Faithfulness and Growth Through Adversity in Christ
Summary
The sermon series focuses on the messages to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation, with an emphasis on simplifying worship and heeding the words of Jesus. The speaker begins by reassuring the congregation of God's faithfulness, especially during times of persecution and difficulty. The church in Philadelphia is commended for its faithfulness despite having little strength, illustrating that with Jesus, even a little is a lot. The speaker stresses the importance of not just hearing God's word but living it out, using a personal anecdote about someone who forgot what they represented by wearing an LSU shirt, to remind the congregation to remember their identity in Christ.
The speaker shares personal stories to illustrate key biblical principles. They recount an encounter with someone who had forgotten the significance of their LSU shirt, paralleling this with Christians who forget their identity in Christ. Another story involves being allowed onto a football field because of knowing someone with the keys, likening this to Jesus' authority to open and close doors in our lives. The speaker also shares a humorous memory from college about the low ACT score required to get into LSU, using it to highlight the necessity of facing tests and adversity for growth.
The sermon emphasizes that nothing is insignificant when entrusted to Jesus, using biblical examples like Gideon, David, and the boy with the loaves and fishes to show that God can do great things with what little we have. The speaker encourages the congregation to trust in God's faithfulness and to see closed doors as opportunities for growth. They also remind the listeners that genuine faith, like gold, is refined through adversity.
Building a deep foundation in God is crucial for withstanding life's challenges and receiving His blessings. The speaker urges the congregation to be faithful and obedient to God's word, to trust in His timing, and to remain resilient in the face of uncertainty about the end times. They also encourage the audience to be pillars in the temple of God, standing firm in faith despite adversity.
The sermon concludes with a call to steadfastness and immovability in holding onto God's promises. The speaker reassures the congregation of the reward for perseverance, with Jesus promising to make them pillars in the temple of God and to write His name on them. The speaker's personal stories and the biblical examples provided throughout the sermon serve to inspire and encourage the congregation to live out their faith with conviction and strength.
Key Takeaways:
- Faithfulness in small things is magnified in the hands of Jesus, as seen in the church of Philadelphia. Despite their limited strength, their steadfastness in keeping God's word and not denying His name was commended. This teaches us that our small acts of faithfulness are significant in God's eyes and can lead to great impact when we are aligned with His will. [08:36]
- Living out the word of God is essential for Christians, as it is not enough to merely listen to it. The analogy of forgetting one's appearance after looking in a mirror serves as a reminder that our daily actions should reflect our identity in Christ. The speaker's personal encounter with someone who had forgotten what they represented by wearing an LSU shirt underscores the importance of consistently embodying our faith. [34:38]
- Adversity is a tool for building spiritual strength and depth. The speaker's mother's words about the devil's opposition being a sign of God's building plans in one's life encourage believers to view problems as opportunities to grow deeper in faith. This perspective helps Christians to understand that trials are not just obstacles but also stepping stones to greater spiritual maturity. [27:45]
- The concept of Jesus holding the keys and having the authority to open and close doors in our lives is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty. The speaker's personal experience of being allowed onto a football field because of knowing someone with the keys illustrates that sometimes God's rejections are His protection, and closed doors can lead to personal growth and the opening of better ones. [19:56]
- Genuine faith is refined through trials, much like gold is purified by fire. The speaker's personal anecdote about praising God during a family trip to North Carolina, despite facing challenges, exemplifies the joy and praise that can come from a faith tested by adversity. This kind of faith is precious to God and will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed. [14:25]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Revelation 3:7-13 (NIV)
> "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
#### Observation Questions
1. What commendation does Jesus give to the church in Philadelphia despite their "little strength"? ([07:25])
2. How does the speaker illustrate the concept of Jesus holding the keys and having the authority to open and close doors in our lives? ([17:31])
3. What examples from the Bible does the speaker use to show that God can do great things with what little we have? ([09:12])
4. What does the speaker say about the significance of facing tests and adversity for growth? ([11:18])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus holds the keys of David and what does this symbolize about His authority in our lives? ([07:25])
