PIN THE BLAME ON THE DONKEY

•    bad circumstances make us protest
•    “moral evil” - e.g. Pilate; “natural evil” - e.g. tower falling
•    God both great & good... whence evil?

JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS: THICK THINKING

•    don’t assume others more guilty when encounter difficulty
•    feel God owes us good fortune if we behave; entitled
•    don’t presume God’s your debtor: heart deceitful, storing up wrath

DWELLERS IN GRACE-TIME

•    time running short for unfruitful fig tree using up soil
•    gardener intercedes for tree: Jesus intercedes for us, buys us time

TURNING THE TABLES: “REPENT!”

•    unless repent – change assumptions / thought-patterns – will perish
•    wipe out sins, receive Lord’s “times of refreshing”, favour

BEARING FRUIT IN SURPRISING CONDITIONS

•    in what ways are we producing good fruit?
•    Joni Eareckson Tada: paralysis a platform
•    Benefit #1) Suffering can turn us from a Dangerous Direction
•    Benefit #2) Suffering reminds us where our True Strength lies
•    Benefit #3) Suffering restores a Lost Beauty in Christ
•    Benefit #4) Suffering can Heighten our Thirst for Christ
•    Benefit #5) Suffering can Increase our Fruitfulness
•    suffering as sandblasting: uncovering Christ’s beauty
•    God’s will – that we be where He’s glorified most