Success Over Suffering and Power
Over Our Problems
I was driving down the expressway the other day, nobody in front of me, nobody behind me, and this lady came speeding up the ramp. She cut me off, and pushed me out of my lane.
Now, without God in my life I might have got on the horn and just held my ground, or I might have sped past her, and as soon as I cleared her bumper, cut back into her lane, possibly causing a wreck, and we won’t even get into what I might have said, or done while I was passing her.
Maybe she was late to work, it could be that she had an emergency, a crisis or you know what she could have had a child in there who needed immediate medical attention, it could be that she just didn’t see me.
Let’s see,,, have I ever been not paying attention and accidentally pulled out in front of somebody? I probably wouldn’t have thought about that, and if I didn’t have God in my life I’m sure I wouldn’t have seen her bumper sticker, WWJD “what would Jesus do” I thought, surly He wouldn’t have just pulled out in front of me without looking, but,
As irritating as that is, it’s only a minor problem. It’s one of those minor problems though, that can escalate into a major problem. We’ve seen it on TV and read it in the paper, where a minor traffic incident has escalated into wrecks, and violence, even death.
Some people major in the minors though, they make a mountain out of a mole hill. As Christians we have to deal with these minor day to day problems in a Godly way, and if we can’t get past the little stuff how are we going deal with the big problems.
Because life is full of disappointments and setbacks… We’re faced with temptation, and the ways of the world on a daily basis. One of the hardest things we have to deal with is illness, and the loss of a loved one, and if you view death through the eyes of the world, it’s hopeless. We have hope, and for us to overcome life’s problems we have to stay focused on God.
Have you ever had to dig a ditch or a hole, and the dirt was so hard that a shovel wouldn’t even scratch it? That’s when you get out the pick, I know most of you know what a pick is, so I’m not going to describe it, because I might get a blister just talking about it.
But, sometimes you need a special tool to break through that really hard dirt. In the same way we need a powerful tool to break through our stubborn thoughts, and the hard problems that life presents.
I want to share a passage with you in 1 Peter, a powerful tool that will help you when your battling the problems that we encounter in life. It works when your attempting to break out of a stubborn habit, or break through an especially hard problem.
1 Peter 1:13,14,&15 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Now, let’s break these three verses down into three steps that we can use to combat our problems.
Step 1, in verse 13; Think and plan ahead.
Peter says first, to gird up the loins of your mind. In those days they didn’t have jogging pants or sports wear, they wore long robes and they had a girder that tied around the waist, so when they had to run, or get somewhere fast, they would take that belt, or girder off and put it between their legs and pull the robe up so they could run,
So when you run up against a problem, I think what Peter is saying is, roll up your sleeves, focus, be alert. Put your mind in gear. Now listen to the last part of the verse, rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What’s he saying here? Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ. What that means is to, look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus.
Look what it says in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
See Paul says for us to focus our minds on things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely. Things that are good and praiseworthy, and Peter tells us to think ahead. To look forward to the blessings.
When he tells us to look forward to the blessings, he wants us to remember that this life is not all there is.
When you view every challenge, in the light eternity and you say to yourself what difference is my decision going to make in the future, in ten years, in a hundred years from now? That kind of forward perspective clears up a lot of cloudy thinking.
You know most of us live in the past, neglect the present, and worry about the future…but God wants us to learn from the past, invest in the present, live for the future.
The decisions we make now effects what happens next, so think and plan ahead.
Now step 2, perform your purpose
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance
We are to obey God, why? Because we are his children, and we can’t let ourselves slip back into our old ways doing just whatever we feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then, but now that you have taken off the old man. Buried with Christ, and resurrected to a new life, we are not to be conformed, but transformed.
Romans 12:2 says; And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Remember what Paul said, to affix your mind on things that are good and praiseworthy. When we look ahead and practice our purpose, it allows us to maintain focus on the prize, and make better decisions in dealing with our problems.
Satan wants to place ungodly thoughts in our minds to deceive us, then divide our ranks, and ultimately destroy us. So remember what Peter says in ch. 5:8 Be self controlled and alert, your enemy the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 says to fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
So see how keeping your mind fixed on God and being obedient helps you through your struggles, when you‘re focused on God, it‘s like a filter that filters out the teachings of the world…It helps you stay on the path, so you won’t accidentally wander off and become lost. Stay focused.
Now then, step 3, Make it your lifestyle,
Verse 15 says; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
We are to live a life that honors God. Why? Because God is holy. And He wants us to be holy so we’ll be more like Him. When are we to be holy? In every thought, every action, and everywhere you go, in all your conduct.
Paul compares life to a race, then he goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 9:25; Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Remember though, just as the athlete that’s running a race can be disqualified for not following the rules, we also can be disqualified for not obeying God’s word. If you don’t know God’s word how are you going to follow it.
We’ve heard this saying all of our lives “ ignorance of the law is no excuse” and I don’t think it will be with God either.
