TROUBLESOME TIMES ARE HERE

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TROUBLESOME TIMES
PSALMS 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
David did not say , I think the Lord is my shepherd, nor did he say, I hope the Lord is my shepherd.
David did not say, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am fearful that thou aren’t with me.
David did not say, I hope to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Romans 8: 31 Paul says to believe in God’s power to provide for us.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
David said, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
David said, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.
David said, Surely, goodness, and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What do we say?
I. Why Me Lord?
A. James 1: 13 James says God tempted no one.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Why do we blame God? Because we have heard it all of our lives.
1. Matthew 5: 43 – 45 Jesus says you have heard.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God does not bring evil on anyone. Bad things happen to all people. Sometimes the result of their own doing and sometimes from the doing of others, and sometimes because of no one. Sometimes bad things just happen. We cannot blame anyone and never God.


2. Matthew 7: 24 – 27 Jesus says the wise are doers of the word. The foolish do not.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Just because it rains on you does not mean you are wise. You may not be wise enough to come in out of the rain. To disobey God or blame God for your problems is foolish. If your life is not built upon God you will fall and great will be the fall.




B. 1 Corinthians 10: 6 – 13 Why Is It So Much Worse For Me?
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
We often think we are the only one suffering when we are not. We think our problems are greater than anyone else when they are not.



1. 2 Corinthians 4: 15 – 16 Physically we die a little ach day, but spiritually we are stronger each day, if in the Lord.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Faint not, never give up in the Lord.
2. 2 Corinthians 4: 17 – 18 Paul calls it a light affliction.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We are human. We can see the temporal things much easier. Paul says look to the eternal things.
3. 2 Corinthians 11: 23 Paul says he knew what suffering was.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
He list the afflictions he had endured.
II. Philippians 4: 11 What Should I Do? Paul says learn from your suffering.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
If we can learn from our suffering to be content we can be an example and teach others that are suffering.
A. 1 Timothy 6: 6 – 8 Paul tells Timothy contentment is great gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Learn to be content but never become complacent. Never become self satisfied with ourselves.
1. Galatians 5: 26 Paul says do not envy one another.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
We are not in competition with one another for salvation. We are to help, encourage, and strengthen one another in the Lord.




2. Hebrews 5: 12 – 6: 3 We need to be careful not to go backwards and become weaker, but to go forward and grow in the Spirit and knowledge.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Let us strive to do better, let us never give up, and all can be done if God permit.
3. Philippians 4: 13 Paul reminds us of what we can do for the Lord.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
That which we do in the service of the Lord is eternal.
III. 1 Peter 4: 15 – 19 Peter concludes by saying continue in well doing.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Keep on keeping on in the Lord.
A. Ecclesiastes 12: 13 – 14 Solomon is given credit for the conclusion of the matter.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
God knows the secret things of our life. We will not fool God in the judgment.
Are you right with God? You know and God knows. Troublesome times are less troublesome if we obey God and keep his commandments. Do you need to come to Jesus?