All Things

All references such as G4636 and H5341 are Strong's Concordance reference numbers for Greek and Hebrew

SCRIPTURE

Romans 8:28 "⁽¹⁾And we know ⁽²⁾that all things work together for good ⁽³⁾to them that love God⁽⁴⁾to them who are called according to His purpose"

INTRODUCTION

We all go through times that are really tough and emotionally draining. So much happens to us and we don't understand why, "Why me Lord?" is a common statement to many of us. We have an adversary who seeks to destroy us but God turns all these attacks and hardships into a force that shapes us into the workmen trained for the tasks and ready for the master's use. He is a loving father who really cares for his children and all that they do and desire.
Let us look to the Word......Romans 8:28

ONE...Addressed to : "We"

We who know are the born again believers, the spiritual ones.
11 Corinthians 5:1-7
"For we know that if our EARTHLY house of this TABERNACLE were dissolved. we have a BUILDING of God, an HOUSE not made with hands, ETERNAL in the heavens."

Earthly house is our mortal body = temporary - five physical senses
Spiritual house is our spiritual body = eternal
We are spirit that lives in a physical body.
EARTHLY = flesh
TABERNACLE = G4636 (Strong's Concordance) SKENOS = temporary residence i.e. human body
BUILDING = G3624 OIKOS = a family
HOUSE = G3624 OIKOS = a family
We are lively stones fitly joined together and also the temple or tabernacle of the Holy Spirit who lives in our spiritual heart not our fleshly body. Our heart (spirit) lives in a body.
ETERNAL = G166 AINOS = perpetual, everlasting.
We are eternally " in Christ" and so eternally "in God". The Lord will eternally protect us. No one can separate us from His love or take us out of His hand.

11 Corinthians 5:2
"For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our HOUSE which is from heaven"

HOUSE = G3624 OIKOS = a family

11 Corinthians 5:3
"If so be that being CLOTHED we shall not be found naked"

CLOTHED = G1722 EN = denoting position in place, time, or state i.e. a relation of rest
We rest in our position in Christ. We are more than conquerors. We are overcomers. We are in a position of authority and power. We have our robes of righteousness and are not naked because of sin like Adam and Eve. "Who told thee that thou wast naked?...."

11 Corinthians 5:4
"For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being BURDENED: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that MORTALITY might be SWALLOWED up of LIFE"

BURDENED = G916 BAREO = weighted down, heavy.
Life's cares can also weigh us down. The weight of sin can hold us bound to the flesh and death.
MORTALITY = death = the wages of sin. The universal law.
SWALLOWED = G2666 KATAPANO = to drink down. Drown
LIFE = G5590 PSUCHE = breath i.e. Spirit
To lift the weight of what burdens us down in the flesh we must swallow it up by the spirit. We apply spiritual principles eg. give to receive, bless those that curse you etc.

11 Corinthians 5:5
"Now he that hath WROUGHT us for the selfsame thing is God, who hath also given unto us the EARNEST of the spirit"

WROUGHT = G2716 KATERGAZOMI = accomplished or fashioned.
EARNEST = G728 ARRHABON = part of purchase money, pledge.
Jesus has paid the whole price of our sin on the Cross of Calvary. The Father has given us the pledge of the Holy Spirit.(11 Corinthians 1:22.)

11 Corinthians 5:6
" Therefore we are always CONFIDENT, knowing that, whilst we are AT HOME in the body, we are ABSENT from the Lord:"

CONFIDENT = G2293 THARSEO = to exercise courage.
AT HOME = G1722 EN = denoting position in place, time,or state i.e. a relation of rest
We are to live as, at home , in our position in Christ. We are to live and reign with Christ as priests and kings (Romans 5:17). We sit on the throne with Him. Everything we do must be from this position of "in Christ".
ABSENT = G1533 EKDEMEO = vacate or quit

11 Corinthians 5:7
" For WE WALK by FAITH, not by SIGHT"

WE = The spiritual ones. Those who live in the spirit.
WALK = G4043 PERIPATIO = to live
FAITH = G4102 PISTIS = persuasion
SIGHT = G1491 EIDOS = a view, appearance or sight
WALK OF FAITH

