WEBVTT - Chip Ingram - Oct 22 - 9:30 am 0:00:11.750 --> 0:00:14.330 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 0:00:14.530 --> 0:00:18.369 Did you know that God has two amazing gifts for you? 0:00:18.390 --> 0:00:22.040 I mean, gifts that we rarely think about or even 0:00:22.100 --> 0:00:26.540 consider as gifts. But when you think and hear and 0:00:26.700 --> 0:00:31.920 ponder and digest these two gifts, it absolutely changes your 0:00:31.960 --> 0:00:35.350 perspective and gives you the power to live with joy 0:00:35.970 --> 0:00:38.490 even in the midst of great adversity. Stay with me. 0:00:40.680 --> 0:00:44.740 Expectations can either anchor you or completely wreck you. And 0:00:44.820 --> 0:00:47.800 Chip Ingram says there's a specific biblical way to get 0:00:47.840 --> 0:00:51.290 them right. Today on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram 0:00:51.330 --> 0:00:54.630 shows us exactly what we can rightly expect from God, 0:00:55.050 --> 0:00:59.070 even in our hardest seasons. Today's subject is an important one, 0:00:59.490 --> 0:01:01.550 so if you ever want to revisit this lesson or 0:01:01.630 --> 0:01:07.630 share it with a friend, just go online to livingontheedge.org. Now, 0:01:07.670 --> 0:01:09.580 if you have your Bible with you, open it to 0:01:09.620 --> 0:01:13.940 Philippians chapter 1, verse 27. And here's Chip with today's 0:01:14.000 --> 0:01:17.580 message titled, Understanding the Power of Expectations. 0:01:18.780 --> 0:01:24.569 Your life and perspective and mine is geared around expectations. 0:01:25.970 --> 0:01:30.390 Here's the question. Where's your expectations? Open your notes. Let's 0:01:30.490 --> 0:01:34.740 learn from the Apostle Paul very specifically. What can we 0:01:34.900 --> 0:01:41.060 expect from God today? And what does God expect of us? 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:45.640 So with that, we pick it up. Paul says, this 0:01:45.700 --> 0:01:49.290 is my final lesson. What does God expect? He expects 0:01:49.410 --> 0:01:56.300 consistent conduct. Verse 27, whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a 0:01:56.340 --> 0:01:59.540 manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Circle the little 0:01:59.580 --> 0:02:04.280 word manner worthy. It's an interesting New Testament word. The 0:02:04.300 --> 0:02:07.900 Philippians would immediately recognize where he's going. He's kind of 0:02:07.940 --> 0:02:10.639 taking part of their personal experience and he's going to 0:02:10.680 --> 0:02:13.650 give them this little parallel. And what the apostle Paul 0:02:13.669 --> 0:02:16.710 was saying back then was the problem with the Philippians 0:02:17.130 --> 0:02:19.630 is you're in danger of being Christians that don't live 0:02:19.650 --> 0:02:22.970 like Christians. Paul is saying is this is what God expects. 0:02:24.190 --> 0:02:26.429 And then the very next line, you can imagine them thinking, well, 0:02:26.650 --> 0:02:29.750 how would you ever know for sure whether you're a 0:02:29.770 --> 0:02:32.570 Christian who's living like a Christian, whether you really are 0:02:32.590 --> 0:02:36.510 kind of a kingdom citizen living consistently? Well, in the 0:02:36.530 --> 0:02:39.670 very next verses, he explains. He says, what does it 0:02:39.690 --> 0:02:43.850 look like, this consistent conduct? Then whenever I come and 0:02:43.910 --> 0:02:47.930 see you or only hear about you in my absence, 0:02:48.690 --> 0:02:52.190 I'll know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending 0:02:52.490 --> 0:02:55.680 as one man for the faith of the gospel without 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:57.960 being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. 0:02:58.500 --> 0:03:01.120 And this will be a sign to them that they 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:04.060 will be destroyed, but that you will be saved and 0:03:04.080 --> 0:03:07.320 that by God. Now I'd like you to circle three 0:03:07.380 --> 0:03:09.400 words and I tried to make it as easy as possible. 0:03:09.440 --> 0:03:12.530 You notice they're in bold, right? The first thing is 0:03:12.570 --> 0:03:15.230 that you're standing firm and then underline in one spirit. 