Overcoming Uncertainty

1. Understand your citizenship is in heaven.  

 

Ephesians 1:20-23

The Message

20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

 

2.  Embrace your own uniqueness.

 

Ephesians 2:10

New Living Translation

 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 

3.  Show humility.  

 

Ephesians 4:2

New Living Translation

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

 

4. Help others succeed.  

 

Philippians 2:3-4

New Living Translation

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

 

5.  Value others.

 

Romans 12:9-10

New Living Translation

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

 

6. Accept and extend forgiveness.  

 

Romans 8:1-2

New Living Translation

 

8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you] from the power of sin that leads to death. 

 

7. Understand God's will for you.  

Ephesians 5

New Living Translation

 

5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  

Seeing Beyond

Romans 8:16-17  (NLT)

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

For most of us, our earthly parents form our perspective of God.  For me, it was work. We must see God as He really is.   

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. 

If we are an heir, we can see beyond our present situation because someday we will be the boss.  

We can see today differently if we can grasp what's ours tomorrow.  The outside does not change, but our perspective within us does.

In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

This life is tough.  If we can see what's ahead, we can get by what's now.  

  

Galatians 3:26-4:7  (NLT)

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 

Forgiveness is a free gift.  It is not based upon performance.  

27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

4 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 

5 God sent him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

1. You are loved.  

Christianity is not about fearing an angry ruler, but following a loving father. 

2. You are adopted.   

Christianity is not a religion to join, but a family to belong to.

3. You are a heir.  

We receive something that we didn't earn.  This life is not about this life.  

Christianity is not about an earthly payment, but an eternal reward.  

If we can't see tomorrow accurately, we can't see today accurately. 

1. See beyond faults. 

Heirs are family first. 

Ephesians 4:1-4  (NLT)

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 

2. See beyond correction. 

Heir embrace feedback.  We won't enjoy it. It doesn't feel good. Encouragement makes us feel good.  Correction makes us grow if we embrace it.  

Hebrews 12:7 (NLT)

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

3. See beyond opinion.   Opinion has created a generation of dishonor.  Heir honor. Speak kindly of people.

Hebrews 12:10  (NLT)

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

  

We must see correction not as rejection.  Correction is redirection. Heirs honor everyone.   

1 Timothy 5:17  (NLT)

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well,especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.  

4. See beyond yourself.  

 We are heirs.  We must build God's house.  

Ephesians 4:15-16  (NLT)

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Layne Schranz, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/seeing-beyond 

The Difference in Prayer

(Luke 11:1) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 


WHAT’S MISSING?


 I feel ashamed. 
 I feel obligated. 
 I don’t know what to say. 
 I don’t think He is listening.  I don’t want to bother Him. 
 I don’t trust Him. 
 I don’t get an answer. 


THE DIFFERENCE 

Real prayer is driven by relationship not need or crisis.

 1. Start with worship. 


(Matthew 6:9) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.



(John 4:23) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind worshipers the Father seeks. 



2. Fully surrender. 


(Matthew 26:39) Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 


(Luke 23:46) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” 



3. Pray with confidence. 


(Hebrews 4:15-16) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin. 


Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.



 (James 5:16 NLT) “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” 



4. Make it personal not formal. 


(Matthew 6:7-8) And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 



What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?  


Layne Schranz, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-difference

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/08-05-12.pdf

When God doesn't make sense

Jesus went through the worst on earth, so that we could experience the best of heaven.  

Jesus aimed His hard questions to God not man...

(Matthew 27:46) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Aim your hard questions at

 God not man, too.

When God Doesn’t Make Sense

✓Trust in His nature.

1 John 4:8 (NIV)

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

(2 Corinthians 1:3) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”

✓ Trust in His promises.

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

(2 Corinthians 1:20) For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

✓Trust in His purpose for your life.

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

During the Why

(Isaiah 63:9 NLT) “In all their suffering he (God) also suffered, and he personally rescued them (His followers). In his love and mercy, he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.”

1. Learn in faith and obedience to God while asking why.

(Hebrews 5:8 NLT) “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”

(2 Corinthians 1:9 NLT) “In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”

2. Love God and others while asking why brings healing and freedom.

(Hebrews 13:16 NLT) “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”

(2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT) “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

3. Worship while asking why.

(Hebrews 12:28-29 NLT) “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.”

(Psalm 22:22-24 NLT) “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.”

Real worship is trusting God 

when life doesn’t make sense.

In your deepest pain, worship.  The harder it is to see God.  The more you need to magnify Him.

Layne Schranz, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/aim-your-hard-questions-at-god-not-man

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/03-19-17.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.