Handles for the Hard Times
(Part 5)
TEXT: Heb 12:4-11
INTRODUCTION
· This is last in a series of 5 sermons on “Handling the Hard Times”
· Have provided 7 handles to hold on to when the difficulties come & many of those handles have to do with the perspective we have, or the way we look at the trials in our lives.
· Handle -#1: Accept it as an appointment rather than an accident
( I Thess 3:3 - “destined for trials”
· Handle #2: Accept it without knowing the reason why
( G keeps some things secret & won’t know until heaven
· Handle #3: Believe that God is in charge, even of the trial
( Even though circumstances may point otherwise
· Handle #4: Attitude - have the right one
( Not positive thinking, but optimistic attitude based on confidence in G (David & Goliath)
· Handle #5: Remember that God doesn’t change – He is an anchor firm & secure
· Handle #6: Unite with God’s ability
( Admit our need; Bible, dig into it; Christian fellowship, be a part of it; Depend on prayer
· Handle #7: Determination - Don’t leave home without it
I. HANDLE #8: ACCEPT THE HARDSHIP AS DISCIPLINE
A. Perspective becomes important here
1. Put the trial in the framework of, and realize that God wants to use the
trial as discipline in our lives
B. Heb. 12:7: “Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?”
1. Writing to Xns
2. G wants to use hardships (trials) as discipine in our lives
C. God’s purpose - vss 10-11: “...God disciplines us for our own 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 &
peace for those who have been trained by it.”
1. He wants us to share in his holiness
2. Wants to produce a harvest of rtns & peace
D. To be trained by it, it is helpful if we ask ourselves 4 questions
1. What sin is there in my life G is showing me I need to repent of?
a. In difficulties, sin we aren’t aware of may come to the surface
b. Selfishness, idolatry, sexual immorality, arrogance, greed...
c. Confess & repent
2. What C-like characteristic is he trying to develop?
a. Love, joy, peace, gentlness, self-control, etc. (Gal 5)
3. What is G showing me about himself?
a. What of his character, his attributes?
b. F.B. Meyer: “ When we follow the path he has clearly indicated,
the difficulties we encounter do not prove that we are wrong but
only that he has some fresh revelation to make of himself.”
(1) Trials don’t mean we’re out of His will or have lost
favor, but that He wants to reveal Himself in the
midst of it
4. Am I being obedient to God right now?
a. Easy for us to think, “Boy is God going to use me in the future to
put me thru something like this now.”
b. Lose sight of obedience right now ‘in the midst’ of the trial
c. Xn leader wrote, “We have an idea that G is leading us to a
desired goal - he is not. His purpose is that I depend on him &
his power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil, calm &
unperplexed, that is the end of G’s purpose. G’s training is for
now. This minute. Not something in the future. If we have a
further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the
immediate. When we realize obedience is the end, then each
moment is precious. God never gives strength for tomorrow
or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute.”
d. Am I being obedient now?
E. While asking ourselves those 4 questions & allowing God to train us, we
latch on to Handle #9
II. HANDLE #9: ETERNITY, KEEP IT IN VIEW
(IL) Pete and Tony were great baseball fans. They were talking about baseball
one day & Pete says, “I wonder if there is baseball in heaven.”
Tony replies, “I don’t know.”
Soon after, Tony dies. One day he calls Pete from heaven and they’re
talking and Pete says, “Tony, you gotta’ tell me. Is there baseball in
heaven?”
Tony says, “Well, I have some good news & some bad news. The good news
is that there is baseball in heaven. The bad news is that you’re pitching
tomorrow.”
A. How often do you think about eternity?
1. Not as an escape from problems, but to look at them in a realistic
perspective
2. Eternity & heaven are real
B. Looking long-term is the way to go
1. Investment Advisor - mutual funds - long term perspective
2. Raising kids - so that in 20 yrs they’ll be responsible
3. Young adults choose careers today they’ll enjoy in 30 yrs
4. Long term perspective is the way to go
C. Put trials in the light of eternity
1. II Cor 4:16-18: “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our
light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but
what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal.”
2. Ro 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing w/ the glory that will be revealed in us.”
D. Hebrews 11 - God’s people, facing difficulties, kept eternity in view
1. Vs 10: (Abraham) “...looking forward to the city w/ foundations, whose architect & builder is G.”
2. Vs 16: “...they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one.”
3. Vs 26: (Moses) “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of
greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking
ahead to his reward.”
4. Vs 35: “Others were tortured & refused to be released, so that they
might gain a better resurrection.”
5. 12:3: “Jesus...who for the joy that was set before him, endured the
cross, scorning its shame, & sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.”
