How Then Shall We Live Today? (Ep. 6)

Week 6 - HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE TODAY?

2020 has been declared the year of the Bible. This is a move supported by Pope Francis, Ravi Zacharias, Franklin Graham and over 20,000 churches in over 100 countries.

The Bible is by far the world’s bestseller. Over four billion copies have been sold, and it continues to be the Number 1 Bestseller with approximately 100 MILLION sold ever year (the New Yorker). The Bible will change your life if you read it and obey it (1st Peter 1:23).

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

As hard as it is to acknowledge, we must remember that there are no good people in the absolute sense of the word. All of us are tainted by and infected with sin (Eccl. 7:20, Romans 3:23, 1st John 1:8). As Jesus said, no one is good except God alone. All of us feel the effects of sin in one way or another. Sometimes it is our own personal sin, and other times it is the sin of others. We live in a fallen world, and we expect the effects of the fall. One of those effects is injustice and seemingly senseless suffering.

The Bible Clearly Identifies This Question and Gives Answers in 3 Ways:

1. THE PROBLEM

2. THE PROMISE

3. THE PROVISION

I call this God’s University of Adversity. If we obey this teaching, we can graduate with a PHD. 

THE PROBLEM

Why do we have problems and where do they come from?

1. Problems, for mankind, began with the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden and it is called SIN (Genesis 2).

2. God gave Adam and Eve five commands to follow:

1) Be Fruitful (Genesis 1:28)

2) Multiply (Genesis 1:28)

3) Replenish (Genesis 1:28)

4) Exercise a Dominion (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15)

5) Refrain from eating the fruit from the Tree of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17)

3. When Adam and Eve sinned, because God is a HOLY SOVEREIGN OMNIPRESENT GOD - which means He, as the Creator, has the right to do anything – He chooses because He cannot tolerate sin.

4. The sin of Adam and Eve introduced three major types of disobedience and mankind is involved in these sins today:

1) Lust of the flesh

2) Lust of the eyes

3) Pride of life

- Genesis 3:6, 1st John 2:15-17

Quotes on Trials and Tribulations

1. “Trials teach us who we are. They dig up the soil and let us see what we are made of” – Charles Spurgeon

2. “True faith is not going to get you out of a hard place, but to change your heart out of a hard place” – David Wilkinson

3. “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation” – Dwight L. Moody

4. “God does not expect the impossible from us. God wants us to expect the impossible from Him” – Dwight L. Moody

5. “We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulations. That is why God gives us the gift of faith” – Joyce Meyer

THE PROMISE

The Vital Importance of a Biblical Worldview

1. “A worldview is the most important thing that we know about a man or a woman” – Richard Weaver

2. “A Biblical worldview approach to life and learning has never been more needed than in today’s Pluralistic/Postmodern culture. Christians today face hostility to their faith from one side, and apathy from anything of importance on the other side. Sadly, the casualties are high” – Chuck Edwards

3. Part of God’s promise is that in the world today we will have trials and tribulations (John 16:33, 2nd Timothy 3:12, John 15:20, Psalms 34:17-19).

Ravi Zacharias quote: “The Lord will test the righteous. The greater the test, the greater the calling of God on your life.”

THE PROVISION

Very important. The only way a person can experience the provision of God is to have a personal relationship with God. This opportunity is simply to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting (John 3:14-21).

GOD’S WAY OF PROVISION FOR HANDLING A PROBLEM

James 1:2-8 – This is a life-changing provision experience. Trust me, I know. 

Verse 2: COUNT (to lead the way/to have rule over/governor/to be chief). 

FALL INTO (to fall into something that surrounds you, to light upon you). Like the good Samaritan, you may not even have caused it. 

DIVERS (various in character). 

TEMPTATIONS (adversity, trials with a beneficial purpose and effect). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of trials and temptation (2nd Peter 2:7-9).

Verse 3: KNOWING THIS (to understand/to realize). 

THE TRYING OF YOURSELF (trying means to test). 
What is faith? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” How important is faith? Without faith it is impossible (impotent) to please God but He often rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a gift that God gives us, but we have to use it to grow (Romans 12:3).

PATIENCE (abiding under). Patience perfects the Christian character so let patience have her perfect work.

Verse 4: WORKS – Faith without works is dead. 

WANTING NOTHING. Jesus promised in Matthew 6:24-34 where He tells us to put God’s Kingdom first and all will be given to us. 

Verse 5: WISDOM. God asked King Solomon what he wanted, and Solomon’s answer was 1st Kings 3:3-15: Give your servant an understanding mind.

God asks us the same question with a promise:

1. We are to ask (which means call up or to do).

2. Giveth. Giveth is a present participle meaning continual or repetitive action with no indication of timing. In other words, it is up to God.

3. Liberally with movement. Unconditional supply.

Verse 6: FAITH. If – our choice – we do not ask in faith, we are like a wave in the sea. But if we ask in faith read John 15:7.

Verse 7: If we do not follow the principles of verses 2-6, we will receive nothing from the Lord. Why? 

Verse 8: Because we are double-minded (two spirited), vacillating in our original purpose, and we are unstable (restless in our ways) (James 4: 1-10).

Here is a checklist of qualities in your life that will assist you in assessing your action in obeying and trusting in the Lord, especially during trials:
Positive                               Negative
1. Courage                              1. Pride
2. Boldness                            2. Arrogance
3. Patience                             3. Self-centeredness
4. Steadfastness                   4. Self-righteousness
5. Perseverance                    5. Temper
6. Humility                             6. Controlling Spirit
 7. Self-control                       7. Know-it-all
8. A caring heart                  8. Discouragement
9. Compassion for others  9. Gossip
10. Increased faith               10. Blaming others/not forgiving

Positive... 
When you are hanging on by a thread, make sure it is the hem of His garment. 

Download notes for this episode (PDF): CLICK HERE
Last episode: CLICK HERE

God did not promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain. But he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. 

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it: 

The essence of life.


~ Barry ~