All Things Work Together for Good

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2013, all rights reserved.

Chapter 1

The other day, I went into a business to do a transaction.  I thought it would be fairly straight forward.  But things didn't go the way I wanted.

So, I said, O.K., Lord, thank you that "...all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to your purpose." (Rom 8:28)

And then the Lord said something to me about a promotion that will be coming for me such that this other thing won't matter.

Discouraging things can seem to come, but the Lord has everything under control.

Isaiah 3:10 says, "Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."

And I'm one of those righteous it's talking about there, made righteous by the blood of Jesus.  So, from time to time, I say to myself, "It shall be well with you, Fred, for it is written, say to the righteous it shall be well with him."

You can use that, too, if you want, substituting your own name.  I recommend it to all Christians.

The Lord has already told me many times that good things are on the way to me, and I believe it, just like Joseph believed, even when things didn't seem to be going well for him.  (Book of Genesis)

But God brought Joseph out into a wealthy place. (Psa 66:2)  The Lord made Joseph second in command of Egypt.

Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me..."

This is a promise that Christians should quote from time to time.

And why do we quote promises from the Bible?  Because Josh 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, so that you'll observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then you'll make your way prosperous, and then you'll have good success."

If the word is not departing out of your mouth, it is because you are quoting the word on a regular basis.

Quoting God's promises helps to bring them about in our lives because the quoting works with our faith to make the right things happen.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6)

In the book of Genesis, it says we're made in the image of God.

And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Gen 1:26)

We're made in the image of the God who spoke the worlds into existence.

We also, therefore, have some power to speak things into existence, which is what we're doing when we put our faith with our words and quote the promises in the Bible.

Phil 1:6 says, "...he that has begun a good work in you will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ"

The Lord is working things out for his people, even if it sometimes doesn't seem like it.  The devil will try to tell you things are going down the drain.

When he does, answer this way, "The Lord's not going to let that happen.  The Lord rebuke you, spirit of discouragement.  Go from me, and don't return, in Jesus' name."

The Lord gave us Christians authority over all the power of the enemy in Luke 10:19, and in Mark 16:17,18.  We use that authority by speaking words against the enemy.

But non-Christians don't have the right to use the name of Jesus against demons.

If you're not a Christian, then step one is become a Christian, as per Romans 10, verses 9 and 10:

9 "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you're saved.

10 For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made for salvation."

Pray a simple prayer, asking Jesus to be your savior and to wash away your sins.  He will hear from heaven and will accept you as a Christian.

We bind the enemy from doing what he's trying to do, using our spoken words. (Matt 16:19)  Tell him to "cease in his operations, and desist in his maneuvers, in Jesus' name."

The Bible says we should "resist the devil, and he'll flee from you." (Jas 4:7)

We're supposed to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)  God wants us to rule over our thoughts.

We should "cast all our care on him (Jesus) for he cares for us." (1 Pet 5:7)

Chapter 2

The Apostle Paul went through some difficult things for the sake of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul says to the Corinthians, "Truly the signs of an apostle were performed among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." (2 Cor 12:12)

In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verses

22 Are they Hebrews?  So am I.  Are they Israelites?  So am I.  Are they the descendants of Abraham?  So am I.

23 Are they ministers of Christ?  (I speak as a fool)  I am more, in labors more abundant, in strokes of the whip beyond measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often.

24 From the Jews I received thirty nine stripes, five different times.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I've been in the sea,

26 In journeys often, in dangers of waters, in dangers of robbers, in dangers by my own countrymen, in dangers by the heathen, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers,

27 In weariness and pain, in staying awake often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28 Beside the things that are outside, that which comes on me daily, the care of all the churches.

But Paul was willing to go through difficult things so that he could tell the world about Jesus.

He wrote fourteen of the twenty seven books of the New Testament.  He was a champion at getting the gospel message out.

Paul said, "Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I've suffered the loss of all things, and do count them simply as manure, so I can win Christ..." (Phil 3:8)

Paul didn't faint when the going got rough.  It was Paul who wrote to the Romans, "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." (Rom 8:28)

Proverbs 24:10 tells us, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

Quote this promise, "As my days, so is my strength."  Each day I get older and stronger. (Deut 33:25)

I had a relative, a man with demons in him, but his wife was a Christian.

In court cases, there is such a thing as "standing."  You could go to court where there's a case that interests you.  You could stand up in the courtroom and say, "Your Honor, may I be heard on this matter?"

The Judge is likely to ask you, "What is your standing in this case, are you one of the injured parties?"

If you can't show the judge that you have standing in the case, he's likely to tell you that no, you won't be heard.

Similarly, close relatives of people who have demons have a lot of standing for casting out demons.

I don't say demons can't be cast out of a non-relative.  Norvel Hayes, and Kenneth E. Hagin, and Lester Sumrall cast demons out of people that weren't their relatives.

But I said to that Christian woman whose husband had demons, "Why won't you cast the demons out of your husband?"  She wouldn't answer my question.

Perhaps there was some fear.  Or, perhaps she sensed in her spirit that he had already gone too far down the road to hell to recover.

In 1 John 5:16,  "If any man sees his brother sin a sin that's not to death, he shall ask, and he'll give him life for those who don't sin to death.  There is a sin to death, I don't say that he should pray for it."

Perhaps the man had already sinned a sin to death.

Paul talks about this in Romans chapter 1, verses,

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed animals, and creeping things.

24 So God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves,

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.

Romans 1:28 in the King James Version uses the phrase "reprobate mind."

In other words, God has given up on them.

Hebrews chapter 6 also talks about people who can't be renewed to repentance,

4 "For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify to themselves the Son of God again, and put him to an open shame."

