Challenge over Convenience

CHASING CONVENIENCE! SERMON NOTES
Pastor Brad Myers

Challenge over Convenience February 18, 2024

Today: Challenge over Convenience

Proverbs 27:17 (TLB)

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Thought: It’s more convenient not knowing or caring about other people’s challenges.

Challenge = A call or summon to action

Challenge (Bible) = Wrapped around a call to overcome through an opportunity

Thought: The problem is the situation, and the challenge is the response. When we ignore the problem, it gets worse; when we overcome the challenge things get better.

John 9:1-3 (NIV) Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

• He has been challenged with blindness with the sole opportunity that Jesus would work through him to display his glory and power!

Overcome = To prevail, subdue, be victorious, conquer, overpower.

Challenge = Needing great spiritual intervention to overcome.

Thought: Your challenge may be your opportunity for God to display His work in you and through you!

What’s our attitude regarding being challenged?

Thought: Challenges are not convenient!

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

• We miss sometimes that a challenge offers an unmatchable return because we sometimes walk away things that are not convenient.

Thought: What you walk away from will determine what will walk into your life.

We need to recognize God uses challenges for His purpose.

• Q) What if God needs you to be challenged to display his glory and power?

Genesis 50:20 (NLT)

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

• Challenges not only remind us of our weakness, but they also remind us that God is in control. God never promised us turbulent free journey, but He has promised us safe landing.

Recognize you may have been selected?

Blind Man: John 9

Thought: There’s no such thing as Convenient Christianity.

Thought: You may never find a convenient season because Jesus Christ is not a convenience. Great victories of faith come through conviction, commitment, and challenge but never through convenience.

Jesus challenges the myth of convenience.

Matthew 16:24 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

• “give up your own way” A challenge

Our Faith is a Challenge!

Genesis 22:1-2 (NIV) Abraham Tested

²² Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied. ² Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Thought: A Challenged faith doesn’t just celebrate who you are, but relentlessly molds and refines you into who God wants you to be!

Thought: God never asks for anything that means very little to us.