WEBVTT 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:04.660 Did you know that God has two amazing gifts for 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:07.620 you? I mean, gifts that we rarely think about 00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:11.099 or even consider as gifts. But when you think 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:14.919 and hear and ponder and digest these two gifts, 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:18.480 it absolutely changes your perspective and gives 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.559 you the power to live with joy, even in the midst 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:27.039 of great adversity. Stay with me. Thank you for 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.620 being with us for this edition of Living on the 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:32.560 Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip serves as our Bible 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:35.020 teacher for this global teaching and discipleship 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:37.799 ministry, helping Christians develop an authentic 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.780 faith. Today, we're wrapping up our series, I 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:44.100 Choose Joy. For the past several programs, we've 00:00:44.100 --> 00:00:47.100 explored God's desire for us to experience authentic 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:50.140 joy, even through the most demanding and frustrating 00:00:50.140 --> 00:00:53.119 times of life. We hope you've been encouraged 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:55.960 by this study in Philippians chapter 1. And to 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:58.320 help others discover that same refreshment and 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:01.039 strength, take a minute after this message and 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.780 share it through the Chip Ingram app. Okay, here's 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:06.079 Chip with the remainder of his talk, Understanding 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:09.519 the Power of Expectations. He picks up on the 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:12.620 last phrase of Philippians chapter 1, verse 27. 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:18.000 Let's dive in. Contending for the faith, it's 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.829 about our beliefs. It's about standing up for 00:01:20.829 --> 00:01:23.609 what we believe. It's battling, but winsomely, 00:01:23.689 --> 00:01:27.769 lovingly, you know, not angry, but it's saying 00:01:27.769 --> 00:01:29.909 that there's certain things that are true. I 00:01:29.909 --> 00:01:34.030 was praying this morning and I was thinking about 00:01:34.030 --> 00:01:39.489 this and I thought of, I get to do in one of 00:01:39.489 --> 00:01:43.469 the most progressive areas in all the United 00:01:43.469 --> 00:01:47.629 States with a group of people. that are willing 00:01:47.629 --> 00:01:50.349 to take a stand and do it lovingly, and then 00:01:50.349 --> 00:01:53.629 not only pair the truth, but pair the truth with 00:01:53.629 --> 00:01:56.709 acts of love and compassion and kindness. Let 00:01:56.709 --> 00:01:58.689 me just tell you something. We did something 00:01:58.689 --> 00:02:00.810 on Culture Shock that I actually taught here, 00:02:00.950 --> 00:02:06.849 and we talked about life, abortion, human sexuality, 00:02:07.269 --> 00:02:13.509 politics. What does the Bible actually say, and 00:02:13.509 --> 00:02:16.509 how do we stop bringing heat but bring light. 00:02:16.569 --> 00:02:19.250 And then you all gave me the opportunity to go 00:02:19.250 --> 00:02:22.069 around the country and take multiple pastors 00:02:22.069 --> 00:02:24.629 and churches to say, we're going to contend for 00:02:24.629 --> 00:02:27.610 the faith. Those are very unpopular things, but 00:02:27.610 --> 00:02:32.810 shared lovingly, life matters. God's not confused 00:02:32.810 --> 00:02:35.550 about men. He's not confused about women. He's 00:02:35.550 --> 00:02:38.629 not confused about marriage. And when we violate 00:02:38.629 --> 00:02:41.110 and when the culture pushes us where we shrink 00:02:41.110 --> 00:02:44.370 back, The consequences and the pain. I can't 00:02:44.370 --> 00:02:46.689 tell you how many people I've counseled out of 00:02:46.689 --> 00:02:48.689 the lifestyle, in the lifestyle that are suicidal 00:02:48.689 --> 00:02:51.090 and hurting and difficult. And there's all this 00:02:51.090 --> 00:02:53.689 stuff out there that says our rights and stuff 00:02:53.689 --> 00:02:55.969 like that. And I meet the people in the pain 00:02:55.969 --> 00:03:00.050 and the struggle. I had a guy just recently, 00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:02.990 just a month or so ago, and he waited until quite 00:03:02.990 --> 00:03:04.689 a while, a Saturday night service, and said, 00:03:04.710 --> 00:03:06.759 am I welcome here? I said, what do you mean? 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:08.020 Of course you're welcome here. He goes, well, 00:03:08.060 --> 00:03:11.460 I'm gay. I said, now, is that a behavior or an 00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:14.020 identity? And he looked at me like, what do you 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:20.379 mean? I said, we have people that have temptations 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:25.259 for affairs, pornography, lying, stealing. This 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.259 is a church filled with people that have all 00:03:27.259 --> 00:03:32.360 kind of issues. Gay is not your identity. There's 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:35.550 absolutely zero. proof, scientific evidence that 00:03:35.550 --> 00:03:38.590 you're born this way. You have some sexual confusion 00:03:38.590 --> 00:03:40.830 and you're attracted to the same sex. We have 00:03:40.830 --> 00:03:42.610 people in our church that are highly attracted 00:03:42.610 --> 00:03:44.650 to the opposite sex and have lots of problems. 00:03:44.849 --> 00:03:47.469 So you are as welcome as all the other liars, 00:03:47.469 --> 00:03:50.169 affairs, fornicators, and cheaters that go to 00:03:50.169 --> 00:03:52.990 our church. But we're on a journey together. 