John 16:33

The Christian life is not absent of struggle, it is a promise that in your season of struggle God will give you the strength to be victorious.

It is not a matter of if there are troubles, it is a matter of when there are troubles in your life, how will you respond?

There are three types of troubles we will encounter in our lives:

Trials – Respond with joy

Conflict – Respond by rejoicing and being glad for great is your reward in heaven

Troubles of our own making (if you love me obey my commandments)

God allows trials in our lives for our benefit. It perfects us by increasing our faith and producing endurance.

James 1:2-4

Hebrews 11:6

Isaiah 59: 15

Matthew 5:11-12

When they see your faith and come after you, God is going to bless you. Rejoice because God is going to bless you.

Know this, you do not get blessed because you are under attack, you get blessed because of why you are under attack. When you are attacked for righteousness’s sake.

Matthew 5:10

Paul and Silas at Philippi were arrested, flogged and imprisoned. They responded by praying and praising God and saw a great victory.

Matthew 11:12

We are talking about a spiritual kingdom.

This spiritual kingdom suffers spiritual violence and the spiritually violent will take it by force.

Violence is when you disturb, disrupt, or destroy a present course of action.

You are a soldier in the army of God and you are either going to disrupt and destroy the plans of the enemy for your life, or he is going to steal the promise of God in you.

Matthew 24:13

2 Timothy 2:3

This morning He wants to know will you put faith in Him, so he can pour out what he knows about you.

He wants to know do you believe in me enough to let me show you what we can do together.