BUILDING A BETTER YOU
Seeing as how we’re four days into the new year, I assume that, like me, you’ve already broken the majority of your New Years Resolutions.
Do I have a witness?
It’s like, why do I try? I know me.
But isn’t it strange the dichotomy that exists inside of us. On the one hand we have this overwhelming desire to better ourselves. “I’m gonna quit this.” “I’m gonna stop that.” I’m gonna do more of this.” “I’m gonna do less of that.” And yet our very nature always opposes us.
The puritans called this spiritual bankruptcy. (Expound)
This is a realization that we need desperately to get a hold of in the day and age that you and I live in. Because until we come to grips with the fact that we can do nothing on our own we’ll never see how great our need for God truly is!
Luke 1:37 tells us,
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
You need to let that sink in for a minute. Make it your motto for the coming year. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
And I’ll be the first to admit that, although this sounds wonderful, it’s a lot easier said than done. Because, although God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His ways are always right… His methods for achieving the impossible are not always the most pleasant.
Sometimes God’s plan for that miraculous change leads right through the valley of the shadow of death.
And the truth that I want to look at with you for the next few moments is this… some of the things that are the hardest or the most painful in life are the best for us.
Good morning.
(Dave Davis’ sure-fire, anti-cold elixir / tasted nasty / worked)
(Uncle Bob’s cat / polyp / skinning knife / wiped on pants / cut onions)
Sometimes the most painful things are the best for us.
TEXT: 1 Peter 4:12 & 13
(This from a man that learned some hard lessons) (Expound)
We have a natural tendency to seek out that which makes us the most comfortable. And when we find it we cling to it. And it literally takes an act of God many times to get us to let go of it. We like comfort. We like easy. We like monumental blessing and miniscule sacrifice.
That’s why our spiritual lives are marked with not only ups and downs but with long plateaus as well. Because when we reach a place where we’re comfortable and things are going good, we hesitate to step out and roll the dice for fear we’ll upset the balance. (Expound)
That’s why when we go through trials we’re quick to start rebuking the devil and begging God for deliverance. (Expound)
And that’s not always wrong, but you need to leave room in your theology for the possibility that God is orchestrating your hardship to work something in you. To build you up in your most holy faith. To transform you into the image of His Son.
Just a guess.
(baby bird kicked out of the nest / traumatic / flies)
I. Patience
Now there are arguably any number of subjects we could discuss on this topic. There’s no way we can hit them all in one sermon. But I want to look at three specific benefits that hardship in the life of a Christian brings. The first of which is patience.
How many know that’s sorely lacking today. Even in the church. Sometimes especially in the church, because we know that we serve a God who longs above all else to bless our lives.
But we live in a fast-food society. Where you can get a burger, fries and a large Coke and be on our way in under a minute.
We have our express lanes. Our 24-hour grocery stores. 60 minute film processing. 20 second infomercials.
We want it all and we want it now!! Not next year. Not next week. Not even tomorrow. Now!!
And we need to be careful, because many times we bring that mindset into the kingdom with us. And God’s not operating on your timeline. He’s not going to consult you. He’s not going to ask your opinion. Because frankly, He doesn’t give a rip what you think about it. It’s His way or the highway. Not because He’s a big brute. Because, just between you and I, He’s the only one of us that knows what he’s doing.
It’s His will. His plan. His destiny. And His timing. And He’s more than willing to through you to the wolves and let them chew that into your theology.
God is never early. He’s never late. He’s always right on time. His time.
(Mary & Martha) (4 days too late? No, right on time.)
Luke 21:19 says,
“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
James 5:10 & 11 says,
“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
Job is a perfect example. (Expound)
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 says,
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”
“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:”
“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:”
We need to learn God’s word. We need to learn to pray. We need to learn to share our faith. We need to learn to sacrifice. We need to learn to be a servant. And we need to learn to be patient.
I can tell you from experience that if your in the fire because God’s trying to teach you something. Get used to it. Because there will be no escape. No easy way out. No fine-print contractual loophole. You’re there for the duration. Learn your lesson and be patient!! Period!!
James 1:3 & 4 says,
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Romans 5:3-5 says,
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”
“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
II. Trust
The second thing we learn in the fire is trust.
Have you ever played that game where you take turns falling backwards into your friends arms? (Expound) (Demonstrate)
Trust isn’t easy is it?
“Oh, I trust God brother.” Until the chick in the coffee shack burns your shot. And then it’s like God’s forsaken you and all Hell’s broken loose in your life.
We say we trust God. We sing about trusting God. But truth be told, most of us don’t know what trust is.
Trust is Abraham leading Isaac up Mount Moriah. A set expression. Nerves of steel. Sweating hands. Trusting God that He knows what He’s doing.
And that’s the attitude we need in life. Things won’t always be easy. If fact, I think that I can safely say that they will very rarely be easy. And somehow, somewhere in your spirit you’re gonna have to learn to cast your cares on Jesus.
