Triumph in Trials and TribulationPastor John Stock: www.truthwithjohn.comOctober 4, 2015“…”reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”2Timothy 4:21: WHAT OUR WORLD LOOKS LIKEa.We are living in a very difficult time in world historyb.None are exempt“…In the world you shall have tribulation….”John 16:33TRIBULATION = pressure, affliction, anguish, burdens, persecution, troubleQUESTION: Can we have victory in the midst of our problems?“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8: 37“ Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ” 2Corinthians 2:14A. THE SIMPLE PART1.Some problems are temporary2.Some problems are irreconcilable, irreversible, and unchangeable3.Some people refuse to accept these situations as irreversible and unchangeablea.Their idea of victory is to see God get them out of their situationb.They feel their faith can force God to do what they want Him to do 4. We need God to help us walk through our situation victoriously5.Where do we start?6.Feeling sorry for yourself won’t help7.We end up feeling abandoned by God8.This can dictate the course of the rest of their lifeB. THE HARD PART1.People who walk in victory take a different path2.They choose the path of praise“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalms 34:1OBJECTION: How can I praise when my life is a disaster? 1 Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, 1 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3: 17-18 (TLB)FACT: To walk in victory we must make a conscious decision to praise the LordC. WHY THIS IS SO HARD?1.We all tend to focus on our problemsOur problems become a lens through which we view our whole worldWe even view God through that lens“I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.” Psalms 77:32.We need to focus on God through the lens of His Word.GREAT TRUTH: Our problems have not changed Him“I am the Lord, I change not.”Malachi 3:63.He is:Faithful and trueGoodWith me and He is for me.My help in time of troubleMy refugeThe rock of my salvationKind and compassionateMy hopeThe lifter of my headMy comfortMy joy"taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him."Psalms 34:8