CollideHurts

Spiritual Myopathy

Maybe you've prayedDecision is madeAction takes place!

Changes are coming togetherThere's excitement!

And then…Broken and broke

And then…

Division and anger

And then…

Emptiness and confusion

I thought I was following GodSo why are things so hard?

As I view God's willThrough the lens Of my circumstances

I feel discouragedAnd defeated

Did I miss God's will?Am I doing wrong?

Do I need to make a change (yet again)?

Spiritual Myopathy

So these people are slavesAnd a guy comes and says,

"God sent me to set you free!"

They believeThings get tough

They get free

They've seen miracles

Plagues that didn't touch themWater that partedPresence of God

Over the last 7-9 months

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin…

…which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the

second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them…

“Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of

Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread

to the full…

…for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger”

Strange reactionGiven all they've seen

And experienced

Spiritual Myopathy

They're looking at theNeeds of the moment

And missing the GodWho has led/protected them

Through so much already

He became angry at GodAnd bitter

Over a job

…if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?- Jesus, Matt. 6:30

Spiritual Myopathy:

Spiritual Myopathy:

All I can see is my present trialsNot what God my has done

Or what he can still do

Myopathy:Hope is lostFrustration becomes anger

People get caught In the crossfire

Myopathy Ignores:"With God, all things are possible…"- Jesus

"Nothing will be impossible with God"- Jesus

An opportunityIs lost

…the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain

bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and

gather a day's portion every day…

Faith vs. Sight:

Never view God's direction through the lens of your circumstances

Moses said...“Your grumbling is not against us but

against the Lord”- Exodus 16

When we strike out at peopleOver circumstances in which God has clearly led

God takes it personally

Do all things without grumbling or disputing…

- Phil. 2:14

God let his people get hungry Before he provided…

Why?

God could interveneCause a miracle

And change all your circumstances

But he often doesn't, right?

One of the reasons we call itA miracle is because it's rare

Why doesn't he?

Supposition:If it's God's will, it will be easy

Doors are openIt should be a breeze!

Truth: I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me…

Truth: I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries- 1 Cor. 16:9

Never view God's direction through the lens of your circumstances

Circumstance-controlled=

- Erratic choices- Inconsistency and faithlessness

- Spiritual gymnastics

Circumstance-controlledLeads to:

Spiritual immaturityBroken relationshipsMissed opportunities

Circumstance-controlled:

Forgets all that God has doneLeaves no room for God to work

Ties God's will to my comfort

Never view God's direction through the lens of your circumstances

What opportunityDid they miss?

What opportunityCould I miss out on?

...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces

endurance, and endurance produces character, and

character produces hope…

…and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us- Romans 5:3-5

From the Apostle Paul!

"I will show him how many things he must suffer for my Name"- God

"Light and momentary afflictions…"

Rejoice in the opportunityTo trust God and grow

Rather than grumble Look for ways out and miss God

Spiritual MyopathyWill stunt Christian Maturity

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be

perfect and complete,lacking in nothing

- James 1:2-4

The trial, the heartacheThe hardships and tough times

Don't mean it's not God's willBut that God is at work

Jesus is going to redeem us!

So he suffers and is tortured(That should be your first clue…)

Missed Opportunity:

GrumbleSuffer as a Saint VerballyBecome bitterSeek shortcuts out

Captured Opportunity:

PrayPraise

Ask for helpDetermine to stay faithful

Don't miss what GodWants to do

Because you're busyCursing what GodHasn't changed

God will use the trialTo grow you and bless others

IF you remain focused on himAnd faithful to his call

The Israelites missed itIn the desert

You and I don't have to

What do I need to stop cursing God for and complaining about

And start seeing pastSo I can focus on my God

As a ChurchWe are committed to Following Jesus' leading

We're going to face trialsThey are proofGod is at work

Helping us becomeWho we will need to be

No Myopathy

God's direction is not seenThrough the lens Of our circumstances