WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.399 Good morning, Freedom Church. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:04.719 Thank you for that warm welcome. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:06.959 And Pastor Jason, thanks for the kind words. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:08.160 It's a pleasure to be here. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:09.839 Always look forward to coming back. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:14.480 I have to tell you that I was hoping for some cooler temperatures, though. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.800 This is North Dakota, right? 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.719 You have been hotter than Tulsa this year. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:22.559 It was that way yesterday. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.559 You guys hit 100 before we did. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.280 You've had more days in 100 than we have. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:30.960 And I don't know, you were quite the land of extremes. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:33.359 But I'm always glad to be here. 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:39.119 It's a pleasure to be with you guys again and decided to spend some time with you. 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:48.399 And I'm particularly excited to hear of all the good things that have been accomplished and that you guys have been involved in since I was here just a short time ago. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:50.560 I was here in April of this last year. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:52.079 That's not that long ago. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:57.359 But wow, there have been some great things that have taken place within the church. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:00.719 And I know I've told you before, but I'm going to say it again. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:02.880 God's hand is on your church. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:05.280 It's on you in a special way. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:12.719 And I know that's the case in great churches across our country, but there's something special here. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:15.280 I've seen it ever since the very beginning. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.840 And uh and it continues right now. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.159 So I don't think we should take that for granted. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:26.000 In fact, I think it's a good idea for us just to show some thanks to the Lord right now for what he's doing in us and through us. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:26.719 Can we do that? 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:28.719 Give him a hand this morning. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:32.480 So good. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:43.439 You know, over the past four weeks, we've been discovering that God has a much bigger vision for our work than most of us, I think, have ever really imagined. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.640 Uh have you enjoyed the series so far? 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:48.959 I am just really grateful. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:54.400 I was happy that Pastor Jason decided to devote a few weeks to this subject. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:03.760 I had done so many years ago as well, and I think it's appropriate to do so because work is one of those things that we we just kind of tolerate. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:10.479 I think at best we think of it as a necessary evil that has to be done, and yet, man, we spend so much of our time on it. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.759 And God has a much greater purpose for it. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:20.400 And so I'm excited not only what you what you've learned so far, but what we are going to wrap up with today. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:26.080 So for those of you who haven't been here, we've learned who God is and why work matters. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:31.360 And you'll have to go back and listen to Pastor Jason on some of those past messages. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:38.719 We've discovered that work is more than a paycheck, it's actually a part of God's calling on your life. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:46.000 And then we've seen that people are always much more important than productivity, so much more than success. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:03:00.080 And last week uh we were reminded that God has designed us for rhythms of rest and margin, and not just this endless striving that it feels like that work often is. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.039 You know, we put in 40 years or more and hopefully we'll get a little chance to rest then. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:07.599 And that's not really what God has in store. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:18.000 And I think this is an important message for all of us because we live in America, we have this strong work ethic, and I think even more so here in North Dakota, you guys particularly do, and I admire that. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:26.319 But I think that that can be a bit of a hazard at times because we have this idea that everything is just about working harder. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:28.719 And that's not always the case. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:31.680 And we're going to unfold that just a little bit more today. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:43.599 Today I'd like to bring this entire series for us today to one final question, and it's this What if your workplace isn't just where God sends you? 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:48.400 But what if it's one of the primary classrooms for shaping you? 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:50.879 That's a really good thought. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:57.680 The reason it's it we needed to stop for a moment and chew on that is because it's very counterintuitive. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:06.639 When you think about places that you go for spiritual growth, I bet your job hasn't been the one that you've thought of right away. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.120 You think of Freedom Church, if this is your home church. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:10.719 I'm going to go to church. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.639 That's where we do the things that bring us closer to the Lord. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:23.439 We worship, we we pray, we read the Bible, we're involved in a small group, we are a part of a serve team. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:30.959 And all of those things are incredibly important, but where do most of us spend the majority of our waking hours? 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.399 It's in work, it's a lot of time. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:44.240 So, what if God intentionally designed your workplace to become one of his greatest tools for making you more like Jesus? 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:46.240 Well, that'd be a twist. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.720 And I think that's exactly what he has done. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:58.480 So here's today's big idea is that work is, in fact, one of God's primary classrooms for your spiritual growth. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:04.000 We're going to talk about how we can tap into that and squeeze that for all that it's worth. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:16.160 You see, God isn't just interested in what you accomplish through your work, He's equally interested in what He accomplishes in you through your work. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:18.319 It's pretty powerful. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:27.519 And that's because God's highest priority on your life isn't necessarily your success, it's your transformation. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:34.639 We tend to process things in the context of whatever definition that we have of our success. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:35.920 Am I making it? 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:37.120 Have I achieved? 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:39.120 Have I hit the mark right here? 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:40.000 And you know something? 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:40.560 That's okay. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.920 That's part of things too. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:43.120 We do want to strive. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:52.319 We want to reach for those things that are going to make us better and going to make a difference in people's lives, but it's not always measured by these outward signs of success. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:59.759 It's measured more from the inner transformation that God is valuing and wanting to see within us. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:10.560 Romans chapter 8, verse 9 says, For from the very beginning, God decided that those who came to him should become like his son. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:13.120 That's what we're talking about, becoming. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:23.920 God's ultimate goal isn't simply that we become better employees or better managers or better business owners or even better pastors. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:30.639 Those things are important, but his ultimate goal is that you become more like Jesus. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:35.360 That's what everything in this life is hopefully moving us toward. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:50.480 And if many of us spend nearly 40% of our lives at work, then why in the world would God not use that time to help shape us, to help us to get to that what he hopes that we are going to become? 00:06:50.879 --> 00:07:01.279 In Colossians chapter 3, verse 23, it says, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:19.040 And so whether you're a teacher or a nurse, a farmer, a stay-at-home parent, an oil field worker, a mechanic, a business owner, maybe you're a full-time volunteer. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:20.639 It doesn't make any difference. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:24.319 God wants to use your workplace to form you. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:25.920 And how does he do that? 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:27.680 Well, we're going to take a few moments today. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:35.839 I'm going to share three of the most common ways that I think that he provides those opportunities for us to become more like him. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:43.600 And I learned much of this many years ago from Pastor Rick Warren, and I want to share some of these things with you today. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:47.759 So we're talking here about God's classroom for our spiritual growth. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:56.720 And here's one of the first lessons that I want to talk with you about today, and that's God uses pressure to change my course. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:00.560 Now we're kind of pressure-avoidant, and I get that. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:06.399 Nobody likes pressure, but we got a lot of it, and particularly in the workplace. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:18.319 It comes from a lot of different places, comes from deadlines, it comes from difficult decisions, it comes from having more to do than maybe what we have time to do it. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:24.399 Comes from constant emails and text messages and interruptions and meetings. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:29.680 And it also shows up with problems that we did not create but somehow became ours. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.320 Is anybody dealing with some of those today? 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.399 Yeah, I got way more of those than I want to admit. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:41.600 But some of the pressure that we deal with is just simply part of living in a broken world. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:42.799 It just happens. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:44.000 That's just part of it. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:48.559 But there is sometimes that this pressure is more than that. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:54.480 It's actually a warning light that's flashing on God's dashboard for our life. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:57.840 And what it's saying is be careful. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:01.440 You're needing to give some attention to this right now. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.639 It might expose priorities that have drifted a little bit. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:14.080 Or perhaps it's revealing some unhealthy patterns that you've kind of picked up along the way. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:23.200 It reminds us that maybe we've begun carrying responsibilities right now that God never intended for us to carry. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:27.840 I don't know about you, but I've been guilty of that a number of times. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:36.559 But the Bible says in Ephesians chapter 5, verse 15, live life then with a due sense of responsibility. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:40.000 Let's talk about responsibility just for a second. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:41.679 I've discovered something about it. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:45.120 Number one, it's a wonderful thing, it's a great quality. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:50.080 I mean, in many cases, it's a synonym for faithfulness and trustworthiness. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:53.120 So we want to be responsible. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:10:02.960 But I know I've had to wrestle with this quite a bit because sometimes responsibility puts, it's like it's puts on steroids, it's put on steroids. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:06.639 And that's what happened to me many, many years ago. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:10.639 We don't have to go into all of that, but I'm sure that you can identify with that as well. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:18.480 You really want to do a good job, you're feeling the pressure, maybe from inside, maybe from outside, maybe it's imaginary, but it goes a little bit too far. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:24.159 And all of a sudden we start saying yes to everything and to everybody. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:30.799 Um we pick up and sometimes we feel like we're indispensable. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:42.159 Now we would never admit that, but that's what our behavior says, and we confuse being needed with being faithful, and they're not necessarily the same things. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:46.480 And that's exactly what happened to Moses early on. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.320 And I like this because it means that I'm in good company. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:53.279 I'm not the only one who's fallen prey to this. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:57.120 And I think this happens with anybody who really wants to serve the Lord. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:06.159 I call it getting snared by that shepherd's heart, that pastor's heart, somebody who has a heart of compassion and wants to serve other people. