Pressed, But Not Crushed!

Intro: The Apostle Paul sums up our existence here on earth in realistic terms! We are in a pressure cooker! The challenges of life and the accompanying stress are constant companions. But, while we share in the same troubles that the world has, thank God, we will overcome! Paul says it this way, "We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed!" Another ways of saying it is, "We are hard pressed, but not suffocated!" That's how we felt walking the streets of New York City last week!

There are three things that are certain in the life of every Christian:

I. SURELY, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE!

A. The Bible promised it, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." Job 14:1.

B. The Psalmist promised it, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

Ps. 90:10.

C. Jesus promised it! John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation…" You're going to have trouble!

D. Even preachers, have troubles! That's what Paul said, in our text! Let me tell you about some troubles I had last Saturday. As we were ready to board the plane for NYC…\

E. Something everybody has that nobody wants is troubles! Everyone has troubles! Some of us have just come through some troubles. Others are in trouble right now. Some are headed for trouble! But, I'm glad I can take you to the second point of this message…

II. SURELY, GOD WILL DELIVER YOU FROM TROUBLE!

A. Ps. 91:1-3. v. 3, "Surely, He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler," WHO IS THE FOWLER? The devil! And he is always trying to fowl things up! He wants to foul up the plans God has for your life, your family, your health!

B. But, thank God, we have the promise, "SURELY, HE SHALL DELIVER THEE FROM TROUBLE!"

C. The Psalmist said our troubles will soon be cut off, and we will fly away!

D. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivereth him out of them all!"

E. While Jesus said, "In the world, ye shall have tribulation," He didn't stop there! He said, "But be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!" And, thank God we will too!

F. WE MAY BE PRESSED ON ALL SIDES, BUT WE WILL NOT BE CRUSHED!

G. NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, just remember, YOU ARE GOING THROUGH! Sing, "I'm going through, yes, I'm going through…"

Yes, Surely, you'll have trouble…Surely, God will deliver you from trouble, but lastly the Bible promises…

III. SURELY, YOU'LL COME OUT OF YOUR TROUBLES BETTER THAN BEFORE!

A. Just ask Brother Job! You can get depressed reading about all his troubles. But listen to the rest of the story…Job 42:10,12 The Bible says, "So the Lord blessed the later end of Job more than his beginning!"

B. Just ask Brother Joseph! He was forsaken and falsely accused by family and friends. But, he kept the right attitude. He kept the right perspective when he told his brothers, in Gen. 50:20, "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good!"

C. The Apostle Paul, in our text, said it right, "WE ARE PRESSED ON ALL SIDES, BUT NOT CRUSHED!" You can't keep a good man down! Surely, you'll come out of your troubles better than before!

D. Read the rest of our text, II Cor. 4:15-18. "For which cause," Paul says, that is, knowing that we're going to come out of our troubles better than before…"WE FAINT NOT!"

E. We may get knocked down by troubles, but, thank God WE DON'T GET KNOCKED OUT!

Conclusion: How many of you here today are going through troubled times? If you have one problem you're facing raise one hand. If you have two or more troubles, raise both hands! Victory is coming!