0:03:16.190 --> 0:03:18.799 You're standing firm in a culture that is against you. 0:03:19.660 --> 0:03:23.100 But notice you're doing it in unity, in one spirit. 0:03:23.340 --> 0:03:27.239 You're together on this. Second, circle the word contending as 0:03:27.400 --> 0:03:31.119 one man. Literally, it's one soul. You're in this together, 0:03:31.410 --> 0:03:34.010 but you're contending for the faith. Put a box around 0:03:34.050 --> 0:03:39.450 the word faith. And then third, he says, don't be frightened. 0:03:40.830 --> 0:03:44.050 Do it without being frightened. Don't let it frighten you 0:03:44.110 --> 0:03:47.020 to where you shrink back and become sort of the 0:03:47.100 --> 0:03:51.830 secret agent Christian. This is about being bold. Here's a 0:03:51.850 --> 0:03:55.370 question I would ask all of you. Does everyone in 0:03:55.390 --> 0:03:58.870 a positive, winsome way know that you're a follower of Christ? 0:03:59.430 --> 0:03:59.920 Do they know it? 0:04:00.870 --> 0:04:01.450 Are you bold? 0:04:02.630 --> 0:04:05.880 God expects us to not give up, not give in, 0:04:05.960 --> 0:04:11.100 not shrink back. You got it? I would say 98% 0:04:11.100 --> 0:04:13.180 of all the people in this room say, you know, 0:04:13.200 --> 0:04:17.710 you know, Chip's a little hyper, but that's Chip. I 0:04:17.750 --> 0:04:19.490 don't have a whole lot that I would disagree with 0:04:19.529 --> 0:04:23.170 what he just said. But when he started playing it 0:04:23.310 --> 0:04:25.029 out of what it would look like in my life, 0:04:26.150 --> 0:04:29.810 I'm not so sure that I have a consistent conduct. 0:04:31.050 --> 0:04:33.070 I'm not so sure that I'm not more worried about 0:04:33.130 --> 0:04:37.919 being a citizen of the United States that is more 0:04:38.000 --> 0:04:42.000 comfortable and more happy and doesn't create waves than I 0:04:42.080 --> 0:04:46.270 am a kingdom citizen of God. that when I get 0:04:46.330 --> 0:04:49.070 and realize that this little thing that we called time 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:52.620 is running out, and I was made for this big 0:04:52.660 --> 0:04:58.300 thing called eternity. And when you live that kind of life, yeah, 0:04:58.360 --> 0:05:01.220 you'll probably have a little more pressure, a little bit 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:04.920 more suffering, and a lot more joy, and a lot 0:05:04.940 --> 0:05:08.690 more love, and a lot more impact. And God will 0:05:08.850 --> 0:05:13.470 use you as a catalyst to transform your neighborhood, your 0:05:13.510 --> 0:05:18.370 coffee shop, your workplace, your sport team that you coach, 0:05:20.270 --> 0:05:22.710 would you be willing to say, Lord, would you speak 0:05:22.830 --> 0:05:29.690 to me about, is my belief and my behavior telling 0:05:29.710 --> 0:05:34.270 the same story? And ask God to make you an 0:05:34.410 --> 0:05:38.810 agent of life and change. Because the world, right, is 0:05:38.860 --> 0:05:42.640 anyone concerned about what's going on other than me? I mean, 0:05:42.820 --> 0:05:45.880 there's a missile could be coming our way There's division 0:05:45.920 --> 0:05:50.630 in this country. There's hatred like never before. And here's 0:05:50.650 --> 0:05:52.810 the deal. You are either a part of the solution 0:05:53.170 --> 0:05:55.930 or a part of the problem. There is no middle ground. 0:05:57.170 --> 0:06:00.670 Hiding in our cul-de-sacs, hoping that it won't affect us 0:06:01.070 --> 0:06:04.140 and we just want to unconsciously be upwardly mobile and 0:06:04.200 --> 0:06:06.300 everything work out for us and our family and our 0:06:06.339 --> 0:06:13.880 little world is not an option. It's just an illusion. Second, what... 0:06:14.560 --> 0:06:17.580 Can we expect from God? He says for it has 0:06:18.350 --> 0:06:22.590 been granted to you. On behalf of Christ. Not only 0:06:22.630 --> 0:06:24.690 to believe on him. But also to suffer for him. 0:06:25.310 --> 0:06:27.710 Since you're going through the same struggle you saw I had. 0:06:27.740 --> 0:06:32.160 And now here that I still have. interestingly, again, you 0:06:32.180 --> 0:06:34.260 can circle the word granted to you. It's pretty easy. 