God is Severe

God is Severe

 

Romans 11:22, Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

God’s balanced nature is set forth to grip our attention! He wisely pairs severity with goodness, indicating God is both just to those who fall away and loving to those who trust Him.

God’s “severity” toward fallen Israel with His “goodness” toward Gentile believers who continue in His faith is the focus of our meditations. These concepts are addressed on a national and not an individual scale.

An Appreciation of the Biblical Context Would be Helpful!

Picture an olive tree where unbelieving branches were broken off and believers were grafted or inserted in their stead. The Believer’s Bible Commentary affirmed,

“11:21 If God did not hesitate to cut off the natural branches from the line of privilege, there is no reason to believe that He would spare the wild olive branches under similar circumstances.

11:22 So in the parable of the olive tree, we see two great contrasting facets of God’s character—His goodness and His severity. His severity is manifest in the removal of Israel from the favored-nation status. His goodness is seen in His turning to the Gentiles with the gospel (see Acts 13:46; 18:6). But that goodness must not be taken for granted. The Gentiles too could be cut off if they do not maintain that relative openness which the Savior found during His earthly ministry (Matt. 8:10; Luke 7:9).

It must be constantly borne in mind that Paul is not speaking of the church or of individual believers. He is speaking about the Gentiles as such. Nothing can ever separate the Body of Christ from the Head, and nothing can separate a believer from the love of God, but the Gentile peoples can be removed from their present position of special privilege.”^[1]

Matthew Henry (1662–1714), the British minister and commentator wrote,

“This is called here severity, v. 22. God laid righteousness to the line and judgment to the plummet, and dealt with them according to their sins. Severity is a word that sounds harshly; and I do not remember that it is any where else in scripture ascribed to God; and it is here applied to the unchurching of the Jews. God is most severe towards those that have been in profession nearest to him, if they rebel against him, Amos 3:2. Patience and privileges abused turn to the greatest wrath. Of all judgments, spiritual judgments are the sorest; for of these he is here speaking, v. 8.” ^[2]

And Dr. W. W. Wiersbe devised,

“It is worth noting that, according to Bible prophecy, the professing Gentile church will be “cut off” because of apostasy. First Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 3, along with 2 Thessalonians 2, all indicate that the professing church in the last days will depart from the faith. There is no hope for the apostate church, but there is hope for apostate Israel! Why? Because of the roots of the olive tree. God will keep His promises to the patriarchs, but God will break off the Gentiles because of their unbelief.

No matter how far Israel may stray from the truth of God, the roots are still good. God is still the “God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Ex. 3:6; Matt. 22:23). He will keep His promises to these patriarchs. This means that the olive tree will flourish again!”^[3]

Thus, in this light the goodness and severity of God coupled with His pure justice are remarkably set before us to consider carefully!

We Understand God’s Severity as the Counterbalance of His Goodness!

Romans 11:22, differentiates or contrasts God’s “severity” toward an unbeliever nation who fell away with His “goodness” toward believing peoples who continue in His faith. Some clarity surrounding these critical terms would prove enlightening and beneficial.

     ·       Goodness defined: “but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness”, that is God shows mercy to those who hold fast to their faith—those who stay true to His grace.

     ·       Severity defined: “on them which fell, severity”, meaning God’s strict judgment and ‘cutting off’ of those who live in unbelief—“them which fell” points to those who turned away in disbelief.

     ·       “Goodness” and “Severity” reveal that believers are to consciously look at, reflect on, both the undeserved kindness and the extremely strict justice of God. This balance, or stabilizing truth, show more fully His nature. It inspires us to grow in our faith commitment, wholly respect God’s essential nature, and correctly appreciate His infinite grace toward us.

We must take informative account of these two sides of God’s character: His kindness toward those who trust Him and His severity or sternness toward those who reject Him. As Gentile Christians we must reject prideful feelings, humbly stay in God’s kindness through an active faith, or nationally risk being cut off just like unbelieving Israel is now. God does not compromise, negotiate, bargain or adjust on these matters!

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1726.

^[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2223.

^[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 552.

