Collide Hurts

Spiritual Myopathy

Maybe you've prayed Decision is made Action takes place!

Changes are coming together There's excitement!

And then… Broken and broke

And then… Division and anger

And then… Emptiness and confusion

I thought I was following God So why are things so hard?

As I view God's will Through the lens Of my circumstances I feel discouraged And defeated

Did I miss God's will? Am I doing wrong? Do I need to make a change (yet again)?

Spiritual Myopathy

So these people are slaves And a guy comes and says, "God sent me to set you free!"

They believe Things get tough They get free

They've seen miracles Plagues that didn't touch them Water that parted Presence of God

Over the last 7-9 months

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin…

…which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them…

“Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full…

…for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger”

Strange reaction Given all they've seen And experienced

Spiritual Myopathy

They're looking at the Needs of the moment

And missing the God Who has led/protected them Through so much already

He became angry at God And bitter Over a job

…if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? - Jesus, Matt. 6:30

Spiritual Myopathy:

Spiritual Myopathy: All I can see is my present trials Not what God my has done Or what he can still do

Myopathy: Hope is lost Frustration becomes anger People get caught In the crossfire

Myopathy Ignores: "With God, all things are possible…"- Jesus "Nothing will be impossible with God"- Jesus

An opportunity Is lost

…the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day…

Faith vs. Sight: Never view God's direction through the lens of your circumstances

Moses said...“Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord” - Exodus 16

When we strike out at people Over circumstances in which God has clearly led God takes it personally

Do all things without grumbling or disputing… - Phil. 2:14

God let his people get hungry Before he provided… Why?

God could intervene Cause a miracle And change all your circumstances

But he often doesn't, right? One of the reasons we call it A miracle is because it's rare

Why doesn't he?

Supposition: If it's God's will, it will be easy Doors are open It should be a breeze!

Truth: I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me…

Truth: I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries - 1 Cor. 16:9

Never view God's direction through the lens of your circumstances

Circumstance-controlled= - Erratic choices - Inconsistency and faithlessness - Spiritual gymnastics

Circumstance-controlled Leads to: Spiritual immaturity Broken relationships Missed opportunities

Circumstance-controlled: Forgets all that God has done Leaves no room for God to work Ties God's will to my comfort

Never view God's direction through the lens of your circumstances

What opportunity Did they miss? What opportunity Could I miss out on?

...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…

…and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us - Romans 5:3-5

From the Apostle Paul! "I will show him how many things he must suffer for my Name"- God "Light and momentary afflictions…"

Rejoice in the opportunity To trust God and grow Rather than grumble Look for ways out and miss God

Spiritual Myopathy Will stunt Christian Maturity

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing - James 1:2-4

The trial, the heartache The hardships and tough times Don't mean it's not God's will But that God is at work

Jesus is going to redeem us! So he suffers and is tortured (That should be your first clue…)

Missed Opportunity: Grumble Suffer as a Saint Verbally Become bitter Seek shortcuts out

Captured Opportunity: Pray Praise Ask for help Determine to stay faithful

Don't miss what God Wants to do Because you're busy Cursing what God Hasn't changed

God will use the trial To grow you and bless others IF you remain focused on him And faithful to his call

The Israelites missed it In the desert You and I don't have to

What do I need to stop cursing God for and complaining about And start seeing past So I can focus on my God

As a Church We are committed to Following Jesus' leading

We're going to face trials They are proof God is at work Helping us become Who we will need to be

No Myopathy God's direction is not seen Through the lens Of our circumstances