00:03:54.139 --> 00:03:57.460 God will speak to you. He'll change your thinking 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:00.180 and your life from the inside out, and you'll 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:02.120 make progress, and you'll probably mess up some 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:06.500 just like everyone else here. But to say that 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:08.860 in many places around the country, you get fired 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:14.139 or picketed. Everyone... Everyone believes certain 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:16.959 things and are staking your life on it. And the 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.100 more politically correct things are happening 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:21.379 and the pressure comes, here's the last thing. 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:24.300 Not only is our behavior, not only is our beliefs, 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:27.420 but we've got to be bold. What's the last word? 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:32.920 Don't give up. Second, don't give in. Churches 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:35.420 all across America, Bible churches all across 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:38.980 America, whole denominations are giving in and 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:41.970 changing their doctrine. Well, you know, it's 00:04:41.970 --> 00:04:43.949 pretty unpopular to believe what Jesus actually 00:04:43.949 --> 00:04:47.069 said, so we're just going to change it on the 00:04:47.069 --> 00:04:50.189 most controversial issues of our day. But we're 00:04:50.189 --> 00:04:51.649 not going to give up, we're not going to give 00:04:51.649 --> 00:04:54.750 in, and we're not going to shrink back. This 00:04:54.750 --> 00:04:58.290 is about being bold. Here's a question I would 00:04:58.290 --> 00:05:02.269 ask all of you. Does everyone in a positive, 00:05:02.370 --> 00:05:05.110 winsome way know that you're a follower of Christ? 00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:09.750 Do they know it? Are you bold? I don't mean wearing 00:05:09.750 --> 00:05:11.829 it on your sleeve, you know, please don't put 00:05:11.829 --> 00:05:13.269 a praise the Lord sticker on the back of your 00:05:13.269 --> 00:05:18.129 car. It's not enough to say this is the truth. 00:05:18.209 --> 00:05:22.370 It's got to be the truth captured in love and 00:05:22.370 --> 00:05:25.810 demonstrated. Here's my question. How are you 00:05:25.810 --> 00:05:30.410 doing? This is normal Christianity. God expects 00:05:30.410 --> 00:05:33.689 us to not give up, not give in, not shrink back. 00:05:34.149 --> 00:05:39.660 You got it? At this point, You should be saying, 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:44.360 maybe. No, that's what your body language tells 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:48.860 me. Intellectually, I would say 98 % of all the 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:53.220 people in this room say, you know, I don't have 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:56.279 a whole lot. You know, Chip's a little hyper, 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:59.740 but that's Chip. I don't have a whole lot that 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:02.980 I would disagree with what he just said. But 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:05.000 when he started playing it out of what it would 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.920 look like in my life, I'm not so sure that I 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:13.639 have a consistent conduct. I'm not so sure that 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.939 I'm not more worried about being a citizen of 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:20.199 the United States that is more comfortable and 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:23.680 more happy and doesn't create waves than I am 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:27.939 a kingdom citizen of God. That when I get and 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:30.199 realize that this little thing that we call time 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:34.339 is running out and I was made for this big thing 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:38.899 called eternity. And when you live that kind 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:42.180 of life, yeah, you'll probably have a little 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:45.600 more pressure, a little bit more suffering, and 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:49.860 a lot more joy, and a lot more love, and a lot 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:54.079 more impact. And God will use you as a catalyst 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:57.579 to transform your neighborhood, your coffee shop, 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:01.980 your workplace, your sport team that you coach, 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:07.459 and boldly. Yes, I'm a follower of Christ. We 00:07:07.459 --> 00:07:10.620 love people. Yes, we believe certain things that 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:14.000 are unpopular in this day. Would you be willing 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.459 to say, Lord, would you speak to me about, is 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:23.180 my belief and my behavior telling the same story? 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:26.899 And not sort of like I'm a terrible person at 00:07:26.899 --> 00:07:28.980 all, but just where the Lord would show you, 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:33.009 and it might be your behavior. It might be your 00:07:33.009 --> 00:07:34.689 belief or your thinking, I need to check that 00:07:34.689 --> 00:07:40.329 out. Or maybe it's your boldness. And ask God 00:07:40.329 --> 00:07:45.050 to make you an agent of life and change. Because 00:07:45.050 --> 00:07:47.949 the world, right, is anyone concerned about what's 00:07:47.949 --> 00:07:51.230 going on other than me? I mean, there's a missile 00:07:51.230 --> 00:07:53.870 could be coming our way. There's division in 00:07:53.870 --> 00:07:56.350 this country. There's hatred like never before. 