THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT (Short Version)

THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT (short version)

Last week Bob Snell told us about the energy crisis that may bring about end time events that our church has talked about for a long time.
But, whether Jesus is coming soon or not, the important question is that we be always ready for Him to come.
2 Timothy 3 tells us that in the last days “2For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.”
**These verses all point to 1 major feature of lost people in the last days—their emotions are #1.
These people will even be church members, but it says they will reject the power that could make them holy.
What is this power from God? 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
**The message of the cross is the power. But, a cross means something dies…what dies?
Our sinful nature is what dies and must die everyday. God’s spirit takes control and gives us freedom from sins that damage our lives.
2 Timothy 3 shows that many end time people will follow human desires. They will try to serve two masters—pleasure and God…but it is impossible to do this.
How serious is this? Luke 14:27 says, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Galatians 5:19-21 echoes this: 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
There is nothing more serious than this.
All these verses are saying that real Christians have a different master…they do not follow just any emotion and do whatever they feel like. They make choices guided by the Holy Spirit.
**God is our creator and he did create emotions. But, Galatians 5 tells us that some emotions are from God and some are from Satan.
**God’s people choose everyday to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says that Christians “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
((We are told that in the last days there will be such immense deceptions that only those who hold strongly to the truths in the Bible will be able to overcome them.
We will not even be able to trust our senses or our feelings. God’s people will have to test everything by the Bible instead of how it makes them feel.))
Let me tell you a couple stories so you can see what living by emotions looks like.
**A woman went with her husband to the doctor's office. After his checkup,the doctor spoke to the wife alone. He said "Your husband issuffering from a very severe disease. Your husband will die if you don’t do this.
"Each morning, fix him a healthy breakfast. Be pleasant, and make sure he isin a good mood. Prepare delicious food for every meal. DON'T burden him with chores. Do everything he asks of you. And MOST importantly, make love several times a week. If you can do this for thenext 10 months to a year, I think your husband will regain his healthcompletely."
On the way home, the husband asked his wife: "What did the doctor say?""You're going to die," she replied.
**We laugh because it’s true that men and women both follow our feelings. But, in fact, this woman was violating important Bible principles of marriage. Christ was not controlling her life. One of them is in Ephesians 5:21. It tells every Christian to submit to each other, to surrender our selfish feelings and put others needs first.
At a Bible study last week at Vision English we were talking about this. Several students said this is a hard thing to do. One person asked if we have to submit to our partner’s desires.
It’s normal to think that way and it’s a struggle to submit. But, the Bible tells us that we belong to each other..not just to ourselves…In Ephesians 5, A man is required to submit to a woman and to put her needs before his own. It is the same for a woman. She must put her husband’s needs before her own feelings.
Why? If a man usually thinks of himself first, his wife won’t be interested in cooking delicious food or in a romantic date. If a woman usually puts herself first, her husband won’t be very interested in helping with the household chores or being affectionate or maybe even in taking care of the children.
The only possible result of following feelings and refusing to submit like this is a breakdown in the relatioship. But by submitting, work is reduced, love is strengthened, and both benefit in many ways.
My 2nd story is about a professor named Go Seung Duk that I saw on TV with my wife.
He and his wife lived in America for some time. After they came back to Korea , they had a serious disagreement.
He wanted to live in Korea and she wanted to live in America. The disagreement became so serious that they decided to divorce.
The program then showed his work and home and many other personal things… He said that one of his mottos in life was “If you want to do something, never give up”
Near the end, it also showed him leading out in his church and praising and praying to God.
As I was listening to this story, I became convinced that this was a very dangerous story.
They were smiling and laughing, but they were really talking about the death of a family!
I began to feel that it in some ways this man was speaking for Satan.
The New Testament gives only one reason justifying divorce for a believer…marital unfaithfulness. But, he as a Christian is divorcing over a very trivial matter.
Dr. Go’s decision to divorce his wife for such a trivial matter will not only damage his own family, it will influence many others to think about destroying their families too.
God is always available to forgive and give a fresh start and power to those who trust in Him.
But, God had very strong words against divorce because he knew that healthy families are the basis of good lives.Here are a few statistics of what happens as a result of divorce:
RESULTS FOR THE COUPLE:
 Higher sickness and death rates from cancer, stroke, heart disease, etc.the same risk as if they smoke 1 pack of cigarettes a day.
double the suicide rate
economic earning power for women goes down by about 27%
RESULTS FOR THE CHILDREN
have 2 times more psychiatric disorders
63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home
boys are 14 times more likely to commit rape
9 times more likely to have mental problems.
They are 2-4 times more likely to use alcohol & drugs.
30% have a clear decrease of grades in school
girls are 92% more likely to divorce.

