Hard Circumstances Are The Lifting Places Into The Grace of God (Clip)
Michael L. Brown teaches that God uses hard and breaking circumstances to prepare believers for the sustaining grace and long-suffering promises of God.
This sermon emphasizes the transformative power of God's breaking process in our lives, leading to a deeper understanding of His long-suffering promise. It highlights the necessity of being broken by God to experience His grace and to be lifted into a new level of spiritual growth and maturity.
Full Transcript
Before God could bring me to this place, He broke me a thousand times. I have wept, I have groaned, I have travailed many a night until God broke me. Whoo! Seems to me that until God has mowed you down, you never can have this long-suffering promise.
Remember that, men and women of God, until God has mowed you down, you can never have this long-suffering promise. There have been times when I have been pressed through circumstances and it seemed as if a dozen railroad engines were going over me. But I have found that the hardest things are just lifting places into the grace of God.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God breaks us to prepare us
- Long-suffering promise requires being mowed down
- Hard circumstances refine and lift us
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II
- Experiencing deep sorrow and travail
- Recognizing God’s purpose in trials
- Enduring leads to grace
Key Quotes
“Before God could bring me to this place, He broke me a thousand times.” — Michael L. Brown
“Until God has mowed you down, you never can have this long-suffering promise.” — Michael L. Brown
“The hardest things are just lifting places into the grace of God.” — Michael L. Brown
Application Points
- Embrace difficult circumstances as opportunities for God’s grace to work in your life.
- Allow yourself to be humbled and broken by trials to grow spiritually.
- Trust that God’s purpose in suffering is to prepare you for His promises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God allow hard circumstances?
God allows hardships to break us so we can grow in long-suffering and receive His grace.
What does 'being mowed down' mean spiritually?
It symbolizes being humbled and broken by trials to prepare for spiritual maturity.
How can suffering lead to grace?
Suffering humbles us and opens the door for God’s sustaining grace to strengthen us.
Is this process necessary for all believers?
Yes, enduring trials is essential for spiritual growth and receiving God’s promises.