Hey Pastor John,
This morning I came across your sermon on a “Pampered Generation”, and I decided to listen to it again. The message was wonderful and had so many good things in it. Even though it was about trials and disappointments, it was an encouraging message! As I listened to it, I took notes on the things which stood out to me, and I thought you, and others may want to see them!
Samuel
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Notes:
– A pampered generation defines “good” by what they want. Jesus wants us to become a wise generation that defines “good” as what God wants.
– The wise attack trouble or disappointment with faith in God.
– Hard trials can cause you to lose sight of the love and care God has for you. Someone going through a trial often begins to believe that God isn’t taking care of them, but they only feel that way because the flesh’s lusts or desires are not being fulfilled.
– While in the middle of a trial, you are often going to feel like God has forsaken you. God has not forsaken you, and when you feel that way, He will help you because He is close by!
– Jesus had times of loneliness on earth that made him want to just go away and rest. But he understood that God had designed his trials, and He knew that the only way to get away from his troubles was to run straight to God.
– Be like Jesus: when your trial comes, run straight to God!
– If a boxer doesn’t want to be hit hard, he gets close to his opponent. Jesus wants you to do the same thing! He wants you to attack your trials with faith, and push in close to God!
– “If you can’t get out of it, get into it!“
– Joseph begged his brothers not to sell him slavery, but he was sold anyway. Because he couldn’t get out of it, he got into it! He became the best prisoner he could be! Later, he found himself begging his brothers again, but this time, begging his brothers to not be ashamed or afraid because, even though they had meant to sell him away for evil, God used it for good!
– God used something Joseph didn’t want as a necessary part in giving Joseph the wonderful life God had planned for him!
– When something comes from God’s hand, even if you hate it, and your flesh doesn’t want it, it is good! One day you’ll be thanking God for it!
– Guard your tongue when you are hurt, angry, or disappointed. God has interrupted your life of ease and pleasure and is listening for your response. If you become angry, God may just take you up on what you say.
– God always does His part.
– An encouraging verse: Hebrews 12:11- “Now, no discipline, for just that moment, seems joyous, but grievous; however, it afterwards yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it.”
– When God starts cutting on you, it’s because he is pleased with you! God doesn’t think the way we do; we have everything backwards!
– What we go through is never too much for our faith. It may feel like too much, but God designs our trials specifically for us.
– If there is something in your path that seems like too much, James says to rejoice!! God knows you can overcome it!
– So, reach down inside of yourself and attack that problem with what faith you have! Because what faith you have is enough!
– Know this:
– If God loves you, he is going to scourge you. You will be doing right, and he will pull the rug out from under you to give you something better!
– The best way to demonstrate your love and faith in God is to treatwith love and gentlenesd those who God uses to scourge you.
– God has never and will never deal with us according to our sins on this earth. None of us have suffered as we deserve. He disciplines us so that we can get what we need, and that’s a good thing!
– To the young people: You need to understand that you are a pampered generation, and those things which make life easy will never teach you the knowledge of God. God has decided that having anything you want at any time will not teach you His knowledge.
– Why strike back at someone who has hurt you after all the goodness that God has shown you? Why not treat them with gentleness?
– Make up your mind before any big trouble comes to be like Joshua and Caleb and o see your trials and disappointments as opportunities to show God that you are still trusting him!
– If you do that, you’ll be safe from what David called the great transgression, and your mouth and temper will be subdued.
– Where you are going to spend eternity depends on how you respond to disappointment. Things aren’t always going to go your way; prepare your heart.
– Get mean with righteousness! Whatever happens, God means it for good, and so, attack your trial with faith!
– “What are you going to do when God doesn’t do something you like? What are you going to do when I (Pastor John) say something you don’t like? Those things are going to come your way. Are you ready? Is your mind made up? God is going to try you, but that’s a good thing!”
– Every trial you face can bring you closer to God if you have faith! Don’t forget that God loves you, and Jesus cares. God doesn’t go by your feelings; He goes by His own feelings for you.