Lesson 22 - Bearing Fruit During Difficult Times

What meant the most to you from this chapter or helped you think more accurately about God’s character and the truth of His Word?  What offered you the greatest challenge or blessing, and why?

The bible instructs us to count our trials and difficult times as joy - James 1:2.

There are benefits to be gained, blessings to be enjoyed, and lessons to be learned in our trials.

“The testing of your faith produces patience - let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (verses 3-4)

Remember our A,B,C’s?  A - Acknowledge God and His sovereignty   B - bloom where you are planted and bear fruit       C - Concentrate on God’s powerful and reassuring promises        D - Do something useful

Learning from God’s Servants

What messages do these saints offer you as you consider their usefulness in spite of difficult times?

            Joseph (Genesis 39:4, 22; 41:56) - served as a slave, a prisoner, and finally as an elevated official in the                  Egyptian government.

            He suffered betrayal by his brothers, separation from his father and family, condemnation and imprisonment because of false accusation, and unjust treatment.

            Joseph served…no matter where he was, what his situation, or who needed his service.

            Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) - endured beatings, stonings, death threats, imprisonments, and various other forms of suffering.

            He kept on preaching….verses 23 - 33)

            Paul focused on the object of his love -- the Lord Jesus Christ -- and kept on keeping on, even in pain.

            Remember Philippians 3:13-14.

            Paul desired to be useful to the Lord….wherever he was and whatever his condition.

What messages do these more modern-day saints offer you about bearing fruit during difficult times?

            Madame Guyon - imprisoned, in solitary confinement….wrote a 20 volume commentary on the Bible.

            When she was 16 years old, after turning down many other proposals, she married a wealthy gentleman of Montargis, Jacques Guyon, age thirty eight. During her twelve years of marriage, Guyon suffered terribly at the hands of her mother-in-law and maidservant. Adding to her misery were the deaths of her half sister, followed by her mother, her beloved son, and of her daughter and father who died within days of each other. Guyon continued belief in God's perfect plan and that she would be blessed in suffering. To this end she was, when she bore another son and daughter shortly before her husband's death. After twelve years of an unhappy marriage, Madame Guyon had become a widow at the age of 28.

            She believed that one should pray all the time, and that in whatever one does, one should be spending time with God. "Prayer is the key of perfection and of sovereign happiness; it is the efficacious means of getting rid of all vices and of acquiring all virtues; for the way to become perfect is to live in the presence of God. He tells us this Himself: "walk before me, and be thou perfect" Genesis 17:1. Prayer alone can bring you into His presence, and keep you there continually."

            As she wrote in one of her poems: "There was a period when I chose, A time and place for prayer ... But now I seek that constant prayer, In inward stillness known ..."

            In the Christian dispute regarding grace and works, she defended the belief that salvation is the result      of grace rather than works alone.

            Mrs. Studd - served her missionary husband as his wife and manager.  When she grew ill and became an invalid, she continued to serve from her bed and invalid couch she formed Prayer Centres, issued monthly pamphlets by the thousand, wrote 20 to 30 letters a day, and planned and edited the first issues of the Heart of Africa Mission Magazine.

            She served in sickness as well as in health.

            Hudson Taylor - a missions founder.  When illness forced him to leave the mission field in China he used his “downtime” to found the China Inland Mission and was supported by this mission when he was able to return to China as well as being able to recruit new missionaries to accompany him.

           

            He suffered physically from illness, was persecuted and attacked in China, had his house set on fire, lost his wife and two children on the mission field in a raging cholera epidemic.

            He kept on serving, laboring, and praying….and believing God was in control and all things would work      according to His plan.          

Doing God’s Will

“What is God’s will for my life?”  Read Psalm 37:4, and walk through these suggested steps for discovering God’s will.

God calls us to serve Him even when we’re not where we want to be and when life is not easy.

            1. Delight yourself in God - What does “delight yourself” mean with respect to your relationship with God?

                        Seek pleasure in Him, make Him your true joy….indulge yourself in the Lord!

                        What is God’s promise?

