Test Produce Perseverance
Notes
Transcript
Be Glad When We Suffer?
Be Glad When We Suffer?
13 Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.
When you look at the process of glory it is beautiful as we can relate to it when we think of a time we had to press through hardship and became victorious on the other side of our trial. I was reflecting on my basketball days in high school and how we had to work so hard to the point of exhaustion and even some guys passing out. Suicides, sprints, 2 mile runs, and 100 free throws with perfect form, all this was before school started. Plus after school practice. But why was that so important to our coach? Because he knew in order for us to be able to defeat the other team we had to work harder, suffer more I would say. But that made the victory even sweeter. Listen you can’t celebrate what you never took part in. (Repeat as a point)
This is so important because when you reflect on what Peter is saying it becomes clear that Christ came in the form of man to experience the same sufferings as we do. That’s why this is so important. He became like us (without sin) So that we may become like Him.
17 And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!
So why is suffering so important in God’s eyes?
1. Suffering Produces Perseverance -
1 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
I played point guard in high school and my coach made me learn how to bring the ball up court without looking at the obstacles of the other players trying to press me by double teaming me. He made me run that drill over and over again until I knew what it meant to not be focused on the other player but get the bal up court fast as I could to get into the position to call the play. I honestly wouldn’t have ever done that if I hadn’t suffered the aching tired body and exhausting mind of seeing that play over and over again. to this day I can still see that play over and over again and can I tell you, that shaped me to press as hard as I do now as a Minister. I don’t know how else to do things but just press on through until I get to the place God directs me to.
2. Suffering Produces Obedience -
8 Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.
Jesus learned to press in and press through by being obedience to the father. I learned to play better basketball by being obedient to my coach. You must learn to be obedient to God. He is the great coach and He fills us with the Holy Spirit to give us great advice and encouragement, even when we miss the play or sin. He’s there to pick us up and keep us going.
3. Suffering Produces Patience -
14 Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
Stay with God.
One of the most valuable things I learned from my coach is to be patient, so what if your down by a couple of points and the clock only has seconds left. Don’t panic, don’t change up plays when you’ve already started executing the play. Be patient! Follow the play through. If you follow it through correctly and execute it according to the plan that God has told you to do you will win. But you have to be patient. Yes it’s hard and we all think we can do it better then God. I’ve seen guys get clear instructions from the coach and they do their own thing… You know the next part, they lose the game and heads go down in shame. Listen Dr. Stanley says it like this Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.
So guys we are going to be ok and God has us, even in this time of testing we just need to:
Persevere
Be Obedient
and have some Patience
Amen! Let’s pray...