PERSEVERE THROUGH SUFFERING
How have you lessened the burden of suffering in the past?
-
Dealt with my anger immediately
-
Stopped blaming other people for my problems
-
Looked for the positive
-
Shared my trouble’s with a caring friend
-
Stopped living in “denial”
Whenever you face a difficult interaction in your life,
make sure you take the shield of faith with you. God Himself will be on your side, for He will
assure you that there is nothing about the situation that can cause His
acceptance of you to waver (Neil Clark Warren).
How can you persevere
through suffering?
1)
Accept Jesus
Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
a. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, because of God’s gracious kindness, He sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy His anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for ours (Romans 3:23-25).
b. You must turn from your sins and to God in
repentance, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts
c. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards only those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
i.
A good reason you should accept Christ as your personal
Lord and Savior:
1. ·
I want to reconcile with God
2. ·
I want to be adopted into God’s spiritual family
3. ·
I want to do the right things and stop “screwing up”
4. ·
I want purpose in life
5. ·
Other: ____________________
2)
Be certain
God will vindicate His people.
a. Even though the earth will eventually wear away, God’s salvation will last forever; His righteousness will never fail (Isaiah 51:6).
b. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ, for
there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved
(Acts
c. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
i.
How does security in Jesus help you cope with suffering
___________________________?
3)
Cultivate
your dependence on God.
a. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9).
b. If you had faith as small as a mustard seed
nothing would be impossible for you (Matthew
c. If you believe, you will receive whatever
you ask for in prayer (Matthew
d.
i.
One area in your life you want to depend on God more
with: ___________________________.
4)
Remain
joyful.
a. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalms 51:12).
b. Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2-3).
i. Why should you remain joyful?
1. It
doesn’t help me any to complain
2. Being
pessimistic never helped me before
3. I
have hope and security in God’s deliverance
4. I
look more attractive when I smile
5. Other:
_______________________
5)
Continually
seek God.
a. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (Revelation 1:3).
i.
Do you read your Bible enough to provide food for your
spirit ____________________________?
b. If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from Heaven and then I will forgive their sin and then I will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
i.
Do you pray enough to have a functional lifeline with
God ________________________________?
c. Strengthen and encourage other followers of
Jesus to remain true to the faith because we must go through many hardships
before we enter the
i.
God never intended for you to be alone in your walk
with Him. Do you have an accountability
partner to encourage you ______________________________________________________________?