1. Honest Confession: Perhaps the most difficult thing I have learned and am relearning is that what seems like a trial from hell is, more often than not, God working in my life to accomplish His will.

2. Introduction This is the kind of sermon that will impact everyone to some degree throughout his entire life.

3. Please stand. Turn to Romans 8:28. The Issue is Trust.

4. Please use a pew Bible if you didn’t bring a Bible with you. Pg. 835

5. R OMANS 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.”

6. O UTLINE Six Simple Points – To them – Love God – His purpose – The called – We know – Defining good

7. R OMANS 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.”

8. P OINT N UMBER O NE The promises from God, like this promise, do not universally apply to all people equally. Are you part of “to them”?

9. R OMANS 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.”

10. P OINT N UMBER T WO The promise that “all things work together for good” applies only to those who love God. Do you love God?

11. Application Is there sufficient evidence in your life that you treasure God above all else?

12. T HE P EARL OF G REAT P RICE Matthew 13:45-46 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: – Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

13. E VIDENCE Worship is a priority in your life. Giving Bible knowledge/growth Holiness/sanctification Service

14. R OMANS 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.”

15. P OINT N UMBER T HREE God has a purpose for my life.

16. Turn to Eph 1:3-12.

17. R OMANS 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.”

18. R OMANS 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

19. P OINT N UMBER F OUR “The called” is a way of emphasizing God’s role in bringing men, women, and children into a saving relationship with Himself. God the Holy Spirit is the person of God who calls men, women, and children to obey the gospel— thus, those who obey are “the called.”

20. R OMANS 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.”

21. P OINT N UMBER F IVE “We know that” is a way of expressing an absolutely true statement with God Himself as the guarantor of the promise.

22. R OMANS 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.”

23. P OINT N UMBER S IX The guarantor of the promise—God—is the One Who determines what “all things work together for good” looks like in my life. I don’t get to define good.

24. “This working of all things for good is done quite naturally to ‘them that love God,’ because such souls, persuaded that He who gave His own Son for them cannot but mean them well in all His procedure, learn thus to take in good part whatever He sends them, however trying to flesh and blood: and to them who are the called, according to ‘His purpose,’ all things do in the same intelligible way ‘work together for good’...” – Robert Jamieson

25. Case Studies of Romans 8:28 Joseph in Genesis 37-50

26. B ACKGROUND Abraham – Isaac Jacob (Israel) – Joseph (one of twelve sons)

27. Good looks like being hated and despised by his Jewish brothers.

28. Good looks like being left in a pit to die.

29. Good looks like being sold into slavery and taken to Egypt.

30. Good looks like being unjustly thrown in jail with no hope of release.

31. Turn to Genesis 50:20.

32. Joseph is a picture of whom?

33. Good looks like leaving the glories of heaven to be born of a poor carpenter in a stable.

34. J OHN 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

35. Question Why don’t we comprehend the significance of this?

36. Good looks like an emergency trip to Egypt to save baby Jesus’ life. Matthew 2

37. Good looks like 40 days of fasting and temptation Matthew 3

38. Good looks like being falsely accused, convicted, and sentenced to death Matthew 27

39. Good looks like a crown of thorns, and a whip to the back. John 19

40. Good looks like the Son of God hanging on a rugged cross. Matthew 27

41. Good looks like “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27

42. Good looks like “It is Finished.” John 19

43. In our own lives, all of us are often guilty of asking, “How can this be good?”

44. Yet, in the life of Christ we call what He went through—the gospel—the good news.