Dealing with Difficult Circumstances, Part 2

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Dealing with Difficult Circumstances, Part 2</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id602.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dealing with Difficult Circumstances"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"Dealing with Difficult Circumstances, Part 2"</B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, April 2, 2006</B></div> <bR> <div>       We all experience times of difficulty and suffering. We learned last week that trials come from 1) the fact that we live in a sin-cursed world; 2) we may experience God's discipline and consequences when we go astray; and 3) we will suffer in being committed followers of Jesus. But when we perservere in trials, our character is formed to be more like Jesus. Expect suffering and trials and difficulties, even when you are doing the will of God.</div> <div>      People have different levels of tolerance for suffering. The <I>less</I> we suffer, the more shaken we will be by trials. The <I>more</I> we suffer, the greater the level of endurance we will have. Some people complain about everything even when life is pretty good; others give thanks and find joy in everything, even though life is very difficult.</div> <div>       How do we increase our tolerance level for suffering, so suffering doesn't distract us from following Christ and living with joy? How do we handle the difficulties that come our way as a result of living life and following Jesus?</div> <div>      Please look at <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2 Timothy&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2 Timothy</U></A>. Paul is in prison and he is nearing the end of his life; he will be killed for his faith. He passes on to Timothy things Timothy needs to know to carry on the work faithfully, and to guard the message that Paul has been sharing all his life. Paul challenges Timothy to be prepared to face trials and difficulties, just as Paul had suffered a lot in his ministry. </div> <div>      In 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >NLT</FONT>, Paul summarized his experiences: "Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches."</div> <div>      Not exactly a life filled with pleasant and easy journeys. But he could say at the end of his life, "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished the race" (2 Timothy 4:7). He experienced suffering, and his younger protege Timothy would need to know how to experience suffering as well.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Four lessons on how to deal with suffering and difficult circumstances:</B></div> <bR> <div> 1. Find strength in Jesus by walking with him every day (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 2:1&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2 Timothy 2:1</U></A>; <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 1:8&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>1:8</U></A>; <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 4:16-17&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>4:16-17</U></A>).</div> <div>       In John 16:33 Jesus said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." He invites us to find strength in him.</div> <div>      We may drift away from prayer and the word, but when we experience trials, it motivates us to reconnect with God, because we realize our need of his strength. Paul told Timothy to "<I>continue"</I> in the word of God (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 3:14-17&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2 Timothy 3:14-17</U></A>).</div> <bR> <div> 2. Spend time learning from people who have suffered and kept their perspective (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 3:10-13&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2 Timothy 3:10-13</U></A>).</div> <div>      2 Corinthians 1:3-4 <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >NLT</FONT> says, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." When you suffer, there are others who have been there, and have kept their perspective. Lean on them and learn from them. And after you have suffered, be there for someone else.</div> <bR> <div> 3. Keep a long-term view, that God is working out his plan, through all of life (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 1:12&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>1 Timothy 1:12</U></A>, <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 2:11-13&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2:11-13</U></A>, <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 4:18&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>4:18</U></A>).</div> <div>      When we suffer, we are forced to wait as we walk through painful circumstances. Better, brighter days are ahead, if not in this life, then in the next. Keep the future in mind. Don't forget that we are on a journey and we are not home, yet, but God has the power to get us home safely.</div> <bR> <div> 4. Affirm the value of salvation and eternal life over comfort and ease.</div> <div>      A. Value your own salvation (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 1:6-12&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2 Timothy 1:6-12</U></A>). Rejoice that you have experienced the good news of Jesus yourself. If we have new life in Christ, we have cause for contentment, even when things are difficult. We tend to think we would be satisfied when life is ggoodh and everything is the way we like it. Only we find out we are not satisfied even then. God wants us to be satisfied in him, even when we face difficulties.</div> <div>      B. Value the opportunity to share the message of salvation with others (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2Tim 2:8-10&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>2 Timothy 2:8-10</U></A>). Paul was willing to suffer if it meant others would hear about Jesus Christ. That is how much the good news of Jesus mattered to him. How much does it matter to you?</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2006, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>