Introduction: Review Matthew 7:24-27

In our lives, every single one of us will face difficult circumstances. When those circumstances come we need something stable to hold on to.

We get stupid when we get scared.

Example: We hide under our blankets when we get scared.

What do you think of when you think of a refuge?

What the word refuge means is a safe place.

Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Psalm 62:2 NKJV

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

How do we trust in God as our refuge?

Often we lean unto our own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

God’s Will for Me Is Christlikeness

Review God’s God’s Love For Me is Unchanging

When we feel like our lives are pointless, God is using the circumstances of our lives in order to make us like Christ.

Romans 8:28–30 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

When we ask, “What in the world is going on in my life?”, God is using the circumstances of our lives in order to give us the opportunity to choose Christlikeness.

God Perfects Us Through Patience

James 1:2–4 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2–3 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Trials, in themselves, do not make us more like Christ. How we respond to trials makes us more like Christ.

Example: Endurance in sports

How often do we run our spiritual race this way? Right when it hurts we quit.

Illustration: Those who love to run, love what running does for them.

Trials are an opportunity to advance in your perfection and maturity in Jesus Christ.

God Perfects Us Through Preaching

Colossians 1:28 NKJV

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

God uses preaching to change people.

Illustration: My life.

When we come together as a church we need to really listen to preaching. God has called each and every one of us to listen to preaching and approach it as an opportunity to meaningfully interact with God’s Word and grow in it.

We need to be humble enough to receive instruction from those who are gifted in the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:7 NKJV

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Ephesians

Ephesians 4:11–12 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

The purpose of preaching is to mature us to the point of service in the work of the gospel. The preaching of pastors is for the purpose of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry.

Conclusion: When the trials of life make you feel unloved, remember that God’s Love for You Is Unchanging. When the circumstances of life make your life feel pointless, remember that God’s Will for You Is Christlikeness. God is going to use trials to strengthen you. God is going to use gifted believers to equip you.