I Am Working For You
The Promises of God • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Romans 8:28 is one of the most familiar verses to us and yet perhaps one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. I have heard people quote it saying, “God works everything for the good.” That is only part of it as this verse comes with a couple of conditions. This is a great place for a great reminder.
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
The phrase in this Isaiah passage, “to know the word,” reminds me of the importance of our own study and application of God’s word. It is for our benefit to take such a familiar verse like Romans 8:28 and fully understand what it means and how it should be applied in our lives.
It is also a favorite verse. In fact, it is one of my life verses and I have been quoting most of my life. It is good to have the Word of God established in our lives.
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
A verse like Romans 8:28 reminds me that I need to ingest the Word of God more and more in my life. It is one of those feasting verses that we should make part of our lives.
1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
So with this introduction, let’s look at Romans 8:28 closely and see exactly what this verse declares to us.
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.
Theologian John Stott wrote, “It has been likened to a pillow on which to rest our weary heads.”
I think we could be satisfied in know that in all things God works. We should be able hear those words and find them acceptable. If that is the case, then we can trust with blessed assurance. God works for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Are you one that loves the Lord and are you called according to His purpose?
I encourage you to spend some time looking at each one of these words. I have spend some time studying the meaning of each of these words. Listen to this verse with the words explained a bit more: Nevertheless because we are able to perceive with all our senses and beings, that in the collective whole, which is everything, God, the Creator of the Universe, partners with us for our benefit because we are well pleased with Him and His work, and He has called us expectantly to answer and follow Him to do the very thing for which we exist.
28 That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
I like what the Message says here, but it leaves out the conditions of loving God and being called to His purpose. I do not want to make it too complicated but at the same time we cannot water down what this verse is saying to us. There is lots to chew on here that many Christians overlook. It is important to see in this promise of God, just what God does and has done for us when we see that He is working for us. There are many implications that are relevant from other passages of scripture that will help us understand Romans 8:28 better. For our time this morning, we are going to look at three.
First, God is working for us in redemption.
God is Working for Us in Redemption
God is Working for Us in Redemption
For God to work for us in redemption, we have to understand that we are chosen by God.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
God chose you way before you chose Him.
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
You were hand picked by God Almighty. You were set apart to lead and be a prophet to your nation, the area of influence you have in your life. You can reach more people uniquely better than anyone else because of the fact that God is at work in you and around you. You have been chosen to do so and you have been called to do so.
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
What are you called to do? You are called to serve the Lord in a way that makes a difference in your life and influences the lives with which are in your circle. As we are chosen and called, we are also confirmed as God works for us in our redemption. We were redeemed through salvation found in the Lord Jesus Christ and confirmed through the work of the Holy Spirit.
1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
This is evidence of how God is working for us in redemption. God is also working for us in restoration.
God is Working for Us in Restoration
God is Working for Us in Restoration
One of the greatest things I see in Romans 8:28 is that because God has restored us, He wants to keep us in His care.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
This is a great encouragement for us. So when we recognize the God is working for us, we understand that when calamity happens, God restores to us what was taken away, but it may be in some other form.
23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
That encouragement energizes me! The Mother of Jesus, Mary, sums this thought up for me. In her song in Luke chapter 1, she declares:
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
Has the Lord done great and mighty things in your life? God promises that He will work for us. I am amazed at the tense of the text in Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works...” Did you catch that? God is at work. We know that He has done much on our behalf. He spoke and the world came into existence. He chose and drew His people to Himself. He sacrificed His only begotten Son so that you and I may have life and have it abundantly. He has done so much, yet He is still at work.
That encourages me! That energizes me! That enlivens me! No wonder the Psalmist wrote,
2 How awesome is the Lord Most High,
the great King over all the earth!
Does that excite you? God is working for us in our restoration.
25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Lastly, God is working for us in revival.
God is Working for Us in Revival
God is Working for Us in Revival
Many of you remember the days of week long revivals. There would be a gathering at the church where a series of services would take place. Usually a guest pastor or evangelist would come in and preach. They were huge gatherings within the community. History tells us about revival meetings that would last for several weeks. Bars would close, families would be restored, and many souls would come to Christ. In fact, there was such a meeting that has lasted over 5 weeks in Avery County this last month. Many people attended. God was at work.
Our community and country desperately need a revival. I don’t necessarily think we need a series of meetings to attend but we need revival where each of us are awaken to the work of God. I am reminded of the great preacher that was walking along a seashore. He so wanted God to break out a revival and was praying as he walked along that beach. He was so overcome, that he drew a circle in the sand and knelt in the middle of it. He prayed, “O Lord, I pray that you would send a revival on this land, and may it begin in this circle.”
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
God is working for us in a personal revival. He is ready to awaken our hearts and minds. He wants to move us and activate us into His will and His ways.
34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
By the way, we have moved away from using words like shame. We have allowed our society to take those words away from our vocabulary and replaced them with phrases like “do your best and it will be okay.” Listen, our best will not make it happen. We still will fall short. Let me give you a lesson about falling short from a five year old.
A few weeks ago, I went to wake up Aspen to get ready for school. I went into his room and turned on the lamp and gently said, “Okay buddy, it is time to get up.” He didn’t move. I said a little louder, “It’s time to get up.” He still didn’t move. I said in a bit firmer voice, “Aspen, get up now.” He threw the covers off and slammed his feet on the floor then stomped to the bathroom. He got dressed and I told him his breakfast was ready. I had prepared for him a very nice bowl of apple/cinnamon oatmeal. He walked over to the table, climbed up in his chair, looked at the oatmeal and pushed the bowl so it slid across the table and he said, “I don’t want that mess.” Now, if i had done that to one of my parents or any of my grandparents, my head would still be rolling after it being smacked across the room! I was livid. I was mad at his attitude and then the nerve of that little boy to not eat what I had prepared for him. I told him to go brush his teeth and finish getting ready for school. As we were going out to the truck, I was still madder than a wet hen. He looked up at me and said, “Sorry Pop for being so rude.” We talked and hugged. I took him on to school. As I was driving away, I was still frustrated at the events of the morning. In the midst of it all, the Lord spoke to my inner most being. He said, “You know what? You are lots like that little boy. I immediately felt my spirit arguing back. “What do you mean God? I am not like that!” God said, “My son, I have prepared a table for you. I have and am at work for your behalf. Yet, you push away the plate I have set before you and complain that you don’t want that mess.”
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
God is working for us in revival. He wants us to know that He is already preparing the best supper ever. The actuation is that you and I need to work for Him. He has an incredible space that we need to help fill. Are we going to push the plate away and be mad or are we going to push ourselves to make sure that others join us there?
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.
We can be assured that if God is in control and working all things for the good, we can have the utmost confidence that all we face- even the darkest of days- are working together as part of a larger plan that He has ordained.
Are you allowing Him to work for you?