Lesson 4, May 9
Review:
#1. The source of JOY flows from the awareness of being
loved.
- As a believer you know that you
are loved in a very special way.
#2. Source of Joy is the acceptance
of one's situation as good.
- BELIEVERS are
able to do this because they know that whatever circumstances or experiences of
life they face, whether
pleasant or unpleasant can work for their advance, for their good.
Rom
#3.
JOY'S third source is the possession of something worth possessing.
Phil 3:4-6 his
credentials; 3:7-9
his viewpoint
- Paul says sure I
lost a great deal from the human viewpoint but I have gained far more.
#4. The fourth source of JOY is to
give something worth giving.
- As Bel's we have the unique privilege of sharing the pearl of
great price, the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others and know that we are giving
them the one thing that is supremely worth giving and desperately needed.
- We have a
commission as ambassadors to carry out
2 Cor 5:20
1:2 Continued - the
temporal aspect
when you encounter
various trials
encounter - peripi,ptw - to fall into,
among - Lk 10:30 he fell among robbers.
- it
draws the picture of one being surrounded by something - here by tests
various poiki,loj (adj.) - doesn't refer to #'s of
tests but to the diversity of the tests, many different types that will be
encountered in life
trials - n. peirasmo,j = trans. trials/tests when used of external;
- purpose is to discover whether good or evil; strength or
weakness in a person or thing.
Summary 1:2
1. The Believer
here is commanded to add up the facts, correlate them with the BDRS, regarding
his/her situation, the test in view.
2. Need to
recognize, know some facts about testing / trials (peirosmos).
a. Tests, trials,
suffering will come; they are a part of Ph-2, a part of life, CHP's.
b. They are not to
be viewed here as discipline, punishment, a curse, or a calamity.
c. We should not be
frustrated by tests/trials. [the chp's
of life]
3. Our response,
after adding up the facts, comparing them with our doctrinal F/O/R is to possess a MA of Joy, a
state of mind of Joy.
** This verse / context becomes more
pertinent to us as we experience the degenerative effects of aging &
growing old becomes a reality.
4. This joy is only
experienced through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life. Acts
- This is also seen
in Gal 5:22 as this MA of joy is one of the characteristics manifested in the
life of the Believer, from the fruit of the Spirit, using the illumined WORD in their
life.
5. Tests / suffering are
necessary for bel's spiritual growth, 1 Pet 1:6
Since it is necessary you have been distressed by various trials.
6. They are a means
God uses to point out our areas of weakness.
Just how weak? In
what areas?
- peirasmo,j gives
us the clue - used to discover strength or
weakness of something.
7. Tests &
suffering, the "all things" of Rom 8:28 are designed to bring us to
the goal, the objective God has for us in time.
Goal = experiential
sanctification, Christ likeness which is realized in the advancing and maturing
believer. Eph 1:4;
8. Rem: a test that
is not oriented to, flunked, reacted to by no application of BD converts that
test / situation into discipline.
9. Rem: Absolutely
no test is ever greater than one is able to handle.
1 Cor
10:13; a promise not often applied.
10. Key to right
response in any situation, the "all things" is to have God's vpt as
your F/O/R and to use it.