Past. Melody van der Merwe

29 January 2012 (am)

2 Tim 2:15-26 (KJV + TLB)

Intro: We all have the desire to be used of God. To be used for honour, to make a difference everywhere we go. We say God chooses whom He wills (and it is so). To be a vessel for honour we are to cleanse ourselves so we are prepared (made ready) for every good work.

We pray and sing beautiful songs to the Lord. Always make sure that the words you speak, or sing are in the same place as your heart (Ps 19:14) or it’s hypocrisy.

Is 64:8 … but now, o Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and all we are the work of your hand…

Jer 18:1-6

Quality of the clay limits what the potter can do with the clay. What God can make of us depends on our quality – our response to Him, to His Word.

Potter: Uses clay; not ready naturally, water added, washed, sieved, processed. Add hay, wood to make stronger. Potter uses hands to knead clay, even treads clay to loose air bubbles.

All before being moulded. Thrown on wheel of potter – to be shaped.

Clay can be used after process, water added, knead, treaded, shaped.

Left to dry in sun the vessel can only be used to store dry products, when water added, the vessel looses shape, leaks and collapses.

Vessel for water, oil (wet) products needs to be dried in very high temperatures from 500˚C – carefully watched and monitored. Gold – precious metal also processed for use – Diamond.

Rom 9:20+21 Ask Why?

Is 29:16 … shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it,  “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of Him who made it, “he has no understanding”?

Is 45:9 … “woe to him who strives with His Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds ox the earth! Shall the clay say to Him who forms it, “What are you making”? Or shall your handiwork say, “He has no hands”?

2 Tim 2:20+21 Glazed, fired in kiln (oven) a few times.

James 1:2-4 LB + NKJ

Testing – produces faith (ready for anything) (oven)

Strong in character – who you are when nobody’s watching. Be available to be used for honour.

* Quality of clay limits what the potter can do… Your response to Him and His Word.

Past. Melody van der Merwe

22 January 2012 (am)

2 Cor 4:1-18 (TLB)

1 Pet 1:6

Intro: As we experience difficulties in life, as we face trials with an attitude of counting it all joy, we determine that we will not lose heart!

• Do you know what I’ve been trough?
• Do you know how long it’s been?
• Easy for you to talk!
• Very scary, dangerous, long, dark, storm in my life…

Being in a storm does not mean you’re out of the will of God!! (Terry Virgo)

Storm Jesus sent the disciples in to go to the other side. Matt 14:22-33

Paul encourages us – from his experience

2 Cor 11:22

2 Cor 6:4

Acts 14

2 Cor 112:2 (3^rd heaven)

Paul is shown by the Holy Spirit the chains in some places – chooses to go anyway.

God’s grace is sufficient 2 Cor 12:9

(Phil 3:7 what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ).

The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

Potter – Clay Jer 18:1-4 (Notes) (Clay depends on our response to God {Potter}).

*Audio CD available on order – Contact us.

]]> http://knysnacharisma.co.za/sermon-notes/do-not-lose-heart/feed/ 0 http://knysnacharisma.co.za/sermon-notes/liberty-iv-no-fear-worry/ http://knysnacharisma.co.za/sermon-notes/liberty-iv-no-fear-worry/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:48:08 +0000 lelania http://knysnacharisma.co.za/?p=746 LIBERTY IV: No Fear & Worry

*WW 1 Cor 10:29

Past. Melody van der Merwe

30 October 2011 (am)

Intro: John 8:31+32 (MESS) Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in Him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”

NKJ v32… and you shall know (know experientially), and the truth shall make you free (to be at liberty).

AMP Eph 3:19 … that you may really come to know [practically, thru experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience],

TAB … That you may really come to know – practically thru experience for yourselves – the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience…

Know the truth walk in liberty concerning worry and fear.

Matt 6:25-34 (MESS)

Numbers 23:19 (MESS) …God is not man, one given to lies, and not a son of man changing His mind. Does He speak and not do what He says? Does He promise and not come through?

Decide if God is God and His Word Truth.

Have an intimate relationship with the Word know  “experientially” the Word and be made free.

Fear? NO!!

2 Tim 1:7 …for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. “WW”

Is 35:4 Fear Not!

Is 43:1+2 …v5 fear not for I am with you…

Heb 13:5+6 … I will never leave you nor forsake you…boldly say: the Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

God is our Father – know it!! Baby, toddler, child – complete faith in Father.

Jesus asleep in the storm Mark 4:35-41

Feeds Five Thousand.

