A sermon examining the fact that God is all powerful. Ecclesiastes 1:9, Denomination: 2) This is necessary for my spiritual growth. Inspiring Messages For The Christian During these troubling times let us turn to the promises of God, read and study them, ponder upon them and apply their wisdom to our lives. This week were learning about how love is at the heart of Christmas. I was able to share that no matter how things may look, we can know that God is looking out for His children. It is by faith. While we were preparing for the broadcast, he told me, Ray, I heard something today that really helped me. Mercy or revenge. God is Omniscient, which means that He is all knowing. Community We sent Timothy, who is our brother and Gods fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials (vv. A) I read about a man that was sitting at home one evening when the doorbell rang! Luke 18:26-27, Genesis 18:9-14. ISIS Threatens to Kill Families of US Soldiers. CORONAVIRUS. read more, Scripture: Faith in Gods Wordthat it is true no matter what happens to us. The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. Learn how to build and strengthen your spiritual heart, and be blessed in the process. Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1, In a trial? God does not explain himself to us. Genesis 21:8-21, The book of Jude has for us a message about perseverance in the faith, CALL TO PERSEVERE: NATURAL INSTINCTS She then adds this P.S. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Evaluate where youve placed your faith and get practical instruction for building a faith that can outlast any storm. Whenever I tell others about my rough road back to Christ from non-Christian relationships, the one question I am always asked is, What would have helped make my road back a little easier? My answer is, during my time of spiritual loneliness, if I had had a sister in Christ seek me out and tell me, Ive been there, I love you, and I can help you find your way back to Jesus, perhaps I could have been spared a lot more pain than having to discover the answers on my own. Let me return for a moment to Nabeel Qureshi. As he said, I would have preferred to find out whats behind Door # 2. We all feel that way when trouble come our way. James offers what appears to be a strange piece of advice: Consider it pure joy or Count it all joy (KJV). In 1:1, the book introduces us to this man Job, describing him as a man who was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.. Thanks to all of you for your prayers while my wife and I were away in Jamaica. Learn how to hold onto joy no matter the situation youre in with this weeks encouraging message. When hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Over 20 years have passed since that day, and I still regard that simple sentence as one of the most profound things I have ever heard. I have a friend who within the space of two years lost his job of 30 years, found a new job that required him to relocate, and then was diagnosed with cancer. 2 Cor. You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. He hears your requests and answers them. He also gives you other believers to walk with. It also reminds us of His presence. * The cockroach immediately punched him between the eyes and scampered off. That said, if Im looking for wisdom, I wont start with them. Another message on the awesome power of God! Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 1). You can get to know God through personal time with Him and through His Word. A woman sat in my office and told me a very sad story. Genesis 18:1-14 Remember Gods Love Dont be deceived, my beloved brothers (v. 16). James 1:1-4: Did you know that trials have a purpose? This is one of his favorite tools when the hard times involve problems with friends and family members. 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? But as xtians we have antidotes against har, Surviving Hard times Paul knew that was a possibility, which is why he was so worried about these young Thessalonian believers. Raised in a Muslim family, Nabeel became a Christian after reading the New Testament and encountering the claims of Christ. This message explores Psalm 1 and gives us actionable advice to multiply happiness and avoid taking the wrong path that leads to misery. The Christian way is not an easy way and any representations to the contrary are false. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. No matter how hard we try to figure things out, there will always be many mysteries in life. Paul reminded his friend that partnership is important and helps us have a greater understanding of God and His plan. LETTER FROM A PASTOR To My Dear Friend, Pastor Phil Blowhorn, Let hope lift your spirits. But those things alone are not reliable enough to base your life on. Your privacy is important to us; well keep your email to ourselves. Learn the prescription for joy and success. Or your husband may decide he doesnt want to be married anymore. Genesis 18:1-15, Denomination: Maybe its not always about trying to fix whats broken. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. Introduction An issue has occurred. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Romans 5:3-4 spells out how this process works: We also rejoice in our afflictions,because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character,and proven character produces hope. We all want hope, but we dont want affliction. But we can choose how we respond. But thats how life is sometimes. INTRODUCTION In a call from a friend. 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). Exodus 16:13-14 We need to gain all that God has for us. read more, Scripture: JAMES 1: 2- 11 For the believer, the rod is like the word of God and the staff is the Holy Spirit. There is a process involved in our trials that leads to a product. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. 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. Hope or despair. But when she is high, she begins to talk about God. I think its the exclamation point at the end that does it for me. God, on the other hand, does not change. Gods unchanging character can give us a firm foundation when things feel unsteady and uncertain. 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. Spend time exploring aspects of His trustworthiness in verses of Scripture. Lossyes. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. For the non-believer, the shepherd is looking for you and desires for the two of you to be reunited. Heres what we need to know about the book. 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. What can we do to keep our faith strong? You can ask Him to help you believe what He says is true. Illus. Paul is saying, I can face my trials because I see how well you are facing yours.. # WHO is a Diligent person? When no one seems to care about you, self-love can make you stronger. WebLife can be scary, especially during hard times.Maybe you've lost your job, are battling a chronic illness or your marriage is falling apart. Jesus is the answer! 8 Inspiring Messages For The Christian Trying To Stay Strong In Faith. read more, Scripture: Discouragement is part of life. 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. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. A friend or family member betrays you. In trust, you do not look for security in other things; you look to God to hold you securely in difficult circumstances. A rod is a sign of power and strength to defend against attacks. Spend time in prayer acknowledging who He is. Encouragement Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. Church Of God. WebPsalm 4:1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Sermons about Hard Times - SermonCentral.com Take a note card from the pew in front of you. John 21:1-19: You are valuable to God. As I have pondered the matter, and considered my own difficulties with this concept, the thought occurs that counting it all joy when troubles come is not a natural response. Her story demonstrates that simply having Bible knowledge cannot save you from the consequences of wrong decisions. Are you nuts? To us, joy means the absence of all pain. Count it all joy? You should not let your circumstances shape your relationship with God. You need only to look. Norman Vincent Peale Those early Christians were Jewish, scattered, poor, and struggling. God is able to do what he promised. I want to begin this message by giving you some common contemporary types of difficult people you may encounter. * The (He told his conversion story in the bestseller Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.) Help families pursue the relationships that matter most. Heres a practical hint. John 11:1-45: Ever wondered, God, where are you? This message helps us understand that the power of God is revealed in difficult situations. The top is down, the music is blaring, and the driver is having a blast. Here are seven practical ways to trust God in your everyday life: Scripture, or the Bible, is Gods Word. Now that you know what it means to trust God, how exactly can you do that in your everyday life? All things do not work for the good for all people. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. John 9:1-39: Are you limiting God, or living with your spiritual eyes wide open? As Becky Dvorak is the host of the dynamic teaching program, Empowered for Healing and Miracles, featured globally on the Its Supernatural! Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1