DESTINY; EXPLAINING “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD”

 

DESTINY; EXPLAINING “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD”

Destiny being explained in the Bible is actually predestination like I said in d teaching.

Now I hope by now u should be aware we read Bible in context.

Especially when u see "All things" in d Bible, it does not suggests all imaginable things.

It's always in context.

For instance, Phl. 4:13, I can do ALL THINGS, through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.

Paul is not saying he can steal and Fornicate through Christ who strengthens him.

Also he's not saying he can carry a house literally through Christ who strengthens him.

He's not saying he can fight many unbelievers and Kings through Christ that strengthens him.

We can't assume all imaginable things when we see "All things" in the Bible.

What Paul means by he can do all things will be in context of that chapter, so we read d whole chapter to see what Paul meant by he can do all things.

Phl. 4

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Paul saying he can do all things is explained in vs 12.

He knows how to abased and abound, he can get along with life when he is full and hungry, also when he's suffering a need and when he has enough or abound.

So Paul is saying he can endure all these things, he can live his life well and bear with whatever circumstances that life throws at him.

My pastor always says it is safer to read "All things" in the Bible as "All These Things"

It's very crucial to know sir.

Another example 1Cor. 3:21b that says 'For ALL THINGS are yours.'

It will be very funny to quote this and assume everything u can think of are yours. I can't say Bible says “All things are mine” and claim your money or your car.

So it should not mean that every thinkable things are mine.

No no no!

It's also in context.

20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Now read that verse 21 with "these”

What are d things that are yours?

Men!
U have enough men to preach to, u have enough men to teach about Christ.

U know Paul was addressing the works of ministry in this chapter, so he's trying to set them to be in orderliness.

All these things are yours for you to handle and take care of.

CONTEXT IS KING AND KEY!

I hope u agree to that already, that we read "All things" in context and it's safer to just read it always as "All These Things"?

Now, let's read that Romans 8 u quoted in context, let's see all the things that work together for good.

Actually, I would have loved us to start reading d whole chapter from verse 1 but let's just start reading it from verse 23

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 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.

Please read it line upon line, and carefully pay attention to every details of it, then also, read it as though there is no verse in it, read it altogether as one paragraph.

Bible was not written originally in chapters and verses anyway.

Vs 23 says we groan for something, we are awaiting it.

What is that thing?

D redemption of our body!

But Christ has redeemed us, Yes he has but we have not gotten that glorified body yet so we groan because we are still in a corruptible or terrestrial body, we are yet to take that Celestial or incorruptible body.

But we Hope that one day we will get it.

Paul in vs 26 referred to our groaning and awaiting for glorified body as infirmities, that is, the body we are now is not really d body God planned for us.

We are still waiting for the God-planned body; we have not gotten it yet.

That's d infirmities.

Our Spirit as well is seriously waiting for it also.

Paul said something related to that in Phl. 1

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Paul was indirectly telling his audience that it is more enjoyable or gainful to die and be ready to take up that glorified body in rapture, but he chose to still remain in the flesh just for their sake.

What God planned for us is the glorified body and we will get it on the last day, once we put off this corruptible body, Paul said it is far better, but decided to still remain in the flesh for their sake.

The same groaning here that we have to get d glorified body is what Paul was thinking about in Philippians 1, that means we are earnestly waiting for that body but Paul wants to preach more and get more men saved before leaving that body since he won't be able to do it again after he died.

Hence vs 25, we hope for it, and we hope patiently for that body.

Lemme show u one more place sir.

1John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

How is Jesus appearance now?

In the glorified body

How will we appear in rapture?

We will be exactly like Christ, in that glorified body.

And that is what we will wait for after we die.

That's John, see also Peter

2Pet. 1

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Peter called this flesh a Tabernacle he will soon put off.

When he dies, he will remove this corruptible body and wait to take up that incorruptible body in the last resurrection which is the glorified body.

Now, coming back to Rom. 8, vs 27, the Spirit searches our hearts and knows that we are earnestly waiting for that body, we are seriously groaning for it.

That glorified body!

So the Spirit is also wishing for it because that is the will of God.

All things work together for good will mean that:

Vs 19 the creatures are waiting for our manifestation in that body.

Vs 22, the whole creation groans for it as we await it.

Vs 23, we ourselves are groaning and earnestly waiting for that glorified body.

Vs 26, the spirit likewise helps us and makes intercession for us.

Vs 27, the Spirit search our hearts and know we are waiting and desiring that glorified body.

These things work together for our good.

It can't be every imaginable things, persecutions, accidents, sicknesses, disasters, wealth, governments, etc.

No no no!

It's very contextual.

Do you get it sir?

So how do we know that all these things work together for our good?

First of all,

What is the good in context?

The glorified body!

His purpose is having that glorified body.

God's purpose is that we that have believed the gospel will one day have that glorified body.

Remember I said this physical and corruptible body is not God's plan for us, it is not God's purpose for us.

So if we have been called according to his purpose, it will mean, since we have believed, all these things, (creatures longing, creations waiting, believers groaning and earnestly awaiting, the Spirit helping us), they will all work for us.

Now, how do we know?

Vs 29-30

He foreknew us

He predestinated us to be conformed into His image that we might be among his brethren.

Since he predestinated us, it means he has called us, he has justified us, and we that are justified are the same set of ppl that he will glorify.

How sure are we that we will be glorified?

So simple

Eph. 1:10-14

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one ALL THINGS in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Read that also carefully

And read Eph. 4:30

And grieve not the HOLY SPIRIT, by which ye were SEALED until the day of redemption.

Vs 10,

All things will mean what?

All the people in Christ, those who has believed d gospel.

In heaven and Earth will mean what?

Both those who are dead and those who are alive in Christ respectively.

Do you see it?

It's context!

Vs 11

So the glorified body is our inheritance because that's what God predestinated for us.

He works all things out?

What things?

His work and mission to save man and redeem mankind which is according to his own will.

How do we know we will take up that glorified body later?

Vs 13, we have believed and therefore we are SEALED with that Holy Spirit that God promised us.

It is our earnest inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.

1Cor. 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Remember one of the place we quoted yesterday

Acts 20:28

[28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with HIS OWN BLOOD.

Back to Eph.1:13, the word SEALED is in the Greek 'sphragizō' which means to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication to keep secret to attest: - (set a set to) seal up, stop.

So by the Holy Spirit in us is God sealing us that he has purchased those that had believed the gospel.

He's saying that those with the Holy Spirit dwelling in them are God's own, and no one can take them from him.

Remember Jesus' word in John 10:28-29

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

God puts His Spirit in us to make us very sure and confidence that we shall take up that GLORIFIED BODY since we have believed the gospel.

That's why Paul said the Holy Spirit sealed us until the day of redemption.

He sealed us until rapture!

So in conclusion, All things work together for good will also involve the spirit in us as a guarantee that we shall have that incorruptible body in the end.

He predestinated us

He called us

He made us conform into the image of his son.

Then he justified us and then because of all these that he has done for us, he will also glorify us, that is, he will give us the glorified body which is our inheritance in him, that's what he has predestinated for us to have so it's sure we will have it once we die or when rapture happen.

Every word is always in context when reading the scriptures.

Do you get it now sir?

I hope I have answered your questions.

I call you blessed!

Awotiku Akinlayo David

© March 2021