First Church of God in Harvey
Sunday Morning, June 5th, 2011
Let us pray
Welcome.........
Saints, I have some good news for you. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord..." or "It is appropriate to give thanks unto the Lord," or it is alright to give thanks unto the Lord. Why? Because the Bible Says, O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.......
This day, the one that we know nothing about, is the day that the Lord hath made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Someone might ask, how can I rejoice in the mids't of all that I am going through. Just simple trust God, and start praising him, and see what he will do.
Almost 7 years ago I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer. I did not want to talk too much about it, but in my mind I wonder why would God allow this to happen to me? Why would God allow terrible things to happen to his children? I went to my doctor 11 days ago, and he was excited of how things have turned out. He said to see him in a year, and from all indications I am healed. It is not the doctor, it is the God whom I serve. The God whom I serve is a God who can heal cancer. It doesn't matter how things might appear to be. God can do that which is impossible with man..............
In a very short time, Job had lost all he had materially, 7000 sheep; 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she asses, a very great household, but that was not all, he also lost all his children. What do you do when you have lost everything? What do you do when you are completely wiped out? What do you do when you see all that you have worked for goes up in smoke? Some people might cry; some might start acting crazy; some might put a bullet to their head, but the Bible says that Job arose, rent his mantle, shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.
The story did not end there. Job had lost everything, but he was still in good health. People will say I don't have any money, but I am healthy. "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."
The story did not end there, Job had lost everything, his body was covered with boils, but at least he had a wife to comfort him, but don't get carried away, for the bible says, Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." There are people out there who might be close to you, who are ready to give advise when you are going trough your troubled times. Even though Job was going through his suffering, he did not acted like Adam who obeyed his wife Eve as we were told last Sunday, but God gave Job some holy boldness, and this is what he said, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" " In all this did not Job sin with his lips".
Somebody came here today that needs some encouragement. Somebody came here today that needs to be reminded that there is joy in serving Jesus. Somebody came here today that needs to be told it is not all that bad, because Jesus knows how to turn darkness into light. Somebody needs to leave here today, and be able to say, I am so glad that I came into the house of the Lord.
Today we will be reading from 2 Corinthians 4 verses 8 through 10 and verses 15 through 18.
How can someone be blessed through suffering? How can someone be blessed when that pay check you are getting is never enough? How can someone be blessed when it seems there is always trouble after trouble? Very good questions, but I want somebody to know today that trouble is a way of life especially for the Christians. How can someone be blessed as they watch their house going up in smoke. Such was the case of one of our dear sisters on last Tuesday afternoon The Bible says In Job 14 verse 1, "Man that is born of a woman is of a few days, and full of trouble." That word trouble means according to my dictionary, a state of distress, affliction, danger or need.
In our text for today it says, "We are troubled on everyside..." I want somebody to know there are trouble all around. There is trouble in the home and out of the home. There is trouble in our neighborhoods. There is trouble in our schools. There is trouble in our cities. There is trouble in our nation. There is trouble among the saints. There is trouble with the preachers. You name it, because everywhere you go there is trouble. You and I did not ask for trouble it just came our way. Jesus says in John 16 verse 33, " In the world you shall have tribulation," or in the world you are going to find trouble.
If I should ask each of you how did your week go last week? It is almost certain that somewhere along the line something would be said about trouble. It is said that trouble is something everybody has that nobody wants. .We all have troubles. It does not matter if you are a man or a woman; a boy or a girl. rich or poor, saved or unsaved, we all have troubles. Some of us right here today, have just come through some troubles. Some of you right now are going through your troubles, and others right here are headed for trouble. Even though we have had our troubles; even though we are in our troubles; even though we are headed for trouble, thank God we don't have to be distressed. That word distress means to cause strain, anxiety, or suffering. Even though we have trouble on everyside, we can remain calm.
The disciples had found themselves in trouble, they were in a storm, but Jesus spoke peace to their troubled soul, "it is I, be not afraid." I want to encourage somebody today, that even though there is trouble all around, we do not have to be in distress, because we have a God who knows how to deliver from trouble. I am talking about Jesus, the one who is our deliverer. I am talking about Jesus, the one who can make a way out of no way. I am talking about Jesus the one who can comfort us when we are down. David writes in Psalm 91 verse 3, "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler..".there is no doubt, deliverance will come your way. Saints be encouraged, your trouble will not last for ever. Just hold on, and don't forget there is blessing through suffering..............
We are perplexed...that word perplexed means puzzled. bewildered, confused. Have you ever found yourself perplexed, confused, not sure what will be your next move? Have you ever found yourself driving to the store, and pass by the store, and so you have to back up or turn around? On last Friday, I left the church, I was planning to turn on 150th street, but there I was passing 151st street, and so had to turn around. Have you ever found yourself looking for your eye glasses, only to realize you are wearing your glasses? Have you ever found yourself looking for your keys, only to realize the keys are in your hands? You are not suffering from Alzheimer's disease, you are only going through your time of perplexity. You are not crazy, you are a normal human being, but you are perplexed. I am sure if we all got together, young and old, we could all write a book with the topic, we are perplexed. Even though we are perplexed, we are not in despair. That word despair means, defeat; utter lack of hope. So, even though we are perplexed; even though we might be confused, we still have hope. Thank God for the hope we have in Jesus. No wonder the song writer could say, "We have a hope within our souls, Brighter than the perfect day: God has given us his spirit, And we want the world to hear it, All our doubts are passed away." We should rejoice for the hope we have in Jesus..........
