OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Facing life's challenges can be overwhelming but with a perspective rooted in faith can shape not merely the response to those challenges but also the outcomes and growth experienced from them. Our shared experiences highlight how adopting a godly approach—rooted in prayer, discernment, and following Jesus's example of speaking into the situation—can lead to overcoming significant difficulties. Each situation you described reveals a different aspect of responding to trials in a manner that aligns with spiritual principles.
(i) Relocating from Boston (MA) to North Liberty (IA): This decision likely involved considerable thought, prayer, and seeking God's direction. Moving, especially between states, can be a significant life change involving upheaval and uncertainty. Turning to faith for guidance in such a situation underscores the reliance on divine will rather than merely human judgement, a principle Jesus exemplified through His life, always seeking to do the Father's will above His own.
(ii) Moving out of a Mold-Infested building: Addressing the health issues of your congregants by moving out of a hazardous building, and returning it to the bank upon much prayer and discernment, shows a prioritization of people's well-being and an ethical approach to problem-solving. This decision-making process mirrors the biblical counsel to care for one another and make choices rooted in love and consideration for others' welfare, a stance Jesus consistently modeled.
(iii) Dealing with Possessed visitors: Engaging spiritual problems with direct prayer and addressing evil spirits showcase a profound level of spiritual warfare. Jesus frequently dealt with demons during His ministry on earth, offering deliverance to those afflicted. Your actions reflect this aspect of His ministry—facing spiritual opposition head-on with authority and faith in God's power to redeem and heal.
Our story vividly illustrates that responding to life's challenges with a godly approach is not about a passive wait for divine intervention but an active engagement with faith, prayer, and spiritual discernment. It shows that spiritual resilience, underpinned by a deep trust and reliance on God, can not only navigate through storms but also bring peace amid them. This kind of resilience is cultivated through consistent faithfulness, prayer, and a commitment to living out one's beliefs in all aspects of life, a testament to the power of faith in action.
INTRODUCTION: There is a misconception about Christ. Many think that He was all-compassionate and never passed judgment, but they will be surprised to read the truth about how Jesus responded to different situations.
Jesus always acted out of love and truth. We know that, but Jesus always told people exactly what they needed to hear, not always what they wanted to hear. Jesus never played favorites, He did not care what position people held, or how much money they had. His responses were not based on how people would look at Him afterwards or to keep the multitudes listening.
The narrative of Jesus’s life is deeply intertwined with themes of suffering, adversity, and redemption, providing profound insights into how He overcame the problems of this world. From His ministry to His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus demonstrates not only His understanding of human struggles but also His power to transcend them.
Each problem that Jesus encountered was invariably different from the other, but He handled each one with similar principles and that is how we must deal with the issues of our life.
HOW DID JESUS DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF LIFE?
1. PRAYED WITH DEPENDENCE ON GOD
Jesus didn’t rush into action without seeking God. He attacked problems at the root—spiritually. Jesus often withdrew to pray, especially before or after facing challenges.
• Before choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12–13) – He spent the night in prayer.
• Luke 22:31— “I have prayed for you”—Jesus knew Peter was about to deny Him, and yet what does He do? He prays for Peter. This is the unexpected and unselfish Savior we serve.
• Before major decisions or battles (like choosing disciples or facing the cross), He prayed deeply (Luke 6:12; Matthew 26:36–44).
• In Gethsemane before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:36–46) – He prayed earnestly, showing both His human struggle and submission to God's will.
LESSON: Jesus didn’t rely on His own strength—He sought God’s will and guidance. Jesus prioritized spiritual guidance over impulsive action.
APPROACH: Fight spiritual battles with spiritual tools.
2. EXERCISED GODLY WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT
Jesus often responded to problems with questions or stories (parables) that revealed deeper truths.
• When challenged on paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15–22) – He replied, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” avoiding a political trap with wisdom.
• With the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11) – The men who brought this sinful woman to Jesus for judgment were guilty of sin as well. Where was the man who had sinned with this adulterous woman? It seems the woman was surrounded by hypocrites—except for Jesus, who loved her soul and told her to repent. He diffused a violent situation with calm wisdom, saying, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
• Luke 12:15 – In this passage we find two brothers arguing over their inheritance. They want Jesus to decide for them— “who made me a judge over you?” Jesus didn’t come to solve people’s earthly problems. He came to save people from their sins. They were missing the point of His ministry.
LESSON: He responded thoughtfully, not reactively, often exposing hidden motives.
APPROACH: Exercise Godly wisdom and discernment while fighting spiritual battles.
3. SPOKE TO IT WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY
Jesus directly confronted and defeated all evil forces.
• On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. …And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine” (John 2:1,3). Jesus spoke to the water in the waterpots to become wine and it was so.
• Matt 21:13 – The moneychangers — “you have made my Father’s house a den of thieves”—Some may have expected Jesus to simply walk by the moneychangers and accept the way things were at the temple. But no, in His righteous wrath, He threw them out and reminded everyone where they were—in His Father’s house!
• Matt 23–Pharisees— “Woe unto you”—Jesus didn’t talk to everybody the same way, did He? No, because He did know the hearts of men, He dealt with them according to their true condition. The hypocritical and uncaring Pharisees received the condemnation of the Lord. – He challenged corrupt leaders firmly but justly. He talked directly to wickedness and corruption.
• Luke 8:2 – Mary Magdalene — He cast out 7 demons from her – We do not see Jesus sit around sympathizing with Mary about her past. Instead, we see her following Him as a faithful disciple, helping him out of her own substance, sitting at the foot of the cross, and finally being the first witness to His resurrection at the tomb. He cast out demons with authority (Mark 1:23–27).
• In Luke 18:35-43 the blind beggar is healed when Jesus speaks into his condition.
• Luke 17:17-19 – The ten lepers — “where are the other nine?” Jesus knew where the nine lepers were as He spoke to the one thankful man. He was making a point to us all. A gift of physical cleansing deserved a giant thank you! The gift of spiritual cleansing deserves from us an even greater thanks!
• He resisted Satan’s temptations in the wilderness by quoting Scripture (Mat. 4:1–11).
• John 11–Lazarus— “do you believe in the resurrection”— Mary and Martha expected Jesus to come and heal their sick brother. Instead, He waited 4 days to come and raise Lazarus from the dead, thereby glorifying God and causing many to believe. Jesus had obviously taught Martha about the resurrection, and surely after seeing her brother raised, she had no doubt!
LESSON: He didn’t shy away from confrontation when righteousness or justice was at stake.
APPROACH: Use the Word of God and spiritual authority to fight evil.
APPLICATION:
• Seeking God through prayer,
• Using discernment and wisdom,
• Speaking and living the truth boldly,
• Confronting evil directly
• He was never passive—He was powerful, purposeful, and full of love.
