★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)
(Now Church of Christ in Nations)
Hwolshe, Gigiring - Jos
7th May, 2000
SERMON
* Speaker: [no data]
* Topic: The Purpose in our Problems and Human Limitations
* Jesus is not against pleasure, but afflictions MUST come our way
* When Jesus called the 12 disciples and the first believers to follow Him, He did not pretend it was going to be easy
* Paul admitted that he was fragile, but God in his infinite mercy keeps him strong
* God has an incredible plan for each one of us
* Satan was not making it easy for Paul, because he was effective for Christ
★ 2 Corinthians 11:23b → " . . . in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often."
* God may call us to suffer something. It's humanly meaningless to us
" My life is full of weaving
From God and me;
I cannot choose the colours . . ."
* Our human limitation brings some benefits. He uses such situations to bring glory to Himself
1. The reminders of Christ's suffering for us
* Christ suffered because our sins were on Him
* Satan tries to isolate us in our affliction and make us feel that no one cares - BUT GOD KNOWS
2. Our weaknesses Keep us from self-sufficiency
* Sometimes when you are doing all right, you tend to forget Christ and don't depend on Him for anything
* It doesn't take God a moment to tell us how vulnerable we are
* In our weaknesses, He makes and shows Himself strong
* When God humbles you through suffering, you should learn to appreciate him and TRUST HIM
3. Our suffering causes us to look beyond this brief life
* When we see the tragedy and suffering around us, we long for a better life beyond
4. Suffering proves our faith to others
* God doesn't promise us to always be healthy, or wealthy as many hold claim
* In the end, God takes the glory - even in the sight of those that keenly observe us
* Satan tries to make us concentrate on some specific problems we face and in fact, the glory and His light is blurred out in that process
* We must demonstrate our faith as God's children, and that it is vital
5. Suffering gives God the opportunity to demonstrate His power and omnipotence
★ Philippians 4:13 →"I can do all things through him a who strengthens me."
* When God asks you to do something, He also gives you the power (and grace) to accomplish it
* When you depend on God, He proves His power and honours his words
* It is not by power, but by God's Spirit
* When God asks you to do something and you know you naturally can't do it, praise Him because he will demonstrate His power
* The more you admit your need of Him, the more He releases His power through you
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