“First Focus on Prayer”

Spiritual Leadership in the Church Series

1 Tim 2:1-15

 

THEME: the church is to conduct its services with order.

RELEVANCE: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40) is a basic principle for the conduct of the ministry of the church. Apparently, young Timothy was having some problems applying this principle to the assemblies in Ephesus. The public worship services were losing their order and effectiveness because both the men and the women members of the church were disobeying God’s Word.

 INTRODUCTION:

The church is an organism,” a pastor said, “so we shouldn’t put too much emphasis on organization. We should allow the Spirit to have freedom.”

“But if an organism is disorganized,” I submit, “it will die. Yes, I agree that we must permit the Spirit to have freedom, but even the Holy Spirit is not free to disobey the Word of God.”

Often, what we think is the “freedom of the Spirit” are the carnal ideas of some Christian who is not walking in the Spirit. Eventually this “freedom” becomes anarchy, and the Spirit grieves as a church gradually moves away from the standards of God’s Word.

To counteract this tendency, Paul exhorted the men and women in the church and reminded them of their spiritual responsibilities. Paul's urge, “I exhort therefore,” echoed his original mission for Timothy (1:3). False teaching had to be challenged, and right actions needed to be reinforced.

MESSAGE:

I. The Call to Order Regarding Prayer—Men (1 Tim. 2:1–8)

It is generally agreed that this passage has to do with public prayer, although there is nothing in it that would not be equally applicable to one’s private devotional life.

A. The Priority Of Prayer (V. 1a).

Paul placed primary importance on prayer; thus he addressed this issue first of all.

1. “First Of All” Indicates That Prayer Is Most Important In The Public Worship Of The Church.

a.                      It is sad to see how prayer has lost importance in many churches. “If I announce a banquet,” a pastor said, “people will come out of the woodwork to attend. But if I announce a prayer meeting, I’m lucky if the ushers show up!” 

b.                      Not only have the special meetings for prayer lost prominence in most local churches, but even prayer in the public services is greatly minimized. Many pastors spend more time on the announcements than they do in prayer!

c.                      The late Peter Deyneka, Sr., founder of the Slavic Gospel Association, often reminded me: “Much prayer, much power! No prayer, no power!”

2. Prayer Was As Much A Part Of The Apostolic Ministry As Preaching The Word.

a.      Acts 6:4, But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

b.     Yet some pastors spend hours preparing their sermons, but never prepare their public prayers. Consequently, their prayers are routine, humdrum, and repetitious. I am not suggesting that a pastor write out every word and read it, but that he think through what he will pray about. This will keep “the pastoral prayer” from becoming dull and a mere repetition of what was “prayed” the previous week.

c.      The local church does not pray because it is the expected thing to do; it prays because prayer is vital to the life of the local church. The Holy Spirit works in the church through prayer and the Word of God (1 Thess 2:13; Eph 3:20-21). The church that prays will have power and will make a lasting impact for Christ.

·       1 Thes. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

·       Ephes. 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

d.     Note how the believers in Acts turned to prayer and overcame their enemies. Paul exhorts us to pray - it is important!

3. But The Church Members (Men) Also Need To Be Prepared To Pray.

a.      Our hearts must be right with God and with each other.

b.     We must really want to pray, and not pray simply to please people (as did the Pharisees, Matt. 6:5), or to fulfill a religious duty.

c.      When a local church ceases to depend on prayer, God ceases to bless its ministry.

B. The Variations Of Prayer (V. 1b).

• There are at least seven different Greek nouns for “prayer,” and four of them are used here.

• The different words used for prayer focus not only on different types of prayer, but also on the beautiful scope of prayer -- that we can come to God with requests, needs, and desires for ourselves and for others.

1. Supplications.

                     a. This carries the idea of “offering a request for a felt need.”

         b. In modern usage, supplication has the thought of strong and earnest pleading, but here the thought is more that of specific requests for specific needs.

2. Prayers.

a. This is a very general term for prayer activity, and it emphasizes the sacredness of prayer.

• We are praying to God; prayer is an act of worship, not just an expression of our wants and needs.
• There should be reverence in our hearts as we pray to God.

b. The word prayers covers all kinds of reverent approaches to God.