Once again, we are finding that God has very good reasons for what he commands us to do. Dr. Go could submit to his wife or she could choose to submit to him. Their decision to ignore Bible principles and follow their feelings will damagetheir family and also many other families in the future.
Everyday we have struggles against the emotions and influences in our society that are directly opposed to a life that respects people as creations of God. But, we do NOT have to follow them.
Our emotions are like visitors in your home. But, you don’t have to let them stay. You are the owner of the house and if a visitor misbehaves, you can kick them out.
The emotions are not the real you. They are feelings from outside that invade your life. You decide whether they stay or leave. How?
Galatians 5 says, 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
We choose everyday to live by the Spirit or to follow our sinful nature. Paul says that this choice is like a daily crucifixion.
But, God offers His Spirit to us. We can ask God to change our desires and when we are tempted, we can ask for Him to control our choices. God promises that he will do this and cleanse us from sin.
There’s one more important reason for let God control our emotions. 1 Thessalonians 1:11says, “and so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds. 12Then everyone will give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus because of you, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the undeserved favor of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Living in the Spirit is a witness to everyone around us. It shows that we are different.
I talk to many non-Christians. I often try to ask questions to them about spiritual things. I have become friends with a student Jang Ho.
We talked for many hours about spiritual things. He respects some Christians. But, his best friend is a pastor’s son who doesn’t go to church anymore.
Why? He saw many Christians fighting, threatening each other, insulting each other, letting anger control them. He didn’t see Christians under the control of Christ.
Jangho heard about this many times. So, now he doesn’t think that Christianity really is very different.
I pray that I can break through that. But, if we as Christians let Jesus control everything we do and say, many more people would become Christians.
**A South African, Graham Cyster met a group of Communist young people fighting apartheid. "Tell us about the gospel of Jesus Christ," they asked, hoping for an alternative to their violent communist strategy.
Graham gave a clear, powerful presentation of the gospel, showing how personal faith in Christ wonderfully transforms persons and creates one new body of believers where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, rich nor poor, black nor white. The youth were fascinated. One seventeen-year-old exclaimed, "That is wonderful! Show me where I can see that happening." Graham's face fell as he sadly responded that he could not think of anywhere South African Christians were truly living out the message of the gospel. "Then the whole thing is a piece of sh—," the youth angrily retorted. Within a month he left the country to join the armed struggle against apartheid—and eventually he died for communism.
The young man was right. When we don’t live what we preach, it mocks Christ, undermines evangelism, and destroys Christian credibility.
Romans 12:2 says, “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
I’ve talked a little about marriage and racism today. But, this Bible principle is important in every area of our lives. We as Christians must be different. If we are not, we will suffer and people will not believe our testimony about Jesus.
Friends, if you have decided today that you want to stop following wrong emotions and you want Jesus Spirit’ to fill you, please say the underlined words on the screen with me.
It’s a struggle to forgive your husband when he leaves the lights in the bathroom on AGAIN, but the struggle is worth it!
It’s a struggle to speak kindly and gently when you’re wife is nagging you, but the struggle is worth it!
Leaders, It’s a struggle to continue serving and helping when people complain about your efforts, but the struggle is worth it!
It’s a struggle to control what we watch on internet and TV, but the struggle is worth it!
It’s a struggle to create a loving and encouraging family, but the struggle is worth it!
It was a struggle when my wife gave birth to our baby, but the struggle was worth it!
It’s a struggle to come make a supportive and inspiring church, but the struggle is worth it!
When Moses worked to free the slaves, it was a struggle, but the struggle was worth it!
When Huh Joon wrote his medical books, it was a struggle, but the struggle was worth it!
When Kim Dae Jung and others struggled for democracy and freedom, it was hard, but the struggle was worth it!
When Florence Nightingale saved lives in a dirty army hospital, it was a struggle, but the struggle was worth it!
When Nelson Mandela forgave those who put him in prison for 27 years, it was a huge struggle, but the struggle was worth it!
When Jesus died on the cross for you and me, the struggle was more intense than anything in history, but the struggle was worth it!
And finally, when you and I choose the way of Jesus, when we submit our desires to his way of life and joy, it is a definite and daily struggle, but the struggle IS worth it!
My brothers and sisters, I challenge you to persevere in the Christian race. Your struggle to live the truth every day is difficult. But it is a struggle that will bring a better life now and eternal life for yourself and for others. This struggle is the most valuble thing you could ever do.
NEVER GIVE UP THIS STRUGGLE so that we all can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness.” 2 Timothy 4:7,8

THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT

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View of heaven… The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love. {GC 678.3}

But, I’m going to share just 2 today that God has told us to be ready for. I’m going to talk about perseverance for truth through struggles and deciding to control our emotions rather than letting them control us.

All will have struggles…stacked the deck..

Good morning and happy Sabbath to you…Last week Bob Snell told us about the energy crisis facing our world that could create an immense crisis, especially in the cities and that could also fit into end time prophecies that we know about very well. On internet, there are many Christians, Catholics, Native American Indians, Islamic clerics, scientists and even Mayan are saying there are very few years left for this planet and that Jesus is coming soon.
We don’t know any dates, but it seems that a lot of information is pointing in that direction. The question for us now is, what do we need to help us get through these last days.
First, let’s open our Bibles to 2 Timothy 3 and read.1You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.
These verses all point to 1 major feature of people in the last days that we MUST avoid at all costs. Most people in the last days will be controlled by their feelings. They will have no self-control and think only of themselves.
Many people will even be church members, but they will not accept the power that could make them holy. The very in verse 5 is dunamis. It can mean to deny…or it can mean to reject. So, the people in this time are going to reject the power of God.
What is the power of God? 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us this, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Now a cross means something is dying…and that releases God’s power. 2 Corinthians 5:17 describes this as a new life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Timothy 3 shows that many people at the end of time will want all the pleasures of our materialistic age and think they can have eternal life too. But, the Bible says that we cannot serve two masters..we must deny ourselves and carry our cross.
How serious will this be? Luke 14:27 says, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” You can’t get any more serious than that.
All these verses are saying that one of the most critical aspects of endtime Christians is that they have a different master…they do not follow their emotions and just do whatever they feel like.
God is our creator and he also created us with emotions. But, the Bible is clear though that some emotions are from God and some are from Satan. God’s people put their emotions under the control of truth and the Holy Spirit.
Instead of a life out of control that just reacts to everything around them…they are proactive. They choose to be under the Lordship of Jesus.
They choose to put all of their responses to situations under the control of the Holy Spirit.
We are told that in the last days there will be such immense deceptions that only those who hold strongly to the truths in the Bible will be able to overcome them.
We will not even be able to trust our senses or our feelings. They choose to test every doctrine by the Bible’s words instead of how it makes them feel.
Let me tell you a couple stories so you can see what living by emotions looks like. This is what most people will live like before Jesus comes and it is what we must avoid with all our might.
There was once a woman who accompanied her husband to the doctor's office. After his checkup,the doctor called the wife into his office alone. He said "Your husband issuffering from a very severe disease, combined with some horrible stress. Ifyou don't do the following your husband will surely die.