1.The reason we are experiencing daily trials, tests, and temptations is that God wants to see if he can nead us into nourishing bread, which he can feed to others.
2. The trials of life shape us into the character and nutrients needed to feed the hungry.
3. A mother sacrifices for children. Grandparents give of themselves to children and grandchildren.
The children never realizes or appreciates what we sacrifice until it's their turn to serve.
4. Living the truth and bringing the light to the world around us is usually unnoticed.
5. Home life reveals whether we truly possess the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
6. When we don't understand why we must submit to trials, or loss of position, it's because God is making us one with Him.
7. Jesus submitted to his parents and siblings for 30 years before beginning his ministry.
He submitted to 40 days of loneliness and temptation.
He submitted to the will of the heavenly Father.
He was betrayed, and deserted, and beaten, whipped, mocked, spit on, and executed.
8. Will we submit to our period of trial and become nourishing bread, or just be a billboard for the bread shop?
9. Bread must be mixed, neaded, baked, cut , wrapped, separated, and served.
10. No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends.
11. Usually our sacrifice is not a one-time crisis, but a daily submission.
Romans 8:18
I consider the sufferings of this present time, not worthy to be compared with the reward of glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18
1. If we take a spiritual view of affliction, we will see that God is working an eternal inward reward of glory that brings inner joy and peace.
2. The outer man wastes away but the inner man is renewed day by day. Our affliction, which is for a moment is working for us a more exceeding eternal weight of glory. 2Cor.4:16-18
3. If we take a worldly view of affliction, we see our body wasting away and turn to self-pity and despair.
4. Better the inner growth of the spiritual man and God's eternal reward, which is accomplished by afflictions and trials, than to bemoan the loss of strength and become stagnant in our soul.
5. It depends on your perspective. Is it spiritual or worldly?
If you are walking with Christ in faith the affliction you endure is working an eternal reward of glory.
6. Rising above the worldly view and its daily distractions, we will see the invisible inner character growing. Not only our eternal reward; but the invisible grace of God in our spirit now.
7. God may be working in us through a difficult person, a hard circumstance, a physical affliction, an emotional disturbance, a financial loss.
8. We need to view these afflictions as tools enabling us to grow in character and glory. Look for the unseen inner work. Anyone can do well when all is well.
Learn to let circumstances work as they may and trust God for grace to build a greater reward of glory in us and in the eternal unseen future.
Easy to say about a hard to do.
1. If we take a spiritual view of affliction, we will see that God is working an eternal inward reward of glory that brings inner joy and peace.
2. The outer man wastes away but the inner man is renewed day by day. Our affliction, which is for a moment is working for us a more exceeding eternal weight of glory. 2Cor.4:16-18
3. If we take a worldly view of affliction, we see our body wasting away and turn to self-pity and despair.
4. Better the inner growth of the spiritual man and God's eternal reward, which is accomplished by afflictions and trials, than to bemoan the loss of strength and become stagnant in our soul.
5. It depends on your perspective. Is it spiritual or worldly?
If you are walking with Christ in faith the affliction you endure is working an eternal reward of glory.
6. Rising above the worldly view and its daily distractions, we will see the invisible inner character growing. Not only our eternal reward; but the invisible grace of God in our spirit now.
7. God may be working in us through a difficult person, a hard circumstance, a physical affliction, an emotional disturbance, a financial loss.
8. We need to view these afflictions as tools enabling us to grow in character and glory. Look for the unseen inner work. Anyone can do well when all is well.
Learn to let circumstances work as they may and trust God for grace to build a greater reward of glory in us and in the eternal unseen future.
Easy to say about a hard to do.
Decending to the Valley
Oswald Chambers said "The test of spiritual life is the power to descend."
1. We would prefer to remain on the mountain of glory. Like Peter at the transfiguration
.
2. We were created to live in the Valley.
3. To covet glorious manifestations is like asking God to perform for us, when it should be us doing the performing.
4. Better to wash feet than to demand a miracle.
5. Not every worship service is meant to be glorious, yet God is in each one.
6. We carry his Holy Spirit within us, and collective worship brings his presence into our midst
7. Don't think the worship is a failure when it isn't as glorious as you hoped for
.
8. When God sends glory and manifestations of His presence it is always exceptional!
9. Our heavenly Father is more interested in building character.
10. After Jesus descended from the mount he faced a demon possessed boy. Another Valley experience.
11. It's in humility and daily service that we become a light to the world and useful to God.
12. We prefer to be heroic, God wants us to be faithful.
13. Faithful in the Valley of daily unnoticed life and sacrifice.
14. Sometimes God brings individuals to himself by allowing them to experience despair and come to the end of themselves.