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:37.950 It's in bold. It's literally, it means God has given 0:06:37.990 --> 0:06:40.990 you a privilege. You know the word grace, or some 0:06:41.029 --> 0:06:44.010 of you have named your daughters, you know, Kairos. That's 0:06:44.050 --> 0:06:47.110 the word grace. That's the root word. God has given 0:06:47.150 --> 0:06:52.360 you a precious grace gift. And there's a privilege into it, 0:06:52.650 --> 0:06:55.220 and there's a responsibility to it. And Paul's playing with 0:06:55.240 --> 0:07:00.810 these Philippians and reminding them, hey, citizen right of Philippi, privilege, responsibility. Now, 0:07:01.570 --> 0:07:05.390 Here's the grace gift God's given you. Privilege to believe. 0:07:05.880 --> 0:07:09.240 You can receive eternal life. He's changed your life. He's 0:07:09.279 --> 0:07:11.240 taken you out of the kingdom of darkness, placed you 0:07:11.260 --> 0:07:13.580 in the kingdom of light, sealed you with the Spirit, 0:07:13.740 --> 0:07:16.600 given you spiritual gifts, given you a purpose, given you 0:07:16.660 --> 0:07:19.720 a family of God, created a place forever and ever 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:23.240 looking forward. And He's going to transform your life and 0:07:23.280 --> 0:07:25.730 make you more and more like Jesus so the world 0:07:25.760 --> 0:07:29.110 can see how much God loves them. It's an amazing 0:07:29.390 --> 0:07:32.880 grace gift to believe. So why don't you put a 0:07:32.880 --> 0:07:36.720 little box around believe. But he says there's another gift. 0:07:38.240 --> 0:07:42.210 You've been given the gift to get to suffer. How 0:07:42.250 --> 0:07:46.590 many of you honestly. Don't raise your hands. Because it wouldn't. 0:07:46.830 --> 0:07:49.630 How many of you ever thought. Suffering is a gift 0:07:49.790 --> 0:07:56.620 from God. That's foreign to American Christians. Suffering is a 0:07:56.680 --> 0:08:02.390 gift from God. Yes. He said. He said. He's given 0:08:02.410 --> 0:08:05.130 you a gift of suffering and you're going through this 0:08:05.210 --> 0:08:08.990 same struggle, this conflict, this persecution. Some of it is 0:08:09.030 --> 0:08:13.510 from within and some of it is from without. Paul 0:08:13.590 --> 0:08:18.860 is going to leave Timothy at Ephesus, young pastor. 2 0:08:18.860 --> 0:08:22.440 Timothy 3.12. Timothy, all those who desire to live a 0:08:22.460 --> 0:08:25.920 godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. It's a promise. 0:08:26.880 --> 0:08:32.510 What's Paul doing? Setting expectations. you know here's a young 0:08:32.550 --> 0:08:35.530 guy I follow Jesus I'm now a young pastor what 0:08:35.570 --> 0:08:37.890 I'm going to do I've sacrificed everything it's going to 0:08:37.929 --> 0:08:42.710 be great right well you really live for God you'll 0:08:42.730 --> 0:08:46.030 be persecuted or how about Jesus how did he set 0:08:46.080 --> 0:08:50.020 expectations the very last night what did he say just 0:08:50.059 --> 0:08:53.339 think positive guys just think positive it's all going to 0:08:53.360 --> 0:08:55.580 be super duper I'm going to heaven I'll be back 0:08:56.140 --> 0:09:00.880 we're going to mojo a little bit later together what 0:09:00.900 --> 0:09:04.589 did he say In the world, you'll have tribulation. You'll 0:09:04.610 --> 0:09:08.910 have troubles. But be of good cheer. I've overcome the world. 0:09:10.330 --> 0:09:14.030 In fact, I just read this morning and I thought 0:09:14.090 --> 0:09:17.729 in light of the current events, it was the very 0:09:18.570 --> 0:09:21.670 last time Jesus was hanging out with his disciples and 0:09:21.710 --> 0:09:27.030 he basically gave his sermon to the Pharisees and pretty unpopular, 0:09:27.150 --> 0:09:31.590 whitewashed tombs, snakes, vipers. I think I underlined the word 0:09:31.610 --> 0:09:34.819 hypocrite seven or eight times. I mean, I'm a follower 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:40.360 of Jesus, and he just alienated the entire establishment and 0:09:40.480 --> 0:09:44.900 all the power. Jesus was perhaps the most politically incorrect 0:09:44.950 --> 0:09:48.350 person who's ever walked the face of the earth. And 0:09:48.370 --> 0:09:52.420 in the midst of that, you're following him thinking, Whoa, 0:09:52.500 --> 0:09:55.290 and he's been talking about leaving, dying, raising from the dead, 0:09:55.330 --> 0:09:57.410 and they don't figure out what he's saying. And then 0:09:57.450 --> 0:10:00.200 he makes this crazy statement like, you see that temple? 