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Trials and Tribulations • Sermon • Submitted
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A common question I’m asked comes in a varied of forms, but it’s core message is always the same. Why does God allow bad things happen to me? It also may sound like why does God allow evil in this world? I believe this answer is a two old answer. First, evil doesn’t come from God it comes from Satan and the Fall of Man. Bad things are the result of our lack of perfection and staying faithful to God. Bad things are the result of the Orginal Sin. The second part is what I really want to talk to you guys about today. It’s because of God’s ultimate love for us. When bad things are happing to us or others, its hard to see the good in anything. It seems like the odds are against us and sometimes feels like God’s absent. But this is not the case, in fact it’s completely different.
Pray
Paul talks about this exact issue in . 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. [1] These trials are actually meant for us to rely on God more. Notice something thought. Paul doesn’t ay we rejoice because of the sufferings, rather we should rejoice in them and through them. Also, we shouldn’t rejoice them in toic fortitude, but rather learn to rejoice throughout all the happenings of life. Sufferings produces endurance. When you workout, the first time you workout you are sore and your musces tire quickly. But as you workout more, your musces become stronger and you workout harder and longer than before. This is also true in your spiritual life. When you go through a trial or suffering, your faith gets stronger and you know that God is always there. Then once you gain endurance you and you survive it, you produce character. This is important because we all have our own character. But a worthy character is always more noticeable to others, because you have an unknown strength… a divine strength. We all know of someone going through a tough time or a stressful situation and wonder why they are so calm. That’s the character that Paul talks about. Then character produces hope. The hope that our New World is better. The hope that God will always prevail. The hope that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. The hope that we will get closer to God. Trials equal stronger faith romans 5:3-5
Another thing that we have to realize is that God doesn’t turn a blind eye toward us when we go through tough times. In And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.[2]Paul address this very specific thing. Yes, bad things happen. We may never know the reason, but they happen. But they “why” we already know. Paul says “all things work together for good” When Jesus was being perseuded then crucified, I bet his disciples wondered why these things were happening. Later, we know that it is because Jesus HAD to be crucifed to fulfill destiny. He had to die for our sins and it was a bad thing that happened to him. BUT we now know that this was FOR GOOD. This is still prevaleant for us today. We may not know why these bad things happen, but later we may understand them. For instance, my mothers death confirmed my decision for chaplaincy. It was a horrible situation and I wondered “why me?” but now I know through this suffering I can help others that are going through this situation.
This All things are for the greater good romans 8:28
So what we need to do when bad things happen. Look back at 1 thessalonians. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you[3] First, get rid of the stigmatism of bad things and rely on God. Don’t get “revenge” on others or turn to hatred. Don’t harden your heart, but in fact, let the situation soften your heart. Then rejoice! We all know an eior in our lives. We know that the negativity is overwhelming, but you need to know that negativity grows like cancer. A rapidly growing and joy killing cancer. Think about it when you got some joy in you and then come across an eior. You walk about like, well my life sucks now…” We need to rejoice and I read in a book that the source of Christian joy was different. Christian joy, rooted in the gospel, is infused with hope, and grows in relationship with the Lord. The pessimism and lack of hope that generally characterized ancient society found its answer in the salvation God offered through Jesus Christ.[4] Next, we pray! Pray about everything. Pray for the good. Pray for the Bad. Heck pray because your bored. God is listening. He is faithful to the saved. He wants that relationship with you. He may even place you in that situation to bring you back into his grace. But we know that HE wants you to pray to him. Lastly, thank God for everything. Without HIM we have nothing Without HIM we remain dead. Without HIM we are going to a really bad situation. Thank God, because remember that this bad situation won’t last forever. Sooner or later it will pass and it was God and HIS strength that brought you through it. It was HIM that made a bad situation for the good. Remember that God is pure goodness and all he wants is us wrapped in his arms.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[4] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 258). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.