6. Look at our trials w/ eternity in view, with its joys & rewards makes
difficulties easier to endure & gives strength to carry on
E. Not only look forward to heaven, but look forward to seeing those loved ones who have gone on before
1. See Grandma - influenced me more for C than
2. See little baby Sandy & I never had the chance to name
3. See Henry - best friend for over 20 yeaers who died of liver cancer in
Oct 1994
a. Henry had eternity in view as he suffered with his cancer
b. LAST LETTER: “I ENJOYED TALKING W/ YOU SO VERY MUCH ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT & I AM HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SETTLED & THAT YOU LIKE THE NEW AREA. I TRUST THAT YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR MINISTRY THERE & THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU MANY SOULS FOR HIS KINGDOM. MY LIFE HAS HAD SO MANY CHANGES SINCE LAST MARCH WHEN I HAD SURGERY FOR THIS CANCER. THROUGH ALL OF THIS GOD HAS GIVEN ME AN UNEXPLAINABLE PEACE THAT HAS NEVER LEFT, EVEN MOMENTARILY. MY CONFIDENCE IS IN HIM, AND IF I WE NEVER SEE EACH OTHER HERE AGAIN, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOU IN THE CITY “NOT BUILT W/ HANDS.”...LOVE YA, HENRY.
F. That was the last letter I ever got from Henry. He was looking at his
difficulties in the light of eternity, and when I think about eternity, I look
forward to spending it with Henry
III. HANDLE #10: FOOTPRINTS, REMEMBER THAT HIS ARE WITH YOURS
A. Many Scriptures promise his Presence
1. Isa 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am w/ you; do not be dismayed, for I
am your God. I will strengthen you & help you; Iwill uphold you w/ my
righteous right hand.”
2. Heb 13:5: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
(IL) THREE HEBREW CHILDREN: SHADRACH, MESCHAK, & ABEDNEGO WERE CALLED BEFORE NEB BECAUSE THEY WOULDN’T BOW DOWN TO A GOLDEN IMAGE. THEY WERE TOLD IF THEY DIDN’T WORSHIP THE IMAGE THEY WOULD BE THROWN IN TO A FIERY FURNACE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WOULDN’T WORSHIP THE IMAGE, THAT THEIR GOD WAS ABLE TO DELIVER THEM, AND EVEN IF HE DIDN’T, THEY WOULDN’T WORSHIP THE IMAGE. NEB HAD THE FURNACE HEATED 7 TIMES HOTTER THAT USUAL. SO HOT, IN FACT, THAT THOSE WHO THREW SHADRACH, MESCHAK, & ABEDNEGO INTO THE FURNACE WERE KILLED. A FEW MINUTES LATER, AN ASTONISHED NEB ASKED, “WEREN’T THERE 3 MEN WE TIED UP & THREW INTO THE FIRE? LOOK, I SEE 4 MEN WALKING AROUND IN THE FIRE, UNBOUND & UNHARMED, & THE FOURTH LOOKS LIKE A SON OF THE GODS.”
1. The same G who was w/ Moses & Joshua & Isaiah & Shadrach & Meshak &
Abednego is with you.
2. Isa 43:2: “When you pass thru the waters, I will be w/ you; & when you pass
thru the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk thru the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your
God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior.”
CONCLUSION
ONE NIGHT A MAN HAD A DREAM. HE DREAMED HE WAS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH WITH THE LORD. ACROSS THE SKY FLASHED SCENES FROM HIS LIFE. FOR EACH SCENE HE NOTICED TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND: ONE BELONGING TO HIM, & THE OTHER TO THE LORD. WHEN THE LAST SCENE FROM HIS LIFE FLASHED BEFORE HIM, HE LOOKED BACK AT THE FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND. HE NOTICED THAT MANY TIMES ALONG THE PATH OF HIS LIFE THERE WAS ONLY ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE VERY LOWEST & SADDEST TIMES IN HIS LIFE. THIS REALLY BOTHERED HIM & HE QUESTIONED THE LORD ABOUT IT. “LORD, YOU SAID THAT ONCE I DECIDED TO FOLLOW YOU, YOU’D WALK WITH ME ALL THE WAY. BUT I HAVE NOTICED THAT DURING THE MOST TROUBLESOME TIMES IN MY LIFE, THERE WAS ONLY ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST, YOU WOULD LEAVE ME.” THE LORD REPLIED, “MY PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS CHILD. I LOVE YOU & I WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU. DURING YOUR TIMES OF TRIAL & SUFFERING, WHEN YOU SEE ONLY ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS, IT WAS THEN THAT I CARRIED YOU.”
