Believer’s New Confidence
What is involved
Whom it involves
If there ever has been a time for our confidence to be shaken, now might be such a time.
With the War in Iraq and Afghanistan and our daily loss of troops, the prison incidents and the news media’s negative aspect of coverage one might easily be shaken. The million and billion dollar price tags being placed on these endeavors. Looking at this on Memorial Day weekend let’s take a moment to remember.
We have every need of confidence today as we recognize our men and women who have given their all in support of our country and our freedoms.
Our local and surrounding communities have no buyers for the Herring roe fishery. The salmon have declined continually.
Gas is likely to be going up substantially, which should cause all other commodities in our communities to rise.
Where can we turn, in what can we have confidence?
We can have confidence in God and in HIS blessed assurances to HIS children. Let us look at our scripture today.
What is involved
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, [Rom. 8:28a].
We will look at the first part of this verse. We know (with divine knowledge) that for those who love God, all things are working together for good.
Do you acknowledge that God knows better than you do the things that work together for your good?
How can a death…How can cancer…How can blindness…How can a mentally challenged child…work together for my good you may ask?
God works all things out for those who love HIM.
Do you love HIM?
If your answer is yes this is one of the first assurances of deliverance to a believer.
What a comforting declaration! Scripture declares that “all things work together for good” to the believer. That means you if you are a true believer seeking HIS will in your life.
Nothing can be more assuring than God working all things out for HIS good...Amen.
The words “all things” go well beyond the great events of the world. God does control the events of the world, and HE has control over all of all things.
God rules over “all things”—all events and happenings that occur in the life of the believer. He works “all things” out for good on behalf of HIS dear child.
The words “work together” mean to create and eliminate, place and replace, connect and group, interrelate and intermingle, shape and forge, press and stretch, move and operate, control and guide, arrange and influence. The words also present action which means that all things are continually working together for good.
God is in control of the believer’s life. Daily, moment by moment, God is arranging and re-arranging all things for the believer’s good.
The word “good” means for the ultimate good.
We can’t see the future; we can’t take a single event and see all the ramifications. We can’t see all the things that result from one single event, much less see the results of every event.
But Praise be to God, HE does; therefore, God takes all the events of our lives and works them out for our ultimate good.
"We know" refers to the common knowledge of the Christian, that is, which the Holy Spirit makes real. "Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth" (1Cor. 8:1), and this is the knowledge that only the Spirit of God can make real to our hearts.
Do you possess this common knowledge?
Charles Spurgeon used to say, "I do not need anyone to tell me how honey tastes; I know." And I can say, my friend, that I know God loves me. I don’t need to argue that point; I know it.
Do you really know that God loves you? If not know it today, HE has and always will love you.
Whom it involves
to them who are the called according to his purpose [Rom. 8:28].
There is, however, a limitation on this glorious promise, a limitation that desperately needs to be noted. God is the one who works all things out for good only to those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose.
This fact is graphically seen in the Greek. The clause “to those who love God” is placed first in the sentence: “But we know that to those who love God all things work together for good.”
Scripture insures the point is not missed.
God only looks after the affairs of the person who loves Him.
So, if you don’t feel that God is taking care of the affairs in your life, where is your love for HIM…Is HE and HIS things the priority in your life?
Think about it...If a man does not love God—does not place his life into the hands of God—how can God take care of Him?
If the man turns his back and walks away from God, how can God look after him?
God will not force HIS care upon any of us…not make us robots, forcing us to live at HIS beck and call.
That would not show love; only mechanical behavior.
God wants love that flows from a heart that chooses to love HIM. The choice is ours: we either submit in love, or we continue to take our lives into our own hands (self will).
"For those who love God".
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision [that is, there is no badge]; but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6).
Love is the mark. John put it like this:
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [the mercy seat] for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1John 4:10-16).
Realize dear one, you will have trouble believing God loves you, and you loving God, if you are hating other Christians.
"We love him, because first loved us" (1John 4:19).
And the apostle Peter said: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1Pet. 1:8). The thing that will bring joy and brightness into our life is the sincere love of God.
"All things" -- good and bad; bright and dark; sweet and bitter; easy and hard; happy and sad; prosperity and poverty; health and sickness; calm and storm; comfort and suffering; life and death…."Are working together for good".
Remember, Joseph could look back over his life, a life that had been filled with troubles, disappointments, and sufferings, yet he could say to his brethren -- who were responsible for his misfortune -- ". . . ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good . . ." (Gen. 50:20).
Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . ." (Job 13:15).
That is the faith we need, brothers and sisters.
We know God is going to make things work out for good because HE’s the One who is motivating it. HE’s the One who is bringing it to pass.
Don’t go around with a “woe am I mentality” instead go with “By God’s will go I…with confidence.”
During the San Francisco earthquake many years ago a saint of God walked out into the scene of destruction and debris and actually smiled. A friend asked her, "How can you smile at a time like this?" Her reply was, "I rejoice that I have a God who can shake the world!" How wonderful to be able to face life -- and death – unafraid and assured in God.
Think of Paul who could face the future without flinching. He said to his friends, ". . . What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 21:13).
You can be in this place of total commitment today?
All we need do is fully submit.
Yes “all things are working together for good for them "who are the called" ones, and it is "according to his purpose."
Have you heard God’s call in your life?
Are you ready to commit your all to HIM in every facet of your life?
We stand ready to pray with you, to lift you up, and to walk with you in all areas that God lays before us.
Do you have a prayer request or need today that we might lift up in prayer for you? We would love to pray with and for you, your family and your loved ones, bringing your petitions before the “Throne of God”. HE alone is truly able to answer our every need.
