Notes for "God Will Put More On You Than You Can Bear"

Introduction:

For most of my life, when circumstances became overwhelming, Christian friends, in an attempt to encourage, would remind me, "God won’t put more on you than you can bear." And in those situations, I felt like the Devil was attacking me. After reading this chapter for the first time several months ago, I realized that another perspective was possible…maybe it wasn’t the Devil after all, maybe it was God trying to get me to depend on Him! The greatest opportunities to advance spiritually are often couched in adversity.

Describe the most recent circumstance in which God allowed you to face deep waters.

For over six years, my marriage was "in trouble" for much of the time. Four different counselors, all with a strong Christian approach, failed to effect any lasting improvement and finally my wife asked for a divorce. Through that "deep water" experience, I’ve come to realize that I often cannot cope with the circumstances of this life.

Read 2Corinthians 1:8-9: Brothers and sisters,  we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. (NCV)

Why will God allow a Christian to be burdened beyond his own strength?

"…in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead." (2Corinthians 1:9, last part)

Why does God value weakness in people and not strength?

God values weakness instead of strength, because those who are weak will seek God while those who are strong will attempt to "do it on their own." Here’s how the Apostle Paul felt: But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me. (2Corinthians 12:9 NCV)

Define the meaning of absolute surrender to God.

Absolute surrender to God means that I completely and permanently give up on my own abilities and resources. As long as I "live in this body of death" is that possible? Absolute surrender becomes reality when I place my confidence, flawed as it is, in the finished work of Christ on the cross. My flawed surrender becomes absolute because of the grace of God.

Why are Christians sometimes afraid of absolutely surrendering everything in their lives to God?

I believe that Christians are afraid of completely turning everything in their lives over to God, because they don’t know God…they certainly don’t see Him as their best friend! They don’t believe when He says, "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added." But additionally, I’m convinced that "indwelling sin" (the flesh) still gets in the way, even of those who do believe.

Recount a time when a friend shared a problem with you. What did you tell him? Would your answer to him be different now?

As I look back over the times when I’ve "advised" friends regarding their problems, I’ve given some very poor advice! More and more, I’m realizing that the answer to all their problems, and to mine, is not "how" or "what," but "Who!" The circumstances in this life are beyond our control, but they aren’t beyond His!! Jesus alone is the answer to life’s problems!

Define brokenness

Webster defines broken as "being subdued completely; crushed in spirit; bankrupt." In the context of this chapter, brokenness describes the condition of a person who has absolutely abandoned any personal control over their life and handed over the "deed" (certificate of ownership) to God.

Are brokenness and suffering the same thing? Can one experience suffering without experiencing brokenness?

Brokenness and suffering are not the same thing…suffering may lead to brokenness, but not necessarily. Some individuals turn away from God as a result of suffering, while others turn toward God and place their confidence in Him.

Conclusion:

Will God put more on you than you can bear? If you are trying to enter into or are living in Grace Land, He will. In 1Corinthians 1:25-31, Paul put things in perspective when he said, "Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no one can brag in his presence. Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin. So, as the Scripture says, "If someone wants to brag, he should brag only about the Lord."

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