From The Problem to the Solution
#1 - ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM
2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…"
This morning, we begin a series of messages, that I've entitled "From the Problem to the Solution"
Now, first of all, I want to ask you this morning, how many of you have some problems?
How many of you have problems…
--on your job
--in your home
How many of you are sitting next to your problem? DON'T RAISE YOUR HAND
You see, the truth of the matter is that WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS…
--physical problems
--mental problems
--emotional problems
--sickness
--disease
--debt
--disappointment
--lost loved ones
--job situations
And as a pastor, over the years, I've had my share of people who told me their problems
I've had people in church tell me…
--that someone in the church was their problem
--that something in the church was their problem
--that "I" was their problem
But here's what I want you to understand: How many of you realize that for every problem, there is a *****SOLUTION*****
Because Paul said in our text, this morning,
2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…"
In other words, for every PROBLEM there is ALWAYS a solution
And so the real question is…
--"What about the in between?"
--"What about the journey"
--HOW DO WE GO FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION?
Well, over the next few weeks, we're going to be talking about that
Now, before I begin this series of messages this morning, we need to first of all understand the source of our problems
Because I want you to know that there are one of 6 reasons (or a combination of more than one) for all the problems that we face today
You see, first of all, we face problems…
A. Because of the WORLD WE LIVE
Al Gore is talking about the environment – but I'm also talking about the environment
Because just living in the environment of this world causes problems
Jesus said…
John 16:33 (KJV) "In the world ye shall have tribulation…"
This is a hostile environment, and we're on the devil's territory
This is football season and there's a thing called the HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
And this is Satan's domain for a season, and just because that this is Satan's turf is going to cause problems
The Bible said that Lot was…
2 Peter 2:7 (NIV) "…a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men"
Not only is this Satan's domain, but the laws of physics cause problems
--if you trip, you will fall down
--if you are in an elevator and the cords snap and you're on the 10th floor, no matter how much you speak in tongues, you're going to say ouch!
--if two cars occupy the same space, that's called a wreck
A woman driver was having difficulties getting her automobile started after it had stalled in traffic. The gentleman in the car behind her insisted in expressing his impatience with her by blowing his horn every few seconds. Finally, the lady, worn out by his thoughtlessness, stepped out of her automobile, walked back to the honker’s car and said, "I’m having some problem in getting my car started. If you’ll go and see if you can start it, I’ll honk your horn for you!"
Not only…
--Satan's domain
--are we subject to the laws of physics
But in this world, we have to contend with our bodies that are weak and sinful, and just in that, there are problems
WE have a fallen and Adamic nature – if we see a woman on a billboard in a bikini, if we are humans, it will bother us
So, understand that if you're having problems this morning, it may not be because of…
--personal sin
--Satan
--God
It may just be because we live in a world of problems
That's why heaven is going to be a wonderful place
And then, secondly, understand, we have problems…
B. Because of the CHOICES WE MAKE
You see, a lot of our problems are not caused by…
--Satan
--some hostile co-worker
--Osama Ben Laden
A lot of our problems are SELF-INFLICTED problems
It's not because…
--of our spouse
--of THE DEVIL
If you tell me the devil pushed you into doing something, I want to know why you were so close to him to let him push!
It's not because of GOD
Instead of saying "Thy will be done" we say "My will be done" and then there are problems
You can't…
--choose to smoke all your life and not expect problems
--choose to do wrong and expect no problems
--choose to sin, and expect everything will be lovely
There is a thing called reaping what you sow
And some of the problems in life are a direct result of the choices we make
And then, thirdly, we have problems…
C. Because of the ENEMY WE FACE
Now, this does have to do with Satan – because we do have an enemy
The Bible says…
• John 10:10 (KJV) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy"
• Job 2:7 (KJV) "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."
