” “What has that to do with it?” the young Christian asked him rather bluntly. “Never mind,” the minister replied. “Answer my question: ‘Where are lights placed?’ “ “I suppose in dark places,” she replied. “Yes, and that is why you have been put in that factory where there is such spiritual darkness and where there is no other Christian to shine for the Lord.” The young Christian realized for the first time the opportunity that was hers, to let her light shine for Christ in a dark place.
