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…In life
we make promises we fully intend to keep, but often we fail to perform
our words. Broken homes, broken hearts, unwanted children, and ruined lives
reveal the pain suffered when our promises are broken.
…Please know that our wonderful God is altogether different from us in this.
He always keeps His promise. Always! Our Bibles contain many promises
that God has made to us. Some include: “I am with you always,” “to
be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” and “nothing
shall separate you from the love of God.” Be assured, our God will
keep every one of His promises.
…Today we will study what many consider to be one of the greatest
promises God makes to us.
FOUR BOUNDARIES UNFOLDING GOD’S PROMISE TO ALWAYS BRING ABOUT
GOOD IN YOUR LIFE.
R. A. Torrey, “a soft pillow for a tired head.”
I.
This Promise Is For
Christians Only.
Question: To whom does this promise apply?
A. This
verse is very restrictive, it is not for all people everywhere.
1.
It is for those
who are “loving God.” A continual sense. Does not say, “believing God.”
2.
It is for those
“who are the called.” “Called” means to be summoned to and given
salvation. (Romans 1:6) These are true Christians!
B. So
not all people can find comfort in this verse. The unsaved have no
hope in this verse.
II.
We Are Being Made Into The Likeness
Of The Character Of Jesus Christ.
Question: What is meant by “good”?
A. What
good does not mean:
1.
It does not mean
rich…as some would like…for this is not true to life…
2.
It does not
mean healthy…for not true to life. The Puritan, Thomas Watson, “a
sick-bed (often) teaches you more than a sermon.”
3.
It does not mean
successful, admired, happy in the world’s sense.
B. What
does this “good” mean?
1.
The answer is
found in verse 29, “conformed to the likeness of His Son.”
2.
It is
impossible to think of a higher good for human beings. This is what
life is about.
3.
Seeing this,
allows us to see other not so obviously good things within God’s
purpose.
…Our Lord takes all that He allows to happen to His beloved children,
even the worst things, and He overrules, turning those things ultimately into
blessings.
4.
These things
are not only used for our good, but also for the good of other people.
…Joseph…(Genesis 50:20) “you meant it for evil, but God meant it for Good.”
III.
God Makes A Good Use Of Bad
Things.
Question: Are the things used in our lives by God for this good end good
in themselves or in their effect?
A. The
answer is clearly only in their effect. This verse does not
teach that sickness, suffering, persecution, grief, or any other such thing is
good. On the contrary, these things are evil.
B. This
verse teaches that God uses these things as the Sovereign One to effect
good ends for His children. God brings good out of the evil.
1.
Through
suffering of all kinds we can learn: kindness, sympathy, humility,
compassion, patience, and gentleness.
2.
God often uses
suffering to bring us close to Him.
C. Earlier,
in verse 26, Paul said we don’t always know how to pray for God’s will,
but here in verse 28, we do know that God has a purpose for all things
that come into our lives. What a comfort!
IV.
We Are To Know This,
It Has Nothing To Do With Our Feelings.
Question: What is our relationship to what God is doing in these
circumstances?
A. Paul’s
answer, “we know.” It is perfect tense; we learned this in the past, and
continue to know.
B. Paul
does not say, “we feel.” For often, we do not feel that God is doing
good at all. Often we feel just the opposite. We feel ground down and
destroyed.
…also, Paul does not say, “we see” the good. Most of the times, we do
not perceive the good that God is doing. The text says, “we know.”
Paul’s own life…(2 Corinth 4:8-9)
…There is a part of this verse without boundaries…it is ”all things.”
This without limits!!!! All things!
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
Remember: God is sovereign over my
sufferings and promises to use them for good.
2.
Our God takes even the worst things that happen to us and turns them into
good.
3.
Total comfort and peace is what this promise provides you if you are saved.
4.
There is nothing that can come into our lives that can defeat God’s plan.
5.
Jesus said: You must be born again today – Repent / Confess and receive
Christ!
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