"JOY IN THE MIDST OF YOUR MESS"   

                                                         ROMANS 8:28   

 INTRODUCTION:

          WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE PAINFUL, TEARFUL, SLEEPLESS, HEARTBREAKING, AGONIZING LIFE ALTERING, AND LIFE DESTROYING TRIALS, TROUBLES AND TRIBULATIONS, COUNT IT ALL JOY.

           TRIALS, TROUBLES AND TRIBULATIONS SOMETIMES SEEMS TO BE A WAY OF LIFE AND IT SEEMS THAT SOMETIMES WE AS CHRISTIANS FEEL THAT LIFE JUST SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY.     AT LEAST FOR FOR US.     AFTER ALL WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD.     THE GOD WHO IS THE CREATOR, PROVIDER AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS.

           BUT, SOMETIMES THE EVENTS AND SITUATIONS OF DAY-TO-DAY LIVING JUST GET US DOWN.     WE GET TIRED, FRUSTRATED AND AGGRAVATED, SOMETIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE SPIRALING DOWN DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE DEPTH OF PROBLEMS, TROUBLES, AND WOES.

           WE WONDER, WORRY, TARRY AND PONDER FOR ANSWERS TO THE END OUR PLIGHT OF MISERY AND MESS.

           NOW, EVERYONE HAS THAT ONE PERSISTENT PROBLEM OR SITUATION IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY HAVE WORRIED ABOUT, MAYBE EVEN CRIED OVER AND PRAYED ABOUT AND WISH THAT THEY COULD FORGET ABOUT.

           YOU HAVE EARNESTLY PRAYED, "LORD, LORD WHEN OR WILL YOU FIX THIS MESS!   I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE."

           YOU JUST WANT SOME RELIEF;    YOU JUST WANT IT TO BE OVER;    YOU JUST WANT IT TO BE BETTER;     YOU JUST WANT YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED.

           WELL, JAMES 1:2 SAYS "MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS;"

           "COUNT IT ALL JOY": THE GREEK WORD FOR "COUNT" MAY ALSO BE TRANSLATED

"CONSIDER" OR "EVALUATE".

           THE NATURAL HUMAN RESPONSE TO TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS AND PROBLEMS OR ILLNESS IS NOT TO REJOICE.

           THEREFORE THE BELIEVER MUST MAKE A CONSCIOUS COMMITMENT TO FACE THEM WITH JOY.

           "DIVERS TEMPTATIONS": ALSO  MEANING TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, OR TROUBLES, OR SOMETHING THAT BREAKS THE PATTERN OF PEACE, COMFORT, JOY AND HAPPINESS IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

           EVERY TRIAL, TRIBULATION OR TROUBLE (PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL) BECOMES A TEST OF FAITH DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN: IF THE BELIEVER FAILS THE TEST BY WRONGLY RESPONDING, THAT TEST THEN BECOMES A TEMPTATION, OR SOLICITATION TO EVIL.

           THE MAIN LESSON TO BE LEARNED IN THE TRIAL, TRIBULATION, TROUBLE, OR TEMPTATION IS THAT GOD WILL HELP US FACE THE PROBLEM.     HE WILL SEE US THROUGH, IF WE PLACE OUT TRUST IN HIM AND "COUNT IT ALL JOY".

           YES, "COUNT IT ALL JOY"!     WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE PAINFUL, TEARFUL, TROUBLESOME TIMES, "COUNT IT ALL JOY".     NOW THAT IS A HARD THING TO DO.

           THE BIBLE (KJV) INSTRUCTS THE CHILD OF GOD TO COUNT IT ALL JOY, REGARDLESS OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR SITUATION.     THE BIBLE (KJV) NOT ONLY INSTRUCTS US TO HAVE JOY BUT IT ALSO GIVES THE SAINTS OF GOD PROMISE AFTER PROMISE THAT ENSURES OUR JOY IN THIS LIFE AND THROUGH ETERNAL LIFE.

           OF ALL THE PROMISES OF THE BIBLE (KJV) THERE IS ONE PROMISE THAT SEEMS TO ENCOMPASS ALL PROMISES, AND THAT IS FOUND IN ROMANS 8:28 "AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE."
           THIS IS A SCRIPTURE THAT IS MISUNDERSTOOD BY MANY BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE STOP READING WHEN IT SAYS, "TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD" AND THEY DON'T COMPLETELY READ THE VERSE, "TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE."

           ARE WE FULFILLING GOD'S PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES?     IF YOU ARE, THEN ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO YOU.

