Brave Part 1 – Dealing with Problems

WARM-UP

Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a world with no sin, no trials, and no conflict? Can you imagine a life where none of us were broken inside, where there are no problems in the world around you, where you get along with everyone and everyone gets along with you?

ONE BIG IDEA

We are BROKEN PEOPLE living in a BROKEN WORLD who experience BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS. 

STUDY (John 16:33b)

“In the world you will have TRIBULATION. But take heart; I have overcome the world (ESV).”

LEARN

THREE MAIN SOURCES OF PROBLEMS

1. My Own Sin (Problems from Within). These are the problems that we encounter because of our sinful nature.  Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (ESV).” We are all SINNERS, and therefore we are all BROKEN people inside. And that brokenness is the cause of so many of the problems in our lives – anger, envy, worry, depression, fear, pride – these are problems that all come from our brokenness within.
2. Trials and Temptations (Problems from Without). These are the problems that come from the outside. Here are our three main enemies: the FLESH, the WORLD and the DEVIL. The flesh is the broken part inside of me. The world and the devil are those outside forces that bring us so much trouble. No one ever said it would be easy. We are FALLEN people living in a FALLEN world, and we can expect to face many difficulties in life.
3. Conflict with Others (Relational Problems). These are the problems we experience at home, in school, at work or in even at church. James 4:1-2 describes it this way, “1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your PASSIONS ARE AT WAR WITHIN YOU? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask (ESV).”

CREATED WITHOUT PROBLEMS

God originally created mankind WITHOUT any PROBLEMS. People were CREATED morally pure (NO SIN).  Genesis 1:31 – “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, IT WAS VERY GOOD.

People lived in a PROTECTED environment (NO TRIALS). Genesis 2:8 – “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed (ESV).” The Garden of Eden was a protected environment, which means they were protected from trials. There was no sickness, no suffering, no hunger, no pain – no typhoons! They had no problems from within, and they had no problems from without. God created them morally pure, and He put them in a protected environment.

People ENJOYED perfect peace with God and each other (NO CONFLICT). Genesis 3:8a – “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… (ESV).”

HOW DID JESUS HELP US WITH OUR PROBLEMS?

NEW NATURE (Jesus in You)

Salvation is God’s answer for our sin.  When you become a Christian, you become a NEW PERSON. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (ESV).”

Before you accepted Christ, you had a nature that naturally chose sin. But now, you have a new NATURE with new DESIRES. When you become a Christian, God gives you a new nature. You have a new address. You are no longer at home with the sin in your life.

Galatians 5:22-23 – “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (ESV).” You can never make the changes you need to make on your own. But through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is changing you from the inside out. How does Jesus help you with the problems that come from the sin within you? The answer to your problems within is Jesus in you. You have a new nature, and Jesus dwells within you through the Holy Spirit.

NEW HELPER (Jesus with You)

You have a new helper to help you with the problems from without. Jesus promised us in Matthew 28:20b, “…I am with you always, to the end of the age (ESV).” In Isaiah 41:10 God says, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (ESV).” People around you may leave you.  But God will be with you THROUGH THICK AND THIN. He will never leave you nor forsake you. So, you have a new source of strength to help you with the trials and temptations of life, because Jesus is with you every step of the way.

NEW MEDIATOR (Jesus between you and others)

Jesus came not only to save us from sin but also to bring RECONCILIATION with each other. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 2:14 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (ESV).”

Whenever you are experiencing conflict with someone, you need to BRING JESUS INTO THE SITUATION. You need to put Jesus between you and the other person and allow Christ to bring peace into the situation. Now of course unless both of you are doing that, there will not be peace. You have to do your part. When you see Jesus between you and the other person, you will treat them a whole lot differently. It’s hard to be angry with someone when you have Jesus between you. It’s hard to be jealous of someone when you have Jesus between you. And it’s impossible to hate someone when you have Jesus between you. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, “5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” We were at conflict with God because of our sin, and Jesus stepped into the gap. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and reconciled us to God the Father. He is indeed our peace.

Psalm 34:19 – “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Do you have problems? I’ve got good news for you. Jesus died not only to save you from your sins, but also to help you with ALL your problems. Keep this in mind: “Every problem is a GIFT.  Without problems we will not GROW.”

GROW

Application Questions

1. The sermon cites three main sources of problems: 1. My Own Sin (Problems from Within). 2. Trials and Temptations (Problems from Without). 3. Conflict with Others (Relational Problems). Which of these sources of problems are you dealing with right now? How do you solve it?
2. The sermon reminds us to keep this thought in mind: “Every problem is a GIFT.  Without problems we will not GROW.”  Do you think that every problem is a gift? That without problems, we will not grow? Explain your answer to the group.
3. Recall an experience where you saw how amazingly God intervened/helped/overcome your problem on your behalf.