day by day and with each passing moment, strength i find to meet my trials here; trusting in my...
TRANSCRIPT
Trading My
Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Spring Creek Bible Church
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Discovering what the Bible says about suffering and evil
Day by day and with each passing moment,Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measureGives unto each day what He deems best--
Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near meWith a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
Day by Day
The protection of His child and treasureIs a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulationSo to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolationOffered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,Till I reach the promised land.
Day by Day
GoodnessSovereignty
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Suffering
Evil
The FallAdam
Corruption
The “U”
Transgression
Redemption
High View
Trust
1. God is good and sovereign.2. God created everything perfectly.3. Adam committed evil.4. Evil causes suffering.5. Adam’s evil resulted in suffering and corruption.6. Adam’s sin is imputed to us.7. We commit our own evil by transgressing God’s will.8. The penalty for these transgressions is life in the U.9. We should expect to experience suffering.10.Suffering isn’t evil, it’s the just penalty for evil.11.We deserve Hell, but God graciously hasn’t sent us there.12.We can’t complain about our reduced sentence.13.The U is our opportunity to be saved – it’s God’s plan for
redemption.14.What suffering would I NOT endure to have this “opportunity?15.Life in the U is God’s grace in shoe leather.16.We need a high view of God, a low view of us, and horror of sin.17.Evil is not the “problem” - at most it contains some mystery.18.Just because we can’t see good in His plan doesn’t negate its
goodness (see #1).19.If I knew everything He knew I wouldn’t change a thing.20.God is displaying His glory in both wrath (suffering) and mercy
(blessing).21.God is not finished; He has redeemed His elect.22.Sin and suffering will end, and we will once again live with Him
forever.
Review: Lessons 1 - 4
Review of Lessons 1 - 4
Good
Sovere
ign
Evil
Suffering
Adam
Sin
Gard
en
Tran
sgre
ss
Hell
The “
U”
Eternity
Com
pla
in
Pro
ble
m
Mystery
Grace
Salvation
Biblical Reality
New
Heaven N
ew E
arth
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth…”
(Romans 1:18)
”Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them”
(Romans 1:32)
“as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’”
(Romans 3:10-12)
Our Biggest Problem: EvilOur Biggest Problem: Suffering
Our Biggest Problem: Selfish HusbandsOur Biggest Problem: Income Inequality
Our Biggest Problem: the EconomyOur Biggest Problem: Racism
Our Biggest Problem: the PresidentSpring Creek Bible Church
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Spring Creek Bible Church
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Trading My Sorrows
Our true problem is that we are sinners who will one day face a terrifying God.
February 15, 2015
Trading My Sorrows
TIME
B
ad
Good
GardenNew HeavenNew Earth The Fall
Trading My Sorrows
TIME
B
ad
Good
Eternity
The “U”
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Trading My Sorrows
God is willing to sacrifice my temporal, earthly happiness to
achieve Christlikeness in me, for my highest good in eternity.
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
What is suffering?
February 15, 2015
Topic 1:
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Example Continuum of Suffering
Outof
Twinkies
BadGifts
Flu Loss BetrayalBrokenHeart
Cancer Death HellInjuryFruitCake
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Trading My Sorrows
Biblical Response to Suffering
1. What is my heart demanding?2. Is that biblical?3. Am I receiving what I deserve from the Lord? 4. Do I believe God is good?5. Do I believe God is sovereign over this?6. Am I convinced He is doing this for my good?7. What is a Godly response to this suffering?
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
Topic 2:
Sources of Evil and Suffering
February 15, 2015
Trading My Sorrows
Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Trading My Sorrows
Natural Disasters
Trading My Sorrows
Siblings:
Other Believers
Spouses
Other People
Would someone
PLEASE feed the cat!!!
Animals:
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
IMPORTANT POINT A:
God instituted structure and authority to restrain man’s innate tendency toward evil.
February 15, 2015
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”
(Romans 13:1-6)
Trading My Sorrows
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Trading My Sorrows
IMPORTANT POINT B:
God appoints those in authority.
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
IMPORTANT POINT C:
God appoints authorities for our good.
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent be him to
punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”
(1 Peter 2:13-14)
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Trading My Sorrows
IMPORTANT POINT D:
Authority sometimes protects us from suffering,and sometimes causes suffering.
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
• God ordains all authorities• Authorities are instituted by God for our good• Authorities are to lead with justice and integrity• Authorities are answerable to God• People are sinners, so authorities are sinners• God expects us to obey authorities
February 15, 2015
Scriptural Truths Regarding Authority:
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Trading My Sorrows
Good BadGod
SCBCPuppies
Cocoa PuffsMarshmallow Fluff
EvilSuffering
RainSpinach
NE Patriots
Neil’s Good and Bad Bask
ets
February 15, 2015
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Practical Responses:
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
We live in the “U”
Garden HeavenThe Fall
• Don’t be surprised!
Practical Responses:
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Trading My Sorrows
February 15, 2015
• Remember Pogo!• We are sinners – that’s why we need authority• Don’t add to the problem
Practical Responses:
Trading My Sorrows
• Keep the main thing the main thing!
Practical Responses:
Trading My Sorrows
• Work with what we’ve got!
Practical Responses:
Wives:
Trading My Sorrows
• Last Resorts…!
Practical Responses:
Trading My Sorrows
Summary• Reviewed weeks 1-4• All unpleasantness is suffering• Apply these lessons to small sufferings• Authorities are sinners:• They prevent evil • They commit evil
• God appoints all authorities• 5 responses to authority-induced suffering• Don’t be surprised! • Remember Pogo!• Keep the main thing the main thing!• Work with what we’ve got!• Last resorts!
Trading My
Sorrows
February 15, 2015
Spring Creek Bible Church
Dis
cip
lesh
ip H
ou
r
Discovering what the Bible says about suffering and evil