                        What is the condition for participating in this promise from God?

            2.  Indulge yourself in God’s Word - What image comes to your mind when you hear the word “indulge”?

                        Ever notice that the more you are around someone, the more you become like that person?

                        This holds true with God’s Word.  The more time you spend reading and studying the Bible, the more you resemble God.

                        How would you measure your interest in God’s Word at this time?  Do you need to make any changes?

            3. Committing yourself to the Lord - Read Psalm 37:5.  Commit yourself and your activities to the Lord.

                        This involves the complete commitment of your life.  Trust God to take over your career, home, work, all circumstances, aims, and ambitions of life, and He will so mould events that your deepest and purest  desires shall find unmeasured fulfillment and life will be filled with utter satisfaction.                     

                        What are you to commit to God?

                        What else does God ask of you?

                        What is God’s promise to those committed to His ways?

God declares that He has a plan for you.  List what you can do to help your plans match God’s plans as stated in…

                        Proverbs 3:5-6

                        Proverbs 16:3

Based on your list, what specific changes or activities will ensure that you further delight yourself in the Lord and commit yourself to Him?

Delighting in the Lord, knowing His Word, and committing yourself to the Lord are ways to ensure that your plans and desires for yourself match God’s plans.

Loving God…Even More

Read this section in your book again.  As you consider the contents of this chapter and God’s amazing love for you, what can you do this week, in obedience to Christ…

…to live out God’s plan?            …to trust God’s promise?          …to love God with all your mind?

God has a destiny and a hope for you..

Lesson 21 - Enduring Difficult Times

Lesson 21 - Enduring Difficult Times

What meant the most to you from this chapter or helped you think more accurately about God’s character and the truth of His Word?  What offered you the greatest challenge or blessing, and why?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - Jeremiah 29:11

God Has a Plan for You

Read Jeremiah: 29:1-11.

            According to verse 4, who caused the captivity of the Israelites?

            What advice does God give the exiles in verses 5-7 for how to live in a strange land?

            What words of hope does God speak in verses 10-14?

What circumstances in your life does God seem to be asking you to live with and endure?

How does the knowledge of God’s plan and purpose for you encourage you?

A - Acknowledge God’s Hand

First we must recognize God’s hand in whatever has happened.

Look at Jeremiah 29, verses 4, 7, 14, and 20.  Who does God say was instrumental in the Israelites’ captivity?

What differences does acknowledging God’s hand in your situation make?

Our life is not out of control!  Nothing has just randomly happened to put us where we are.  God has allowed us to be here. 

We can better endure difficult times when we acknowledge that God is indeed in full control of not only the universe but of our circumstances as well. 

Thinking about the truth will help to eliminate insecurity, bewilderment, blaming, and bitterness.

B - Bloom Where You Are Planted

What do I mean by blooming where we are planted? 

We are to go on loving the Lord with our whole being – heart, soul, strength, and mind.

We are to go on fulfilling His purposes for us wherever we find ourselves – no matter how undesirable or unexpected our circumstances may be.

Read Jeremiah 29:5-7.  What did God say to His people about putting down roots and getting busy in their captivity?

List the involvement He expected.  Build houses – dwell in them, plant gardens – eat their fruit, take wives for sons and give daughters to husbands – so they may bear children.

What difference do you think such activities make in difficult times?  Focus on priorities of building solid, long-lasting, and ongoing marriages rather than their pains.

Where has God “planted” you?  How have you acknowledged His hand, and what are you doing to “bloom” there?

God wants us to continue building where we are and blooming where we’re planted – this is how we endure difficult times.

Our plan of action for difficult times is simple:  “Keep on keeping on!”

Keep on building, functioning, planting!  Live! Bloom! Grow!

Don’t sit around being sad or depressed, waiting for things to change or get better…MAKE THINGS BETTER!

C - Count on God’s Promises

What was God’s promise to Israel in Jeremiah 29:10 and 14?  Promise of a return to their homeland.

What are just a few of God’s promises to you?