• Luke 13:16 (KJV) "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"
We have an enemy and I call him THE INTIMIDATOR
About the time you're ready to…
--get saved
--start a ministry
--have a breakthrough
Just like Dale Earnheart, he runs on your back bumper
We have problems…
--because of the world in which we live
--because of the choices we make
--because of the enemy we face
And then, fourthly, we have problems…
D. Because of the PEOPLE WE KNOW
Other people could be your problem
There could be persecution
Paul said…
2 Timothy 4:14 (KJV) "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:"
There are people who genuinely, for whatever reason, do their best to make your life miserable
And then, there could be not only persecution, but poor people choices
Proverbs 4:14 (KJV) "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."
Sometimes people cause problems
And then, fifthly, we have problems…
E. Because of the PROGRESS WE MAKE
How many of you know…
--that if you're trying to get off drugs, there are problems BEFORE there is progress
--new levels, new devils
--any time you try to make progress, there is always resistance
And this is why sometimes people never get to the solution because when you have problems, sometimes it's MORE comfortable…
--with the problem
--with the status quo
--not worrying about it
Than it is during that time of transition
Sometimes our problems come…
--because of the world we live
--because of the choices we make
--because of the enemy we face
--because of the people we know
--because of the progress we gain
And then, finally, sometimes we face problems…
F. Because of the GOD WE SERVE
This is called TRIALS
There are times, when God allows us to go through things to…
--teach us a lesson
--prepare us for ministry
--prove His power
--keep us humble
--test our character
•Psalms 119:67 (KJV) "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word."
•Psalms 119:71 (KJV) "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
•Psalms 119:75 (KJV) "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me."
In other words, like a loving parent, God sometimes disciplines us for a reason
So, these are the reasons for all of life's problems
And if you're going to go "From the Problem to the Solution" there are three things I want to give you this morning
First of all, you've got to…
1. ADMIT THERE'S A PROBLEM
Now this is the very first step that it takes to get from the problem to the solution
And that is that you must ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM
Now, that sounds very simple, but you would be surprised at how many people have problems in their life, and…
--they don't want to admit it
--they live in DENIAL
--they ignore it
--they don't know they have it
--they don't want the worry of overcoming it (because it takes something to overcome a problem)
And so, the absolute first step in going from the problem to the solution is that you must acknowledge that there is a problem!
If you're…
--in debt, there's a problem
--can't bring your tithe, there's a problem
--got a habit that you can't put down, there's a problem
--got children that are rebellious, there's a problem
One of the most shocking events that ever happened was on April 20, 1999, when two young men walked into Columbine High School and killed 12 students and a teacher
And what was more shocking to me, was the parents to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold said this: WE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM!
Do you have a CRITICAL SPIRIT – if so, there's a problem
But see, so many times people will have problems, and not know them and that's why we need OLD FASHIONED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
We need somebody who will give us an honest assessment of our life
And while I'm on this subject, let me say that if you don't confront friends and family with destructive behaviors, or if you allow them to do it, then you're not helping them!
Sometimes you've got to IN LOVE say, LOOK, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, I WANT TO HELP YOU
They may not like it, but you've got to be willing to help
The first step is ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM
Secondly…
2. ACCESS THE REASON
When you have a problem, find out why there is a problem
A. Is this a "environment" issue
Is the problem I'm going through some choice I made, or is it just because of the world that we live in
B. Is this a "choice" issue
Is it "Thy Will be Done" or "My will be done"
C. Is this a "Satanic" issue
Can I discern if this is a satanic attack, because not everything IS a Satanic attack
We blame the devil a lot of times for things he'd never touch with a 10 foot pole!
D. Is this a "Progress" issue
Am I suffering right now, because I'm going to a new level – because I want a better life
E. Is this a "person" issue
Is there somebody who's on my trail, who is causing me grief
Is this person persecuting me because of my faith, or have I chosen the wrong friends
F. Is this a "God" issue
Is God trying to…
--teach me a lesson
--strengthen my character
--prepare me for ministry
--keep me humble
--prove His power
The first thing you do is…
--admit there's a problem
--access the reason
And then, finally,
3. ACCEPT THE SOLUTION
Because for every problem, there is a solution
A. If it's an environment issue, then we need trust God to help us through the environment
Jesus said…
John 16:33 (KJV) "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
He's still the…
--cloud by day
--fire by night
--one how part's the Red Sea
Despite this fallen world, this is still our Father's world, and His eye is still on the sparrow and we can consider the lilies of the field and we can look in the stormy clouds for the rainbow of heaven!
