Message Details
The struggle you face defines where you are going
The struggle is important.
The struggle is what defines you.
The struggle tells God that He can trust you because there are two things God is doing with us.
you are learning to trust the Lord.
We are learning to trust the Lord for everything.
He is taking a good long look at us and He is asking the question: can I trust him with this work?
Let’s look at Jer. 1.
This whole passage that we are about to read fascinates me because it’s a dialogue. It’s two people talking, one from a place of Divinity – seeing everything and knowing everything, and the other voice in the conversation comes from a place of humanity – fear, inadequacy, inferiority, “This really can’t work because of who I am.”
Here’s the thing: The Lord has never really been all that bothered about who you are not. In my experience of Him, He is overjoyed at what He can make you into. So when He comes at you, He comes at you with the full force of “everything is possible.”
God doesn’t see problems only possibilities!
Jer. 1.5 (NLT) “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
Jer. 1.6 (NLT) “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
Jer. 1.7 (NLT) “Don’t say that,” the LORD replied, “for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.
Jer. 1.8 (NLT) And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
Jer. 1.9 (NLT) Then the Lord touched my mouth and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth!
Jer. 1.10 (NLT) Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them.”
He’s calling you to…
STEP OUT.
TO RISE UP.
TO BELIEVE AGAIN.
TO BECOME.
Romans 4:16-23
16 The promise depends on faith so that it can be experienced as a grace-gift, and now it extends to all the descendants of Abraham. This promise is not only meant for those who obey the law, but also to those who enter into the faith of Abraham, the father of us all.
17 That’s what the Scripture means when it says: “
I have made you the father of many nations.”[
i] He is our example and father, for in God’s presence he believed that God can raise the dead and call into being things that don’t even exist yet.[
j]
18 Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it.[
k] He took God at his word, and as a result he became the father of many nations. God’s declaration over him came to pass: “Your descendants will be so many that they will be impossible to count!”[
l]
19 In spite of being nearly one hundred years old when the promise of having a son was made, his faith was so strong that it could not be undermined by the fact that he and Sarah[
m] were incapable of conceiving a child.
20–21 He never stopped believing God’s promise, for he was made strong in his faith[
n]
to father a child. And because he was mighty in faith and convinced that God had all the power needed to fulfill his promises, Abraham glorified God!
22 So now you can see why Abraham’s faith was credited to his account as righteousness before God.[
o]
23 And this declaration was not just spoken over Abraham,
24 but also over us. For when we believe and embrace the one who brought our Lord Jesus back to life, perfect righteousness will be credited to our account as well.