           IF TRIALS, TROUBLES, AND TRIBULATIONS (PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL) ARE WEIGHING ON YOUR HEART AND MIND, BREAKING YOUR SPIRIT TODAY, THEN SET ASIDE A FEW MINUTES AND LET'S STUDY TOGETHER THIS PROMISE OF PROMISES SO WE CAN COUNT IT ALL JOY IN THESE TIMES.

          OUR TEXT SCRIPTURE STARTS WITH "AND WE KNOW".      WHO IS THIS "WE" PAUL IS REFERRING TO?

           LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT PAUL IS NOT TALKING TO OR ABOUT EVERYONE CREATED BY GOD AND IN HIS IMAGE.

           PAUL IS TALKING TO AND ABOUT EVERYONE WHO HAS CONFESSED WITH THEIR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BELIEVED IN THEIR HEART ON THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.     HE IS REFERRING TO THOSE WHO HAS TRULY BELIEVED IN AND CALLED ON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, PLACED THEIR TRUST IN HIM FOR SALVATION.

           THERE ARE MANY SCRIPTURES AND WARNINGS THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE (KJV) TO THE UNBELIEVER AND THOSE THAT STRADDLE THE FENCE.     THERE ARE COUNTLESS WOES TO THOSE ATTEMPTING TO FOOL GOD AND THEMSELVES.

           BUT HERE, IN THIS PROMISE, PAUL IS TALKING TO THE TRULY BORN-AGAIN CHILD OF GOD.     PAUL SAYS, "AND WE KNOW", WITH THESE THREE WORDS PAUL REMINDS THE TRUE BELIEVER OF THEIR ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OF ETERNAL SECURITY IN JESUS CHRIST.

          WHAT DO WE KNOW?     WE KNOW THAT BEYOND A DOUBT THAT EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES ARE COMPLETELY HELD IN THE HANDS OF GOD.

            WE KNOW THAT OUR LIVES WILL BE USED TO MANIFEST HIS GLORY AND TO WORK OUT OUR OWN ULTIMATE BLESSINGS.

            AS A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST AND BEING A CHILD OF GOD, WE SHOULD BE SECURE IN OUR BELIEF IN THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF GOD.     THIS FACT ALONE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO BRING ANY CHILD OF GOD JOY IN THE MIDST OF THEIR MESS.

          TO KNOW, TO BE SECURE IN THE FACT THAT GOD HAS IT ALL UNDER CONTROL, IT IS IN HIS HANDS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS OCCURRING IN YOUR IN LIFE AND MINE IS TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR BLESSINGS.     PAUL REMINDS US THAT AS A CHILD OF GOD "WE KNOW" OR WE SHOULD "KNOW".

           HERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT "WE KNOW".      PAUL TELLS US "AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS TOGETHER".     WHEN HE SAYS "ALL THINGS", HE MEANS ALL THINGS.     HE MEANS EVERYTHING.     THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS,    THERE ARE NO EXCLUSIONS,   AND THERE ARE NO LIMITS.     THERE IS NOTHING THAT HAS OCCURRED,     WILL OCCUR,     OR MAY OCCUR,    IN OUR LIVES THAT IS OR WILL NOT BE INCLUDED.

           NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SITUATION,     NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE SUFFERING,     YOUR PERSECUTION,     YOUR SINFUL FAILURE,     YOUR PAIN,     YOUR LACK OF FAITH,     YOUR MESS IN AND OF YOUR LIFE,     AS WELL AS ALL OTHER THINGS, GOD WILL WORK TO BRING ABOUT YOUR ULTIMATE VICTORY AND BLESSINGS.

           WITH ASSURANCE SUCH AS THIS HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE "JOY IN THE MIDST OF YOUR MESS?

           PAUL NOT ONLY HAS IN MIND OUR GOOD DURING THIS PRESENT LIFE, BUT ALSO GOOD IN THE EVERLASTING LIFE TO COME.     NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES AS HIS CHILDREN, THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD USES IT FOR OUR LIVES HERE TODAY AS WELL AS OUR ETERNAL BENEFIT.

           SOMETIMES BY SAVING US FROM TRAGEDIES AND SOMETIMES BY SENDING US THROUGH THEM IN ORDER TO DRAW US CLOSER TO HIM,     IN ORDER TO CORRECT US,     IN ORDER TO TEACH US,     IN ORDER TO CONTINUALLY CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

           GOD OFTEN DELAYS THE TEMPORAL AS WELL AS THE SPIRITUAL,     AS WELL AS THE ULTIMATE GOOD THAT HE PROMISES, BUT HIS WORD IS TRUE, HIS WORD IS STEADFAST, "ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD".