Not only do we need to trust God, but sometimes, when the environment and the world causes problems, this may include adjusting our attitude
What do you mean? Sometimes accidents happen
But if it does, we can't change it, but we can change ourselves
I'm thinking about two people in particular
•They call him "The Contender". When Kyle Maynor's mother was pregnant, the doctors said they could not find his legs. He was born without hands or legs. However, despite his handicaps, he eats with a spoon, played football and award-winning wrestling while in High School and graduated with a 3.6 average. Two months after his High School graduation, Kyle was a keynote speaker at a forum for the disabled. "Anyone," he told the crowd, "can overcome their boundaries and achieve their dreams."
•The Other Billy Graham – Born with Muscular Dystrophy. Born blind. At birth his life expectancy was eight years. He's not the renowned evangelist. This Billy Graham may be lesser known, but he's just as significant an evangelist. He's Pastor of Evangelism at North Mobile Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama and a certified Evangelism Explosion Clinic Teacher. During his first semester as an EE Teacher/Trainer, Billy took EE teams out five nights every week. He has every excuse not to share the Gospel. But he's doing it every day, and training others to do it as well.
These are men who have problems not because of…
--sin
--choices
--people
--Satan
But because of their environment, but they decided that though the environment changed outwards, it would not change them inwardly
B. If it's a choice issue, we need to change our choices
And sometimes we make the wrong decision based on…
--ignorance
We need to use wisdom
Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
Sometimes we make the wrong decisions based on…
--peer pressure
--wrong motives
Whatever the reason, we need to learn to make the right choices
C. If it's a Satanic issue, we need to do spiritual warfare
That's why…
--the Bible says that we are to put on the whole armour of God and do battle
--there's a thing called spiritual warfare
--plead the blood of Jesus
--say "It is written"
D. If it's a "people" issue then we need to show kindness to our enemies and wisdom in selecting our friends
E. If it's a "progress" issue, then we need to keep on keeping on
Here's how to overcome the "progress" problem – EXPECT IT!
Then expect it
There's a lot of misconception that when we seek and set out to do right that everything will be a walk in the park!
When I plan to go through Raleigh, I plan that there will be a traffic problem – I expect it and prepare for it
How many of you are planning to have children?
I'm expecting…
--labor and delivery
--throw up on my suit
--my child to needs lots of discipline
--to pay money
There are no quick solutions!
F. If it's a "God" issue, we need to trust Him
Because whenever, God has purposely allowed us to be tried, it was always for OUR GOD and HIS GLORY!!!
And I want you to know, as you're going from the problem to the solution, that there's something you've got to understand
Every body has problems…
--in the world we live
--in the progress we make
--in the enemy we face
--in the choices we make
--in the people we know
But not everybody has a God that can use all of these and turn them around for our GOOD!!!
You see, the world has the same problems we have, but only God, for His children, will turn those problems around for…
--a blessing
--our good
--His glory!
Joel 2:25 (KJV) "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."
Only God's children have this
I say to you that God can use…
--accidents
--mistakes
--wrong choices
--Satan's schemes
--difficult people
And turn it all around for our GOOD and HIS GLORY
That's why we ought to…
--praise Him
--thank Him
--serve Him
Because ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD AND GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!
We need to remember what James said in James 1:3-4
James 1:3-4 (The Message) “You know that under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way!”
IN CLOSING
We need to remember, that we're going from the problem to the solution
Now thanks be unto God which ALWAYS causes us to triumph!!
When you're in the valley, don't say "I'm in the valley"
Say, "I'm on my way to my next mountain!"
One stormy night a boat could make no headway, and while the captain was struggling to get into port, a nervous passenger said to him: "Do you think we will get in all right?" He replied: "This is a leaky old boat, and we may go down; and the boilers are not in very good condition, so we may go up. But, whatever happens, we are going on."
How many of you are "going on!" despite the problems!!
