Sermon Tone Analysis

*HOW GOD USES SUFFERING IN OUR LIVES*

*Grace:  The Truth that Transforms  -  Part 12 of 36*

*Romans 5:1-5*

*Rick Warren*

 

 

 

In our last session we did an overview of the "Six Benefits of Believing" that are discussed in Romans, chapter 5.  Today we will take a closer look at one of those benefits.

*PAUL MENTIONS 3 THINGS CHRISTIANS ARE TO REJOICE ABOUT.*

(verse 2)

 

       (verse 3)

 

       (verse 11)

 

 

*I.

WE REJOICE IN HOPE BECAUSE WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD  -  Romans 5:1-2*

       Four characteristics

 

       1.

______________________________ John 15:15

 

       2.

______________________________ Heb.

2:14-15

 

       3.

______________________________ Eph.

6:11, 16

 

       4.

______________________________ Rom.

8:1

 

 

 

*II.

WE REJOICE IN SUFFERING  -  Romans 5:3*

       Philippians 1;29, 1 Peter 4:12-13

 

               Definition of suffering

 

               Misconceptions about "rejoicing in suffering"

 

                      ~*

 

                      ~*

 

               Why can Christians rejoice in suffering?

(verse 3a)

 

 

 

 

               3 Things suffering can produce in your of:  (vs.

3b)

 

                      1.

      

                      2.

3.

 

 

* *

*III.

SIX ATTITUDES TOWARD SUFFERING THAT COUNTERACT GOD'S PURPOSE*

 

               1.

______________________________ Prov.

17:11, 1 Samuel 15:23

 

               2.

______________________________ Ecclesiastes 2:17

 

               3.

______________________________ 1 Cor.

10:10, Phil.2:14-15, rom.

9;20

 

               4.

______________________________ 1 Peter 5:7, Phil 4:6

 

               5.

______________________________ 2 Tim.

1:7, Isaiah 43:1-2

 

               6.

______________________________ Psalm 69:20

 

* *

*THE SECRET OF "REJOICING IN SUFFERING"  -  Romans 5:5*

 

               FACT:          Suffering is an evidence of God's _______________, not His _______________.

\\ *HOW GOD USES SUFFERING IN OUR LIVES*

*Grace:  The Truth that Transforms  -  Part 12 of 36*

*Romans 5:1-5*

*Rick Warren*

 

 

Review:  We looked at the first 2 1~/2 chapters and learned the fact that Paul points out that everybody has sinned.

We've all made mistakes and we need to be saved -- the respectable person, the religious person, the rebellious person.

All of us are in the same boat.

It doesn't matter if you're a religious person or not a religious person we've all broken God's laws one way or the other.

We need to be saved.

The next couple of chapters we've been looking at how to be saved.

It's not by works, religion, doing good, a lot of things people think.

But it's by justification by faith.

In chapter 5 he lists the benefits of being a Christian.

There are six different benefits of believing.

I want us to look at one particular benefit -- How God uses suffering in our lives.

v. 1 /"Therefore since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."/

Therefore -- in light of everything he's said in the previous chapters that we're all sinners and we can all be saved through faith in Christ, /"therefore we have peace with God with whom we have gained access to by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

We rejoice in the hope and the glory of God.

Not only so but we also rejoice in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character, hope.

Hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit whom He has given us."/

The key word in this passage (and in Romans 5) is rejoice.

Anytime you see a word that's used over and over you have a pretty good idea that that's the key.

Paul says in Romans 5 that there are three things that every Christian ought to rejoice about.

 

       1.

v. 2 -- We ought to rejoice in hope.

/"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."/

       2.

v. 3 -- We are to rejoice in our suffering.

3.

v. 11 -- We rejoice in God.

/"...through our Lord Jesus Christ though whom we now have received reconciliation."/

These three things actually represent three levels of spiritual maturity.

They represent a development of growth in your personal life.

First you learn to rejoice in hope.

Next, is to learn to rejoice in suffering.

Many Christians never learn how to rejoice in suffering.

Finally, ultimate maturity is rejoicing in God Himself.

That is the greatest joy.

Not from things, or anyone, or anybody but getting your joy actually from the Lord not circumstances.

*Stage One is REJOICING IN HOPE.*

Paul says we are to rejoice in hope because we have peace with God.  /"Therefore we have been justified through faith and we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."/

How do you know that you have peace with God?  First, what does it mean to have peace with God?

It means you're a Christian, a believer -- saved.

Four ways you can know when you have peace with God:

 

       1.

You loose your fear of God.

You don't see God as the angry judge waiting to stomp on you.

John 15:15, Jesus said, /"I don't call you servants; I call you my friends."/

God calls us His friends.

You have peace with God when you know that God is your friend and not your enemy, that God is for you and not against you, that God is someone to be loved and not afraid of.

2.

You loose your fear of death.

You are no longer afraid to die.

One of the main reasons people are afraid to die is they don't know what's going to happen to them after they die.

And we're always afraid of the unknown.

Yet if you know the Lord, you know that the moment you die you'll be going into His presence, to be living with Him forever, in eternity, happy, with no problems or pressures.

Hebrews 2:14-15 /"Since the children had flesh and blood He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery in fear of death.

/There is a universal fear around the world.

People don't like to die.

One of the things when you really have peace with God is you don't fear death.

I'm not talking about the pain of actually dying but the fear of what's going to happen after you die.

You know you're going to be taken care of.

3.

You don't panic when the devil suggests doubts.

When you have peace with God you don't panic when the devil suggests doubts.

Revelation says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren.

He loves to accuse people.

For the rest of your life the devil is going to suggest doubts.