Doctrine: Suffering (Revelation)

VCA:

Last week we talked about identifying potential leaders…we also spent time praying for God to grow our leadership circle.

and sometimes I think God makes us wait on his answers because he really enjoys showing off..

So today..I am BEYOND excited to let you know that God has answered your prayers with 3 new leaders…

Danielle Watters is joining us as a pre-school children’s leader

Kelly Long is also joining us as a pre-school children’s leader.

And Kelly Bush is going to join our student program as an assistant children’s supervisor alongside Kari.

While yes- we are still in need of more leaders…today we celebrate His abundant provision…

Thank you for your leadership recommendations that you have sent me this week. I never cease to be amazed at the women God has brought into our class. Keep recommending- I read every one…and keep praying with me that God would grow our leadership circle!

speaking of provision…would you pray a special protection over this building today…full disclosure- we have 15 leaders out, most of who are sick and likely wont be here tomorrow.

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Doctrine Talk:

At our workshop in August, I encouraged you to LOOK UP from your circumstances and to put your gaze on Christ.

Our doctrine this week is Suffering and I do not think we can talk about suffering without first getting off of our circumstances and on Him.

If I had time to read all of Revelation 1..I would..but instead- I will simply start us with this.

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the FAITHFUL witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the RULER of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Revelation is a book about suffering…written to people who were suffering.

John had been exiled to the Island of Patmos because of his testimony about Jesus.

John is writing to suffers from a position of suffering…

Suffering is the experience of physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual distress. 

And it’s an experience we were not originally intended to undergo.

We weren’t created to suffer, just as we weren’t created to die.

Suffering entered the world because of the fall of Adam and Eve.

and while not all suffering can be tied to personal sin, all suffering comes because of sin’s presence in the world.

Each of us in this room have faced or are facing seasons of suffering.

Suffering is all around us.

I know for many of you in this circle, you have felt the full force of suffering personally just in the last few months and even today-

Today some you may be walking in here with heavy burdens- burdens you are not sure you can bare.

God sees you in your pain.

He know the burdens you are bearing.

and he is good, loving and sovereign God who has not abandoned. He is present with you in your suffering…

On the cross…Jesus experienced deep pain…there is no suffering you have experienced that he does not also know..

and scripture tells us that the the one who created the universe..the God of glory- willingly came to earth to suffer and die..

SO THAT He could take your sin upon himself…so that He could stand in your place…offering you salvation and the hope that one day all suffering would come to an end.

Believing in God’s character in the midst of suffering not only brings comfort, but it also strengthens you to patiently endure as you rest in God’s sovereign control and trust in his infinite wisdom to work make purpose out of your pain.

In Christ- we find a good, loving, and faithful God…

A God who knows pain and who promises to work out all things for His glory and our good.

Suffering was never his design- but because of His sovereignty and goodness- we never suffer for nothing...

Do you trust God in your pain?

Do you trust that He is working- even when you don’t know the why?

The suffering in this world reminds us that this is not our home- and our pain is not the end of the story…because one day

There will be a new heaven and a new earth…and 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

SO FOR NOW….we patiently endure…trusting in and finding our hope in the one who is, and who was, and who is to come..

share a request and then lets pray…