Walks past those who wanted to stone Him – he knew his time had not yet come.

NO FEAR IN LOVE

1 John 4:17-19 NOTES Spirit Filled Life Bible

Rom 8:31-39

Past. Melody van der Merwe

23 October 2011 (am)

Josh 24:15

… Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,…

Foundation of all: Get Wisdom

Wisdom / Foolishness

Wisdom: Applying knowledge is wisdom….

• Wisdom comes from acting on knowledge

Wisdom comes from truth found and then acted upon and experienced.

Life is about choices.

• Bombarded all day with choices.

o       Cricket player, rugby player, tennis player…

o       Cleaning products – Household goods – advertising… to influence your choices.

This day:  Very Important

Choosing once is not enough, right choices daily.

Marriage (49 years), Diet (thin, healthy), Driving – tyres – ask Palm Tyres – Make and model – Not judging helping.

Serving God – DAILY – take-up cross – daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23 – Then Jesus said to them all, “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”…)

Paul… 1 Cor 15:31(b) … I die daily (read v33)

Everyday Choose

–        Attitude

o       Don’t blame shift

o       Mood

o       Going out and coming in – friendly, forgive, love

We have sovereign will

§         In Jesus we are all chosen for eternal life – we choose to accept or reject

Freedom Brings Responsibility!!!

• Adam: Gen 2:16+17

Names all – Intelligent 19+20 (Knowledge)

Gets to choose Gen 3 -  1 Cor 15:33…do not be deceived; evil company corrupts good habits… (Acts foolishly no in wisdom).

V12. Blame shift – The woman whom You gave to be with me…

• Pharaoh – Egypt hardens his heart
• Joshua & Caleb
• Rahab – Hides spies – saves her life and the lives of her household, Jesus born from her lineage.
• Samson (Judges 13-16) – Nazirite from birth (Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist) (Hair, grapes, dead)

Taught by parents what is right – freedom…

Child taught to go to school daily – freedom university – Fails – no-one to blame but self.

• Naomi + Ruth (Orpah –returned)

Liberty – WW 1 Cor 10:29

• Habakkuk – from doubt to worship – under terrible circumstances (Economy, country)

Hab 3:17-19

• Elizabeth – chooses what the angel says.
• Paul – Chooses to follow Jesus – road of Damascus
• Jesus – Chooses God’s will for his life – Gethsemane

You have liberty – freedom to choose.

Choose Wisely!!

Make Godly Choices Daily!!

Don’t grow weary while doing good.

Past. Melody van der Merwe

16 October 2011 (am)

John 8:32

Intro: Last time: applying knowledge is wisdom. I.e. Wisdom comes from acting on knowledge. Wisdom comes from truth found and then acted upon and experienced.

Prov 4:7 … Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Prov 2:1-6

John 14:16 (LB) … I am the way – yes, and the truth and the life….

The Way

Gen God made a way to restore fellowship with man. Jesus the way. Lamb – offering once for all.

2 Sam 22:31 …as for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him…

John 10:7-9. Blood – Heb 9:8+12; 10:19+20

John 14:6 …no one comes to God except (by) through me…

Jesus is the ONLY way to God.

The Truth

John 1:14+17

*WW John 4:24

*WW Ps 25:5

God’s truth continually preserves us. (Ps 40:11)

1 Cor 1:4-8

Jer 10:10 …but the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.

John 8:32 – make you free

Rom 6:14,18+22

Rom 8:1+2 – make you free WW*

The Life

Zoe – everlasting life

John 10:10

Rom 8:1-5, 14-19

Know the truth – Walk in the Truth.

Time spent in the Word is time spent with God = Time well spent.

Past. Melody van der Merwe

09 October 2011 (am)

John 8:32

Knowledge is power: Captive in a prison with unlocked doors.

John 8:31-47

(v32) … and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

(“KNOW” WW – know experientially)

Applying knowledge is wisdom.

Wisdom comes from the experience of acting upon knowledge.

Wisdom comes from truth found and then acted upon and experienced.

Eph 3:19 NKJ. To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God…

LB…and to experience this love for yourselves…

AMP…That you may really come to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; …

TAB… that you may really come to know – practically through experience for yourselves – the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience…”

Truth – like uncut diamond – cut and polished diamond reveals true beauty of it – after being cut it is still pure diamond.

God’s truth is multifaceted – progressive – like cut diamond.

Truth must be received, believed and acted upon to bring freedom.

