Has this happened to you? A friend says, “You just have to see this movie – it’s the greatest movie I’ve ever seen. You’re just got to see it.” So you go to that movie, and your level of anticipation is so high that the film just doesn’t quite measure up. Later, you realized that you spent time and money to something that isn’t worth it.

2. Has this happened to you? A friend says, “You just have to see this movie – it’s the greatest movie I’ve ever seen. You’re just got to see it.” So you go to that movie, and your level of anticipation is so high that the film just doesn’t quite measure up. Later, you realized that you spent time and money to something that isn’t worth it.

3. GREAT EXPECTATIONS

4. I. HAPPY ALL THE TIME?

5. We sing choruses like, “Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy,” “Dito ay masaya, doon ay Masaya, sa piling ni Jesus ay Masaya,” “…Kahitwalangpera, dibalaging Masaya?” Really? Happy all the time?

6. When God converted Saul of Tarsus, He said, “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles…I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15,16)

7. A. APOSTLE PAUL’S EXPERIENCES

8. “Visions and revelations from the Lord.” (II Cor. 12:1) “Caught up in the third heaven.” (II Cor. 12:2) “Come over… and help us.” (Acts 16:9) “Angel appeared to him and comfort him.” (Acts 27:23)

9. B. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU

10. “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, recognize and read by everyone.” (II Corinthians 3:2)

11. “STRONG CHRISTIANS ARE STRONG BECAUSE THEY ENJOY THE LORD.” - Stuart Briscoe

12. II. WHAT ABOUT THE OLD RUGGED CROSS?

13. SEVEN FACTS WE HATE TO FACE

14. 1. Growing Old

15. 2. Experiencing Physical Illnesses

16. 3. Reaping what we Sow.

17. 4. Being Misunderstood.

18. 5. Not having enough money.

19. 6. We must Die. (Death waits for no one.)

20. 7. We must face Judgment.

21. A. THORN IN THE FLESH

22. “especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.” (II Corinthians 12:7)

23. “YOU WILL HAVE SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD. BE COURAGEOUS! I HAVE CONQUERED THE WORLD.” (John 16:33)

24. B. THREE REASONS FOR SUFFERING

25. 1. WE’RE HUMAN

26. 2. BECAUSE OF OUR DISOBEDIENCE

27. CONSEQUENCES OF SIN (GEN. 3) • To the Serpent – “You are cursed more than any livestock.” v. 14 • To the Woman – “I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with anguish.” v. 16 • To the Man – “The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor…For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” vv.17-19

28. 3. GOD’S TOOL TO BUILD GODLY CHARACTER

29. “Great men rise above adversity and attain new heights of achievement by turning TRIBULATIONS into TRIUMPHS, FAILURES into FORTUNES, SETBACKS into SUCCESSES, OBSTACLES into OPPORTUNITIES, and BURDEN into BLESSING.” - William Arthur Ward

30. “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10)

31. III. THE SUFFIENCY OF GOD’S GRACE

32. A. HE PRAYED THREE TIMES

33. “Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.” (II Corinthians 12:8)

34. “…He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. He went again and prayed the third time, saying the same thing once more.” (Matthew 26:39-44)

35. WE ALL HAVE TO DRINK THE “CUP OF SUFFERING.”

36. B. GOD’S GRACE IS PERFECT

37. “But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:9,10)

39. LIFE IS HARD BUT GOD IS GOOD! LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE BUT GOD IS SOVEREIGN! LIFE IS UNFAIR BUT GOD IS JUST! LIFE IS SHORT BUT GOD IS ETERNAL! GOD IS GOOD – ALL THE TIME! - Mary Farrar

40. As Christians we can expect some mountaintop experiences. We can expect some hurts. But we can expect whatever the hurt, HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. AMEN!