Message by Mike Mayfield
But God
Romans 8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
I used to cringe when I would hear that verse used in an attempt to comfort someone going through a hard time. I liked it even less when Paula found out she would have to have an operation that would mean we would have no children together. Paula would not get that little red haired girl she had always wanted. I would not pass on my name to that special child of my own. Don’t get me wrong, I have a wonderful and loving family and the most beautiful granddaughters in the world. But that was then, and this is now, and I have had 30 years of being blessed with the family God intended for me. Jason and Jim are now 40 and 36 respectively. But at that time, for awhile, it seemed pretty tough.
You and I have encountered situations where we just felt like throwing in the towel. We felt like the whole world was against us. We felt like no matter what we did things would turn out bad. We”™ve often said to ourselves, “No matter what I do things still won”™t change”. Or we feel that we have gotten so far down that there is nothing that can bring us up. I want you to know this morning that this is not so. Those of us who have a hope in Christ don”™t have to feel this way. We have to realize that because we serve a risen Savior, we can live victorious lives.
There are a number of powerful 2-word phrases found in God’s Word. Phrases such as: Healed all; gathered in; cast out; raised up and pulled down.
Each of these phrases are used in context with the power of God. However, there is one phrase used some 61 times in Scripture that surpasses them all. And that phrase is “BUT, GOD! This small two-word phrase communicates a tremendous message to all that hear it. It’s God”™s response to Satan”™s challenge! It’s the bottom line! It’s the last word! It’s all over but the shouting!
“But, God”, when viewed in relation to the challenges of life, is what up is to down; what life is to death; what in is to out. “But, God” stands totally opposed to the negative shouts of the world. The world says no ”” “But, God” says yes! The world says can”™t ”” “But, God” says can! The world says won”™t: “But, God” says will! The world says stop ”” “But, God” says go! The world says don”™t ”” “But, God” says do! The world says defeat ”” “But, God” says victory!
“But, God” climbs the highest mountain; crosses the darkest valley; and sings songs of victory in the midnight hour! “But, God” exclaims, “I”™m going to the enemy”™s camp and I”™ll take back what he stole from me!” “But, God” is courageous, confident and conclusive!”
I”™m speaking this morning from God”™s perspective! Too many times we look at things through our own eyes and can only see failure. “But, God” tells us to look at it as He sees it! I”™m encouraging you this morning to put your Kingdom glasses on and see things as God sees them! I want you to know it”™s not over until God says it”™s over!
How many of you will be watching the Super Bowl this afternoon? Sometimes when we go to a sporting event or watch it on TV, if our team is not winning as the end draws near we leave before it”™s over not knowing that we might see a miraculous ending! On Dec. 7, 1980 at San Francisco, Joe Montana was “the comeback kid” that day. Perhaps none of his heroic performances were finer than this day when he led the 49ers back by scoring on a 1-yard run, connecting on a 71-yard bomb and added another TD pass to rally San Francisco from a 35-7 halftime deficit to a tie at the end of the fourth quarter. I imagine a lot of San Francisco fans left at half-time to beat the traffic, but the 49ers ended up winning against the Saints 38 to 35 with a field goal in overtime.
In the Super Bowl of this life, I want to urge you to stay for the entire game ”” wait until the last seconds tick off the clock; wait until the “home team” has had its chance! Wait until the last field goal is made! If you quit too soon, you”™ll leave before victory is seen! I’m telling you that the jury may still be out in your situation ”” all the votes are not in — the fat lady has not sung ”” God hasn”™t had His final say!
I”™m speaking on the subject “But, God”! I”™m telling you in that book of miracles we read from, there are many instances where Satan is confounded and confused. There are stories of his elaborate schemes going wrong, because he failed to realize that God would have the final say! The devil had worked so hard to get everything just right, yet just when he thinks he is victorious, he hears “But, God”!
As we look at our scripture, (Romans 8:28) we are reminded of the story of Joseph. (Genesis 30-50) In that passage we learn how he had been humiliated by his brothers and sold into slavery. How he had been slandered by the wife of Potiphar and imprisoned, yet stood firm in his faith. How he had been forgotten by the chief baker after interpreting his dream, yet was faithful. The life of Joseph is perhaps the best Old Testament example of the accuracy of our key verse this morning. Romans 8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
The sale of Joseph as a slave was meant for harm by his brothers. The end result was Joseph becoming Prime of Egypt, becoming reunited with his family, and saving their lives. Joseph endured many trials and tribulations. Satan had done so many things to him that were meant for bad, “But, God” meant it for good! Genesis 50:20 (NLT) You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Through all the bad stuff that Joseph goes though we see that God is with him through it all. So many times the devil throws things our way, things that are meant to make us stop trusting God!
Things that are meant to make us feel sorry for ourselves! Things that are meant to make us give up! Things that are meant for bad, “But, God” means them for good! God takes us through things to make us stronger! Yes Satan means it for bad, “But, God” means it for good! Those times when everything is going well in our lives and then all of a sudden it seems like the bottom drops out remember Satan means it for bad, “But, God”!
