MIXING UP A BATTER OF BLESSINGS or ALL THINGS
TEXT: Romans 8:28
INTRO.: A. The Bible speaks of the “ALL THINGS” of creation in Jn. 1:3; the “ALL THINGS” of re-generation in 1 Cor. 5:17; the “ALL THINGS” of Christ’s preeminence in the believer’s life, etc.
B. But the “ALL THINGS” of our text is one of the most precious promises in all of the Word of God and should be claimed and personalized by the believer. “for ME!”
C. Rom. 8:28 is NOT conditional – except that you must be saved. You can be a failure and as a believer and claim this promise! All believers are being conformed to the image of God’s Son and that is the context of this promise in v.29.
ILLUS.: Dr. Jack Hyles used to use this illustration and would ask “How many like flour? Raw eggs?
Bakers Chocolate? Shortening? How many like Chocolate Cake?!” None of the ingredients for Chocolate Cake are very appetizing but they are the “all things” which make a delicious Choc. Cake!
But those individual bitter ingredients are like the unpleasant and bitter experiences of life. So cheer up! God is MIXING UP A BATTER OF BLESSINGS for you and after baking the negative and bitter circumstances and turning up the heat of the oven of life He will turn them into something “for good” for you when the process is complete. Let’s take some bitter ingredients and test them…
I. DESERTION:
A. The Text Doesn’t Say: “All things work for good…”
1. The word “together” is the key.
ILLUS.: I was watching Andre Reiu recently and listening to the orchestra tune up before the performance of classical and semi-classical music performance. It was a cacophony of noise! But when the brass, strings, wind instruments and percussion played together the finished pieces, there was sweet harmony. “Together for good” not separately.
2. Individual trials or experiences are in fact sometimes hurtful and negative, but “together” God is working them to our good.
B. The Text Doesn’t Say: “…so you THINK they are good”
ILLUS.: It is never pleasant or fun to be deserted or unpopular. Friends, husband, wife or parents may desert you. Cf. Ps. 27:10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Teens may be unpopular and bullied. Remember “ALL THINGS!
C. The Text Doesn’t Say: “…all things MIGHT work together”
ILLUS.: Paul’s friends deserted him when he was imprisoned, but he penned our text. John was completely alone on Patmos & there received the Revelation of future events. Joseph’s brothers deserted him “…but God meant it for GOOD!”
D. The Text Doesn’t Say: “SHALL (future) work together…”
1. Both verbs “work & “love” are in the present tense.
2. We love now and God is working now.
II. DISEASE (OR DISABILITY) v.18, 2 Cor. 12:5,9,10
A. The Text Doesn’t Say “…all things EXCEPT DISEASE”
NOTE: The words “ALL THINGS” in the original Greek says “ALL THINGS”! (Except in the new versions: “God works all things for good…” or “in everything God works for good” or in the NIV “in all things God works for the good of those…” That’s no promise!) No…DARK things, BRIGHT things, HAPPY things, SAD things, SWEET things, BITTER things, PROSPERITY, ADVERSITY…ALL THINGS!!!!
B. The Text Doesn’t Say “MANY THINGS, BUT NOT DISEASE”
NOTE: Some of us need to learn our frailty and lose our pride! We are dying and we will die of something! (Like the man who asked if his friend’s dog was a thoroughbred. He replied: “He’s so thoroughbred, if he could talk, he wouldn’t speak to either one of us.)
III. DIVORCE: “…forgetting those things which are behind” Phil. 3:13,14
ILLUS.: Today 1 of every 2 marriages + end in divorce. Southern young man before a Judge for leaving his wife: “If y’all knew dat woman like I does, y’all wouldn’t call me no deserter…I’se a refugee!”
A. “We Know…” no such thing as fate or chance!
1. God will work even that which He doesn’t promote or condone to our good & His glory.
2. We cannot change our past – we must love God & let Him workout the tangled details of
our lives.
B. “We Know…” no such thing as accidents in the believer’s life!
ILLUS.: A cowboy applied for insurance. “Ever had an accident?” “Nope!” But a bronc kicked me and broke 2 ribs, and a rattlesnake bit me on the leg.” “Wouldn’t you call those accidents?” “Nope! They did it on purpose.”
It all depends on how you look at it. From God’s viewpoint, there are no accidents in the believers life.
IV. DEATH:
A. Even Death? AMEN!
1. Hawk’s Bus Barn…Milacci’s Bibles, Piechota’s life and blessing, and Shirley’s testimony and
talent & many more whose deaths were a blessing and a testimony and a legacy to God’s
grace.
B. Especially Death! AMEN!
1. When a believer dies it is all gain, not loss.
2. Death makes us face life’s reality.
3. Death can result in the salvation of loved ones.
4. Death causes us to long to be with our loved ones!
NOTE: Of course I want to see my Savior…but I also want to see my wife and my son! I miss them so much. I just found a poem my wife left for me to apparently read at her memorial! I read it through a flood of tears and just wanted to see her and thank her for her love, devotion, ministry, testimony and life of service.
CONCL.: We could continue to add to these 4 D’s (DISERTION, DISEASE, DIVORCE & DEATH) others like disappointment, discouragement, deprivation, detours, dangers, distress, etc. But all are included in the “ALL THINGS” of Romans 8:28. What a promise! What a blessing! What a Savior!
