Latest / Bumper Testing / Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram Daily Podcast - Understanding the Power of Expectations, Part 2

Transcript

Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram Daily Podcast - Understanding the Power of Expectations, Part 2 · Bumper Testing

0:11
Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram.
0:14
Did you know that God has two amazing gifts for
0:17
you? I mean, gifts that we rarely think about
0:21
or even consider as gifts. But when you think
0:24
and hear and ponder and digest these two gifts,
0:29
it absolutely changes your perspective and gives
0:33
you the power to live with joy, even in the midst
0:36
of great adversity. Stay with me. Expectations
0:41
can either anchor you or completely wreck you.
0:44
And Chip Ingram says there's a specific biblical
0:46
way to get them right. Today on Living on the
0:50
Edge, Chip Ingram shows us exactly what we can
0:52
rightly expect from God, even in our hardest
0:55
seasons. Today's subject is an important one,
0:59
so if you ever want to revisit this lesson or
1:01
share it with a friend, just go online to livingontheedge
1:05
.org. Now, if you have your Bible with you, open
1:09
it to Philippians chapter 1, verse 27. And here's
1:12
Chip with today's message titled, Understanding
1:15
the Power of Expectations. Your life and perspective
1:21
and mine is geared around expectations. Here's
1:26
the question. Where's your expectations? Open
1:29
your notes. Let's learn from the Apostle Paul
1:31
very specifically. What can we expect from God?
1:37
And what does God expect of us? So with that,
1:42
we pick it up. Paul says, this is my final lesson.
1:46
What does God expect? He expects consistent conduct.
1:51
Verse 27, whatever happens, conduct yourselves
1:54
in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Circle
1:59
the little word manner worthy. It's an interesting
2:01
New Testament word. The Philippians would immediately
2:05
recognize where he's going. He's kind of taking
2:08
part of their personal experience and he's going
2:10
to give them this little parallel. And what the
2:12
apostle Paul is saying back then was the problem
2:15
with the Philippians is you're in danger of being
2:18
Christians that don't live like Christians. Paul
2:20
is saying is this is what God expects. And then
2:24
the very next line, you can imagine them thinking,
2:26
well, how would you ever know for sure whether
2:28
you're a Christian who's living like a Christian,
2:31
whether you really are kind of a kingdom citizen
2:34
living consistently? Well, in the very next verses,
2:37
he explains. He says, what does it look like,
2:39
this consistent conduct? Then whenever I come
2:43
and see you or only hear about you in my absence,
2:47
I'll know that you stand firm in one spirit.
2:51
contending as one man for the faith of the gospel,
2:54
without being frightened in any way by those
2:57
who oppose you, and this will be a sign to them
2:59
that they will be destroyed, but that you will
3:02
be saved, and that by God. Now, I'd like you
3:06
to circle three words, and I tried to make it
3:08
as easy as possible. You notice they're in bold,
3:10
right? The first thing is that you're standing
3:13
firm, and then underline in one spirit. You're
3:16
standing firm in a culture that is against you.
3:19
But notice you're doing it in unity, in one spirit.
3:22
You're together on this. Second, circle the word
3:26
contending as one man. Literally, it's one soul.
3:29
You're in this together, but you're contending
3:32
for the faith. Put a box around the word faith.
3:35
And then third, he says, don't be frightened.
3:40
Do it without being frightened. Don't let it
3:43
frighten you to where you shrink back and become
3:46
sort of the secret agent Christian. This is about
3:49
being bold. Here's a question I would ask all
3:52
of you. Does everyone in a positive, winsome
3:56
way know that you're a follower of Christ? Do
3:59
they know it? Are you bold? God expects us to
4:04
not give up, not give in, not shrink back. You
4:07
got it? I would say 98 % of all the people in
4:11
this room say, you know, you know, Chip's a little
4:14
hyper, but that's Chip. I don't have a whole
4:18
lot that I would disagree with what he just said.
