NO PAIN, NO GAINEndure: suffer (something difficult or painful) patiently; to remain in existence…2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.ROMANS 5:2-5PAIN IS THE NORMAL AND NECESSARY PROCESS WE GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GAIN GOD’S BEST.Most every Christian wants to develop character and have more hope. These qualities spring out of perseverance, which comes through tribulation. We may wish to have better character and more hope without starting with tribulation, but that isn’t God’s pattern and plan. I would rather have God just sprinkle perseverance and character and hope on me as I sleep. I could wake up a much better Christian! But that isn’t God’s plan for me or for any Christian.Therefore we say – soberly, reverently – we say about tribulation, “Lord, bring it on. I know you love me and carefully measure every trial and have a loving purpose to accomplish in every tribulation. Lord, I won’t seek trials and search out tribulation, but I won’t despise them or lose hope when they come. I trust Your love in everything You allow.”GUZIKMATURITY IS NOT OUTWARD APPEARANCE; IT’S A CONDITION OF THE HEART.19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”1 SAMUEL 8:19-22 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.1 SAMUEL 9:1-2“We are surrounded by adult men who, in actuality, are nothing more than teenagers, still trying to find their way, hurting and abusing those around them, all while thinking it’s some kind of amusing game.” JON TYSON12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. HEBREWS 5:12-14SPIRITUAL BABIES VS. SPIRITUAL TEACHERSBabies need to be fed, teachers can feed themselvesBabies can’t handle meat, teachers can handle tough truthBabies can’t handle discomfort; teachers experience discomfort but have an understanding that it will eventually passBabies have zero concern for others, a teacher’s main focus is serving othersBabies have no ability to discern, teachers can discern what’s right and wrong; what’s beneficialTHE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR MATURITY IN CHRIST IS YOUR, “YES.”6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 SAMUEL 16:6-7 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest,[a] but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers.1 SAMUEL 16:11-1312 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 TIMOTHY 4:12And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.PHILIPPIANS 1:6 “Where is there an instance of God’s beginning any work and leaving it incomplete? Show me for once a world abandoned and thrown aside half formed; show me a universe cast off from the Great Potter’s wheel, with the design in outline, the clay half hardened, and the form unshapely from incompleteness.”SPURGEON

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