Faith and Suffering: Embracing God's Promises
Summary
Taking a moment to reflect on our journey of faith, we often find ourselves wrestling with the tension between our circumstances and our understanding of God's promises. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that our faith guarantees a life free from hardship, but this overlooks the profound truth that the worst possible thing happened to the best possible person—Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, Christianity has been rooted in the reality that suffering and faith coexist.
We are often tempted to forge God's signature on promises He never made, seeking assurance that if we do our part, God must respond in kind. This mindset is rooted in a misunderstanding of the covenants found in the Bible. The Old Covenant, made with ancient Israel, was a national contract with specific blessings and curses based on the nation's obedience. However, as followers of Christ, we are part of a New Covenant, one that promises eternal life and fellowship with God, not necessarily a life free from trials.
Our faith is not measured by our circumstances but by the event of the cross, where Jesus demonstrated God's love and commitment to us. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses—those who endured suffering and hardship yet remained faithful. Their stories encourage us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and to run our race with perseverance, regardless of the challenges we face.
In moments of doubt and despair, we are invited to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This is the promise we can hold onto, the assurance that God's sustaining grace is available to us, empowering us to endure and persevere through life's trials.
Key Takeaways:
- Forging God's Signature: We must resist the temptation to forge God's signature on promises He never made. Our faith is not a formula for guaranteed blessings but a relationship rooted in trust and surrender to God's will. [01:24]
- Understanding the Covenants: The Old Covenant was a national contract with Israel, while the New Covenant through Jesus offers eternal life and fellowship with God. Our promises are not tied to circumstances but to the cross. [07:22]
- The Great Cloud of Witnesses: We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who endured suffering yet remained faithful. Their stories inspire us to persevere and trust in God's faithfulness, even when life is difficult. [28:06]
- Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: In times of hardship, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, not our circumstances. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and through Him, we find strength and hope. [33:35]
- Approaching God's Throne of Grace: We are invited to approach God's throne with confidence, assured of His mercy and grace in our time of need. This promise sustains us, providing strength to endure and persevere. [37:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Confession and Forging Signatures
[01:24] - The Temptation of Promising Guarantees
[02:39] - The Reality of Suffering in Faith
[03:37] - Holding onto God in Difficult Times
[06:47] - Misunderstanding the Covenants
[08:01] - Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
[11:29] - Looking to the Cross, Not Circumstances
[14:03] - Jesus and the New Covenant
[17:24] - Better Promises in the New Covenant
[22:30] - The Promise to Abraham
[23:57] - The Great Cloud of Witnesses
[28:06] - Running the Race with Perseverance
[33:35] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[37:24] - Approaching God's Throne of Grace
[40:52] - Closing and Invitation to Stand
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 12:1-2
2. Hebrews 4:16
3. Romans 8:32
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the author of Hebrews mean by "a great cloud of witnesses" and how does this relate to the stories of faith mentioned in the sermon? [28:06]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? [07:22]
3. What is the significance of Jesus being referred to as the "author and perfecter of our faith" in the context of the sermon? [33:35]
4. According to the sermon, what is the promise we can hold onto when approaching God's throne of grace? [37:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "forging God's signature" on promises He never made challenge common perceptions of faith and blessings? [01:24]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our faith should be anchored to the event of the cross rather than our circumstances? [11:46]
3. How does the sermon interpret the role of suffering in the life of a believer, and what examples from the Bible are used to illustrate this? [28:06]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between God's promises and our expectations of a life free from trials? [16:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you might have "forged God's signature" by expecting a specific outcome from God. How did that affect your faith when things didn't go as planned? [01:24]
2. The sermon encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus during hardships. What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on Jesus rather than your circumstances? [33:35]
3. Consider the "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews. How can the stories of those who have endured suffering inspire you to persevere in your own faith journey? [28:06]
4. The sermon discusses approaching God's throne of grace with confidence. What barriers might be preventing you from doing this, and how can you overcome them? [37:24]
5. How can understanding the difference between the Old and New Covenants change the way you view God's promises in your life? [07:22]
6. Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you apply the sermon’s message about God's sustaining grace to help you endure this challenge? [38:18]
7. The sermon suggests that our faith is not a formula for guaranteed blessings. How can you cultivate a relationship with God that is rooted in trust and surrender rather than expectations of specific outcomes? [01:24]
Devotional
Day 1: Resisting the Temptation to Forge God's Promises
In our journey of faith, we often face the temptation to forge God's signature on promises He never made. This occurs when we expect that our faith will guarantee a life free from hardship, misunderstanding the nature of our relationship with God. Our faith is not a formula for guaranteed blessings but a relationship rooted in trust and surrender to God's will. We must remember that the worst possible thing happened to the best possible person—Jesus Christ. This truth reminds us that suffering and faith coexist, and our faith is measured not by our circumstances but by our trust in God's promises. [01:24]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you been expecting God to fulfill promises He never made? How can you shift your focus to trusting in His actual promises today?
Day 2: Understanding the New Covenant
The Old Covenant was a national contract with Israel, filled with specific blessings and curses based on the nation's obedience. However, as followers of Christ, we are part of a New Covenant, one that promises eternal life and fellowship with God, not necessarily a life free from trials. Our promises are not tied to our circumstances but to the cross, where Jesus demonstrated God's love and commitment to us. This New Covenant invites us into a relationship with God that transcends our earthly experiences and focuses on eternal truths. [07:22]
"But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding the New Covenant change your perspective on the challenges you face today? What steps can you take to live more fully in the promises of the New Covenant?
