8-Embracing Destiny
11/22/15
Intro:
I.==> Romans 8:28-30
II.MCFLY—YOU ARE MY DENSITY
III.VATICANUS AND ALEXANDRINUS VS. TEXTUS RECEPTUS
IV.Where’s Waldo? . . . Where’s God?
Body:
I.Understanding God’s Work
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.
A.It is not that things just work out, but God works in their midst.
1)Grk (synergei) to work with—synergy
2)Mark 16:20
Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
3)PUTTING OUR HANDS TO THE LOVE BASKETS
B.We must remember that God only does good things in our lives.
1)ACTS OF GOD—FLOODS, HURRICANES, TSUNAMIS
2)Psalms 107:1-43
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed the Lord tell their story . . . Let the one who is wise heed these thingsand ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
3)WHERE GOD SHOWED UP IN MY ACCIDENT
II.Discovering God’s Design
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
A.God designed us from the beginning to share in the promise of Christ.
1)Grk (proginosko) to pre-know (proorizo) to pre-design
2)Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
3)DOUBLE-PREDESTINATION LEADS TO SUPREMICISM
a)Manifest Destiny, Slavery, The Holocaust, Radical Islam
b)“The good hand of God favored our beginnings bysweeping away great multitudes of the natives ... that he might make room for us.”-- William Bradford
B.God’s plan has always been to adopt us into His family.
1)Ephesians 1:4-5
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.
2)DECIDING TO ADOPT VERNON WHILE IN JAMAICA
III.Giving God the Glory
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
A.We cannot wait for heaven to begin giving God the glory.
1)2 Thessalonians 1:12
We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2)HOLY RESILIENCE—DAVID M. CARR
“The contemporary cultural scene seems to favor politicians and religious leaders who affirm their constituents and their liveswithout much question. The scriptures of Judaism and Christianity offer pictures of a God who is still present when life shatters to pieces. Life can shatter us into pieces. That, I suggest, is a big reason why we still have the Jewish and Christian Bibles with us now.”
B.The secret to life is to love God and to give Him all the glory.
1)Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
2)ONLY 44 OF THE 102 PILGRIM’S SURVIVE THE WINTER OF 1620
Other Scriptures:
Isaiah 63:7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things
he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 17:24
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
2 Thessalonians 2:14
He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:11-12
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, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 3:10-11
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
1 Peter 1:2
Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.