00:07:57.509 --> 00:07:59.970 And here's the deal. You are either a part of 00:07:59.970 --> 00:08:02.709 the solution or a part of the problem. There 00:08:02.709 --> 00:08:06.269 is no middle ground. Hiding in our cul -de -sacs, 00:08:06.410 --> 00:08:09.490 hoping that it won't affect us and we just want 00:08:09.490 --> 00:08:12.230 to unconsciously be upwardly mobile and everything 00:08:12.230 --> 00:08:14.269 work out for us and our family and our little 00:08:14.269 --> 00:08:18.529 world is not an option. It's just an illusion. 00:08:20.430 --> 00:08:27.199 Second, what can we expect from God? He says, 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:31.259 for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:34.320 not only to believe on him, but also to suffer 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:36.399 for him, since you're going through the same 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:39.820 struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:42.779 have. Interestingly, again, you can circle the 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:44.620 word granted to you. It's pretty easy. It's in 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:47.980 bold. It's literally, it means God has given 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:50.899 you a privilege. You know the word grace, or 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:52.539 some of you have named your daughters, you know, 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.389 Kairos. That's the word grace. That's the root 00:08:55.389 --> 00:08:59.009 word. God has given you a precious grace gift, 00:08:59.210 --> 00:09:03.029 and there's a privilege into it, and there's 00:09:03.029 --> 00:09:05.289 a responsibility to it. And Paul's playing with 00:09:05.289 --> 00:09:07.629 these Philippians and reminding them, hey, citizen 00:09:07.629 --> 00:09:09.850 right of Philippi, privilege, responsibility. 00:09:10.370 --> 00:09:14.580 Now, here's the grace gift God's given you. privilege 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:17.779 to believe. You can receive eternal life. He's 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:20.000 changed your life. He's taken you out of the 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.740 kingdom of darkness, placed you in the kingdom 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:24.159 of light, sealed you with the Spirit, given you 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.639 spiritual gifts, given you a purpose, given you 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.519 a family of God, created a place forever and 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:32.320 ever looking forward, and He's going to transform 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.840 your life and make you more and more like Jesus 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:37.360 so the world can see how much God loves them. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:43.309 It's an amazing grace gift to believe. So why 00:09:43.309 --> 00:09:46.090 don't you put a little box around believe? But 00:09:46.090 --> 00:09:49.549 he says, there's another gift. You've been given 00:09:49.549 --> 00:09:53.730 the gift to get to suffer. How many of you honestly, 00:09:53.990 --> 00:09:57.149 don't raise your hands, because it wouldn't mean 00:09:57.149 --> 00:09:59.350 to go. How many of you ever thought suffering 00:09:59.350 --> 00:10:04.029 is a gift from God? That's foreign to American 00:10:04.029 --> 00:10:09.149 Christians. Suffering is a gift from God? Yes. 00:10:10.590 --> 00:10:14.320 He said, He's given you a gift of suffering, 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:16.740 and you're going through this same struggle, 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:19.740 this conflict, this persecution. Some of it is 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.840 from within, and some of it is from without. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:27.179 Paul is going to leave Timothy at Ephesus, young 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:32.379 pastor. 2 Timothy 3 .12. Timothy, all those who 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:35.080 desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:38.179 be persecuted. It's a promise. What's Paul doing? 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:43.220 Setting expectations. You know, here's a young 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:46.139 guy. I follow Jesus. I'm now a young pastor. 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:48.159 What I'm going to do? I've sacrificed everything. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:52.759 It's going to be great, right? Well, you really 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:55.799 live for God, you'll be persecuted. Or how about 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.059 Jesus? How did he set expectations? The very 00:10:58.059 --> 00:11:01.419 last night, what did he say? Just think positive, 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:04.120 guys. Just think positive. It's all going to 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.980 be super duper. I'm going to heaven. I'll be 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:08.059 back. We're going to mojo a little bit later 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:14.000 together. What did he say? In the world, you'll 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.200 have tribulation. You'll have troubles. But be 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:21.440 of good cheer. I've overcome the world. In fact, 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:25.120 I just read this morning, and I thought in light 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:30.019 of the current events, it was the very last time 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:32.419 Jesus was hanging out with his disciples, and 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:35.700 he basically gave his sermon to the Pharisees. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.840 Pretty unpopular, whitewashed tombs, snakes, 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:42.799 vipers. I think I underlined the word hypocrite 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.480 seven or eight times. I mean, I'm a follower 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:49.799 of Jesus, and he just alienated the entire establishment 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:54.519 and all the power. Jesus was perhaps the most 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.500 politically incorrect person who's ever walked 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:59.799 the face of the earth. And in the midst of that, 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:03.480 you're following him thinking, Whoa, and he's 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.620 been talking about leaving, dying, raising from 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:07.019 the dead, and they don't figure out what he's 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:09.299 saying. And then he makes this crazy statement 00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:13.320 like, you see that temple? Destroy it. I'll rebuild 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:18.100 it. I'm coming back. And the disciples took him 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:20.580 aside privately and said, when will all this 00:12:20.580 --> 00:12:22.399 take place? And will there be a sign ahead of 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.860 time to signal your return in the end of the 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:28.259 world? Now, just listen to this. Don't let anyone 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:30.720 mislead you. For many will come in my name saying 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:34.039 I'm the Messiah. They'll lead many astray. Wars 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:36.259 will break out near and far, but don't panic. 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:39.480 Yes, things must come, but the end won't follow 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:41.440 immediately. Nations and kingdoms will proclaim 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:43.539 war against each other. There'll be famines, 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.139 earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.960 this will only be the beginning or the birth 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:50.700 pangs of the horrors to come. Then you'll be 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:53.820 arrested and persecuted and killed. How's this 00:12:53.820 --> 00:12:56.919 for preparing the team for the next game? You're 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.860 going to be arrested, persecuted, and killed. 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:01.700 You know what's interesting? They were. But they 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:03.279 didn't give up, they didn't give in, and they 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:06.460 didn't shrink back. Why? Because they knew it 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:10.360 was true. They experienced God's power. They 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:14.139 leaned into the suffering. He said, many, though, 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:16.659 will turn away from me and betray me and hate 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:18.539 each other. Many false prophets will appear, 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.659 and they'll lead many people astray. Sin will 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:22.639 be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:25.950 grow cold. Sound familiar? But those who endure 00:13:25.950 --> 00:13:29.029 to the end will be saved, and the good news about 00:13:29.029 --> 00:13:30.629 the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole 00:13:30.629 --> 00:13:33.690 world so that all the nations will hear it. And 00:13:33.690 --> 00:13:39.990 then finally, the end will come. Now, I'm in 00:13:39.990 --> 00:13:43.750 no way a, I think Jesus is coming back tomorrow. 00:13:45.789 --> 00:13:50.789 Ah, the end's coming. The sky's falling. But 00:13:50.789 --> 00:13:53.529 what would have to be happening in the world? 00:13:54.090 --> 00:13:58.309 to tell us that it's close. Maybe more hurricanes? 00:13:59.570 --> 00:14:04.490 Bigger earthquakes? More wars? See, I think it's 00:14:04.490 --> 00:14:07.289 really interesting that we unconsciously think 00:14:07.289 --> 00:14:09.429 that some things that have happened in the past, 00:14:09.590 --> 00:14:11.450 they're going to happen probably someday, some 00:14:11.450 --> 00:14:13.830 way, but probably not in my lifetime. Really, 00:14:13.929 --> 00:14:16.570 Jesus goes on to say, it will be the same as 00:14:16.570 --> 00:14:19.250 in the day of Noah, where people were doing business, 00:14:19.490 --> 00:14:23.960 having parties, marrying, going about their life. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:32.200 All I want to say is it seems like the birth 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:35.539 pangs are more intense now and we should have 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:38.519 an urgency at a level that we haven't had. And 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:40.539 we shouldn't be afraid about our job. We shouldn't 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:42.120 be afraid about our money. We shouldn't be afraid 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:44.240 about our reputation. We shouldn't be afraid. 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:47.240 We should be bold. Because here's the deal. At 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:49.159 some point in time, there's going to be things 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:51.879 that are true and things that are untrue. And 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.679 the one thing Jesus said is there is no gray. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:57.080 Anyone who's ashamed of me, I will be ashamed 00:14:57.080 --> 00:15:00.159 of them when I come with the angels, with my 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:02.879 father. Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:08.340 Now the question is, are we willing to take that 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:12.139 stand? You're listening to Living on the Edge 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:14.639 with Chip Ingram. And he'll be right back to 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.080 finish today's message. But quickly, if you're 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:19.519 eager to do a deeper study of Philippians chapter 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.720 one, check out Chip's newest book, I Choose Joy. 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:25.620 Stick around after the teaching for all the details 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:28.500 about how this resource can profoundly impact 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:31.159 your life. But for now, here's Chip with the 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:34.139 remainder of his talk. Before we wrap it up, 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:39.259 I have talked about suffering and Peter in 1 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:41.899 Peter 2, 20 and 21. You might jot that down. 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:43.740 That's one you might. actually want to memorize. 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:47.539 Because when Peter writes, Nero is, I mean, burning 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:50.100 Christians and throwing them into the lions. 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:53.940 And Peter's writing to the church. And he says, 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:56.700 if you suffer for doing what's wrong, for being 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.820 a crook, for doing evil things, what credit is 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:02.539 that? But then he says, but if you suffer for 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.720 doing what is right, being righteous, walking 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.759 with God, making a difference, this finds favor 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:11.370 with God. Are you ready for this? For you have 00:16:11.370 --> 00:16:16.049 been called to this purpose, to suffer. For Christ 00:16:16.049 --> 00:16:22.649 left you an example to follow. See, if we're 00:16:22.649 --> 00:16:25.509 trying to avoid suffering all the time, you will 00:16:25.509 --> 00:16:27.429 never become the man or a woman God designed 00:16:27.429 --> 00:16:29.490 you to be. You will never have the relationships, 00:16:29.490 --> 00:16:32.710 and you'll never have the impact. Jesus suffered. 00:16:32.850 --> 00:16:34.830 The apostles suffered. Now, here's the thing. 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:38.179 Don't automatically think every time you're suffering 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:40.779 that's because you're such a wonderful, committed, 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.799 amazing follower of Jesus. Pretend we're on a 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.159 highway together on this message, and I just 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.940 park the car, and I say, there's a cul -de -sac. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.279 We're going to go over here just for a second, 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:52.620 okay? Are you ready for a quick cul -de -sac? 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:57.220 Here's the cul -de -sac. When you read Scripture, 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.580 there's at least six. There may be more, but 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:02.929 I know six specific reasons why we suffer. I'm 00:17:02.929 --> 00:17:04.710 not going to go through all these in detail, 00:17:04.950 --> 00:17:06.869 but here's what I want you to do. Maybe put a 00:17:06.869 --> 00:17:09.349 little box and then write this question. When 00:17:09.349 --> 00:17:12.890 you're going through a difficult time, ask God, 00:17:12.990 --> 00:17:16.750 why am I suffering? Why is this marriage like 00:17:16.750 --> 00:17:19.369 this? Why is this health like this? Why is this 00:17:19.369 --> 00:17:21.589 situation at work like this? Why am I having 00:17:21.589 --> 00:17:23.509 this problem with my son or daughter like this? 00:17:23.589 --> 00:17:27.170 Why am I so depressed right now? Okay? Just ask 00:17:27.170 --> 00:17:29.690 God. And what I'm going to say is, biblically, 00:17:29.769 --> 00:17:32.539 there's at least six possible reasons while you're 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:35.660 suffering. And I've given you the passages so 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:37.359 that you can do your own Bible study, but the 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:42.539 first one is my sin. When I am angry, when I 00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:44.680 say things I shouldn't, when I do things that 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.940 are wrong, when I'm rude to people, when I'm 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:50.599 mean to one of my kids, when I lie or when I 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.319 steal, and by the way, I've done all those things, 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:57.420 there's consequences, right? Galatians 6, 7 and 00:17:57.420 --> 00:18:04.140 8 says, sowing and reaping. You sow things and 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:07.200 you reap them. So sometimes I'm suffering because 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:11.839 I was either stupid or evil. And we all do stupid 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.480 things and we all do evil things. Second is other 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:19.500 sin. 49 .1 in Psalms, David says, a friend betrayed 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:23.380 me. Drunk driver goes left of center, hits a 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:26.339 car, someone you love. God didn't make him do 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:30.819 it. He got drunk. God didn't create robots. Sometimes 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:33.079 we suffer because of other people's sins. Third 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:36.880 is spiritual attack. You know, you get in God's 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.900 word on a regular basis. You decide to be more 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.640 bold. I'll just warn you, stuff will start happening. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:44.460 Job was the most righteous man. He didn't know 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.779 what was going on. Ephesians 6 will describe 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:49.779 what spiritual attack looks like and how to defend 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:53.779 yourself. Fourth, it's a fallen world. People 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:56.220 came to Jesus and said, the tower in Siloam, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:59.059 it fell and these people died. Hey, what's going 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:01.740 on? And Jesus said, do you think that those who 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:04.740 died are more sinful or unrighteous than others? 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:09.599 I say no. In other words, concrete cracks, wood 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:14.079 rots. In a fallen world, there's just certain 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.480 things. It's a mystery. We can expect negative, 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.470 difficult weather. It's not designed the way 00:19:22.470 --> 00:19:25.390 God wanted it. It's a fallen world. Fourth is 00:19:25.390 --> 00:19:28.950 spiritual discipline. God loves you so much, 00:19:29.049 --> 00:19:34.630 there are times, the velvet vice, Hebrews 12, 00:19:34.730 --> 00:19:36.890 he disciplines every son, he disciplines every 00:19:36.890 --> 00:19:38.990 daughter, and he'll get your attention in the 00:19:38.990 --> 00:19:41.670 way that makes sense to you. Some of us, apparently, 00:19:41.809 --> 00:19:44.589 it must be our health. I don't know anybody particular. 00:19:45.970 --> 00:19:51.200 ACL, back, ankle rebuilt, I could go on. Some, 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:54.240 it's a relationship. But sometimes we're asking 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.779 God, take it away, take it away, take it away. 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:58.099 He's saying, look, I'm trying to get your attention 00:19:58.099 --> 00:20:01.099 because I love you, like we get our kids' attention, 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:03.480 so that you can look upward and we can address 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:07.299 this issue, this arrogant issue, this pride issue, 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:11.160 this lust issue. We all have those things, don't 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:13.539 we? And you have a father who wants to help you. 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:16.410 And then finally, spiritual development. There's 00:20:16.410 --> 00:20:19.250 times where Paul's living the life like never 00:20:19.250 --> 00:20:21.150 before, making a huge difference in what happens. 00:20:21.509 --> 00:20:23.789 He gets this physical ailment that keeps him 00:20:23.789 --> 00:20:26.430 dependent so people could see the power isn't 00:20:26.430 --> 00:20:29.089 Paul, but it's God. And he says, I've learned 00:20:29.089 --> 00:20:31.950 to be content. I want to give you a summary about 00:20:31.950 --> 00:20:35.390 suffering, and then I want us to pray. Suffering 00:20:35.390 --> 00:20:37.890 is God's gift to accomplish his ultimate good 00:20:37.890 --> 00:20:43.150 in a fallen world. Is that crazy? Suffering is 00:20:43.150 --> 00:20:48.089 God's gift. When I suffer, it draws me nearer. 00:20:48.089 --> 00:20:50.589 When I suffer, I look up. When I suffer, I have 00:20:50.589 --> 00:20:54.109 compassion for other people. When I suffer, life's 00:20:54.109 --> 00:20:56.890 not all about me. When I suffer, I'm not so judgmental. 00:20:57.210 --> 00:20:59.450 When I suffer, I'm following in the footsteps 00:20:59.450 --> 00:21:02.150 of Jesus, who suffered so you could live and 00:21:02.150 --> 00:21:05.509 I could live. Johnny Erickson Tada, quoting her 00:21:05.509 --> 00:21:08.769 coach, said, God permits what he hates to accomplish 00:21:08.769 --> 00:21:14.200 what he loves. What a truth. Lord, you know the 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:16.140 suffering in this room and you know the reasons. 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:22.700 Lord, you know the world situation and the desperate, 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:26.059 desperate need for regular, ordinary people like 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:30.940 us to stand firm and to contend and to not shrink 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:34.660 back. And yet we tell you that, God, we can't 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:38.650 do that and we're afraid and we struggle. But 00:21:38.650 --> 00:21:41.049 Lord, you have told us that Christ in us is the 00:21:41.049 --> 00:21:43.329 hope of glory and that we can do all things through 00:21:43.329 --> 00:21:48.130 Jesus who gives us strength. I have a little 00:21:48.130 --> 00:21:50.230 moment with your heavenly father and ask him, 00:21:50.349 --> 00:21:56.029 Lord, help me see myself right now the way you 00:21:56.029 --> 00:22:00.750 do. Help me grasp how much you love me. Help 00:22:00.750 --> 00:22:04.890 me to be a person who stands firm, doesn't give 00:22:04.890 --> 00:22:09.440 up, doesn't give in. doesn't shrink back. Help 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:11.799 me lean into my suffering and discover some of 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:15.579 the whys. Change me and then use me to change 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:21.579 others. You're listening to Living on the Edge 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:24.440 with Chip Ingram. And the message you just heard, 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:27.480 understanding the power of expectations, is from 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:30.799 our series, I Choose Joy. Chip will join us in 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.259 studio to share some insights from today's talk 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:36.299 in just a minute. How do people know you're a 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:39.059 Christian? What sets you apart and causes others 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:41.900 to say, I want to be like them? Through Chip's 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:44.900 study in Philippians chapter 1, he revealed the 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:47.819 supernatural work of joy in a Christian's life 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:50.640 and why it's so intriguing to those around us. 