August 25, 2024

Is there such a thing as luck?

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Romans 8:18-39
Service Type:

Introduction

  • "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" – v28
    • Do you believe in luck?
    • Quote from RC Sproyle, Einstein
  • Do you wonder why certain things happen to you as a Christian?
    • All things come to us at some point
    • We are not in the hands of lady luck but the hands of God
    • Quote from Thomas Watson
  • Rom 8
    • A second section in this chapter
    • It is associated with ultimate doctrine
      • We should not be afraid of the purpose/providence of God and the predestination of the saints
  • Overview:
    • The providence of God – what does it mean?
    • The providence of God and His people

The providence of God – what does it mean?

  • Bad definition from the concise OED – quote
  • A better definition from the Westminster confession of faith – quote
    • Not the theory of evolution or deism
    • Not Doris Day – Que Sera Sera
  • God governs the created world/nature
    • Col 1:16, Heb 1:3, Matt 6:26, Ps 145:15
    • Quote from Ravi Zaccharius
    • ?Ps 149:16
  • God governs the nations
    • Prov 21:1
      • One goes up and one comes down
      • Quote from John Blanchard
    • Daniel 2:21, Ps 75:6-7
    • Prov 14:34
      • God is concerned with decisions made in places of power

The providence of God and His people

  • Christians
    • "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" – v28
    • The foundation of the Christian’s confidence
  • Paul explain’s this in three ways
  1. The benefit of assurance
    • We have confidence in God
    • The benefit of assurance in preaching
    • We know that God is working for our God
  2. The benefit of knowing this includes all things
    • All things work in concert (like an orchestra)
      • God is the conductor
    • All our experiences are part of this concert
      • God is bringing different things into our lives
      • Example of salt and watch gears
      • Though some things may be unpalatable
      • Jer 29:11
    • A loving caring application to born again Christians
      • Have you come to God in repentance and been washed in the blood of the Lamb?
      • Example of Joseph – Gen 50:20
      • Quote from Billy Graham – shaping our lives down here to fit up there
    • Are you a lucky person to hear the gospel?
      • A child of God if you come to Jesus
      • Have you heard the call to come to Jesus
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