Faith Through Suffering: Embracing God's Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: God Redeems Our Suffering

In our deepest moments of suffering, God can bring forth some of the greatest ministry in our lives. When we allow God to redeem our worst experiences, He can use them to change someone else's life. This truth is evident in the way Jesus' suffering on the cross brought salvation to humanity. Similarly, our suffering can be a platform for God's glory and ministry to others. It is not about the suffering itself but about how God can transform it for His purposes. Embracing this perspective can help us see our trials as opportunities for growth and service.

[50:55]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced deep suffering. How can you allow God to use that experience to minister to someone else who is going through a similar trial?

Day 2: Faith Precedes Seeing

True faith is not about seeing first but believing first. The Pharisees demanded signs despite witnessing numerous miracles, revealing their hardened hearts. This approach is flawed because it places conditions on faith. True faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Believing in Jesus leads to seeing His work in our lives. When we trust in Jesus, we begin to see His hand in our circumstances, even when it is not immediately apparent.

[13:49]

John 20:29 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you are struggling to see God's hand. Can you choose to believe in His goodness and provision even before you see the evidence?

Day 3: Pride as a Barrier to Faith

Pride is a significant threat to faith because it leads us to rely on ourselves rather than on God. Jesus warned His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees, symbolizing the pride and unbelief that can corrupt our hearts. Pride causes us to miss out on God's provision and guidance because we are too focused on our own abilities and understanding. To cultivate true faith, we must humble ourselves and acknowledge our dependence on God. This humility allows us to receive His grace and wisdom.

[26:40]

Proverbs 16:18-19 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where pride may be hindering your faith. How can you humble yourself and rely more on God's wisdom and guidance in that area?

Day 4: God's Sovereignty in Our Trials

God allows us to go through difficult times not because He is vindictive but because He wants us to learn to trust Him. Our suffering can be a platform for God's glory and ministry to others. Just as Jesus' suffering on the cross brought salvation to humanity, our suffering can be used by God to bring about His purposes. Understanding God's sovereignty in our trials helps us to trust Him more deeply and to see our challenges as opportunities for growth and service.

[40:26]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you view your current trials as opportunities to trust God more deeply and to grow in your faith?

Day 5: Embracing Suffering

Instead of running from suffering, we should embrace it and seek to learn what God is teaching us through it. Our suffering can make us more like Jesus, who suffered for our salvation. By embracing our trials, we allow God to work in us and through us, transforming our character and deepening our faith. This perspective helps us to see suffering not as a punishment but as a tool for spiritual growth and ministry.

[54:16]

1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV): "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."

Reflection: What is one way you can embrace your current suffering and seek to learn what God is teaching you through it? How can this perspective change your approach to trials?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound truth that some of the greatest ministry in our lives often emerges from our deepest moments of suffering. We began by reading Mark 8:1-21, where Jesus miraculously feeds 4,000 people with seven loaves and a few small fish. This miracle, like the feeding of the 5,000 earlier, demonstrates Jesus' compassion and divine provision. However, the disciples and the Pharisees still struggled with belief, seeking signs and proof of Jesus' divinity.

We delved into the concept of "seeing is believing" and how it can be misleading, especially in our relationship with God. Many people, including some Christians, demand visible signs from God before they will believe or obey Him. This approach is flawed because true faith is not about seeing first but believing first, which then leads to seeing. The Pharisees' demand for a sign, despite witnessing numerous miracles, highlighted their hardened hearts and pride.

We discussed the importance of faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, which is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. True faith has an object, and for Christians, that object is Jesus. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith in Jesus enables us to trust Him, even in the midst of life's storms.

Pride is a significant threat to faith. Jesus warned His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, symbolizing the pride and unbelief that can corrupt our hearts. Pride leads us to rely on ourselves rather than on God, causing us to miss out on His provision and guidance.