3. Intercessions refers to “petitions.”

a.  Intercessions describe those forms of petition in which we address God as our Superior in behalf of others.

b. This same word is translated “prayer” in 1 Timothy 4:5, where it refers to blessing the food we eat. (It is rather obvious that we do not intercede for our food in the usual sense of that word.)

c. The basic meaning is “to draw near to a person and converse confidently with him.” It suggests that we enjoy fellowship with God so that we have confidence in Him as we pray.

4. Giving of thanks.

a. This is definitely a part of worship and prayer. But often we forget the last word – thanksgivings. 

• We not only give thanks for answers to prayer, but for who God is and what He does for us in His grace.
• We should not simply add our thanksgiving to the end of a selfish prayer!

                        b. Thanksgiving should be an important ingredient in all of our prayers.

·       In practice as well as in teaching, Paul insisted that prayer should always include thanksgiving (see, for example, Eph 1:15-16; Phil 1:3-6; 4:6).

·       Romans 1:8-10 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. [9] For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; [10] Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

·       Many are good at asking God for action, but not very good at remembering to thank God for his answers.  We should rehearse the grace and kindness of our Lord, and pour out our hearts in gratitude to Him.

·       In fact, sometimes we need to imitate David and present to God only thanksgiving with no petitions at all! (see Ps. 103)

d.     “Prayer and supplication [petition] with thanksgiving” are a part of Paul’s formula for God’s peace in our hearts.

·       Philip. 4:6, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

e.      It is worth noting that Daniel, the great prayer-warrior, practiced this kind of praying.

·       Daniel 6:10-11, Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. [11] Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

·       We might summarize the verse by saying that in praying, we should be humble, worshipful, trustful, and thankful.   

CONCLUSION:

Men should seek to maintain an atmosphere of holiness and unity in the church (2:8).

Witnessing Justice Like Never Before

“Witnessing Justice”

Matt. 28:19-20; Rev. 20:11-15

 

SUBJECT: HELL/EVANGELISM

THEME: Perhaps a better understanding of Hell will stir us to become more consistent evangelists for our Lord.

RELEVANCE: Our compassion for the perishing multitudes must be informed and aroused by the realities of Hell, to encourage us to become involved or remain with the task of evangelism. Multitudes are dying without Christ and going to Hell, who will give themselves to consistently point them to Christ?

INTRODUCTION:

The dreadful final future of the unsaved is distinctly outlined for all to witness! Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is why we need to be motivated to share the Gospel and send out missionaries! Our neighbors and the world are destined for a Devil’s Hell forever! We must be concerned to reach them for Christ before it’s too late.  

MESSAGE:

What Should We Do Now with This Information?

Two facts present actions we must take in obedient submission to Christ and the Great Commission….

A. FIRST, WE WILL BE THERE TO WITNESS THIS JUGDMENT!

Matthew 12:41-42, The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. [42] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

·       Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of His day for demanding more miraculous signs. He warns that the repentant men of Nineveh (who heard Jonah) and the Queen of Sheba (who sought Solomon’s wisdom)—will stand at the final judgment to condemn Jesus’ unyielding generation. Historically, Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba repented. Yet, Jesus’ contemporaries rejected God standing right in front of them. Instead of responding with humility to even small glimpses of God’s truth, these proud Jewish leaders rejected physical proof and Christ Himself. But not in the final judgment of the unsaved!

·       Likewise, the Great White Throne Judgment is the final, ultimate judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. Jesus Christ presides as the judge sitting on the great white throne, as God has given all judgment to the Son. The unregenerated dead, both great and small, stand before God after being raised from the dead. Unbelievers from all eras are judged by their deeds recorded in the books. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire, which scripture calls the “second death”. “Death and Hell” are also thrown into this fire. Again, unbelievers are sent into the lake of fire.

·       We will witness the judgment of the eternally lost, observe the proceedings to witness the vindication of God’s holiness, and we will witness their final sentencing to be cast into the lake of fire! Some of these individuals will be people we know! Every person will be there without even one exception. Beloved, this event will be colossal!