            John 10:27 - 29                          John 14: 1 - 3                            Philippians 1:6

            1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17

Where do you tend to focus your attention when things fall apart?  Concentrate on God’s promises!

They assure you over and over again of the bright and glorious hope we have even when life looks hopeless.

D - Do Something Useful

While you are in your difficult times you can do something useful!  You can serve God, your family, and His people!

What is Matthew 20:26-28 calling us to do?  What guidelines does God give for serving…

           

            As a wife in Genesis 2:18?                     As a mother in Titus 2:4?

            As an employee in 1 Peter 2:18?                        As a member of the body of Christ in Galatians 6:10?

            As a witness to Him in the world in 1 Peter 3:15?

Ok. So roll up your sleeves and serve God and others in the present, even in your hard times.

If we are married, God calls us to serve our spouses,

If we are parents, we are to nurture and love our children,

Each of us – married or single – is called to serve the body of Christ, His church (1 Cor. 12:7).

No matter where we are or what our circumstances, we are to serve God.

These roles require energy, self-sacrifice, and strength, but God graciously provides everything we need to do something useful…even in the midst of suffering.

We are going to talk about some of God’s people who, when they found themselves in hard and difficult places – places they didn’t choose and places they didn’t want to be in – followed God’s plan for enduring difficult times.

As you review these four ABC’s, what message is God sending to you in your difficult situation?

Acknowledge God’s hand

Bloom where you are planted

Concentrate on God’s promises

Do something useful

Loving God…Even More

Read this section in your book again.  As you consider the contents of this chapter and God’s amazing love for you, what can you do this week, in obedience to Christ…

…to count on God’s goodness?  …to remember God’s power at work in your life? …to love God with all your mind?

We know that in everything God works for good.

Living Out God's Plan

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

Jeremiah 29:11

Lesson 20 - Navigating the Maze of Life

Knowing that God has a purpose for your life and for your salvation will bring great joy and hope; however, it brings great responsibility.

Discovering God’s Purpose
Do you ever have one of those days when your routine seems dull and the duty of it weighs you down? Maybe you experience days that have a bunch of curveballs thrown at you or is filled with disappointments that leave you feeling like you’re striking out.

The constant awareness that God has a purpose for us will give us hope when we are challenged with these types of days.

Life seems like a maze - like those English gardens that have mazes designed out of shrubbery. We follow along the maze of life, randomly making turns and choosing our paths.

Then we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. From this point on we have a purpose -- to serve God.

God provides our direction through life’s maze…God keeps us moving forward as we pray and dedicate our lives to serving Him, becoming more Christlike, and spreading the gospel.

As we begin to grow and move along in our Christian life, we come to corners (special moments when God guides our lives into new directions or deeper understandings of His purpose for us.)

Sometimes we stray from God’s will or misunderstand His direction and come to dead ends. It is through further prayer that we can take the action and seek the Lord for clarification or new guidance.

Remember: God doesn’t ask us to understand the twists and turns, the why’s and the how’s of life….He only asks that we trust He is working His purpose in our lives as we serve Him.

Fill in the last few words of Romans 8:28:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, __________________. “

Read Romans 8:29. What does Paul say is God’s main purpose for your life?

While you have been reading Loving God with All Your Minds, how have you seen God’s promise and purpose (as stated in Romans 8:29) at work in your life? Share one instance.

Finding God’s Will
Let’s look to Acts 16:6-10 where we learn something about how God reveals His will to His people. Luke tells us that when Paul was on his second missionary journey, Paul decided to travel in another direction to proclaim the gospel but was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

How did Paul respond to this closed door? Did he say “I quit”? Did he get mad and have a fit? Did he complain? Did he sink into a depression?

No, he kept moving and tried a different direction. He found himself blocked again. Do you think he quit, got mad, complained, or sunk into a depression?

No, he kept moving and tried the final option where he traveled to Macedonia to preach the gospel.

Discovering God’s Purpose…for You!
Luke does not tell us how exactly God forbade Paul to go certain directions, the passage does teach us that we can trust God to close doors and block our paths in order to keep us going where He wants us to go.