15. It appears that God has become powerless, we feel humiliated, wishing we could rescue God's reputation.
16. It's better to pray and let God expel the demon. Remain faithful.
17. More is accomplished in the Valley of Humiliation than on the Mount of Glory
1. We would prefer to remain on the mountain of glory. Like Peter at the transfiguration
.
2. We were created to live in the Valley.
3. To covet glorious manifestations is like asking God to perform for us, when it should be us doing the performing.
4. Better to wash feet than to demand a miracle.
5. Not every worship service is meant to be glorious, yet God is in each one.
6. We carry his Holy Spirit within us, and collective worship brings his presence into our midst
7. Don't think the worship is a failure when it isn't as glorious as you hoped for
.
8. When God sends glory and manifestations of His presence it is always exceptional!
9. Our heavenly Father is more interested in building character.
10. After Jesus descended from the mount he faced a demon possessed boy. Another Valley experience.
11. It's in humility and daily service that we become a light to the world and useful to God.
12. We prefer to be heroic, God wants us to be faithful.
13. Faithful in the Valley of daily unnoticed life and sacrifice.
14. Sometimes God brings individuals to himself by allowing them to experience despair and come to the end of themselves.
15. It appears that God has become powerless, we feel humiliated, wishing we could rescue God's reputation.
16. It's better to pray and let God expel the demon. Remain faithful.
17. More is accomplished in the Valley of Humiliation than on the Mount of Glory
LOOK
1. The word for faith in the Old Testament is "Look".
To have faith is to look for, to trust in, to believe on.
2. Quote from Kierkergard "Faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence (certainty) of things not seen."
3. It seems hard to believe when we can't see, but we can keep looking for God to answer our prayers, if they correspond to his will.
4. "If you have faith and don't doubt you can say to this mountain, may God lift you up and throw you into the sea, and it will happen. If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matt.21:21-22
5. Jesus cursed a fig tree, and it weathered up right away "May you never bear fruit again."
6. Look for God to answer your prayers, even though it appears the opposite is happening. Abraham prayed for Sodom to be spared if only 10 righteous people lived there. The next day, it appeared the righteous had perished with the city, but God was answering Abraham's prayer. The righteous were led out before the destruction.
7. Satan battles to keep our prayers unanswered, so keep looking.
8. Daniel prayed for three weeks before God answered his prayers. Others have prayed for years or even died before seeing their prayers answered.
9. Looking for the second coming of Christ brings a characteristic of faith.
The attitude of waiting and looking is a mark of Christian discipleship.
To have faith is to look for, to trust in, to believe on.
2. Quote from Kierkergard "Faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence (certainty) of things not seen."
3. It seems hard to believe when we can't see, but we can keep looking for God to answer our prayers, if they correspond to his will.
4. "If you have faith and don't doubt you can say to this mountain, may God lift you up and throw you into the sea, and it will happen. If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matt.21:21-22
5. Jesus cursed a fig tree, and it weathered up right away "May you never bear fruit again."
6. Look for God to answer your prayers, even though it appears the opposite is happening. Abraham prayed for Sodom to be spared if only 10 righteous people lived there. The next day, it appeared the righteous had perished with the city, but God was answering Abraham's prayer. The righteous were led out before the destruction.
7. Satan battles to keep our prayers unanswered, so keep looking.
8. Daniel prayed for three weeks before God answered his prayers. Others have prayed for years or even died before seeing their prayers answered.
9. Looking for the second coming of Christ brings a characteristic of faith.
The attitude of waiting and looking is a mark of Christian discipleship.
New Age & Hinduism
New Age religion is actually a form of Hinduism. The "look with" idea of finding God.
1 The idea that there are varieties of ways to reach God, rather than the narrow one way, one truth, one life, through Jesus Christ.
2 The idea that all religions provide a valid path to God.
3 The idea that all creation is part of an infinite impersonal force that is God.
In Hinduism this impersonal God is called Brahman.
4 Everything is God, including us.
In Hinduism, there are millions of gods and goddesses (polytheistic).
The finite gods are personal, but the infinite God, Brahman , is impersonal.
Hindu doctrine teaches us to discover our own inward divinity.
We should be recognizing our inward sinfulness, and look outwards to the Savior who died to provide our salvation, and restore our relationship with our heavenly Father.
If we repent and turn from our sinful self ,the cross of Christ brings intimate connection and fellowship with God.
5 Hinduism encourages detachment from recognizing our sin ; but Christianity encourages engagement, confession, repenting, and victory.
6 Hinduism lacks the power to give spiritual fulfillment.
Christ provides forgiveness ,fellowship ,and fulfillment.
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