3. 1 Peter 4:15-16

4. Matthew 26:26-29 NKJV [26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." [27] Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. [28] For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. [29] But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.“

5. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NKJV [1] Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: [2] On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

8. The Value of Grieving.

10. Why Me Lord? - Overcoming Life’s Problems
Job 14:1

11. As we look around this world - we can see so much grief at the suffering that is taking place with the floods, the storms and the Tornado’s - it grieves all our hearts.
When news like that which brother Johhny received a week and a half ago it is easy to ask this question
WHY Me Lord?
Job 14:1 — “Man who is born of woman ‘Is of few days and full of trouble.”’
Problems are Many and Varied in Nature:
Sin is the first and greatest problem.
Problems with self.
Family problems – (Marriage, Children, Parents)
Suffering (Sickness, Disease, Tragedy and Death)
Financial problems.
Church problems (Division, Indifference . . .)

12. There is a strong tendency to ask - WHY ME LORD WHEN PROBLEMS COME OUR WAY!
Many Ask?
“What have I done to deserve this?”
“Why did God let this happen?”
“Why am I being punished?”
Seldom do we ask:
“Why not me?”
Why don’t we ask “Why me?” when receive good or are blessed.!
The Focus of this study this morning is:
Why - What is the REAL reason for the problems we face?
Me - We all face problems!
Lord - Instead of blaming God - we should trust Him - He WILL help!

13. Answering the Part of the Question “WHY”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Consequences of sin in the Beginning
Genesis 2: “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:1-6 –
1 Corinthians 15:22, — “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

14. Answering the Part of the Question “WHY”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Consequences of our own sin
1 Peter 4: But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
Proverbs 13:15 - Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Hosea 8:7 “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up.

15. Answering the Part of the Question “WHY”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Consequences of others’s sin
(Exo. 20:5-6, [3rd and 4th generation]; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Matthew 5: “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Ezra 10: All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

16. Answering the Part of the Question “WHY”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
We suffer because of:
Free will of man –
If man can make choices, then he can make wrong choices .
Choice means there are consequences –
Some choices bring grief and suffering.
For Cause of Christ -
1 Peter 4:16 - Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.b.
Hebrews 12:5-8 Discipline is NOT pleasant many times!
2 Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

17. Answering the Part of the Question “WHY”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
The Violation Of Natural Laws
(Gravity, Fire; Water; . . .)
Natural phenomena –
Earthquake, tornado, hurricane, lightening, and floods are all natural occurrences.
Suffering to any and all who are there –
Matthew 5:45 - “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.b. Wouldn’t know bad without there also being good.

18. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
1 Pet. 4:15-16;“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

19. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Job - Blameless and upright, Yet suffered
Job 1:8 - Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

20. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Loss of property (Job 1:14, 16, 17).
Job 1:14, and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

21. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Loss of servants (Job 1:15).
Job 1:15, “when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

22. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Loss of Children (Job 1:18).
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

23. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Loss of Health (Job 2:7-8).
Job 2: So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD , and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.

24. His wife IS OF NO HELP (Job 2:9).
Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
His wife IS OF NO HELP (Job 2:9).
Job 2:9 - Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

25. Friends Turn On him (Job 3-42:6).
Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Friends Turn On him (Job 3-42:6).
Job 42:6 - 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

26. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
David - Psa. 55:1-7
Psalm 55:1-7 – 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.7 Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah

27. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
The Lord himself:
Rejected (John 1:11).
Beaten (Matt. 26:67).
Ridiculed (Matt. 26:68).
Betrayed(Luke 22:47-53).
Crucified (Luke 23:26-49).

28. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Paul – Persecuted
2 Corinthians 11:22-33 –
“Thorn in the flesh” 2 Corinthians 12: Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

29. Answering the Part of the Question “ME”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
All Christians:
Scourges every son. Hebrews 12:6 -For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
all who live godly. 2 Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
those who are children of God suffer with him. Romans 8: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

30. Answering the Part of the Question “LORD”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
Why blame God?
Equate problems with punishment for sin.
John 9:1 - Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
Acts 28:4 - So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Too high an opinion of self If others suffer - that’s fine, but not me! WHY ME LORD?

31. Answering the Part of the Question “LORD”
The real reason for Problems Exist.
God cares about our wellbeing!
God really Cares. 1 Peter 5:7 - 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
He wants all to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 - 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Romans 2:4 -Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
He will ALWAYS provide what we need to persevere - Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Hebrews 13:6 - So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

32. Tries our faith –Can make us stronger or make us weaker –
The Fruit of Problems
Tries our faith –Can make us stronger or make us weaker –
Can purify us – or cause us to return to the defilement of the world –
Can soften our hearts – or harden them!
Will We Face & Overcome Our Problems – Or Will We Allow Them To Overcome Us?

33. Why not coming to Jesus this morning and let Him take care of you?
No one can help you in this life but Jesus.
If your problem is SIN, Jesus can help.
If your problem is doubt, Jesus can help.
If your problem I loneliness, Jesus can help.
If your problem is the world, Jesus can help.
Why not coming to Jesus this morning and let Him take care of you?
Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess and Be Baptized
Confess, Repent and Pray!