·       Believers will not face condemnation or sentencing at the Great White Throne Judgment because it is specifically designated for the unredeemed dead. However, believers will be present as witnesses to God’s ultimate justice and righteousness.

God’s standard of justice remains uncompromised. Remember Christ’s blood demonstrates God’s righteousness, proving that He does not ignore evil. Through this judgment, God remains perfectly just proving His moral consistency despite previously overlooking past sins in human history.

B. SECONDLY, WE MUST PROCEED AGRESSIVELY WITH THE GREAT COMMISSION! This magnificent authorization is our Lord Jesus Christ’s closing directive to his disciples and to us by application to make disciples of all peoples worldwide, baptize, and train them to obey his commandments. Regarding His continuing spiritual presence throughout all time! Christ promises and reassures us we are never alone as we undertake his final instructions seriously crossing whatever human boundaries that may exist to execute His expectations.

·       Matthew 28:19-20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

·       Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

·       Luke 24:46-49, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things. [49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

·       John 20:21, Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

·       Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

·       Acts 8:4, Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

o   So, tell somebody in some manner about Jesus’ saving grace every week.

o   Financially support missions and missionaries who are doing the same work or have similar priorities in other locations.

o   Belong to and support churches who take the Great Commission and the Kingdom of God seriously submitting yourself to Christ’s authority in that institution. Many ‘churches’ unfortunately have forgotten these words of Christ in pursuit of greater attendance, entertainment, novelty, selfish goals, religious experiences, personalities, and monetary affluence!

o   Devote yourself personally to being a faithful witness of the Lord Jesus by sharing the everlasting hope of Christ.

o   If possible, go out on visitation and outreach to follow up, express compassion, and evangelize regularly.

o   Tell all your family members about the Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord immediately or as soon as possible.

o   Arrange a discipleship relationships sharing the importance of obedience to God, daily walking with the Lord, prayer fellowship, Bible reading/direction, and adherence to the Spirit’s guidance.

o   God will not be mocked or disregarded forever…people are accountable to Him as Creator!

Submitting to this commission involves aligning with Christ’s authority to share the gospel worldwide, fostering fellowship through baptism, and teaching believers obedience to Christ’s directives.

CONCLUSION:

Beloved, we need compassion for the perishing multitudes stirred by the reality of Hell! Such reflections encourage us to become involved or remain committed to the tasks of evangelism and discipleship. Sometimes we grow indifferent towards this area of ministry, we can even prize our relationships with a lost person more than we cherish their soul’s salvation. We can even respect people more than we respect the Lord…. Multitudes are dying and will go to Hell all over the world…. Who will give themselves to consistently get in their way and point them to Christ? Often, we miss the important work of showing God will vindicate His righteous nature…perhaps we never really realize this significant ministry, but people are accountable to the Creator Himself. He will judge finally one day…. Beloved, it’s guaranteed!

What About Annihilation?

“What About Annihilation?”

Rev. 20:10; Mark 9:42; Matt. 26:24 

 

SUBJECT: HELL/EVANGELISM

THEME: Perhaps a better understanding of Hell will stir us to become more consistent evangelists for our Lord.

RELEVANCE: Our compassion for the perishing multitudes must be informed and aroused by the realities of Hell, to encourage us to become involved or remain with the task of evangelism. Multitudes are dying without Christ and going to Hell, who will give themselves to consistently point them to Christ?

INTRODUCTION:

The dreadful final future of the unsaved is distinctly outlined for all to witness! Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is why we need to be motivated to share the Gospel and send out missionaries! Our neighbors and the world are destined for a Devil’s Hell forever! We must be concerned to reach them for Christ before it’s too late. But a question lingers that I must answer.... 

MESSAGE:

Are The Unsaved Annihilated in Hell? (No!)

This question has been asked out of a desire to defend the merciful nature of God, “Are people eventually annihilated in Hell?”. People failed to accurately see how grave sin really is and how much God finds it offensive. We tend to feel sorry for the unsaved, but what about God’s righteous nature? We tend to value people’s comfort more than we value God holiness without even realizing we are. We all want to hurry to emphasize the loving compassion of God while at times ignoring His righteousness and love for justice. We default to avoiding the awkwardness this realization may create for a sinner. Another result is we’re incline to find it unbelievable that a good God would commit ‘good’ people to Hell forever.

