A Grace Disguised Series

A Grace Disguised

#OvercomingLoss

OKAY – lean in church and listen both alive and actively to Words that were literally breathed by the one who says of Himself in Isaiah 62…

My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. – Isaiah 66:2

SO – who here is ready to tremble?

WHO – has a heart that is contrite (humble and repentant)?

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, - Romans 8:28,29

AND JAMES – the half brother of Jesus wrote these challenging, powerful, familiar and insightful words as he opens up his letter.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

AND PETER – writing to Jesus-followers who had suffered much loss, at the hands of the Roman Empire.

UNDERSTAND – these people had been forced to flee from their homes and many had been beaten, had their property confiscated and loved ones killed…

REMINDED THEM – of God’s mercy, of their living hope and of the inheritance that would never perish, spoil or fade… which was waiting for them in heaven (and was being shielded, protected by God’s power until that day)…

In all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—

of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:6-9

Prayer

GOOD MORNING MGCC

AND WELCOME – to week 5 of our 4 week series ‘Overcome, The Challenges We Face,’ (that has been extended to an 8 week series. NOW – in this series we have talked about some very powerful, practical, and needed stuff, LIKE…

• Reversing Anxiety (C.A.L.M.S.)

• Moving Beyond Insecurity (R.U.N.)

• Getting Over Our Hurt (B.R.AV.E.)

• Making Fear A Friend (F.R.I.E.N.D.)

• Overcoming Discouragement

(Look - Up, Back, Out, Beyond, Around, Ahead, In)

AND THIS MORNING – we are going to be talking about another significant and often devastating challenge that we all will face as we run the race to the life we were created…

Overcoming loss…. in a conversation I am calling, “A Disguised Grace.” OKAY – and here is how I want to attack this conversation by unpacking 3 statements

Loss, Here’s The Deal

Loss, A Story

Loss, Some Lessons

AND – let me say this before we begin…

I recognize as with (anxiety, insecurity, fear, hurt and discouragement) that loss is a very huge topic and that there are limits to what we can accomplish in just one conversation on a Sunday morning.

BUT – with that being said…

I am still convinced of the power of both the living and active word of God and the Holy Spirit…

AND THEREFORE – I believe that something meaningful and significant can happen in our time together today, for those with ears to hear and eyes to see.

I. Loss, Here’s The Deal

A) It’s Inevitable

UNDERSTAND BROTHERS AND SISTERS - LOSS is inevitable.

I MEAN - we all WILL experience it.

OKAY - raise your hands if you have never experienced LOSS in your life.

LOOK – 3 people in the eyes (“you’re not alone”)…

LISTEN - the Bible says that rain falls on the just and the unjust. AND - Jesus said, “In this world you are going to have trouble.”

SO LOSS is part of life.

You’ve either had it, you’re having it or you’re going to have it. MGCC – like it or not… That’s just the way it works.

It’s just part of our story in this fallen world.

YES – sooner or later all people suffer LOSS, in little doses or big ones, suddenly or over time, privately or in public settings.

YOU SEE - LOSS is as much a part of life as birth, for surely as we all are born into the world, we will suffer LOSS, before we leave it.