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:53.920 We pray you learned how joy can affirm your purpose, 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:57.380 energize your expectations, and renew your hope. 00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:00.599 Let me encourage you to go back and revisit any 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:03.980 part of this series at livingontheedge .org or 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:06.619 through the Chip Ingram app. Well, I'm joined 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:09.039 in studio now by Chip. And Chip, you know, we've 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.119 talked a lot recently about your newest book, 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:14.740 I Choose Joy. And what many may not know is that 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:17.079 this work came out of a challenging season of 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:19.599 life. In fact, you're still wrestling with some 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:22.279 of those circumstances right now. Would you be 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:24.059 willing to open up about that with our listeners? 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:28.299 Absolutely, Dave. I had really painful back issues 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:31.119 for about three years that led to a major surgery. 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:34.480 They put hardware in my back. Three years later, 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:37.519 it broke above it and below it. It was another 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:40.420 surgery. And I was sitting down with my wife, 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.140 and it was a long journey. And I kept working 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:45.640 and doing what God called me to do, and I tried 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:48.480 to be upbeat. And she turned to me and she said, 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.619 Chip, do you realize how negative you've become 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:53.630 over the last few years? At first, I was defensive. 00:23:53.750 --> 00:23:56.450 No, no, no, no, no, I'm not. And she said, you've 00:23:56.450 --> 00:23:59.190 been an upbeat person most of all of our marriage 00:23:59.190 --> 00:24:02.369 of 40 plus years. And literally, you've just 00:24:02.369 --> 00:24:06.150 become negative. I heard that and I didn't like 00:24:06.150 --> 00:24:08.710 it, but I thought about it. And Dave, I have 00:24:08.710 --> 00:24:11.950 to tell you, she was 100 % right. I was so convicted. 00:24:12.130 --> 00:24:15.210 And then I was scheduled to teach Philippians 00:24:15.210 --> 00:24:17.390 1 at the Billy Graham Center like two months 00:24:17.390 --> 00:24:20.210 later. So I had to study that up and get ready. 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:23.880 And it was out of that study and in my struggle 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:27.339 was birthed, I choose joy. If you're hurting, 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:30.119 if you feel like you've become a bit more negative 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:33.579 or anxious or hope is sort of drifting away, 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:36.819 let me encourage you. God's word is powerful. 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:39.500 His spirit will work. You don't have to wait. 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:43.759 I learned you can choose joy regardless of your 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:46.559 circumstance. God bless you and keep pressing 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.740 ahead. Good word, Chip. To get your copy of the 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:53.220 new I Choose Joy book, visit livingontheedge 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:59.359 .org or call us at 888 -333 -6003. I'm excited 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:01.599 for all of you to experience the life -changing 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:05.019 power of this work. Again, go to livingontheedge 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:11.200 .org or call 888 -333 -6003 for complete details 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:14.619 about the new book, I Choose Joy. App listeners 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:17.299 tap special offers. Well, here again is Chip 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:19.500 to close out our study of Philippians chapter 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:23.759 one. As we close today's program and wrap up 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:27.299 this entire series, we're ending on a note that's 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:30.299 a bit unusual. I talked about two gifts. And 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.039 of course, the first gift is the gift that we 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:34.799 can believe. But I don't think most of us think 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:38.240 of suffering as a gift. And I did a little Bible 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.059 study for you because I think it's important 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:42.720 because I think, one, we don't see suffering 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:45.940 as a gift. And yet also, there are different 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:48.660 causes for suffering. And the last thing I want 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:51.579 to do is you're suffering because someone did 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:53.920 a horrendously bad thing to you. And you think, 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:56.700 oh, are you saying that people doing bad things 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:59.640 is a gift from God? No, no, no, no, no. But I 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:02.119 love what Johnny Erickson Tada writes when she 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:05.259 says, God permits what he hates to accomplish 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:07.940 what he loves. And here's what I'd like you to 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:10.880 do. I want you to lean back right now. I want 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:14.299 to give you the six reasons that suffering happens 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:17.680 in a believer's life. And the first is that we 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.819 sin. I do things that are wrong and I suffer. 00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:23.000 And the response is to confess and tell God I'm 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:25.460 sorry. He forgives me. The second is other people 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:28.019 sin against me. And in a fallen world, that's 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:30.200 going to happen. That's not God's will. That's 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:32.720 not what he wants. But it happens. But God will 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:36.240 use it for good. Third is spiritual attack. You 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:38.019 know, there's times where I'm suffering because 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:40.279 I'm in the midst of a real spiritual battle. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:42.900 And so I need discernment to know what's going 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:45.980 on and why am I suffering? Because I want to 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:49.299 respond with the armor of God. Fourth is in a 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:51.819 fallen world, there are just certain things that 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:53.839 happen. You know, we talked about Luke 17 and 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:57.839 this tower that fell. You know, wood rots, bridges 00:26:57.839 --> 00:27:01.400 rust. It's a fallen world. It doesn't mean anyone 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:04.970 did anything bad or wrong. Fifth is spiritual 00:27:04.970 --> 00:27:07.950 discipline. There are times that you are so loved 00:27:07.950 --> 00:27:11.190 by God that he kind of brings that velvet vice 00:27:11.190 --> 00:27:14.130 of circumstance to get your attention, to realign 00:27:14.130 --> 00:27:16.549 your life and your heart so he can give you the 00:27:16.549 --> 00:27:19.630 best. And then finally, it's just spiritual development. 00:27:19.650 --> 00:27:23.470 There are certain aspects of becoming like Jesus 00:27:23.470 --> 00:27:27.410 that you just can't ever experience or develop 00:27:27.410 --> 00:27:30.829 apart from suffering. And so let me encourage 00:27:30.829 --> 00:27:32.789 you. This might be one where you want to go to 00:27:32.789 --> 00:27:34.869 the website, download the notes. I've put all 00:27:34.869 --> 00:27:37.250 that information there so that you could look 00:27:37.250 --> 00:27:39.930 at something visually. And when you're suffering 00:27:39.930 --> 00:27:42.230 or when someone who is hurting that you care 00:27:42.230 --> 00:27:44.789 about is suffering, you can kind of walk through 00:27:44.789 --> 00:27:47.880 these reasons. And begin to ask the Holy Spirit, 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:50.400 Lord, I need to respond to suffering in different 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:53.900 ways, but I need to discern why I'm suffering. 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:58.240 God loves you. He's for you. It is a gift to 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:01.119 suffer for doing what is right. Let's make sure 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:03.819 that's why we're suffering. But we need insight 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:06.819 from the Lord to know how to lean into the kind 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:09.900 of suffering he allows in our life. Father, I 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:13.880 pray and I ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:28:14.809 --> 00:28:17.450 that those listening to my voice at this very 00:28:17.450 --> 00:28:19.609 moment that are going through difficult times, 00:28:19.809 --> 00:28:23.329 that you, by your Spirit, will give them discernment 00:28:23.329 --> 00:28:26.509 about the cause of their suffering and their 00:28:26.509 --> 00:28:30.089 response in order that they might meet you, become 00:28:30.089 --> 00:28:33.170 more and more like your Son, and experience your 00:28:33.170 --> 00:28:36.450 joy even in the midst of pain. In Jesus' name, 00:28:36.609 --> 00:28:40.460 amen. Amen. Thanks for that encouragement, Chip. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:43.019 Hey, as we close, if you're looking for a practical 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:45.740 way to grow in your relationship with God, check 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:48.240 out the Chip Ingram app. You can listen to our 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:51.319 most recent series, sign up for daily discipleship 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:54.079 with Chip, and more. We want to help you deepen 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:56.460 your faith, and the Chip Ingram app will help 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:59.140 you do just that. Well, be sure to join us next 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:01.859 time as Chip begins our series, I Choose Love, 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:05.720 based in Philippians chapter 2. Until then, I'm 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.759 Dave Drewy, thanking you for listening to this 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.660 edition of Living on the Edge.