Aug. 06, 2023

Main Point: Jesus brings resilience in hardship.

Paul’s second mission trip lasted years and, in addition to sharing the Good News, it included church plantings. He took Silas and they went into Europe.

Point 1: Jesus is at work all the time.

Uncertainty is like barefoot water skiing!!

Paul went where the people were.

Philippi was most likely a Pagan city, so there was no synagogue. In keeping with Jewish tradition, Paul went to the river to seek people in prayer.

Lydia of Thyatira was the first convert in Philippi. She and other women were the seeds of the church plant there.

God had been at work in Philippi, even though it appeared He had forgotten them, since there was no synagogue.

We often forget the big truths and live as though God is so much smaller, so much less powerful than He is.

Never forget that God is at work everywhere.

Point 2: Jesus works through His people even in hardship.

Hardship is not a guarantee that God hates you. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (I Timothy 3:12)

Too often when we have hardship, we abandon God.

I have wandered away like a lost sheep,

Come and find me;

For I have not forgotten your commands. (Psalm 119:176)

Early believers considered it a privilege to suffer for their affection for Jesus.

Point 3: In hardship Jesus is resilient.

Hardship is an opportunity for union with Jesus..

Union with Jesus brings us His resilience, the same resilience that defeated death.

Paul and Silas sang praises instead of curses, despite their circumstances.

The jailer witnessed the series of miracles and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” He and his household believed and were baptized.

We adore Jesus on good days, and can call forth His resilience in great power when we strain to adore Him on our bad ones.

Psalm 22 Take five minutes each day to adore Jesus.