Purpose in the Pain
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// Introduction
// Introduction
Sermon Bumper: How Do We Grow? (2:49)
New Series: Hot Seat - tackling some controversial issues
Self-Image
Drugs
Self-Harm
Why Bad Things Happen
Grandpa Birney Testimony
He spent the majority of his life planting churches in Colombia, and leading many muslims in Africa to Jesus Christ. Later in life he got remarried and within the first year of marriage was diagnosed with cancer. He lived for 3 years before passing away.
The Question:
How could a good man that served a good God go through something so bad? After all, the Bible says...
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103:
While he could’ve been mad and shook a fist at God for allowing such pain into his life, he didn’t.
He went on to continue preaching God’s word. He took me to Colombia to see the work that had been done. He recorded a mini documentary accounting for the work that God had done in and through his life.
In probably the toughest time of his life, I didn’t watch his faith shrink or waver, but saw it grow even stronger.
What did he know, that we don’t know?
I don’t know about you, but when things get hard, it becomes very easy for me to get frustrated and wonder why such bad things can happen when I’m chasing after God?
1. The Source of Bad
1. The Source of Bad
We live in a fallen world, meaning the world that God created broke the covenant and therefore fell from God’s grace.
God created a world that He called, “good.”
With that world came a covenant. God said that man and woman could govern the creation, live freely, they just couldn’t touch one tree in the garden.
The consequence of eating from the tree was that “they would surly die.”
Key: bad was never a part of the original plan. But now that it is here, there is purpose in the pain.
> Purpose in the Pain
> Purpose in the Pain
The bad reveals the goodness of God!
Solomon’s View of Life
Solomon’s View of Life
, Solomon goes on a listing of the times and seasons in life:
born & die; weep & laugh; mourn & dance; seek & lose; war & peace…just a few
By the end of his writings, in Chapter 12, he leaves us with the thought to remember our Creator in our Youth.
Solomon: was a man who literally had everything anyone in this world could ever want. He had multiple wives and concubines, he had enormous amounts of wealth, he was the wisest man to live…he literally had it all.
At the end of it all, he simply says that none of it matters if you don’t know your Creator. Whether in joy or in suffering, you should always be looking towards your Creator.
The pain you experience has a purpose. Depending on your reaction to the pain will determine whether or not the pain makes or breaks you.
Find Joy
Find Joy
James, Jesus’ half brother, calls pain and suffering something that should be considered a joy to have in your life:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
We just talked about it in our Rooted series, that if we are going to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, we need to remain, be patient, be long (long-suffering) in our faith.
There is a reason that one of the aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit is long-suffering (patience). God knows that this life is hard, and when it is, the Holy Spirit can enter the situation and bring peace when it doesn’t make sense.
2. Our Response to Pain
2. Our Response to Pain
Many times we come to a point in life where pain and suffering sets in...
Parents get a divorce
Boyfriend/Girlfriend breaks up with you
Fight with your best friend
You lose a loved one
You or someone you know gets diagnosed with a disease
…we have some choices in how we respond.
Numb - we do nothing
Frustrated - we yell and scream, hoping that something changes
Activate Faith - trust in God that He is working things out
Wrestle - go to God and ask, why
> It’s Okay to Question God
> It’s Okay to Question God
God would rather you come to Him and question Him, than walk away from Him.
- Craig Groeschel
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
John
Disciples Questioned the Purpose of the Suffering:
Was it the man’s sin
Was it the parent’s sin
Jesus points out that it’s no ones fault for the blindness, but rather, it is an opportunity for the works of God to be displayed!
The Man was told to go to the pool of Siloam (which means Sent)
The man had been suffering his entire life, and in one moment the answer to his problem was to go in faith.
Pain is an opportunity to flex your faith muscle and even grow it in the process!
> Self Inflicted Pain
> Self Inflicted Pain
In 2 Corinthians, The Apostle Paul shares a glimpse into the pain and suffering he has undergone since choosing to follow Christ:
beatings almost to death
5x given 39 lashes
3x beaten with rods
1x stoned
3x shipwrecked; 1 time adrift at sea for 1 day & 1 night
frequent dangers of rivers, robbers, his own people (Jews), gentiles, city life, wilderness life, sea life
sleepless nights
hunger & thirst; often there being no food
living in the elements of the cold
daily pressure and anxiety for all the churches
Of all these sufferings, only one of them was self inflicted…the daily pressure and anxiety for all the churches.
The pain and suffering that Paul chose to have in his life, was a pain for others.
He took on the weight & burdens of the people he had gone to minister to throughout his life.
I’m sure there were many times that Paul thought, I can go make/sell tents and be done with this crazy lifestyle
Had he given up, we wouldn’t have the revelation he poured out when writing 2/3 thirds of what we call the New Testament.
It was his pain and suffering that led him to a life of fasting and praying before God for answers to the problems that Christians were presenting him.
The pain provided pressure to prosper!
At one point, Paul says that he pleaded with God to take the “thorn in his life” away.
God responded to him by saying () My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
He goes on to say in verse 10...
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
> Other Cases
> Other Cases
David wrote many Psalms about the frustration he felt.
How are the bad people winning, and I’m stuck in a cave?
, was written as David fled from his own son, Absolom
, was written after God delivered David from all his enemies and King Saul
, paints a pictures of David’s life and faithfulness he saw in God
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Walking through the valley and hard time is inevitable, but you must know that God is there with you!
Every person that accomplished great things for God, went through a tough time...
Pain is a part of our story!
Every Disciple that followed Jesus died a terrible death, except John, who was exiled on an island by himself.
John’s Revelation of the New Heaven
John’s Revelation of the New Heaven
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
There is coming a day and time when the pain and sufferings of this world will no longer be.
Can you imagine what that will be like?
// Closing
// Closing
The Second
John wrote about a second life and second death. The Bible says that this first life we are living now is like a mist or vapor. It’s here and then it’s gone.
Activate Your Faith in Jesus Christ by following Him.
You read the Bible
You pray every day
Grow your relationship
Those in Pain - Pray Over
Wren recently skinned her knees. She loves the idea of Doctor Daddy, because she gets band-aids. What she doesn’t like is when it’s time to change those band-aids and clean the wound.
What she doesn’t know yet is that there is purpose in the pain!
I believe there are some of you in this room that are in a valley…I want to encourage you and tell you, there is purpose in the pain.
You may not see it now, but stay firm in your faith, let the pain fuel your pursuit of God!
If you would like prayer, raise your hand.
> Next Steps
> Next Steps
Memorize Key Verse:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Join the Group Bible Plan: Trusting God in the Eye of the Storm
Trusting God in the Eye of the Storm
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