Consider it Pure Joy (Adrian)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, 
whenever you face trials of many kinds, 
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 
Perseverance must finish its work 
so that you may be mature and complete, 
not lacking anything. -- James 1:2-4 

I am no where near this yet, still going through the same physical and emotional struggles but these are the thoughts going through my mind. I am learning to rejoice in whatever situations. (Please remember this in your prayer)

• We all expect life and ministries to go a certain way, 
• Even healing, to be done in a certain way, in a certain order. 
• If it doesn't go with the way we expect, we thought God is not hearing our prayer.
• We all want immediate fixes with as little pains as possible.
• Often, this kind of mentality remove an element of perserverance and growth that can only be nurtured through many trials. 
• Some of these trials are there for my/our own good and they are necessary.

Even in church

• People often coming from a culture seeking for what's the best to offer in the market with as minimal effort to plug in as possible. 
• Some of the church activities are aiming to do exactly the same, they are not necesssarily bad but a church also needs to learn how to breed mature faith with deep perseverance .  
• Failing this, we are breeding a culture of people no longer coming to church seeking to serve but rather to BE served. 
• When there is a better speaker somewhere, they will switch to a better field momentarily. There is no deep committment to Jesus, His calling and the community where a deeper love can only be growth within a deeply bonded and committed community.

Shared with you a sermon from Francis Chan - 

• Since I couldn't go to the church yesterday, this was my Sunday worship.  
• The Task -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Dqc8-42tI&t=3346s.

Francis Chan visited one of the underground church in Church,  and they shared about the 5 pillars of their church foundations. 

1. Deep committment in prayer
2. Deep Committment on the word of God
3. Preaching of the gospel where everyone is preaching on the gospel
4. Regular expectation of miracles
5. Followers Embrace Suffering for the Glory of the Christ

Very insightful......
He said when people actually embrace suffering, you have an unstoppable force.
What can they do to you....



Concept of suffering

• " Why people quit on ministries? because it is too often hard. Has anyone everyone encourage to rejoice through suffering?" Francis Chan said. 
• Think of the eternal reward that we are going to get. 
• It doesn't mean it's not hard but it is well worth it.
• Sometimes, this is part of the growth journey