When Our World Falls Apart

1 Peter 4:12-16

12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at

the painful trial you are suffering, as

though something strange were

happening to you.

13 But rejoice that you participate in the

sufferings of Christ, so that you may

be overjoyed when his glory is

revealed.

14 If you are insulted because of the name

of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit

of glory and of God rests on you.

15 If you suffer, it should not be as a

murderer or thief or any other kind of

criminal, or even as a meddler.

16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do

not be ashamed, but praise God that

you bear that name.”

When Our World Falls Apart

Disasters Among God’s People

l Job Lost His Children, Riches & Health

l David Persecuted By Saul

l Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

l Daniel In The Lion’s Den

l The Son Of God Crucified

l The Apostles Imprisoned & Killed

l Christians Persecuted

Look At Paul’s Experience

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

23 “Are they servants of Christ? (I am

out of my mind to talk like this.) I am

more. I have worked much harder,

been in prison more frequently, been

flogged more severely, and been

exposed to death again and again.

24 Five times I received from the Jews

the forty lashes minus one.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods,

once I was stoned, three times I was

shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day

in the open sea,

26 I have been constantly on the move. I

have been in danger from rivers, in

danger from bandits, in danger from my

own countrymen, in danger from

Gentiles; in danger in the city, in

danger in the country, in danger at sea;

and in danger from false brothers.

27 I have labored and toiled and have

often gone without sleep; I have known

hunger and thirst and have often gone

without food; I have been cold and

naked.

28 Besides everything else, I face daily

the pressure of my concern for all the

churches.”

Look At Paul’s Experience

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

7 To keep me from becoming

conceited because of these

surpassingly great revelations,

there was given me a thorn in my

flesh, a messenger of Satan, to

torment me.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord

to take it away from me.

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient

for you, for my power is made perfect in

weakness." Therefore I will boast all the

more gladly about my weaknesses, so

that Christ's power may rest on me.

What Can We Do?

Some Suggestions

#1 – Consider The Source

• Of Temptation And Trials

Acts 5:3 ... Then Peter said, "Ananias, how

is it that Satan has so filled your heart that

you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have

kept for yourself some of the money you

received for the land?

1 Corinthians 7:5 ... “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

1 Peter 5:8

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your

enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Consider The Source

l Of Sickness, Disability and Disease

Luke 13:16

“Then should not this woman, a daughter

of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound

for eighteen long years, be set free on

the Sabbath day from what bound her?"

Consider The Source

l Of Sickness, Disability and Disease

Acts 10:38

“ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and power, and how

he went around doing good and healing

all who were under the power of the

devil, because God was with him.”

Consider The Source

l Of The Pharisees’ Wickedness

John 8:44

“You belong to your father, the devil,

and you want to carry out your

father's desire. He was a murderer

from the beginning, not holding to the

truth, for there is no truth in him.

When he lies, he speaks his native

language, for he is a liar and the father

of lies”

Consider The Source

l Of Spiritual Blindness

2 Corinthians 4:4

“The god of this age has blinded the

minds of unbelievers, so that they

cannot see the light of the gospel of

the glory of Christ, who is the image

of God.”

Consider The Source

l Ephesians 6:11-12

11“Put on the full armor of God so that

you can take your stand against the

devil's schemes.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh

and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the

powers of this dark world and

against the spiritual forces of evil in

the heavenly realms.”

The Point Here Is...

l Never

l Never

l Never

l Never

l Blame God For Tragedies!

l Put Blame Where It Belongs

#2 – Review Our Assets

l We Have A God Who Loves Us

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because

he cares for you.”

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he

gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not

perish but have eternal life.”

Review Our Assets

l We Have A God Who Loves Us

Ephesians 2:4

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy”

1 John 4:9-10

9 “This is how God showed his love among us: He

sent his one and only Son into the world that we

might live through him.

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Review Our Assets

l We Have A Savior Who Died For Us

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Review Our Assets

l We Have A Savior Who Died For Us

Ephesians 5:2

“and live a life of love, just as Christ

loved us and gave himself up for us as

a fragrant offering and sacrifice to

God.”

Verse 25

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ

loved the church and gave himself up for her”

Review Our Assets

l A Hope That Reaches Beyond The Grave

Hebrews 6:18-19

18 “God did this so that, by two

unchangeable things in which it is

impossible for God to lie, we who have

fled to take hold of the hope offered to

us may be greatly encouraged.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the

soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner

sanctuary behind the curtain,”

Romans 8:24-25

24 “For in this hope we were saved. But

hope that is seen is no hope at all.

Who hopes for what he already has?

25 But if we hope for what we do not yet

have, we wait for it patiently.”

Review Our Assets

l A Hope That Reaches Beyond The Grave

1 Corinthians 15:19

“If only for this life we have hope in

Christ, we are to be pitied more than all

men.”

Romans 8:18

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Review Our Assets

l Brethren Who Can Lighten The Load

1 Corinthians 12:26

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?”

Galatians 6:2

“Carry each other's burdens, and in

this way you will fulfill the law of

Christ.”

#3 – Stay Busy Doing Good

1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Titus 3:14

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”

#4 – Commit To Seeing It Through

Job 13:15

“ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.”

Psalm 119:33

“ Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.”

#4 – Commit To Seeing It Through

Daniel 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

When Our World Falls Apart

l #1 – Consider The Source

l #2 – Review Our Assets

l #3 – Stay Busy Doing Good

l #4 – Commit To Seeing It Through