"So tell me then - how can a very real and serious problem be turned and transformed into an opportunity? Is this not just some clever psychological trick?"

That was the challenging and almost cynical question posed to me.

Come with me into the New Testament and turn to Acts Chapter 18. In this church, at Corinth, which Paul founded, many problems arose, and if it had not been for these problems we would not have had the letters of I and II Corinthians - two letters to these people whom he loved and served, and for whom he wanted the highest and best and finest. God always wants all of these for all His people - be certain about that.

There was immorality in the congregation - incest among the members - drunkenness at the Communion Table - divisions in the fellowship modelled on their favourite preachers. This was a bit of a mess! Yes, even after 18 months of my brother Paul teaching the Word of God, all this arose.

There was misuse and abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and Paul went on to teach these believers to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit properly and responsibly. Now, there is one crucial and important lesson on its own. Just because you come across a divorce with all the pain, hurt and anguish that can arise, that does not mean you throw out marriage, in case it should happen again.

And also in this church at Corinth, there was an absence of love. As a result we have the very famous and much read Chapter - 1 Corinthians 13. Problems can be turned into opportunities.

Paul took each of these major serious problems and sought to resolve them and deal with them.

He had newly come from Athens, the city of culture and education, to the centre of commerce.

Corinth was the place of ships and sailors and immorality. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is for all classes cultures and races - for Jew and Gentile - for all who have one thing in common - ALL ARE SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOUR. The learned and the immoral - the so-called cultured and those who have never been to college - each is a sinner in need of a Saviour - and Paul preached that that Saviour is Jesus Christ.

Now, he has someplace to stay - a base - and he has a job he can do.

Every Sabbath, Paul goes into the synagogue, and there he sought to persuade Jews and Greeks, that Jesus Christ was the Messiah - the Saviour. Within a very short while the usual trouble erupts and repeats itself. The religious people were violently opposed to what Paul was saying. They even swore and blasphemed - (that is in the word translated 'abused' meaning 'to speak injuriously').

Isn't it amazing how some people react to the preaching of the Word of God, and how similar these reactions are? We have seen this, to some degree, everywhere Paul preached.

Our reaction will be very similar. We will either be saying - "God spoke to me, in some way - or - I didn't like what was being said." There is always some type of reaction to the proclamation and preaching of the Word of God.

How do you react when the Word of God challenges you? How do you respond when you become aware of people reacting? Do you understand what might be happening - and help - explain - encourage - or pray and leave it to God to deal with that individual? This is where we need mature discernment as to how to handle particular situations, and strong leaders who will confront awkward situations seeking to resolve the various issues.

Sandy Shaw