A. CONSIDER THE CLEAR STATEMENTS OF SCRIPTURE.

God deals with these matters in the clearest terms in many cases.

1. Sinners Will Suffer in Hell Eternally.

Rev. 20:10, And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The final and permanent defeat of Satan, who is cast into the lake of fire to join the beast and the false prophet (one thousand years later) to face eternal torment. This verse triumphs the ultimate victory of God over evil at the end of the age.

·       “The Devil” as the deceiver of nations—Satan, is finally captured and judged.

·       “The Lake of Fire and Brimstone” the absolute, inescapable divine judgment and total separation from God.

·       “The Beast and the False Prophet” Human or political systems and false religious powers that previously opposed God and were thrown in earlier.

·       “Tormented…Forever” the permanent, irreversible, and conscious nature of their ultimate defeat.

2. The Punishment of the Unsaved Will Be Worse than Violent Death. This demonstrates that the punishment is not annihilation but a form of everlasting torment. Mark 9:42, And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

·       Mark 9:42 tells us that leading a new or vulnerable believer into sin is a severe spiritual crime. Jesus dramatically emphasizes that drowning with a heavy stone tied to one’s neck is better than facing God’s judgment for corrupting someone’s faith. Jesus warns that tempting others to do wrong or shaking the faith of a believer carries heavy accountability.

·       This vivid execution of a verdict illustrates God’s complete devastation, finality, and inescapable judgment. All this points to final and ultimate accountability for sinfulness before our Lord. Beloved, wickedness is not dismissed, overlooked, or remains unaddressed. No, one will get away with anything! (Mt. 25:46; Mk. 9:43-48; Re.19:20; 20:10).

·       Revelation 14:10-11, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Revelation 14:10-11 details judgment upon those who worship the beast and receive its mark, describing their punishment as drinking the unmixed wine of God’s wrath and eternal torment with fire and brimstone before the angels and the Lamb. Sufferers will face torment by fire and brimstone in the presence of holy angels and the Lamb. Will this punishment eternally endure? The smoke of torment ascends forever without day or night rest.

B. CONSIDER UNMISTAKABLE WARNINGS OF THE LORD JESUS.

Jesus said it would have been better if Judas had never been born (Mt. 26:24). Jesus' words make no sense if Judas was only going to be annihilated.

·       Matthew 26:24, The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

·       While acknowledging God’s sovereign will (Christ’s impending betrayal and death are destined by Scripture) to secure our salvation and His necessary death, Jesus affirms the agonizing doom on Judas Iscariot for choosing to betray Him. The stark warning reveals personal accountability and the supreme gravity of actively opposing God’s purposes.

·       It would have been better “for that man if he had not been born”: This ancient Jewish idiom describes the ultimate, irreversible tragedy of divine judgment. It highlights the terrifying reality that whatever temporary earthly gains Judas received were infinitely outweighed by the eternal consequences of his betrayal.

Hell has eternal consequences that must be grappled with by the unsaved and the saved individuals. Jesus warned in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Our Lord highlights the distinction between physical and spiritual realities, urging us to prioritize our spiritual well-being over earthly fears. Jesus contrasts the limited power of humans to harm the body with God’s ultimate authority over both body and soul. We are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith despite potential persecution or threats. The focus is on the eternal consequences of one’s spiritual state rather than temporary physical harm. Jesus correctly provokes us to think deeply about the Fear of Man vs. Fear of God, Spiritual Resilience, and the Eternal Perspective.  

Ultimately, the core message of Matthew 10:28 centers on making choices that align with our faith. We should deliberately choose to follow God’s path toward eternal life while placing less emphasis on earthly concerns. This shift greatly impacts how we view challenges and fears, guiding us toward a life dedicated to our faith.

