All Things

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Let me ask a couple of quick questions. How many of you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord of a richer handbook. A good very good. How many of you love Jesus Christ raised her hand up very good, very good. How many of you want to become more like Jesus each and every day that's good to then you come to the right place for the right message today.

You know I was checking out with the top scriptures are the people search for online according to Bible Gateway which is a site where you can access different Bible translations that I use an act actually quite frequently. Here are the top five passages people search for predictably number one is John 316 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life number two of the most search for scriptures is Jeremiah 2911. That's one of my favorites to I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Number three is Philippians 413, where Paul says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Number four is Psalm 23 verse four or David says yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me your rod and your staff they comfort me. And finally number five is the bursar going to be looking at in this message.

Romans 828 and it's up on the screen. I want us all to read it out loud together. Ready and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose and we know all things work together. That's what I call this message all things of this is a beloved verse. It's an often quoted verse but do we understand with this first actually says when the Bible says all things work together. That is not for the general public is not true for every person out there because all things don't work together. There's sort of a variation of it and says something along the lines of all's well that ends well and then we sometimes hear people say it's all good man we know what, it's not all good man. Sometimes it's really bad and things don't make sense things happen to us that are inexplicable.

This verse is for the person was put their faith in Jesus Christ's and either so many of these inspirational sayings out there now if I a lot of them on Pinterest, Instagram, usually over a sunset something that's opposed to an expired us here is what I came across yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift that's why we call it the present who not that this would today is the first day of the rest of your life if you say that to me again today is going to be the last day of the rest of your life that so stupid about this tag different hashtag Joe though you only live once you out right whatever okay so when you're going through a time of hardship, someone will actually come up to you and say you know what men when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Seriously, are you willing to go with that. Here's another one when the tough get going. The artificially when the going gets tough the tough get going.

You know, crazy stuff that's supposed to bring comfort or help. But here's one that I've actually had said to me that actually is so unhelpful it's almost unbelievable. You know what, there's always someone worse off than you really. I know that, but how is that supposed to make me feel better now. I don't need your inspirational sayings. I need the Bible I need the word of God because that is the only thing that could correct my course and get me in sync and get a proper perspective. The Bible has the power. None of the subsidized all things work together for good to those that love God, as I said this is a very specific promise to a very specific person and that person is someone who loves God if you love God and by that I mean if you put your faith in Jesus Christ and trusted him as your Savior and Lord. You can lay hold of this promised for yourself no matter what you're going through right now. Notice that it says we know we know that all things work together for good. It doesn't say we think or even we hope always suppose are.

We wish we know, but Wayne Hattaway know how do we know that all things work together for good to those that love God will the answer is found in verse 32 of Romans eight, Paul says he that did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, will he not also with him freely give us all things.

Listen whenever I am tempted to doubt the love of God, and I'm wondering if things are really working together for my good. I needed to go long look at the cross. And remember, Jesus demonstrated his love for me by dying their in my place because as I've often said it was a nails that held Christ of the cross.

It was love for you and for me. Paul said he loved me and he gave himself for me. And if this is true. And of course it is, will he not freely give us all think so whatever's going on in your life you know that all things work together for good to those love God, you know, I know it because God is shown his love toward us by sending Jesus.

There are certain things that we just know in life. We just know that about a lady that went to buy some food for her cat in the pet store and there was why you laughing. This is Seery very serious during the Italian anyway so she walked Santa Ana. There's a parent on a person. The very front very prominent place. Took one look at this woman and said you know you are the ugliest woman I've ever seen. She was shot offended.

She said wanted to say to me, he said, you heard me near the ugliest woman I've ever seen.

She couldn't believe this parent said that to her.

She demanded to see the owner of the pet shop, he came out of the back room. He told them what the parents Edwards event. I'm so sorry.

Let me deal with this.

It took the parrot of the back room. Slap him around a little bit feathers flying the bear was very sorry said he would never do it again. He says you do not say that to the woman again the birds as I won't. So it's a good parent.

I'll put them back on the porch a ladies leaving the pet store. Chicken looks over his shoulder like I got you the parent yelled out to her radio. She said what he said you know Tia was a joke. After all, estimate there are just some things that we know and we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, you know, I think Christians are the most realistic people around.

