FINDING THE COMFORT OF THE LORD IN OUR NEEDS
2 Cor. 4:16,17
INTRO: As we continue on our daily living we can very easily find out that truly the presence of our God and His strength will be needed as we strive to serve Him. Many want to be only on the sideway, thinking that if they make that commitment it will be to hard to serve Him.
As I was listening to that song: “Weary on the roadway, thirsting for you.” The Spirit of God moved me to some Scriptures that I want to share with you. For you see, we are not alone. You are not the only one that finds it hard sometimes to find that inner strength to continue forward. Many others have sicknesses that invades their bodies and find it difficult to serve the Lord they way they would like to. Others, have family problems, their spouse don’t want to serve God, their children say: “Well so and so does it and they come to church.” Yes, there are many others, but what does the Scripture say about all of this? Let us search them and find that spiritual strength to go another day.
I. THE FAMILY PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE
A. Job
1)vs 1 “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” ”
B. What about his family?
1)His children - Job 1:4,5 “His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.”
2)His wife – Job 2:9, 10 “His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”
C.What were the result?
1)Job 19:25 “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.”
2)Job 42:5 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes
have seen you.”
II. THE PERSECUTIONS FOR OUR CONVICTIONS
A. Elijah –
I)1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.”
2)The Persecution – 19:2 “So Jezebel sent a messenger to
Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3)The ministry – 19:4 –7 “while he himself went a day’s
journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God”
III. SICKNESS INVADING OUR BODY
A. The life of Paul
1)2 Cor 10: 7-8 “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.”
B. God’s Answer
1)2 Cor 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
C. Paul’s Reply
1)2 Cor 12:9,10 “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
IV. IN TEMPTATIONS
A. Jesús our example
B. Mat 4:3 “The tempter came to him and said,…”
C. The strength from above
1)Mark 1:13 “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.” ”
V. IN THE COMING TRAILS
A. Jesús in the Garden of Gethsemani
1)Mat 26:38 “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
B. Heavenly Ministry
1)Luke 22:43 “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”
Conclusión:
