Suffering is not Optional

Gods call is always difficult

Suffering is not optional

God speaks

Intro:

Hey everyone my name is Steven Montgomery

I am blessed to have the opportunity to hang out with you guys two weeks in a row!

I help plant this church as part of the original core team and served as the original pastor to students.

In 2015 God called my wife and I to plant another church in central Austin.

With the blessing of Scott and the support of the Grove we embarked on that mission. The Grove was only a year old and had already planted its first church which I think is pretty cool.

We set out to plant a church while working full time and having just had our first child

For those who dont know me and for those who do, I thought I would fill you in a little on what is going on in my life.

Austin Chapel started with my wife and I, we just had had our first child Lincoln who was only 3 weeks old when we started the church and I was working full time running my painting company . By Gods grace the first year we grew from my wife and I to over 70 people and four community groups. We met in a small comedy club which we outgrew and moved to a larger comedy club.

I was the original Youth Pastor here at the Grove

We were seeing new faces every week, un believers were attending our community groups and our Sunday gathering and people were getting saved.

Our church was full of mostly young singles, and some newly married couples.

At the end of 2015 my wife and I set out to plant a church in central Austin. We called the church Austin Chapel

The second year we started to have a more difficult time.

What began with my wife and I grew, We met in a small comedy club that we eventually outgrew.

We could not seem to bring on mature leaders.

We had a lot of young 20s singles and newly married couples. And in many ways Austin Chapel was a very effective young adult ministry. During the three years 21 people made decisions to follow Christ

However we met all lot of trials, disappointments, discouragements and closed doors.

At the end we really lacked the ingredients that make a church sustainable long term.

Our trailer full of equipment was stolen.

Additionally as my wife and I sought the Lord we felt he confirm to us through prayer and scripture that the season of Austin Chapel had come to a close.

Year three we had even more difficulty, leaders we did manage to bring on had to step down for various reasons.

So we closed down the church at the end of the year.

A number of people moved out of city and state

Closing down the church was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.

We were nearly given a free building from a baptist church which then fell apart at the last minute because of gossip and lies, not from our church but the other.

Church planting was rough and in many ways I felt like I got beat up.

Meanwhile my wife and I had had a second kid and I was still working full time.

For me the only thing harder than planting the church was shutting it down.

I am confident the Lord called us to do it, And I am confident when we he spoke to me that it was time to close it down that it was the right thing to do. I have no regrets. I and I am 100% percent sure that he used our church for those three years to expand his kingdom.

It simply was just for a season and now God wants us to move in to a new season.

It was difficult and it was hard but it was worth it.

Transition:

We were short on leaders, had dipped in attendance and finances and we were all around discouraged, and tired.

My sermon title is “Suffering is not Optional”

One of the reasons I have not wanted to share the story with people is because it is not easy to share and I dont want people to think I am making excuses or complaining.

I share all this not to complain I am in no way complaining or making excuses, I knew what I signed up for and I knew it was going to be difficult.

My sermon title is “Suffering is not Optional”

Ok maybe I didn't know it would quite be this difficult. But

I loved our time planting Austin Chapel and I have no regrets in it.

I am also not sharing this to make excuses. I dont owe any one an explanation for why it didn't work out. I sought out to do what God calls men and women throughout history to share the gospel and make disciples. I did that and am proud of what we accomplished.

In three years we saw 21 people receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We saw many young people expeience real life change.

We discipled a number of people who grew so so much during that time.

Additionally Myself and my wife both grew during the whole process so so much.

Austin Chapel in many ways was a successful endeavor, we reached many young adults.

We had difficulty getting some of the elements that make a church sustainable long term.

But we did not close our church down because of that, or the dip in numbers, the failure of our supporting leaders, or because of the discouragement.

In fact I had every intention of continuing. I had plans in place to revamp and move forward.

The honest truth is that God very clearly spoke to me in the China Airport on my way to Nepal. God told me as a was praying and reading scripture that the season he had called me to had come to its end. And that he had a new season for my wife and I. That was not an easy thing to hear. I had put blood sweat and tears in the Church literally. I cut my hand several times unloading that trailer. i had invested so much time into the church and into so many relationships. I wanted to keep going I wanted to make it work, but God wanted me to move on to the next season.

He has not yet shown me exactly what the next season entails.

But I came back from Nepal and shared with the church what God told me. We switched to Sunday nights and helped people find new churches in the area. We had our last gathering in January.

Everyone you know, is either just finished suffering, is suffering, or is about to be suffering.

Life has never promised anything other than suffering. Humanity has always suffered and everyone of you will suffer.

I know this sounds like a Negative Nancy message and everyone really wants a Positive Peggy sermon.

Thesis:

Positive Peggy sermon

Today I hope we will all walk away better prepared to handle suffering.

S

Today I hope we will all walk away better prepared to handle suffering.

Learning to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives rather than fear.

The gospel is centered on sufferring

the main event in the bible is that Jesus suffeerrd on the cross for you and me

Recap:

Saul was a Pharisee a religious leader on mission to persecute and eradicate Christianity

He hated Christians and had murder on the brain, slaughter on the mind

But he winds up encountering a man named Jesus on the road to Damascus. And in a moment he is changed in an instant he is a new person.

Saul who was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians meets Jesus on the way and Jesus sends him to Damascus as a missionary to await further instructions.

Saul is now Fasting, he is praying.

And that is where we pick up.

Acts 9:10 NLT

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.

Who is Ananias? Not the Ananias who had lied about selling property. Who God had struck down.

Visions? God speaks, often in scripture though visions.

God still speaks this way. God can speak to you through his word. Through prayer, fellow believers, dreams and visions.

God speaking in the entire basis for Christianity is that we have a personal God who speaks.

God speaks through visions to both Saul and Ananias

God rarely speaks only to one person and regularly speaks to multiple.

Acts 9:11–14 NLT

The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

Acts 9:10

House of Judas? That sounds like Saul. How to kill Jesus course.

Not the same guy. it was a common name. Judas the betrayer had previously killed himself.

Ananias is having a vision

Saul has had one of a man named Ananias coming to pray for him

Acts 9:11–13 ESV

And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

But Lord! He has authority from the priests

But Lord,

But Lord, that guys is evil

But Lord, its too dangerous

But Lord, I could be arrested,

But Lord I could die

Ananias is scared for his life, he is fearful of this man Saul, and he is fearful of the religious leaders of the day.

But God has a plan.

Carrying letters of human authority to writing letters of Gods authority.

Carrying letters of human authority to writing letters of Gods authority.

God wants to use Ananias to heal Paul, to pray for him so that Paul will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

But Ananias is afraid so God continues to speak.

God is the best place to go with your fear, he can handle your questions, he is not scared of your doubt.

Go to him with it and he will speak to you

Just like he did with Ananias...

Acts 9:15–16 NLT

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Acts 9:15-

Go Ananias

Saul is my chosen instruments. To reach the gentiles even to kings

God does not have to explain him self to Ananias but he does.

Additionally God throws this bit in

“I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Is that to comfort to Ananias? dont worry Paul is not going to have it easy. Possibly.

Here is what the Lord is doing and telling Ananias

I have a special and specific call on Sauls life.

God already has Peter and John and the other disciples. Some heavy hitters.

But God has a call on Sauls life that is for Saul not for Peter or John or Phillip.

God created Saul for something specific.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Everyone of us has been created a certain way, specific and special.

Beyond that each one of us is unique not only because of how we were created, but our life experiences.

God wants to use all of your personality traits, and life experience for His ministry.

You are significant, you are special, unique and most importantly you are called by God.

Are you willing to obey, Are you willing to Go?

Ananias despite his fear

Saul’s suffering.

Acts 9:11

Acts 9:17 NLT

So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Brother

Ananias says brother in faith believing what God said about Saul

Ananias begins in fear but finishes in faith.

Bother

Saul just a few days ago wanted to kill Christians like Ananias

Ananias had probably praying about Saul lord protect us from this man, Lord remove this man.

But now they are brothers. That is the power if the Gospel!

It is possible that Saul had arrested or even killed friends of Ananias and most certainly at least friends of friends

David Berkowitz says in an interview

'As far as I'm concerned, that was not me,'That was not me. Even the name, I hate that name, I despise the name.'

Acts 9:

God uses a man who was fearful of Saul, who was bitter toward Saul, who’s gut reaction is that Saul is unforgivable.

God sends Ananias to Saul to pray for him.

God uses Ananias to heal Saul and to pray for Saul and Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit.

I know that God wants to use you to.

Are you willing to step past your fear, doubt, anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness to be used by God.

Acts 9:18–19 NLT

Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

Ananias obeys, God uses him to heal Paul and fill him with the Holy Spirit.

No one knows really.

I think there was some sort of searing that happened from the bright light that Jesus spoke from.

“I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Saul’s Suffering

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 NLT

Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

2 Cor 11:

Some of the places Paul went there was revival, there were new churches springing up.

Some places he went, he was chased out of the city, beaten, stoned or whipped.

Paul was imprisoned for long periods of time

Paul ends his life beheaded by the orders of Nero.

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Paul writes to his disciple Timothy a lesson that he has learned.

Suffering is not Optional

You cant opt out like emails

James 1:12 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

For us to be Glorified we must first be purified.

God uses various trials in our lives to work on us and grow our faith, our prayer life and our love

ESV

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Right from the beginning God tells Paul that he must suffer for his name.

Paul tells Timothy that persecution is not optional

James tells us that suffering is a test that we all go through like a purifying process.

Jesus tells us that we will have many trials and sorrows.

But to take heart

Peter tells us this.

1 Peter 4:13 NIV

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

You must participate in Christs suffering to also participate in Christ Glory.

Listen in life you are going to suffer.

Everyone does

The human temptation is to minimize that suffering as much as possible.

Suffering is the prerequisite to Hope.

Step out in faith

Cast aside fear

You can finish in faith.