Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties.
2 Corinthians 6:4 (GNT)
Common Mistakes:
• They Listened to Bad Advice
• They Followed the Crowd
• They Relied on Circumstances
Dealing With Difficulties in a Godly way
1. Determine the Reason - What caused this trouble?
“I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me until I went into your Temple.”
Psalm 73:16-17a (GNT)
2. Determine the Result - What does God want me to learn from this Difficulty?
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. 4 And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.
Romans 5:3-4 (TLB)
3. Determine My Response - How should I respond to my Trouble?
Three Wrong Responses:
• Don’t Drift
…and when the ship was caught in it and could not head against the wind [to gain stability], we gave up and [letting her drift] were driven along.
Acts 27:15 (AMP)
• Don’t Discard
We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.
Acts 27:18 (NIV)
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
Acts 27:31 (NIV)
• Don’t Despair
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
Acts 27:20 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)
Three Godly Responses:
• Confess My Part
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)
• Confront it
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
• Claim a Promise
So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
Acts 27:25 (NIV)
4. Don’t Give Up - Look Up!
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
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