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To order an audio tape of the sermon: Please send $3.00 to Community of Grace 832 State Street Elkhorn, NE 68022
Questions about the sermon? Ask away.
“Transformed by Trouble” |
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God has a purpose behind every problem.
He uses our circumstances to develop our character.
He depends more on our circumstances to make us like Jesus than He depends on our reading the Bible.
Why?... You face circumstances 24-7!
| Jesus said that we would have problems in the world. (John 16:33) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." |
No one gets to skate through life problem-free.
Life is a series of problems.
Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place.
Not all problems are big, but all are significant in God’s growth process for you.
| Peter assures us that problems are normal, saying, “Don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you.” I Peter 4:12 (LB) |
God uses problems to draw you closer to Himself.
| “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NLT) |
Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days.
When we’re in pain, we don’t have the energy for superficial prayers.
When we’re in pain, we no longer can afford for prayer to be our spare tire!
We learn things about God in suffering that we can’t learn any other way.
God could have…
kept Joseph out of jail,
kept Daniel out of the lion’s den,
kept Jeremiah from being tossed into a slimy pit,
kept Paul from being shipwrecked three times,
and kept the three Hebrew young men from being thrown in the blazing furnace-
but, God didn’t!
God let those problems happen, and every one of those persons was drawn closer to God as a result.
Problems force us to look to God and depend on Him instead of ourselves.
| Paul testified to the benefit to having problems: “We felt that we doomed to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God who alone could save us.” II Corinthians 1:9 |
You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.
Regardless of the cause, none of your problems could happen without God’s permission.
Everything that happens to a child of God is “Father-filtered”.
Even when Satan intends something to be evil, God can turn it around to be something good.
Because God is in control difficulties and accidents are just incidents in God’s good plan for you.
So, everything that happens to you has spiritual significance.
Everything!
| “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son.” Romans 8:28-29 (NLT) |
Understanding Romans 8:28-29…
“We know”
“that God causes”
“everything”
“to work together”
“for the good”
“of those who love God and are called”
“according to his purpose”
What is the purpose? “become like His Son.”
God is building Christlike character in you.
You are like a jewel to the Father… shaped with the chisel of adversity.
If a jeweler’s hammer isn’t strong enough to chip off your rough edges, God will use a
sledgehammer.
If you’re really stubborn, He uses a jackhammer.
He will use whatever it takes!
Every problem is a character-building opportunity.
The more difficult the problem- the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber.
Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.
How to respond to problems as Jesus would:
Remember that God’s plan is good.
Rejoice and give thanks.
Refuse to give up.
When facing trouble don’t ask, “Why me?”
Instead ask, “What do you want me to learn, Lord?”
Then trust God and keep doing what is right.
| “You need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.” Hebrews 10:36 (Msg.) |
Never give up- grow up instead!
He always makes a way… and while He makes that way… He grows you up.