THE PRESSURES OF LIFE (Part 2)

Last week we saw how pressure is sometimes self-inflicted. Even when we don't bring it on ourselves though pressure can be a constant.

I. SOME OTHER SOURCES OF PRESSURE [II Corinthians 11]

1. Other Christians [v. 1-2, 5-]

2. Satan [v. 3]

3. False Preachers [v. 4-15]

Note that the pressure can build and come from more than one source [v. 16-23]

4. Enemies of the true faith [v. 24-25a]

5. Surroundings & Situations [v. 25b-26]

6. Evil people [v. 26, 32-33]

7. Physical infirmities [v. 27]

8. Spiritual responsibilities [v. 28-29]

II. SOME OUTWARD SIGNS OF PRESSURE

1. Suffering [I Cor. 12:26]

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

2. Sorrow [John 11]

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

3. Success [Dt. 8:10-14]

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

III. SOME OBVIOUS WAYS TO HANDLE PRESSURE [Pr. 3]

1. Read & Apply the Word of God [v. 1-4]

2. Trust God [v. 5-6]

3. Live For God [v. 7-10]

4. Learn from God [v. 11-26]

5. Live like God [v. 27-35] Be Christlike!



1.