Day 3: Inspired by the Great Cloud of Witnesses
We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses—those who endured suffering and hardship yet remained faithful. Their stories encourage us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and to run our race with perseverance, regardless of the challenges we face. These witnesses serve as a testament to God's faithfulness and inspire us to trust in Him, even when life is difficult. By looking to their examples, we find strength and encouragement to persevere in our own faith journeys. [28:06]
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life serves as a witness to God's faithfulness? How can their example inspire you to persevere in your own faith journey today?
Day 4: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
In times of hardship, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, not our circumstances. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and through Him, we find strength and hope. By focusing on Jesus, we are reminded of His sacrifice and the love He demonstrated on the cross. This perspective helps us to navigate life's challenges with a sense of purpose and trust in God's ultimate plan for our lives. [33:35]
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions are keeping you from fixing your eyes on Jesus? How can you refocus your attention on Him today, especially in the midst of challenges?
Day 5: Approaching God's Throne of Grace
In moments of doubt and despair, we are invited to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This is the promise we can hold onto, the assurance that God's sustaining grace is available to us, empowering us to endure and persevere through life's trials. By approaching God with confidence, we open ourselves to His mercy and grace, which provide the strength we need to face any challenge. [37:24]
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to approach God's throne of grace with confidence? How can you seek His mercy and grace in that area today?
Quotes
We are often tempted to forge God's signature on promises He never made, seeking assurance that if we do our part, God must respond in kind. This mindset is rooted in a misunderstanding of the covenants found in the Bible. The Old Covenant, made with ancient Israel, was a national contract with specific blessings and curses based on the nation's obedience. However, as followers of Christ, we are part of a New Covenant, one that promises eternal life and fellowship with God, not necessarily a life free from trials. [00:01:24]
We are all tempted to jump to conclusions about God based on our circumstances or really our ability or inability to interpret circumstances and to kind of try to line up our circumstances with the existence or the presence or the faithfulness of God, positive circumstances and negative our circumstances and other people's circumstances. I mean, your, your faith may have taken its biggest hit not because of something that happened to you, but because of something that happened to someone. [00:04:14]
The old covenant, the covenant between God and ancient Israel was not an arrangement or a contract or a covenant between God and individuals. This is so important. It was a covenant or contract between God and an entire nation, the nation of Israel. And when Israel's leaders and who set the direction, when Israel's leaders got it right, when they were faithful to God, when they kept his commands, God blessed the entire nation. [00:08:40]
But us new covenant people, I'll explain what I mean in a minute. Those of us who aren't part of that national contract between God and ancient Israel, those of us who actually accepted God's invitation to participate in the covenant that Jesus established, we don't look to circumstances to determine where we stand with God. Lemme say that again. We don't look to circumstances to determine where we stand with God. [00:11:19]
Jesus and the Apostle Paul, in particular, Jesus and the Apostle Paul in particular are very clear about the relationship between God's covenant with Israel and God's covenant with the human race through Jesus. Jesus made this so clear during this final Passover. We've looked at this passage many times, and if you grew up in church, this is, these are the verses that the preacher often used when they were serving communion. [00:14:00]
The author of Hebrews going back to Hebrews, the author of Hebrews, speaks directly to the issue of how new covenant people know that God is with us. He speaks directly to this issue because he knew he had many people in his Jewish audience. In fact, the reason it's called the book of Hebrews is because it was written to Jewish Christians and he knew he was talking to a group of people that were accustomed to looking at circumstances to determine if God was with him. [00:22:30]
Therefore, since now, he now he asks us to use our imagination. He says, now therefore, since we are all surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, he says, imagine somewhere in heaven are all these people I just listed who were faithful, faithful, faithful. Some of them submitted, all of them sinned, all of them were unfaithful at times, but they maintained their faith in God. [00:28:06]
He says, and let us run, run with perseverance. The race marked out for each of us. So let's talk about this. See, right now you might be in the se the section of the race. That's the downhill section. It's the easy section. It's the wrinkle-free section. Everybody's in school, everybody's dating somebody you like, you know, you got a bonus. Things are good. [00:29:51]
Peter, the apostle Paul, John who brought us, the story we talked about last week, would say to you, okay, before you panic, before you hit, eject, before you hit, I don't believe, I just want you to look at the promise God made Abraham. And I want you to imagine all the details that happened between Abraham throughout the story of Moses and the ancient Israelites in the Old Testament, all the way to Bethlehem. [00:32:35]
You just fix your eyes. Make sure you're looking in the right direction. He says, lemme just say it for you. The race marked out for you, regardless of what that race looks like, fixing, focusing your eyes, not on your circumstances, not on the person who hurt you, not on the doctors who just don't seem to cooperate and don't seem to care as much as you think they ought to care. Fixing your eyes on Jesus. [00:33:35]
And let us run with perseverance. The race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the leader and the completer, the author and the perfecter of our faith. He's the reason we can have confidence. The author's point is, fix your eyes on Jesus and not on your circumstances, not preacher talk. This is how you lean in and experience the power and the presence of God in the midst of circumstances you didn't choose. [00:35:55]
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence. And why can you approach God's throne of grace with confidence? Don't miss this because what has he just told us? Because sitting next to your heavenly Father is the Son who endured such opposition and such pain. He knows, he feels that he felt it. And he's there seated by the Father interceding for you because he cares. [00:37:24]
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