Sermon Central
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Why Do Things Go Wrong?
Contributed by Colin Coombs on Oct 22, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: We can cause our own problems and trouble, but the end result can be for the glory of God, if we allow it!
WHY DO THINGS GO WRONG?
I. ADAM EJECTED FROM A PERFECT SETTING -- EDEN!
Genesis 3:22 & 23 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live for ever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
WHY? Disobedience
Brought about by God to save them from themselves and a life of sin.
II. JOSEPH THROWN IN THE PIT & THE PRISON
Genesis 37: 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the richly ornamented robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
Genesis39: 20 & 21 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder.
WHY? See Genesis 50:20
Allowed by God – to save many lives.
Genesis 47: 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
III. THE ISRAELITES HAVING INCREASED PRESSURE -- MADE SLAVES
WHY? To stop them worshipping God.
Brought about by the enemy – allowed by God.
In answer to their prayer!- they were on their way to release!
Exodus 1:8 -11 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 9 "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us.10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." 11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
IV. JONAH IN THE STORM & IN THE FISHES BELLY
Jonah 1:4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.
Jonah 1:17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
WHY? - Disobedience to the Lord’s voice. He had heard and understood!
Brought about by God to fulfill His purposes, and to transform a city.
V. PAUL IN PRISON
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard {Or whole palace} and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
WHY? – To spread the good news of salvation, and to write the Epistles that we now have in our Bible.
VI. CHRISTIANS TODAY
John 15:2 & 3 He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.
WHY? – Pruning, although it may be unpleasant, yet it is needful to encourage a greater level of fruit-bearing. As wew respond to the Word of God, pruning can take place.
