Life, Liberty, and Happiness
A Biblical Perspective During Trying Times • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
Intro:
Good Evening Parkside. I am filled with joy with the way we are navigating these trying times. It is encouraging to see what an awesome church we are. There are folks that are checking in on each other. There are folks being put in harms way on their jobs. I’ve spoken to everyone I have contact information for and am encouraged with how all of us are handling this unprecedented time. Tonight we are continuing our Wednesday Night series “A Biblical Perspective During Trying Times.” I’ve titled the message “Life, Liberty, and Happiness.”
Please turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 11:25-27. While you’re turning there I want to discuss this famous quote many of us are familiar with. This quote is found in the Declaration of Independence.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”-Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson tell us we have these 3 rights. We have a right to life, a right to liberty/freedom, and a right to pursue happiness. I agree God has created us to have life, have freedom, and to pursue happiness. We can go off course sometimes in our definition of these rights or shall we call them entitlements.
Listen to what Paul says,
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
Does it sound like Paul is able to take advantage of these rights that we find in the Declaration of Independence?
Let me say this, I, your pastor, am as human as you are. Over the past several weeks I have struggled with how life has been since the coronavirus outbreak. The other day I realized how consumed I had become with this crisis. It had created so much stress in me, and the crazy thing was I didn’t even realize it. I had been operating under stress that I didn’t even know was there. As I sat with the Lord I knew immediately something had to change. The question wasn’t so much how or what had to change. The question was how did I get to this point. What in my thinking and belief system didn’t line up with my faith in Jesus, what didn’t line up with God’s Word.
Paul says 3 times he was beaten with rods, once stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, constantly in danger. But then Paul says something very interesting.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
You see Paul understood something. What he understood is vital to us as to how we get through not only this difficult time, but also to how we navigate life. Paul understood that the trying times, the times of weakness, through the insults, hardships, and persecutions; those things caused him to have a dependency on Jesus. And when he became dependent on Jesus he was strong.
Our nation thrives on the idea and entitlement of independence. However, the God’s Word tells us differently. The accounts in the Bible, in this case, Paul’s account we are not entitled to a life that is easy or without difficulty. In fact, God’s Word promises us trials, hardships, troubles, and sufferings. Here’s a biblical perspective that should inform our thinking.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
“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.”
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Friends, we are promised hardship, trials, and suffering, I encourage you to not focus on the present troubles but to focus on the eternal promises of God. The bible tells us we are more than conquerors. Let’s start thinking that we’re more than conquerors. Remember our thinking informs our beliefs and our beliefs inform our actions. We don’t have to conqueror our fears and anxieties because Jesus already did. We don’t fight for victory, we fight from victory.
Today you can have peace. Trust me I know first hand that our current situation is uncomfortable. Preaching into a camera is uncomfortable. However, now is not the time to complain about it, now is the time to be there person I’m called and created to be. Now is the time for you to be the person you to be the person you were created and called to be.
How do you stand as more than conquerors in this time? How can you shift from independence and entitlement?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We can shift from independence and entitlement by renewing our minds. Allow God’s Word to inform your thinking. God’s Word doesn’t tell us that life is going to be fair. If you’re struggling with the current situation, that’s an indication for you to depend on God. It’s time we ask ourselves what it means to truly depend on God.
Seek the Lord
Seek the Lord
Pray. If you are struggling, pray. Pray in the Spirit.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for by praying in tongues. Prayer should be our first resort and not our last resort. Our dependence on God is evident through our prayer life. Again let’s be a people of prayer.
Read The Word
Read The Word
For most of us we are at home. Rather than think of all the reasons why our rights are being infringed upon. We have lots of time to read. This is a time where we can develop good Bible reading habits. Also a time to read the book you’ve wanted to read but haven’t got around to it. I would recommend taking an hour a day to read.I encourage you to start to journal. Journal about what God is speaking to you through His Word. Or Journal questions you have about what you are reading. Reading God’s Word will develop dependency on God.
Communicate
Communicate
Reach out to others. Obviously do this by obeying the law. We have technology that allows us to communicate with others rather easily. Call and check on your friends. See if they have needs. This is an awesome time to be the church, if your friends have needs and you can meet them do it. If you have questions in you journal, communicate. You can call me anytime I would love to chat with you about the questions you have and about what God is doing in your life. If you are tecky and you want to communicate more personally, you can Facetime or use resources like Zoom so you can see each other. Communication with the body helps us to develop dependency on God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It’s time to break free from our carnal thinking. Let us not be people who are independent and entitled. Allow the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to renew your mind. By doing so your thinking will change, your beliefs will change, and in turn you will act differently. You will handle situations differently. If you become dependent on the Lord you will be able to cast your anxieties upon the Lord and will notice that you are living in peace. You will realize that you are more than a conqueror and you will live in victory.
Let’s pray.
I hope you are able to join us this Sunday Morning on our Facebook page at 11am. I am launching a brand series “Philippians: The Lives We Are Called To Live.” Sunday’s message will be coming out of Philippians chapter 1.
I hope you are encouraged and your relationship with Jesus has been strengthened. Have a good night and God bless you.