Think ahead, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things, Colossians 3:2
Perform your purpose, fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13
Make it your lifestyle, be holy in all your conduct, 1 Peter 1:15
And do these three steps to the point that it becomes habit, to the point that it becomes natural(your lifestyle).
Do you remember when you first started driving? You had to think about every single action, now when somebody pulls out in front of you on the expressway, you put on your brake, check your mirror, put on your blinker, and change lanes by instinct and habit.
In the same way, if you practice keeping your mind on the goal, doing your duty, and being holy in all your conduct when life is smooth, and everything is rosy, when trouble or problems arise in your life, it will be natural to respond in a Godlike manner.
We have a perfect example in Christ, He is our example. Peter says in chapter 2:21 Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example. See Jesus had problems also, and he was tempted in the same ways we are, showing us how to have Success Over Suffering and Power Over Our Problems.
In Matthew 4 when He suffered the temptations, He didn’t use miracles, He could have called upon 10,000 angels, but he didn’t
He suffered the temptations giving us an example, showing us how to overcome temptation and the problems that we’re faced with in life.
He thought and planned ahead. He went into the wilderness and prayed and fasted for 40 days and He knew the word, and He overcame every temptation with the word.
This was the beginning of his ministery, He had digested the word, and memorized it not only for these temptations. It was going to be a long road to the cross, with many temptations, problems, and suffering along the way.
He was prepared. And He persevered over the temptations, leading the way for us. See He cleared a path for us, and we are to stay on the path, and follow in His footsteps.
Look what he had to endure, on the road to the cross’ pain, humility, and hostility from the sinners who where against Him.
Hebrews 12:2 says; looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that set before Him, endured the cross, despising the pain, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
See He looked beyond the pain to the promise. He looked away from the cross to the glittering crown, and when we pick up our cross, and when we decide to follow Jesus…The burden may be heavy bear sometimes.
So through the conflicts, the battles, the struggles and strife, look beyond the pain to the promise. Look away from the cross to the glittering crown.
When I was a 17, I worked for a man, in the oilfield and sometimes we would find ourselves doing a seemingly impossible task, soaked in oil, out in the middle of nowhere, and nobody to help us, he would look up at me say “don’t worry in a 100 years you’ll never know it”
Somehow that seemed to make the job easier, I didn’t think a 100 years ahead, but I did think towards the end of the day, when the task at hand would be finished, and I wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. You might say, we looked beyond the pain, and it did make our job easier.
See Jesus despised the pain, but joyfully endured it in order to save you and me and the rest of the people who are willing to follow Him, He did what his Father told him to do.
He performed His purpose, Hebrews 5:8-9 says though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
Obedience involves commitment, He was not only committed to the Father, He was committed to all aspects of life. Paul said in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
His duty required Him to bear a heavy burden, and as Christians when we suffer do to trials, challenges, and problems, especially the ones put on us because of our faith, we must look ahead to the goal, remain obedient, and joyfully endure the pain.
We have to bear the burden of our faith, and endure the pain. It’s not nearly what Christ endured for us, and when we do that we are following in the path that Jesus cleared for us, we are following in His footsteps.
When we suffer because of our faith, we are doing just what He said for us to do in Matthew 16:24 if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
He also said in John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
He performed his purpose, and we must also perform our purpose, do our duty, and do our work faithfully as unto the Lord.
In every aspect of His life He was faithful. He was centered on the Father. It wasn’t just a show, that he put on when His disciples were present. He was genuinely committed to the father. That was His lifestyle. He was faithful till death.
The same holds true with us, we have to be totally committed to the Father. Many believers go to church on Sunday and that’s it, and that’ll work as long as things are going smooth. The true test comes when problems crop up, and when we are faced with temptation, and suffering.
And Jesus tells us in Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.
A glittering crown awaits us, so look away from the weight of the cross that you bear. Look beyond the trials and tribulations of this life.
The Hebrew writer says we have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.
And anytime time I read or think about this passage, I imagine that we’re running a race in a huge stadium, and the stands are packed with people cheering us on.
People like Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Noah, Isaac, Enoch, Samson, and David, and up in the press box …Jesus is on His feet cheering us on to the finish line.
Those earlier heroes of the faith suffered courageously. Some like Enoch, experienced deliverance from suffering in this life, but others died for their faith. Christ’s resurrection gives us even more reason than they had, to remain faithful in suffering, and to look forward to our reward.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrew 12:1
So I want to leave you with this closing thought, that when you are down in a valley, when your at a low point in your life, God is more likely to reveal His true loving nature then, rather than, when things are going smooth, and your sitting high atop the mountain.
So no matter what kind of problems arise in your life, be prepared, and think about the prize that awaits you at the finish line.
Be obedient, even if the ways of the world seem like an easy way out, and let your mind(which is Satan’s battle ground)be renewed, and transformed by the word of God.
And last, but not least be Holy in everything you do, it’s easy when we are together as a group, but as we all know, when we go out into this world, the command becomes much more difficult. Be Holy.
I want to thank everyone for your attention, and I hope this lesson will be of use to you when face problems and suffering in your life.