Whenever husband and wife seem to be at odds with one another; Satan means it for bad, “But, God”! When it looks like your kids just don”™t hear what you say; kids when you think your parents just don”™t understand. Yes, Satan means it for bad, “But, God” means it for good! When your church is heading in a direction that you didn’t anticipate, remember that it is God’s church and He will be with us through it all. And yes, Satan is attacking and means it for bad, “But, God”! All the things that happened to Joseph, to the average man it would have seemed like too much.
I can hear Joseph saying, “My brothers, my own flesh and blood have betrayed me and sold me as a slave. My master”™s wife has accused me and caused me to fall out of favor with him and had me thrown in jail. The chief butler, whose dream I interpreted has forgotten me and left me here in this prison”. Yes, to the average man it might seem pretty bad. But Joseph knew that no matter what was thrown at him, no matter what was done to him, no matter how Satan attacked, the God he served would allow him to say “I may be down now, “But, God”!
That is the type of attitude that we need in the church today! We need to understand that no matter what we go through, no matter how bad things get, no matter how the enemy attacks us, always remember that it may look dark now, “But, God”!
You see the devil always tries to bring confusion when there is order. If good things are happening he wants to break it down. The devil thinks he has it all worked out, “But, God”! He Thought He Could Stop the God’s Plan! “BUT, GOD”! He Thought He Could Stop the God’s People, “BUT, GOD”! All of us used to be just like those in the world! Our lives expressing the evil inside us, doing every wicked thing our passions or evil thoughts might lead us to! We started out bad, being born with a sin nature, and were under God”™s wrath just like everybody else! “But, God” is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead–only by His undeserved favor have we ever been saved and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms–all because of what Jesus did!
I”™m just trying to tell you this morning that no matter what the situation, no matter how bad it might look, no matter how bad you have been, no matter where you are in life; remember that whatever comes, “But, God”!
The bible says in Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Satan says, Aha! “some of you were once like that” “But, God” says “you were cleansed, you were made holy, you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)
Satan says, “you can”™t make it on your own””¦.“But, God” says, “Romans 8:31b (NLT) If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
Satan says, “Hold on to all your problems for no one can help you””¦.“But, God” says, “cast all your cares on me for I care for you!” 1 Peter 5:7
Satan says, “Take the easy way out””¦. “But, God” says in Eccl. 9:11 & Acts 20:24 “the race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to the one that endures until the end!”
Satan says that your enemies have you surrounded. Come out with your hands up””¦. “But, God” says in Psalms 110:1 “I”™ll make your enemies your footstool!”
Satan says, “Sickness will follow you””¦ “But, God” says “by His stripes we are healed!” Isaiah 53:5b
Satan says, “There”™s nothing else the doctors can do””¦. “But, God” says, I can change the diagnosis!”
Satan says, “I will make you a slave to sin””¦. “But, God” says, “for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son!”
Satan says, “I”™ll take your Son and hold Him in the Grave””¦. “But, God” says, “After three days He will rise again!”
Satan says, “I”™ve got Him now””¦. “But, God” says, “Death where”™s your sting, grave where”™s your victory”?!
Don”™t listen to the lies and negative words of our enemy! Realize that God has the final word! See things from the Father”™s perspective! Incline your ear and hear “But, God”! Satan says defeat, “but, God” says victory! Satan says disease, “but, God” says healing! Satan says hate, “but, God” says love! Satan says destruction, “But, God” says restoration! Satan says division, “But, God” says unity! Satan says abandonment, “but, God” says redemption!
Satan meant it for bad, “But God”! Every time you feel low lift your spirits by thinking, “But God”! Whenever it seems like the devil has his foot holding you down, realize that you can beat him, But God says, in Philippians 4:13, We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength! If this Old World has gotten you down and you can”™t find any way up, remember the phrase, “But God”!
Because no matter what the situation, no matter what the problem, no matter how bad it may be, “But God” can make it better! You see I could have been:
1. An alcoholic:
2. A drug user:
3. A child abuser:
4. On my deathbed:
5. Out of my mind:
6. Without a roof over my head:
7. Without food to eat:
8. Without money in my pocket:
9. Without a friend:
10. Lost and on my way to Hell:
“But God” loved me so much that he saved my soul! He sent His only Son to live and to die as the payment for my sins! And that”™s what we have to do is make it personal! He died for you and He died for me! “But God” early one Sunday morning got up with all power in His hands! That”™s why I can stand here today and say, God will take care of you!
We might think that we have it all figured out! We might think that we know what is best! “But God” has a plan for every life in here and all we have to do is seek after His will! The bible says, Proverbs 16:25 (NLT) There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
I want you to know this morning, that if you follow His ways, if you let Him lead you, if you seek after His will, you will find that there”™s nobody else that can do what He can, “But God”! He can open doors that have been shut; he can close doors that no man can open! He can give sight to the blind! He can make the lame walk and the dumb speak! Nobody else can do that “But God”!
There’s only one thing God can’t do. God can’t fail!