0:10:00.540 --> 0:10:06.280 Destroy it. I'll rebuild it. I'm coming back. And the 0:10:06.330 --> 0:10:09.709 disciples took him aside privately and said, when will all 0:10:09.730 --> 0:10:11.530 this take place? And will there be a sign ahead 0:10:11.570 --> 0:10:13.050 of time to signal your return in the end of 0:10:13.070 --> 0:10:17.590 the world? Now, just listen to this. Don't let anyone 0:10:17.630 --> 0:10:20.060 mislead you. For many will come in my name saying, 0:10:20.100 --> 0:10:23.760 I'm the Messiah. They'll lead many astray. Wars will break 0:10:23.880 --> 0:10:27.240 out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, things must come, 0:10:27.300 --> 0:10:30.439 but the end won't follow immediately. Nations and kingdoms will 0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:33.579 proclaim war against each other. There'll be famines, earthquakes in 0:10:33.600 --> 0:10:35.979 many parts of the world. But all this will only 0:10:36.040 --> 0:10:38.040 be the beginning or the birth pangs of the horrors 0:10:38.070 --> 0:10:41.790 to come. Then you'll be arrested and persecuted and killed. 0:10:41.809 --> 0:10:44.970 How's this for preparing the team for the next game? 0:10:46.030 --> 0:10:49.400 You're gonna be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You know what's interesting? 0:10:49.480 --> 0:10:52.270 They were. But they didn't give up, they didn't give in, 0:10:52.309 --> 0:10:55.670 and they didn't shrink back. Why? Because they knew it 0:10:55.710 --> 0:11:00.870 was true. They experienced God's power. They leaned into the suffering. 0:11:02.730 --> 0:11:05.150 He said, many though will turn away from me and 0:11:05.170 --> 0:11:07.579 betray me and hate each other. Many false prophets will 0:11:07.600 --> 0:11:10.100 appear and they'll lead many people astray. Sin will be 0:11:10.160 --> 0:11:12.439 rampant everywhere and the love of many will grow cold. 0:11:12.500 --> 0:11:16.420 Sound familiar? But those who endure to the end will 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:18.890 be saved. And the good news about the kingdom will 0:11:18.910 --> 0:11:21.030 be preached throughout the whole world so that all the 0:11:21.090 --> 0:11:25.790 nations will hear it. And then finally, the end will come. 0:11:28.410 --> 0:11:30.650 There's more in just a moment here on Living on 0:11:30.690 --> 0:11:34.349 the Edge with Chip Ingram. Before we continue, if you've 0:11:34.410 --> 0:11:37.350 never been to Chip Ingram's YouTube channel, you're missing out 0:11:37.450 --> 0:11:40.550 on a whole library of teaching you won't see anywhere else. 0:11:40.870 --> 0:11:45.510 Series like BIO, Three Essential Practices to Becoming Like Jesus. 0:11:46.080 --> 0:11:49.300 and even messages like the one you're hearing today. Whether 0:11:49.350 --> 0:11:51.670 you want to dig deeper into a topic or pass 0:11:51.710 --> 0:11:54.870 something along to a friend, it's all right there. Just 0:11:54.950 --> 0:11:58.210 look up Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram on 0:11:58.290 --> 0:12:02.090 YouTube and subscribe. Now let's get back to our message. 0:12:02.750 --> 0:12:06.969 Now I'm in no way a, I think Jesus is 0:12:07.010 --> 0:12:11.650 coming back tomorrow. Oh, the end's coming. The sky's falling. 0:12:13.080 --> 0:12:15.920 But what would have to be happening in the world 0:12:16.500 --> 0:12:21.920 to tell us that it's close? Maybe more hurricanes? Bigger earthquakes? 