““Testing: Character & Endurance”Testing: Character & Endurance”Northside Mission Church (7-Oct-2012)Northside Mission Church (7-Oct-2012)

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLTFor our present troubles are small and won’t For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Our ProclamationOur Proclamation

1.1. All Christians will undergo either testing or All Christians will undergo either testing or chastening from the LORDchastening from the LORD

2.2. Our response to both testing and chastening Our response to both testing and chastening are:are:• Repentance – a change of mind and Repentance – a change of mind and

directiondirection• A full, 100% commitment to ChristA full, 100% commitment to Christ• Deeper reverence to the ScripturesDeeper reverence to the Scriptures• Having right, godly relationshipsHaving right, godly relationships

3.3. We should avoid being ensnared by sin and We should avoid being ensnared by sin and “spiritual weights” (“spiritual weights” (Hebrews 12:1-2Hebrews 12:1-2))

ReviewReview

Newest Poster Boy of Adidas UKNewest Poster Boy of Adidas UK

Name: Fauja Singh Name: Fauja Singh Born:Born: April 1, April 1, 19111911

““The World’s oldest The World’s oldest marathon runner!”marathon runner!”

Endurance for the “Last Days”Endurance for the “Last Days”Matthew 24 and Mark 13Matthew 24 and Mark 13− − Jesus’ prophetic preview of the world situation Jesus’ prophetic preview of the world situation that will exist immediately prior to His returnthat will exist immediately prior to His return− − He also gave “survival directions” to believers He also gave “survival directions” to believers

Matthew 24:12-13Matthew 24:12-13Because Because lawlessnesslawlessness would abound, the would abound, the lovelove of of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be savedend shall be saved

LoveLove – Greek “agape” – Greek “agape”

Mark 13:12-13Mark 13:12-13Now brother will betray brother to death, and a Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

A very somber picture of the “last days”:A very somber picture of the “last days”:1.1.Treachery and disloyalty within the familyTreachery and disloyalty within the family2.2.Christians being hated by all men Christians being hated by all men

The Fruit of Testing and TrialThe Fruit of Testing and TrialRomans 5:1-4Romans 5:1-4Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory glory ((boast, exultboast, exult) ) in tribulationsin tribulations, knowing that , knowing that tribulation produces perseverance tribulation produces perseverance ((enduranceendurance); ); and and perseverance, perseverance, ((provenproven)) character character; and ; and character, hope.character, hope.

James 1:2-4 NLTJames 1:2-4 NLTDear brothers and sisters, Dear brothers and sisters, whenwhen troublestroubles come come your way, your way, consider it an opportunity for great consider it an opportunity for great joyjoy. For you know that when your faith is tested, . For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to growyour endurance has a chance to grow. So let it . So let it grow, for grow, for when your endurance is fully when your endurance is fully developeddeveloped, you will be , you will be perfect and complete, perfect and complete, needing nothingneeding nothing..

““The Parable of the Sower”The Parable of the Sower”

Matthew 13:3-9 Matthew 13:3-9 1. Jesus is the 1. Jesus is the “Sower”“Sower”2. The 2. The seedseed is is ““the Word of the Word of God”God”3. The 3. The different kinds of soildifferent kinds of soil are the are the different kinds of different kinds of persons who hear the Word persons who hear the Word and how they respond to itand how they respond to it

““On the wayside…”On the wayside…”

Matthew 13:3-4 Matthew 13:3-4 Behold, a sower went out to Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, sow. And as he sowed, some some seed fell by the waysideseed fell by the wayside; and ; and the birds came and the birds came and devoured themdevoured them

““On the wayside…”On the wayside…”

Matthew 13:19Matthew 13:19When anyone hears the When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and word of the kingdom, and does not understand itdoes not understand it, then , then the wicked one comes and the wicked one comes and snatches away what was snatches away what was sown in his heartsown in his heart. This is he . This is he who received seed by the who received seed by the wayside.wayside.

““Stony places, scorching sun”Stony places, scorching sun”Matthew 13:5-6Matthew 13:5-6Some fell on stony placesSome fell on stony places, , where they did not have where they did not have much earth; and much earth; and they they immediately sprang up immediately sprang up because they had no depth because they had no depth of earthof earth. But . But when the sun when the sun was up they were scorchedwas up they were scorched, , and because they had no and because they had no root they withered away. root they withered away.

““Stony places, scorching sun”Stony places, scorching sun”Matthew 13:20-21Matthew 13:20-21But he who received the But he who received the seed on stony places, this is seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and he who hears the word and immediately receives it immediately receives it with joywith joy; yet he has no root ; yet he has no root in himself, but in himself, but endures only endures only for a whilefor a while. . For when For when tribulation or persecution tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, arises because of the word, immediately he stumblesimmediately he stumbles. .

““Some fell among thorns…”Some fell among thorns…”Matthew 13:7, 22Matthew 13:7, 22And And some fell among some fell among thornsthorns, and , and the thorns the thorns sprang up and choked sprang up and choked themthem. . . Now he who . . . Now he who received seed among the received seed among the thorns is thorns is he who hears the he who hears the wordword, and , and the cares of this the cares of this world world and and the deceitfulness the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitfuland he becomes unfruitful. .

““The Good, fertile soil”The Good, fertile soil”Matthew 13:8Matthew 13:8But But others fell on good others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirtysixty, some thirty. . . But . . . But he he who received seed on the who received seed on the good ground is he who good ground is he who hears the word and hears the word and understands it, who indeed understands it, who indeed bears fruit bears fruit and produces: and produces: some a hundredfold, some some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.sixty, some thirty.

The Two Main TestsThe Two Main Tests

The test of persecutionThe test of persecution The test of prosperityThe test of prosperity

Faithful and DevotedFaithful and Devoted

Acts 11:23b AMPActs 11:23b AMPBarnabbas continuously exhorted (warned, urged, Barnabbas continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and to cleave unto and remain faithful toremain faithful to andand devoted to the Lord with devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] [resolute and steady] purpose of heartpurpose of heart

Acts 14:22Acts 14:22Strengthening the souls of Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and to continue in the faith, and saying, saying, “We must through “We must through many tribulations enter the many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” kingdom of God”

Focusing on the EternalFocusing on the Eternal

Hebrews 11:27Hebrews 11:27By faith (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the By faith (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him seeing Him (Yahweh) who is invisible(Yahweh) who is invisible

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLTFor our present troubles are For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So and will last forever! So we we don’t look at the troubles we don’t look at the troubles we can see nowcan see now; rather, ; rather, we fix we fix our gaze on things that our gaze on things that cannot be seencannot be seen..

For For the things we see now will soon be gonethe things we see now will soon be gone, but , but the things we cannot see will last foreverthe things we cannot see will last forever..

Psalm 37:23-24Psalm 37:23-24The steps of a good The steps of a good man are ordered by man are ordered by the LORD, and He the LORD, and He delights in his way.delights in his way.

““Though he fallThough he fall, he shall not be utterly cast , he shall not be utterly cast down; down; for the LORD upholds him with His handfor the LORD upholds him with His hand.”.”

Luke 22:31-32And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail”

Keep an eye on the prizeKeep an eye on the prize

2 Timothy 4:7-82 Timothy 4:7-8I have I have fought the good fightfought the good fight, I have , I have finished the finished the racerace, I have , I have kept the faithkept the faith. Finally, there is laid up . Finally, there is laid up for me for me the crown of righteousnessthe crown of righteousness, which the , which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and Day, and not to me only but also to all who have not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearingloved His appearing..