Together Endure
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Introduction
Introduction
Text
You have cause to give thanks.
You have cause to give thanks.
vv. 3-4
Source of thanks of Paul, but also other believers as they observed one another.
Growth of faith and love - things you control.
Your growth causes others to give thanks - look for growth!
Even in affliction.
We normalize the extremes.
Features on cars. Upgrades become standard.
Opposite of how we often - things that make the news are the worst things.
But, we hear it and begin to normalize it.
We have to work to look for the good happening around us, in the lives of others.
You have cause to believe.
You have cause to believe.
vv. 5 -10
Belief in a gracious God.
Suffering is not evidence of disobedience to God.
Often, faithful Christians suffer.
Endurance is proof of salvation.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Parable of the four soils in Luke 8. Good soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, hard soil. Others withered away. No true salvation.
We also have belief in a just God.
Those causing affliction, if they endure in their rebellion, will face eternal judgment.
Paul the Persecutor writing this. Acts 26:9-11. Opposed the name of Jesus. Imprisoned Christians. Voted for their executions. Threatened murder (Acts 9:1).
Yet, he repented of his rebellion to God and he was received by God and by the church!
He was an unlikely Christian.
God accepts the unlikely believer.
That’s you and me.
When people haven’t heard anything about me in awhile and they hear that I’m now a pastor. Unlikely!
When others see a great work of God in you, it is cause to believe!
You have cause to worship.
You have cause to worship.
(vv. 11-12)
God is working in you to “make you worthy.”
Salvation is humbling.
It is not something we could ever earn nor could we ever deserve it.
And His salvation is towards an end - the result is glory for Jesus!
The whole process from beginning to end has a purpose.
And that process begins with faith - placing your faith in Jesus to forgive you of your sins.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Ever have your team get beat by someone they were supposed to just destroy? Yes, this season!
They assume they were just going to win. And, often, they are wrong.
The excuse that they were looking past them. They just assumed they would win and weren’t locked in for that game.
This assumption played a role in their defeat.
Likewise, there are teams that go into a game assuming they will get beat. And, usually they are right.
When we remember that it is God who works with us and in us, He is the one who works out the victory over sin, we see our faith and love grow.
And, as we experience this as believers together in the church, we find that God gives us relief.
Not necessarily by removing us from a situation, but by meeting us where we are and giving us what we need.
2 Corinthians 12
Paul has been experiencing something debilitating. A “thorn in the flesh.” We don’t know what that was.
He had pleaded with God to remove it, and God had not.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God encourages us - often through each other.
Encourage you to build one another up -
Encourage one another.