Introduction:
The word trouble is often looked upon with a dark color. Trouble and trials are two of a kind. Webster’s dictionary defines trouble as a condition of distress, anxiety, or danger. We as Christians are well aware that we face trouble and trials in our day-to-day living.
James 1:2-3 says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Our trials of life build character, endurance, and patience. When I think of the hardships that we as a race of people had to endure from the lash of the whip and the selling of our people as slaves on the auctioning block, my mind cannot help but ponder to the hardships as that the Israelites suffered under the rule of Pharaoh. With that in mind that brings me to my first and only point.
Development:
Point Number 1: He May Not Come When You Want Him, But He’s Always On Time
Taking a look at biblical history, the Israelites where slaves under the rule of an Egyptian Pharaoh. He had them under strick suffering and pain for hundreds of years. Their bondage was because of the Pharaoh being ignorant of the contributions that Joseph made or he just did not care because of his own arrogance. People of this world whether if you are a Christian or not, we often find ourselves in situations just like that of the Israelites.
A new king that did not know Joseph takes over and we the people suffer because of his power. The new king may be a supervisor or company owner who holds authority over us and mistreats us or jeopardizes our jobs and benefits.
The new king may be a spouse who misuses his or her authority and becomes unsuppporting, distant, dominating, or threatening. The new king may be a king or government official who abuses his power and restricts our freedom and in some cases enslaves us.
Millions of lives are tragically affected every day because of situations like these. The answer to oppression and persecution is God, believing and trusting God. God delivers all who truly believe and trust Him—all true believers.
This new king had a fear of all fears. The new king feared that the people were a threat to his nation and their way of life. The king feared their numbers and strength because Israel’s population was exploding, growing by leaps and bounds. They were becoming a mighty force of people just by their sheer numbers. The king feared their joining forces with some enemy and attacking Egypt. The Israelites were different from the Egyptians, different in appearance, life style, and religion.
God had gotten sick and tired of His people being mistreated. But God had to make His point known before His people were released. He had to prove that He was God and God all by Himself. For some of you, God has you in some tight situations and He is using you to make a point loud and clear.
First Plague: Changed Water to Blood to prove that God is the Lord of Salvation.
Second Plague: There Were Frogs Everywhere to prove that God has no equal.
Third Plague: Lice/Nats Infested the land to proved that the finger of God controls all things.
Fourth Plague: Flies Swarmed Over the Land to prove that the Lord is the Savior in Every Land and in Every Place.
Fifth Plague: A Sever Disease Attacked and Killed all the Livestock in the field that proved that the hand of God controls the animal life of the world.
Sixth Plague: Festering Boils Afflicted Man and Animals proves that God has power Over the Body and Health.
Seventh Plague: A Catastrophic Hail and Thunderstorm proved that the Earth is the Lord’s.
Eighth Plague: Locust Swarmed Over the Land proves that the Lord is the Great Savior of Mankind.
Ninth Plague: Darkness Covered the Land proves that God has Power over the Light and the Darkness of the Earth.
Tenth Plague: Death of the First Born Announced proves that God is the God of True Believers.
Conclusion:
Just before I take my seat, like I said, He May Not Come When You Want Him, But He Is Always On Time.
And I’m so glad that TROUBLE DON’T LAST ALWAYS.
Well preacher I hear you but I’m not with you. Let’s go to the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army just knew that it was all over for the people of Israel. But it isn’t over till God says it’s over.
God told Moses to stretch out his rod towards the Red Sea. Moses did just as God had told him, and the winds from the east parted the Red Sea so the people of Israel could cross over.
When David stood before Goliath, everybody just knew that it was all over for David. The people looked at David, and then at Goliath. In their little minds all they could see was the demise of a little twelve year old boy who was standing before a giant of a man.
Little did they realize who David was working for and what he was working with. One thing about God, He can take an ordinary person like yourself and put the extra to the ordinary and have you the ordinary doing extra ordinary things.
Romans 8:18 says For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Psalm 27:2 says When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Let me show you what I’m working with. I’m working with the FATHER, SON, and the HOLY GHOST. I’m working with a man that tells me without a shadow of a doubt that trouble don’t last always.
This man had no sin. This man helped every body He could. This man taught every body He could. This man’s name is Jesus. He took that walk down the road of Golgotha to place called the Hill of the Skull, better known as Cavalry.
He carried that old rugged cross. As the blood flowed from His body while carrying that old rugged cross, Jesus did not let that distract Him. He was steadfast and unmovable to the cause.
When He arrived at the top of that old hill called Cavalry, they made Him lay down on that old rugged cross and began to drive the nails in His hands and His feet. The crucifixion itself was the most horrible of deaths.
As the first nail went in His left hand, He knew that nail was representing the Father which was in heaven, as the second nail went in His right hand, He knew that that nail was representing Himself, the sacrificial Lamb of God, and as the third nail went into His feet, He knew that it was representing the Holy Spirit which was soon to come.
As they raised Him up high, he was stretched wide. There were two thieves hanging there with Him. One was on the left and one was on the right. I see three nails in the body of Jesus the Christ, I see three persons hanging on the Hill of the Skull, I see three nails in each of the thieves. The number three represents the Trinity, the Triune God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
There was the pain of the driven spikes forced through the flesh of Jesus’ hands and feet. There was the weight of His body jolting and pulling against the spikes as the cross was lifted and rocked into place. There was the scorching sun and the unquenchable thirst gnawing away at His dry mouth and throat. There was the blood oozing from His scourged back, His thorn crowned brow, His stick beaten head. In addition, just imagine the aggravation of flies, gnats, and other insects.
As Jesus hung on that old rugged cross, through it all, He was still steadfast and still unmovable. Jesus was conscience and fully aware of everything that was going on around the cross. He heard the remarks that were being about Him, He heard the lies that were being said about Him, but He still stayed steadfast and unmovable.
I just would like to use my spiritual imagination if I may. Just as death was about to enter the body of Jesus the Christ, the thief on the right made a confession to Jesus. Jesus hearing the man on His right, told death, Hold up death, I’m no running from you I came to you willingly. I’m just putting you on pause for a minute.
Just like when we are watching a DVD movie or a video tape and we may have to leave the movies for a few minutes and don’t want to miss anything, we hit the pause button so that the movie will stop and upon our return we press the play button for the movies to resume were we left off.
This is what the thief on the right said in Luke 23:41-43, And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Shortly after this Jesus gave up the ghost. There were many people that just knew that it was all over for the Jesus the Christ. Saturday morning they just knew that Jesus was done. Saturday night those same people just knew that Jesus was done. But early Sunday morning, something supernatural took place. Early Sunday morning Jesus got up. Jesus got up with all power in His hands. Say yes. Say yes.