4:21
But when he started playing it out of what it
4:23
would look like in my life, I'm not so sure that
4:28
I have a consistent conduct. I'm not so sure
4:31
that I'm not more worried about being a citizen
4:34
of the United States that is more comfortable
4:38
and more happy and doesn't create waves than
4:41
I am a kingdom citizen of God. that when I get
4:46
and realize that this little thing that we called
4:48
time is running out, and I was made for this
4:52
big thing called eternity. And when you live
4:55
that kind of life, yeah, you'll probably have
4:59
a little more pressure, a little bit more suffering,
5:01
and a lot more joy, and a lot more love, and
5:06
a lot more impact. And God will use you as a
5:09
catalyst to transform your neighborhood, your
5:13
coffee shop, your workplace, your sport team
5:17
that you coach, would you be willing to say,
5:21
Lord, would you speak to me about, is my belief
5:26
and my behavior telling the same story? And ask
5:32
God to make you an agent of life and change.
5:36
Because the world, right, is anyone concerned
5:39
about what's going on other than me? I mean,
5:42
there's a missile could be coming our way. There's
5:45
division in this country. There's hatred like
5:47
never before. And here's the deal. You are either
5:51
a part of the solution or a part of the problem.
5:54
There is no middle ground. Hiding in our cul
5:57
-de -sacs, hoping that it won't affect us and
6:00
we just want to unconsciously be upwardly mobile
6:03
and everything work out for us and our family
6:05
and our little world is not an option. It's just
6:09
an illusion. Second, What can we expect from
6:15
God? He says, for it has been granted to you
6:19
on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him,
6:23
but also to suffer for him, since you're going
6:25
through the same struggle you saw I had and now
6:28
hear that I still have. Interestingly, again,
6:31
you can circle the word granted to you. It's
6:33
pretty easy. It's in bold. It's literally, it
6:36
means God has given you a privilege. You know
6:39
the word grace? Or some of you have named your
6:41
daughters, you know, Kairos. That's the word
6:44
grace. That's the root word. God has given you
6:47
a precious grace gift. And there's a... privilege
6:51
into it, and there's a responsibility to it.
6:54
And Paul's playing with these Philippians and
6:56
reminding them, hey, citizen right of Philippi,
6:58
privilege, responsibility. Now, here's the grace
7:02
gift God's given you. Privilege to believe. You
7:05
can receive eternal life. He's changed your life.
7:08
He's taken you out of the kingdom of darkness,
7:10
placed you in the kingdom of light, sealed you
7:12
with the spirit, given you spiritual gifts, given
7:15
you a purpose, given you a family of God, created
7:18
a place forever and ever looking forward. And
7:21
he's going to transform your life and make you
7:23
more and more like Jesus so the world can see
7:26
how much God loves them. It's an amazing grace
7:29
gift to believe. So why don't you put a little
7:32
box around believe. But he says there's another
7:36
gift. You've been given the gift to get to suffer.
7:41
How many of you honestly, don't raise your hands.
7:45
Because it wouldn't mean to go. How many of you
7:47
ever thought suffering is a gift from God? That's
7:52
foreign to American Christians. Suffering is
7:56
a gift from God? Yes. He said, he's given you
8:02
a gift of suffering and you're going through
8:04
this same struggle, this conflict, this persecution.
8:07
Some of it is from within and some of it is from
8:10
without. Paul is going to leave Timothy at Ephesus,
8:15
young pastor. 2 Timothy 3 .12. Timothy? All those
8:21
who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus
8:23
will be persecuted. It's a promise. What's Paul
8:27
doing? Setting expectations. You know, here's
8:32
a young guy. I follow Jesus. I'm now a young
8:34
pastor. What I'm going to do? I've sacrificed
8:36
everything. It's going to be great, right? Well,
8:39
you really live for God, you'll be persecuted.
8:44
Or how about Jesus? How did he set expectations?
