FBC/PVM - 8:00; 9:30; 11:00 a.m. August 23, 2020 D. Growth and maturity - vs. 10-11

The formula for holiness and maturity has no easy alternative! E. Strength and stability - vs. 12-13 Hostility, Pain, and Spirituality 1. You can endure—yes you can! Hebrews 12:3-13 2. This is by faith not feelings! Intro: Conclusion: Don’t waste your pain! I. Thinking correctly about sin induced pain 1. For most of us - be quiet! A. For all people: Sin always has painful consequences. 2. Be patient in affliction. We will not always recognize immediately Romans 6:23; James 1:15; Psalm 32:3-4; 38:3-5; 66:18 what God is doing. B. For Christians: Punishment for sin has been, in it’s entirety, 3. Remember: “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who transferred to Christ at the Cross once and for all. loves him is diligent to discipline him.” Proverbs 13:24 Isaiah 53:5-6; Romans 8:1; I John 2:2 Trust the love of your Heavenly Father. C. For Christians: God uses pain and suffering to: 1. Get our attention—warning! I Corinthians 11:28-32 2. Discipline us - but not punish. OT - Jonah! 3. Grow and mature us Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3 4. To accomplish His special purposes in our lives. John 9; II Cor. 12:7-10

II. Growing spiritually through God orchestrated pain - 12:3-13 This passage is very insightful for the believer to better understand how our Heavenly Father uses pain, difficulty, and hardship as a tool for discipline with his children. A. Christ and hostility - vs. 3 “Consider” - Laser-like focus. Greek = “by all means consider” Focus on Jesus and endure! B. Pain and durability - vs. 4 - Another athletic metaphor (vs. 1) C. Family identity - vs. 5-9; Proverbs 3:11-12 This is a word of: 1. Encouragement - this pain is a confirming evidence of salvation. “sons”. 2. Exhortation - Two extremes: a. To not take it seriously. “regard lightly” vs. 5 b. To let it bring defeat. “weary” 3. Explanation - vs. 6-7 4. Examination - vs. 8 “in which all have participated” Have I? 5. Expectation - vs. 9 (Lesser to greater argument)