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.399 This is a very slippery slope. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:20.480 But we see this with Moses is that God had called him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness to learn a better way for everything. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:30.240 And Moses had led them out in a very spectacular way, and they had gotten used to looking to him for the answers. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:31.360 Here's Moses. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.200 What does he say about this saying? 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:39.120 And after they got into the land of the wilderness, they were still doing exactly the same thing. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:41.919 Everybody brought every problem to him. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:53.440 And the Bible tells us that his habit was from morning until evening, sun up to sundown, he sat, and all the people would come to him. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:12:08.159 And they would bring every complaint, every dispute, every problem, every decision that they had, and he would serve them, answer them, speak to them as the voice of God. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:10.559 God did not intend that. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:12.399 Moses didn't realize that. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.639 He just thought this is what he was supposed to do. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:27.679 But one day his father-in-law Jethro came to visit, and he watched this for a little while, and finally, as a good father-in-law would do, who loved him, he lovingly confronted him. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:34.720 And he says this in Exodus 18, verse 17, he says, What you're doing is not good. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.159 I doubt if that's what Moses wanted to hear. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:42.960 He's coming and he's thinking, Oh, I'm gonna get some commendation here. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.679 What you were doing is amazing. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:49.279 What you were doing is is so committed. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.679 I've never seen a leader like this. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:56.960 You're selfishly, selfishly giving yourself to all of these people. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.399 Unbelievable. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.600 That's not what he said. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.559 What you're doing is not good. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:07.840 You and your people will wear yourselves out. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.399 This is too much work for you. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.120 You can't do it alone. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.240 Thank God for godly counsel. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:21.519 But notice here that Jethro didn't just question, he wasn't questioning Moses' heart. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.039 He was questioning his method, his strategy. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:29.120 This is not the way to do it, it is a better way. 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:38.720 And sometimes our greatest spiritual growth doesn't come from just working harder, it comes from learning healthier ways to work. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:43.039 And I have to say that I learned this early as a young pastor myself. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.279 I took that very seriously. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:55.600 I was excited when I had that title of pastor, and it was like music to my ears, and it reminded me of God's call on me. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.960 And I thought I'm here to serve God's people. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:06.399 And I did that faithfully, but I felt that I needed to be available to everybody immediately. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:10.639 And I worked a lot of long hours, and my family was just getting started then. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:14.240 We didn't have five kids, it was just two at that time. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:24.240 But I remember coming home one night after a long season of a lot of different services and a lot of other projects, and I'd been putting in a lot of hours and feeling good about it. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.919 I was needed, and this was important work. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:37.360 And she told me that our two sons had been praying for the last few nights at bedtime for dad to come home. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:39.120 That's what I felt. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.440 You guys had the same reaction as me. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:43.120 The air just goes out of you. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.000 Ugh. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:47.840 And I want to tell you, I made some quick adjustments right then. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:54.559 And I had to learn how to recalibrate and bring that into a healthier way. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.879 It wasn't like what I thought. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:02.240 Pressure often becomes God's invitation to make those kinds of adjustments. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:06.399 Maybe you need to be making some of those adjustments right now. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:11.120 Maybe it's learning to delegate, like God was teaching Moses. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.840 It's not always about you having to do everything. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:17.039 Train up some other people to help you with this. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:19.919 Maybe it's learning how to say no. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.159 And not saying no to bad things. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.039 That's pretty easy. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:30.399 It's saying no to good things, good opportunities, invitations to go do fun things with a lot of great people. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:39.200 It's important to learn how to establish healthy boundaries, and that continues to shift as seasons change in your life. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:44.879 Maybe it's trusting someone else to carry part of the load that you're carrying. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:55.759 So here's the question: Is the pressure that you're experiencing right now simply something that you feel like you've got to endure and just tough it out and hopefully survive? 00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:02.960 Or perhaps is it something that God wants to use to redirect your course to something that's a little bit better? 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.519 It's worth the time to consider that. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:09.919 Pressure isn't something that we want, but don't waste that pressure. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:19.360 If God is using your workplace as one of his classrooms, then perhaps today's lesson is learning some new priorities. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.960 Now, pressure isn't the only classroom that God uses. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:26.639 Sometimes the greatest lessons, again, don't come from our workload. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:32.639 They actually come from the people that are right next to us that we're working alongside. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:43.120 So here's the second lesson that we have the opportunity to learn from, and that is that God uses people to change your heart, to change my heart. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.279 Have you ever noticed that God has a wonderful sense of humor? 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.440 Yeah, he does. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:54.559 It's just about the time you think you're really making progress spiritually, you're giving yourself a high five. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:17:00.480 He brings somebody in your life to test every ounce of that progress. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:05.119 Every workplace has got them, got at least one. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.799 You got some coworker who is constantly complaining. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:14.000 You've got that one customer who is impossible to satisfy. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:19.440 You've got the supervisor who doesn't notice what you do and wouldn't appreciate it if he did. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:29.519 You've got the employee who keeps making mistakes and making them over and over and over and over again. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.799 These are just people. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.880 It's part of our lot in life. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:38.400 In fact, who's the person first person who came to mind when I started describing these people? 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.519 You got one. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.920 If they're there in this room, keep your eyes here. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.200 Look, look right here. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.400 Keep smiling. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:48.559 This is not a good time to look at your spouse either, if that's what you're thinking. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.759 Let's play safe and play nice here today. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:18:00.480 But here's what I've discovered about all of this is that sometimes the most difficult person in the workplace isn't there just to make your life miserable. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.000 It seems like that. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:05.200 It may be God's assignment for your heart. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.359 I'm serious about it. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.279 And it's something that we should consider. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:18.000 Romans 12, 18 says, if possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.880 I want you to notice what Paul says here. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.319 He says, so far as it depends on you. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:28.480 So let's level set expectations here just for a moment. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:34.559 I hope you guys have figured out by now that you can't change anybody. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:38.559 You can't control another person's attitudes. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:43.359 You can't control what they think, say, or do as much as we would like to. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:46.480 You can't change their personality. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:50.079 You can't make them be more like Jesus. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:55.680 And yet we spend a lot of time thinking about how we could do that or wishing that we would. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.119 It's a fool's errand. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.880 You can't do that. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:03.839 What you can do is allow God to make you more like Jesus. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:11.440 And maybe this is an opportunity right now to consider how it is that you can be growing in this situation. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:21.119 And I think that's one of God's favorite classroom lessons, is not necessarily changing all the people around us, but changing me, changing you. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.640 What does that look like? 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:30.400 One of the greatest signs of spiritual maturity, I believe, is learning to appreciate those people around us who are not wired like us. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:35.680 And I think that we all understand that, but yet we still we still kind of do that. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.720 I know I did. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.119 Early in ministry, I spent a lot of time. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:49.599 I tended to evaluate everybody around me kind of through my own filter of what my strengths were, what my ability, uh, abilities were. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:55.680 And I think when something is so natural and normal to you, you think that it's like that with everybody else. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:01.839 And when they don't meet that standard in your mind, you're thinking, wow, something's, something's off here. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:07.200 In my case, if they weren't organized, I assume that they just lacked discipline. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:11.920 And if they weren't planners, well, they just really weren't all that conscientious. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:14.559 They just really weren't all that responsible. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:16.319 And that's just not true. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:27.599 And then God began to drop different gifted people in in uh in my life, people who were really good at some things that I wasn't. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:32.799 And they had tremendous amount of fruit, but they were not wired like me. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:39.200 And I realized that different doesn't mean wrong, it's just different. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.960 And God likes different. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:50.079 There's a lot of variety in this world, there's a lot of variety in this room, and the world doesn't need a lot of people that look and act just like me. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.759 God forbid. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.160 It's the same with all of us. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:58.559 I want to be a part of a lot of different people. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:00.559 The world needs all of us. 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:05.920 So listen to what Paul says in Romans chapter 12, beginning in verse 17. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:10.160 He says, live in harmony with each other. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:17.599 Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people and don't think that you know it all. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.880 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:26.480 Do things in such a way that everyone can see that you are honorable. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:31.759 So we have these opportunities when we're put in touch with some difficult people, is how are we going to act? 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:39.440 Are we going to act in like kind with them, or is it an opportunity for us to grow and to do something different? 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:42.799 So before asking, why won't they change? 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:53.279 Maybe we need to be asking, is this an opportunity for God to change me and to help me grow in some areas that I need some improvement in? 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.839 Maybe I need some more patience. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:59.279 Maybe I need a little more humility right now. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:04.240 But Maybe this is a time for me to show a little bit of compassion. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.960 Maybe I could be a little better listener. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:10.960 This is an opportunity for me to extend some grace. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:15.200 God knows I need it, and I've had a lot of people show that grace to me. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:19.279 Maybe it's time for me to pass that on and to stretch a little bit. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:28.319 So if work is really one of God's classrooms, then difficult people may provide some of the greatest opportunities to grow. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.480 Don't waste that lesson. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.119 Who's that person in your life right now? 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.759 I want you to see them just a little bit different. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.519 Don't make it about them. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:39.200 Stretch yourself. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:42.559 And what are you being asked to grow in? 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:47.440 So pressure teaches us to reorder our priorities. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:53.359 And difficult people, they have the potential to teach us how to enlarge our hearts. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:59.519 But there's also a classroom lesson here that none of us would willingly volunteer for. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:03.279 And it involves painful situations. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:12.960 So the third lesson that God can bring about in the workplace is God can use pain to shape my character. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.680 And honestly, I wish there was another way to say it. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.039 I don't take any joy in this. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:22.880 I really wish that God could develop Christ-like character in all of us without hardship. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.000 I really do. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:28.720 But scripture and experience tend to teach otherwise. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:32.480 Generally happens through some tough situations. 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:41.440 But here's also something that I've learned is that God is much more interested in my character than he is in my comfort. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:46.240 It doesn't mean he's looking for opportunities to make me uncomfortable. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:56.799 But it does mean that in those times when I'm outside of my comfort zone, there's some really great potential for me to stretch and to grow in the ways that I need to. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:02.079 It's not always the lesson that I want, but it's generally the lesson that I need. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:08.160 And every workplace, you know it as well as I do, it has some painful moments. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:14.079 It comes in the form of a lot of different things that we're all too familiar with. 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:23.519 Things like being misunderstood, overlooked, criticized, treated unfairly. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:29.519 Maybe watching somebody else get the promotion that you thought really was yours. 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:33.920 Maybe it's losing a job that just came out of the blue. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:39.200 Or maybe even worse, maybe it's having to walk through an organizational change. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:46.160 That can be really tough at times when you put on a lot of miles and now we're going to do things completely different. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:48.720 None of those experiences are enjoyable. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.839 They're just not. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:53.839 And most of the time we're looking for an escape out of that. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:57.440 But God refuses to waste those things. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:00.000 And he doesn't necessarily cause them. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.799 We know that. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:05.279 Again, as we said, we live in a broken world and it's filled with broken people. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:12.160 My favorite Jerry Seinfeld quote is this people, they're the worst. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.720 And it's right, we are. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:20.559 We just bring a lot of drama and a lot of turmoil to every room that we show up in. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:28.640 But God can redeem every one of these trouble situations, these painful situations. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:42.960 You know, one of the things when I started pastoring, I thought it was just going to be this panacea because my gosh, I get to work in the church all day long and get to work with other Christians, and my gosh, it's just going to be perfect. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:47.440 But it isn't, because we're broken people too. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:53.359 We're all just on our own journey trying to become more like Jesus. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:26:01.440 And yes, we should be setting a better example, but there's sometimes that you have to have tough conversations. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:05.440 And people sometimes take two steps forward and one step back. 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:08.160 And we've got to deal with some things. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:16.319 And I remember one of the toughest things that I found as a pastor, and I pastored for 35 years in three different churches. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.079 And it was always the same. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:32.559 I'd find myself getting misjudged or criticized whenever I had to make a tough decision and handle a situation that involved some other people, people who had made some wrong choices. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:42.160 It was particularly tough if I had to release a church staff member or perhaps address some sinful behavior in a key serve team member. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.680 These are tough things. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:49.119 Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, I'm just looking for a good, hard conversation today. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.720 We don't want to do that stuff, but it's needful. 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:59.440 And what I also know is we're all pretty good as people, too, about forming our own opinions about a situation. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:05.279 We look at it and we think that we know what's really going on. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:10.960 We know what we think we know, but we very seldom stop to consider. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:14.000 Maybe I don't know a lot of things. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.000 I don't know what I don't know. 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:21.839 And so they can look at these situations and they've got the whole story figured out in their head. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:25.200 But the problem is there's a backstory on all of this. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:28.319 And a lot of it is sometimes confidential. 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:35.200 You know, as a pastor, you're kind of privy to kind of the dark side of a lot of different situations. 