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The Troubles We Have
Job 5:17-19
“He that outlives
this day and sees old age
Shall stand a tiptoe
when this day is named.”
(Anonymous – about the survivors of a great battle)
Those who are going through this war in Iraq are
probably overwhelmed by their sacrifice and experiences. But they are our heroes.
Today people are experiencing troubles: financial,
marriage, family, business.
These are nothing to laugh
at.
Jesus
wants you to be free from these troubles.
He cares.
But often when we pray for our troubles we don’t get
an answer.
It could be our “thorn in the flesh,” but it
probably isn’t.
The Lord has purposes for our trials.
It may be a trial of our faith.
Consider:
I.
Who you Worship
Troubles aren’t troubles unless
God says they are!
Psalms 27:1 ¶ <<[A Psalm] of David.>>
The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the
strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
a.
The Problem is People worship Idols
i.
The Love of Money
1.
As Christians we pay too much attention to Money and the
things that money can buy.
2.
Too often people get a good job and then several years later
have to move to accept a promotion that they think they can’t live without.
3.
And they have to move their family away from their home
church.
ii.
Power
1.
Power and pride go hand in hand.
2.
Many of the problems of larger churches is that church leaders
become powerful people.
3.
Denominations have a lot of trouble because of this.
iii.
Fame
1.
Having people recognize you for how wonderful you are.
2.
Sometimes the singers in a church can struggle with this.
b.
Trials that stop your pursuit of your idols are not troubles
in God’s eyes.
c. Bible Says: “Godliness with
contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim 6:6)
i.
We are to be satisfied with a godly life and our basic needs.
ii.
Worship God and Him only.
d.
Daniel
i.
He was content to be whatever God wanted him to be.
ii.
To Daniel it wasn’t a problem when the King said stop praying.
iii.
He didn’t have to desert God and please the King.
iv.
He knew God would watch over him.
e.
Shadrack, Meshak, and Abednego
i.
They knew God could protect them from the fiery furnace.
ii.
But if not, they told the king that they still wouldn’t bow to
his golden Idol.
f.
If you like Daniel or the Hebrew children have a trial come up
that is about who you will worship.
i.
Then don’t feel it is a trouble.
ii.
It is a trial of your faith.
iii.
You should be happy to be tried for your faith.
iv.
And faith will sustain you.
II.
How you see yourself
Do your troubles disturb your
self-image, self-esteem?
Troubles aren’t troubles just
because they disturb your pride!
a.
Maybe you are troubled because people don’t show you enough
respect.
b.
You are miserable and unhappy because - -
i.
You didn’t get a raise and recognition at work.
ii.
You didn’t get to teach the SS class you wanted.
iii.
You wanted a better job, but could only get a job at McDee’s
c. Romans 12:3 For I
say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to
think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
d.
It will sweep away a lot of people’s troubles just to see who
we are.
i.
Just who am I?
ii.
The world doesn’t owe me anything!
iii.
I ought to be happy just to be alive.
e.
The Bible calls this being thankful.
i.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,
Rejoice.
ii.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
iii.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
iv.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
III.
How you see your church
Do your troubles stop your service
to God?
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
a.
Troubles aren’t troubles unless they can stop you from serving
God.
i.
b. Luke 9:23 And he said
to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me.
i.
We must deny many things in our personal life if we are to
serve God.
c. Luke 9:57 ¶ And it came to pass, that, as they went in the
way, a certain [man] said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou
goest. Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes,
and birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay
[his] head.
i.
Jesus didn’t even have a home.
ii.
What would we think if we didn’t have a home for our pastor?
d. Luke 9:59 And he said
unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my
father. Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their
dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
i.
Some trials have to do with previously assumed duties and
obligations.
1.
But Jesus said that those are dead issues in your life if you
are called to serve Him.
2.
We need to elevate our service to God.
ii.
Joseph was suddenly gone from his father and off to Egypt.
1.
He could have wasted years trying to get back to his family in
the promised land.
2.
But instead God gave him more important things to do.
3.
To Joseph it could have seemed a great trouble.
4.
But God meant it for good.
iii.
e. Luke 9:61 And another
also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell,
which are at home at my house. Luke
9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man,
having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of
God.
i.
Some trials test your love
ii.
Peace activists in the 60’s carried banners, “Love, not War.”
iii.
But soldiers must go to battle and leave their loved ones
behind.
iv.
Can you imagine what it would be like to have “mercy trips”
back to the states for those who are homesick for momma and the kids?
v.
No! Soldiers have to
buck up and do their duty.
IV.
Conclusion
a.
Troubles
aren’t troubles unless God thinks they are.
b.
Some
troubles are because we aren’t saved.
c.
Other
troubles can be because we aren’t faithful to God.
d.
And
further troubles can be because God wants us to grow.
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