PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE SERIESPURPOSE #3: DISCIPLESHIP

DECEMBER 9, 2012REV KAY CAROLINO

MARIKINA FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH

Created ToBecomeLike Christ

God uses TROUBLE

to teach us to TRUST

Him.

Three Unexpected Tools

1

Next time you get into troubles, don’t just ask, “why is this

happening?”, say:

“God is teaching me to trust Him. He is giving me the

opportunity to trust Him.”

1

Keep a spiritual JOURNAL.

“At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their

progress.”

Numbers 33:2

Not just a DIARY.

1

1) Helps you see your PROGRESS.

2) It’s a tool to TEACH others.

Value:1

Remember the REWARD.

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal

glory that far outweighs them all.”

2 Corinthians 4:17

1

God uses TEMPTATIONto teach us

to OBEY.

Three Unexpected Tools

2

Temptations are designed by SATAN, intended to HURT us.

2

God never tempts us, but God is able, because of the

greatness of His power and who He is, to use Satan’s

temptations for good in our lives because temptation

always provides a CHOICE.

2

Choices are neededto develop CHARACTER.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”

Matthew 4:1

2

“’Get out of here, Satan’, Jesus told him. ‘The Scripture say, ‘Worship only

the Lord God, Obey only Him.”

Matthew 4:10

1) It is NOT A SIN to be tempted.

Martin Luther: “You can’t keep the birds from flying over

your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in

your hair.”

Reminders:2

2) EVERYONE is tempted the same way.

Reminders:2

3) You will never OUTGROW temptation.

You never get to a point where you become so SPIRITUAL or

SO OLD that you are not tempted anymore.

Reminders:2

Jesus CONFRONTEDHis temptation.

Temptation always tests WHETHER YOU LOVE GOD MORE THAN THE

TEMPTATION.

2

“If you love Me, you will obey My command.”

1) Keep focused on GOOD thoughts.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.”

Temptation always starts with getting our ATTENTION. REFOCUS on

something else.

How do I do this?

2

Philippians 4:8a

2) Get a spiritual PARTNER.

“You’re better off to have a friend than to be alone..If you fall, your friend

can help you up.”

How do I do this?

2

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

A temptation gives you

the

OPPORTUNITY

to obey God!

“Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.”

Philippians 4:8a