Joy in Hardship. The Reasons and Root for Rejoicing in Adversity

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1 Joy in Hardship The Reasons and Root for Rejoicing in Adversity

2 James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

3 An illustration Acts 5:40-42 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

4 James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

5 3 Reasons for Joy in Hardship 1. We BELIEVE in a God who is Sovereign and Good. Ps. 115:3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. Ps. 135:5-6 For I know that the LORD is great and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. Mark 10:18 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

6 3 Reasons for Joy in Hardship 2. We BELIEVE He has Good Purposes in it all. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NASB)

7 Some of God s Good Purposes in Hardship 1. To bring us to Christ Man born blind (John 9) 2. To discipline His children Rev. 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Ps. 94:12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, 3. To produce endurance (James 1:2) Rom. 5:3-4 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

8 Some of God s Good Purposes 4. To produce holiness Ps. 119:67, 71 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 1 Peter 4:1-2 for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 5. To test/prove and increase faith 1 Pet. 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire

9 Some of God s Good Purposes 6. To bring us comfort and give us the ability to comfort others 2 Cor. 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

10 Some of God s Good Purposes 7. To make us witnesses of Jesus and the Gospel 2 Cor. 4:11-12 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 8. Ultimately, to result in praise and glory to God 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

11 3 Reasons for Joy in Hardship 3. We BELIEVE in Eternity Eternity in Time Eternity in Amount 2 Cor. 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

12 The Taproot of Joy in Hardship Found in God s Word Ps. 119:25, 28, 50, 61, 92, Cor. 4:7-10 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

13 We will find joy in hardship IF AND ONLY IF we find our joy in His Suffering WHEN AND ONLY WHEN we find our joy in the Gospel.