0:12:22.980 --> 0:12:26.920 More wars? See, I think it's really interesting that we 0:12:27.040 --> 0:12:30.160 unconsciously think that some things that have happened in the past, 0:12:30.520 --> 0:12:32.980 they're going to happen probably someday, some way, but probably 0:12:33.020 --> 0:12:35.849 not in my lifetime. Really, Jesus goes on to say, 0:12:35.950 --> 0:12:38.309 it will be the same as in the day of Noah, 0:12:38.670 --> 0:12:44.080 where people were doing business, having parties, marrying, going about 0:12:44.120 --> 0:12:49.500 their life. All I want to say is it seems 0:12:49.559 --> 0:12:54.360 like the birth pangs are more intense now and we 0:12:54.440 --> 0:12:57.160 should have an urgency at a level that we haven't had. 0:12:57.660 --> 0:12:59.750 And we shouldn't be afraid about our job. We shouldn't 0:12:59.790 --> 0:13:01.530 be afraid about our money. We shouldn't be afraid about 0:13:01.570 --> 0:13:04.429 our reputation. We shouldn't be afraid. We should be bold 0:13:05.309 --> 0:13:07.849 because here's the deal. At some point in time, there's 0:13:07.870 --> 0:13:09.410 going to be things that are true and things that 0:13:09.429 --> 0:13:12.309 are untrue. And the one thing Jesus said is, there 0:13:12.370 --> 0:13:15.750 is no gray. Anyone who's ashamed of me, I will 0:13:15.790 --> 0:13:19.030 be ashamed of them when I come with the angels, 0:13:19.070 --> 0:13:22.170 with my Father. Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 0:13:23.630 --> 0:13:26.239 Now the question is, are we willing to take that stand? 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:30.740 Before we wrap it up, I have talked about suffering 0:13:30.780 --> 0:13:35.180 and Peter, in 1 Peter 2, 20 and 21, you 0:13:35.220 --> 0:13:37.460 might jot that down. That's one you might actually want 0:13:37.480 --> 0:13:41.199 to memorize. Because when Peter writes, Nero is, I mean, 0:13:41.300 --> 0:13:45.560 burning Christians and throwing them into the lions. And Peter's 0:13:45.600 --> 0:13:48.920 writing to the church. And he says, if you suffer 0:13:49.220 --> 0:13:51.520 for doing what's wrong, for being a crook, for doing 0:13:51.580 --> 0:13:55.239 evil things, what credit is that? But then he says, 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:58.490 but if you suffer for doing what is right, being righteous, 0:13:58.570 --> 0:14:02.469 walking with God, making a difference, this finds favor with God. 0:14:02.670 --> 0:14:06.760 Are you ready for this? For you have been called 0:14:07.480 --> 0:14:12.000 to this purpose, to suffer. For Christ left you an 0:14:12.040 --> 0:14:18.290 example to follow. See, if we're trying to avoid suffering 0:14:18.330 --> 0:14:20.670 all the time, you will never become the man or 0:14:20.690 --> 0:14:22.750 a woman God designed you to be. You will never 0:14:22.810 --> 0:14:26.820 have the relationships and you'll never have the impact. Jesus suffered. 0:14:26.980 --> 0:14:31.040 The apostles suffered. Now, here's the thing. Don't automatically think 0:14:31.140 --> 0:14:34.980 every time you're suffering that's because you're such a wonderful, committed, 0:14:35.260 --> 0:14:39.540 amazing follower of Jesus. Pretend we're on a highway together 0:14:39.660 --> 0:14:42.000 on this message, and I just park the car, and 0:14:42.020 --> 0:14:43.500 I say, there's a cul-de-sac. We're going to go over 0:14:43.540 --> 0:14:45.960 here just for a second, okay? Are you ready for 0:14:45.980 --> 0:14:51.430 a quick cul-de-sac? Here's the cul-de-sac. When you read scripture, 0:14:51.450 --> 0:14:53.650 there's at least six. There may be more, but I 0:14:53.690 --> 0:14:57.210 know six specific reasons why we suffer. I'm not gonna 0:14:57.250 --> 0:14:59.470 go through all these in detail, but here's what I 0:14:59.510 --> 0:15:01.650 want you to do. Maybe put a little box and 0:15:01.670 --> 0:15:05.210 then write this question. When you're going through a difficult time, 0:15:06.150 --> 0:15:10.540 ask God, why am I suffering? Why is this marriage 0:15:10.600 --> 0:15:13.200 like this? Why is this health like this? Why is 0:15:13.220 --> 0:15:15.600 this situation at work like this? Why am I having 0:15:15.620 --> 0:15:17.900 this problem with my son or daughter like this? Why 0:15:17.940 --> 0:15:21.480 am I so depressed right now, okay? Just ask God. 0:15:21.820 --> 0:15:24.160 And what I'm gonna say is, biblically, there's at least 0:15:24.260 --> 0:15:28.810 six possible reasons why you're suffering. And I've given you 0:15:28.830 --> 0:15:30.830 