“SURVIVING LIFE’S JOURNEY” Series – Part 9
“PUTTING THE HARDSHIPS OF LIFE INTO PERSPECTIVE”
Exodus 18:1-12 & Colossians 1:9-14
September 20, 2015
In the midst of the hard, difficult, and challenging times … God is producing a wonderful testimony to His faithful and enduring love.
- RECEPTION – “Jethro heard everything God had done.”
(verses 1-4)
“Remember that … you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” – Ephesians 2:12-13
- REUNION – “Jethro came to the desert where Moses was camped.”
(verses 5-7)
“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Romans 1:11-12
- RETELLING – “Jethro heard from Moses about everything the Lord had done, (again).”
(verse 8)
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – 2nd Timothy 4:18
- REJOICING – “Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done.”
(verses 9-11)
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1st Peter 1:6-7
- RECOMMITMENT – “Jethro … brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God.”
(verse 12)
“I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Romans 12:1
Something to think about …
“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.”
Colossians 1:10-12