Joy in Suffering
Notes
Transcript
Joy in Suffering
Joy in Suffering
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (408 In Prison with 3 Books)
The editor of a well-known London newspaper sent a letter of inquiry to one hundred important peers, members of parliament, university professors, authors, merchants—a varied list.
The inquiry was: “Suppose you were sent to prison for three years and you could only take three books with you.
Which three would you choose?
Please state them in order of their importance.”
Out of the replies,
ninety-eight put one book first on their list—the Bible.
Few of those men were keen about religion, many were not even church-goers; others were agnostics or atheists.
Yet they knew that no other book could give them cheer and comfort to help in dark, difficult days.
Is the Bible the place you go FIRST?
Do you feel the same way as these prisoners?
Please think and pray deeply on your honest answer?
If that feels like a potential rebuke, then so be it
but it is meant to be an ENCOURAGEMENT
In times of challenge
you need to condition yourself to go to the BIBLE
and that habit
will guide you to
GROW OTHERS with the Same Mission
We are called to have the Bible written on our heart -
We should all know verses that are to be Used
1 Peter 3:15–17 (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and the Word of GOD
Friends
the people that first heard this letter
DID NOT have
the 66 books of the bible organized in front of them
They needed teachers to teach them
because they did not have the ability to journal and take notes during the sermon
I cannot stress enough the IMPORTANCE of taking NOTES
Focus you
Increase your retention
it is not our mission to have you remember a story about 100 convicts
but to
REPEATEDLY DRIVE the WORD OF GOD
into YOUR LIFE
and INCREASE YOUR UNDERSTANDING
SO THAT YOU CAN APPLY IT.
they had to ask for the TRUTH to be written on their hearts and mind
To repeatedly hear the Gospel until it became part of them
THEY NEEDED TO COUNT ON THE EMBEDDED WORD
AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM IN TIMES OF SUFFERING
They had to keep on KEEPING ON
using the tools that God provides
Key One: Partnership
Key Two: Steadfastness
This is the second KEY
STEADFASTNESS
Paul in Chains
Paul in Chains
Let’s go at the context in our verses today
Paul is now 30 years older than when he witnessed the Crucifixion
Probably 30 years since he MET Jesus on the Road to Damascus
Paul is in a state of mind focused on a least
TWO MAIN THINGS
Christ Jesus
OTHERS
He is at a time in his life that passing on to OTHERS is paramount
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The church of Phillipi was dear to PAUL
it was a church that LOVED CHRIST and SUPPORTED His Ministry
if you are in BONDAGE TODAY
— I pray this church will be that support to you.
but you need to alert the church to your need.
It is so sad to hear about suffering --- and no one alerts their church that they need help
_______________________
Paul travels to Rome — this is recorded at the End of the Book of Acts
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Paul is arrested and Put under house arrest
This is the end of the Book of Acts
Paul states this in the Book of Acts from Isaiah 6
Acts 28:26–27 (ESV)
26 “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
I think we see that today
Paul is focused on His Purpose not his Prison
28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
Paul understands the Jews are NOT HEARING
and it is God’s Plan for all to be SAVED
Are you focused
on POOR ME
or on the RICHNESS you have in CHRIST?
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i know that i struggle with that challenge
I want to have an IMPACT on OTHERS even if I AM STRUGGLING
It is never about BUILDING MY MINISTRY
BUT on BUILDING HIS CHURCH
HIS GLORY NOT OURS
Our suffering — HIS GLORY
Impact Suffering
Impact Suffering
We often encourage others here at Horizon
with challenging hurting people
to change their QUESTION TO GOD and OTHERS
WHY is it Happening
But rather
What is God doing with this situation?
WHAT DOES GOD NEED ME TO DO
What SHOULD I SHARE
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I think Paul models that here for us
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Do you see that FOCUS ---
A crazy thing happens in your life
and your mind LEARNS to ask
How can i advance the Gospel?
We have a GREAT example here in our Congregation
Michael and Jenni Hamsing
When Jodi goes to the hospital
it is heart breaking and stressful
BUT i hear Michael say
I wonder who ----
Who will i get the chance to WITNESS to......
What i think is the BEST
is that they don’t even do the RIGHT thing with PLANNING
They just DO IT.
They have Jodi’s favorite worship music
they pray in public
they speak of Christ
they witness their FAITH throughout the good news and the hurtful
they say FOCUS on the JOY in Suffering
they are Loving others BY SHARING CHRIST with others
that is what PAUL IS ENCOURAGING
STAY STEADFAST
it is about the MISSION of CHRIST
to ADVANCE THE GOSPEL
We said that a Key in Philippians is PARTNERSHIP
and today we see the Key of STEADFASTNESS
Key 1 - Partnership
Key 2 - Steadfastness
simple put
Don’t give up
Stick with it
Focus on the Strength, and Purpose
You are partnered with the Holy Spirit
and called to stay on that mission
no matter the situation
Healing or Heaven
I came to understand this statement HEALING Or HEAVEN,
when the Pastor of my church was diagnosed with cancer
and announced it to the church.
He announced it to the church
Prayer and Support
Used it to glorify God.
Used it to grow others
How you might say?
20 years later i am using his story shared that day to
support my premise of JOY IN SUFFERING
He was LIFTED up by the Church
He was SUPPORTED
He had others in his life that made sure
that he understand
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
the prayers reminded him that GOD IS IN CONTROL
and the Prayers reminded him
that GOD PROVIDED a LOVING CHURCH around him
Friends you MUST change to this perspective.
Over the years of ministry
there have been times
where people have been angry with me
because i didn’t do enough
and the first question that i always have to ask — some times in my own mind
Is did I EVEN KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE
Paul reminds us
WE ARE NOT ALONE --- BE THE CHURCH
What every happens to me is FINE
if it advances the Gospel
I will not give up
I will seek the opportunity to Preach Jesus
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
CONCLUSION:
lets work TOGETHER TO BE THIS TYPE OF CHURCH
Lets make sure that we are Bringing the WORD in Struggles
We are LIVING out our FAITH
to be PEOPLE of PURPOSE
To see that We must stay STEADFAST in our Partnership with Christ to ADVANCE THE GOSPEL
We must LIVE and Preach the Gospel
To whether in good times or bad to GIVE an Answer to OTHERS
My Hope
My JOY
My Life is in CHRIST JESUS
Amen