the passages so that you can do your own Bible study, 0:15:31.090 --> 0:15:35.850 but the first one is my sin. When I am angry, 0:15:36.230 --> 0:15:38.450 when I say things I shouldn't, when I do things 0:15:38.470 --> 0:15:40.850 that are wrong, when I'm rude to people, when I'm 0:15:40.930 --> 0:15:44.220 mean to one of my kids, when I lie or 0:15:44.260 --> 0:15:45.760 when I steal, and by the way, I've done all 0:15:45.800 --> 0:15:51.790 those things, there's consequences, right? Galatians 6, 7 and 8 says, 0:15:54.370 --> 0:15:59.450 sowing and reaping. You sow things and you reap them. So, 0:15:59.650 --> 0:16:03.730 sometimes I'm suffering because I was either stupid or evil. 0:16:04.770 --> 0:16:06.710 And we all do stupid things and we all do 0:16:06.790 --> 0:16:12.370 evil things. Second is other sin. 49.1 in Psalms, David says, 0:16:12.530 --> 0:16:16.730 a friend betrayed me. Drunk driver goes left of center, 0:16:16.930 --> 0:16:20.010 hits a car, someone you love. God didn't make him 0:16:20.070 --> 0:16:24.870 do it. He got drunk. God didn't create robots. Sometimes 0:16:24.910 --> 0:16:28.740 we suffer because of other people's sins. Third is spiritual attack. 0:16:29.740 --> 0:16:31.800 You know, you get in God's word on a regular basis, 0:16:31.820 --> 0:16:33.900 you decide to be more bold. I'll just warn you, 0:16:34.420 --> 0:16:37.780 stuff will start happening. Job was the most righteous man. 0:16:37.860 --> 0:16:40.320 He didn't know what was going on. Ephesians 6 will 0:16:40.340 --> 0:16:45.460 describe what spiritual attack looks like and how to defend yourself. Fourth, 0:16:45.530 --> 0:16:48.660 it's a fallen world. People came to Jesus and said, 0:16:48.860 --> 0:16:52.320 the tower in Siloam, it fell and these people died. Hey, 0:16:52.540 --> 0:16:55.160 what's going on? And Jesus said, do you think that 0:16:55.220 --> 0:16:58.580 those who died are more sinful or unrighteous than others? 0:16:58.940 --> 0:17:05.330 I say no. In other words, concrete cracks, wood rots. 0:17:05.750 --> 0:17:09.130 In a fallen world, there's just certain things. It's a mystery. 0:17:11.070 --> 0:17:14.300 We can expect negative, difficult weather. 0:17:14.320 --> 0:17:14.540 Weather. 0:17:15.300 --> 0:17:17.260 It's not designed the way God wanted it. It's a 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:22.680 fallen world. Fourth is spiritual discipline. God loves you so much. 0:17:23.510 --> 0:17:28.570 There are times that the velvet vice, Hebrews 12, he 0:17:28.630 --> 0:17:31.889 disciplines every son. He disciplines every daughter. And he'll get 0:17:31.910 --> 0:17:33.910 your attention in the way that makes sense to you. 0:17:34.650 --> 0:17:37.420 Some of us, apparently, it must be our health. I 0:17:37.440 --> 0:17:42.700 don't know anybody particular. ACL, back, ankle rebuild. I could 0:17:42.720 --> 0:17:48.150 go on. Some, it's a relationship. But sometimes we're asking God, 0:17:48.210 --> 0:17:50.190 take it away, take it away, take it away. He's saying, look, 0:17:50.530 --> 0:17:53.150 I'm trying to get your attention because I love you 0:17:53.670 --> 0:17:55.890 like we get our kids' attention so that you can 0:17:55.930 --> 0:18:00.060 look upward and we can address this issue, this arrogant issue, 0:18:00.100 --> 0:18:04.620 this pride issue, this lust issue. We all have those things, 0:18:04.660 --> 0:18:06.879 don't we? And you have a father who wants to 0:18:06.920 --> 0:18:10.530 help you. And then finally, spiritual development. There's times where 0:18:11.150 --> 0:18:13.910 Paul's living the life like never before, making a huge 0:18:13.950 --> 0:18:17.050 difference in what happens. He gets this physical ailment that 0:18:17.090 --> 0:18:20.530 keeps him dependent so people could see the power isn't Paul, 0:18:21.070 --> 0:18:23.470 but it's God. And he says, I've learned to be content. 