Job 13:15 says,
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”
Compared to trust, patience seems almost easy. I mean when you’ve got no choice but to wait… what else can you do. But when your prayers seem to bounce back at you from the ceiling and God seems a million miles away. When deliverance doesn’t come as soon as you claim it. When the circumstances looks unsurmountable. Will you still trust Him?
(The widow of Zarephath / Elijah / asks her for her last biscuit)
This lady had every excuse to blame God for her situation. She was a widow. God was supposed to be looking out for her, right? And here she is. Her husband is dead. She has no money. She has no food. She is out gathering sticks so that she can cook her last little bit of meal into a tiny biscuit for her and her son.
1 Kings 17:12 says,
“And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
Most of us would be like, “Dude, read my lips. No food!”
Things were looking pretty grim for her.
Verse 13-15 goes on to says,
“And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.”
“For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.”
“And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.”
In the midst of a tough time God showed her once again that she could trust Him.
And so can we. Listen to me. God is faithful. No matter what things seem like. God is there. He’s in control. His hand is not slack. And His ways are perfect.
And the sooner you just let go of whatever security your holding onto and surrender everything to Him the better off you’ll be.
He loves you more than you can even imagine and you can always trust Him.
Psalm 112:1, 6 & 7 says,
“Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.”
“Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”
III. Obedience
If you’ll be patient and trust God in the midst of hard times you’ll find that an interesting transformation will begin to happen in your heart.
And I’ll admit that I don’t fully understand this concept. But it’s clear from scripture that suffering brings obedience.
Hebrews 5:5-8 tells us,
“So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.”
“As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;”
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”
Now this isn’t talking about an obedient response to suffering as punishment. It’s not like telling your kids, “You better do as I tell you or I’m gonna spank your butt.”
This is an obedience born out of a full understanding of the work of God. It’s a reliance. A respect. A responsibility.
Because you see a whole different side of God when you’re in the fire.
Shadrach, Meshach and Adednego. God could have delivered them. You might even say that God should have delivered them. They trusted Him. They stood in faith. Stood for the truth and refused to bow. And yet God steps back and lets an ungodly tyrant king heave them into a stinking blast furnace.
It’s injustice!! Or is it?
Because in the midst of the fire God showed up. And when it was all done and said, you can’t tell me that those three guys wouldn’t have done anything that God asked of them. And I mean anything!!
“Just speak the word, God. We’re there for ya.”
It’s wonderful to find God on the mountain top. But until you find God in the fire, you’ve barely scraped the surface of having a relationship with Him.
1 Peter 1:6-9 says,
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
We’re obedient because we love Him. We love Him, because He first loved us. And to find Him in the midst of the purifying furnace will bring a revelation of the love of God that is near unfathomable.
Psalm 66:10-12 says,
“For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.”
“Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our (backs).”
“Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a (place of abundance).”
Psalm 119:71-75 says,
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
“The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”
“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”
“They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.”
“I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”
And I don’t know about you but I could probably stand to be a bit more obedient to God in my day to day life.
I close with a story about a very wealthy man.
If the truth be told, this guy was not only wealthy, he was flat filthy rich. This guy had more money than most of us can even imagine. He had a 45 bedroom mansion. Marble staircases Gold chandeliers. Original Picasso’s adorned the walls and Siberian tiger fur rugs covered the floors.
He owned more cars than most rental companies.
An original 1962 Shelby Cobra. Aluminum body. Uninsurable.
A vintage 1954 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing.
A classic 1957 250 Ferrari Testa Rossa ragtop.
Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, you name it. He was an avid collector.
And one night he decided to throw a party. A business deal had gone particularly well that morning. So he invited 200 associates and their families to his house. During the course of the evening he was giving some of the guests a personal tour of the grounds when one of them noticed an archway covered with ivy and a padlocked iron gate.
“Where does that go?” The guest asked.
“Follow me and I’ll show you.” Said the host with a smile.
He leads them through the gate. Down a beautiful stone walkway lined with tall hedges. After a minute the procession stops. It’s very dark. The guests can tell that the yard has widened but it’s hard to see. Strange sounds are heard. Movement. Splashing. The host flips a switch and illuminates a huge manicured circular clearing enclosed within twenty foot high walls. In the midst of the yard is pool. In the pool are a dozen Alligators imported from Egypt.
The host leads them to the pool.
“I’ll give anything I own to the person who can swim from one side of the pool to the other.”
They all decline. As they turn to go there is a tremendous splash. They turn to see a young business man in an Armani suit flailing his way across the pool with the alligators in hot pursuit!!
Miraculously he makes it!
The host rushes to his side.
“Wow, you did it!”
The guest just stands there soaked and trembling.
“Well, as a man of my word, you can have anything. Just tell me what you want?”
The soaked man looks up at the host and then at the other guests.
“What do I want? I’ll tell you what I want. I wanna know who the heck pushed me!!”
The moral of the story is that you’d be surprised what you can do when God puts the heat to you.
