Let’s also read 2Co 1:3-4
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
So many people in this life want everything without any effort.
We see that doctors home and say (I’d sure like to have a home like that) but we don’t want to go to school for 15 years so we can make that kind of money so we can buy a home like that.
We see that young man walking through the mall, it looks like his muscles are about to bust out of his shirt, and we say (man I’d like to have muscles like that) you can if you go to the gym 5 times a week and pump iron till it feels like your arms and legs are gonna fall off.
Or we see that pastor of a large church, he’s prosperous and drives a nice car and lives in a beautiful home, and we say ( I want a church like that and a car like that and a home like that) The question is, are you willing to do what he did to get it?
Are you willing to be faithful over a handful of not so perfect people, seek God, study his word, obey him when it doesn’t make sense, be persecuted and publicly criticized and humiliated?
You see:
Many believers have the attitude that just because they are saved and in the family of God, that now God is supposed to give them everything they ever dreamed of without any effort, or work or discipline on their part.
The fact is, it costs what it costs and it never goes on sale.
Yes God wants to prosper you and bless you, but sometimes you’re going to have to go through something.
Sometimes you have to struggle, Sometimes you have to fight.
There is something in the struggle that is necessary to becoming what God has ordained us to be.
God left giants in the promised land on purpose
#1 Because they needed to learn how to fight
#2 Because giants distinguish the difference between professors and possessors.
It’s one thing to confess the promises of God, it’s another thing to strap on your sword and go toe to toe with your giants and possess your promises.
#3 Giants expose the grasshoppers in the crowd (When giants show up grasshoppers speak up).
Grasshoppers usually blend into their environments but giants uncover them.
Remember that grasshoppers don’t eat grapes, You will never have promise land faith with a grasshopper mentality.
#4 You get to know yourself in the struggle ( the real you comes out under pressure).
#5 You get to know your God, you realize that God is your only help.
#6 You get stronger, you put down roots, you dig into the word and prayer.
#7 You become aware of the excesses and unnecessary things in your life.
#8 The struggle produces thankfulness (example ) someone survives a tornado, their house is gone their car is gone but they are so thankful that they are still alive, the family is together.
When you know you had to fight for what you got:
a.You appreciate it more
b.You won’t let anyone take it from you
#9 Struggles test your level of commitment
The only way to truly gauge your level of commitment is through the struggle
#10 The struggle qualifies you for rest
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
#11 The struggle qualifies you for the reward:
David heard them speak of a reward, but he knew the reward was only for the person who would fight and KILL Goliath.
1Sam 17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
We should understand that many times the struggle, the fight, the warfare, the praying, the waiting patiently, the enduring, is as important as the blessing or reward
While we are looking at the reward, God is looking at the development that is taking place through the struggle.
Faith is forged in the furnace of adversity.
The first generation children of Israel forfeited their inheritance because they would not fight
How many of Gods people have forfeited their destiny their promises, just because they refused to fight.
When the heat was on they bailed out, backed down, laid down their swords and conceded to the enemy.
As long as everything was going smooth they were right there shouting with the rest of the army, but when the struggle came they caved in and gave in to discouragement and fear and doubt.
If you will be truthful tonight: what has made you what you are in God is the struggle
What you had to fight for,
What you had to fight against
What you had to overcome
The caterpillar goes through a process of metamorphosis through which it changes from an earthbound crawly worm, into a beautiful butterfly.
But this process involves struggle
To cut the struggle short would rob the butterfly of it’s destiny.
The baby chick in the egg goes through a process of growth inside of the egg until it begins to outgrow the egg, but it must peck it’s way out of the egg.
This struggle strengthens the baby chick and prepares it for life outside the egg.
To cut the struggle short would severely injure if not kill the chick.
Through the struggle it gains the strength it needs to survive and thrive in it’s new environment.
And here is one of the best thing about your struggle:
It qualifies you to help others.
When you been through something you can help somebody else
When you’ve stood your ground and fought your battles and conquered your giants you are qualified to help someone else through their battles.
One thing that has really helped me through my struggles is (the thought of ) how many people am I going to be able to help and encourage as a result of going through this?
The devil wants to make it all about you, give you tunnel vision (he wants you to focus all your attention on the struggle).
But God wants you to realize that even though the devil sent it to take you out, God is going to use it to take you up, and when you get up you will be able to help somebody else get up.
2Co 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, (that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God)
Through your struggles God is bringing you to a place of greater infuence and blessing to your brothers and sisters in the lord.
Yes I may be going through a struggle but I’m growing through my struggle
I’m developing some spiritual muscles, I’m developing some compassion, some patience, some endurance.
Some long suffering.
I’m developing the ability to put myself in the position where others are and to feel what they feel, so I can speak a word in season to them.
Yeah I may be struggling right now but don’t feel sorry for me, There’s something in the struggle I need to become what God has ordained for me.
Pray for me, not to get out but to go through.
God did not deliver Daniel from the lions den ( he delivered him through it).
God did not deliver the three hebrew children from the the fiery furnace he delivered them through it).
David needed Goliath
The children of Israel needed the giants
The 3 hebrew children needed the fiery furnace
Sampson needed the philistines
And we need the struggle
There is no testimony without a test and no victory without a battle.
A victorious life is not a problem free life, it is a life in which we overcome our enemies by virtue of struggle and fight.
Finally let me say: The struggle don’t last forever
Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning
The struggle is an instrument of transition.
The struggle means you are on your way somewhere.
The devil wouldn’t fight you if you were not going somewhere
The struggle prepares you for your future.
The struggle is an indication of transition
Don’t feel sorry for me (I’m just in Transition).
