Big God Redemption Everything happens For a reason.

Big GodBig God

RedemptionRedemption

Everything happensEverything happensFor a reasonFor a reason

Not everything has aNot everything has aSpiritual CauseSpiritual Cause

Not everything has aNot everything has aSpiritual CauseSpiritual Cause

But it can be redeemedBut it can be redeemedFor a greater PurposeFor a greater Purpose

Nothing is wasted with GodNothing is wasted with GodExcept that which is notExcept that which is not

Yielded to GodYielded to God

Empty timeEmpty timeNothing happeningNothing happeningWasted…Wasted…

Have you been there?Have you been there?

David…David…

..Samuel took the horn of oil and ..Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David…and from that anointed David…and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in powercame upon David in power- 1 Sam. 16:1-13- 1 Sam. 16:1-13

And then!And then!

NothingNothing- Keeping Sheep- Keeping Sheep- Running Errands- Running Errands- Playing music- Playing music

Wasted time…Wasted time…

Until…Until…A God-momentA God-moment

"Who is this uncircumcised "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the Philistine that he should defy the

armies of the living God?"armies of the living God?"- 1 Sam. 17:26- 1 Sam. 17:26

Where did he learn to sling?Where did he learn to sling?

Protecting sheepProtecting sheepFaithful in the little thingsFaithful in the little things

AndAnd praising God praising God

God can use that!God can use that!

God can use that!God can use that!

God redeems itGod redeems itFor his gloryFor his gloryAnd his people's safetyAnd his people's safety

And that's just the beginningAnd that's just the beginningOf David's road to the throneOf David's road to the throne

If you will be faithful If you will be faithful Where you areWhere you areWith what you haveWith what you have

God will redeem wasted timeGod will redeem wasted timeFor his glory and your joyFor his glory and your joy

Corollary:Corollary:

Don't wait for life to beginDon't wait for life to beginUntil…Until…

Life hurts sometimesLife hurts sometimes

Seasons of painSeasons of painHardship and trialHardship and trial


"Everything happens"Everything happensFor a reason…"???For a reason…"???

"Everything happens"Everything happensFor a reason…"???For a reason…"???

Tell me again how that Tell me again how that miscarriage was God's fault…miscarriage was God's fault…


Easy to project forwardEasy to project forwardAnd dream of the dayAnd dream of the dayOr curse every momentOr curse every moment

Pain existsPain existsIt's real and it hurtsIt's real and it hurts

Pain existsPain existsIt's real and it hurtsIt's real and it hurts

(And God doesn't always stop it)(And God doesn't always stop it)

……Now Israel loved Joseph more Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for himrichly ornamented robe for him

When his brothers saw that their When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any father loved him more than any

of them, they hated him and of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind could not speak a kind

word to him…word to him…- Genesis 37- Genesis 37

"What will we gain if we kill our "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him…hands on him…

……after all, he is our brother, our after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His own flesh and blood." His

brothers agreedbrothers agreed- Gen. 37- Gen. 37

Painful Painful YearsYears

Continually faithfulContinually faithfulIn all thingsIn all things

Slave and Object of DesireSlave and Object of Desire

Slave and Object of DesireSlave and Object of DesirePrisoner and TrusteePrisoner and Trustee

Slave and Object of DesireSlave and Object of DesirePrisoner and TrusteePrisoner and TrusteeInterpreter/PrisonerInterpreter/Prisoner

Slave and Object of DesireSlave and Object of DesirePrisoner and TrusteePrisoner and TrusteeInterpreter/PrisonerInterpreter/PrisonerInterpreterInterpreter

Slave and Object of DesireSlave and Object of DesirePrisoner and TrusteePrisoner and TrusteeInterpreter/PrisonerInterpreter/PrisonerInterpreterInterpreter22ndnd in Command and Savior in Command and Savior

Painful timePainful time13 years gone, stolen13 years gone, stolen

As a slave and prisonerAs a slave and prisoner

Yet he's faithfulYet he's faithful

20 years later20 years later37 years old37 years oldSaves his familySaves his family

Joseph said to them, "Don't be Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place afraid. Am I in the place of God?”of God?”

