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Message Notes
Who you really are is not revealed while you are in good times, it’s revealed while you are going through tough times.
Three foundations that will help you to be the real deal in tough times
- 1 - God’s Word
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” —1 Thessalonians 2:13
- They received the Word of God.
- They accepted it as the Word of God.
“Only having Scripture within can sustain you when there is trouble without.” —Tony Evans
“The word of God, which is at work in you believers.” —I Thessalonians 2:13
Truth - When you believe that the Bible is true for your life, God’s power is released in your life.
- 2 - Fellowship with Other Believers
“For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—” —1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
“So as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!” —1 Thessalonians 2:16
“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” —John 3:36
“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” —Romans 1:18
Truth – We are going to face opposition to God’s Word and the Christian faith.
Truth – God created the church so we don’t have to face tough times alone.
- 3 - A Kingdom Perspective
“But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.” —1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” —1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
Truth – When you live your life for a different Kingdom, with an eternal perspective, tough times cannot crush you in this life.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Who you really are is not revealed while you are in good times, it’s revealed while you are going through tough times.” —2 Corinthians 4:8-10