2. How does the speaker's personal story about the LSU shirt relate to the importance of remembering our identity in Christ? ([32:53])
3. What does the speaker mean by saying "little is a lot with Jesus," and how does this apply to our daily lives? ([08:36])
4. How can viewing adversity as a tool for building spiritual strength change our perspective on challenges we face? ([10:33])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you had "little strength." How did you see God work through that situation? ([08:36])
2. The speaker mentioned that living out God's word is essential. What are some practical ways you can ensure your daily actions reflect your identity in Christ? ([32:53])
3. Think about a recent closed door in your life. How can you view this as God's protection rather than a setback? ([19:21])
4. How can you cultivate a mindset that sees trials and adversity as opportunities for spiritual growth? ([10:33])
5. The speaker encourages us to be pillars in the temple of God. What steps can you take to build a deeper foundation in your faith? ([26:01])
6. How can you hold on to God's promises during times of uncertainty and difficulty? Share a specific promise from Scripture that you cling to. ([23:35])
7. Identify one small act of faithfulness you can commit to this week. How will you entrust this act to Jesus and expect Him to magnify it? ([08:36])
Devotional
Day 1: Small Acts, Magnified Impact
Faithfulness in the seemingly small aspects of life is greatly amplified when placed in Jesus' hands. The church of Philadelphia, though weak, was praised for its steadfastness, teaching that even the smallest acts done in faith can have a profound impact when aligned with God's will. [08:36]
Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."
Reflection: What small act of faithfulness can you commit to today that aligns with God's will?
Day 2: Reflecting Christ in Daily Life
It is crucial to embody one's faith consistently, reflecting Christ not just in words but in daily actions. Like someone who forgets their reflection, Christians must remember to live out their identity in Christ, ensuring their actions mirror their faith. [34:38]
James 1:22-24 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your daily actions reflect your identity in Christ today?
Day 3: Embracing Adversity for Spiritual Growth
Adversity serves as a tool for building spiritual strength and depth, transforming problems into opportunities for deeper faith. Believers are encouraged to view trials not as mere obstacles but as stepping stones to greater spiritual maturity. [27:45]
1 Peter 1:6-7 - "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
Reflection: What current adversity can you view as an opportunity to deepen your faith?
Day 4: Trusting God's Sovereign Authority
Recognizing Jesus' authority to open and close doors in our lives is a testament to God's sovereignty. Understanding that rejections and closed doors can lead to personal growth and better opportunities is a powerful aspect of faith. [19:56]
Revelation 3:7 - "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when a closed door led to unexpected growth or a better opportunity?
Day 5: Faith Refined Through Trials
Genuine faith, like gold, is purified and strengthened through trials. Joy and praise can emerge from a faith that has been tested by adversity, revealing its preciousness to God and resulting in His glory when Jesus is revealed. [14:25]
1 Peter 4:12-13 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
Reflection: How can you find joy and praise God in the midst of a current trial you are facing?
Quotes
"Little is a lot with Jesus. Some of you have little strength... but I'm here to tell you that you have little strength, but little is a lot with Jesus." [08:36] (Download)
"How many times do you and I live our lives out there forgetting whose name is on our Jersey, forgetting who we really represent, and forgetting that the word of God should be in our lives actively all the time." [33:34] (Download)
"Faith grows through adversity... for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, not by having comfort, but by having adversity." [11:18] (Download)
"Jesus is the one who holds the keys and he opens doors that no one can shut but he also can shut doors that no one can open." [16:45] (Download)
"Even though for a little while if necessary you have been distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold... may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus." [13:48] (Download)
"Sometimes closed doors, rejection from God, is actually his protection. So don't get mad when God closes a door because it says he closes a door that no one can open." [19:21] (Download)
"Be encouraged because the Lord is with you; He is faithful and He is mighty." [49:33] (Download)
"Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches... it's hearing and obeying that's what this word really means." [31:00] (Download)
"Do not merely listen to the word and deceive yourself... it's not by hearing the word that the blessing comes." [31:40] (Download)
"If the devil's coming against you that much, it must be that God's going to build something big in your life so don't give up." [27:10] (Download)
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