Now the first statement I'm gonna make might offend you ... but hang on... there's a point to it, K?

"What the hell is going on here? What the hell did you mean by that?"

Have you ever heard those statements, or said them yourself? Exactly what did you mean by it? I was thinking that the reason that so many of us have struggles is that we are concentrating more on what the devil is doing, or what we think he’s doing, in our lives, than in the work of Heaven in us.

There are a lot of "rednecks" around my area, and they often use this phrase for a greeting, much like most would say "hello". But do they really HEAR what they are saying? Our common patterns of speech often reveals more about our heart than we know!

The Bible very clearly tells us if we are believers that God is working in us, and will complete His good work. Are we cooperating with God? Are we looking for evidence that He is working in our lives? Or are we giving more place to the devil and walking in doubt and fear?

Paul said in this verse that God WILL complete His good work in you… do you believe that? Are you asking, "What in Heaven is going on here?" That’s a more useful question than looking for the devil’s work, which the OTHER statement implies..

Are we being confident in God that He WILL do as He says? Or are we being confident in fear, doubt, confusion, and the devil’s power to destroy us? In other words, is our attitude … and the words that express it … heavenly or hellish?

We are told not only that God is working in our lives, but also that He has equipped or furnished everything we need for doing His will. And He will give us peace in the midst of the storm. Although it looks like "all hell has broken lose", God is in control.

Refuse to be moved by circumstances and events. Refuse to let your emotions overtake you and discourage you. Look for what Heaven is doing. Confess, no matter what it looks like, that "all Heaven has broken lose and God is working in MY behalf to bring victory!" What a difference one little word makes! Praise the Lord.

What does this verse mean to you? Now this doesn’t say that all things that happen to us ARE good, but that all things are working together FOR good when we love God and have answered His call of love to us for salvation. God is partnering with us to bring us to victory.

cofc - that reminds of the time Jesus was walking on the water and Peter goes to him as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he did alright but when he looked at the waves he began to sink. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus and not the cares of this world we will not sink

Amen cofc good point! The storm certainly wasn't good, Peter sinking certainly wasn't good, but it all worked together FOR good because of the lesson of faith it taught them all.

If all things are working together FOR good, then no matter what it looks like at present, no matter what hardship we might be going through, no matter what others say or think, then we need not concern ourselves with the negative side – what it SEEMS like the devil is trying to do to us. We need for focus on what God is bringing out of what seems like defeat.

cofc - that is how it works together for good

Now the speaker in this verse is Joseph. If you aren’t familiar with his story, read Genesis chapters 37 to 50. Joseph was a good-looking boy and his father’s favorite. And God had set Himself to bless Joseph, and to accomplish mighty things through him, which God revealed to Joseph in a dream.

cofc - through our adversities we turn to God bringing us into a closer relationship with Him

But the devil had his plans too … and as you read the story of Joseph’s life, it seemed like just one big disaster after another. If Joseph at any time had concentrated on what hell was trying to accomplish, he would have never succeeded.

What were some of the things that Joseph suffered? Well his brothers hated him, and at first were going to murder him. Then they decided just to sell him into slavery. So they did that, and then put some goat’s blood on Joseph’s clothes and told his father he was dead.

Well being a slave in those days was almost worse than death, and Joseph came into the household of a guy named Potiphar in Egypt. However, God blessed Joseph, and he became the steward or manager of all Potiphar had. Well and good, you might say.

cofc - what was true for Joseph is also true for us if we remain faithful to God no matter what we will have a reward we will be victorious Revelation deals a lot with that

Well again, the devil had other plans, and tempted Potiphar’s wife to lust after Joseph. She tried to get him to sleep with her, and when he refused, she cried rape and had him thrown into prison.

Prison wasn’t pretty in those days. It’s a wonder anyone survived. And the devil was gloating over what he had done to God’s servant. But did Joseph focus on hell? Nope, he focused on God.

Now as Joseph was in prison, God blessed him there and he became what we would call a "trustee". In fact, the warden or prison keeper gave Joseph control over the rest of the prisoners. Even in what seems to be hell, God can bless you if you focus on Him.

While Joseph was in jail, the king threw his cupbearer and baker into prison also. They both had dreams, which Joseph interpreted as God showed him what they meant. In three days, one was to die, and one was to live and be restored to his position with the king.

Sure enough, the cupbearer was restored to his position and the baker was executed. Well Joseph had asked the cupbearer to remember him and help him, but the cupbearer forgot. So much for depending on man’s help!

For two more long, weary years after that, Joseph remained in jail, forgotten and abandoned. That would have been a great time for a pity party, wouldn’t it? But Joseph wasn’t looking for what the devil was seeking to do in his life, but for the fulfillment of the word of the Lord in his life.

Then the king of Egypt, or Pharaoh, had a disturbing dream about 7 lean cows eating 7 fat ones, and 7 blighted sheaves [or bundles] of wheat devouring 7 full sheaves of wheat. This dream really upset Pharaoh, but none of his counselors could interpret it.