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:40.160 And these aren't things that you have the luxury of revealing the details. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:43.839 It would be real easy to come out and say, okay, guys, stop shooting at me. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:47.039 Let me tell you the real story, what's going on here? 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:48.480 No, you don't. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:52.000 At those times, you just gotta do the best that you can. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.920 You do what you believe is right. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:28:04.720 And when people criticize, you shut your mouth, and you just trust that God is going to somehow make all of this right somewhere down the line. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:09.839 It's tough, and you've had some tough situations like that as well. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:18.400 And I think that one of our greatest temptations in those situations is just to escape the classroom before we learn the lesson. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:21.839 We want to jump ship, we want to get out of here. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:23.920 How do I get out of here and fast? 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.480 Or we become bitter. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:33.440 And we start criticizing leadership, we start gossiping about other people to make ourselves look better. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:43.279 Or maybe we go into a negative spiral and we just assume that God is finished with us and he's not, but that's sometimes what it feels like. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.799 Sometimes leaving is the right decision. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.000 I'm not saying that. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:56.640 I mean, there could be a situation where the workplace becomes abusive or unethical or immoral. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.759 I get it. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:05.359 And God never calls us to participate in sin or to stay in an abusive situation where you have the choice. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:11.920 My point is that many times the better question isn't how quickly can I get out? 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:20.160 But maybe I just need to stop for a moment and it is saying, what is God trying to develop in me right now before I leave? 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.920 Is there something? 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:24.480 It's worth asking. 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:35.680 Romans chapter 5, verses 3 and 4 says, we can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:37.759 Everybody say they're good for us. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.839 They are good for us. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:45.839 It doesn't feel like it at the time, but he goes on and says they help us learn to be patient. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:54.480 And patience develops the strength of character in us and helps us to trust God more each time we use it. 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:57.359 So here's the progression. 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:02.559 You got a painful situation, you got a problem, you got a rough person. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:10.640 There's stuff that happens that is not fair, but what happens now is it gives me an opportunity to exercise patience in the moment. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:15.359 And if we do that properly, it develops character. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:21.359 And as a result of that character, I can now trust God more, it increases my hope. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:26.240 God never wastes a trial that is surrendered to Him. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:32.799 And I think that we've missed a lot of opportunities by just jumping ship too soon. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:48.799 So if your workplace is one of God's classrooms, which it is, then even painful situations and painful seasons can become holy ground where he can shape your character into the likeness of Christ. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:54.240 So let's go back to where we started here a few moments ago with that big idea. 00:30:54.720 --> 00:31:00.160 Work is one of God's primary classrooms for your spiritual growth. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:06.559 That means that every Monday morning, God's inviting you into a new classroom as tomorrow. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:13.759 And sometimes the lesson may come from pressure, other times it's from difficult people. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:19.200 Sometimes it's just flat out painful, and nobody's looking forward to it. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:24.960 But every lesson has the same goal to make you more like Jesus. 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:30.240 It has that potential, and it's up to you to seize that opportunity. 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:36.319 So imagine how differently we could approach tomorrow morning if we just remember that. 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:45.839 And instead of waking up and saying, I gotta go to work, it could be more of, I get to walk into one of God's classrooms today. 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:49.279 What lesson does he have waiting for me? 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:58.000 And it may not be something that you're super excited about, but as Jesus said also when he faced the cross, it was for the joy that was set before him. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.279 This is a good thing. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.680 It's not gonna last forever. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:11.920 And one of the things that I have found is that if you don't pass the test right now, you're probably gonna have to just keep repeating that test down the road. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:14.079 So better to lean into it right now. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:17.920 Ask God for his help and get the most of this. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:21.680 Imagine what lesson God has waiting for you tomorrow. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:25.119 Perhaps he's calling you to reorder your priorities. 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:30.720 Or maybe he's inviting you to extend some grace to somebody else. 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:39.279 Perhaps he's just asking you to trust him through that painful situation you're going through right now instead of running from it right away. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:45.920 But whatever it is, whatever you walk into tomorrow, don't waste a lesson. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:49.359 And here's some good news we'll finish up with today. 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:52.160 Comes from Philippians chapter 1, verse 6. 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:54.319 I I go to this verse pretty often. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.759 It's a great reminder. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:59.200 Paul wrote, he says, and I am sure. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:16.640 Some translations say, I am confident that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:20.400 Here's the good news: God isn't finished with you. 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:25.680 In fact, why don't you turn to somebody and say, God isn't finished with you yet? 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:30.079 Turn to somebody else and say, He's not finished with me either. 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:38.160