8:46
The very last night. What did he say? Just think
8:50
positive, guys. Just think positive. It's all
8:52
gonna be super duper. I'm going to heaven. I'll
8:55
be back. We're gonna mojo a little bit later
8:57
together. What did he say? In the world, you'll
9:03
have tribulation. You'll have troubles. But be
9:06
of good cheer. I've overcome the world. In fact,
9:10
I just read this morning and I thought in light
9:14
of the current events, it was a very, Last time
9:19
Jesus was hanging out with his disciples and
9:21
he basically gave his sermon to the Pharisees
9:24
and pretty unpopular whitewashed tombs, snakes,
9:29
vipers. I think I underlined the word hypocrite
9:31
seven or eight times. I mean, I'm a follower
9:34
of Jesus and he just alienated the entire establishment
9:38
and all the power. Jesus was perhaps the most
9:43
politically incorrect person who's ever walked
9:45
the face of the earth. And in the midst of that,
9:49
you're following him thinking, whoa, and he's
9:52
been talking about leaving, dying, raising from
9:54
the dead, and they don't figure out what he's
9:56
saying. And then he makes this crazy statement
9:58
like, you see that temple? Destroy it. I'll rebuild
10:02
it. I'm coming back. And the disciples took him
10:07
aside privately and said, when will all this
10:09
take place? And will there be a sign ahead of
10:11
time to signal your return in the end of the
10:13
world? Now, just listen to this. Don't let anyone
10:17
mislead you. For many will come in my name saying
10:19
I'm the Messiah. They'll lead many astray. Wars
10:23
will break out near and far, but don't panic.
10:25
Yes, things must come, but the end won't follow
10:28
immediately. Nations and kingdoms will proclaim
10:30
war against each other. There'll be famines,
10:32
earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all
10:35
this will only be the beginning or the birth
10:37
pangs of the horrors to come. Then you'll be
10:39
arrested and persecuted and killed. How's this
10:42
for preparing the team for the next game? You're
10:46
going to be arrested, persecuted, and killed.
10:48
You know what's interesting? They were. But they
10:50
didn't give up, they didn't give in, and they
10:52
didn't shrink back. Why? Because they knew it
10:55
was true. They experienced God's power. They
10:59
leaned into the suffering. He said, many, though,
11:03
will turn away from me and betray me and hate
11:05
each other. Many false prophets will appear and
11:07
they'll lead many people astray. Sin will be
11:09
rampant everywhere and the love of many will
11:11
grow cold. Sound familiar? But those who endure
11:15
to the end will be saved. And the good news about
11:18
the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole
11:19
world so that all the nations will hear it. And
11:22
then finally, the end will come. There's more
11:28
in just a moment here on Living on the Edge with
11:31
Chip Ingram. Before we continue, if you've never
11:34
been to Chip Ingram's YouTube channel, you're
11:36
missing out on a whole library of teaching you
11:39
won't see anywhere else. Series like... B -I
11:42
-O, three essential practices to becoming like
11:44
Jesus, and even messages like the one you're
11:47
hearing today. Whether you want to dig deeper
11:50
into a topic or pass something along to a friend,
11:52
it's all right there. Just look up Living on
11:55
the Edge with Chip Ingram on YouTube and subscribe.
12:00
Now let's get back to our message. Now I'm in
12:04
no way a, I think Jesus is coming back tomorrow.
12:10
the end's coming. The sky's falling. But what
12:13
would have to be happening in the world to tell
12:16
us that it's close? Maybe more hurricanes? Bigger
12:21
earthquakes? More wars? See, I think it's really
12:25
interesting that we unconsciously think that...
