“Life is hard. God is good. Glory is coming. Therefore, stand firm in his grace.” -John Piper
Gather because of Christ v.20a.
We were not meant to go through storms alone!
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Get up through the strength of Christ v.20b.
Satan wants us to stay down!
“The next day he went”
Wise people know how to maximize time! There is a time to rest, but there is an urgency to the gospel!
It’s a 30 mile walk from Lystra to Derbe.
Persistence because of Christ!
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Glorify Christ v.21.
Push through with praise!
A false prophet wants the glory for themselves. A true prophet wants to bring glory to God!
Make a big deal out of your adversity so that you want attention or you want people to feel sorry for you, shows little of God’s glory! Make a big deal out of God’s mighty power over your adversity, that’s making much of a bigger God than our problems!
Paul and Barnabas had healed a man and many wanted to worship them. They quickly shifted the praise to God, not wanting any of the praise! The same ones that wanted to worship them, throw stones at them! God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him! John Piper
Guess who came to Christ out of Paul’s adversity, Timothy! Acts 16 tells us that Timothy was from Lystra.
Job 1:21 “And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Give others the joy of Christ v.22.
The best therapy is to pour out into others!
Acts 20:24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus; to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
When you minister through the power of the Holy Spirit, its joy!
When you minister through the flesh, its work! 10% of most every church does 90% of the work! The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few!
Grow through Christ v.23.
They appointed leaders, growing the church. God’s desire is for us to grow in Him, so that we’ll glorify Him forever.
Positive effects of advisory
- A sole dependency upon God
- The ability to minister on another level
- Humility- we become humbled to feel that “it rains on the just and unjust.” Adversity happens to everyone. It’s ok to ask why? Paul kind of did this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
- The gospel goes forward through adversity. (The good news is not good news until you know you need it. Adversity may cause us to look to the cross. You don’t look up until you’re on your back.)
There is a purity to experience when everything is stripped away, “the joy of the Lord is my strength!”