Our role is to love God and keep moving through life according to His purpose for us. His role is to lead us in the maze so that we can fulfill the specific purposes He calls us to at the same time that He fulfills His purpose in and through us.

God will use people, events, and circumstances, both good and bad, to move us ultimately toward the fulfillment of His will and purpose for our lives.

Romans 8:29 explains the primary purpose of “all things” in our lives is Christlikeness. Every person, every event that touches us is for the purpose of making us like Christ. You will find comfort and hope if you will remember this fact.

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Wait patiently for Him to act, to work, to reveal His purposes. Even if we never know why things happen, we can still rest in God, hope in Him, and believe that He is using every aspect of our lives to make us more like Jesus.

Using the following questions, share how God has revealed His will to you.

     Who are or were some of the people God has used?
     What unusual events and/or circumstances has God used?
     What were some things you wanted that God did not permit?
     When and how has God stopped your movement in one direction and turned you another direction?
     What do you see about God’s will as you look back at your answers? What hope do you have for the   
         future?

I have found myself, at times, busy about doing my own thing and leaving God out of the picture.  This is when I find that life is a struggle and I realize that I have moved out of God’s will while attempting to work under my own will.  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, Who, at times like these, will shake me in order to refocus me on God’s plan.

I find when I start each day with prayer and a commitment to allow God to lead me that I find the greatest joys and successes, because it is not about me, but it is about Him.  It is easy for us to think that our life has two parts, the one that would surround the natural things of life (workplace or career) and the spiritual things of life.

In fact, God has only one plan for us – His plan.  In His plan, He develops us into the men and women that He created us to be.  He insures that we are in the career path that will bring the greatest success for us, according to His will and purpose.

With His plan there will be a molding process, but He will be there to guide us through the obstacles of life, and in these cases, we can experience His love and His peace knowing all of the time that He is molding us into His will for His glory.

Life becomes easier when we allow the Potter to mold us into His image for His plan and His glory.

God’s Songbird
In your book you read the story of Fanny Crosby now reflect on the doctor’s mistake that caused her blindness and how she responded to that life changing event.

How has God turned a negative event in your life into a blessing for you?

Loving God…Even More
Read this section in your book again. As you consider the contents of this chapter and God’s amazing love for you, what can you do this week, in obedience to Christ…
…to count on God’s goodness?
…to remember God’s power at work in your life?
…to love God with all your mind?

We know that in everything God works for good.

Lesson 18 - Knowing God's Promise

Lesson 18 - Knowing God’s Promise

“God is in control of all things” -- There is no fine print to this promise.  There are no disclaimers or tricky qualifiers.

All things and every thing -- every event, every person, all of the past, all of the present, all of the future -- falls under God’s jurisdiction.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

We know that we have another source of consolation and support, drawn from the fact that all happenings are under the direction of an infinitely wise Being, who has purposed the salvation of the Christian, and who has so appointed all things that they shall contribute to it.

All things such as our afflictions and trials; all the persecutions and misfortunes we experience, while they may be numerous and long-continued, they work together as a means appointed for our welfare.

They shall cooperate; they shall mutually contribute to our good.

They lead us to look to God for support, and to heaven for a final home;

They produce a subdued spirit. a humble temper, a patient, tender, and kind disposition. This has been the experience of all saints; and at the end of life they have been able to say it was good for them to be afflicted.

Psalms 119:67

Psalms 119:71

Jeremiah 31:18-19

Hebrews 12:11

For good, for our real welfare; peace, and happiness in our hearts.

To them that love God, which is a characteristic of true faithfulness. To them, afflictions are a blessing. To others, they often prove otherwise.

On others they are sent as chastisements;

and they produce complaining, instead of peace;

rebellion, instead of submission; and

anger, impatience, and hatred, instead of calmness, patience, and love.

The Christian is made a better person by receiving afflictions as they should be received, and by desiring that they should accomplish the purpose for which they are sent; the sinner is made more hardened by resisting them, and refusing to submit to their obvious intention and design.

