Reading:
2 Chronicles Chapter 20: 1- 231. Problems
I do not suppose that you will find any individual, organization or nation on earth which has no problems. Problems exist everywhere and no person or group of persons is exempt. Troubles and trials come in many forms. Yahweh allows them to come; but He also provides a way of escape. Let me list some of life's problems and point to a remedy which has never failed since mankind was first placed on this earth.Personal Problems
- Moral: Personal weaknesses, sin, drug-addiction
- Family: A breakdown in the marriage or home
- Health: A loss of physical condition
- Money: Unemployment, rising costs, unexpected bills
- Social: race, colour, language
- Tension: Between friends, neighbours or at work
Natural Problems
- Hurricanes, tornadoes, drought, floods, earthquakes, famine
National Problems
- War, revolution, crime, violence, vandalism, burglary, drug abuse etc.
2. Recognizing the Problem
The first step towards solving a problem is recognizing what it is, identifying the problem; or better still - pin-pointing its cause. That is the first step in solving a problem. You have a problem, you know that 'something is not right.' But until such time as you know what that something is, you are unlikely to hit upon a solution. Identification is the first step. Many people never get past this first step. They will not admit that they have a problem.3. Ask / Call / Cry
The second step is to know where to get help. Read how king Jehoshaphat faced an enormous problem. He went directly to God with it.| 2 Chronicles 20: | 12: “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”
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| Matthew 7: | 7: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” |
| Matthew 7: | 11: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” |
| 2 Samuel 22: | 7: “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried
to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did
enter into his ears. 8: Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 9: There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 10: He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. 11: And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12: And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13: Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 14: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 15: And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 16: And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17: He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; 18: He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. 19: They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 20: He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” |
| Psalm 107: | 6: “Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.” |
| Verse: | 13: “Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.” |
| Verse: | 19: “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.” |
| Verse: | 28: “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.” |
| Psalm 50: | 15: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” |
4. First Things First
The most serious problem in life is sin. Its results are guilt, sorrow, sickness and eternal death. Indeed we can say with a measure of certainty that most - if not all - life's problems stem from sin in some form or the other. I am happy to report that Yahweh has the solution to the problem of sin. And that solution is freely available to the sinner. Once the problem of sin is addressed and the solution accepted, all other problems begin to line up for attention. If, however, the problem of sin is shelved or ignored, then no matter how smooth life may appear to be, sooner or later there will be unrest in the soul and sorrow in the heart. So let us list the solutions to problems in order of importance.Soul Salvation First
| Matthew 6: | 31: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” |
Salvation Offered to ALL
| Acts 2: | 21: “And it shall come to pass, that WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” |
Personal Needs Met
| Judges 15: | 18: “And he (Samson) was sore athirst, and called on
the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand
of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand
of the uncircumcised? 19: But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived:” |
| Matthew 6: | 33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” |
5. Analysis
It is important to examine and analyse this subject of salvation. Here are a few questions that you may find useful.- Do I need salvation from my problem?
- Will Yahweh help me in this instance, or am I able to solve the problem myself?
- Are there any qualifying conditions to be met? If so, am I willing to meet them?
- Have I asked the Most High for help?
- Have I waited for His help?
6. Refusal
There are times when Yahweh appears to ignore a request for help; a request which, to us, appears perfectly legitimate. Think of Job. No doubt Job prayed day and night seemingly to no avail. But unbeknown to him there was a great spiritual drama being enacted behind the scenes. It could be the same with you. Yahweh may allow you to suffer trial and tribulation for a perfectly good reason. He allowed Paul to be held in prison for a long, long time. But the New Testament would be very different if Paul had been released immediately. His imprisonment brought light and truth to millions of believers.7. Worthless Solutions
In an effort to solve their problems many people compound them. They try to get out of debt by gambling. Or they try to balance their sorrows by eating or drinking too much. Many turn to drugs or sex and give loose rein to appetite. These remedies are not only useless - but often fatal. They never work.| Proverbs 23: | 21: “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” |
8. The Answer
The first solution to life's problems is to put your faith in Yahweh and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. All other solutions follow that first step. It must be taken - first!| Psalm 55: | 16: “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 17: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” |
| Matthew 6: | 31: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” |
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