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Show ?rVlJrJ,L IJ.)h..J-1tJe-> wI M""d- CD JOWA), ,4AJ e. tof- I)f. AI () /,c)Dt1QAJ /t"" 81rds ¥ .. -s.;«; I( 1'et.Jcl. 'Tcs» ,,"e Il dIP r C,rlJftf bAJ -foa4/1e,,_l (eioJd_. (.!J$2d' tJA), III t1IW" « arlb MOW? JtJ.fI-er it,1\) kII -/r. ; JJ. .. 'If I/O-tf. ()Iu l.rr 4/wy.f ,-f(tr , -f HOW TO HANDLE PRESSURE 2 Corinthians 1: 1-11 Much of what I learned from my parents, they taught us in proverbs. One that I am reminded of everyday and that I "Nobody promised that life would be flowery beds of ease. By that they meant we would have to endure tough times along the way We will never forget is " . would have some hills to climb and some obstacles to go through. There would be times of plenty and times of famine. Sickness and health would take turns. Well, The Bible is clear and Jesus spoke in no uncertain terms that as believers, we will have a cross to bear. In short, along this Christian journey, 1 we can expect to have pressure. The Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle that out of the pressure come out as Peter we triumphantly assure us face, and as we will pure gold. So, thank God for pressure. In this text, the Apostle Paul has been called on the carpet by those around him. They are questioning his motives and putting him down as fickle. They are hostile and obnoxious toward him. They not only wonder about his conduct but about his ministry. But Paul turns it over to the Holy Spirit and teaches us four or five things that we ought to be grateful for. First, thank God that pressure leads to Godly comfort. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 2 Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Who comforts in all us our tribulation " ... (1: 3-4a) We do not always understand what is happening to us and we question even the wisdom of God. We wonder why we have to since we the God go through so much trust and believe in God. Well, we serve is one of justice and mercy. He takes us through and gives us rest in the end. some things Second, thank God that pressure equips us to comfort others. "That we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." (1: 4b-5) Out of our experiences, as the 3 we can help others out of their own. We help others to find the way. The ole Negro Spirituals puts it: "Dey ole sheep, dey know the road. Dey ole sheep, dey know dey road, Dey ole sheep, dey know the road; dem young lambs must find the way." know the road and can Third, thank God that pressure leads us to endurance. "Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring suffering which we also suffer." (1: 6) Holding on will 'get us to the finishing line and the place of our great the same reward. Fourth, thank God that pressure results in steadfastness. '" you is steadfast, because 4 "Our we hope for know that as partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation." (1: 7) Not giving up is one of the marks of the sincerely committed child of God. F or God not only gives us strength for the challenge but steadfastness for the you are consolation. Fifth, thank God that pressure causes us to rely on God who raises the '""' do not want you to be brethren, of our trouble which dead. "F or ignorant, came to us we in Asia: that we were beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even burdened life. Yes, we of had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." (1: 8-9) This journey is not about 5 us but about God. Not about the dead but about the Living. Sixth, thank God that pressure generates prayer and makes us grateful. "You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to While, we are through many." (1: 11) in the storm, we ought to us cry out to God like Job broke and broken out in sores, like the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage, belly unforgiven like Jonah in the of the whale, like David in his sin, like Peter when he denied the Master _J <iT tJ +{ tJ G . · / I led r4r&cL -f-{,lrX QSu._ s /0 e- +v --/--t....e.., CA-() y >-!) ,05'.0 WI 1// 4 LI 1 he 1 J__I fa I/<. 0 .5fl1'r-/ '/ / / ( c:iJ 'ed: blA+ t2A 0 It) r(r tAt II's t" wHl.. II j7(iV{)L/' },-J IIr!.t j,q,Jds, v.e, 6 |