You intended to harm me, but You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good God intended it for good to to

accomplish what is now accomplish what is now being done, the saving being done, the saving

of many livesof many lives- Genesis 50- Genesis 50

God didn't cause the sinGod didn't cause the sinAnd the painful yearsAnd the painful yearsBut he redeemed themBut he redeemed them

For his purposes, Joseph's joy For his purposes, Joseph's joy And our blessingAnd our blessing

God redeemsGod redeemsJoseph's painJoseph's painFor the saving of his peopleFor the saving of his people

And the eventual birth of ChristAnd the eventual birth of Christ

The snakebite of Paul?The snakebite of Paul?Opened to door to the gospelOpened to door to the gospelIn MaltaIn Malta

The only thing The only thing God doesn't Redeem God doesn't Redeem

Is what we won't give himIs what we won't give him

The question isn'tThe question isn't"Am I in pain?""Am I in pain?"

But "Can I trust GodBut "Can I trust GodThrough this pain?"Through this pain?"

The trials The trials And the cross are painfulAnd the cross are painful

But God uses it to redeem usBut God uses it to redeem us

Nothing is wasted with GodNothing is wasted with God

Time is a Stewardship…Time is a Stewardship…

- Brief- Brief- Responsible to God- Responsible to God

But I sinBut I sinWhich takes timeWhich takes time

And it's an abuse of the timeAnd it's an abuse of the timeGod has given me…God has given me…

““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheatmight sift you like wheat

……but I have prayed for you that but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. your faith may not fail. And And

when you have turned again, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers"strengthen your brothers"

Peter said to him, “Lord, I am Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to ready to go with you both to prison and to death”prison and to death”

[Peter replied, "Even if all fall [Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, away on account of you,

I never will"]I never will"]- Matt. 26- Matt. 26

Jesus is choosing a weak guyJesus is choosing a weak guyFull of prideFull of pride

To strengthen other weak guysTo strengthen other weak guysFull of prideFull of pride

Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, rooster will not crow this day,

until you deny three times until you deny three times that you know me”that you know me”

- Luke 22:31-34- Luke 22:31-34

Desire to do good Desire to do good + Pride+ Pride

= Sin= Sin

So Peter Falls…So Peter Falls…

The Lord turned and looked The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. straight at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to word the Lord had spoken to

him: "Before the rooster crows him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown today, you will disown

me three times…"me three times…"

And he went outside And he went outside and wept bitterlyand wept bitterly- Luke 22:54-62- Luke 22:54-62

And he runs…from, not toAnd he runs…from, not to

Jesus chases him downJesus chases him down

Feed my lambsFeed my lambsTake care of my sheepTake care of my sheepFeed my sheepFeed my sheep

How is GodHow is GodRedeeming that?Redeeming that?

Never again seeNever again seeThat self-confident prideThat self-confident pride

And desire to bragAnd desire to bragSo he's finally ready to leadSo he's finally ready to lead

God uses Peter's wasted timeGod uses Peter's wasted timeIn sin and brokennessIn sin and brokenness

To grow him so he can PastorTo grow him so he can PastorThe first church everThe first church ever

The issue isn't what you've doneThe issue isn't what you've doneBut whether you've repentedBut whether you've repented

And are walking in forgivenessAnd are walking in forgiveness

Wasted time Wasted time Painful timePainful time

Sinful timeSinful time

When given back to GodWhen given back to GodBecomes his gloryBecomes his glory

Our joy andOur joy andOther's blessingOther's blessing

Not everything happensNot everything happensFor a reasonFor a reason

But in Christ But in Christ Everything can have purposeEverything can have purposeBeyond itselfBeyond itself

How do I know?How do I know?

- Chip on shoulder- Chip on shoulder- Continual memories- Continual memories- Insecurity- Insecurity- Resentment toward God- Resentment toward God

God will redeemGod will redeemEverything that's given overEverything that's given overTo himTo him

What do you need to let go of?What do you need to let go of?

The gospel is an exchangeThe gospel is an exchangeA releasing of one thingA releasing of one thing

So you can gain somethingSo you can gain somethingMuch betterMuch better

Christmas OfferingChristmas Offering

Please pray!Please pray!

Big God Redemption Everything happens For a reason.

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