We Know Series

INTRO.- Old preacher Van Havner once said, “I feel like the American humorist Josh Billings who said, ‘I’d rather know a few things for certain than to be sure of a lot of things that ain’t so.”

ILL.- Havner said, “My wife and I were taking a bus trip through the mountains and the bus broke down right in front of a hillbilly grocery store. The woman who ran the store apparently had never been anywhere but the hills.

“My wife said, ‘I don’t believe she knows what’s going on in the outside world.’ I said, ‘Well, don’t tell her. I wouldn’t want her to know. Let her die in peace.’”

Sadly, there are many people who live in this world and in America and yet don’t know what’s going in. They don’t know that there is a loving God who created us and a devil who is evil and out to deceive and damn people to hell.

Romans 13:11-12 “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. “

Many people, including many Christian people, are not aware of how close they may be to eternity and they are not living the way they should. BUT WE KNOW BETTER! We know that eternity is just a breath away and we live according to God’s will as best we can!

I Peter 5:8-11 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

We know that we have a vicious, deceptive, damning enemy in the person of Satan! Consequently, we put up a fight. Some people are simply being sucked down the drain by the devil, BUT NOT US! We are aware of Him and know that the only to resist Him by faith in the Lord. He is powerful but the Lord is all-powerful and greater is He who is in us! (I John 4:4)

And there is whole lot more that we know and it’s because we know the Lord and we study His Word. His Word is the truth and gives us the big picture of what is happening in this world. WE ARE NOT IGNORANT! We know the Lord and we know His Word! We know that God is at work in this world. We fear not.

PROP.- Paul said confidently that we know certain things about our relationship to Christ.

1- We know that God works for our good

2- We know that God conforms us to be like His son

3- We know that God glorifies us in Christ

I. WE KNOW THAT GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Isn’t it nice when God works things out for His good and our good? He often does this by using people to bless people.

ILL.- After my son Shane had major abdominal surgery when he was only 8 days old I had no insurance and a $5,000 hospital and doctor bill. However, today it would much larger. What to do? Make payments like most folks. I went to the financial department at the St. Mary’s Health Center in Jefferson City, MO, and filled out papers. The lady said, “You qualify for Catholic charity. Do you want it?” DID I WANT IT? Absolutely!

After my church I was serving found out what happened there were several people in the church who gave extra offerings or designated some of their offerings to help pay that bill. ISN’T IT NICE WHEN SOMEONE IS WILLING TO COME TO YOUR AID?!

GOD DOES MORE AND WILL DO MORE FOR US. After all, He’s the one who motivates others to do good whether they realize it or not. All good comes from Him.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Oh wow! God works out things for our good. That sure sounds good to me! Has He done that for you? Can you remember a time or several times when you thought nothing was going work out but it did?!