Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "GameDay - Are You Playing To Win?" with part 2 - Disappointment.
GameDay PT2 - Disappointment
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 18, 2009
www.churchatmirrorlake.com
Sermon Notes:
Disappointment
Why are we disappointed? What's going on in us that makes it so tough?
What is the root cause of the pain, fear, anger?
What is fueling our reaction?
Dis-appointment—to undo the appointment or to frustrate expectations
* Are we putting too much into the wrong appointments? When they are undone they wreck us, set us back, throw us into confusion. Stake your life (righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit) on appointments that cannot be undone.
* When can we expect disappointment to disappear? 2 Thessalonians 1:7 “…when Jesus returns…”
Romans 5:4-5 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Jeremiah 29:13 Message “When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."
Disappointment:
* Unanswered questions—goal: erode trust and attack faith which leads to insulation which leads to isolation
* Hurt, pain, disillusionment—goal: withdrawal and depression, paralysis which lead to insulation which lead to isolation
* Cynicism, inability to trust—goal: self-sufficiency and insulation which leads to isolation
Antidote:
* Trust in appointments made by God—those that will be kept—“though the fig tree fail to blossom and no fruit be on the vine…” “…I will never leave you or forsake you…”. Example—You choose who you make yourself vulnerable to. You choose to be a victim or a victor. There is one, and one alone, who will always keep His appointments and always be by my side, even when I don’t see Him and understand what is going on.
* Unwavering trust in God and His Word—“not moved by what I feel or what I see”. “In Christ, His promises are yes and amen.” Example: When it looked like people we loved, our kids, were making choices that were taking them away from us and God, knowing that the Word of God we had sown in them was good seed and would come up. Opinions, good human practices and principles, all that good stuff were not working, but we knew God’s Word has stood the test of time, has always proven faithful and will always be faithful.
* The ability to look beyond the moment, to believe that in all things God is working and that even though I don’t understand what is going on right now, I will land on my feet and maybe even see the hand of God in what has happened. Example: all the years that led up to where I am now—years of knowing I was called to pastor yet no opportunities, working a job I knew wasn’t my destiny, doing things that seemed like a waste of time. Every one of those things has proven to be helpful—understanding processes, leadership development, group therapy with behaviorally challenged kids.
Sometimes, there will be no answers to our questions, at least not on this earth. That is when we encounter a “crisis of faith”—do we really trust God with our lives, our hurts, our disappointments or are we once again going to depend on our own abilities to meet those needs. Is living for God really what we want or does it just sound good to us? When we say “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me”—does that only apply when it is going the way we want it to go? I am not my own, I have been bought with a price and the One who bought me loves me unconditionally and cares for me with more love than I can fathom. If He knows when a sparrow falls from the sky, how much more does He know and care about my hurts? If he knows the numbers of hairs on my heads and has collected every tear I have ever cried, how can I not believe he knows my pain, my aloneness, my rejection and depression and is working to turn what is meant to bring me harm into good?
A Life-Giving Church for People Just Like You!
Whether you are full of questions or ready to jump right in, there is a place for you at The Church at Mirror Lake. Our church is a place where you can build relationships with others, experience God in worship, be empowered by practical, life-giving teaching from God's Word, and have fun doing it.
Together, we are living the Winner's Life as we learn to love, serve, reach, grow and connect. So whether you're a spiritual seeker starting to ask questions about God, or a committed Christian looking to sink your faith roots even deeper, you'll feel at home at The Church at Mirror Lake.
If you believe Jesus really meant it when He said, "I came so people can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of," (John 10:10 Message Translation) then join us this weekend at one of our Jesus Celebrations. Until then, browse our website (a link is on the right of this page) where you'll find lots of helpful info and feel free to download one of our service messages or subscribe to our weekly podcast where you will receive the fresh, life-giving Word of God.
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