II Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

The Reality ofOur WalkII Timothy 3:12

Our Reality

•Have you ever had a reality check?

•At times in our lives we can try to trick ourselves into believing everything is ok when it really isn’t

•When we finally come face to face with reality we perhaps see that all is not well

Our Reality

• It’s never easy to come to grips with things that we do not like

•Reality had hit Job when he said, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” (Job 3:25-26)

Our Reality

• There are some today who say that the Christian life is to be a life of prosperity

• This has been termed the “Prosperity Gospel”, or the “Health and Wealth Gospel”

• It’s a popular theory in our country

Our Reality

•Recently in the news, a famous American religious couple have made headlines

• Joel Osteen is seen on television and has written several books geared towards the “Prosperity Gospel”

•His wife recently said something…

Our Reality

• This statement speaks to a problem that exists in the American religious mindset

• Everything has become about me; it’s self-centered and not God-centered

• I worship God for me; I do good things for me; it’s all about pleasing me

Our Reality

• Even more than that it says that God’s ultimate concern is my happiness

• If God is concerned with my happiness, then the real Christian life is a life filled with nothing but good

• That’s what the Osteen’s teach

Our Reality

•Are they right?

•What about those in other countries who are living for Christ but suffering?

•Does God only bless Americans?

•What exactly is the reality of the Christian life?

Our Reality

•1. We are the created

• It’s a very simple statement, yet it carries so much truth

• God created us, we did not create God

•We were not created so that God would stay busy just trying to keep us happy all day

Our Reality

•1. We are the created

• Paul said that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10)

• Notice what Paul said in Colossians 1:9-10…

• It is our aim to be fully pleasing to God, not the other way around

Our Reality

•1. We are the created

• Christ gave Himself for us, not so we would be happy, but so that He could purify for Himself His own special people (Titus 2:14)

• Again, Hebrews 13:21 gives us the picture that we are to be pleasing to God

Our Reality

•1. We are the created

• Isaiah 43:7

• Colossians 1:16

• “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11)

Our Reality

•2. God never promised health/wealth

• Certainly there are blessings mentioned throughout His word

• There is even talk of the riches of His blessings

•We also know that everything we have is a gift from God (Js. 1:17)

Our Reality

•2. God never promised health/wealth

• Jesus even promised to take care of the necessities of life

• However, God never says He will bless us with immense earthly riches and treasures

• If He did, why were the 1st century Christians so neglected?

Our Reality

•2. God never promised health/wealth

• They took of their abundance and gave to those who had need (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37)

•Why didn’t God just give great riches to those who lacked without taking away from those who had?

Our Reality

•2. God never promised health/wealth

• There were also times of great sickness (ex. Epaphroditus, Phil. 2:25-27)

• Paul had his thorn in the flesh which was not removed (II Cor. 12:7-10)

• God never promised to give us these things

Our Reality

•3. Suffering is in the job description

• Jesus never tried to cover up the fact that the Christian life will have it’s difficult periods

• In fact, He often warned that there would be sacrifice and some suffering involved

Our Reality

•3. Suffering is in the job description

• Jesus said that whoever would come after Him must deny Himself and take up His cross (Matt. 16:24)

• He warned that we would see persecution and tribulation (Jn. 15:20; 16:33)

Our Reality

•3. Suffering is in the job description

• Paul told Timothy the same thing in II Timothy 3:12

• “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution”

• There is no “if” there, but rather the word “will”