12:28
Some things that have happened in the past, they're
12:30
going to happen probably someday, some way, but
12:32
probably not in my lifetime. Really, Jesus goes
12:35
on to say, it will be the same as in the day
12:37
of Noah, where people were doing business, having
12:41
parties, marrying, going about their life. All
12:45
I want to say is, it seems like the birth pangs
12:51
are more intense now. And we should have an urgency
12:55
at a level that we haven't had. And we shouldn't
12:58
be afraid about our job. We shouldn't be afraid
12:59
about our money. We shouldn't be afraid about
13:01
our reputation. We shouldn't be afraid we should
13:03
be bold. Because here's the deal. At some point
13:06
in time, there's going to be things that are
13:08
true and things that are untrue. And the one
13:11
thing Jesus said is, there is no gray. Anyone
13:13
who's ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of them
13:16
when I come with the angels, with my father.
13:19
Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. Now
13:23
the question is, are we willing to take that
13:25
stand? Before we wrap it up, I have talked about
13:30
suffering and Peter, in 1 Peter 2, 20 and 21,
13:34
you might jot that down. That's one you might
13:36
actually want to memorize. Because when Peter
13:39
writes, Nero is, I mean, burning Christians and
13:42
throwing them into the lions. And Peter's writing
13:45
to the church. And he says, if you suffer for
13:49
doing what's wrong, for being a crook, for doing
13:51
evil things. What credit is that? But then he
13:54
says, but if you suffer for doing what is right,
13:57
being righteous, walking with God, making a difference,
14:00
this finds favor with God. Are you ready for
14:03
this? For you have been called to this purpose,
14:08
to suffer, for Christ left you an example to
14:13
follow. See, if... If we're trying to avoid suffering
14:18
all the time, you will never become the man or
14:20
a woman God designed you to be. You will never
14:22
have the relationships, and you'll never have
14:24
the impact. Jesus suffered. The apostles suffered.
14:27
Now, here's the thing. Don't automatically think
14:30
every time you're suffering that's because you're
14:33
such a wonderful, committed, amazing follower
14:36
of Jesus. Pretend we're on a highway together
14:39
on this message, and I just park the car, and
14:41
I say, there's a cul -de -sac. We're going to
14:43
go over here just for a second, okay? Are you
14:45
ready for a quick cul -de -sac? Here's the cul
14:47
-de -sac. When you read scripture, there's at
14:51
least six. There may be more, but I know six
14:53
specific reasons why we suffer. I'm not gonna
14:57
go through all these in detail, but here's what
14:59
I want you to do. Maybe put a little box and
15:01
then write this question. When you're going through
15:03
a difficult time, ask God, why am I suffering?
15:09
Why is this marriage like this? Why is this health
15:11
like this? Why is this situation at work like
15:14
this? Why am I having this problem with my son
15:16
or daughter like this? Why am I so depressed
15:18
right now? Okay? Just ask God. And what I'm going
15:22
to say is, biblically, there's at least six possible
15:24
reasons why you're suffering. And I've given
15:28
you the passages so that you can do your own
15:30
Bible study, but the first one is my sin. When
15:34
I am angry, when I say things I shouldn't, when
15:37
I do things that are wrong, when I'm rude to
15:39
people, when I'm mean to one of my kids, when
15:43
I lie or when I steal, and by the way, I've done
15:45
all those things, there's consequences, right?
15:49
Galatians 6, 7 and 8 says, sowing and reaping.
15:55
You sow things and you reap them. So sometimes
15:59
I'm suffering because I was either stupid Or
16:03
evil. And we all do stupid things and we all
16:06
do evil things. Second is other sin. 49 .1 in
16:10
Psalms. David says, a friend betrayed me. Drunk
16:15
driver goes left of center, hits a car, someone
16:17
you love. God didn't make him do it. He got drunk.
16:22
God didn't create robots. Sometimes we suffer
16:25
because of other people's sins. Third is spiritual
16:28
attack. You know, you get in God's word on a
16:31
regular basis, you decide to be more bold. I'll
16:33
just warn you, stuff will start happening. Job
16:36
was the most righteous man. He didn't know what
16:38
was going on. Ephesians 6 will describe what
16:41
spiritual attack looks like and how to defend
16:43
yourself. Fourth, it's a fallen world. People
16:47
came to Jesus and said, the tower in Siloam,
16:49
it fell and these people died. Hey, what's going
16:52
on? And Jesus said, do you think that those who
16:55
died are more? sinful or unrighteous than others?