As we reflect on Matthew 10:28, we find that overcoming fears requires aligning our focus on God and our spiritual lives. It invites us to build faith without boundaries and recognize that our eternal purpose far surpasses earthly worries. Instead of letting fear control our actions, we can choose courage that comes from faith in God. Embracing the liberating truth of this passage, we can confidently navigate our lives, spreading love while trusting in God’s perfect plan. –David Miller

“When we fear God, we free ourselves from the chains of anxiety concerning what man might do to us.” – David Platt

CONCLUSION:

We need compassion for the perishing multitudes stirred by the reality of Hell! This encourages us to become involved or remain committed to the tasks of evangelism and discipleship. Often, we miss the important work of showing God will vindicate His righteous nature…perhaps we never really realize this significant ministry, but people are accountable to the Creator Himself. He will judge finally one day…. Beloved, it’s guaranteed! 

Still Growing in Christ

 

 "Still Growing in Christ"

Romans 5:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 5:14; James 1:2-4

 

Theme: The chances of being sidetracked increase with trouble and pain, but we must remain focused on learning of the Lord and drawing closer to Him.

Relevance:

Scripture frames pain as a brief test that builds endurance, spiritual strength, and eternal hope.

Introduction:

The idea of maturing in Christ is a subject we have given substantial thought to and have even taught this on a regular basis. Still the possibility of distraction exists, especially during painful experiences; we must focus ourselves on spiritual growth still. The following thoughts help us do just that.

Lesson:

God even Deals with Overcoming Hardships as a Positive Means to our Continuous Growth.   

     A.  Trials test our faith and produce endurance, which leads to spiritual completion and maturity. James 1:2-4, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4, But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

     Believers can discover deeper joy during life’s hardships. Difficult times test and strengthen our faith, building patience—endurance. Enduring these tests with patience helps us grow spiritually mature, strong, and complete in our faith, lacking zero crucial qualities for life.

·       “Divers temptations” point to various trials, tests, or troubles sent to try our character, rather than enticements to sin.

·       “Count it all joy” is purposefully choose a mindset of complete holy gladness. This means changing how we view pain…reframing it to see it as a tool for growth instead of just another bad event.

·       “Patience” is steadfast endurance, perseverance, or the ability to remain strong under heavy pressure.

·       “Perfect and entire” or spiritually mature, fully developed, and whole in character, rather than completely sinless.

·       “Wanting nothing” refers to no essential spiritual quality or strength needed for life is missing.

The components that we can immediately adapt are surrounding learning—that is habitually learning with people devoted to God as the primary resource—especially those who are biblically successful in areas we desire progress. We must learn through others ministries. It may be shocking, but we really have incredibly few original thoughts.... Most biblical concepts typically came from someone else…which came from someone else…. This is fairly a humbling fact that helps us remain teachable—always seeking growth in the Lord. Yet, life is full of illustrations of brokenness eventuating into considerable growth:

·        Broken and Repaired: Pottery fixed with gold paint, showing that damage makes life unique.

·        The Heavy Load: A person carrying a big rock or giant book, showing how stress builds inner strength.

·        The Storm: A ship moving through big waves, showing bravery during scary changes.

Many Biblical and Historical Examples Demonstrate Using Faith to Face Challenges:

          ·       Joseph’s Pit to Palace: Sold into slavery and falsely imprisoned, Joseph learned humility, perseverance, and deep compassion. He later recognized that God used those hardships to preserve many lives (Genesis 50:20).

          ·       Corrie ten Boom’s Prison Experience: Imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp where she lost her family, Corrie ten Boom learned firsthand that “no matter how deep our pit, God’s love is deeper still.”

          ·       John Bunyan in Bedford Jail: Arrested for preaching without a license, Bunyan used his time in confinement to write The Pilgrim’s Progress, an enduring Christian allegory of persevering through life’s trials.

     B. Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope, not quitting and giving up. Romans 5:3-4, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

     Christ’s followers can rejoice during hard times because tough situations build inner strength. Enduring trials leads to proven character, which then builds a strong and confident hope. 

·       “Tribulations” are hardships, pressures, troubles, or suffering.

·       “Glory in” is to rejoice or exult in, not because pain is good, but because of what God achieves through it.

