Offering Eccl 3:1-2 NLT For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Note: Seasons… There’s seasons in every area of our life… In relationships, business Solomon wrote here… There is a time to plant… And a time to harvest what was planted. Your future… Is being decided right now… by the seed you choose to plant. Seeds of Mercy, kindness and financial generosity… Move into your future. The seed that you plant today… Does not leave your life It goes into your future season and waits for you… To produce a harvest. What’s in your future? That is for you to decide as you plant generosity today. You determine your harvest… In the season of planting. Gen 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
Offering Song 7) Sermon: Courage in the hard places Intro: Today I want to talk to you about having courage in the hard places— 1 Thess 3:1-10 NLT Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, - 1
and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, —2
and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.—-3 NIV Translation… so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.
Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come— and they did, as you well know. —-4
That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.—-5
But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. —-6
So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. —7
It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.—-8
How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. —-9
Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.—-10 Question ��♂️ So what do you do when You are faced with hard times? What can we do to keep our faith Strong. How do we keep ourselves from getting pushed off track from God‘s plan because of the pressures and challenges that we face in this life? Note: Every Christian will face challenges… Pressures… I tried to move you away from God.
Ps 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Note: And because you will, at some point face trouble… Be prepared! When trouble comes… Everything that you believe… Will be challenged!
We must have the right mindset— When hard Times come… Be a student and not a victim! This simple concept of approaching life as a student… Rather than a victim, can empower you to overcome the circumstances of life. Some people go through life as victims… Having the mindset of a victim… Will do you do a life defeat and self-centred misery because the victim never learns any lesson Victim mentality constantly is blaming circumstances and other people.
What a difference it makes to be a student… Rather than a victim. Example: Victim says, “ why did this happen to me? Student says, “ what can I learn from this? 2) Victim - Blames other people for their problems. Student asks, How much of this did I bring on myself? 3) Victim - Compares themselves with others, and thinks, “ Life isn’t fair” Student thinks, “ what happened to me could happen to anybody? 4) Victim - Blames God for the hard times Student - Knows that God is with us in the midst of hard times… And will deliver us 5) Victim - Waste their energy with complaining rather than searching for a solution. Student - Occupies his mind with searching for a solution— Has no time negativity. 6) Victim - Focussed on himself… No time for others Student - Focussed on helping others— has no time to feel sorry for himself. 7) Victim - Problem, focused… Cannot have joy until the problem is removed Student - Focussed on God — Praises God, in the midst of the trial and test.
This is the mindset of a mature Christian! The mature Christian… Is so confident in our blood covenant relationship with God, that we know that no matter what comes against us… God will deliver us.
Let’s go back down to 1 Thessalonians 3… The apostle Paul is writing to new believers… And they are going through persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. He’s writing to encourage them.
In this passage of scripture, we will look at several key truths about hard times.
and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, —2
and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.—-3 NIV Translation… so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. Note ��️ Trials, tests… Pressures have the potential to unsettle // shake a believer in their faith. Unsettled = ( Greek ) To Wag the tail = to be shaken until you are moved off the path. = knock you “off course”