8/4/10
Got a Problem? A BIGGIE-SIZED PROBLEM?
It is not the size of your problem that is your problem!
Our society would have you believe that we are victims of our problems. Therefore, they focus on the PROBLEMS instead of the PERSON.
Rather than focus on the problems, I want to work on US! What is our perspective?
Paul has to be the hero of big picture perspective:
2 Corinthians 4 (NLT) 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
WE SEE OUR PROBLEMS:
1- Through our level of experiences –the INEXPERIENCED will allow the challenge to be WEIGHTY while the EXPERIENCED does not become as shakened. (Pastor John on Sunday night alluded to future problems—they will all seem small after what I have wrestled with for 4 years; I almost died! Paul the apostle after 3 times experiencing 39 lashes and has someone threaten to write a letter to the apostles to tell on him…. Whatever!) This can be good if we have handled our problems in the past, but what if we have not handled them in the past……. FEAR! Experience is not enough, we need victories! Example: One of the best gifts you can give your children is letting them solve problems……. Not fixing everything for them!
2- As a result of present environment---- Problems surrounding us are not as crucial as the people surrounding us! If the people surrounding you are negative and have a horrible outlook on life, then you will catch their despair. (I called Angie Battle when I was out of town when Patti was attacked)
3- Based on our personal evaluation--- We tackle problems our own size. Big people tackle big problems, and small people tackle small problems. The better the self image of the person, the more comfortable they are in the risk of problem solving. The more fragile the person, the less likely they are to aggressively seek the answer. (David--- with Golaith) Also, how you view YOUR God and your confidence in Him being YOUR Father. Davis saw himself as a person of worth.
Finally, I love what Paul said in v.18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.
I want to remind you, life is 20% what happens to us and 80% how we choose to address the problems haeded our way.
andy