0:18:24.270 --> 0:18:26.310 I want to give you a summary about suffering and 0:18:26.330 --> 0:18:30.030 then I want us to pray. Suffering is God's gift 0:18:30.070 --> 0:18:33.129 to accomplish his ultimate good in a fallen world. Is 0:18:33.170 --> 0:18:40.640 that crazy? Suffering is God's gift to When I suffer, 0:18:40.800 --> 0:18:43.129 it draws me nearer. When I suffer, I look up. 0:18:43.220 --> 0:18:46.879 When I suffer, I have compassion for other people. When 0:18:46.920 --> 0:18:49.379 I suffer, life's not all about me. When I suffer, 0:18:49.400 --> 0:18:52.700 I'm not so judgmental. When I suffer, I'm following in 0:18:52.740 --> 0:18:55.620 the footsteps of Jesus, who suffered so you could live 0:18:55.680 --> 0:18:59.830 and I could live. Johnny Erickson Tada, quoting her coach, said, 0:18:59.910 --> 0:19:03.129 God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves. 0:19:04.670 --> 0:19:08.610 What a truth. Lord, you know the suffering in this 0:19:08.690 --> 0:19:12.610 room and you know the reasons. Lord, you know the 0:19:12.730 --> 0:19:19.050 world situation and the desperate, desperate need for regular, ordinary 0:19:19.130 --> 0:19:23.970 people like us to stand firm and to contend and 0:19:24.010 --> 0:19:27.780 to not shrink back. And yet we tell you that, God, 0:19:27.820 --> 0:19:30.119 we can't do that and we're afraid and we struggle. 0:19:32.070 --> 0:19:34.290 But Lord, you have told us that Christ in us 0:19:34.390 --> 0:19:35.990 is the hope of glory and that we can do 0:19:36.090 --> 0:19:41.439 all things through Jesus who gives us strength. I have 0:19:41.460 --> 0:19:45.460 a little moment with your heavenly father and ask him, Lord, 0:19:47.460 --> 0:19:49.689 help me see myself right now the way you do. 0:19:50.910 --> 0:19:54.449 help me grasp how much you love me help me 0:19:54.470 --> 0:19:58.609 to be a person who stands firm doesn't give up 0:19:59.130 --> 0:20:03.730 doesn't give in doesn't shrink back help me lean into 0:20:03.770 --> 0:20:08.100 my suffering and discover some of the wise change me 0:20:08.150 --> 0:20:09.660 and then use me to change others. 0:20:12.520 --> 0:20:15.359 You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram 0:20:15.840 --> 0:20:18.699 and the end of a message titled Understanding the Power 0:20:18.800 --> 0:20:22.660 of Expectations. Chip will wrap up today's lesson in a moment, 0:20:22.700 --> 0:20:25.879 so stay tuned. And remember, you can always revisit or 0:20:25.940 --> 0:20:29.020 share these teachings with someone you know by visiting us 0:20:29.260 --> 0:20:35.290 online at livingontheedge.org. And no matter what your schedule looks like, 0:20:35.670 --> 0:20:38.709 you can catch this whole series anytime by subscribing to 0:20:38.750 --> 0:20:42.410 the Living on the Edge podcast. For Chip's complete sermons, 0:20:42.710 --> 0:20:46.070 unedited start to finish, look for the Chip Ingram Sermon 0:20:46.090 --> 0:20:50.550 Podcast available wherever you listen. And if you haven't already, 0:20:50.750 --> 0:20:54.090 be sure to request Chip's book, Yes, You Really Can Change, 0:20:54.430 --> 0:20:58.630 available on our website. It's a straightforward, biblically grounded look 0:20:58.650 --> 0:21:02.639 at what genuine transformation actually takes and where the power 0:21:02.700 --> 0:21:05.260 for it really comes from and what it looks like 0:21:05.380 --> 0:21:08.750 once it's actually working in your day-to-day life. And when 0:21:08.790 --> 0:21:11.830 you order today, we'll include a second copy so you 0:21:11.869 --> 0:21:14.370 can work through it alongside someone in your life who's 0:21:14.450 --> 0:21:17.830 ready for a breakthrough. Just look for Chip's book, Yes, 0:21:17.890 --> 0:21:24.770 You Really Can Change, online at livingontheedge.org slash offers. For 0:21:24.770 --> 0:21:27.650 30 years, Living on the Edge has pursued a clear 0:21:27.710 --> 0:21:31.560 goal to help Christians live like Christians. And these Bible 0:21:31.600 --> 0:21:36.410 teachings and faith-building resources continue reaching new listeners today because 0:21:36.470 --> 0:21:40.030 of the faithful donors who stand beside us. If you've 0:21:40.070 --> 0:21:42.750 been blessed by this ministry, would you help make sure 0:21:42.790 --> 0:21:46.950 it keeps reaching people? Give today at livingontheedge.org or call 888-333-6003. 0:21:46.950 --> 0:21:48.899 You can also mail your gift to Living on the Edge, P.O. 