This post is based on a message from Pastor Todd Cosenza, given at Hope Church on Sunday, February 18, 2024. Click the link at the bottom of the page to watch the entire message.
No matter how bad things get, God can bring good out of any situation.
“For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” (Romans 11:32 NIV)
In Romans 11, the apostle Paul is describing God’s overarching plan to save people from destruction. Humanity had gotten itself into a terrible place and it looked like there was no path forward. The Israelites who had received God’s commandments had done every single thing God had said not to do. They failed on every single level. God held onto a remnant that remained faithful. And He brought a Savior through that remnant. God’s ways are always good. No matter how bad things get, God can always bring something out of our situation for our benefit.
God never requires us to understand Him but to trust Him.
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33 NIV)
Knowledge pertains to facts and information, while wisdom is having an understanding of how to apply knowledge. God is the ultimate source of all knowledge and all wisdom. His understanding is limitless. God never requires that we fully understand what He is doing; He does want us to trust that He is good. Every time humans try to understand Him we tend to get into trouble. We simply need to believe in His love and goodness.
God doesn’t need our advice.
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Romans 11:34-35 NIV)
These are rhetorical questions but if we’re honest, we’ve all probably tried to advise the Lord at some point in our life, praying with this basic attitude: “God, let me help You help me. Here’s what I need You to do for me . . . ” God doesn’t need humanity’s help or advice. What He wants is for us to simply trust Him and obey Him.
Sometimes we don’t see our prayers answered because we’re asking for something from God and through God but for ourself.
“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36 NIV)
- Anything we need comes FROM God.
- It then comes THROUGH Him.
- And in the end it is FOR Him as well.
This is how the church experiences answered prayer and participates in “the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). There is a divine loop that has to happen for us to receive from God: All we need comes from Him, and then through Him, and finally it is for Him. When all three of these things are in place, then this is what it means to “close the loop.”
Another great example of closing the loop is electricity. Electricity has to have a closed circuit, or a closed loop in order to function. Power comes from the electrical company into our homes (the breaker box), then through the device we want to power, and then back to the breaker box.
When it comes to receiving from God, we are not part of the loop. Whatever we need, it doesn’t come FROM us, THROUGH us, and most importantly, it is really not FOR us! It is for Him! The next verse tells us why.
All the glory goes to the Lord, not to ourself.
“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36 NIV)
It’s really all about Him. If we insert ourselves into the loop, it doesn’t work. We can receive and experience the blessing that comes from Him. But it’s all from Him, through Him, and for Him. Then the glory goes to Him. Somehow the church seems to have lost the understanding of this basic priority.
Here is an example of how we should pray. This is how it looks when we learn to “close the loop” in our prayer life:
“Lord, I need this ____. Not only do You already know that because You are my perfect Father, but You are ultimately my source and my supply. As this provision comes from You, I need the outworking of it through You as well. This provision is for You and Your glory, not for me or my glory. When it’s all said and done, You will receive all the glory. It’s all about You, Lord. It’s all from You and through You and for You! And all the glory goes back to You! In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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