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Choose Life (Part II) - Karl Malouff (Sept. 28, 2014)

Pastor Karl encourages us to embrace the blessings found in trusting Jesus through all of life's trials

 

 
 
 
 

DELIGHTING IN YOUR WEAKNESSES

CHOOSE LIFE (PART II)

September 28, 2014

Karl Malouff

 

INTRO:

  1. There are many steps to fulfilling the purposes of God in you. There is nothing greater than your choices in the midst of trial.
  2. Past message: Choose life in temptations. Israel was an example of idolatry, sexual immorality, testing the Lord and complaining. I emphasized the need to stand up under temptation.
  3. New message: Choosing life in the trials, trouble and tests. How can I get the “terrible T’s” to benefit me? How can I find the Trump to the Terrible T’s? Through Trust and Thanksgiving.

 

  1. CHOOSE LIFE IN THE TRIALS, TROUBLES AND TESTS

 

  1. We all react as a first response to trials in many ways, but after the initial default system reaction, we begin to choose a course of action, which could be just to worry, fear, get even, take revenge, hurt someone or even fix it. But the Word is calling us to become first responders by coming back to the Lordship of Jesus.
  2. We just went through a trial, what was revealed?
  3. We went through all kinds of thoughts tempting us to blame or despair. The losses can be so great that we react only to flesh and blood, the world’s system of time and chance, or the demonic.
  4. Any time there is change in our life, we enter a loss time and can react in all the wrong ways or choose life.
  5. We experienced the five stages of grief, and getting through that is a process: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
  6. In and out of the shock, after the initial reaction we began to respond to the truth and choose life, trust, believe—which is part of a process, too, meaning that we don’t do it perfectly at first, but we keep on.

 

  1. HE’S WORKING FOR OUR GOOD

 

  1. Holy Spirit’s primary work is to reveal Jesus in us and through us.  Where are the greatest opportunities to reveal His life? Will I become like Him at some future date or where I am? Romans 8:28-29 states that God’s purpose is to conform us into the image of Jesus, and basically He will use everything for the good of that end.
  1. Romans 8:28-29 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
  1. So, how can a bad thing like cancer work for my good? There is no good thing in sickness; hardship and suffering come out of the pit of our brokenness from rebellion. We believe in healing, in breakthrough, and we know sickness is a work of the enemy, whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. And we know that Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy and give us an abundant life.
  2. We have a big part to play in how we see life, and how we respond to what happens sends us along in one direction, either toward His purposes or in the other direction. So how we respond to difficulty is key to us becoming more like Jesus—because how He went through trials is a key for us.

 

  1. TO BE CONFORMED TO HIM, WE MUST CONSIDER HIM IN EVERY OPPOSITION AND STRUGGLE

 

  1. Hebrews 12:1-4 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, [this is how we overcome, our faith] who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider [CONTEMPLATE, ESTIMATE] him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

 

  1. THE AMAZING BENEFITS OF TRUSTING HIM

 

  1. So if I go through my trials choosing to consider Jesus and choosing life in difficulties, there are amazing benefits. 
  2. I CAN’T GET TO WHERE I WANT TO GO WITHOUT TRIALS AND TROUBLES.
  3. The Benefits include:
  1. BEING CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS
  2. JESUS REVEALED EVEN IN MY BODY
  3. ACHIEVING GLORY
  4. BECOMING MATURE AND COMPLETE
  5. BECOMING REAL, FOUND GENUINE IN MY FAITH
  6. PRODUCING HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
  7. BEING TRAINED AS A SON
  8. PERFECTED POWER
  9. RECEIVE AND GIVE COMFORT
  1. SO HOW DO I GET THESE BENEFITS? CHOOSE LIFE IN TRIALS, TROUBLES AND TESTS. Even if they come from my own making, the way out is always the same. So, don’t be surprised by trials; it is not a strange thing. It comes because you are in this world. It comes because of who you are. It comes because we have an enemy. It comes because we are flesh and blood. But rejoice that you participate in Christ! I have a new way to live my life that brings life into all my trials, that calls me into the expectation of overjoy.
  1. 1 Peter 4:12-17 (NIV) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
  1. TRIALS ARE REVEALING JESUS
  1. Choose LIFE (I get up again after being struck down) and BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION LIFE in what you have to carry.
  2. You will feel crushed, abandoned, in despair at times. Paul felt the very sentence of death, but he chose to believe in Jesus’ ability to keep us and deliver us.
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:6-15 (NIV) For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus (what Jesus went through we can go through, we are in the struggle part the dying so that our trust in him in his resurrection will produce life), so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death (trials) for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
  1. I choose to TRUST IN GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD
  1. I choose to SET MY HOPE ON THE DELIVERER
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:9-11 (NIV) Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
  1. TROUBLES ARE ACHIEVING GLORY
  1. I choose to FIX MY EYES ON JESUS
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
  3. I choose to TAKE HEART AND BE ENCOURAGED (courage, cheer and comfort).
  4. John 16:33 (NIV) “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.”
  1. TRIALS AND TESTS ARE MATURING AND MAKING ME COMPLETE
  1. I choose to REJOICE IN TRIAL as long as it takes
  2. James 1:2-4 (NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
  1. GRIEFS OF ALL KINDS ARE MAKING ME REAL AND GIVING ME A REAL FAITH, because it is an opportunity for my faith to be refined, stretched, strengthened.
  1. I choose to GREATLY REJOICE
  2. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
  1. SUFFERINGS (TROUBLES) ARE PRODUCING HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
  1. I choose to REJOICE
  2. Romans 5:1-5 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, [TROUBLE, AFFLICTION, DISTRESS, DISTRESS] because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
  1. HARDSHIPS BRING TRAINING AS A SON, PROCUDES A HARVEST
  1. I choose to SUBMIT TO THE FATHER
  2. Hebrews 12:4-13 (NIV) In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
  1. HARDSHIP BRING STRENGTH and PERFECTED POWER
  1. I choose to DELIGHT IN WEAKNESSES BECAUSE I RELY ON THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S GRACE THAT COMES THROUGH JESUS.
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties [ANYTHING THAT IS HARD FOR ME]. For when I am weak, then I am strong [BECAUSE I TURN AND TRUST IN GOD AND HIS GRACE FOR ME].
  1. SUFFERINGS OVERFLOW, BUT SO WILL COMFORT OVERFLOW
  1. My ministry or service to others comes out of where I have received comfort from the God of all comfort.
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings [AFFLICTION, PASSION, HARDSHIP] of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

  1. SO WHAT MUST I DO TO GET THE AMAZING BENEFITS OF THE TERRIBLE T’S rather than react in fear and unbelief?
  2. I CHOOSE LIFE
  1. I DECLARE THAT MY TRIALS WORK FOR ME
  2. I REJOICE THAT BECAUSE OF TRIALS I AM BECOMING MATURE AND COMPLETE
  3. I DECLARE THAT MY TROUBLES ARE LIGHT AND MOMENTARY
  4. MY TRIALS ARE ACHIEVING FOR ME GLORY
  5. I TAKE HEART AND FIX MY EYES ON JESUS, WHO DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.
  6. I BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION LIFE AT WORK IN ME—the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me
  7. I RELY ON THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S GRACE AS I DELIGHT IN WEAKNESS
  8. I SUBMIT TO THE FATHER OF MY SPIRIT AS A REAL SON, TRAINED TO MAKE A WAY FOR OTHERS

 

 

Dowload the sermon outline here.

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