My New Year s Revolution. What do you do when life gets hard? If you missed the sermon, you'll find the podcast at

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Wendy Parrish
5 years ago
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My New Year s Revolution What do you do when life gets hard? If you missed the sermon, you'll find the podcast at http:// www.longhollow.com/messages Bottom line - Life just doesn t make sense.

1 My New Year s Revolution What do you do when life gets hard? If you missed the sermon, you'll find the podcast at Bottom line - Life just doesn t make sense. Scriptures - Romans 12:12 English Standard Version (ESV) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Icebreaker Are you generally a competitive person? What s your favorite game? What do you tend to do when that game isn t fair? (when a ref makes a bad call, or a rule isn t enforced in a board game)

2 Questions: 1. Have you ever experienced suffering? Talk about that time with your group. 2. What does that suffering look like in the eyes of the world? What does that suffering look like in the eyes of faith? You can see your suffering as a bridge or a barrier. You can see yourself as a victim or a victor. - Pastor David 3. Read Romans 12:9-12 together as a small group. What marks does Paul lay out here as evidence of someone that follows Jesus?

3 4. Is it really possible to choose joy? How do you know that? Is there a time in your life when you choose joy? Or chose not to have joy? 5. There are 2 principles that ground our faith: 1. Trust that God is in control. (Psalm 103:19) 2. Trust that He is working all things for our good. (Romans 8:28-29) Which of these truths do you need reminding of today? Why? 6. Prayer is a perspective changer. - Pastor David When was the last time you thanked Him for what He was doing through your suffering? When was the last time you asked someone to pray for you, not just for healing, but for you to see with eyes of faith what God is doing through this suffering? Will you do that now, with your small group?

4 FOR THE LEADER: Sermon outline What Do You Do When Life Gets Hard? (My New Year s Revolution, pt 4) Romans 12:12 (ESV) Introduction Methodist Church hit by tornando Life can be really hard sometimes (Jn 16:33; 1 Peter 1:6, James 1:2-4). In fact, it just doesn t make sense. Why does God allow suffering, especially for His kids? Never a great answer especially if you re the one who s spouse walks out for another, your kid dies, you re diagnosed with an incurable illness James doesn t specify various (Read quote) General reasons: But none of those really speak to our specific situation. In fact, let s be honest today - life really is not fair. - And we should be glad of that. - Fairness is about keeping score about what we think we should deserve or not deserve based on what other people experience or not experience. - That mentality misunderstands grace. - Making comparisons between your situation and others won t help. Life usually gets hard without warning.

5 The reality is we can t control our circumstances but we can control how we respond to them. When pain, or hurt, or disease, or persecution, or failure, or disappointment come our way we can respond in the flesh by: - Complaining - Doubting - Questioning God - Quitting - Becoming angry and bitter Or we can respond in faith by: - Trusting God - Seeking God - Loving God - Obeying God - Praising God RT Kendall and the betrayal barrier. It really is a matter of perspective. How we think about it. BTW we have to fight to think right. Bad thoughts come naturally The key is to look at all of life with the eyes of faith through the lens of scripture and filter how we think about our reality. And this is never more crucial than when suffering and adversity hit our life. You can see it as a bridge or a barrier. You can see yourself as a victim or a victor I want to share with you 3 steps to responding correctly to hard times. These steps are built on the foundation of: - Pre-decision I m all in no matter what - Preparation Use spiritual disciplines to build spiritual muscle. Many of us are so spiritually flabby we are immediately laid low by hard times.

6 Jesus will lift you out of the deepest pit, but He will not lift you out of your arm chair. Reinhard Bonnke Read Romans 12:12 Romans 12:12 (ESV) 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. I. Choose Joy (Rm 12:12a) Romans 12:12a (ESV) 12 Rejoice in hope Keep Your Focus On God A. Scriptural encouragement: James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6; Phil 4:4; Neh 8:10c; Prov 17:22. James 1:2 (ESV) 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials 1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, Philippians 4:4 (ESV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Nehemiah 8:10c (ESV) 10 for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Proverbs 17:22a (ESV) 22 A joyful heart is good medicine B. Joy not related to circumstances. C.Joy is grounded in hope. There is always hope Illus. Little boy s definition of hope

7 II. 1. Plan 2. Presence 3. Provision "Incessant focus on problems makes us feel as if our lives will never improve." (Charles Stanley) When you focus on God's promises instead of your problems, you'll notice your thoughts will be healthier and filled with peace. Illus. - Peter walking on the water. Measure your circumstances by God. He is always bigger Don t Give Up (Rm 12:12b) Romans 12:12b (ESV) 12 be patient in tribulation Keep Your Faith In God A. Pre-decide to trust God and His plan (James 1:2-4). James 1:2-4 (ESV) 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. B. You can see your circumstances as a bridge or a barrier. You can see yourself as a victim or a victor. (Stanley) C.How you see it is determined by your faith. D.Two foundational principles: 1. God is in control (Ps 103:19)

8 Psalm 103:19 (ESV) 19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 2. He is working all things for our good (Rm 8:28). Romans 8:28 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. God is sovereign. He either makes things happen or allows them to happen. So Praise him and keep going on with life Jenny Percussion Choose to believe that. Trust that this is true. Rest in that. E. His ways are not our ways. F. Decide in advance you re not a fair weather follower. Illus. Consider these examples: - Joseph (Gen 39:9) Genesis 39:9 (ESV) 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? - Job (Job 13:15a) Job 13:15a (ESV) 15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; - Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego (Dan 3:17-18) Daniel 3:17-18 (ESV)

9 III. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. - Jesus (Luke 22:42) Luke 22:42 (ESV) 42 Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. G.Be careful about the I deserve this mentality. H.Key principle: faith and obedience in the everyday is building strength for the hard places. Pray Pray Pray (Rm 12:12c) Romans 12:12c (ESV) 12 be constant in prayer. Keep Your Fellowship With God A. Prayer is intensely relational. B. This is not a will power thing it s a heart thing. C.He may move to change your situation, but more importantly He will move you/change you (Phil 4:4-7) Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

10 D.Prayer builds a fortress of peace around our mind E. Prayer is a perspective changer. F. Prayer in the everyday cultivates our spiritual focus for the hard times. Conclusion Cross Stitch How we look at adversity determines how we respond. How we respond determines what we gain or lose, how much we grow or shrink, how we impact others, etc.

11 Biblical background Rom 12:2 12:2 Do not be conformed... be transformed by the renewal of your mind. The Christian s mind-set is to be determined and reshaped by knowledge of the gospel, by the power of the Spirit, and by the concerns of the age to come (8:5 9; 13:11 14), rather than by the passing fashion of this age (2 Cor. 4:18; 1 John 2:17). Only by such sanctifying renewal is the Christian made sufficiently sensitive to discern the behavior that is God s will in each situation. - Reformed Study Bible

Summation and Outline of Jerry Bridges The Practice of Godliness

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