Father’s Day 2008
June 15th, 2008Something universal among all fathers are problems, trials, tribulations, and tests. It seems no dad is exempt. The things we face will either defeats or strengthen us . And that depends on how we respond. Unfortunately, most fathers fail to see how God wants to use our problems for good in our lives.
We tend to react without wisdom and resent our problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit might come from them. Today we will learn how to pause and ask God , “ what am I supposed to learn from my circumstances? “
Here are five ways the Lord uses problems.
1. God uses problems to direct us. Sometimes He must light a fire under us to get us moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get our attention? Dr. Edwin Louis Cole said, “ change isn’t change until it’s changed !
Prov 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. NKJV
2. God uses problems to reveal what is in our heart. Dads are like tea bags…….if you want to know what is inside just put them hot water. Has the Lord tested your faith recently with problems? What do problems reveal about us?
James 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. NLT
1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
3. God uses problems to correct us. Some lessons we only learn through pain and failure. It is likely that as a child you were told not to touch a hot stove. But you probably got burned.
Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. NKJV
4. God uses problems to protect us. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents us from being harmed by something more severe. A man was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. The months of unemployment were a problem , but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison. A year later his boss was indited for fraud.
Gen 50:19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.
5. God uses problems to perfect us. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in our character than our comfort. Our relationship with God and our character are the only two things we are going to take to heaven with us.
Rom 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. NLT
God is at work in our life , even when we don’t recognize it or understand it. But, it is so much easier when we surrender to His plan for our life.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. NKJV
Great Fathers
The father of the prodigal son
Luke 15:11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”‘
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants,’Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
NKJV
Our Heavenly Father
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
In my Father’s house
John 14:1″Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. NKJV