We concluded by emphasizing that God allows us to go through difficult times not because He is vindictive but because He wants us to learn to trust Him. Our suffering can be a platform for God's glory and ministry to others. Just as Jesus' suffering on the cross brought salvation to humanity, our suffering can be used by God to bring about His purposes.

###

Key Takeaways

1. God Redeems Our Suffering: Some of the greatest ministry in our lives comes from our deepest moments of suffering. God can take the worst experiences and use them to change someone else's life if we allow Him to redeem those moments. [50:55]
2. Faith Precedes Seeing: True faith is not about seeing first but believing first. The Pharisees demanded signs despite witnessing miracles, revealing their hardened hearts. Believing in Jesus leads to seeing His work in our lives. [13:49]
3. Pride as a Barrier to Faith: Pride is a significant threat to faith. It leads us to rely on ourselves rather than on God. Jesus warned His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees, symbolizing the pride and unbelief that can corrupt our hearts. [26:40]
4. God's Sovereignty in Our Trials: God allows us to go through difficult times not because He is vindictive but because He wants us to learn to trust Him. Our suffering can be a platform for God's glory and ministry to others. [40:26]
5. Embracing Suffering: Instead of running from suffering, we should embrace it and seek to learn what God is teaching us through it. Our suffering can make us more like Jesus, who suffered for our salvation. [54:16]
### [54:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - Reading from Mark 8:1-21
[04:09] - Introduction: Seeing is Believing?
[05:25] - The Illusion of Seeing
[07:20] - Jesus Feeds the 4,000
[10:25] - The Pharisees Demand a Sign
[13:49] - Faith and Belief
[16:44] - The Object of Our Faith
[20:13] - Stepping Out in Faith
[24:03] - The Threat of Pride
[28:15] - Trusting Jesus in Every Situation
[32:00] - God's Sovereignty in Our Trials
[36:26] - The Temptation of Pride
[40:26] - Embracing Suffering
[44:00] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[50:55] - God Redeems Our Suffering
[56:50] - Invitation to Stand and Pray

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What miracle did Jesus perform in Mark 8:1-21, and how did the disciples initially react to the situation? [01:07]
How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees' demand for a sign, and what was His reasoning? [10:25]
What warning did Jesus give His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Herod," and what did He mean by it? [24:54]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the disciples struggled to understand Jesus' miracles despite witnessing them firsthand? [08:45]
How does Hebrews 11:1 define faith, and why is this definition significant for believers? [14:48]
In what ways can pride act as a barrier to faith, according to the sermon? [26:40]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you demanded a sign or proof from God before you were willing to trust Him. How did that situation turn out, and what did you learn from it? [05:59]
The sermon mentioned that true faith involves believing first, which then leads to seeing. How can you practice this kind of faith in your current life circumstances? [13:49]
Pride can lead us to rely on ourselves rather than on God. Identify an area in your life where pride might be hindering your faith. What steps can you take to surrender that area to God? [26:40]
The sermon emphasized that God allows us to go through difficult times to teach us to trust Him. How can you shift your perspective on a current or past trial to see it as an opportunity for growth and ministry? [40:26]
Instead of running from suffering, we are encouraged to embrace it and seek to learn from it. What is one practical way you can embrace a current challenge and look for what God is teaching you through it? [54:16]
Think of a person in your life who might be going through a difficult time. How can you use your own experiences of suffering to minister to them and offer support? [50:55]
How can you keep your focus on Jesus during life's storms, and what specific actions can you take to strengthen your faith in Him? [44:00]

