Confidence in Troublesome Times - Part 1

Welcome to the end. That's not cast maternal family for Thursday, February 17.

As you look at the condition in our world are you worried about the future. Learn to develop the kind of faith that will sustain you regardless of your circumstances life is continually change drugs every day, something's different. And once in a while recycle.

What can we get this thing some level that little so the real help this person is here about procedures here about time you think you got it leveled out. What happens some other challenge crops up in our life. Life is never going to sort of settle out what you say will finally I'm gonna drift only is just not that way.

And the reason is not that was because you and I live in a fallen world, and the leaders in this world to totally ignore God. They ignore the laws of God. The principles of God and try to govern the nation on the basis of one human reasoning and human thoughts and ideas and philosophies may provide.

But the truth is God is given in his word very clear direction as to how we ought to live so that we don't have to live in anxiety and so forth. And because all of these changes come along and you add to these basic essentials in life that we need. Add to that terrorism and the roller coaster of stock market. For example, add to that all of these things and what happens there is a great sense of uncertainty and many people live with that and they respond to in different ways. Some people respond to it. For example, with anxiety and worry very very uncertain about the future, almost to the point of despair. Some people very angry about. They want to blame someone.

And so the question is this, things always going to be in a state of change and I can remember. For example, when I grew up I was born in 1932, and so that was the depression that was a bad time just about time that got away. The second world war started that was worst time and then about time that finished up the work of the Cold War and the Korean War and Vietnam and you live through war after war after work. As far as I'm concerned there is no peace. There is never the piece there's always been troubles and trials in difficult times, and the reason is because we live in a fallen world, and the leaders of the world. The problem is they refused to acknowledge this book as the guidebook for governing as well as for living. And so, so, since we are not going to change and we may change ourselves and some things may change, but for the most part the reason on those not go to changes when you turn to the last book about read the book of Revelation what's happening everything is coming apart the whole world is in convulsion and there's not a single verse in the Bible that says one of these days the church is going to be so successful in some of the people going to be saved is going to be piece here and hereafter would not be fantastic.

The only problem is, the Bible doesn't say to prophesy some totally different is not going to happen that way.

So where does that leave us and leaves us as believers, learning how to live with a sense of confidence and assurance. No matter what we face in life and part of the problem today is that many people live in continuing anxiety and I think if you ask most physicians they would say that a major problem is anxiety and stress, anxiety, stress level, what home job what you eat, how you travel your children this that we live in a fallen society. I'm telling you is not going to change. So the question is, is it possible for a believer to live with confidence and assurance that a sense of boldness, fearless with a sense of contentment in life, even when things seem to be so totally opposite and the answer is yes and the apostle Paul raises some questions and then he answers those questions.

So the title of this message is simply this, and that is confidence in trouble sometimes because they going to be here as long as you and I live and we are gone. That still will be trouble. Sometimes, so how do we live, how to be respond to these things I want to give you for simple truths of the word of God not give you my opinion for simple truths of the word of God.

Very basic truths which you and I listen. Which makes it possible for us to say reliably.

You can if you follow these four basic principles you can live confidently, no matter what's going on so I want you turn if you will to Romans chapter 8. Now, if you recall, for a moment that in Romans chapter 7, Paul's going through some real difficulty in his life, he struggling with living the Christian life. Some people say that chapter was before he was say but I don't think so and so he says you know what I wanted to. I found myself not doing in back-and-forth egos and so found in chapter 8 he talks about his awesome victory. So here's what I want to do in order to give me enough time to explain it.

I'm not going to read verses 28 through 39. What we'll do is, each point of this message is not taken section of this chapter. So here's what I want you to conclude when we finished you not heard my opinion, because the whole idea of having confidence intact. In times like these numbers as well that's your opinion and I give you my opinion I will tell you exactly what God says and interpreted very simply very clear and I think you'll agree with interpretation.

