Embracing Freedom and Growth Through Life's Challenges

1) "Everybody has problems. I don't care who you are, what your last name is, where you come from, how much money you have in the bank, who you're married to, or who you got away from. Everybody, y'all ain't saying nothing to me today. Everybody has problems. Problems. Everyone has a problem, is a problem, or you live with a problem. Just keep your face straight to me. Just don't look to your right or to your left. Just keep it right here. Our problems have, and they may vary by type and severity. Because, as we know, there are financial problems. There are health problems. We got relationship problems. We got problems, those problems, as well as problems, watch this, problems of guilt, problems of depression, problems of temptation, problems of failure, problems of stress, problems of burnout. I'm telling you, we all... We have all types of problems." [39:06] (91 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2) "We, as believers, are not exempt from painful problems. And if we're honest about it, I said, if we're honest about it, oftentimes, we have more problems than non-believers. Y'all ain't saying nothing, but I'm going to keep on talking now. We have more problems than non-believers. And here's the reason why. It's because the evil one, the devil. The devil tries to derail our spiritual lives. Look at how Jesus expresses this fact in John. I think we have this verse on the screen. John chapter 16, verse 33. John 16 and 33. Look at what it says. It says, I have said these things to you that in me you will have peace. Watch this. But in the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world." [41:08] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3) "If we are more than a conqueror, are y'all ready for this? We will make our enemies our friends. See, if we're conquerors, then we can defeat our enemy. We But when you're more than conquerors, you're more than conquerors. But you make your enemies your friends. And see, I need you to understand and broaden your understanding of what an enemy is. Because enemies aren't just people. Enemies can be a situation. What you view as an enemy could be pain. And God can cause even our worst problems to be our friends. If we allow him to make the good come from them. Lord, I feel your presence in this place. See, you have to learn to make pain your friend." [46:12] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4) "God uses problems to get us back on track or to keep us on track. Did y'all catch that? God will use our problems to either get us back on track or to keep us on track. Or to keep us on the right track. Look at what Psalm 119 verse 67 says. He says, Anybody else had that testimony? I said, listen, before I was afflicted, I, you know, I did veer off to the left. I went to the left a little bit, but now I keep your word. In other words, I don't, God, you don't have to tell me twice. No more. You got to tell me twice. No more. One time is good enough for me. God, you had to repeat yourself. One time. But that affliction taught me a lesson. And I don't want to go through that affliction anymore ever again." [52:39] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5) "Christians are like tea bags. Don't know what's really in them until you put them in some hot water. Problems are really just tests to reveal what kind of Christians we really are. Because whatever's in you. When that temperature is turned up right, it's going to come out. Peter says it like this. He says, he begins writing and he uses this word, he says, that we are going to have manifold temptations. Manifold temptations. First Peter 1 and 6. That word temptations means putting to the test. We're going to have many moments where we will be put to the test. And then he tells us the purpose of the test." [01:01:29] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6) "God is not our problem. But God will use problems to direct us, to inspect us, to correct us. But he'll also use them to perfect us. Somebody say, he's perfecting me. He's perfecting me. Oh, thank you, Holy Spirit. Come on, lift those hands and say, God, thank you for perfecting me. Come on, say it again. Say, God, thank you for perfecting Because even the storm that you're in, God is using it to prepare you for what he is getting ready to do in your life. So you better get ready and thank him for the perfecting. Thank him for the perfecting. Thank you, Lord." [01:13:43] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7) "God uses our problems. To prepare us for being used by him. I'm closing Bible tells us that. That God comforts us in our tribulation. Second Corinthians chapter one, verse four. I want you to see this verse. This is my final verse. Second Corinthians chapter one, verse four. Look at what it says. Who comforts us in all our affliction. Watch this. So that somebody say so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction. With the comfort with which we ourselves. Are comforted by God. Did you see the exchange there? God is saying. I'm going to comfort you in your affliction. So that you will be able to comfort somebody else when they are in their affliction. With the same comfort." [01:19:03] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8) "God uses our problems. He uses our problems. Our problems are past and present to shape and mature us so we can serve him by helping others. You may be in this place, you may be watching me online. You may have a lot of problems, but let me just remind you, God is not your problem. But God uses problems to direct us, to inspect us, to correct us, and to perfect us. God is perfecting. You, right now." [01:29:50] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)