IF God loves me…

Job + Health + Relationship

God Loves Me IF…

Why…?

Moralism!

He's punishing me…

He's punishing me… (Jesus took all our punishment)

I'm not good enough…

I'm not good enough… (Good luck with that!)

That's not fair, God!

(Who said God is fair?) That's not fair, God!

Every hardship is an Opportunity to Grow in your faith And become what you were Created to be

What you don't get to choose: What you get to choose:

Your Response Determines God's activity In your life

4 3 Reasons: - Trial - Discipline - Circumstances of Life 4 3 Reasons: - Trial - Discipline - Circumstances of Life

Where we gonna get grub?

Where we gonna get grub? Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he would do - John 6:6

Worried, scared of the crowd Anxious about what to do

Worried, scared of the crowd Anxious about what to do Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he would do - John 6:6

Peirazo- tempt, try, test

Peirazo- tempt, try, test Satan: tempt with the goal of causing failure and sin

Peirazo- tempt, try, test God: Test with the goal of Causing the Growth Of your Faith

5,000 Fed with 5 + 2

Disciples Learn: Things are tough We're in need Jesus has got this!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds Peirazo!

…for you know that the testing (proving) of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The trial contains a gift, An opportunity to become What you wish you were

Careful: Shortcut the process

Complain my way through it

Don't turn it into a "Poor me!"

Don't get bitter

God may not have caused it But the trial is evidence That God is working In your life

Don't miss the blessing Because you're busy Cussing the problem

Marriage…not fair!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith… - James 1:2-6

Your Response Determines your blessing

Don't curse what God is using to bless

Every hardship is an Opportunity to Grow in your faith And become what you were Created to be

IF you choose to Respond in faith…

3 Reasons: - Trial - Discipline - Circumstances of Life

The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

If you are not disciplined— and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Proof of God's love

Which Parent…?

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it - Hebrews 12:6-11

Options - Ignore - Get angry - Justify

Options - Ignore - Get angry - Justify Seek, Confess, Repent, Grow

…it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it

Willful, ongoing sin God needs to weed it out - Conviction - Messages - Discipline

Continued to lie to customers Customer came back angry Threatened to sue Lost job Repented instead of ignoring

Hardship= Search Heart

3 Reasons: - Trial - Discipline - Circumstances of Life

Creation: Idyllic

Fall: Cain kills Abel

Fall: Cain kills Abel What did Abel do wrong? Is that fair?

Affected by The Fall: Free Will Nature Health

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Moralism

Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him…"

Not everything that happens Has a Spiritual reason But everything that happens Has the potential for Divine Purpose

…Jesus spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”

So he went and washed and came back seeing - John 9:1-3, 6-7

Who sinned? No specific sin But Circumstances of Life In a Fallen world

Circumstances of Life Creates Opportunity For God to Show Up

Based on our Response

Every hardship is an Opportunity to Grow in your faith And become more like What you were Created to be

I can't control: Their behavior Nature's brokenness My own Fallenness But I can choose my response

- God's not punishing you

- God's not punishing you - It's not about being Good enough

- God's not punishing - It's not about being Good enough - God is absolutely unfair

For many of us Hard times are how we Come to know Jesus