Siminar

Uncomfortable grace
"There are moments in our lives when we are carrying out for grace, not recognizing that we are
getting it. We are not getting the grace for relief or the grace for release, because that is not the
grace we really need. No, what we are getting is something we desperately need, the
uncomfortable grace of personal growth and change." Paul David Tripp
SUMMARY
"Uncomfortable grace takes us through places we never intended, so we'll arrive where we're
destined to be. It's a "thorn-in-the-flesh" grace the develops and refines character." -Tong Thiek
Duang
Memory Text: Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for
good for those who love God, to those who are called according to
his purpose."

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
"7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the
flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He
said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
"Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
LIFE IS FULL OF TROUBLE AND SORROW

David said in Psalms 90:10 "The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength
they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
But you don't even have live to 70 years to know that life is full of troubles and sorrow.
The Wiseman Solomon tells us that that days of man are full of grief and pain. In Ecclesiastes 2:23 he
say so "For all his days are sorrowful, and his work grievous; even in the night his heart takes no rest.
This also is vanity."
In the book of Genesis 47 Jacob said this words to Pharaoh "Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old are
you?" And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty
years; My years have been few and difficult and they do not equal the years of pilgrimage of my
fathers."

"My years have been few and difficult"

from his father's tents. A homeless fugitive, separated from his mother,
whom he never saw again; laboring seven years for her whom he loved,
only to be basely cheated; toiling twenty years in the service of a
covetous and grasping kinsman; seeing his wealth increasing, and sons
rising around him, but finding little joy in the contentious and divided
household; distressed by his daughter's shame, by her brothers' revenge,
by the death of Rachel, by the unnatural crime of Reuben, by Judah's sin,
by the cruel deception and malice practiced toward Joseph - how long and
dark is the catalogue of evils spread out to view! Again and again he had
reaped the fruit of that first wrong deed. Over and over he saw repeated
among his sons the sins of which he himself had been guilty. But bitter as
had been the discipline, it had accomplished its work. The chastening,
though grievous, had yielded "the peaceable fruit of righteousness."
Hebrews 12:11. PP 237.4
THE SORROW WHICH JACOB GONE THROUGH
 Deception of the father Isaac.
 Stole brother's birthright.
 Encounter in uncle Laban's home.
 Polygamous lifestyle.
 Confusion in the family.
 Wayward children.
 Painful death of beloved Rachel at birth of Benjamin.
 "Loss" of Joseph_etc
In another occasion Jacob said a sorrowful words.
Genesis 42:36 "And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children:
Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things
are against me."
Now put these words in your lips and change the names to anything you can think of.
Sometimes we look at our lives and we wonder about all the things that have happened. There've
been times when it seems like our "Josephs are no more...Simeons are no more... Everything
is against us" Yes our years may have been "few and difficult."
BUT IS IT REALLY TURE?
Everything was working for good to him and for God's glory.
In actuality, the things that seem to work against us are really for our good. They're part of God's
Uncomfortable Grace
 Siminar

Uncomfortable Grace takes us through places we never intended, so we'll arrive where we're destined
to be. "It's a thorn in the flesh," grace that develops and refined the character." (2 Corinthians
12:7-9; Romans 5:3-5)
Desire of Ages p.528
""For your sakes," "to the intent ye may believe." To all who are reaching out to feel the
guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time
when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the
darkest part of their way. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly," 2 Peter 2:9.
From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a
richer experience." DA 528.3
Today, we may not always understand the reasons for our tragedies, disappointments and
pains. We may not always be able to articulate why we have to go through this trials,
temptations and afflictions. But we know that one day, all will be made plan
to us.
JACOB'S DECLARATION AT THE END OF HIS LIFE.
Genesis 48:15,16 "And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham
and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who
has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and
the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the
midst of the earth."
9T 286-288 E.G White said,
"There are homes for the pilgrims of earth. There are robes for the righteous, with crowns of
glory and palms of victory. All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in
the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find
explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds
discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and
beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that
seemed most trying. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all things work
together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 9T
286.2