“That”

September-12-2021

Series: GOD is here.

Notes Download
Bible passage: Psalm 13Romans 8:18Ephesians 1:17

Our hearts default to thinking too little of GOD.

Psalm 13:1-6

Psalm 73:28

The Power of Pain: THAT

Question:If today’s goal is to think more of GOD, what do you do when life is more painful than pleasurable?

According to the apostle Paul, pain is one of the most powerful tools to make you think much, much more of GOD. Romans 8:18

Paul says our sufferings are so small by comparison to GOD’s glory that it’s not worth comparing them.

If all the suffering we’ve endured doesn’t even register on the scale compared with GOD, how wondrous must GOD be?

NOTE: Christianity is not about ignoring pain. Rather, in the pain, it looks to GOD and insists, “You must be so good, because this hurts so bad.”

TRUTH: GOD leverages your pain to draw you into His presence and love.

We are to remind ourselves how constant and faithful GOD is, even in the midst of our pain.

No one wants to suffer in this life. But when suffering comes, please don’t waste it.  Leverage the hard days to get back to GOD, to exalt His name, and to lean on the One who can provide the joy you need to suffer well.  GOD uses the struggles and inconveniences of life to force us to keep searching for something more stable, something where we can actually find peace.

Ephesians 1:17

The Ephesians knew the one true GOD and trusted in the good news that enabled them to enjoy GOD’s presence.  Even still, Paul longed for his fellow Christians to “know [GOD] better.”  He prayed that the Holy Spirit would use every possible “This!” and all the promises of Jesus to make them think more of GOD.

Challenge: Rid your heart and mind of some unimpressive, easily forgotten view of “god” and replace it with the glorious “GOD” whose presence is better than all we could ever imagine.

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