BAD DAYS AHEAD

BELIEVERS FACE BAD DAYS TOO

2 Corinthians 7:5 (GW) Ever since we arrived in the province of Macedonia, we’ve had no rest. Instead, we suffer in a number of ways. Outwardly we have conflicts, and inwardly we have fears.

2 Corinthians 7:5 (MSG) When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn’t settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn’t relax because we didn’t know how it would turn out.

· Some people who are looking for scriptures to give approval to their own discouragement and frustrations use scriptures like this to make their point.

· Their reasoning is that if Paul had no rest, troubles everywhere, fightings, and fears, then certainly they must be also.

Paul was not stating that these troubles were getting the best of him.

The key to understanding this is -- His outward man was perishing, but his inward man was being renewed day by day

· Therefore -- it is accurate to say that Paul had problems and we will too.

· However -- it is inaccurate to say that Paul was burdened and oppressed by his problems and that therefore we’ll be burdened and oppressed by ours.

No, Paul was more than victorious -- Problems came --

but Paul walked in VICTORY & We can too.

Paul made a statement of personal transparency in 2 CORINTHIANS 7:5

“When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, without fightings, within were fears”

-- their FEAR was one of whether the Gospel was being received and embraced by the people

At One Point -- All the believers in Asia turned against Paul -- People he had given his life blood for -- Paul wrote . . .

“ . . . the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved”

PAUL FACED BAD DAYS OR WHAT I CALL DRY SEASONS -- YET -- He testified;

“I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation”

He then added

“God . . . comforteth those that are cast down”

The WORD “Comforteth” here means “To Call Close”

When we experience Bad Days or Dry Seasons -- our Heavenly Father takes advantage of them to draw us close to HIMSELF!!!

Between the Promise & the Completion -- we are going to experience some “Dry Seasons” in our lives

We look at what we can see & sometimes what we see doesn’t look “Real Good”

There is a “Former Rain” & a “Latter Rain”

Former Rain -- is the beginning rain, the promise of God like our Salvation -- it is so new & refreshing & exciting

Latter Rain -- is the rain that comes right before the Harvest or Completion

BUT BETWEEN THE FORMER & LATTER RAINS -- There is always a “Dry Season”

ILLUSTRATION

FARMERS ARE VERY EXPERIENCED WITH THE BEGINNING RAINS & THE FORMER RAINS BEFORE THE HARVEST BUT ALSO WITH THE DRY SEASONS -- They know the plants roots are always going deeper during dry seasons -- the plants may look bad on the surface, almost like they’re done for -- but underground there is alot of growth going on -- it looks like its over, but IT IS REALLY GROWING STRONGER

In our “Earthen” or frail clay, weak, easily broken Bodies -- WE MUST STAND STRONG IN ORDER TO GET TO WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO BE!!

It is in these “Dry Seasons” -- you find out how much of God’s Word is inside of you -- waiting to take you deeper in HIM

However, you can’t assume that God’s will is automatically going to come to pass in your life. It won’t. God’s will doesn’t always come to pass -- Take salvation, for instance ....

2 Peter 3:9 tell us,“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

· It’s clear from this scripture that God wants everyone to come to repentance and be saved -- yet we know not everyone does.

· God also wants everyone healed -- yet people still live with sickness in their bodies.

· Likewise, God wants everyone to find and walk in the purpose He has ordained for them -- yet not everyone will -- But that’s not God’s fault.

Once you realize that you are the one responsible for discovering God’s will -- the next step is to start seeking God for it. He’s not hiding His will from you -- But you’re going to have to do some seeking to find it ESPECIALLY IN THE DRY SEASONS!

Jeremiah 29:12-13 tells us how we need to seek God: “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Notice the emphasis on seeking with all your heart. As long as you can live without knowing God’s will for your life -- YOU WILL.

But When You Seek With All Your Heart -- You Will Find It

ILLUSTRATION

There’s a plant that lives in the desert that during “dry seasons” sends out its roots to find water -- what happens is -- it wraps its roots around other plants like itself -- and they sustain each other during these “dry seasons”

That is a “Wonderful Example Of The Body Of Christ” -- when we are facing “Bad Days” or “Dry Season” -- we need each other for STRENGTH & GROWTH

That’s why “Lone Ranger Believers” die in dry seasons -- they are not willing to link up with the others to receive & give sustenance

OUR ROOTS CAN NOT GO DEEP UNLESS WE HAVE DRY TIMES -- DRY SEASONS CAN CAUSE US TO REACH OUT FURTHER & PURSUE MORE OF GOD

PHILIPPIANS 4:19 “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”

GREEK WORD FOR “Need” = to handle all business, all that is lacking or necessary

God is saying;

“He will be faithful to take care of all your concerns, business, finances, employment, food, clothes, home and more. There is also the riches of His goodness, His strength, His wisdom, His grace, His love and His full assurance of salvation.”

IN YOUR BAD DAYS OR DRY SEASONS -- DRAW CLOSER TO CHRIST JESUS -- HE IS MAKING YOU STRONGER BY YOUR ROOTS OF LIFE GOING DEEPER INTO HIS WORD & PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE!