Why?
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14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
I put this lesson together in response to a great outcry that I am hearing from those that are reaching out to us on Social Media.
I keep seeing a reoccurring theme: why?
Why is life so tough, why do I have to struggle with depression, sickness, loneliness...
I believe in God, I am a believer so why is life so hard?
Title: Why
Subtitle: The Greatest Journey
I want to start by establishing so absolute truths.
I know that society does not like to admit that there is such a thing as absolutes, but there is.
As born again, Holy Ghost filled believers, we HAVE to know that things like morality cannot be defined by man because man will always seek to redefine what is right or moral by their own circumstance
Which is the very definition in action of immorality!
So who or what is able to to render such a judgement?
Where do you fine the perfect balance of judgement and mercy?
Only God has this ability...
And he spelled it out for us plainly in his word!
So if you are a christian.
Then you MUST come to the belief that the Word of God is infallible.
There are those out there have offer excuses for some of the things the bible says.
Others play down certain parts because it don’t fit into their definition of morality.
Problem: that the Word cannot be changed, altered, added to or subtracted from…
So on this journey of answering why, the first step we will take is understanding that if we are going to serve that Lord, then we are going to follow his commandments.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
So what is the first thing we have been taught as christians?
Belief.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This is the beginning!
Believe that he is…
If you are going to answer the whys of life you have to believe that God is!
Not in just some abstract way...
Ya there’s a God - but why down deep in your core!
There is a God who created me and he has purpose for me!
Most of the time we ask why because we don’t know who we are in God!
But the bible teaches that belief is not enough...
James 2:19 teaches us that the devils believe and tremble at the knowledge of one God!
Go back to Heb.11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
...and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This is key.
I don’t know believe that he is, I am on a mission to find him!
The reward to finding him is often HIS answer to the why!
With His answer to the why, comes the resources to do, fulfil and accomplish!
You begin with belief and watch him answer your questions
Meet your needs (his good pleasure)
Then a trust developed!
Watch this trust… Three Hebrew children
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
How could these three young men have such a trust in their God?
It sprang from this deep, abiding belief that God was God and in control!
By the time you get into this level of trust with God
It speaks of a relationship!
Belief and diligently seeking Him leads to trusting him!
How do you learn to trust him?
You are put in the position in life to answer the question “why”!
Trouble, trial, hardship
Why? Why? Why?
And because you are seeking him, he comes through and answers your question!
Belief… Trust… Faithfulness...
faithfulness = process of being loyal to
Continued or greater commitment
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Its a beautiful journey
Believe that God is - seeking him with all my heart!
Building a trusting relationship with him!
Being faithful!
Believe
Faithful Trust
Cycle - circle
Each time I come full circle, I am required to believe a little more
So I can trust a little more
So I can be faithful a little more
So that I can believe a little more...
IT’S A GREAT JOURNEY that God puts me on!
Conclusion:
But watch
This is not just one sided...
The more I believe in God the more God believes in me...
The more I trust him, the more he trusts me...
The more I am faithful, the more he is faithful...
Proof: Job - God Trusted him!
I can’t answer the question of why in your life right now...
Except to tell you that God want’s to use your situation to get closer to you!
Not talking about death or loss of a loved one...
Here is what I have found out about my “WHY” moments.
When I look back at them they were my greatest moments of learning
my greatest opportunities to get closer to God.