Ask a little girl where she lives

-         In my house – single layered truth

What do you do in the house?

-         Eat and sleep – additional truth

Go to her house and spend time with her

-         find no furniture – sleep on blanket – eats sour milk and cream crackers.

All she told you was true.

Spending time with her reveals much more.

You must KNOW (experience and act upon) the truth to be made free.

Personally.

Just reading and memorizing the word does not make you free, unless what you read to turn into experience and relationship.

John 5:37-40 (v40) TAB…and you still are not willing (but refuse) to come to Me, so that you might have life…

James 2:26 …faith without works is dead also…

Read how to ride a bicycle –may be accurate, but you must test it with practical hand-on experience. Take what you read to ride a bike. (You never forget how).

A man with an argument cannot beat a man with an experience.

Faith comes by hearing the Word, but faith grows by experiencing the Word.

Past. Melody vd Merwe

25 September 2011 (am)

Phil 2:5-8 (LB)

… Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though He was God, did not demand and cling to His rights as God, but laid aside His mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And He humbled Himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross…

Your whole life depends on your attitude!

You can do the right thing, with the wrong attitude!! (Sitting on the outside, but on the inside I’m still standing up!!)

1 Cor 16:14 …let all that you do, be done with love.

Col 3:23 (NKJ) …and whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…

LB… work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord…

Phil 2:14 (NKJ) …do all things without complaining (NIV-grumbling) and disputing (NIV-arguing)…

LB… in everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing…

Phil 4:5 (LB) … Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do.

Phil 2:12-16 (Mess). Command.

…What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing…

Jesus our Example

Phil 2:5-8 (MSG)… ^5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion…

Romans 12:3-21 (MSG)… ³I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

^4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

^6-8If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

^9-10Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

^11-13Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

^14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

^17-19Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

^20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Romans 13:8-14 …^8-10Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

^11-14But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

Romans 14:11-14 (MSG)

Read it for yourself in Scripture:
“As I live and breathe,” God says,
“every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God.”
So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

^13-14Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

Romans 14:17 (MSG) … Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

Romans 14:19 (MSG) So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault…

Romans 14:23 (MSG) Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.

Romans 15:1-7 (MSG)…Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! …

• Don’t think more of yourself – Who and what you are is by grace.
• Love deeply – not selfish – me first
• Help others – Hospitable
• Bless – Share with happiness and sorrow of others
• Invite those who are humble (Luke 14:13)
• Look for the best in all.

Have Jesus’ attitude!!

Kind – blind man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46) …what do you want me to do for you?

• Bending over backwards being what is needed.
• Woman issue of blood – woman caught in adultery.

Hospitable – feeds five thousand (Mark 6) + 4 Thousand (Mark 8 )

Generous – Charitable – Gave to the poor – gave life for us.

Compassionate – raise son of widow.

Friendly – Mark 10:13 …do not hinder little ones to come…

Worships God – as boy – early in the morning

Submission, Obedience – baptized – Gethsemane – no my will. Cross – Golgotha – death on cross.

Submit one to another – die to self.

Forgiving – 70 x 7 – on the cross.

Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG)… ^22-23But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

HAVE A GODLY ATTITUDE!

Past. Melody vd Merwe

04 September (am)

Eph 4:29-32

Intro: We have been born again / saved / called to living God’s way – died to self and now live for Him. God wants us to grow up and be like Christ in everything.

We are to take our lead from Christ, (Eph 4:14 Mess)

Watch what God does, and then you do it. (Eph 5:1 Mess)

Eph 4:29-32 NKJ

Put off

Eph 4:29-31 NKJ & Mess

Col 3:3-11 Mess

Put on

Eph  4:32 NKJ

Kind – Luke 6:35 WW* Matt 11:30

Kind – that which is useful, easy, pleasant, good, comfortable, suitable and serviceable. Does not chafe, well fitting.

Good – goodness Rom 2:4 …the goodness of God leads you to repentance.

Kindness WW* Gal 5:22. Goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, Gentleness in dealing with others.

The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience.

The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control.

Gracious – WW * Mal 1:9

Tenderhearted

1 Pet 3:8+9 + Mess – tenderly compassionate (pity that moves you to action).

WW* Hos 2:23 have mercy.

Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37

Forgiving one another. WW* Col 3:13 + Mess…forgive as quickly and completely as the master forgave you.

Ps 103:12

Is 38:17

Is 43:25…and I will not remember your sins. (Mess…I don’t keep a list of your sins.)

