LESSON TEXT: PHIL.4:6-7
My Lesson today has 5 points I would like to make.
Everywhere you go in this world there is someone having some kind of problem. Problems are everywhere, they are in all aspects of life. They come in different sizes. There are big problems and small problems. There are problems not so big, and problems that are not so small. regardless of the size, they are there and we all will have our share one way or another.
Some people find themselves with problems in their homes, some find themselves with problems on the jobs, some with their boss, some with their children. Some people find themselves with problems with the automobile they drive or with the one they ride on. There are problems with husbands, there are problems with wives. Problems with health, and problems with the health providers. Problems with money, and problems trying to obtain money. There are problems in the church and with people who don’t like the church.
Problems therefore my brothers and sisters are a part of life: it’s been here since creation and will be here when we are gone from this life.
Do you have problems? O yes, I know you do! We all have problems in some way, but – why does God allows Christians to have problems? Turn your Bibles if you have them with you to 1 Peter 4:12-13
In the process of us undergoing our problems, we need to have patience in God. We must wait on God. David said, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the Lord. Psa.27:14
1: GOD USES PROBLEMS TO CHANGE OUR DIRECTIONS.
Do you remember the man named Saul who later became the great apostle Paul? He was going the wrong way and the Lord knocked him down. God changed his directions.
Jonah was another man that God changed. He was a preacher and a prophet and God sent him to Nineveh that wicked city. He boarded a ship and went down to Tarshish. (He went his way) After God sorted him out and changed his direction, he went and preached. (like never before)
Anytime you turn from God, you are going down. Anytime you turn from God you will have problems.
2: GOD USES PROBLEMS TO TEST US. (Turn to Deut. 8:2)
Sometimes we need to be proven. We need to know if we are for real and problems will really let us know. Someone once said – Christians are like tea bags, they do not know how strong they are until they get into hot water.
a) Let’s go to Deutronomy. 8
b) Turn again to James 1:2-3
c) God wants us to have a positive outlook at things.
d) He want us to have patience.
3: GOD USES PROBLEMS TO PROTECT US.
Turn your Bibles again to Psa.119:71
God allows us to go through problems and afflictions so that we can learn a lesson.
God maybe saying – the way people will learn is when they are afflicted. Sometimes you would tell your children not to touch the stove – (it’s hot!) Just as your back is turned…. Shhhh …ouch -ouch! Guess what? They wont touch it again!
The same way it is with us, God shows us a way, and we refuse and sometimes seek other ways. So He afflicts us with problems to get our attention.
Turn your Bibles now to Genesis 50:17 You remember the story about Joseph? Joseph is the only man in the Bible who is like Jesus in similarity.
He was forsaken by his family. (Jesus was forsaken by his own) He was forgotten by his friends. (Jesus was forgotten by those he helped) He was falsely accused by Patiphar’s wife. (Jesus was falsely accused as well) God allowed Joseph to go through those things so that He could make a way for the people.
You’ve seen how God uses Joseph to help those people during the years of famine.
4: GOD USES PROBLEMS TO HELP US TO GROW. (1 PETER 5:10)
God does not let us suffer through all our lives. He only allows us to suffer for a while. In the process of God allowing us to suffer, He is maturing us. He is completing us and making us perfect.
God has a process for all of us. Don’t you give up on God! He may be trying to change your directions. He may be trying to see if you are genuine. He may be trying to protect you. He may be trying to grow you. What we need to do is, accept God’s will.
Don’t you turn from God when problems come! Don’t you leave the church because things aren’t going your way! Don’t reject your brothers and sisters when problem comes! You can’t do it by yourself. This is when you should start praying more.
Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. Remember, after the storm, then comes the calm. The best is yet to come.
5: JOB IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US.
He was one of if not the richest man on earth. One day things started going bad, the bad news started rolling in one after the other. He lost everything materially that he ever owned. Then he lost his children. His friends came to see him, but instead of helping, they railed at him. Then his wife came by telling him to curse God and die.
How much of this would you have endured? Notice Job’s attitude toward all of this. He rent his mantle, shaved his head, fell down and worshipped God, and said- Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:20-21
The Bible said – in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
The Devil wants you to worry and frustrate yourself. And in doing so you would have sinned. But God wants us to have a positive outlook by trusting in Him.
CONCLUSIONS:
1: Whatever your problems may be, you need to let God direct you.
You need to take your problems to Jesus, and leave them with Him.
If you are a Christian and have been worrying about things, you have sinned.
Jesus said – come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am weak and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt.11:28-30
You do not need to be walking around with your problems in a bag, they will bring you down.
If you are not a Christian and have been worrying, you need to listen to the words of Jesus when he said – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all his righteousness: and all these things will be added unto you. Matt.6:33
You need to heed to the words of God when he say – Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy: break up your follow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea.10:12
Today you have heard the message;
1. Believe what you have heard, Heb.11:6
2. Repent of your sins, Luke 13:3
3. Come confess your faith in Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. Matt.10:32
4. Come be baptized and wash your sins away. Acts 2:38
And finally, if you are a Christian and have sinned; repent, confess, and pray! 1 John 1:6-10
Lesson today is brought to you by: Bro. Robert H Brown