- Not seeing but believing
- Not seeing the spirituals but warring in the spirit
- Claiming victories
- Killing Goliaths
- Using the name of Jesus
- Moving in the spirit

TWO...PROMISE..."That all things work together for good"

II Corinthians 4:17-18

II Corinthians 4:17
"For OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is but for a moment, WORKETH FOR US a far more EXCEEDING and eternal WEIGHT of GLORY;"

AFFLICTION = G2347 THLIPSIS = pressure, tribulation or trouble
WORKETH = G2716 KATERGAZOMAI = to work fully i.e. accomplish
EXCEEDING = G1519 EIS = place or point reached
WEIGHT = G922 BAROS = abundance, authority
GLORY = G1391 DOXA = dignity,praise

- Light affliction - man as grass here one day gone the next
- Affliction under God's hand works in us eternal goodness

The potter remoulds us:

- clay = lifes circumstances
- water = water of the Word

The water (Word) changes the clay (circumstances) we are remoulded

- Jesus learnt obedience through affliction or suffering so wroughting an eternal work. We must follow His example and suffer with Him.

11 Corinthians 4:18
" While WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

LOOK = G4648 SKOPEO = consider or regard
SEEN = G991 BLEPO = to look at

- Peter looked to the Lord and so walked on the water
- We need to look unto Jesus the author of all we have

We look at the eternal things (things not seen)

- The name of Jesus
- Faith in God Fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5)
- The Word of God

11 Corinthians 12:9-10 "...My grace is sufficient for thee..."

11 Corinthians 12:9
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME"

STRENGTH = G1411 DUNAMIS = force or ability
MADE PERFECT = G5048 TELEIOO = to complete or accomplish in character.
REST= G198 EPISKENOO = to tent upon i.e. to rest upon

- We must put self down and put Jesus first on the throne of our heart.
- We are then clothed with the power of Jesus to rule over life's every situation
- His power is available for us

11 Corinthians 12:10
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: FOR WHEN I AM WEAK THEN AM I STRONG"

So what is the Grace of God?

- The measure of faith
- The use of His name
- Spiritual armor
- The Word of God

These things are sufficient for you

THREE...FIRST CONDITION..."Those who love God"

11 Corinthians 12:11
" I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing."
Psalms 31:23
" O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for THE LORD PRESERVETH THE FAITHFUL, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

PRESERVETH = H5341 NATSAR = to guard

Psalms 31:24" Be of good courage, and HE SHALL strengthen your heart, all ye that HOPE in the LORD."

HOPE = H3176 YACHAL = to wait
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
Abraham waited in faith and it changed his whole outlook.
We are commanded to love the Lord. (Relationship)
Matthew 22:36-40 The first and second commandments.
Matthew 22:36" Master, which is the great commandment in the law? "
Matthew 22:37" Jesus said unto him, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
Matthew 22:38" This is the first and great commandment."
Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew 22:40" On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. "

God preserves the faithfull who keep His commandments.

John 14:15,23-24

John 14:15" If ye love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."
John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
John 14:24 "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

FOUR...SECOND CONDITION..."Those who are called of God"

Ephesians 1:12

Ephesians 1:12 "That WE SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY, WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST".
Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
REDEMPTION = G629 APOLUTROSIS = ransom in full, salvation.
Ephesians 1:8 "Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;"
Ephesians 1:9 "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:"

What His grace has done - verses 6-9

- made us accepted in the beloved
- given us redemption
- given us knowledge and ability
- given us revelation knowledge

SUMMARY

We as Christians should:

- love God
- do His word
- wait upon Him in every situation and seek His face

The Lord will then:

- cause us to be overcomers
- turn every situation around
- make us profit and not shipwreck
- remould us into the image of His glorious son Jesus
- turn our mourning into dancing
- turn our sorrow into blessing

Let us look to Jesus instead of at the circumstances and we will become overcomers.

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