People might call us crazy, but thank God we have a hope. They might call us old fashion, but thank God we have a hope. They might say we have to get with it, but thank God we have a hope, and that there is blessing through suffering. .....
Paul went on to say, persecuted, but not forsaken. That word persecute means to oppress or harass with ill treatment. As a child of God, have you every been persecuted? Have you ever been pursued or hunted down? Many of us have not gone through real persecution, but persecution is a part of our Christian life, and there is a blessing in suffering. Let's be real, most of us don't want to suffer, we like things easy, we like things comfortable, we like things going our way. You don't bother me, and I surely will not bother you. You do things your way, and I will do things my way. It is time for us as Christians to stand up for what we believe, and if it means rocking the boat, let's rock the boat. God is counting on you, and God is counting on me to stand up for what is right......
Persecuted, but not forsaken. Persecuted, but not abandoned. You thought God was through with you? You thought God had left you alone? You thought you were left there all by yourself? No, no, no, this is only a test. This is our rehearsal party, the best is yet to come. There is a chorus of a song which says, "No,never alone, No, never alone, .He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone." It is comforting to know that Jesus Christ is always there, and we can rest assured on his words, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5) I want someone to know today, that no matter what you are going through Jesus is there, and there is a blessing in suffering......
Paul goes on to say, cast down, but not destroyed. Paul is saying sometimes we are cast down, sometimes we are struck down, sometimes we get knocked down, and that is alright as long as we don't get knocked out. I use to watch boxing, and sometimes one fighter would knock-down another fighter, and the referee would start his count, and that fighter would try to get up before the count of ten. Many of us here today have been knocked down, but as the count goes out, we get up before the count of ten and continue the fight, and so we can tell that old devil, yes you have knocked me down, but you have not knocked me out. Thank God, there is a blessing in suffering. ........
Saints of God, no matter what you are going through, you are going through, and Jesus is right there with you, because He promise never to leave you alone. No matter how dark the night, there is light somewhere, because Jesus is our light. So cheer up saints, there is blessing in suffering..........
As we go through our troubles, as we go through our being perplexed, as we go through our persecution, as we go through our being knocked down, as we go through all these we are continually carrying the dying of the Lord Jesus, "so that the living power of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies too." .
Someone has said, "you can't keep a good man down." Is it possible for there to be blessing in suffering? Is it possible to have joy despite all that you have gone through? Is it possible to smile in the midst of all the beatings you have received? Is it possible to be pressed on all sides, and still not being crushed? Is all this possible? Someone sees you and wonder what is going on. They know you have gone through something. They know you have been tested and tried. They know you have hit some hard times, but there you are still praising God. How can this happen? How can you still praise God in the mids't of all that you are going through? Let's look at verses 15 through 18 for our answer.
That is the answer, there is blessing through suffering. In our troubles, in our perplexities, in our persecution, in our being knocked down, we have hung in there, we have never given up, we have not played the coward, we have held on. If somehow today you are getting faint, you are thinking about giving up, please don't, but just hang in there, hold on, it is going to be alright. As our outward man is perishing, the inward man is renewed day by day. We try to make the outward man look good, and that is alright, but the outward man is perishing. We might think we are still 16, but I can hear somebody say he or she is no spring chicken. I want somebody to know we are all getting older, this is a part of life. I used to be 16, but I am not sixteen anymore. the outward man is perishing, the outward man is wasting away, but as this takes place the inner man is renewed and refreshed day by day. ......
The slight trouble we are having, will not last forever. The slight trouble is preparing us for what is ahead. When that arthritis pain kicks in, we know it wont last forever, it is just getting us ready for what is ahead. When we are persecuted, we know it wont last forever, it is only getting us ready for what is ahead. When there are troubles on every side, we just don't know where to go, it wont last forever, it is only getting us ready for what is ahead. When that brother or sister don't care too much about you, even though you have tried and tried to make things right, it wont last forever, because we are getting ready for what is ahead. Our light affliction is just for a moment, it is just for a short time....
Yes, there is blessing in suffering, So Paul concludes with verse 18 (read)
Surely we will have trouble, and surely God will deliver us from trouble. We will get perplexed, but we dont have to be in despair. Persecution will come our way, but the Lord will not abandon us. We might get knocked down, but we dont have to be knocked out. Through our suffering others will see the living power of Jesus manifested in our bodies. Despite our sufferings I believe we all can say, God has been good to us. Despite our sufferings, we can say God has been really good to us.........
We all have troubles. How many of you here today, young and old are going through troubled times? How many of you here today realize that in Jesus Christ we have the victory? How many of you here today just want to come, and cast all your cares upon the Lord? How many of you know that Jesus Christ is the answer? He is the answer to a troubled life.............
Let us stand......Call to discipleship; Closing song/prayer
