The first question we may ask is “Why Problems?” Now that I am a born again believer, it should be smooth sailing. I have the Word of God that says, no weapon formed against me shall prosper…I have 10,000 angels…if I have this why the bills? Why is my home life in a mess? Why are my children rebellious?
When the problems come, have the answer to them in the Word of God. You must make a decision that you will outlast the troubles in your life by applying the Word of God. The devil is a liar. You have authority over him and he will deceive you that you will drown in your problems.
Why Problems?
Turn to Phil. 3:9,10 and let’s read together:
Let’s examine the verses we just read. In verse 10, we read “conformable to his death”.
Death – separation from
You will have problems if you don’t understand death. If you are still tampering with lust, you will have problems with lust. You must separate from lust so death can occur.
In verse 10, we also read “the fellowship of his sufferings”.
Suffer – to be made to bear, uphold, endure, hold up under, or outlast
You can be made to bear the things the devil throws at you.
I am to outlast whatever the devil throws.
Many times, we use to be taught that to suffer meant that I will be put down or beat down or defeated.
Suffer means that I am able to outlast the present situations or conditions in my life without being smashed. The devil wants to smash you.
Suffer means that I will suffer to win not to lose.
I will outlast to win! I am more than a conqueror.
The scripture in Phil. 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Chris which strengtheneth me”.
What do you think Christ strengthens you for? So you can outlast, be made to bear. If you are an overcomer, you must learn to overcome.
Fellowship means to partake of
Fellowship is a two-way relationship; it is not complete until there is a two-way relationship. For example, to fellowship you must have a two-way discussion not a one way otherwise it is not fellowship.
Fellowship means I plant in you, you plant in me. I should know you and you should know me. Because you have given me a part of you and I have given you a part of me.
Now that we are born again, we will partake or fellowship in everything that Jesus went through. His part was to be mocked, spit upon, beat up, cross placed on His back, suffocated on the cross, made sin for us, and go to hell for us. On the third day, He got up and His part was over and he said in Luke 10:19 – ”Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
The problems comes here: Where is the victory? Victory is in the Word of God. Well, is that so?
Jesus got victory over persecution through acting upon the Word of God which is faith. Faith is the victory!! Say it again, Faith is the victory!
Our job is to maintain the word through acting upon it – the Word of God says, “The just shall live by faith”.
Do you think the devil will sit back and let you live the Word? Satan comes with problems to get you to move off acting on the Word which is acting on faith…which is our victory.
We are to fight the good fight of faith (I Tim. 6:12).
The only thing that can defeat faith is you not exercising or acting upon your faith. Until faith is pressed into service, or put a demand on, faith is only potential. In other words, use it or lose it! Faith activated helps you to outlast the problems.
We have to have faith in the God of the impossible – the unobtainable. We are to expect the unexpected. The situations in your life may have pushed you in a corner. But don’t stop – act on the word – exercise your faith.
Turn to Mark 4 and we will read verses 14 and 15 together:
As soon as you hear the word, satan tries to come to stop you from sowing it in your heart. Satan wants to stop you from hearing the Word because faith comes by hearing. But so does fear.
If you don’t have any word, the devil can smash you. No word, then everything is smooth. That’s what happen when you were in the world – it seemed like everything was better. But when you received the Word, then you have a harvest and then victory.
The more word, the more potential you have for problems.
Trouble or problems come in two ways:
1. By the seed of the Word
2. By bad seed that you plant
Turn with me to I Peter 4:12-16 and let’s read together:
If trouble comes because you are acting on the Word, get happy because of the glory that will be revealed.
Now let’s continue with verse 15 and 16:
We cause most of our problems – by not saying, not doing, not acting, or neglecting the Word of God.
Don’t blame it on the devil – you caused it and you need to find out how it got there!
You need to be aware of the seeds you plant so you know where the problems come from.
II Tim. 3:12
Then ask yourself this question: Am I willing to be talked about and still serve God?
I Peter 1:7
What is means in the above verse “praise and honour and glory” is that I the midst of the fire; you are still standing on the Word you started with.
You must stand on the Word before the fire comes so you can stand when the fire comes!
You don’t know when the fire will come so you must live by faith…the just must live by faith.
I Peter 5:9
Steadfast in faith – withstand, fight against, withhold
The word knowing here means: what is it I know? That the same afflictions are going through by others. It is not uncommon to man. We are an army together fighting. You are not going through something no one else has been through.
I Peter 5:10
God will send reinforcement to help you – but you need to suffer or withstand. Hold it ‘til He comes!
If you don’t let the problems smash you – you will produce Romans 8:17,18 – let’s turn there.
Hebrews 2:9-10
It is what we stand on the faith – the victory – that we receive the glory that Jesus gave us.
I Peter 1:11 says “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
What is the product of suffering? Glory is the product or result of enduring through your problem.
Conclusion Statements:
1. God did not put the desire in you to be a winner if you could not be a winner. You are getting ready to produce what God has told you to do. In I Timothy we read in verse 18 – remember the prophecies or the Word. Remember what God told you and hold on to it. It will come to pass in your life.
2. Your faith is taking you somewhere. It will move you forward. Faith is the victory and faith comes by applying the Word. Faith activated helps you to outlast the problems.
3. Guard what the Lord has told you by mediating on the Word of God. Stop rehearsing the problem but operate in faith on the victory! Remember: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.
