Truth and Trouble

It's easy to see how we are transformed by truth. Every look into God's Word gives us an opportunity to be changed. But we are also transformed by trouble. God does not create the trouble... He transforms us through the trouble. Listen online @BranchChurch or download the podcast on iTunes.

Transformed by Truth:
Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth. Rick Warren

Jesus said, Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. John 17:17 NIV

Matthew 4:4 NLT - People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every Word of God.

Acts 20:32 Message - God’s gracious Word can make you into what He wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need.

• Accept it’s Authority: Proverbs 30:5 NIV - Every word of God is flawless. 2 Timothy 3:16 CEV - Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.

• Assimilate it’s Truth: James 1:25 NCV - Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.

• Apply it’s Principles: James 1:22 NCV - Do what God's teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. John 13:17 NIV - Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Transformed by Trouble:
God uses circumstances to develop our character. Rick Warren

“You will have problems in the world” - Jesus (John 16:33)
Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be your darkest days - When your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when the pain is great - and you turn to God alone. Psalm 34:18 GNT - The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope. (Sarah’s prayer for Kate)

Problems force us to look to God and depend on Him instead of ourselves.

2 Corinthians 1:9 GNT - We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead.

You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got!

1 Peter 4:12-13 Message - Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

Romans 5:3-4 NLT - We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character.

You have to want what God is doing in you more than you want your circumstances to change.

James 1:3-4 Phillips - But let the process go on until your endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become people of mature character with no weak spots

Don’t give up... Grow up!