Sometimes he will say all you know you Christians you read your Bibles and you believe in God is in control of all things that you have your head in the sand or worse, you have your head in the clouds. Are you kidding me. The Christian is a realist Christian is a person that recognizes bad things happen in this world that we live in today the world is not a nice place. It can be a very bad place with the good news is we serve a very good God, so we know that we know mankind is not basically good. We know the rest of mankind is as sinful as we are and we know that people do bad things. So we know God loves us so when something bad happens, we know that God can cause it to work together for good. Listen to this.

All things are not good, but all things work together for good, because God is good.

There are things that are bad they'll always be bad.

So this verse is not think God makes bad things could know it says all things work together for good.

So the Lord can even take something that is evil in its intent, something that is designed to harm us and somehow in his providence, turn it into a thing that ultimately produces something good in my life. This is only the hope of the believer. See, we don't believe in double lot. We believe in God's guidance we don't believe in coincidence we believe in Providence.

And when things are not working out for good in the given moment.

We don't freak out because we know that there are no accidents on the life of the Christian Proverbs 1633 says the lot is cast in the lab, but every decision is from the Lord of the lot casting lots was sort of like flipping a calling and God is even saying that is in his hand so he can take this small seemingly random events of life, and weave them together for his glory someone 1991 says all things are your servants.

Yes, all things Ephesians 111 says all things are done according to God's plan and decision. So this is a very important distinction to make because sometimes things happen we go.

This is not a good thing.

How do you know you know you do you even know what a good thing is yes I do. Well, maybe it isn't a good thing as it ever occurred to you that that thing you think is a good thing can ultimately become a bad thing for you. So how do we know what a good thing is how do we know what a bad thing as what we have to go to a higher authority. So we go to God and we start with this basic truth. God is good. The Bible says taste and see that the Lord is good as so with this in mind, that means that God is the final Court of arbitration when it comes to defining what is good and what is not good. So God says something is good. It's good God says something this bad.

It's bad disable what is good answer, is what good is what God approves, but he is able wait a second.

How does out of where were we going on that we don't go anywhere beyond that, God says it's good therefore it's good to see the will that circular reasoning, no accidents, biblical reasoning, so we think God knows what's good and there are things that happened was that seem like they may be bad never actually kind of good example for us. Good is well just everything going our way right good is green lights good our blue skies, good is paid bills good is good health, good he is everything happy and that is good. All agree with you on that, but but sometimes an affliction or hardship can be good because it can cause us to turn to, because sometimes and things are going really well, let's be honest we forget God.

We don't pray like we are to we don't read our Bibles that often we just take these things for granted. But when the bottom drops out in a crisis that we drop right to our knees and that's good so God can take what is perceived as a bad thing, it can actually become a good thing in his hand and someone 19 there's a number of statements Osama says about this verse about verse 67, he says, before I was afflicted I went astray. But now I have kept your word. Then he writes in verse 71 of someone 19. It was good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn your statutes.

Then later on he writes your judgments are righteous and in faithfulness. You have afflicted me because you'll go for things in life you say this isn't good but maybe it will turn out to be good but there are things that happen will say while you know, I don't think anything good will ever come out of this. This might surprise you to know I thought that I thought that when my son Christopher died in an automobile accident 10 years ago I thought nothing good will ever come out of this. This is effectively the end of my life using Craig, your pastor, you thought you better believe… And I felt that, and I felt that deeply. If you felt as though my life ended, and in many ways it did. I can take my life in market into sections, we can call it BC and AC before Christ and not for Christ is my life where I was a nonbeliever and I came to Christ in 17 there's my life.

After that there's my life before Christopher and after Christopher died, one life when he was alive on earth. I have a different kind of life. Now that he is in heaven, and my life was a very sad life.

At first when he was taken from us. Suddenly and you know I don't think this might surprise some of you.

I don't think that Romans 828 should be the go to verse in every situation. Princes if you just had a loved one die if your husband died for your wife died for your child died. You don't need a Christian coming up to you and save Romans 828 says all things work together is to stop okay. That is the word of God. I believe that were the Bible also talks about a word that is fitly spoken. There's a right first for the right situation when I talk to someone who is lost someone they love. I quote instead. The statement of Jesus when he said, Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. And I'll tell them there's a time to mourn, and there's a time to laugh, and this is the time, the more I'll encourage them to cry crying though they should be rejoicing know they should not don't be stupid.

Of course you mourn the death of a loved one. The depth of your sorrow is an indication of the depth of your love even when the godly young Stephen was martyred when he was stone we read godly men mourn over him.

