GOD’S PURPOSE IN PROBLEMS
TEXT: Ps.119: 65-75
INTRO: Whether we like it or not, problems are a fact of life. It is not a matter of “if” problems come, but “when” problems come. You know, as well as I do, that even with the best of preventative measures problems still have a way of cropping up. It’s enough to make one believe that there really is such a thing as “gremlins,” little unseen creatures whose only goal is to throw a wrench in the works of all our best-laid plans. We know of course, that that is not true, but sometimes it sure seems that way.
The trials and tribulations of life have a way of knocking the wind out of our sails. One day we’re going along pretty well, when some unforeseen situation suddenly blows us out of the water. At that moment, it seems like life, as we know it, will never be the same. We have to be careful at this point however, that we don’t get so focused on our circumstances that we can’t see Christ. Believe me, that is an easy thing to do.
There is one thing we need to get straight in our thinking today—our trials do not destroy us, but our response to them can. Devastating things happen to people all the time, but not all are destroyed by them. So what’s the answer? The answer lies in the choices that one makes when faced with a difficult situation.
With these thoughts in mind, our choices can be positively affected simply by understanding some basic principles as to why God permits pressures and problems to come into our lives. At the time we’re going through a trial, we may not know what God’s specific reason for it is, but we can know generally why God has permitted the situation. It is these principles that we want to examine today.
THEME: God permits trials and problems in our lives to:
I. REVEAL THE SAINT’S SPIRITUAL SITUATION
Ps.119: 67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”
A. Affliction Is Often God’s Method Of Causing Us To Examine Our Sin.
1. For Israel, affliction was often an indication of God’s displeasure.
Deut.31: 16 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them…”
2. The main purpose for Israel’s afflictions was that they might examine their relationship with God.
Deut.31: 17b “…and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us.”
NOTE: [1] The word “among” means, “the nearest part, i.e. the centre” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., published by MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia, #7130 of the Hebrew And Chaldee Dictionary, pg. 105).
[2] When we cease to keep God at the center of our lives we can be assured that trials and problems will soon follow. That’s because God as a wake up call often uses afflictions. Without a doubt, that is the reason for our nation’s great afflictions.
2a. The fact that this nation aborts over one and a half million babies a year, is a good indication that God is no longer at the center of our nation.
2b. The fact that rampant violence ravages our nation to the tune of close to 25, 000 murders a year is a good indication that God is no longer at the center of our nation.
2c. The fact that our public schools have become battlegrounds where kids are killing kids, is a good indication that God is no longer at the center of our nation.
2d. The fact that A.I.D.S. and other venereal diseases are at epidemic proportions is a good indication that God is no longer at the center of our nation.
2e. Should we not, like Israel of old, ask the question, “Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us” (Deut.31: 17b)?
B. Affliction Is Often God’s Method Of Causing Us To Be Enlightened To The Solution.
1. The solution is to seek the Lord.
Ps.107: 13 “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.”
Hosea 5: 15 “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”
2. The solution is to get honest with ourselves, and with God, concerning our sin.
Neh.9: 33 “Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.”
Ps.25: 18 “Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.”
I John 1: 9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
3. The solution is to realize that God’s chastisement is always done in love.
Heb.12: 5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
II. TEACH LESSONS TO THE SUBMISSIVE
Ps.119: 71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
A. We May Need To Learn The Lesson Of Steadfast Trust.
1. Like Job, we must learn to trust God in the darkest of circumstances.
Job 13: 15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:”
NOTE: [1] Job had lost all of his material possessions, his children, his health, and even the support of his wife, yet he still maintained a steadfast confidence in God. What a tremendous lesson for any child of God to learn.
[2] Most of us tend to be repulsed by the dark moments in our lives. However, there is a principle taught in Word of God that we would do well to practice. Ex.20: 21 says of Moses, “And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” If we will learn to embrace the dark moments of our lives in faith toward God, we will find that He is present in the dark times as well as the bright times of life.
2. A steadfast trust in God will help us realize that God has a divine plan in allowing our afflictions.
a. God knows that we must learn to deal with the bad as well as the good in life.
Phil.4: 12 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
b. God knows that we must learn that He will raise us up when we get knocked down.
Ps.71: 20 “Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me
again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.”
I Pet.5: 6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
c. God knows that we must learn that He is in control of every situation.
Matt.8: 23 “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”
NOTE: The issue in the situation in which you may find yourself right now, is not a matter of whether God is big enough to handle it, but whether you are bold enough to trust Him with it.
B. We May Need To Learn The Lesson Of Standing Under Trials.
1. Trials are common to everyone.
John 16: 33 “These things have I 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.”
2. We should not be constantly seeking to escape our trials, but seeking to endure.
Eph.6: 13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
II Tim.2: 3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
3. Our spiritual maturity is revealed by our endurance.
Prov.24: 10 “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”
C. We May Need To Learn The Lesson Of Serenity In Troubles.
1. Serenity is the outgrowth of a proper rationale.
Rom.8: 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
2. Serenity is the outgrowth of a proper response.
Ps.34: 1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
II Thess.5: 18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
3. Serenity is the outgrowth of a proper reliance.
II Cor.2: 14a “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…”
III. REVEAL GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO THE SAINTS
Ps.119: 75 “I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”
A. Problems Require Us To Rely On God’s Power.
II Chron.16: 9a “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…”
Jer.32: 17 “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by they great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”
B. Problems Require Us To Rest In God’s Promises.
Isa.43: 2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Matt.28: 20b “…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
NOTE: Even if you believe your situation is the “end of the world," don’t quit, because Jesus has promised to be with you “even unto the end of the world.”
C. Problems Require Us To Resort To God In Prayer.
Jer.33: 3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Ps.86: 7 “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.”
Ps.50: 15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
D. Problems Require Us To Rejoice In God’s Peace.
Isa.26: 3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
I Pet.5: 7 “Casting all your care (“anxiety”) upon him; for he careth for you.”
E. Problems Require Us To Receive Them From God’s Perspective.
1. God’s purpose in your problems is that you might be Christ-like.
Rom.8: 29a “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…”
2. God’s purpose in your problems is that you develop spiritual maturity and endurance.
James 1: 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (“various trials”);
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience (“endurance”).
4 But let patience have her perfect (“complete”) work, that ye may be perfect (“mature”) and entire, wanting nothing.”
THEME: God permits trials and problems in our lives to:
I. REVEAL THE SAINT’S SPIRITUAL SITUATION
II. TEACH LESSONS TO THE SUBMISSIVE
III. REVEAL GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO THE SAINTS