·       “Worketh patience” or produces endurance, steadfastness, or the ability to remain under pressure without giving up.

·       “Experience” is proven character, testing, or spiritual maturity that has stood the test of time.

·       “Hope” is a certain, confident expectation of God’s promises and eternal good that does not disappoint.

Believers can find joy and purpose in these hard times. Difficult trials build patience, patience builds proven character, and that character strengthens a confident, unshakeable hope in God. We conscientiously reframe suffering as a tool for spiritual growth rather than a punishment.

·       Reflect on the Refiner’s Fire: Precious metals like silver and gold are heated intensely so that impurities rise to the top and can be skimmed off. A refiner knows the process is complete only when he can see his own reflection mirrored in the metal.

·       Meditate on the Next Mile Wisdom: Reminiscent of early explorers facing a daunting 450-mile wilderness trek, the best advice is often given by an old guide: “Just think about the next mile you have to go, never about all 450.” Faith calls believers to trust God for daily, step-by-step grace (Matthew 6:34).

C. It is Extremely Helpful to Note the Spiritual Progression! These verses outline a step-by-step chain reaction in our lives:

     ·       Trial comes first.

     ·       Patience is forged by surviving the trial.

     ·       Character is shaped by long-term patience.

     ·       Hope is the final outcome, rooted deeply in God’s love.

     D.  God in His Wisdom Gives Us Visual Symbols of Growth to Help Us Stay with It and Not Quit.

·        The Mountain Climb: A small person walking up a steep and rocky hill. This shows that reaching the top takes hard work.

·        The Lotus Flower: A pretty flower growing out of thick, dirty mud. It tells us that beauty and wisdom come from bad places.

·        The Kink in the Tree: A tree trunk with a sharp bend that keeps growing tall anyway. It proves that scars do not stop life.

Conclusion:

There must be no genuine differences in our personal philosophy and these thoughts presented in the Word. Concentration in the Scriptures will always be greater than our ideas, but the impressions of mentoring, training our minds to think, and processing godly concepts are all components we must take ownership. There are helpful disciplines we must adopt:

     ·       Fix your eyes on Jesus: Hebrews 12:2 encourages looking past the immediate trial to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

     ·       Reframe the pain as temporary: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 notes that outer struggles are light and momentary compared to unseen eternal glory.

     ·       Keep on praying without ceasing: Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to swap anxiety for prayer and thanksgiving to receive God’s peace.

     ·       Depend on God’s daily grace: 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. 

Learning during hardships means growing stronger through hard times. We grow wiser when we face dark days, pain, difficulties, or heavy work. Beloved, learning of Christ who points constantly to God must be the goal for us. We will enjoy discovering truths and insights we’ve never seen or thought about before. Consider, the Spark in the Dark: A small light bulb or glowing star shining in a black room. It means a new idea is born from trouble.

Child of God, Recall the Deep-Rooted Sapling: Trees that grow in sheltered, easy environments develop shallow roots. Hard winds, storms, and rocky soil force a tree’s roots to go deep into the earth, resulting in a core strength that withstands future devastation. (Unknown)

The scriptures should always be the final authority in every matter. If the subject was not important enough for God to address it directly or in principle in the Bible, then it is okay for us to be quiet about it as well. You and I may have a personal preference, but that’s all it is…a personal preference. We are not free to elevate that idea to a requirement or standard for others. Know that trials deepen faith, build character, and produce resilient hope.

Today there are many avenues to ingest more Bible content and godly substance. Though we must proceed with real caution, much can be learned as we apply ourselves. We may study more Bible chapters, read more helpful commentaries and books, listen to solid podcasts, watch spiritually edifying videos, listen to inspiring individuals speak in person, set under God-centered preaching and teaching, pay close attention to a panel that’s assembled with godly growth in mind, and many other ways to expose our hearts to God’s truth. There are notable benefits relationally, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and experientially for such endeavors. God works powerfully through a willingness to submit ourselves to His authority in our lives. It is wise to cultivate a holy fear of God as we endeavor. So, take seriously this effort to intentionally learn and develop in the Lord. A life could not be better spent learning and obeying Him.