So here we go. Beginning in number one is what I want you to see the truth that God controls our circumstances. That's the basic number one basis of our confidence that we can have confidence in these trying times now want to look if you will, in verse 28 because that's where we going to start in his what he says and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose and notice what he says. He says we know that we hope so. It could be. It might be. Paul says we know and the word he uses in the Greek here for no is a word which translated means we know by experience that God causes all things to work together for good that you hear people say reliably.

The Bible teaches. Everything works for good. No it doesn't. That's not what he says. He says God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, and of those who are called according to his purpose.

God is an absolute control and that is the bottom line basis of our confidence that we can overcome no matter what's going on.

God has established his throne in the heavens and his sovereignty rules. Overall, that is, he is ruling over all things all times all people all circumstances does that mean that he initiates everything goes on. No, what is it me, it means that while he's in control.

He allows some things. Listen, he allows, for example of you to be disobedient and rebellious toward him is that his will know that when he desires no busy allow it. He allows a certain amount of self will, but he is ultimately in control.

So think about this for moment, no matter what's going on in your life. Somebody Almighty God is in control. That's why there is no such thing. Listen carefully what I'm saying there's no such thing as absolute free will is no such thing because you nicely enough hideous crimes and the kind of things it that only an evil heart can ever come up with if if man had total free will.

It would be unsafe to be alive on this planet. But God is in control and while the devil seems to be losing so many situations and circumstances.

He's not God is the only one losing control, and because he is you and I can rest assured that nothing can happen to one of his children unless he allows that. And if he allows it, he will turn it for good. Somehow, in some way. And so what I want you to see is God is an absolute control, but he gives us a sense a degree of free will and some people do not know how to handle the blessing or the free will of God. So what you think about this if he's in absolute control of all things, cannot not rest in this fact that whatever he allows in my life.

He's going to turn for good. This of this that isn't my opinion that is the clear statement of the word of God. We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, to those who called according to his purpose that he's going to control the circumstance so he takes difficult circumstances turns of regular. He takes painful circumstances turns up for a good.

He takes circumstances in which there is need and want or desire. He turns it for our good. That's who it is that is the bottom line and the basis of everything you and I believe if he is not in control. Then where in the world are we so Paul starts out and he says this is basic, that he is in control of all things right this second basis is this think about this from a is what he says and that is in this beginning in verse 32. The truth that God will meet our needs. Basic foundational truth that wants what Paul says here he says, for example, in the let's start with verse 31 the coming back to these other two verses there. What then shall we say to these things of God is for us who can be against us. That is, who can be against them successfully. He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him over for us all. Here's the question, how will he not also with him freely give us all things.

What I want you to see is his basic truth.

If God the father is willing and was willing to give his only begotten son Jesus to come into this world to walk among men to reveal the father and who he is and then ultimately for the primary purpose of going to the cross and dying on the cross, paying our sin debt in full. A horrible crucifixion of his only begotten son. He says this if he was willing to do that and to give him for us.

How could we ever question that he would give us values that will doubtless get under that all things right. What is a member that all things that fit his will and purpose for our life easier when women why don't we just leave it at all things, because that in itself would expose something in your heart you say will he says he will supply all things all things that fit his needed purpose for life because if he just gave us everything we wanted. That would be wise and is a wise God. Listen, this is the one thing about God. He knows what to give us and he knows what to withhold from us because he knows that if he gave us some things we wanted we would be in such trouble, we'd be sin.

God wanted you let that happen moment what you ask for it you ask for it. He will give us all things that we need and that fit his purpose and plan for a life that's who he is.

Remember when Jesus said the same amount he was talking about prayer is that you know you pray to the father and that the father's going to meet your needs and then he says a second time. He said your father knows your needs. Even before you ask, you see, here's the awesome thing this omniscient God of ours already knows every single thing you and I need he knows listen what we think we need and then we he knows what we really need. He knows what we desire and what the needs are and he knows the distinction between the two.

