Sweet Things Out of Dark Places

Scripture Reading and Introduction 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 read. Paul’s boasting not of the Lord, but foolishly. Details of Paul’s suffering: stripes, imprisonment, shipwrecks, perils, weariness, hunger, and concern for the churches. Paul’s escape from Damascus. Thankfulness for the opportunity to be present and receive what the Lord has to offer. Acknowledging uncertainty about the direction of the message but trusting in the Lord’s guidance. The Song: “Sweet Things Out of Dark Places” A song has been implanted in the soul for about a month. The song’s message is particularly relevant given the current trials and tribulations. The song’s lyrics: Wanting to know Him better and walk closer. Willingness to suffer for a clearer vision in the valley. Sweet things and heavenly light emerging from dark places. A sweeter touch and deeper love from Him. Brokenness leading to precious words and a revelation of God’s glory. The sweetness of darkness when the Father is near. Apostle Paul as an Example Paul as an example of someone in darkness who gloried in his infirmities. Dark places are common, with trials and heartaches affecting many. Comfort in knowing that darkness is temporary and light will come through Jesus Christ. Excitement to share what the Lord has revealed. Dark valleys as a recurring experience. The tendency to let challenges slow down or derail progress. Sweetness emerging from dark places. Recalling the darkness before finding Jesus Christ. Blindness and a misguided pursuit of worldly pleasures. Realization of being disliked by others due to negative behaviors. Sweetness found in a calling from God. A calling once abandoned for two years. The joy and fulfillment experienced when fulfilling that calling. Feeling God’s presence and glory while serving Him. Light replacing darkness. Paul’s intelligence and upbringing, yet not glorying in himself. Paul’s apostleship not of man but by Jesus Christ and God. Galatians 1:1 referenced. Contrast with the replacement of Judas through casting lots. Caution against boasting in what God is doing in one’s life. Gratitude for God’s grace and what He has done. Boasting only in Jesus Christ and His work. Sweetness will come if one sticks to it. Paul’s perilous situations and distress, yet glorying in infirmities. Glorying in Infirmities A personal anecdote about waking up to a car that wouldn’t start. Initial reaction of worry and frustration. Failure to glory in infirmities. Even in darkness, God provides a way for light to shine. Paul’s suffering: whippings, beatings, shipwrecks, and betrayal. Choosing to glory in infirmities and taking pleasure in knowing Jesus Christ is present. Not bragging about success. Paul preached to kings. Paul started about 20 churches. Paul did not want credit for those things. Paul wrote 13 books of the Bible. Paul did not boast about writing 13 books. Paul preached for around 30 years. Paul saw a vision of the third heaven. Paul did not boast about the vision. Inability to thank God for bad things happening. Admitting the difficulty of willingly enduring suffering. The problem of thinking one shouldn’t have to deal with suffering. Paul as second only to Jesus Christ in contributions to the Christian community. Paul confronted Peter for not associating with Gentiles. Philippians 3:7-14 Philippians 3:7-14 referenced. Counting past gains as loss for Christ. Suffering the loss of all things to win Christ. Counting worldly things as dung. Seeking righteousness through faith in Christ. Knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Fellowship of His sufferings. Pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Forsaking the world. Not advocating quitting one’s job but providing for oneself. Avoiding being consumed by what one doesn’t have. Not needing to keep up with the Joneses. Paul said that stuff is all done. Being content with basic provisions. Wanting more. Everything will melt with fervent heat. Willingness to give up everything for the Lord. Stress over not keeping a certain amount of money in the bank. Money can be lost easily. Sometimes losing things makes way for God’s blessings. Examples of Sweetness from Dark Places A story of a grocery store worker who lost his job. Laid off from a management position. Difficulty finding new employment. Settling for a low-paying fast-food job. Sharing Jesus Christ with a suicidal coworker. The woman was going to use a .45 caliber gun. The firing allowed him to be in the right place at the right time. God working in the background for future purposes. Diamonds being made through extreme pressure and heat. God refining individuals to shine for Him. The necessity of trials and hardships. Living for Him means He will take care of you. His needs and wants may be different. Pressure causing people to give up. It is easier to be lost. Asking for help to make it and not give up. Acknowledging personal battles and hardships. Believers are children of the Most High God with the Holy Spirit within. God stepping in when one reaches their wit’s end. Stories in the Bible where darkness was present. The widow and her son facing starvation. Planning to eat their last meal and die. Listening to the man of God and making him a cake first. The barrel and crucible not going dry until the famine ended. Sweetness in knowing God was faithful. Mary and Martha grieving the loss of their brother Lazarus. Lamenting Jesus’ absence. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Experiencing light after darkness. Darkness cannot comprehend light. A flicker of light defeats the darkness. Jairus’ daughter being sick. Servants reporting her death. Jesus healing her. Darkness being replaced by healing. Mary Magdalene’s past as a harlot. Being in a deep dark place before salvation. Finding Jesus and experiencing the light. Always wanting to be where Jesus was. The woman with the issue of blood. Spending all her money and being disheartened. Pressing through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Being made whole. Shouting hallelujah and thanking God. Times of being under bondage in church. Needing to press through the crowd to be fixed. Peter’s denial of Jesus. Promising to go to the end but denying Him three times. The rooster crowing and Peter’s brokenness. Feeling like he had messed up too far. Returning to fishing. Jesus appearing on the shore and asking if they had caught anything. Peter swimming to shore and getting things right with Christ. Comfort in knowing Jesus is waiting after messing up. The prodigal son. Planning to return as a hired servant. The father seeing him afar off and running to embrace him. Putting the best robe and ring on him. Killing the fatted calf and celebrating. The son who was dead is now alive. Restoration to life after darkness. Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The darkest day in history on that Friday. The enemy thinking he had won. Sunday coming and the resurrection on the third day. Sweet things from Him out of dark places. The resurrection as a pillar of belief. Rejoicing in the light because of the darkness. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 referenced. A thorn in the flesh given to Paul to prevent exaltation. Paul beseeching the Lord thrice to remove it. The Lord’s response: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s willingness to glory in infirmities for Christ’s power to rest upon him. Taking pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses for Christ’s sake. When I am weak, then I am strong. Trials and tribulations shaping Christians. Admitting to still being a mess but God’s grace being sufficient. Spurgeon’s study Bible: Paul got something better. A thorn in the flesh indicates something painful. Instead of pain being removed, he got grace. Grace to cover every need. God may not move the trial, but there’s grace. Preferring His grace over never having pain or trouble. A song: “What the floodwaters roll, what the storm winds blow…but that’s as far as I go.” Every battle that he’s ever fought, he’s won. His grace is sufficient. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Thinking I’m something, I got it wrong. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 and Final Thoughts 2 Timothy 4:6-8 referenced. Paul ready to be offered and his departure at hand. Having fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. A crown of righteousness laid up for him. Darkness had to come for the light to be there. Hard times had to be there before the light could shine. Wanting to know Him better and walk closer. The heart that was broken for me. Suffering may be required. The darker the valley, the more clearly I see. Constant communication with the Lord in times of trouble. Not spending much time in prayer when things are going well. Not quitting until He brings deliverance. The darker the valley, the more clearly we see Him. Fixing our eyes on Him and praying until we get help. Sweet things out of dark places. Heavenly light where once it was dim. His touch will be sweeter and His love will be deeper. The sweetness of victory after a trial. Being reminded that He will still be there next time. Out of dark, lonely places come sweet things from Him. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Some troubles that others don’t know about. Ultimately, it’s between me and God.