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:51.400 Box 3007, Suwannee, Georgia, 30024. Well, now here's Chip. 0:22:01.530 --> 0:22:04.209 We're ending on a note that's a bit unusual. I 0:22:04.250 --> 0:22:07.170 talked about two gifts. And of course, the first gift 0:22:07.230 --> 0:22:09.670 is the gift that we can believe. But I don't 0:22:09.690 --> 0:22:12.540 think most of us think of suffering as a gift. 0:22:13.100 --> 0:22:14.479 And here's what I'd like you to do. I want 0:22:14.520 --> 0:22:17.379 you to lean back right now. And I want to 0:22:17.440 --> 0:22:21.060 give you the six reasons that suffering happens in a 0:22:21.100 --> 0:22:24.119 believer's life. And the first is, is that we sin. 0:22:24.460 --> 0:22:26.250 I do things that are wrong and I suffer. And 0:22:26.730 --> 0:22:29.510 the response is to confess and tell God I'm sorry. 0:22:29.550 --> 0:22:32.369 He forgives me. The second is other people sin against me. 0:22:32.850 --> 0:22:35.330 And in a fallen world, that's going to happen. That's 0:22:35.369 --> 0:22:38.030 not God's will. That's not what he wants, but it happens. 0:22:38.410 --> 0:22:41.710 But God will use it for good. Third is spiritual attack. 0:22:42.250 --> 0:22:44.690 You know, there's times where I'm suffering because I'm in 0:22:44.730 --> 0:22:47.320 the midst of a real spiritual battle. And so I 0:22:47.380 --> 0:22:50.100 need discernment to know what's going on and why am 0:22:50.160 --> 0:22:53.859 I suffering? Because I want to respond with the armor 0:22:53.900 --> 0:22:56.869 of God. Fourth is in a fallen world, There are 0:22:56.930 --> 0:22:59.010 just certain things that happen. You know, we talked about 0:22:59.050 --> 0:23:03.440 Luke 17 and this tower that fell. You know, wood rots, 0:23:03.700 --> 0:23:07.699 bridges rust. It's a fallen world. It doesn't mean anyone 0:23:07.740 --> 0:23:12.480 did anything bad or wrong. Fifth is spiritual discipline. There 0:23:12.500 --> 0:23:14.859 are times that you are so loved by God that 0:23:15.400 --> 0:23:18.550 he kind of brings that velvet vice of circumstance to 0:23:18.590 --> 0:23:21.890 get your attention, to realign your life and your heart 0:23:21.930 --> 0:23:24.490 so he can give you the best. And then finally, 0:23:24.550 --> 0:23:28.750 it's just spiritual development. There are certain aspects of becoming 0:23:29.070 --> 0:23:33.670 like Jesus that you just can't ever experience or develop 0:23:34.190 --> 0:23:37.620 apart from suffering. And so let me encourage you. This 0:23:37.700 --> 0:23:39.520 might be one where you want to go to the website, 0:23:39.580 --> 0:23:42.780 download the notes. I've put all that information there so 0:23:42.800 --> 0:23:45.640 that you could look at something visually. And when you're 0:23:45.740 --> 0:23:48.400 suffering or when someone who is hurting that you care 0:23:48.420 --> 0:23:51.320 about is suffering, you can kind of walk through these 0:23:51.460 --> 0:23:54.879 reasons and begin to ask the Holy Spirit, Lord, I 0:23:54.920 --> 0:23:57.530 need to respond to suffering in different ways, but I 0:23:57.590 --> 0:24:02.030 need to discern why I'm suffering. God loves you. He's 0:24:02.130 --> 0:24:05.510 for you. It is a gift to suffer for doing 0:24:05.530 --> 0:24:08.650 what is right. Let's make sure that's why we're suffering. 0:24:08.950 --> 0:24:11.740 But we need insight from the Lord to know how 0:24:11.780 --> 0:24:14.540 to lean into the kind of suffering he allows in 0:24:14.600 --> 0:24:18.240 our life. Father, I pray and I ask it in 0:24:18.280 --> 0:24:22.409 the name of the Lord Jesus. that those listening to 0:24:22.470 --> 0:24:24.850 my voice at this very moment that are going through 0:24:24.910 --> 0:24:28.690 difficult times, that you, by your Spirit, will give them 0:24:28.750 --> 0:24:33.410 discernment about the cause of their suffering and their response 0:24:33.630 --> 0:24:36.859 in order that they might meet you, become more and 0:24:36.880 --> 0:24:40.440 more like your Son, and experience your joy even in 0:24:40.480 --> 0:24:41.240 the midst of pain. 0:24:41.840 --> 0:24:45.430 In Jesus' name, amen. I'm Dave Drewy, so glad to 0:24:45.490 --> 0:24:47.720 have you with us. Be sure to listen again next 0:24:47.780 --> 0:24:50.840