Enduring Hardships
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Moving 6 tons a week of seaweed from Palmer Lake. We had hardship in one circumstance, but we posses a greater joy.
Scripture Introduction
Trials in the Christian life
Unjust rich
Connection: Instructions in righteousness
Take Home: When hardships arise, we must view situations through a kingdom mindset.
Message Focus: Three character qualities needed to navigate hardships in righteousness.
Hardships Require Patience vv. 7-8
Hardships Require Patience vv. 7-8
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
Time is a stressor. Identify the center row of keys on a keyboard. . . in thirty seconds.
Remain calm without complaint
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
You have no control over the hardships that are imposed upon you, so don’t try to control them.
Remote control toy
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Become stronger; unchanging attitude & belief
The responsible party will be delt with
God is coming and will handle it
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
God is not waiting for a specific date on the calendar, but a time when the conditions are appropriate
kairos: something important happens at just the right time (vs. chronos).
2 Peter 3:8–9 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
It is possible to be so worried about the time (chronos) for something—such as the return of Christ—that we miss the time (kairos) for something—such as living like citizens of the kingdom of God. - E. Richards & Brandon O’Brien
Outlook: Coming of the Lord
Not revolution
Not vengeance
Let God handle it in due time. For now, wait.
Hardships Require Fortitude vv. 10-11
Hardships Require Fortitude vv. 10-11
As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
My own thoughts when I was young, “Who would want to serve God, all his servants suffered?”
Prophets
Prophets
Jeremiah- Cistern
Micaiah- Slapped, prison, hunger.
Endured suffering while they waited for God to fulfil their prophecies.
They sometimes had to let go of the idea of worldly success.
COVID at SMC
Job
Job
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
God’s favor
Steadfastness of Job
Loss of possessions, family, health, encouragement
Criticism
Bewilderment
Three examples
Farmer-harvest
Prophets-fulfillment
Job-vindication
Us-bring an end to evil
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
What appeared to be abandonment of God was beneficial and revitalizing.
Job & his friend’s knowledge of God and his ignorance of God’s ways come into conflict. -David Atkinson
As a ministry (Job was called by God to minister through suffering to combat the schemes of Satan and to show humanity what it is like to suffer for God. Job’s suffering was a great honor. )
Outlook: Compassionate and Merciful God
Be like God, enduring human evil for a season.
We must trust in the goodness of God, even in the hardships of oppression.
In His compassion and mercy, God gives people time to repent and uses hardships for good to those who are believers.
Hardships Require Restraint v. 9
Hardships Require Restraint v. 9
Balloon with a cone for control and a balloon without.
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
Complain by expressing discontent
Or to groan or sigh out of stress.
Dissention that rises up under trials.
“If we are not careful, we will not be socially distant because of the pandemic but because of our unwillingness to love each other in the midst of the pandemic.”
We must endure together, not fight each other.
Other believers are not the cause of your suffering (we are talking about outside oppression).
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
Matthew 7:1 ““Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Judge is standing at the door
The coming of the Lord is at hand v.8
Outlook: Know Your Enemy
When stress builds we go into fight or flight. This makes us a ticking time bomb that will result in collateral damage.
Instead, patience will lower our stress levels allowing us to endure. Our minds stay sharp and we don’t hurt those by our side.
Summary
Hardships Require Patience
God handle it in due time. For now, we wait.
Hardships Require Fortitude
We must trust in the goodness of God.
Hardships Require Restraint
We must not attack our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A Possible Next Step
When you start to complain or sigh in frustration, stop and view the situations through a kingdom mindset.