To them who are the called - those who had accepted the call, and were true Christians.

Christians are said to be called because God has invited them to be saved, and has sent into their heart such an influence as to make the call effectual to their salvation. In this way their salvation is to be traced entirely to God.

According to his purpose - God had a plan, purpose, or intention, in regard to all who became Christians. They are not saved by chance or hap-hazard.

God does not change people without design; and his designs are not new, but are eternal. What he does. he always meant to do. What it is right for him to do, it was right always to intend to do.

What God always meant to do, is his purpose or plan.

That he has such a purpose in regard to the salvation of his people, is often affirmed in the God-inspired, God-breathed scriptures;

Romans 9:11

Ephesians 1:11

Ephesians 3:11

2 Timothy 1:9

Jeremiah 51:29

This purpose of saving his people is,

(1)        One over which a creature can have no control; it is according to the counsel of his own will; Ephesians 1:11.

(2)        it is without any merit on the part of the sinner - a purpose to save him by grace; 2 Timothy 1:9.

(3)        it is eternal; Ephesians 3:11.

(4)        it is such as should excite lively gratitude in all who have been inclined by the grace of God to accept the offers of eternal life. They owe it to the mere mercy of God, and they should acknowledge him as the fountain and source of all their hopes of heaven.

Knowing God Uses All Things

Fill in the blank:  “My Number One problem is ___________________________________________.

How does the truth of Romans 8:28 encourage you with your Number One problem?

           

You can recall God’s promise to turn something very bad into something good.  This scripture points you to

God and encourages you to count on His goodness!

Name a good thing that has or is happening to you.  A new job?  A new baby?  A promotion at work? Retirement?  How is God using this for good even though it comes with some tension and stretching?

He causes the good things in your life to work for good as you learn new skills and grow to greater levels of

faithfulness, wisdom, and trust.

Name a bad thing that has or is happening to you.  What will you do to remember that God is using this for your good and His purposes?

God does not prevent His children from experiencing things that can harm them; He takes all that He allows to

happen to His beloved children, even the worst things, and turns those things ultimately into blessing.

How does knowing that in God’s hands the end result will be good cause you to view the large (and sometimes bad) things that happen in life?

How do small things -- such as insults, lost items, inconveniences, traffic jams -- fit into God’s plan to work all things for good?

            Remember:  It’s not them, it’s Him! This will free you from resentment, bitterness, and blame.

Who are the people -- bad and good, pleasant and difficult -- God is using in your life for your good and His purposes?  Pray for each one by name, and thank God for that person’s part in fulfilling God’s purpose in your life.

Any temporary harm we suffer will be used by God for our benefit…2 Corinthians 12:7-10… All things includes circumstances and events that are good and beneficial in themselves as well as those that are in themselves evil and harmful.

Knowing God’s Promise

How can the truth of Romans 8:28 help you resist the negative responses that so often surface as a result of a difficulty, tragedy, rejection, or defeat, such as:

            doubt -- we know with an absolute knowledge that for those who are loving God, all things are working together resulting in good, according to His purpose…you do not need to wonder about the events in   your life.

            emotion -- you can respond with faith and feelings grounded in the knowledge that God is at work in the painful, the tragic, and the disappointing.

           bitterness -- you can guard your heart by believing the truth of the assurance of God’s promise.

            other negative responses -- find strength rather than succumb to depression, discouragement, despair, defeat, anger, wrath, and frustration.

            manipulation -- stop trying to take matters into your own hands and trust God.

Now read Romans 8:29.  What is God’s main purpose for your life and for all that He allows to touch your life?  How does this encourage you in your problem issues?

When our hope is in the Lord, we know that everything that happens to us will be used by God to bless us and make us more like Jesus.

Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…

Loving God…Even More

Read this section in your book again.  As you consider the contents of this chapter and God’s amazing love for you, what can you do this week, in obedience to Christ…

            …to count on God’s goodness?

            …to remember God’s power at work in your life?

            …to love God with all your mind?

We know that in everything God works for good.