Put off – Col 3:3-1 Mess

Put on – Col 3:12-17 (Mess) – The bond of perfection – (Maturity)

And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

]]> http://knysnacharisma.co.za/sermon-notes/godly-living-iv-put-on/feed/ 0 http://knysnacharisma.co.za/sermon-notes/godly-living-ii/ http://knysnacharisma.co.za/sermon-notes/godly-living-ii/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:11:51 +0000 lelania http://knysnacharisma.co.za/?p=727 Godly Living II

Past. Melody vd Merwe

21 August 2011 (am)

Intro: Godly living, (Godliness) is living the way God wants us to. Godly living is modeled after God Himself, especially as He has revealed Himself in His fullness in Jesus Christ.

Eph 5:1…be imitators of God

1 John 4:17 …because as He is, so are we in this world…

Eph 4:22-30 (AMP)

(v22) Strip yourselves former nature – (pajamas)

(v23) Be constantly renewed in the Spirit of your mind (attitudes begin in the mind)

(v24) and PUT ON the new nature

Renewed by God’s Word – read the Word daily, meditate in it and change your attitudes. According to the Word.

(v25) Live in truth (God’s word is truth- not double-tongued) with all –(parts of same body). Speak the truth in love. Have the habit of being truthful. The truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth. Can’t say nothing good – shut up.

(v26+27) Be angry, and do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.

• Toss and turn when you go to bed angry about what someone did or didn’t do or what someone said or didn’t say. We become offended, insulted, irritated or upset. You allow yourself to become more and more angry the longer you think about it.

Wrath – Someone whose mood is so upset that he becomes completely bent out of shape over some issue (greek) – ruk uit verband.

Wrath often starts as silent resentment. If left it slowly builds up inside the person becoming stronger and stronger until one day, it finally explodes in rage! Pressure cooker – out of proportion to cause.

Instead of rejecting anger when it shows up, this person draws anger to himself and then nurses it, nourishes it, feeds it, and holds it close. Allows the aggravating issue to “get under his skin” and becomes his constant companion – even to bed. When the sun goes down.

(v27) Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].

When you go to bed angry the entire night becomes an opportunity for the devil to work inside your mind and emotions.

Devil –greek DIABALOS – paints a picture of the devil as one who repeatedly throws accusations at the mind – striking again and again until he ultimately penetrates the mind with slanderous lies and relationship-destroying insinuations.

Bedtime= ideal time for devil to get foothold – plant thoughts for you to mediate on all night.

Deal with anger unforgiveness before bedtime. Realize that anger, wrath and strife (fleshly emotions) are the entry points the devil uses to wage war in your mind.

• If something or someone has upset or offend you, you will only make matters much worse if you let yourself go to bed angry.
• Give no place – room to the devil.

Wants – money, health, marriage, relationships, employment, business and ministry – wants every room. (Territorial)

He must find an open door.

We open doors when we;

• Refuse to let go of old hurts and wounds
• Refuse to acknowledge what we did wrong
• Refuse to forgive others for what they did
• Refuse to stop judging others for their grievances
• Refuse to admit we were wrong too
• Refuse to say, “I’m sorry” when we’re wrong. (pride)
• Refuse to lay down our “rights” for others.

Choose to give no place to the devil.

In our minds, in our emotions, our actions, our words.

Choose to walk in the Spirit – Godly living

Watch yourself – broken car –jack.

When you become offended at someone, you become nit-picky (kleinlik), negative, and faultfinding and no longer see any good in them – note all their ugly, wicked, wrong details.

Remember GRACE – all you’ve been forgiven allow the love of God that is shed abroad in your heart to surface and to reign – instead of being selfish – opposite of love (all about me). Walk in love.

by Rick Warren

This is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long, but they will produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the trouble we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is life so difficult sometimes? Don’t be surprised if God is using tough times in your life to test your faithfulness.
Faithful people keep on keeping on when other people want to give up. Faithful people are diligent and determined. They are persistent.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul says you need to get the right perspective when you are going through a problem. Don’t look at the temporary problem; look at the long-term reward. Don’t look at the temporary pain; look at the long-term gain. Don’t look at it with the short-term view, “What’s happening to me right now?” Instead, look at the character that you are building because you haven’t given up. You’re hanging in there.

God is more interested in what you are becoming than what you accomplish.

If you are facing difficult times right now, I want to challenge you to write this verse on a 3×5 card and memorize it: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).

I pray it will encourage you to keep going. You will be rewarded!