ROMANS
(Walk by faith not by sight - August 14, 2022)
Series Big Idea: "God's ultimate purpose is to make His followers holy"
Sermon Big Idea: "We may not understand all that happens, but we can trust the One who does"
Key Scripture (Romans 8:28)
(Romans 8:28)
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Here are five truths from this promise that hopefully give you confidence and assurance in your Christian walk. It is a Precise Promise because the more we know about God the better prepared we are for what comes our way. It is a Divine Promise because we can count on God. He is always working behind the scenes for our good. It is a Reliable Promise because God understands what is best for you and I and He is weaving it all together in a plan that is for your good and for His glory. It is an Effective Promise because God combines all the situations and circumstances in our lives to work for our good. Lastly, it is a Described Promise. This promise is only for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
The Book of Job is probably the most devastating stories in all the Bible. He is described as a man who feared God and stayed away from evil. But yet rustlers stole his 500 oxen, 500 donkeys, lightning killed his 7000 sheep, bandits stole his 3000 camels and killed all his servants. A building fell on his seven sons and three daughters. Then Job was left with nothing. Job responded to all this in (Job 1:21).
But that is not where the story ends. He is stricken with boils from head to toe and asked his friends to help him. They felt he we getting what he deserved and redemanded him. His wife encouraged him to curse God and die. But although Job didn’t understand what all that had happened, he stayed firm in his faith in God (Job 23:10). Whey would he say this? It was because he knew something. He knew his God! If God was faithful to Job in all he experienced, He will be faithful to you.
Think about the story of Joseph the youngest of Israel's sons. He was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers. He spent time in prison. He was accused of sexual assault. But he eventually was installed as the second in command of Egypt because of the respect he had gained through the years. When he finally met up with the brothers who had sold him into slavery this is what he had to say to them (Genesis 50:20). Even with all that happening in Josephs life, God was still at work in his life working all things according to His plan. Joseph didn’t understand any of it but God was working anyway. We can see the hand of God in all this. What God did for Job and Joseph He is doing for us.
Conclusion:
(Acts 2:23). (Acts 4:27-28). Many think that Jesus was a victim. But God was involved in all this. He determined it to happen. God took the worst evil that could ever be imagined by Satan and turned it into eternal salvation for all mankind. God wants to take all your stuff and bring it to the place where it brings glory and honor to His name.
God is worthy of our trust. Are you willing to trust Him? (Isaiah 46:9-11). Are you determined to be grateful? God wants to bless us. He works all things together for good. I heard a pastor say one time, "If God wants to bless us then let's keep score." You see we must work hard to overcome all the negativity in our world. Let's fill the world with blessings. That means to fall down seven times and get back up eight. God has created us to be active in Him.
Christian, God is doing something in your life. You may not understand what is happening but it is all part of His plan. "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose."
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. .
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books, 1985.
Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. Electronic ed., Victor Books, 1991.
Jamieson, Robert, et al. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.
Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, editors. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.
Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988.
Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.
Dockery, David S., editor. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003.
Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Lexham Press, 2014.
Barton, Bruce, et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Tyndale, 2001.
Stanley, Charles F. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version. Nelson Bibles, 2005.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.
Radmacher, Earl D., et al. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.
The New International Version. Zondervan, 2011.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Thomas Nelson, 1992.
Kruse, Colin G. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Edited by D. A. Carson, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2012.
Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.
Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.
Mounce, Robert H. Romans. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.
Pate, C. Marvin. Romans. Edited by Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Baker Books, 2013.
Newell, William R. Romans Verse-by-Verse. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d.
Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament. Logos Bible Software, 2009.
Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.
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