There's a place to mourn. You got to more but you don't stay there forever because it says Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted no later on we can start see no Romans 828 works all things together. Ultimately, in our life is a will that work for you.

Greg is a been Romans 828 since your son died, yes, but is still in process. Isn't it there still things I don't understand it still hurts. We still miss him, but I will save you there been things that God is brought out of this debt of work for good. For starters, it's changed because my wife Kathy, my son Jonathan. It's given us more compassion for others were hurting. It's given us the ministry, the people who lost loved ones, especially children.

Since then it's made us stronger in our faith, causing us to take bold steps of faith, we would probably not have taken otherwise. So yes I can see all things working together for good, so I light of this bad thing. God is produce a good thing people ask me why are you disappointed with God. The answer is absolutely not because I'm not in the explaining business I'm in the trusting and praying business and I know God is in control and I know his plans for me are better than my plans for myself and I know that one day all of my questions will be answered and I know that a disappointment to be turned into an appointment with God.

Maybe some of you were here today are watching you view just had a huge disappointment in your same words God in all this, maybe orchestrated it.

Or maybe he just allowed it, but he is at work hired about a young man who saw beautiful woman on his college campus was a Christian campus and he thought you would assess rollout to go to dinner with them so I walked up towards would you go out with me. She said no I won't. He said why she said will because you're not spiritual enough. I'm looking for a godly man and I don't think you're godly enough that really got his attention and he made a deeper commitment to Christ. By the way, his name was Billy Graham right so you have that setback. Although was bad was it bad if it got you to make a deeper commitment to Christ was that thing actually bed or in reality was that bad thing. Ultimately a good thing is he God can cause all things to work together for good to those that love him. You know, sometimes God is protecting us from ourselves is an interesting story of when Jesus fed the multitudes of the loaves and fishes.

By the way, that the only miracle found in all four Gospels and after the miracle is done, we read that the people wanted to make Jesus king, and so Jesus said to his disciples get into the boat and they went all across the sea of gallery Galilee not gallery gallery of the Sea of Galleria know the sea of Galilee, and this great storm, there's three kinds of storms a comfortable life of the Christian there are perfecting storms correcting storms and protecting store. So there are correcting storms. We mess up.

We bring these terms on ourselves. That's what Jonah did more or less. Then there are perfecting storms God loves heart allows hardship in our life to make us more like Jesus would listen. Then there are protecting storms Jesus was protecting his disciples from all that adulation because he knew it would've gone to their heads and ruin them.

The people wanted to make Christ king, they would've rule and reign with him so we might say all Lord I want to be famous I want to be wealthy I want to have everything this world has to offer. Do you is that really the best thing for you is a film out right now that people going to see Bohemian Rhapsody affect the act of the portrayed Freddie Mercury one actor this year for his performance and in the whole new generation. This discovery clean music now everywhere you go dear Queen music. We will rock you Bohemian Rhapsody.

We are the champions, etc. and so you know a lot of people are enjoying this film.

A lot of teenagers have discovered Queen for the first time, but I hope we don't miss the bigger story of what really happened to Freddie Mercury born for routable sorrow in Zanzibar. He changed his name. He created a persona and after he started achieving some success. He lived a life of luxury and with unlimited funds diving headfirst into the pursuit of pleasure, Elton John, a close friend of Freddie Mercury said Mercury was the only person who can out party him. Elton said Mercury had appetites that were on the quench of all, and ultimately Freddie Mercury himself said in an interview he had created a monster in an interview he said and I quote the monster is me, success, fame, money, sex, drugs, whatever you want I can have it all though I'm beginning to see that is much as I created it. I want to escape from it. I'm starting to worry. I can't control. It is much as it controls me."

Freddie's excessive partying lifestyle ultimately caught up with him and he passed away of complications due to AIDS in 1991 at the age of 45 set you see those good things.

The things that so many people want to work out so well. So God can take a good thing and he can maybe actually God can take what is perceived as a bad thing and bring good out of it, and sometimes a good thing can actually be a bad thing. The classic example of the guy who lived out Romans 828 is not of the New Testament, but in the old. His name is Joseph. We all know his stories just a young guy you know there's not a single critical word said about Joseph and the entire narrative of the story that goes over many chapters of Genesis. But Jonah chowed Joseph as he was favored by his father so his dad gave him a supercool coat that was given only to the people who were sort of over the workers.

