Finding Miracles in Adversity: Embracing Divine Perfection
Summary
In today's sermon, I explored the profound concept of God's miraculous work in our lives, particularly during times of adversity, which I referred to as our "exile" periods. I began by challenging the common perception of miracles as merely the resolution of problems. Instead, I emphasized that the true miracle is God sustaining us through our struggles, such as illness or financial hardship. This daily perseverance, where we continue to live in faith despite challenges, represents the real miracle.
I then transitioned to discuss how God uses these periods of exile to perfect us. I shared insights on how, during times of rejection and hardship, God is actively working in our lives, shaping our character to resemble that of Christ. This character development is crucial, as it prepares us to handle future challenges and to assist others who face similar adversities.
A significant part of the sermon focused on the theme of dealing with enemies and those who reject us. I urged us to rise above the common desire for revenge. Instead of seeking to crush our enemies, we should aim to deliver them by embodying the character of Jesus. This includes forgiving them, doing good to them, and even going as far as providing for their needs, thus demonstrating the transformative power of divine love.
I shared personal stories and biblical insights to illustrate how acting in this Christ-like manner not only liberates our adversaries from the grip of the real enemy—Satan—but also leads to our spiritual growth and fulfillment. This approach shifts the battle from a physical to a spiritual realm, where we fight not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness.
The sermon concluded with a powerful call to embrace our own experiences of rejection and hardship as opportunities for divine perfection. I invited everyone to see these experiences as their own form of exile where God is perfecting them, just as He did with biblical figures like Joseph and David. I closed with a prayer, asking God to perfect, restore, and renew us, empowering us to live out the character of Christ in every aspect of our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Miracles in Exile: The true miracle in our lives is not the cessation of problems but the strength and sustenance provided by God during our trials. This daily grace allows us to endure and overcome challenges, transforming our character and deepening our faith. [45:27]
2. Character Development in Hardship: Our periods of suffering and rejection are not pointless; they are divine workshops where God molds our character to resemble that of Christ. This transformation prepares us to not only face future challenges but also to assist and lead others through similar trials. [47:11]
3. Redefining Victory Over Enemies: True victory over our enemies is not found in their destruction but in their deliverance. By extending forgiveness and help to those who oppose us, we reflect Christ's love and draw them away from the influence of the real enemy, Satan. [48:58]
4. Seeing Beyond the Physical Battle: Our struggles are not merely against human adversaries but against spiritual forces. Recognizing this shifts our approach from revenge to redemption, focusing on spiritual warfare rather than physical retribution. [49:36]
5. Embracing Exile for Perfection: Just as God used the exile of biblical figures to prepare and perfect them, our own experiences of rejection and hardship are opportunities for divine perfection. Embracing these moments allows God to work through us, developing resilience and a Christ-like character. [54:15]
### Chapters
0:00 - Welcome
43:55 - Understanding True Miracles
45:27 - The Miracle of God's Sustenance
47:11 - Character Building in Exile
48:20 - Beyond Crushing Enemies
49:36 - Spiritual Warfare and Redemption
50:14 - The Call to Deliver Enemies
52:05 - Practical Examples of Christ-like Love
53:13 - Prayer for Perfection in Exile
54:45 - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV): "Not only that, but 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."
2. Matthew 5:44 (ESV): "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
### Observation Questions
1. In Romans 5:3-5, what sequence of outcomes does Paul describe as resulting from suffering? How does this sequence culminate in a positive outcome?
2. According to Romans 5:3-5, what role does the Holy Spirit play in the lives of those who suffer?
3. How does Matthew 5:44 redefine the typical human response to enemies? What actions are suggested instead of retaliation?
4. Reflect on 2 Corinthians 12:9. What does it mean that God's power is made perfect in weakness? Can you think of an example where weakness led to a demonstration of God's power?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Considering the sequence described in Romans 5:3-5, how might enduring hardships contribute to developing a character similar to Christ’s?
2. How does the assurance of God's love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) influence our response to personal trials and adversities?
3. In what ways does loving and praying for one's enemies, as instructed in Matthew 5:44, challenge conventional attitudes towards conflict and opposition?
4. How can acknowledging our weaknesses become a strength, as suggested in 2 Corinthians 12:9, especially in the context of spiritual growth and reliance on God?
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent hardship you faced. How can you view this situation as an opportunity to develop endurance and character, as described in Romans 5:3-5?
2. Identify someone who you feel has wronged you. What is one specific action you can take this week to show love or kindness to this person, following the example of Matthew 5:44?
3. Think about an area of weakness in your life. How can you embrace this weakness as a way for God's power to be displayed, similar to the message in 2 Corinthians 12:9?
4. This week, choose one aspect of Christ-like character (e.g., patience, kindness, humility) that you want to develop. What specific steps will you take to cultivate this trait in your daily interactions?
