How To MAKE IT Through Rough Times Text: 2 nd Corinthians 1:8-12
Key Remembrances: Whenever God allows you to go through a crisis in your life, there is always a larger purpose than just for you alone.
Key Remembrances: The greater the crisis, the greater the grace of God we can appropriate.
THESE DARK DAYS OF PAUL: Paul is physically ill.
THESE DARK DAYS OF PAUL: Paul is physically ill. The churches in Galatia are being infiltrated by false teachers.
THESE DARK DAYS OF PAUL: Paul is physically ill. The churches in Galatia are being infiltrated by false teachers. He was in physical danger
THESE DARK DAYS OF PAUL: Paul is physically ill. The churches in Galatia are being infiltrated by false teachers. He was in physical danger The church at Corinth seems to be revolting against him.
What they are saying: Questioning his sincerity. Questioning his honesty. Saying he is stealing the churches money. Saying he is a coward and won’t come and address them himself. Saying he is insane.
How did he deal with these “rough” times?
MAKING IT 1. Paul learned to embrace the sentence of death. (verses 8,9)
Luke 9: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
John 10:10 – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Matthew 11:28,29- “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Colossians 1:27- “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”
Galatians 2:20 - “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
WHAT MATTERS: It’s not MY will, but GOD’s will. It’s not MY perspective, but GOD’s perspective. It’s not MY resources, but GOD’s resources. It’s not MY values, but GOD’s values.
Philippians 1:21- “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
2nd Corinthians 4: “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
Verse 10 We have been saved from Spiritual death. We are continually saved from every situation in this life. There is coming a day when we will yet be saved when our Lord Jesus Christ comes for us.
MAKING IT 1. Paul learned to embrace the sentence of death.(verses 8,9) 2. Paul learned the empowerment of prayer. (verse 11)
Isaiah 62:6-7- “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
MAKING IT 1. Paul learned to embrace the sentence of death. (verses 8,9) 2. Paul learned the empowerment of prayer. (verse 11) 3. Paul learned the enjoyment of a clean conscience. (verse 12)
1st Thessalonians 1:5- “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Acts 24:16- “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”
You Can Make It: Have you embraced the death sentence? (Are you dead?) Have you solicited prayer? (Are you saturated in the local body?) Have you got a clean conscience? (Is there someone you need to get right with? Is there some thing you need to get right with?)
You don’t have to make it- He will make it for you!