The Work and The Reward
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· 6 viewsRevival is coming, but we're going to pay a price for it. Are you ready to do so?
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Introduction
Introduction
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Body
Body
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy
Consider the business success
They sacrifice time - 16-20 hours a day, 6-7 days a week for months, and even years, trying to get a business up and running
They sacrifice money - Most of the start-up costs will be fronted by the new business owner.
Sometimes loans are available, but they mortgage the future of the business in so doing
Angel investors can come in, but at the cost of selling a part of the business - and the profits - to them
They sacrifice relationships
Spouses of entrepreneurs will suffer the greatest.
They’re gone all the time
Even when they’re physically present, their minds are focused on the start-up
They’re stressed and tired, putting additional strain on their relationship
Financial hardships during the start-up process adds to the strain
Time with friends
There is simply little to no time to spend cultivating relationships outside of work
Relaxation and recreation become things of the past
They’ll even sacrifice their health
They get no sleep or exercise
Their eating habits are abysmal
They’re constantly stressed out
Why?
Certainly for money, but not primarily so
They want a secure future
They want to succeed at something they consider worthwhile
Consider the athlete
They sacrifice time
Training becomes their full time job
EVERYTHING ELSE becomes secondary
As many hours a day in training as possible, a rigorous sleep schedule
They sacrifice money
Where they live, the jobs they take are all dependent on training
Need to be close to a trainer
Need to have a flexible schedule
This means they can’t focus on a career. They’re focused on the sport
They sacrifice relationships
Between work, training and sleep, there’s not much time for anything else
Family and friends are put on the back burner to focus on their chosen sport
They can sacrifice their health
Generally, athletes will be very resilient both physically and mentally
However they expose themselves to injury due to over training, and due to the nature of being active in a sport
Why?
Again, money is a consideration, but not the whole picture
They want to be a successful athlete
What do these all have in common?
Singular focus
Complete dedication and commitment to the goal
Desire for success
Willingness to sacrifice to see the goal accomplished
All through scripture we read accounts of individuals who, despite great turmoil and suffering, accomplished the will of God
Abraham with Isaac
Joseph
David
Job
How about Nehemiah?
God had removed Israel and Judah from the land of promised into a land of captivity. Then, according to the Word of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, God stirred up the heart of the king to release them back.
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.
By the time Nehemiah enters the scene they had already been relocated to Jerusalem, but were not faring well at all.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
Nehemiah secured letters of passage to get to Jerusalem, along with letters guaranteeing provision of supplies
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
Immediately, the enemies of God showed up and began to resist the work
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
We know the account, how that those working on the walls worked with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other.
They did what they had to do to get God’s work accomplished
From the time of Emperor Constantine to just very recently it has been a very good thing to be part of the Christian religion, and even more so, part of the clergy
Today it is becoming increasingly unpopular.
Soon it will become dangerous to profess Christ.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
This is why I believe revival is coming to America - because the church is beginning to experience affliction and persecution.
Expound on scripture text
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revival is coming. Do we want to be a part of it? We will answer by our actions, not with our voices.