WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.039 Today we're concluding our series Purposeful. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:16.559 This is a five-part series. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:22.559 We've been teaching through the book of Acts, namely Paul's missionary journeys. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:30.320 And we've been wrestling with this question: how do you actually live a life full of purpose and meaning and significance? 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:42.719 And if we're really honest, this last year, there's maybe a different question, an incredibly important question that we need to answer before we finish our series. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:50.479 And the question is this how do you live a purpose-filled life through the difficulties of life? 00:00:51.200 --> 00:01:05.920 Like, can you really live a purpose-filled, purpose-ful life through the difficulties, the hardships, the pain, the brokenness of our world? 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:09.599 You know, we'd all agree life's hard, isn't it? 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:11.280 It's difficult. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:19.280 Um, maybe for some, you would say this last year uh maybe knock the wind out of you. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:21.840 You ever have that happen? 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:23.040 Do you remember that? 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:36.400 Any anybody have the when as a kid, you have the you just you're running, you get hit, or you fall something, and then you're just you're gasping and you you feel like you're never gonna breathe again, don't you? 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.879 And then all of a sudden, you get that air. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:43.280 And I think for many, this last year has felt like that, hasn't it? 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:45.760 It's been a sucker punch to the gut. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:52.959 You feel like your legs got taken out, you feel like you've maybe been knocked out or knocked down or you're losing hope. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:57.920 How do you live a purpose-filled life in the midst of the difficulties of life? 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.840 Now, here's what's so important: the pathway, listen up. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:06.719 The pathway of a purpose-filled life always involves difficulty. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:12.639 The pathway of a purpose-filled life always involves sacrifice and suffering. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:17.520 In fact, the sermon titled today is simply this: a difficult good. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:19.280 Can you say that with me? 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.960 A difficult good. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:25.680 Now let's say it like you actually mean it, a difficult good. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.719 See, in our day today, those are uh an oxymoron, right? 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:33.039 You don't put difficult and good together. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:39.919 You just have difficult and get through it, and then you have good and happy and fun and comfortable. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:47.599 And yet there is a difficult good that we need to embrace in order to live a purpose-filled life. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:03:08.479 In fact, I think there's many today, this sermon's so important, there's many today who are pursuing a comfortable life, and as a result, missing out on a purposeful life because you haven't yet embraced the difficult good God has for you. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:15.120 Over the series, like I said, we've been studying Paul's missionary journey in the book of Acts. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:20.960 And what I want to do today, rather than take you through more of that, I want to zoom out. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:24.719 I want to zoom out and let you kind of see all the missionary journeys. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:32.960 He went on three missionary journeys, and an app title, if you had the title, all three missionary journeys would be a difficult good. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:47.039 And you'll see why in just a second, that it was something incredibly difficult, incredibly hard, a lot of trials and tribulation and suffering, and yet so much good came out of it. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.800 If you got your notes, open it up. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:52.159 Let's look at Paul's missionary journey. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:58.400 His first missionary journey, you can find that in the book of Acts, chapter 13 and 14. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:03.039 This happened somewhere around the time of AD 47 to 8049. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:14.240 His traveling companions were Barnabas, if you remember, Barnabas the encourager who came alongside Paul when no one else would come alongside, and then John Mark, who's Barnabas' cousins, you remember. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.360 And they start off and they go to the island of Cyprus. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.240 Well, they immediately encounter difficulty. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:24.480 It's uh spiritual opposition from Elimus, the sorcerer. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:28.000 And then they travel to Perga and that they travel by ship there. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:34.399 And when they get there, John Mark can't handle the difficulties, and so he deserts them. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:41.199 And you can only imagine when you're starting off on something and feeling deserted or betrayed in that moment. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:46.399 Well, you travel on Antioch Pisidia, Jewish leaders drive Paul out of town. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:56.879 They go to the next town, Olystra, and um, actually, they thought because of the miracles Barnabas and Paul were doing, they interpreted them as being Greek gods in the flesh. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:01.360 They're like, oh my gosh, Barnabas and Paul, and this is how fickle the human heart is. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:03.920 Eventually they realized they weren't gods. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:10.560 Some Jewish leaders came and persuaded them, and they dragged Paul out its side of town and he they stone him. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:16.000 I mean, you went from being almost worshiped to then being having rocks hurled at you. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:20.800 That's a bad week, if you um, yeah, for anybody right there. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:31.600 Antioch, Jerusalem, as they head down at the end of their missionary journey, they experience the internal opposition of Judaizers who are saying that you have to be saved, you have to become Jewish. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.839 So his first missionary journey, you see this good that came about. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:41.040 Churches planted people coming to know Christ, and yet incredible difficulties along the way. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:45.839 Second missionary journey, you can find on Acts in Acts chapter 15 through 18. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.279 This happened around 8049 to 80 51. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:54.639 His companions were Silas and Timothy, Luke, and later on Priscilla and Aquila. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:05.600 Some of the notable events is before they even set off on the journey, Paul and Barnabas split way because of they were divided on whether to bring John Mark or not. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:15.519 And so now your traveling companion and partner in the ministry is now going separate ways, incredibly difficult. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:22.000 In Phrygia and Galatia, Paul is actually, it says, he's kept by the Holy Spirit to going into Asia. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:25.519 He's going, like, I want to go this direction, but the Holy Spirit's keeping me. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:29.120 And there's this, he gets this vision, this Macedonian call. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:34.000 And here's what's fascinating when we think about like the call of God and the will of God. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:39.439 We so often interpret the will or call of God based on our circumstances, right? 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.639 Open door. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.639 An open door is, you know, that everything's going easy. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.199 That's kind of how we talk about open doors. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:56.879 Uh, instead of, okay, God called me here, it's gonna still be difficult, but I'm clear on my calling and what he's called me, so I can lean in through these difficulties. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:58.000 That's what happened here. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:08.079 Called to Macedonia, but when they show up in Philippi, Paul and Silas end up through the preaching and seeing what God was doing in his work, they get flogged and in prison. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.839 In Thessalonica, Jewish leaders try to arrest Paul and Silas. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:17.279 In Berea, there's even more opposition where he ended up, Paul had to get out of town and go to Athens. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.120 We talked about that last week. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:29.279 And then finally in Corinth, this is uh Jewish leaders try to arrest Paul, and while he's there, he actually pins the letters 1st and 2nd uh Thessalonians to the church in Thessalonica. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:33.519 Think about these letters to encourage and equip the churches that he started. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.000 His third missionary journey, Acts 18 through 21, it's really his longest time away. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:53.040 It's in between AD 52 to 57, his companions, Timothy, his protege, Luke, who was the author of the book of Acts and others along the way, notable events, preaching the gospel in Ephesus, he was so effective. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:54.160 Think about this. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:04.319 He was so effective that the silversmiths start a riot in the city because uh his effectiveness in the gospels uh impacting their bottom line. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:07.680 Because people aren't buying idols anymore or silver idols. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:12.160 And so they throw a riot in Corinth or in Ephesus. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:18.480 Paul actually writes the first book to uh the church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians there. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:32.080 Uh Macedonia in Greece, Paul then writes 2 Corinthians in a letter to the church in Rome called Romans, and Potalemus, uh the prophet, this is on his way back to Jerusalem, says, Your difficult good isn't quite over yet. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:37.279 In fact, when you get to Jerusalem, you're gonna get uh be in prison there. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:47.360 See, a difficult good, the pathway of a purpose-filled life always involves difficulty, always involves sacrifice, it always involves some level of suffering. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:48.960 I want you to notice something. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:59.600 God did incredible good, and we are here today because of the efforts that Paul went out in those missionary journeys. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:17.279 In fact, we have this new, what we now call the New Testament, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, these are letters that the apostle Paul penned, many while he was in prison. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:32.399 And today we have them now because he leaned into this moment, churches were planted, the gospel was spread, people gave their lives to Christ, and it was difficult. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:34.480 And it was hard. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:42.240 So, how do you live a purpose-filled life in the difficulties of life? 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.799 How do we do that as a church? 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:49.919 How do you do that as an event individual? 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:58.799 Well, I can think of nobody else who I'd want to hear about how to do that than the apostle Paul. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:10.399 In fact, if as he was describing his difficulties to the church in Corinth when he was uh defending his apostleship, listen to what he says about what he experienced. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:11.600 This is amazing. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:17.360 I just want you to kind of think about what you're walking through and then understand what Paul walked through. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:26.879 He says, I've worked much harder and been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, been exposed to death again and again. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:32.080 Five times I received from the Jews the 40 lashes, minus one. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:37.679 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stone, three times I was shipwreck. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:40.080 Man, that's a lot of shipwrecks. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.960 I spent a night and a day in the open sea. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:44.799 I've been constantly on the move. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:56.639 I've been in danger from rivers, and danger from bandits, and danger from my fellow Jews, and danger from Gentiles, and danger in the city, and in danger in the country, and danger it sounded like a country song right there. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:00.960 And danger in the sea, and danger from false believers. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:04.399 I have labored, I've toiled, and often gone without sleep. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.600 I've known hunger and thirst and often gone without food. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:09.440 I've been cold and I've been naked. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:14.799 Besides everything else, I faced daily the pressure, my concern for all the churches. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:21.440 His heart was heavy for those churches and people that he planted, he felt and was their spiritual father. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:34.799 And what I want to do with our time is actually give you four keys to navigating this purposeful life through the difficulties of life. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:49.039 They come from the letters that the Apostle Paul penned to uh one, his protege, Timothy, and also to those churches, as he everybody gets to watch and see how he's gone about his life and what he's done. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:53.200 And he's saying, Listen, I want to help you navigate this well. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:59.759 I want to help you uh live a purposeful life no matter what you are facing. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:13.919 And so, when life is difficult, when life is hard, first thing the apostle Paul's gonna tell us is get clear on your purpose or get clear on your why, and don't be surprised by suffering. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.919 Don't be surprised by problems. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:19.519 Listen to what the apostle Paul says to his young protege, Timothy. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:26.240 He says, You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:32.159 He's got very clear on his purpose, and everybody else can see it. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:39.679 And this led to patience, love, endurance, persecution, sufferings. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:48.799 He goes on to say, what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Elystra, his first missionary journey, the persecutions I endured. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.879 Like, like you know, all of those things. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.919 You've seen that. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:56.159 Now notice this yet, and circle, if you're taking notes, circle that word yet. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:01.440 I love this, by the way, when you're going through something hard, yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:07.519 When you're going through something hard, it's so easy to forget the good that God did and his faithfulness in your past. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:17.440 Remember his faithfulness, remember how he showed up, remember how he moved and how he delivered in the past while you're going through the present suffering. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:21.600 And then he says this in fact, everyone, say everyone. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:26.240 That means, by the way, uh everyone. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:37.840 So that's all of us included who wants to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:51.759 The first thing that the Apostle Paul wants us to know navigating this purpose-filled life in the midst of the difficulties of life is get clear on your purpose and don't be surprised by suffering. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:54.559 Don't be surprised by problems. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:14:03.440 You know, one of the things I hear a lot when we're going through things, I can't believe this is happening. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.879 How could this? 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.600 And yet Jesus said what? 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:11.039 In this life, you'll have trouble. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:17.440 So while we're here on this planet, life's hard, isn't it? 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.039 It is. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.559 Life's difficult. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.279 But take heart. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:26.799 I have overcome the world. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:36.799 Like in this life, the circumstances, the things that are going on, you're gonna have hardship, you're gonna have some of those things, but you can't take heart. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.159 You don't have to lose heart. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:38.720 Why? 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:48.480 Because my death and my resurrection has declared victory over anything and everything that's going on, and I've overcome it all. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:51.759 And since you're in me, you are an overcomer. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.519 So don't be surprised by it, be prepared for it. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.759 And so, what do we do? 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.360 We get clear on our purpose. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.440 We get clear on our why. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:07.519 See, when you hit difficulties, what happens is we often lose our purpose, don't we? 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.320 The why gets knocked out of us. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:14.080 My teaching, my way of life, my purpose. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:19.759 I'll just give you a brief kind of big picture purpose for every single person. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:23.360 Your purpose is to know God and then to make him known. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:38.240 And as you get to know God more, then you get to understand more specifically how God has called and designed you to make him known in your giftings and your uh and who he's made you to be and the places where he's put you to be. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:40.000 Get clear on your purpose. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.679 I like how Gail Hyatt said it. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:45.679 It said, people lose their way when they lose their why. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.279 Like, have you lost your why over the last year? 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:52.240 Have you lost your why over your marriage? 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:57.440 Have you lost your why with your work or why God's placed you there or with that friendship? 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.960 Have you lost your why? 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.759 He says, people lose their way when they lose their why. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.399 Get clear on your purpose. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:12.000 You know, a few years ago, uh it was a really dark season for me. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:17.600 I I actually went through uh 18-month just depression. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:21.039 And yes, even pastors get depressed. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:26.000 And it just was a season that was so hard. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:36.559 And honestly, my wife is the most amazing woman on the planet, and she just put up a with a lot with me, and she really carried a lot of the weight. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:42.080 It wasn't like I was ever going, like, you know, I I just want life to be done. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.080 I just didn't care about life. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:49.679 I didn't really see, like, if I died tomorrow, who cares? 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.360 It's just a really dark place that endured. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:57.279 It's only through our counselor that we even began to identify it. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.120 I didn't really know what was going on. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:07.759 And it's interesting, I can be preaching and getting into God's word and still lose your why. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:29.759 There was a little, not little, but there was a crisis in our family in the summer of 2019, some things that were coming up, and there's just some stuff with one of our kids that just required like me to engage as a dad in a way that I never engaged and even really never knew how to engage. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.880 So like fight for our family. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:48.640 And what was so powerful about that moment is literally one of those things that shook my soul out of this like dark depression because in that moment I saw the power of a father's voice in kids' lives. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.160 That's don't forget this. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.359 Sometimes we think as our kids grow older, they don't need to hear from us. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:59.119 No, they need us more, they need to know their love, they need to hear that you are so for them. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.039 Your voice is powerful. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.440 Have you lost your why? 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.559 Have you lost your purpose? 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:15.119 See, when you're traveling through the difficulties of life, get clear on your purpose. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.960 Get back to your why. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:24.400 The second thing the apostle Paul is gonna say is recognize that suffering has a purpose. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.839 It's not pointless. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:31.519 When life's difficult, recognize that suffering has a purpose. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:37.359 God is actually at work in the difficult seasons of life. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:45.279 He may not, he's not the cause of the pain or the difficulty, but he will not waste your pain. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:49.279 Listen to what he says to the church in Rome. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:54.319 He says, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:54.960 Period. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.880 And I wish you'd just stop there, by the way. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.079 Because isn't that great? 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.599 Like, yes, and amen. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.440 We boast in the hope of the glory of God. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.119 Awesome, thank you very much. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:10.640 But he goes on to something that is so foreign for us as the Western Church, as Americans. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.319 Not only so, but we also glory in our help me out. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.240 It's in your notes. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.119 Help me out. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.359 Sufferings. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:23.599 We glory in our sufferings. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.400 Why? 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:34.480 Because we know that suffering produces something, it produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:43.039 And hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:52.079 That there are some things in your life, listen, there are some things in your life that can only be reshaped through the crucible of pain. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:20:02.880 There's some of the character things that God wants to help form the life of Christ, of who you are called to be, and suffering plays a part in that. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.640 Suffering produces perseverance. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.160 That's the word hoopomino. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.079 Remaining under. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:18.960 Picture, you know, almost of like a weightlifter that just remains under that weight, and through remaining under is strengthened. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:25.920 And as you endure, as you endure, then it produces the character, the Christ-likeness, the godly life. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:28.559 That suffering has a purpose in your life. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.680 It's not pointless. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:32.880 And that's kind of what we kind of even talked about the last year. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:35.039 It's just a waste, it's just pointless. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:41.519 And Jesus is going, No, if you will surrender it to me, I want to produce something in you through this. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.400 I remember when we lived in Atlanta, it was a little 14 years ago. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:52.720 And it was an incredibly hard time for us as a family. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:54.000 My job wasn't going well. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:58.160 Anyone else, you know, you don't have to raise your hand about your job not going well. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.440 It just was a rough season there. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:06.240 And then we just had our desire. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:10.640 Like Georgia was great, Atlanta's great, but we love California, love here. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.440 We grew up here. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.960 We wanted to be back. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:15.599 We want to be by the ocean. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:27.359 And then my son, he was born, and from the get-go, the doctors told us he's failing to thrive. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:34.720 A couple months after his birth, he was actually under his birth weight still. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:40.400 And I mean, we're pumping him on like protein shakes and everything and praying. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.559 And you ever have one of those? 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:46.480 And I mean, I'm in my you know, mid-twenties at this point. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.279 Just crying out to God. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:56.079 Never really gone through this much pain at this point in my life, so didn't really know what to do or how to do it. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:58.559 I'm just, it's just hard. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.559 I'm going, man, my job sucks. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.400 We don't like where we live. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:08.079 My son, I can't even do anything about it. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:10.400 I can't change anything. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:14.960 I just get a hold of this little bean and pray. 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:23.039 We were driving as a family down downtown in the Buckhead area next to the mall. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:26.480 This is one of those days it was just pouring down the rain. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:33.039 It basically felt, looked how I felt, you know, just like it's just dreary, it's just gloomy, it's awful. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:45.759 And then I see on the scrolling marquee, and literally, I don't know if I just saw this, if like God put that up for there for me, or if this was really on a scrolling marquee in downtown Buckhead. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:49.039 But on the scrolling marquee at this mall, here's what it said. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:54.720 It said, God does not bring a man into deep waters to drown him, but to purify him. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:58.319 I just let's oh my gosh. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:03.200 Because there's a purpose, and you're gonna work, and this sucks. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.960 Let's just call it what it is. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:15.119 But you've not left me, and he's not left you, and he's in the middle of the difficulty with you. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.799 When life's difficult, we got to get clear on our purpose. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:23.920 Recognize that suffering has a purpose. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:30.880 Next, the apostle Paul is gonna say, your God-given calling is not limited by your circumstances. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:43.119 Your God-given calling, your purpose on this planet is not limited, is not hindered by your circumstances, by the problems, by the obstacles, by a pandemic. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.160 It is not limited. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:46.319 Notice what he says to the church in Philippi. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:48.079 Now, remember the church in Philippi? 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:57.039 The church in Philippi is where he was flogged and imprisoned, and then now he's actually in Rome and he's in prison again. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:00.480 And he's writing back to the church. 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:02.240 And notice what he says. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:16.480 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me, uh, house arrest, imprisoned, has actually served, not hinder, served to advance the gospel. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:22.960 As a result, it's become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I'm in chains for Christ. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.559 It served to advance the gospel. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:33.599 Paul got to preach to the most elite uh soldiers of his day, the Pregatorian Guard, who had incredible influence in Rome. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:39.200 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:52.400 Because of my circumstances and my boldness, God is using this to embolden other people and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:55.680 Your God-given calling is not limited by your circumstances. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:00.720 Difficult circumstances can actually serve to advance God's calling in your life. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:12.720 The unexpected problems, the detours, the stuff that you never wish to go through when you say, okay, God, I don't get it, I don't understand it. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:18.160 But instead of throwing a pity party, which is our natural, let's just be honest, woe is me. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:21.440 See, I like how I think how Ortberg said it. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:26.400 There's an important line and distinction between grief and self-pity. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:32.400 When you're going through those painful circumstances to grieve, that's that's absolutely. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:38.559 But then when we cross that line to self-pity and woe is me, and we get stuck. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:45.920 He says, no, no, no, those circumstances will not hinder your calling or your purpose. 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:49.200 It makes me think of someone that maybe some of you don't know. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:52.880 I'd encourage you to look this person up, do a little bit of research. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:56.079 Some of you know a gal named Joni Erickson Todd. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:01.759 I was first introduced to her at college in Chicago where she came and spoke. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:07.519 Her story is an incredible story of circumstance that none of us would choose. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:11.279 That for most people, you'd say, Well, that's it. 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:15.519 Quit, give up, eek through life. 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:26.720 Joni, when she was a young woman, was having some fun with some friends and dove into a lake head first and broke her neck. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:36.480 From that day forward, she was a quadruple, only able to move her head and her mouth. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:40.400 She didn't say, Well, that's the end. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:46.880 Certainly struggled, certainly had um challenging days. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:55.440 She decided to use her gift of art and painting and started to paint using her mouth. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:27:07.839 She would hold a brush in her mouth and begin to paint these paintings and realize that even though she doesn't have use of her limbs, she still has use by God. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.559 It's amazing. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:20.000 In 1974, she actually wrote the story of her life and it released and became an international number one best seller. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.720 Later, a movie of her life was made. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:28.480 She started a ministry, Joni and Friends, for uh the Ministry to the Disabled. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:36.160 It's been an incredible ministry that served thousands upon thousands of families all across the globe. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:40.400 She started a radio uh ministry called Joni and Friends Radio. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:45.759 Uh, President Reagan appointed her to the National Council of Disability in 1988. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:51.839 She spoke at the Billy Graham Crusade, over 100,000, and has continued to this day. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:28:00.880 See, friends, if we would just expand our eyes and our scope, your God-given calling is not limited by your circumstances. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:03.519 In fact, this is how Paul saw suffering. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:05.039 This is not how I see it. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.160 So let's be clear. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.920 I want to see it this way. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:15.039 Paul saw suffering and difficulty not as a problem to be solved, but an opportunity to be stewarded. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.799 Let me say it again. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:21.359 He saw suffering and difficulty, not as a problem to be solved. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.640 And here's what I'm not saying. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:25.440 Don't pray that you can't, you know, God, would you heal this? 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:26.720 God, would you take this away? 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.359 Absolutely. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.680 He had a thorn in his flesh, he prayed three times. 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:31.359 God, take it away. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:34.960 But he said it's an opportunity to be stewarded. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:37.759 You, Heavenly Father, are gonna use this. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:44.240 I don't know how, but when it's surrendered to you, you will work through me even in this. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:46.960 When life's difficult, get clear on your purpose. 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:49.440 Recognize suffering has a purpose. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:52.480 Your calling is not limited by your circumstances. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:55.279 And finally, what's awaiting you? 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:59.680 What's awaiting you in Jesus is worth whatever you're going through. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:11.759 When he writes back to the church in Corinth, if you have your Bible open, flip back a couple pages to Corinth, 2 Corinthians chapter 4. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:19.279 I just want to begin a little bit earlier than where I have it in your notes in verse 7. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:26.880 He says, But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not us. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:29.519 That we're just on display. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:38.480 Like that our lives get to display not anything about us, but the glory and the brilliance and the beauty of our Savior. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.680 And so he goes on. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.720 He says, We're hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed. 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.160 We're perplexed, but not in despair. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:47.920 We're persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:56.720 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be also revealed in our body. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:02.799 Therefore, later on he says, do not lose hearts. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:13.759 Though outwardly we're wasting away, inwardly we're being renewed day by day for our light and momentary troubles. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:21.200 Like when we understand what's awaiting you in Jesus is worth whatever you're going through. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:29.519 Like we get an internal perspective that life is way more than just about now. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.680 The troubles. 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.200 They're light. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:38.160 Like, no, it's been heavy, Ryan. 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.160 They're momentary. 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:43.200 No, it feels like it's forever. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:51.599 Achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:59.039 See, I think moms understand this better than most of us. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:13.599 You moms, you understand that what's awaiting you through the process of childbirth is worth whatever you're going through. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:24.960 I remember when our our first was born, and um, you know, Jenny's giving birth, and I I thought that was a good time to make jokes. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.200 A little Father's Day advice for you. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.480 The worst time. 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.519 The worst time. 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:34.960 I remember she's like, you know, in terrible, terrible pain. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:37.839 I'm like, yeah, you know, my back's really hurting too. 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:42.240 I about lost my head, and rightfully so. 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:45.680 See, there's something about that though. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:55.920 The pain of childbirth and how hard and how difficult, and yet it is eclipsed in a moment when you see a mom hold their child for the very first time. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:58.400 That's the picture here that Paul's painting for us. 00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:04.559 That what's awaiting you in Jesus Christ, what's ahead of you, is worth whatever you're going through. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:13.839 And so this is what he says: fix our eyes not on what's seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:17.920 Fix your eyes on what's ahead so that you can endure what's now. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:23.200 Fight for an internal perspective in the midst of trials and hardships. 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:30.480 What's awaiting you in Jesus is worth whatever you're going through. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:42.480 That line I wrote down in 2019 through a season where I just felt like that was God's word to me. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:45.279 So I had that 18-month depression. 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:56.240 I had actually many of you remember I had three concussions, broken nose, broken toe, and then the family stuff. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.119 I was tired. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:06.960 And honestly, I anybody remember being excited for 2020? 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:09.680 Yeah, that was sweet. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:16.000 And yet the word of God remains the same. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.759 What's awaiting you, friends? 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:20.240 It's not in this moment. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:31.200 In Christ Jesus, you are an eternal being with a grand destiny in God's great universe. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:34.720 It's worth whatever you are going through. 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:42.720 And so here's what I want to say because some of you walked in today and you're feeling tired, you're feeling overwhelmed, you're feeling like you just can't go on. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:45.440 And God's word to you is don't lose heart. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.759 Are you starting to lose heart? 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:49.039 Don't give up. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:59.119 You feel, like I said at the beginning, like you're the wind got knocked out of you, your legs got taken out from you, and you're just trying to hang on. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:00.640 And God says, I got you. 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:02.720 Get clear on your purpose. 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:04.400 I'm with you. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:09.519 Don't give up in your marriage. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:22.000 Don't give up on the process that God has you in that He wants to build and form. 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:28.159 I want you to do this with me. 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:32.239 I just want you to hold your hands out in front of you. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:41.440 And I want you to just picture what you're going through as if it's fitting in your hands. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:47.840 Whatever the difficulty that you're wrestling with. 00:34:51.039 --> 00:35:02.559 I want you to just extend it out, and as we worship in a second, saying, God, I entrust it all to you. 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.880 I won't lose heart. 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:11.840 I'm gonna fix my eyes on what you're doing, where you're working, how you're moving. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.840 You'll give me what I need today. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:19.519 Tomorrow feels overwhelming, but you'll give me what I need today. 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:28.159 And so I trust all that I am to you. 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:34.239 Jesus, right now, would you comfort my friends? 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:36.480 Would you encourage their heart? 00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:47.119 God, you meet those who are on the edge ready to quit and give up with your presence, with your strength. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.360 God, we need you. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:10.880 Thank you for pouring your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that the same power that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in us, empowering us through this life. 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:15.840 You'll never leave us or forsake us. 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:22.639 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:27.840 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:30.400 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:36.400 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.