16:58
I say no. In other words, concrete cracks, wood
17:03
rots. In a fallen world, there's just certain
17:07
things. It's a mystery. We can expect negative,
17:12
difficult weather. It's not designed the way
17:16
God wanted it. It's a fallen world. Fourth is
17:19
spiritual discipline. God loves you so much.
17:22
There are times. The velvet vice, Hebrews 12,
17:28
he disciplines every son, he disciplines every
17:30
daughter, and he'll get your attention in the
17:32
way that makes sense to you. Some of us, apparently,
17:35
it must be our health. I don't know anybody particular.
17:39
ACL, back, ankle rebuild, I could go on. Some,
17:44
it's a relationship. But sometimes we're asking
17:47
God, take it away, take it away, take it away.
17:49
He's saying, look, I'm trying to get your attention
17:51
because I love you like we get our kids' attention
17:54
so that you can look upward and we can address
17:57
this issue, this arrogant issue, this pride issue,
18:01
this lust issue. We all have those things, don't
18:04
we? And you have a father who wants to help you.
18:07
And then finally, spiritual development. There's
18:10
times where Paul's living the life like never
18:12
before, making a huge difference in what happens.
18:15
He gets this physical ailment that keeps him
18:17
dependent so people could see the power isn't
18:20
Paul, but it's God. And he says, I've learned
18:22
to be content. I want to give you a summary about
18:25
suffering and then I want us to pray. Suffering
18:28
is God's gift to accomplish his ultimate good
18:31
in a fallen world. Is that crazy? Suffering is
18:36
God's gift. When I suffer, it draws me near.
18:41
When I suffer, I look up. When I suffer, I have
18:44
compassion for other people. When I suffer, life's
18:47
not all about me. When I suffer, I'm not so judgmental.
18:50
When I suffer, I'm following in the footsteps
18:52
of Jesus who suffered so you could live and I
18:55
could live. Johnny Erickson Tada, quoting her
18:59
coach, said, God permits what he hates to accomplish
19:02
what he loves. What a truth. Lord, you know the
19:07
suffering in this room and you know the reasons.
19:11
Lord, you know the world situation and the desperate,
19:16
desperate need for regular, ordinary people like
19:19
us to stand firm and to contend and to not shrink
19:24
back. And yet we tell you that, God, we can't
19:28
do that and we're afraid and we struggle. But
19:32
Lord, you have told us that Christ in us is the
19:34
hope of glory and that we can do all things through
19:36
Jesus who gives us strength. I have a little
19:41
moment with your heavenly father and ask him,
19:43
Lord, help me see myself right now the way you
19:49
do. Help me grasp how much you love me. Help
19:54
me to be a person who stands firm, doesn't give
19:58
up, doesn't give in. Doesn't shrink back. Help
20:02
me lean into my suffering and discover some of
20:05
the whys. Change me and then use me to change
20:08
others. You're listening to Living on the Edge
20:14
with Chip Ingram and the end of a message titled
20:17
Understanding the Power of Expectations. Chip
20:20
will wrap up today's lesson in a moment, so stay
20:22
tuned. And remember, you can always revisit or
20:25
share these teachings with someone you know by
20:28
visiting us online at livingontheedge .org. And
20:33
no matter what your schedule looks like, you
20:35
can catch this whole series anytime by subscribing
20:38
to the Living on the Edge podcast. For Chip's
20:41
complete sermons, unedited start to finish, look
20:44
for the Chip Ingram Sermon Podcast, available
20:47
wherever you listen. And if you haven't already,
20:50
be sure to request Chip's book, Yes, You Really
20:53
Can Change, available on our website. It's a
20:56
straightforward, biblically grounded look at
20:58
what genuine transformation actually takes and
21:01
where the power for it really comes from and
21:04
what it looks like once it's actually working
21:06
in your day -to -day life. And when you order
21:09
today, we'll include a second copy so you can
21:11
work through it alongside someone in your life
21:13
who's ready for a breakthrough. Just look for
21:16
Chip's book, Yes, You Really Can Change, online
21:19
at livingontheedge .org slash offers. For 30
21:25
years, Living on the Edge has pursued a clear
21:27
goal, to help Christians live like Christians.