INTRO.: A. The Bible speaks of the “ALL THINGS” of creation in Jn. 1:3; the “ALL THINGS” of re-generation in 1 Cor. 5:17; the “ALL THINGS” of Christ’s preeminence in the believer’s life, etc.
B. But the “ALL THINGS” of our text is one of the most precious promises in all of the Word of God and should be claimed and personalized by the believer. “for ME!”
C. Rom. 8:28 is NOT conditional – except that you must be saved. You can be a failure and as a believer and claim this promise! All believers are being conformed to the image of God’s Son and that is the context of this promise in v.29.
ILLUS.: Dr. Jack Hyles used to use this illustration and would ask “How many like flour? Raw eggs?
Bakers Chocolate? Shortening? How many like Chocolate Cake?!” None of the ingredients for Chocolate Cake are very appetizing but they are the “all things” which make a delicious Choc. Cake!
But those individual bitter ingredients are like the unpleasant and bitter experiences of life. So cheer up! God is MIXING UP A BATTER OF BLESSINGS for you and after baking the negative and bitter circumstances and turning up the heat of the oven of life He will turn them into something “for good” for you when the process is complete. Let’s take some bitter ingredients and test them…
I. DESERTION:
A. The Text Doesn’t Say: “All things work for good…”
1. The word “together” is the key.
ILLUS.: I was watching Andre Reiu recently and listening to the orchestra tune up before the performance of classical and semi-classical music performance. It was a cacophony of noise! But when the brass, strings, wind instruments and percussion played together the finished pieces, there was sweet harmony. “Together for good” not separately.
2. Individual trials or experiences are in fact sometimes hurtful and negative, but “together” God is working them to our good.
B. The Text Doesn’t Say: “…so you THINK they are good”
ILLUS.: It is never pleasant or fun to be deserted or unpopular. Friends, husband, wife or parents may desert you. Cf. Ps. 27:10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Teens may be unpopular and bullied. Remember “ALL THINGS!
C. The Text Doesn’t Say: “…all things MIGHT work together”
ILLUS.: Paul’s friends deserted him when he was imprisoned, but he penned our text. John was completely alone on Patmos & there received the Revelation of future events. Joseph’s brothers deserted him “…but God meant it for GOOD!”
D. The Text Doesn’t Say: “SHALL (future) work together…”
1. Both verbs “work & “love” are in the present tense.
2. We love now and God is working now.
II. DISEASE (OR DISABILITY) v.18, 2 Cor. 12:5,9,10
A. The Text Doesn’t Say “…all things EXCEPT DISEASE”
NOTE: The words “ALL THINGS” in the original Greek says “ALL THINGS”! (Except in the new versions: “God works all things for good…” or “in everything God works for good” or in the NIV “in all things God works for the good of those…” That’s no promise!) No…DARK things, BRIGHT things, HAPPY things, SAD things, SWEET things, BITTER things, PROSPERITY, ADVERSITY…ALL THINGS!!!!
B. The Text Doesn’t Say “MANY THINGS, BUT NOT DISEASE”
NOTE: Some of us need to learn our frailty and lose our pride! We are dying and we will die of something! (Like the man who asked if his friend’s dog was a thoroughbred. He replied: “He’s so thoroughbred, if he could talk, he wouldn’t speak to either one of us.)
III. DIVORCE: “…forgetting those things which are behind” Phil. 3:13,14
ILLUS.: Today 1 of every 2 marriages + end in divorce. Southern young man before a Judge for leaving his wife: “If y’all knew dat woman like I does, y’all wouldn’t call me no deserter…I’se a refugee!”
A. “We Know…” no such thing as fate or chance!
1. God will work even that which He doesn’t promote or condone to our good & His glory.
2. We cannot change our past – we must love God & let Him workout the tangled details of
our lives.
B. “We Know…” no such thing as accidents in the believer’s life!
ILLUS.: A cowboy applied for insurance. “Ever had an accident?” “Nope!” But a bronc kicked me and broke 2 ribs, and a rattlesnake bit me on the leg.” “Wouldn’t you call those accidents?” “Nope! They did it on purpose.”
It all depends on how you look at it. From God’s viewpoint, there are no accidents in the believers life.
IV. DEATH:
A. Even Death? AMEN!
1. Hawk’s Bus Barn…Milacci’s Bibles, Piechota’s life and blessing, and Shirley’s testimony and
talent & many more whose deaths were a blessing and a testimony and a legacy to God’s
grace.
B. Especially Death! AMEN!
1. When a believer dies it is all gain, not loss.
2. Death makes us face life’s reality.
3. Death can result in the salvation of loved ones.
4. Death causes us to long to be with our loved ones!
NOTE: Of course I want to see my Savior…but I also want to see my wife and my son! I miss them so much. I just found a poem my wife left for me to apparently read at her memorial! I read it through a flood of tears and just wanted to see her and thank her for her love, devotion, ministry, testimony and life of service.
CONCL.: We could continue to add to these 4 D’s (DISERTION, DISEASE, DIVORCE & DEATH) others like disappointment, discouragement, deprivation, detours, dangers, distress, etc. But all are included in the “ALL THINGS” of Romans 8:28. What a promise! What a blessing! What a Savior!