And if you live the Christian life very long that it won't take you long to figure this out, God give me what I need not necessarily what I want because if he gives us what we need, he will listen. Oftentimes he will so work in our life that will be wanting what he wants us to have because that's the way he works in life.

You see his hold on this the trainers up, and his ideas, not just the grantor needs God's ultimate purpose for us is stated right here is what he says now verse 28.

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him. Those who collect on this purpose. For once, this verse 29. Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his son so that he would be the firstborn among many brethren.

Now watch this when he saved you and me. What was his ultimate goal and purpose for our life. His ultimate goal and purpose for our life is to be conformed to the image of his son that that being the case, what is he going to do.

He's going to begin to work in your life in mind the moment we say to do what to begin the schedule enter pattern and the diagram enter direct your life in mind, so that what would happen every circumstance of our life. God would use to do what to conform us to the likeness of his son. That includes good things, fun things, happy things, generous things, abundant things.

It includes times of trial times of difficult at times of pain times of loss, all of those things are included. What because his goal is that he predestined that is God predetermined before you and I'll ever say that we are saved, he would begin to set at work to do, what to conform us to the likeness of his son. Most Christians I'm afraid they think God's goal is, and at some of their goal oftentimes is to give them everything they need to make them happy and joyous and contented and safe and secure in all and only go that's not anywhere found in the word of God and when somebody says you you you send me this is what God's going to do for you that is man's talk that is not God's talk. He says he predestined us listen. He did say he predestined us to have everything we need. He said he predestined us to be conformed to the image of his son and in the process. He will meet that need. Whatever it might be now when I think about that I think about times amount life when I've had needed and sometimes I thought there were needs and there were needs of all the desires and here's what I've learned when I finally wake up and realize that's what I want. That's not what God wants. It is a very airy feeling that is free of something I'm free of something that I wanted that when God showed me one his will and I wouldn't surrender his will is a happiness that there's a joy there.

Why, because all of a sudden you stepped back in the will of God. God Cindy what you want me to have. Give me what you know I need and I think some of the people wrapped up in getting their needs met. But you see you and I can face difficult times when we know that he's an absolute control and when we know that he's going to meet all of our needs and I have met people who said lost my job, but you know what I amazingly I'm not anxious. I'm not angry at him are blaming the body, which is oftentimes a responsive of things like that. And somehow I just have this overwhelming sense of confidence that God is going to open the right door for me at the right time that that is spiritual growth. Do we have that attitude since we get saved. No, because we are all in the process of learning to do what learning the trusting and it's all based on a matter of watch this, not trusting what you hear but trusting God to be what he says he is. That is an absolute control that his goal for us is to be predestined according to his will, like his son and he asked the question now, if God is willing to give you his best, his most precious precious best is eternal best and his son, why would you not think that is going to cheat is out of some good, why would we think that he's going to withhold something that's good. Anything God withholds from us. There is a purpose behind either. He's in the process of teaching is to rely upon it or he withholds it because he knows it's not good in all of us who are parents have practiced on our children what God practices on us and we don't like it. We say to our children and the reason I'm not giving you this is because it's not best. I want you wrote me a fine young man.

I want you to be of Vandana sweetheart that's not best for you.

They go lame when they come to complain about. Shame on you. We turn right around as adults and treat God the same way will God ask you this, and why not.

He's not can always tell us why the issue is this level God's best that I wait for his time.

I let him do the choosing. And so Paul is into asking a logical question if he did not deprive us of the best gift and the only one like that. He had his only begotten son. Would he withhold from us some genuine need that we have no he would not return about reality.

Reality is that God is an absolute control and for those of us who believe as we live in a higher-level watch that is not incident made is better.

We live in a higher-level alarm plane because we are confident that he's an absolute control and secondly that he is going to mean every single need of our life. Thank you for listing confidence in trouble sometimes to know more about Charles Stanley for intense ministries, intense data warranty is not To the presentation of intense ministries Atlanta, Georgia