           BUT WHO DOES GOD DO THIS FOR?     HE DOES IT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

           THIS PROMISE WAS NOT GIVEN TO BE USED AS A BLANKET FOR UNBELIEVING SINNERS!     IT IS GIVEN TO ENSURE ONLY THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

           THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ARE TWO TITLES OR DESCRIPTIONS GIVEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (KJV BIBLE) FOR CHRISTIANS.

           FROM THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE WE ARE THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, WHEREAS FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE WE ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED.

           THE BELIEVERS POSITION AND BEHAVIOR ARE BOTH INVOLVED IN THE CALL OF GOD.

           POSITIONAL; GOD CHOOSES THE BELIEVER BY SETTING HIM OR HER APART THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THROUGH BELIEF OF THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, 2nd THESSALONIANS 3:13-14.

          BEHAVIORAL, GOD CALLS THE BELIEVER TO A LIFE OF PURITY AND HOLINESS, 1st THESSALONIANS 4:7.

          THE POINT IS THIS: GOD DELIVERS THE PERSON WHO IS POSITIONED IN CHRIST AND WHO STRIVES TO LIVE A PURE AND HOLY LIFE.     THE PERSON WHO TRULY LOVES GOD AND IS LIVING A GODLY LIFE IS THE PERSON WHO EXPERIENCES ALL THINGS BEING WORKED OUT FOR HIS OR HERS GOOD.     IT IS THE GODLY PERSON WHO LOVES GOD THAT WILL BE DELIVERED FROM THE STRUGGLING AND SUFFERING OF THE CORRUPT WORLD.

          BUT WHY WERE YOU CALLED?     ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE!

          BELIEVERS HAVE NEVER BEEN CALLED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR WORKS OR FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES.

           FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ONLY WAY OF REDEMPTION.

           BELIEVERS ARE NOT SAVED ON THE BASIS OF WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE BUT SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HIS SON JESUS DID AT CALVARY.

           BECAUSE IT OPERATES COMPLETELY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL AND BY HIS POWER, THE GOSPEL NEVER FAILS TO ACCOMPLISH ITS WORK OF SALVATION IN THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

           AND IT IS BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE, THAT WE HAVE SALVATION "AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE."

           THIS IS WHAT GIVES YOU "JOY IN THE MIDST OF YOUR MESS."     THE BELIEVER'S DELIVERANCE IS PURPOSED BY GOD.     GOD CALLS US FOR THE GLORIOUS PURPOSE OF BEING SAVED FROM THE PAINFUL, TEARFUL, SLEEPLESS, HEARTBREAKING, AGONIZING LIFE ALTERING, AND LIFE DESTROYING TRIALS, TROUBLES AND TRIBULATIONS, STRUGGLES AND SUFFERING OF THIS LIFE.

          THE WORD OF GOD (KJV BIBLE) PROMISES US TIME AFTER TIME THAT IF WE WOULD ONLY TRUST IN HIM, LEAN AND DEPEND ON HIM, IF WE WOULD OBEY HIS WORD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS THAT:

 1st CORINTHIANS 10:13 "THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT."

 ISAIAH 41:10 "FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD; I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS."

 ISAIAH 43:2 "WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WATERS, I WILL BE WITH THEE; AND THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY SHALL NOT OVERFLOW THEE: WHEN THOU WALKEST THROUGH THE FIRE, THOU SHALT NOT BE BURNED; NEITHER SHALL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON THEE."

          CONCLUSION:

          "ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD".

                      THIS MUST BE TRUE FOR THREE REASONS:

     (1). BECAUSE ALL THINGS ARE UNDER THE ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF GOD.

            2nd CORINTHIANS 5:18a;  2nd CORINTHIANS 4:15

     (2). BECAUSE GOD DESIRES OUR GOOD AND NOTHING BUT OUR GOOD.

            ROMANS 8:28

     (3). BECAUSE EVEN SATAN HIMSELF CANNOT TOUCH A HAIR OF OUR HEADS WITHOUT GOD'S PERMISSION AND THEN ONLY FOR OUR GOOD.

           NOT ALL THINGS ARE GOOD IN THEMSELVES, NOR IN THEIR TENDENCIES; BUT GOD MAKES ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

           NOTHING ENTERS OUR LIFE BY BLIND CHANCE.

           EVERYTHING IS BEING MOVED BY GOD, WITH THIS END IN VIEW -- OUR GOOD.

           AMEN!