Our friends turn into enemies. To us, joy means the absence of all pain. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. We are all in harms way. Creation is Gods gift to Himself, and creation is a gift that leads to celebration. Maybe its not always about trying to fix whats broken. No help there. Do you love him? Luke 21:5-36, Denomination: Church Of God. He is bigger than any of your circumstances. You are not alone. In Hard Times, God plots for your Victory : Biblical response to COVID 19 Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Genesis 16:1-10. We need to gain all that God has for us. God does not intend to destroy us by the trials he allows to come our way. In a few months Ill teach Ezra in South Korea and then Galatians in New York. The phrase we were destined comes from a verb that means to put or to place. Its a very strong way of saying these hard times were placed here by God. They didnt happen by accident. A friend or family member betrays you. My friend has decided to count it all joy in the midst of his cancer. I have firm faith that my soul is saved by the grace and mercy of the Triune God, and not by any accomplishment or merit of my own. Many of them are unbelievers who wonder if Christ is real. Sermons Faith in Gods Wordthat it is true no matter what happens to us. Luke 18:26-27, Genesis 18:9-14. Difficult situations are not new to any generation. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Acts 20:22-31. 5 Best Sermon Themes for Difficult Times | DonorWerx A touch from the shepherds staff and the presence of his rod is reassuring to the heart. Pretty simple. He whispers in our ear that God has forgotten us, that he doesnt care, and that he isnt good. And further in the distance, others watch what we go through. Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 10:4-5, Proverbs 13:4, Denomination: Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and When you are harder than your hard time, you will send your hard time packing and running from, Hard times are real. John 20:11-18: Are you in a hopeless situation? I will share common types of difficult behavior in a few minutes, but I want to lay a proper foundation first. Trust grows as you look for Gods presence in what feels dark and heavy. Because most of the time you dont have a choice about the bad things that happen to you. We have a great God who loves us more than we know. Without warning there is a sudden jolt, the car swerves to the right and comes to a halt. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. There is a fourth truth we need to remember when hard times come. You should not let your circumstances shape your relationship with God. Im glad to invest in them because the future belongs to the young. Introduction. Daniel 2:1-23 He knows the way that I take. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same: "King Herods Early Release Program") The links are not active in this By not running away from the trials that come your way. In your waking up. The word face has the idea of falling or stumbling over a problem. Genesis 35:15-20, Denomination: If you dont run to the Word to remind you of truth in difficult times, it is easier for you to be led into lies about your life and who God is. This message teaches us what to do when we find ourselves in difficult situations. 1 Trusting God When Youre Alone in the Gap (4.18.10) 2 Trusting God When the Brook Dries Up (5.9.10) 3 Trusting God Your job is satisfying. When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small, In all life Thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, And wither and perishbut naught changeth Thee. (Walter C. Smith, 1867) 2. You can ask Him to help you believe what He says is true. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. Does anyone doubt it? For the believer, the rod is like the word of God and the staff is the Holy Spirit. It reads like a sermon or perhaps even more like a pep talk from a football coach. To apprehend Gods sovereignty working in that love is we must say it the last and highest victory of the faith that overcomes the world. read more, Scripture: We need to remember that trials are not entirely negative. It seems that this is the deep theological response to all calamity. Look up and call out to Jesus. Giving thanks fights the lie that everything is horrible. When we obey line upon line and precept upon precept, we will All things do not work for the good for all people. read more, Scripture: In various ways we will all struggle every day as we make our earthly pilgrimage. Joy grows best in the deep soil of the sovereignty of God. When hard times come, we can know that God is at work in our trials for our benefit and for his glory. Our leaders disappoint us. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. But he contacted cancer not long after their marriage and died slowly and painfully. He is always faithful. Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. Job 5:7 reminds us that man is born for trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward. I see no way to deny that statement. This is cut-to-the-chase, heres-the-bottom-line talk from a man who knew his readers needed encouragement to stand strong in hard times. Psalm 1: Want a blessed life of meaning and fulfillment? kindness..I had a time to relax, but I did not get a chance to Another message on the awesome power of God! Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Psalm 62:1-12, Denomination: Though it is the earliest of all the New Testament books (written around AD 38-44), it reads like a letter for the 21st-century. How do we get it? Showing God in action in and through His people. Job spoke of this experience when he declared of the Lord, He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). He uses hard times to put our faith to the test. The Psalmist David gives us some good instructions on how to handle hard times when they come. No, in the midst of the storm, I do not have to worry about my salvation, and for that I praise you, God. Thats what Paul feared for the Thessalonians. * The cockroach immediately punched him between the eyes and scampered off. When you trust, you go to God and His word when life is hard. Jude 1:17-21, Denomination: No! (He told his conversion story in the bestseller Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.) If we can make the choice to view life that way, then we can make the following statements about our struggles and our trials: 1) This is sent from the Lord. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1, In a trial? He pays attention. We all need to live each day fully for Him. To rain the manna and quails is not too hard. But my belief in the love of God is not by inference or instinct. It isnt so hard to love a God who is good, and values us so highly. When that happens, everything we believe will be put on the firing line. William Barclay notes that in the early church the martyrs gained the respect of unbelievers because in the moment of death, they had this quality. So He asked for help. The doctors are hopeful but there are no guarantees. But given the instability of our world, a question comes to mind: Where can you go where you arent in harms way? We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day with no time for self Life is like that for all of us. Dont fight the battle alone. Or someone you trusted may start spreading lies about you. Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times. The book of Jude is one of those that we skip over most of the time. He also gives you other believers to walk with. We should rejoice. No matter how hard we try to figure things out, there will always be many mysteries in life. These were tough consequences, for sure. In the book of Romans, one of the early followers of Jesus, Paul, writes to believers about the present life. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you (v. 6). This message explores Psalm 1 and gives us actionable advice to multiply happiness and avoid taking the wrong path that leads to misery. It was not to be. Someone who performs with intense concentration and focus He will sustain you and grow your faith in the waiting. Sometimes we get caught up in our sin. read more, Scripture: Then she walked out of my office. You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS He is making a way for you. Let me return for a moment to Nabeel Qureshi. We cant always know why things happen the way they do. Or perhaps weve just gone through a divorce and we feel rejected and alone. He is always working in your life and in the world. The rod is used to protect and drive the enemy away. 1 Samuel 17:1-11: Feel defeated, afraid, or unable to move? This message tells us how to avoid distractions. God is present and is making Himself known. We have an anchor for our lives in the Lord. You can get to know God through personal time with Him and through His Word. This text clearly states that only Gods people will reap this Second, he tempts us to retaliate against others with anger and resentment. All of us shall encounter loss, sorrow, disappointment, and disillusionment, Our sermon ideas about Coronavirus will help you preach a powerful message. When those you love are in great pain or when you face senseless tragedy or when friends turn against you or when life tumbles in around you, your feelings wont be an accurate guide. Incidentsyes. Little by little we lose the joy we once had. THE POWER OF JESUS DRAWS ALL MEN UNTO HIMSELF, HE USES OUR HARD TIMES TO DRAW MEN UNTO HIMSELF. They havent lived long enough. Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. But when she is high, she begins to talk about God. Thus the first step in seeking the Lord during your hard times is to examine your heart and confess your sins, relying on His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. WE have heard of the diva athletes and entertainers who are almost impossible to deal with. read more, Scripture: Idolatry is the worship of a false God. They were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Those early Christians were Jewish, scattered, poor, and struggling. God intends to put our faith to the test. Our text shows how Paul reassured them. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Instructions On How To Handle Difficult Times, If The Preacher Is Dead, The Sermon Will Be Dead, Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience. As he said, I would have preferred to find out whats behind Door # 2. We all feel that way when trouble come our way. Many Christian writers and counselors will give you a specific course of action to use on each type of difficult person. TRUST GOD IN UNCERTAIN TIMES | Hope In Hard Times read more, Scripture: Hard times, times of trials and tribulations, seem to be as constant as the sunrise. Many of us know the story of Elisabeth Elliot. read more, Scripture: Spend time in prayer acknowledging who He is. 1. What about joy? A victim would rather complain than find a solution. Anyone who has ever interacted with children knows they can ask very difficult questions, questions that are not always easy to answer because difficult questions often have difficult answers. Network on ISN. Heres a practical hint. Recently I spent a week teaching the book of James at Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, Florida. read more, Scripture: 5 Encouraging Psalms For Hope through Hard Times Are you open to what the Lord wants to do in your life? Advent 2022, week 1: During this series, we will look at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. Learn how to build and strengthen your spiritual heart, and be blessed in the process. James was evidently the half-brother of Jesus, meaning that he was the biological son of Joseph and Mary. We know that he wrote very early because the book is addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (1:1), meaning the very earliest Jewish believers who had been scattered because of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 8:1-3). Find rest in Jehovah-Rohi: There's power in the name! 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Thich Nhat Hanh Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Those things that seem so painful now will one day be clearly seen as benefits to our spiritual growth. The following Tuesday he announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and the prognosis is grim. That is the shared faith of Gods people. Please try again or contact website administrator. Trusting God is more than a feeling; its a choice to have faith in what He says even when your feelings or circumstances would have you believe something different. In this message, we learn that while trials and temptations are not sin, they can lead to sin if we dont stand firm in faith. Matthew 5:1-12: Did you know there are divine blessings available to you? When no one seems to care about you, self-love can make you stronger. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. This is the sort of faith that Paul has in mind in Romans 5. When your trials are over, you will come forth as gold. And to do it well have to take the long view of life, to understand that what we see is not the final chapter of the story. Perseverance requires desperate dependence and dogged determination to hold on to our faith even when the world seems to disintegrate around us. Life is Difficult, But God is Good Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 We prayed, and I know it was a divine appointment. This is not news to you, but Im A victim begs God to remove the problems of life so that he might be happy. As we go through life, we can look back and see many blanks that we wish God would fill in for us. God is not distant. That sounds so odd that one wonders if he is serious. Yet storms often come to believers to make them able to stand firm, rather than to blow them away (cf. Whatever youre facing, victory is just ahead. By Greg Johnson You may not see a way out of the situation you find yourself walking in today; but know this, you are not alone. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. The list is endless because our trials are multi-colored and variegated (the phrase many kinds has this idea behind it). Because God loves you, you can show your trust in Him by talking about all your feelings and circumstances with Him the good and hard through prayer. Consider the following Proverbs 20:29 puts it this way: The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old, and Proverbs 16:31 adds this insight, Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life (NLT). It may even bring you to the end of your strength. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. Some people may regard this as a negative, but to me it is a positive. The enemy must flee and death is swallowed up in victory. (From the Bible Knowledge Commentary). And it turned out that way, as you well know (v. 4). Someone who takes his/her work seriously and who does it well and rapidly This message will help you learn how to have true peace and get practical instructions of who you are and how to live. That means there is no such thing as chance or fate or luck. From canceling worship services and holding our Sunday gatherings online, to not Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. SLIDE #1 When times are good, it can feel easier. How to Handle Hard Times This message helps us understand how and why we should live worthy of the Lord; plus, learn how to push back spiritual darkness and what brings endurance and strength. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. When you are struggling, share those concerns with another follower of Jesus whom you trust someone you know is pursuing a relationship with God regularly and who knows Gods Word. In many ways the little letter of James is the most practical book in the New Testament. WebWe need to continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). Becky Dvorak is the host of the dynamic teaching program, Empowered for Healing and Miracles, featured globally on the Its Supernatural! He cares for your hurts. Everything that happens to us is either caused by God or allowed by God. Four years ago my Father-in-Law, Dr. W. C. Dobbs, pastor and professor, passed away. At the moment my friend is currently in treatment for his cancer. Raised in a Muslim family, Nabeel became a Christian after reading the New Testament and encountering the claims of Christ. If you trust someone, you feel comfortable being honest with them about anything. With that important understanding, we pass on to the third great truth regarding hard times. The words joy or rejoice are to be found in all four chapters of the book. I sure hope attendance at your church was better than my church. Until your faith is put to the test, it remains theoretical. We are a Look up and call out to Jesus - Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the darkest valleyyou are with me.. 1. It is unchanging and completely trustworthy. You lose your job. Presbyterian/Reformed. Genesis 18:14 poses an important question "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" We had a great track team and usually won our track meets by a large margin. Gods Help for Hard Times Because we live in a fallen world, nothing works the way its supposed to. Paul knew that was a possibility, which is why he was so worried about these young Thessalonian believers. It is hardest to trust God during times of conflict, uncertainty, and 2. The Holy Spirit will guide, comfort and help. Dont trust your feelings! Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. You can trust Him to sustain you, provide for you and be with you even in the midst of your hardship. Text: Philippians 1:12-18 Philippians 1:12-18, Denomination: I confess to be being bothered by this so I decided to check it out in the Greek. Confession helps you to humble yourself and allows you to grow in trust. Galatians 6:4-10, Denomination: All of us face those questions because we all go through deep trials eventually. Psalm 25 Christian/Church Of Christ. read more, Scripture: read more, Scripture: A little here and a little there and eventually she began to experiment with drugs. What a difference it makes to be a student and not a victim: A victim says, Why did this happen to me? A student says, What can I learn from this?, A victim blames other people for his problems. 1 Kings 19:19-21: What is God calling you to do? There is nothing that our God cannot do. It is really hard to see past them to other good things going on. spiritual health, strength, faith, difficult situations, courage, mature christian, obedience, trials, - Series: Lesson's From Revelation's Seven Churches, integrity, holy spirit, victory, encouragement, hope, fear, stress, promises, spiritual health, strength, faith, difficult situations, courage, mature christian, obedience, trials, - Series: Lesson's From Revelation's Seven Churches, integrity, holy spirit, good & evil, How to Avoid Spiritual Distractions Consider Your Ways, part 1, Cling To Jesus Always, Even in Times of Trouble, A Song of Single-Mindedness: How to Have a Blessed Life, How to Live with The Peace of God in Your Heart (continued) Live in Christ, part 6, How to Live with The Peace of God in Your Heart Live in Christ, part 5, How to Live Rooted in The Lord Live in Christ, part 3, How to Live Worthy of The Lord Live in Christ, part 2, Cultivating Your Heart: Finding Abundance Living an Abundant Life, part 1, With You in The Battle: Victory Brings Glory to God 5 Smooth Stones, part 4, How to Live in Christ in a Fallen World - Live in Christ, part 1, Jesus Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 5, Love Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 4, True Joy Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 3, Peace Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 2, Hope Begins with Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 1, What voice are you focused on?
