We Will Have Problems
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33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
One of the things we need to realize we need to share with new Christians is that while they are a new creation in Christ, that doesn’t mean they no longer live in the world. We need to be about making disciples out of our “babes in Christ.”
Getting new Christians into small groups, devotions, Bible studies is very important, and it is important for those of us who are “older in the faith” to walk beside them and help them understand more of what the scriptures say, even as we are learning ourselves.
One of the things they need to know is they are going to be attacked by Satan and his forces of darkness. We need to make sure this is one of the first things they know. After the excitement of the decision they have made for Christ begins to wear off, Satan is going to send doubt as to whether the decision they have made is real.
Satan is also going to use everything he can to get them to doubt who God is and His strength.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
This tells us how Satan is able to use things against us. He has many resources as we look at the world we live in. There are many things which Satan can use to tempt us, make us doubt ourselves, or even doubt God.
Yes, when we go through trials, they can be used to strengthen us, especially if we rely on God to help us get through them. Temptations come from Satan, but when we rely on the strength of God to get us through them, He is glorified. How awesome is that? Something which Satan did to us that was meant for harm can turn into something good.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
He hears us when we are facing the things that Satan is going to throw at us and tempt us.
We all are going to face these trials. None of us are safe from them. Some of them are going to be life shaking. Some of them will cut us to the core. I really believe it is when we face these struggles, we go directly to God as ask Him to help us through.
It is the small things where we think we have the strength to stand against them without God’s help that we will find ourselves faltering.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
As we allow God to lead us through the shallow and deep waters of life, we will receive blessings from our God. Those blessings aren’t necessarily as the world would look at them, but they are blessings we should recognize in our Christian faith.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
So as we face these trials in life, we should know God will supply us exactly with what we need. Not what we want. This has to do with accepting God’s will for our lives. There are times we pray for things, and we pray for them in the way want things to turn out. However, there are times when what we want doesn’t match with what is best for us. God knows that. He will not harm us.
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
I know we have heard a lot of this verse lately, especially where we are at right not was a church. This verse doesn’t say there won’t be pain in the process.
He knows the plans He has for us. We must have faith that God is working His ultimate plan for our lives. He is using the things around us to mold us into the people, the Christians He would have us to be.
My experiences and life isn’t the same as anyone else’s in this room. Even my wife, Julie, and I, as close as we are and as much as we do life together, have different experiences that has made us into who we are. Because of those things, she can relate much better to a person who is going through the same struggles she has been through.
One of the most evident, is the loss of her parents. While I can empathize with people who have gone through this loss, I can’t sympathize. There is a difference.
We also must share with others what God has done for us, not only in the salvation He has provided for us, but also in the trials and temptations He has brought us through. How else will the younger ones in faith learn?
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
We must be the teachers, the mentors to the next generation. We also must realize sometimes we have people who can mentor us who are younger than us. Just because someone is older age-wise doesn’t mean they are older spiritually. Spiritual maturity comes when we realize we can learn from those who are younger than us.
Timothy would be a good example of this from the Bible. Paul had to tell him to not let anyone hate him because of his age. But to set an example for the and to continue to read and teach the Word.
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
God keep us humble so we can not only see the need in others to learn from us, but also to the need we have to learn from others.