Joy in Trials
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
(Q) How many of you have ever heard of thigmo-morpho-genesis?
AMAZING GOD-GIVEN ABILILTY TREES (& PLANTS) HAVE to RESPOND W/ STRUCTURAL CHANGES to EXTERNAL STIMULI
Great Example: WIND
HARDWOODS BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE
SOFTWOODS BECOME MORE DENSE
ROOTS DEEPEN
TREES in WINDY ENVIRONMENTS GROW SHORTER, THICKER, MORE TAPERED.
Reason: TREES CAN’T MOVE—
THEY MUST ADAPT or ELSE THEY’LL FALL WHEN STORMS COME…
PHYSICAL STRESS RESULTS in NECESSARY GROWTH…
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SAME is TRUE for PEOPLE
Problem: LIVING in DAY & AGE of INCREDIBLE COMFORT — MAKES GROWTH UNNECESSARY
COMPLAIN ABOUT TEMP—USED to CLIMATE CONTROL.
ELEVATORS/ESCALATORS,, NOT STAIRS…
LACK of DISCOMFORT = RESULTS in WEAKNESS…
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Morning Run w/ Kevin—WHY AM I DOING THIS?
DISCOMFORT = the WHOLE POINT
Alternative: UNHEALTHY
DISCOMFORT STRENGTHENS US...
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Focus: SAME is TRUE SPIRITUALLY
DISCOMFORT—TRIALS—SHAPE US, GROW US—MAKE US INTO STRONGER PEOPLE…
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Text:
Text:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
CONFOUNDING COMMAND: COUNT/CONSIDER ALL JOY = RESPONSE to TRIALS
(Quote, Plummer) TRIALS = DIFFICULTIES of LIVING in FALLEN WORLD
“OF VARIOUS KINDS” — LIFE = FILLED W/ ALL MANNER of PROBLEMS
PHYSICAL PAINS
FINANCIAL
RELATIONAL
=> COUNTING THESE THINGS “ALL JOY” = = NUTS!
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HARDSHIP = UNDESIRED…
WE DESIRE 80 DEGREES @ BEACH
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Transition ➡ BUT THERE’S a BENEFIT to the HARDSHIPS…
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(v3) BENEFIT to HARDSHIPS:
(v3) BENEFIT to HARDSHIPS:
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
TESTING/TRIAL/HARDSHIPS PRODUCE STEADFASTNESS
Definition: the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty,
STICK-TO-IT-NESS—STRENGTH, RESOLVE.
=> WIND STRENGTHENS TREES
=> EXERCISE/DISCOMFORT STRENGTHENS OUR PHYSICAL BODIES
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YOU DON’T GET STRONG WITHOUT STIMULUS— WE NATURALLY GROW WEAKER…
Testimony: THIS MORNING— WHY AM I RUNNING UP a HILL in the COLD??
NECESSARY for PHYSICAL STRENGTH.
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=> => HARDSHIPS STRENGTHEN US SPIRITUALLY
THIS = WHY WE CONSIDER IT “ALL JOY”
**Disclaimer** DOESN’T MEAN HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY—SMILES & RAINBOWS…
BUT a SETTLED RESOLVE THAT GOD is WORKING in OUR LIVES—SHAPING US to BE LIKE CHRIST.
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Reminder: CHRIST SUFFERED MORE THAN ALL — CAN’T BECOME LIKE CHRIST WITHOUT HARDSHIPS…
HARDSHIPS GROW US.
**TREE EXAMPLE** THEY CAN’T MOVE
SOMETIMES TRIALS CAN’T BE CHANGED — SO WE MUST CHANGE.
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Transition ➡ and THIS JOURNEY = PROCESS...
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(V4) Completion of Growth:
(V4) Completion of Growth:
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
STEADFAST = MEANS to an END— CHRISTIAN MATURITY/PERFECTION/COMPLETION
**FINAL SINLESSNESS AWAITS ETERNITY**
BUT WE ARE STILL TASKED W/ GROWING to CHRISTIAN MATURITY.
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GROWTH COMES THROUGH HARDSHIP
Exhort: YOU CAN’T GROW ENDURANCE BY ESCAPING HARDSHIP.
Danger of Prosperity Theology:
DEMANDS a CHANGE of CIRCUMSTANCES…
NOT a CHANGE of PERSPECTIVE
**T-LOVE**
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Closing Challenge:
Closing Challenge:
INSTEAD of SEEKING to ESCAPE HARDSHIP— ASK:
WHAT is GOD DOING IN ME THROUGH THIS??
AN AREA of MY LIFE/FAITH/CHRISTIAN CHARACTER THAT WILL ONLY GROW BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY??
SUFFERING => ENDURANCE.
ENDURANCE => HOPE
IN the END— WE’LL RECEIVE the CROWN of LIFE (V12)
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CAN’T ALWAYS CHANGE OUR LIVES/EXPERIENCES
**CAN’T MOVE the TREE**
BUT CAN DEVELOP STRONGER ROOTS,, MORE RESILIENT TRUNKS
ACCEPT—GOD’S HAND in THIS
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
IN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY, AMEN?
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D.Q.: Testimony of a time of growth through hardship??
Personal: HARD DAYS (PAIN)—MAKE ME THANKFUL for ORDINARY DAYS
ANY OTHERS??
