MY STRUGGLE HAS ENDED (FULL)

TEXT: 2 SAM 9:1-13

TOPIC: MY STRUGGLE HAS ENDED (FULL)

The lesson is broken into five sections viz:

Background to the study

Meanings

Forewords

Why Christian struggle

My struggle has ended how?

Background

Jonathan loved David as himself this led to the bonding of their souls (this can be best described as God at work because it would not have been possible for David to survive in the palace without this bonding) 1 Sam 18:1 says and it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul that the Saul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. This led to a covenant stated at least two times 1 Sam 20:16-17 & 1 Sam 18:1.

God reminded David of this and he yielded and was used of God to bring Mephiboseth and his lineage out of struggle. May God send men to us and send us to men to end all struggles in Jesus Mighty name.

Henry’s commentary of the bible divided this chapter (our text) into three namely:

Verses 1-4 enquiry

Verses 5-8 reception

Verses 9-13 provision.

Foreword

·         All being has a struggle of one form or the other 

·         Not all struggle are from God or godly.

Meanings

Struggle according to oxford advanced learners dictionary eight edition (international students’ version) verb means the following (a) to fight against somebody/something (b) to try very hard to do something.

Why Christian struggle

           These amongst other reasons are why Christians struggle/suffer:

Ø   For Gods glory:  John 9:3 says Jesus answered neither hath this man sinned nor his parents but that the works of God should be made manifest. 

  This man had been blind since birth and had not been able to do anything by himself and the all-knowing God said this is for the glory of God, we can go through unpalatable things because of the glory of God. Mephiboseth was going through a whole lot which negates his royalty status but the end of the story awesomely brings glory to God as unveiled in our text.

Ø  To mature us: we learn more from: failure than success, sickness than from good health, and times of scarcity than plenty. (Maturity is not learnt in school but by experience(s) and encounters. Gbenga Aluko) We grow through what we go through anonymous. Romans 5:3-4 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance produces character, and character produces hope. James 1:2-3 says count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Ø  Our ignorance/slackness/Sin: God did not package or create us (man) for struggle but sin did but thank God for Jesus. Romans 5:12 says wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned.

         Ignorance is one of the most dangerous and neglected weapon of the devil against us in this generation Hosea 4:6a my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

       Luke 18:38-40 tells of a blind man who was blind but got the information that Jesus is passing cried with a loud voice even after being cautioned he cried the more and got his sight via his doggedness and resilience he caught the mercy, there is a dimension of being alert, determined and decided backed up with concrete steps required to stem some struggling.

      Sin is a source of most struggles in life

      

Ø  To make us seek God: it is natural that when a child comes in contact with something beyond him/her, he/she naturally comes to the father/mother/guardian, the children of Israel would always remember God in their different travails and struggle. Exodus 3:7 says And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmaster for I know their sorrows.  .At times God permits struggle to get our attention or get us to focus and seek him.

Ø  It’s a requirement for success: “The way up is down” there is usually a period of struggle preceding real, godly and lasting success. Success isn’t picked on the floor it is worked for and worked out and the period for work may be termed as a period of struggle. Even Jesus while on earth did not break this principle, Phil 2:8-9 says and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9.Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name.

Ø  Not in the place God intends : when one is occupying a place outside of God ordained programme for our life struggle is a sure event, Isaac’s world famous fruitfulness easily quoted by all in Gen 26:12 which says then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year  an hundredfold and the Lord blessed him was made possible as a result of the direction received and followed earlier in the same chapter  Gen 26:2 And the Lord appeared unto him and said go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I will tell thee of. God created us, knows and sees all things just like He created fish and placed them in water any other environment will make fish suffer and eventually die. Same applies to us May we be teachable for God in Jesus name. 

Ø  Lack of depth/spiritual insight/eyes: being human with limitations and thresholds, at times we allow our situation, experiences, expectations among other parameter becloud our senses, at other times our limitations as human may make us not see what is supposed to aid our success or some things that are needed for us to soar are just beyond us. It took the intervention of God for Hagar’s son not to have died of thirst when there is water around the spot where the son would have died. Gen 21:19 says And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water and she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the lad drink.

My struggle has ended how?

v  Struggles /sufferings are but for a moment: 1 Pet 1:6, 1 Cor 4:17 says our light affliction/heaviness through manifold temptations is only permitted for a season. (Paraphrased).when a child of God goes through any issue it is just for a moment and that moment is expired now in Jesus name. Amen.

v  Because God answers prayers: God always has good thoughts towards his people (Jer 29:11) even when going through a struggle or suffering, Isaiah 43:2 says when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shall not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  Most time he waits for us to cooperate with His thought and eternal plan in the place of prayer to bring to reality His glorious and lofty plans. Jer 29:12 says then ye shall call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you.

v  He bore our sufferings: Prophet Isaiah saw the vision clearly Jesus bore all our maladies Isaiah 53:4 which says surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted. He bore all our curses hence Gal 3; 13, we are to experience bliss the better part of our lives as Christ has fully paid the price.

v  Because God says so: God your and my maker sent me to tell you that your suffering /struggle is over in Jesus mighty name Amen .This is however in consonance with His word Is 3:10 which says say to the righteous that it shall be well with him for he shall eat the fruit of their doings. The God who created the heaven and the earth sent me to tell you and myself that our struggle is over in Jesus mighty name.

SHALOM.

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