We are so blessed to have been apart of Secret Church last night, from 6 to 12 we heard about the Cross and Suffering, the most clear and thorough presentation of the Gospel. We were able to simulcast (from BrookHills in Birmingham, AL/ David Platt) into our home, put our kids to bed, and worship and learn about the Horn of Africa with our small group from our home.
We heard Truths about suffering:
I write these down here because they are TRUTHS that I need to hear, reread, and remember. That I am not the main character in HIS story. That the story is about HIM, for HIM, and TO GLORIFY HIM. I am honored that he would love me and let me be apart of this story, for his fame, to point others to HIM, to Love me, to pursue me, to be sent and die for me so that THE FATHER IS GLORIFIED. I could go on and on and on.
Matthew 24:9-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The completion of the Great Commission will include great suffering, but eternity will prove it was worth it.
1. A high view of GOD- His sovereignty, His wisdom, His goodness, and His glory is essential for understanding suffering in your life and in this world.
-God exists
-God is sovereign over all evil and suffering.
-God is wise in the midst of all evil and suffering.
-God is good in the midst of all evil and suffering.
-God is worthy of all glory in a world of evil and suffering.
2. A humble view of man- his sinful depravity and small perspective is essential for understanding suffering in your life and in this world.
-We have a dangerous tendency to over estimate our wisdom.
-We have a damning tendency to underestimate our wickedness.
3. The Ultimate reason suffering exists is to exalt the glory of God's Son for the salvation of undeserving sinners.
-To exalt the glory of God' grace.......He creates us for His glory, God saves us by His grace
-Through the suffering of God's Son.....God planned the crucifixion of Jesus before the creation of the world, God permitted sin and suffering in the world ultimately in order to make Good Friday a reality,
-For the salvation of undeserving sinners......God permits sin to enter the world, God ordains suffering to enter the world, God sends His son into the world to suffer for sinners, God saves undeserving sinners for the glory of His grace, and He suffered on our behalf to save us from our sins, AND all of this was planned before time began.
4. God ordains suffering for the Christian in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes.
-To refine our faith.
-To reveal His glory.
-To teach us to rely on Him.
-To bring us to repent and renounce all sin in our lives.
-To lead us to our reward in Him.
The completion of the Great Commission will include great suffering.
Christ will be honored as King
Philippians 3:7-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Revelation 22:12-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
vs 20
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
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