So instead of working in the fields, like his brothers.

He had this nice coat me with a cruise around where and and maybe he was a little bit of a show off. Maybe he was a little too much of a snitch on his brothers. What about those of the worst things he did. That's not a lot but his brothers despised him. They said let's just kill our brother Joseph element the end of it, but then it was they were preparing to kill him and thinking about it and talking about a group of slave traders passed buys the visible and to sell them to the slave traders make a little money off of.

So they sold their brother to slave traders and they go home to dad with his coat of many colors, but some animal blood on and so sorry dad your beloved son Joseph got killed today by wild animals. Meanwhile, Joseph is on his way, destination unknown is bought by a name abandoning part of her who is actually effectively the head of security for the Pharaoh and Zapata for brings them into his beautiful home puts Joseph in charge because Joseph is such a godly man everything is running along beautifully part of hers prospering. But part of her had a lustful wife that put her lustful eyes on young Joseph. She was the original cougar day in and day out.

She would say basically have sex with me and he refused her. The Bible even tells us he was very good-looking, very well built, but he refused her advances and said how can I do this horrible thing and sinned against the Lord one day she decided that of every servant out of the house since only Joseph was there to grab them on the bed or grabbed him by the code to pull up on the bed and he ran out of there as quickly as he could and she falsely accuse them of rate now is in prison.

From the time he went to the house of Potiphar to the time he was released from prison was around 11 years how easily he could have doubted… What are you doing I believed in you. I didn't give into the advances of this woman.

I lived a life of integrity and look where it's gotten me but he waited and ultimately the Pharaoh had a dream. Joseph interpreted the dream and a resulted in the mean the second most powerful man in all of the kingdom of Egypt. He was in charge of the food supply because he told the Pharaoh a great famine was coming in for a believed them. So Joseph was over everything and now he can see the hand of God is working because his brothers come to Egypt looking for food because the only food supply was now under the control of Joseph, but they didn't recognize Joseph and thought he was dead. His head was probably shave like an Egyptian. At that cool Egyptian eyeliner walk around like this unit walk like an Egyptian. He recognize them. They didn't recognize him in the day finally came for him to reveal to his brothers who he was or this could have been the ultimate revenge story. He could've turned to his brothers and said as a particular set of skills skills I have acquired over a long career that make me a nightmare for people like you, sorry that was from take it now. This is the payback time, but instead Joseph makes his amazing statement in Genesis 5020 you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to save many people alive Joseph, are you crazy your brothers sold you to be a slave you are falsely accused of rape you were in prison and you were an innocent man what you mean God intended for good because Joseph seemed to understand Romans eight 2804 was even written. God was in control of his life. Don't miss this.

This is the most important insight of this message, you might want to write this down after Romans 828 is Romans 829 is I go to what, but it is good because Romans 820. Let's put it on the screen again says we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Now look at verse 29 for whom he did foreknow, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

People debate endlessly about who is in.

It was not predestined up talk about that later they missed the point of what were predestined for what is it mean to be predestined means that God shows you before you chose him. Jesus said you did not choose me I chose you and ordain you that you should bring forth much fruit, so will sit around and talk about who the elect are the elect are those chosen who isn't chosen and missed the whole point of why were chosen. Why was I chosen again to bring forth spiritual fruit.

Why did God predestined me, so I would be conformed into the image of his own dear son.

So God's endgame is to make you more like Jesus. Whatever you're going through right now it's to make you more like Jesus is getting you ready for that day when you will see the Lord's daughter know what your problem is right now. I'm sure you have one, but I want you to know that it can ultimately be resolved maybe will happen today. Maybe it will happen in a week. Maybe it will happen in the month.

Maybe you will never be resolved in a way that you understand so much later ramps as you get little older and rough like back in your life, you'll understand why. And for others it won't be resolved until you get to heaven, but you will understand that God is in control now look I wanted to do something. If you have a pen or a pencil.

Much of the pole about I want you to throw it at me know… Please don't know. Don't I want you to take your printer pencil.

I want you to go to your Bible and I hope you write your Bible. It's a good thing. Go to your Bible right next to Romans 828 draw little bracket around it over to the side. I want you to write down your problem. Maybe it's one word. Maybe it's two words.