Sermon Clips

1. "Some of the greatest ministry that will ever flow out of your life is going to come on a platter of ruin. He's going to take the worst things in your life, the worst moments of suffering in your life, and if you will let Him, He will redeem that moment in your life and He will use it to change somebody else's life." [50:24] (-2988 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Friends, we have to understand that while seeing is not believing, believing will lead to seeing. You know, it's interesting that this is really, in this passage of Scripture, a discussion about faith. Now, I know that we typically, in the American church, we turn faith into something that stands upon itself. We tell people, if you just have faith, it'll all work out. To which I want to ask you a question. Faith in what?" [13:49] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You know, the writer of Hebrews, in chapter 11, verse 1, gives this definition of faith. He says, What the writer of Hebrews is saying there, and he goes on to list person after person after person in the Old Testament who had this biblical faith that caused their believing to become seeing. You see, the type of faith that those that he lists in chapter 11 possess was not faith. A faith in just this outside force, or faith in themselves in trying to become better, or the faith in this person to provide. No, the faith the writer of Hebrews is talking about is a faith that actually has an object." [14:48] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We look to Jesus, we have faith in Jesus. And so, faith is necessary. If we're going to see God work, if we're going to see God's promises begin to unfold in our lives, if we want to see our relationship with God grow, we must have faith in the person of Jesus to lead us to those things. You know, the writer, Hebrews further says in verse 6, without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For he who would come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." [15:53] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Friends, we, this morning, need to understand that pride is always lurking at the door of our heart. Pride keeps me from acknowledging God. Pride wants me to look to myself, put the focus on me as the solution to every problem in my life. Pride wants me to divest Jesus of His Lordship over my life and claim that title for myself. Friends, it's insidious. It's always stalking us. In any situation, you have an opportunity either to place your trust in yourself or you place your trust in Jesus." [28:15] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "What if God was so sovereign, so in charge, in control? Well, what if God was so big that He allowed problems to come into our lives so that we would learn from them to look to Jesus? What if God let every discomfort you've ever had in your life happen in your life because He's teaching you to look, to Jesus? See, that's what gets us hitting it. I don't know about you, but when something bad happens in my life, my default is, why me, God? Why is this happening to me?" [31:16] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Friends, bolt your eyes on Jesus. Bolt your eyes on Him. In the middle of the storm, believe. I can't see the end of this, but I believe it's coming. I can't see how this is all going to work out, but I know God's already told me that He causes all things to work for us. All things work for good for those who love the Lord. I didn't say all things were good, did I? He said all things work for good. In other words, God is so sovereign and big, He can take you, that nasty problem you're in the middle of right now, and it feels so heavy and it's weighing you down, you think it's going to kill you. God can take that. The worst thing you've ever been through in your entire life. God is so sovereign, He can take that. And somehow, in His grace, He can make it work for good in your life." [44:00] (80 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "You know, Jesus did say come take up your cross and, and follow me. Jesus wasn't talking about take up your cross. You know, put on a necklace. That's not what he meant. When he said take up your cross, what did he mean church? Buckle up buttercup, it's fixing to get rough. That's exactly what he was saying. Come and die. Come and die to self and be raised up as a new creature in Christ. To identify with Christ, is to identify with those, those, those nail prints in the hands that, that slid in the side where the, the spear went in. It's to, to identify with the, the thorns that were crushed down into his brow. It's to identify with his death." [53:25] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Instead of running through the valley of the shadow of death, walk. Isn't that what Psalm 23 said? Yea, though I, not though I sprint, it's though I walk. You know why you can walk through the valley of the shadow of death? Because He is with us. Look for Jesus in your valley. Look for Jesus in your suffering. Embrace it. Renounce the pride. Place your eyes on Jesus. Focus on Him. I guarantee you He has shown you time after time after time after time after time He's God. Place your faith and trust in Him. And let that valley teach you about Him His goodness, His grace and let Him teach you about yourself." [55:03] (99 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You know, for an illusion, then it's kind of harmless. Whether you believe David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear or not, it doesn't really matter that much. But now, when we take a seeing is believing approach to God, then that can be a little bit more disastrous. See, many people take the approach, if I can't see God, then he must, he must not exist. How many of you have been sharing your faith with someone who's an unbeliever and have them bring that objection up? I mean, if God is real, why doesn't he just manifest himself physically so that I can see him? And if he will do that, then I will believe." [05:25] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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