But that man died and went to hell.  I'm sure the Christian woman went to heaven.

We are told in 2 Tim 3:12,  "Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Some persecution for being a Christian is unavoidable.  But we're still far better off than if we had no persecution as unbelievers, and then went to hell.

Actually, the unbelievers on earth don't really have it so good, for it is written, "...the way of transgressors is hard." (Prov 13:15)

The best lifestyle is be a Christian and go to heaven.

Scriptures quoted are from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version and the New Testament, Hoehn Version, copyright 2011, both are available as ebooks for the Kindle readers from Amazon.com.

The Lord bless you.  Frederick Hoehn

www.FredHoehnMinistries.com

___1 Peter chapter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Elect according to the knowing ahead-of-time by God the Father, through making holy by the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has fathered us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that doesn't fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the end times.

6 In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if necessary, you're in heaviness through many temptations,

7 So that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it's tested by fire, will be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ,

8 Whom having not seen, you love, in whom, though now you don't see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,

9 Receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 About which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you,

11 Searching what, or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them meant, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow.

12 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things that are now reported to you by those who've preached the gospel to you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into.

13 So, strengthen your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

14 Like obedient children, not building yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance,

15 But like he that has called you is holy, so you be holy in every aspect of living,

16 Because it is written, "You be holy, for I am holy."

17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your temporary residence here in fear,

18 Since you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your wrong lifestyle, received by tradition from your fathers,

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,

20 Who truly was preordained before the foundation of the world, but was made clearly visible in these last times for you,

21 Who by him, believe in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope would be in God.

22 Since you've purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unpretended love of the brothers, make sure you love each other with a pure heart fervently,

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, that lives and remains forever.

24 For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower of it falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.  And this is the word that by the gospel is preached to you.

___1 Peter chapter 2

1 So, laying aside all hatred, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envying, and all evil speaking,

2 Like newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, so you'll grow by it,

3 If you've tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, like to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious,

5 You also, like living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Also it is contained in the scripture, "See, I lay in Zion a main cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believes on him won't be put to shame."

7 To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but to those who are disobedient, the stone that the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, so that you will show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,

10 Who previously were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I ask you please, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul,

12 Having your lifestyle honest among the Gentiles, so that, while they speak against you as evildoers, they will, by your good works that they'll see, glorify God on the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it's to the king, as supreme,

14 Or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do well.

15 For this is the will of God, that with well-doing you'll put to silence the ignorance of foolish men,

16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of hatred, but as the servants of God.

17 Honor all men.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the difficult.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it if when you're chided for your faults, you take it patiently?  But if when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps,

22 Who did no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth,

23 Who, when he was reproached, didn't reproach back, when he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him that judges righteously,

24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, would live to righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed.

25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

___1 Peter chapter 3

1 Likewise you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, if any doesn't obey the word, they also without the word will be won by the lifestyle of the wives,

2 While they see your pure living coupled with fear.

3 Let your adorning not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of wearing fancy clothes,

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.

5 For that's how the holy women did also in old times, who trusted in God, adorning themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands,

6 Like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7 Likewise you husbands, live with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, so your prayers won't be hindered.

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion on each other, love like brothers, be pitiful, be courteous,

9 Not returning evil for evil, or railing for railing, but to the contrary blessing, knowing that you are called to that, so that you'll inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips so they speak no deceit,

11 Let him hate evil, and do good, let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if you're followers of what is good?

14 But if you suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are you, and don't be afraid of their terror, nor be troubled,

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you for a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,

16 Having a good conscience, so that, although they speak evil about you, like about evildoers, they will be ashamed that falsely accuse your good lifestyle in Christ.

17 For it is better, if it's the will of God, that you suffer for well-doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he would bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,

19 By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 Who once were disobedient, when previously the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The similar figure to which baptism also now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 Who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

___1 Peter chapter 4

1 Since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he that has suffered in the flesh has stopped sinning,

2 So that he no longer would live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

3 For what's in the past of our lives should be enough in doing the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, riotous living, excessive eating, and filthy idolatries,

4 In which they think it strange that you don't run with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil about you,

5 Who'll give account to him that is ready to judge the alive and the dead.

6 That's why the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, so that they'd be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is near, therefore be sober, and stay awake for prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves, for love shall cover the multitude of sins.

9 Use hospitality toward each other without grudging.

10 As every man has received the gift, minister the same to each other, as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

11 If any man speaks, let him speak like the oracles of God, if any man ministers, let him do it as of the ability that God gives, so that God, in all things, will be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and always.  Amen.

12 Beloved, don't think it strange concerning the fiery trial that is to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you,

13 But rejoice, since you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, so that, when his glory shall be revealed, you'll be glad also with great joy.

14 If you're reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  On their part he is spoken evil about, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God because of this.

17 For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begins at us, what shall be the end of those who don't obey the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous just barely get saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 So let those who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.

___1 Peter chapter 5

1 I exhort the elders who are among you.  I'm also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed,

2 Feed the flock of God that is among you, taking the oversight of it, not because you must, but willingly, not for filthy bribes, but with a ready mind,

3 Nor as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you'll receive a crown of glory that doesn't fade away.

5 Likewise you younger, submit yourselves to the elder.  Yes, all of you be subject to each other, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so he'll lift you up in due time,

7 Casting all your care on him, because he cares for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walks around, seeking whom he can devour,

9 Whom resist, steady in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you've suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion forever and always.  Amen.

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I've written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, greets you, and so does Marcus, my son.

14 Greet each other with a kiss of love.  Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus.  Amen.