Maybe it's three words but whatever your problem is family problem financial problem health problem. Other problem. Whatever it is affrighted to see why because you're going to look back at that verse in a few months, maybe a little later, maybe a little sooner and you're going to gonna start seeing how God is causing even that to work together for your good and for his glory. It'll be a little reminder that God hasn't forgotten about you so wrapping this up all things work together for good to those of love God.

This is where you understand that all of life's events past the point of Providence. This will give you equilibrium in the middle of a storm faith in the midst of Dow courage in the midst of danger and hope in the midst of despair, so whatever's going on. Know God is in control. Remember Psalm 119 says all things are your servants. Of these, and for all things are done according to God's plan.

A decision you might say well I don't think that my problem will ever be resolved is another verse that mentions all things. Matthew 19 with God all things are possible. All things know know my brother know it says all things. It doesn't say most things are everything except your problem with God all things are possible is it that I'm so weak, Greg. I can go on another day. Paul says in Philippians 413 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Some might say, well, I really messed my life up. I made so many mistakes even God couldn't sort this out. I'm sorry have to disagree with you because Revelation 21 five says he that is seated on the throne says behold I make all things new. All things new releases.

Write this down as I like to write things down. Write this down these words are trustworthy and true. Yes, even your mask and turn into a message. Yes, even your problem can be resolved.

Yes, God can even take what you have done that is wrong and bring something good disinvited and he can make all things new. This is only true for the Christian, the greatest injustice in the history of humanity was when they took Jesus Christ, the very son of God and Savior of the world and beat him bludgeoned him, whipped him and nailed him to a cross made out of what the worst thing that could've happened yet. Out of the worst thing that could have ever happened became the greatest good for all of humanity because they're in the cross, Jesus died for our sin and paid the price for every wrong we have ever done, because all things work together for good to those that love God, another called according to his purpose. He died on the cross for you.

He did it because he loves you because he wants to forgive you as again as I said, Romans 828 is for believers only. Maybe your nonbeliever here today watching wherever you are is a will, it's all good Mandala workout no wall might get worse. But if you're Christian all things work together for good to those of love God so you need to start loving God is and how do I do that you need with the tourist center realize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins for my sin for our sin rose again from the dead, and he can come into your life and make all things new. He can make your family new you can make your lifestyle new he can make your future new he can make everything you but you must come to him and say Lord I was sorry and we been having a lot of rain here in California have only just rain rain rain. But one thing I like about rain is when it's over. Everything is clean. Even the people that don't wash their cars get a car wash. The streets are clean and things are just right so see a rainbow, that's nice.

So God can do that for you. He can cleanse you and make all things new. But you must come to him and asked for his forgiveness.

Is there somebody here today that needs to believe in Jesus. Is there somebody here watching me that needs to have all things, made new. Is there someone that needs to know, though, go to heaven when they die is that you respond to this invitation. I'm going to give dollars will close in prayer atop our heads. Father, thank you for your word to us. Thank you for your love for us. Thank you that you really do make all things new and I pray for anyone to this joint is that does not yet know Jesus I pray that this will be their data believe this will be their moment to be forgiven. This will be the time when all things become new for them.

Help them to come to you and receive forgiveness from you now know what I heads of God and her eyes are closed and were praying together. Maybe some of you would say today Greg, I need Jesus. I need help I need forgiveness I want this big hole in my heart filled I been trying to fill it. Like Freddie Mercury did not on the scale. He that, of course, but still same thing I need God praying for me that your desire. If you want Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to know that you will go to heaven when you die or every. Why would you just lift your hand up and let me just pray for you if you want Jesus to come in the air like a blush. You want us forgiveness you want them to make all things new for you. Let me pray for you raise your hand up right now.

God bless you.

I bless you anybody else. God bless you all over the room. Heads are going to publish this is your moment God won't forces in your life. You must call out to him you must reach out to him and he'll forgive you.

He'll make all things new for you. Anybody else the operator had yet lifted. Now let me pray for you. God bless you. You guys that are watching on screens right now you can raise your hand your watch anonymous phone tablet wherever you are, you can receive Christ right now as well. Nominal need you all in a prayer. Everyone the razor Hannemann lead you in a prayer and want you to pray this prayer right where you are after me you can even print out loud. This is a prayer we are asking God to forgive you your asking Jesus Christ to come into your life so pray this prayer after me right where you are, pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you are the Savior, and I ask you to come in the my life and forgive me of my sin. Lord, make all things new for me.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for sharing this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen. God bless each want to be there. Pray that prayer