Joy in the Midst of Suffering

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Peter 1:1-9

Peter provides 2 insights about having joy during times of suffering. First, God will grant us a glorious inheritance in heaven as his adopted children. Second, God, like a goldsmith, is refining our faith through our sufferings.\r\n

Temptation

Dennis McCallum

James 1:13-15

James warns on the temptations of the world and how we view them over God. Legitimate desires become lust when we look to them for meaning and happiness rather than God. When we view desires as solutions to our problems they become lusts and displace God. We have the option to admit our problems without blame-shifting, and to cling to God's Truth.

Getting Ready to Give

Dennis McCallum

James 1:1-8

Are we willing to turn to God to seek wisdom in the midst of suffering? James talks about perseverance through trials and, with wisdom from God, to consider trials an opportunity for joy. We can turn to God who will give us the strength to make it through trials and shape us in our broken state to be used in His plans. God is going to provide for us if we are sold out for Him in our hearts and minds. When we are provided for through Him we are able to become grateful and able to give out to others who are also going through trials.

1 Kings: Coming Down from Mt. Carmel

Scott Risley

1 Kings 19

King Ahab's wife, Jezebel, is furious that Elijah executed Baal's prophets. She sends Elijah a death threat, so he flees, begging God to end his life of suffering and fear. Instead, God sends a raven with food and Elijah travels to Mount Sinai. The Lord pulls Elijah out of his spiritual depression by offering him rest, listening to his complaints, renewing his perspective, and continuing his mission.

Basic Training

Scott Risley

1 Kings 15-17

Israel is led by a series of progressively evil, short-lived kings. Ahab and Jezebel take over, installing altars to Baal and an Asherah pole. This angers the Lord and he sends Elijah, the prophet, to tell Ahab there will be no rain for three years in Israel. Elijah goes into hiding, eventually meeting a widow with enough flour and oil for one last meal before starvation.

Disputing with God

Jim Leffel

1 Corinthians 10:13

Jeremiah complains and accuses God because he is suffering. God responds to Jeremiah with assurance that He will restore him and protect him if Jeremiah simply chooses to return to God. God assures Jeremiah that God is his fortress; this is reminder for Jeremiah from earlier that He will make Jeremiah strong like walls. Walls are useless until tested; Jeremiah is now being tested through suffering. Jeremiah does end up choosing to return to the Lord in grace and he was restored to God's work

Jesus in the Old Testament (Part 11)

Gary DeLashmutt

Isaiah 55:1-11

Four passages predict and describe the Messiah's ultimate reign but focus on his prior sufferings as God's Servant. These passages detail centuries in advance the specific suffering he would go through for the very people who were persecuting him. His death was the ultimate payment for humanity's sins and our response to his sacrifice on the cross impacts our lives for eternity. Because of God's great love for us, He makes eternity available through simply turning to Him and accepting His Servant's work on the cross to pay for our sins.\r\n

Jesus in the Old Testament (Part 9)

Gary DeLashmutt

Luke 24:44-47

Walking According to the Spirit (Part 3)

Dennis McCallum

Romans 8:28-29

Growing in our relationship with God not only involves building up our inner spiritual person, it also requires our outer man be broken. Paul says later in chapter 8, "If by the Spirit, you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." God uses outward circumstances to crack our outer man, and as that outer man is put to death, the Spirit of God within us become more visible. In order to experience this life out of death, we have to actively cooperate with what God is doing in our lives, reject illegitimate pain reducers, and have a position-oriented perspective.