The Opportunity of Opposition (2)

Intro Me > Family > Laurel/Joey > Childcare Worldwide

My work with CW: “Partner with Churches in the Great Commission, bringing the hope of The Gospel and Love of Christ to children in extreme poverty in Kenya, Uganda, India, and Peru”

Hope Pack Slide — Scan the QR Code or See me in the Lobby to learn more

How God used Suffering to Call me to Surrender

How We handle Suffering in the West… Typically… Scramble to Escape & Avoid it OR Strive to Survive It on OUR OWN

I find it fascinating that “The Land of Opportunity, Liberty, Independence, and Abundance” finds itself among the highest ranking countries for depression, anxiety, greed, and indifference.

The western prerogative of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness has led to a culture marked by

self reliance over resilient dependence

scarcity over satisfaction

anxiety and apathy over action and obedience

Self preservation and protection over empathy and sacrifice

If we aren’t careful, we can end up worshiping our wounds… The enemy isn’t trying to get you to worship him….

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but He shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

C. S. Lewis

THE 3rd OPTION IS TO BE STILL & SURRENDER… This leads to Worship

Here are 4 Ways Suffering Can Lead You to Worship

1. Suffering Reorients Our Priorities & Perspective

QUICK NOTE: The more you can learn to read & interpret scripture through the lens of it’s original context & culture, the more enriching & life changing it becomes…

CONTEXT FOR PAUL WRITING THIS - HE HOLDS A PhD in SUFFERING

2 Corinthians 4:8-11

'8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.”

How God Has Used Lexi’s Life

2. Suffering Refines Our Faith & Trust

1 Peter 1:6–7“6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

3. Suffering Renews Our Hope & Joy

James 1:2-4

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

THIS IS NOT SAYING THAT WE DON’T GRIEVE OR HAVE SORROWS, BUT IT ENDURES THOSE SEASONS WITH RESILIENT HOPE & JOY

4. Suffering Reveals God’s Presence & Power

LEARNING TO RECEIVE LOVE AND NOT FACE SUFFERING ALONE

Corinthians 4:13-15

“ 13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”

14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.

15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.”

God’s Power is revealed through our response to suffering.

Revelation 12:11 NLT

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

What is your gaze fixed on?

Clinched Fist Controlling VS Open Handed Surrender & Worship

Closing - Horatio & Anna Spafford - Beyond the Story You may have heard…

When peace like a river, attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.