Luke 22:31-32 (ESV)
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Learning To Rest In God:

1. Rest in God’s Authority
God is in control of what is out of your control.

2 Chronicles 20:6 (NLT)
“He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!”

2. Rest in God’s Protection
The storms in your life do not happen outside the protection of God.

Psalms 138:7 (NLT)
“Though, I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.”

3. Rest in God’s Grace
– Failed in commitment
– Failed in integrity
– Failed in faith
– God knows your failures and has still written you into his future plan.

Romans 8:34 (NLT)
“Who then will condemn us? No one–for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

4. Rest in God’s Plan

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Psalms 138:8 (NLT)
“The Lord will work out his plans for my life–for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever…”

5. Rest in God’s Power

John 4:31-34
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and finish his work.

We are not spiritual consumers. We are spiritual contributors. The church does not exist for us. We are the church, and we exist for the world.

God calls you to serve in His Church.

Romans 12:6-8
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

God calls you to serve as His Church.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Acts 4:33-34
And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.

Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Mark 2:1-5
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by the four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

1. Bear some burdens.

2. Break some rules.

Never ignore the value of constructive criticism.

Proverbs 15:31-32 (NLT)
If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself.

1. God, help me know when to respond to criticism.

Judges 8:1-3
Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this?” And they criticized him sharply. But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer. God gave you victory over Oren and Zee, the commanders of the Midianite army. That have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.

2. God, help me know when to dismiss invalid criticism.

1 Peter 2:23
When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

3. God, help me overcome my own critical nature.

Proverbs 12:18
Some people make cutting words, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Relief is immediate and temporary assistance.

Restoration is working with people to restore them to their God-given potential.

Acts 3: 1-5
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer — at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Acts 3: 6-8
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

1. God, help me give people what they truly need not just what they want.

2. God, help me stay out of your way by not continually rescuing people from their consequences.

Galatians 6: 7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

3. God, help me remember that I’m in need too and that you are always the answer.

Psalm 70: 5
Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

 

Jonah 1:1–3 (NLT)
1 The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.

If you want to know the assignment on your life, ask God to give you the discernment to understand the interruptions in your life.

Jonah 1:3–4
“3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. 4 But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.

Psalm 139:7–13
“7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

God does not just use people to accomplish tasks, God also uses tasks to accomplish people!

Romans 11:29
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Isaiah 46:9–10
9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. 10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.

Psalm 135:6
“Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.”

Jonah 1:4 (ESV)
But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 1:4 (NKJV)
But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.

Jonah 1:17 (ESV)
And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Point #1 – “Forgetting what is behind”.

Philippians 3: 13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8: 1
here is no condemnation to those are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

Philippians 3: 13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Point 2: Pressing Into Christ

Philippians 3: 13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Point 3: Keeping our eyes on Jesus and looking heavenward

Hebrews 10: 32-36
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

John 17: 3
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

 

Philippians 2: 2 (ESV)
…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Philippians 2: 3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

• Pride destroys relationships.

• Humility deepens relationships.

James 4: 6
God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.

1. I’m grateful.

Philippians 2: 29 (HCSB)
Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor…

2. I’m prayerful.

Philippians 1: 4
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…

3. I look for ways to serve.

Philippians 2: 5-7
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…

4. I do what’s right, even when it’s painful.

Philippians 2: 8
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Philippians 1:29 (NLT)
For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Joy detaches your feelings from your circumstances.

2 Corinthians 11: 24-27
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

1. Start asking, “HOW can I grow from this?”

Philippians 1:11 (NLT)
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

2. Stop asking, “WHY is this happening?”

John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Philippians 1:12
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

3. Continue asking, “WHAT is God’s purpose for me?”

Philippians 1:13
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord…

Philippians 1:19 (NKJV)
For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ…

Hebrews 4:15 (HCSB)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

 

 

• Happiness is external. Joy is internal.

2 Corinthians 4: 16-17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

• Happiness is situational. Joy is spiritual.

Philippians 4:11
…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

• Happiness happens by chance. Joy happens by choice.

1. I can choose joy despite difficult people.

Philippians 1: 3-4
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…

2. I can choose joy despite bad circumstances.

Philippians 1: 6 (NLT)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

3. I can choose joy despite dashed dreams.

Philippians 1: 12
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Philippians 1: 18
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…