21:30
And these Bible teachings and faith -building
21:32
resources continue reaching new listeners today
21:35
because of the faithful donors who stand beside
21:38
us. If you've been blessed by this ministry,
21:41
would you help make sure it keeps reaching people?
21:44
Give today at livingontheedge .org or call 888
21:47
-333 -6003. You can also mail your gift to Living
21:53
on the Edge, P .O. Box 3007, Suwannee, Georgia,
21:57
30024. Well, now here's Chip. We're ending on
22:02
a note that's a bit unusual. I talked about two
22:05
gifts. And of course, the first gift is the gift
22:07
that we can believe. But I don't think most of
22:10
us think of suffering as a gift. And here's what
22:13
I'd like you to do. I want you to lean back right
22:15
now, and I want to give you the six reasons that
22:19
suffering happens in a believer's life. And the
22:22
first is that we sin. I do things that are wrong,
22:25
and I suffer. And the response is to confess
22:27
and tell God I'm sorry. He forgives me. The second
22:30
is other people sin against me. And in a fallen
22:33
world, that's going to happen. That's not God's
22:35
will. That's not what he wants, but it happens.
22:38
But God will use it for good. Third is spiritual
22:40
attack. You know, there's times where I'm suffering
22:43
because I'm in the midst of a real spiritual
22:45
battle. And so I need discernment to know what's
22:48
going on and why am I suffering? Because I want
22:51
to respond with the armor of God. Fourth is in
22:55
a fallen world, there are just certain things
22:57
that happen. You know, we talked about Luke 17
22:59
and this tower that fell. You know, wood rots,
23:03
bridges rust. It's a fallen world. It doesn't
23:06
mean anyone did anything bad or wrong. Fifth
23:10
is spiritual discipline. There are times that
23:12
you are so loved by God that he kind of brings
23:16
that velvet vice of circumstance to get your
23:18
attention, to realign your life and your heart
23:21
so he can give you the best. And then finally,
23:24
it's just spiritual development. There are certain
23:26
aspects of becoming like Jesus that you just
23:30
can't ever experience or develop apart from suffering.
23:35
And so let me encourage you. This might be one
23:38
where you want to go to the website, download
23:39
the notes. I've put all that information there
23:42
so that you could look at something visually.
23:44
And when you're suffering or when someone who
23:47
is hurting that you care about is suffering,
23:49
you can kind of walk through these reasons. and
23:52
begin to ask the Holy Spirit, Lord, I need to
23:55
respond to suffering in different ways, but I
23:57
need to discern why I'm suffering. God loves
24:01
you. He's for you. It is a gift to suffer for
24:05
doing what is right. Let's make sure that's why
24:07
we're suffering, but we need insight from the
24:10
Lord to know how to lean into the kind of suffering
24:13
He allows in our life. Father, I pray, and I
24:17
ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus. that those
24:21
listening to my voice at this very moment that
24:24
are going through difficult times, that you,
24:26
by your Spirit, will give them discernment about
24:30
the cause of their suffering and their response
24:33
in order that they might meet you, become more
24:36
and more like your Son, and experience your joy
24:39
even in the midst of pain. In Jesus' name, amen.
24:43
I'm Dave Drewy, so glad to have you with us.
24:46
Be sure to listen again next time for more Bible
24:48
teaching from Chip Ingram here on Living on the
24:51
Edge. Today's program is produced and sponsored
24:57
by Living on the Edge.