5. Consider a situation where you felt rejected or outcast. How can you use that experience to minister to others who might be going through similar challenges? What specific action can you take to assist them?
Devotional
Day 1: Sustaining Miracles in Everyday Struggles
God's true miracles are often not the dramatic turnarounds we might expect, but the quiet strength He provides during our trials. This strength is a daily grace that sustains us, allowing us to endure and overcome the challenges we face. It's in these moments of perseverance that our faith is both tested and strengthened, transforming our character to be more like Christ. This daily sustenance is a miracle in itself, as it equips us to handle life's adversities with grace and resilience. [45:27]
James 1:2-4, "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: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you see God's sustaining power during this time?
Day 2: Character Forged in the Fires of Hardship
Our periods of suffering and rejection are not without purpose; they serve as divine workshops where God molds our character. These challenging times are crucial for spiritual growth, preparing us to face future adversities and to guide others through similar trials. By enduring these hardships with faith, we are shaped to resemble Christ, equipped to lead and inspire those around us. This process of transformation is essential for our spiritual maturity and effectiveness in ministry. [47:11]
Romans 5:3-5, "Not only that, but 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."
Reflection: In what ways has a recent hardship helped to develop your character? How can you use this experience to assist others?
Day 3: Transforming Enemies into Allies
True victory over our enemies does not come from their downfall but from their transformation. By extending forgiveness and assistance to those who oppose us, we reflect the love of Christ and potentially free them from the influence of the real enemy, Satan. This approach not only changes the lives of our adversaries but also enriches our own spiritual journey, shifting our focus from revenge to redemption. This is the essence of spiritual warfare, where we combat evil with good. [48:58]
Luke 6:27-28, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."
Reflection: Who do you consider an enemy, and how can you begin to extend Christ-like love towards them today?
Day 4: Engaging in Spiritual, Not Physical, Battles
Our conflicts are not merely against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. Recognizing this shifts our battles from the physical realm to the spiritual, focusing on redemption rather than retribution. This perspective empowers us to fight with spiritual weapons such as prayer, forgiveness, and the Word of God, which are far more effective in achieving true victory. By engaging in spiritual warfare, we aim to liberate, not destroy, which aligns with God's ultimate plan of redemption for all. [49:36]
Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from physical retaliation to spiritual redemption in a current conflict?
Day 5: Embracing Trials as Opportunities for Divine Perfection
Just as God used the exile of biblical figures like Joseph and David to prepare and perfect them, our own experiences of rejection and hardship are opportunities for divine perfection. Embracing these moments allows God to refine us, developing resilience and a Christ-like character. This perspective transforms our trials into valuable lessons and spiritual milestones, where we can grow closer to God and become more effective in our Christian walk. [54:15]
1 Peter 1:6-7, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you view a current or recent hardship as an opportunity for spiritual growth and divine perfection?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We think miracles are when the answer comes. No. The miracle is how you lived in spite of the problem. See, if I am sick with cancer and day in and day out I wrestle with the Lord, that's the miracle. On the day God cures the cancer, that's not the miracle. The miracle ends that day." [45:27]
2. "The miracle is how he kept me when the disease thought it had finished. See, the miracle is not getting the job. The miracle is how you ate every day yet you were unemployed. How you came to church smiling, shining, wearing a suit yet you had no money to buy a suit. That's the miracle." [45:27]
3. "God perfects in exile. Some of us have studied at university and have finished. We don't even know where the money came from. We can't even trace all the people God used. Some deposited money under the name Anonymous. So we can't even call them back and say thank you. Now that is what God does in exile." [46:32]
### Quotes for Members
1. "It's emotional blackmailing. It's male to say God will crush your enemies. It suits everyone. Everyone wants their enemies crushed. But you need to rise to a higher standard and that standard is Jesus. In Jesus, we don't crush our enemies. In Jesus, we deliver them." [48:20]
2. "Forgive. Do good to your enemies. Pray for them. Send their children to school. The very ones who said you are not worth it, deliver them. The mother who left you and went off to start a new family, find her. You are the doctor now. Find your mother. Build her a house. And when she asks why, tell her because the one who perfected me while you rejected me taught me that my best revenge is to see you happy." [48:58]
3. "See the real enemy behind those who reject you. When I do good for my enemies, you know what I'm doing? I'm pulling them away from the real enemy and bringing them to Jesus so that the real enemy who was using them is exposed." [49:36]
4. "Go to exile. There's a God waiting for you there. Some of you, 2017 was that year of rejection. And you didn't understand what was happening. The spirit of the living God has come to tell me, to tell you that it was your exile year. You will be perfected. You will succeed in spite of what the enemy has invested against you." [50:52]
5. "I have seen women run families having been rejected by husbands. Get a job. Raise children. It is possible. Just go to exile. Permit me to pray with you. Whatever form of outcast you are, let me present you before the throne of grace right now. That God may perfect you and replace whatever you have lost." [52:41]
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