NOW the cupbearer remembers Joseph! He is sent for, cleaned up and shaved and brought into the Pharaoh’s presence. Joseph admitted that HE could not interpret the dream himself, but that God would give the answer. He told Pharaoh that 7 good years of harvest were coming, but that they would be followed by 7 years of famine.

Now one year of famine would be awful, but 7 years would probably have killed almost everyone. Then Joseph set forth a plan to reserve part of the harvest of the good years to cover the bad years. Pharaoh was so impressed, he made Joseph ruler over all Egypt, second only to himself.

In the course of his leadership, the very brothers that had sold Joseph as a slave had to come to Egypt to buy food. After three trips, Joseph revealed himself as their brother. They were fearful of his wrath, but Joseph forgave them.

Joseph is speaking to his brothers here. They had no thought of brotherly love or their future when they sold Joseph as a slave. They had no idea of all the things they would cause their brother to suffer.

But through it all, Joseph focused on what Heaven was accomplishing in his life – that the word the Lord had given him would come to pass. He realized that the devil working through his brothers had tried to destroy him.

BUT GOD had a different plan, and as Joseph trusted God and looked to Him through all the hardships, difficulties and pain, God fulfilled His purpose in Joseph’s life. And Joseph’s faithfulness to God not only saved his own life, and the lives of his family, but indeed several nations.

There used to be a saying when I was growing up "He or She is so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good". Do you think this is true? Can you be TOO heavenly minded?

If Joseph wasn't heavenly minded, if he had had his focus on God, what would have happened to him AND his family AND the rest of the world?

Ruth - NEVER TOO HEAVENLY MINDED!!!!

Amen Ruth I was hoping someone would say that!

cofc - you can't be too heavenly minded but you must remember that our work for Christ is here on earth

You know in the Lord's prayer, Jesus taught us to pray "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". Isn't that praying the will of God into our everyday lives? Isn't that bringing the power and focus of heaven to earth? When you think about it, we accomplish nothing for God if we aren't heavenly minded.

It doesn’t matter what hell is doing, it doesn’t matter that satan attacks you! We are promised RESCUE from every evil attack, and that we will be brought safely to his heavenly kingdom! Glory to God forever! AMEN

cofc - I like what Paul said to him being here on earth was a good thing because he could spread Gods word saving souls but he also said that being in heaven would be good because he would be with The Father The Son and The Holy Spirit. To him it was a win-win situation

Now Paul certainly knew about hell's attacks! His account of all the misery inflicted on him would make a plot for quite an action adventure film! But he was expressing his faith that God would deliver him from EVERY evil attack ... we might get attacked, but God delivers!

cofc - your right about the adversity Paul faced

Paul faced hunger and cold, beatings, lions in the arena, being left for dead, shipwreck ... just about any calamity you can think of, Paul went through it! But since he WAS heavenly minded, he was delivered from every trial.

mom of five - God can bring good from anything................some of my greatest lessons.............were taught through trial..............

Yeah mom, we seem to remember THOSE kinds of lessons the best!

mom of five - Amen OT , we certainly do
cofc - Paul was so heavenly minded that he saw the secret things of heaven and the Lord told him not to reveal them
Ruth - I would like to say GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!

Now what do you think Paul meant by "work out your salvation with fear and trembling"? Why does Paul say to work out your salvation with fear and trembling? Does that mean that we are to cower in fear before the devil and worry about what hell thinks? NO NO NO, a thousand times NO!!!

We need to hold ON to the Word of life – concentrate on what Heaven is doing in our lives. We need to hold OUT the Word of life to a lost and dying world. They too need to know that what Heaven is doing in their lives is what is going to last eternally.

Festuss® - Bible says that God has Blessed us with ALL Heavenly Blessings in Christ Jesus.
Reformer - How many do you know who have the fear of God like you say, OldTimer,
cofc - It says that if we fear the Lord we seek to know him and trembling at the wrath of God if we seek not to obey Him (eternal damnation)
Reformer - The problem today though, folks, is that man has created God in his own image.

Reformer, I don't worry about others ... that's between them and God. For myself I seek to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Yes Festuss! And part of being heavenly minded is to realize that and grab hold of them by faith!

Reformer - Amen, OT, and we have enough to concern our time with ourselves, eh?
Festuss® - Amen, OT

We live in a crooked and depraved generation – a generation "going to hell in a hand basket", a generation that seems bent on self-destruction. Are we to focus on that and join the "Woe is Me Club"?

NO we are to be shining lights, not complaining and grumbling like the world does, but holding fast onto the Word of life, and proclaiming LIFE to a lost and dying world.

Again I say: Refuse to be moved by circumstances and events. Refuse to let your emotions overtake you and discourage you. Look for what Heaven is doing. Confess, no matter what it looks like, that "all Heaven has broken lose and God is working in MY behalf to bring victory!"