Somehow, suffering can transport us into the throne room of God, where we feel the tenderness of his embrace, an otherworldly sense of joy, and a fellowship unlike anything else weve ever known. If we know God then should we not live differently? Of course, we desire his help and healing. In this particular passage, Paul receives a special message from the Lord. Pain and offense are tools used by the Devil to isolate individuals and make them more susceptible to spiritual attack. Well, thats a lie. read more, Scripture: death, taxes, and then we added pain to the list because we are in Genesis 3:19 that because of our own fallenness we will be: be working in pain all your life The assurance that God is with us is the most precious gift we have in suffering. Or perhaps its one who suffers from Lou Gehrigs Disease. Your B-day cake For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. It seems unreal that pain could be turned into joy. If you are struggling today, remember God has not forgotten you. He could write more letters. read more, Scripture: After that next miraculous message, it would be another six years, at least, before the next, and according to the record of Acts, there was never another one. This is sharing in the fellowship of Christs sufferings. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. Or multiple sclerosis. Username Jesus fully understands me, but I can understand only the mere edges of him. Everyone experiences pains, and while the size and scope may vary, our source of help does not. Male I. These are lessons that can be learned only in the classroom of suffering, and only the student enrolled there is allowed to make the discovery. Scripture: Mark 5:21-43. Something about that connection offers encouragement and strengthens you. He says, Be still, and know that I am God; A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Bible Church. In Ephesus, Pauls had what might be his most successful ministry anywhere, preaching there fore more than two years until all who lived in the province of Asia heard the Gospel. For more resources to help you study the word of God and grow in your faith, check out Reveal.tv. Exodus 33:12-15. Divine theme by Restored 316, For your convenience, this post may contain affiliate links. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Feel the lifelong pain of acute loss. He holds us. That's a long time to spend in a waiting room, Mehl wrote. Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. And when we can, like Barbara, imitate Jesus and his glad willingness to submit to God, we experience a profound kinship with him. The method of knowing God is through forgiveness of our sins, where we, God is Fully Revealed in Jesus Christ TITLE: God Knows In fact, as he set about his world planting churches, and becoming the leader of the evangelistic movement among Gentiles, he seemed to endure an incredible amount of pain. He comprehends the unexplainable anguish that invades our lives like an intruder bent on stealing valuables our self-esteem, purity, health, hope, future and more. . Fights Himself & Lights it Up in Lighter Fluid Video, Rapzilla Freshmen 2023 EmanuelDaProphet Speaks on Lil Yachty Collab, Drake & Kendrick Release Christian Rap Song Thanks to A.I. . Since we know so much about this mans work and suffering, Id suggest some more positive purposes from Pauls pain. When I am weak, then I am strong, Paul said. As I share in Christs suffering, I find an unusual closeness to Jesus that offers a rare glimpse of his glory. The God who has numbered every hair on your head and knows every sparrow that falls to the ground is aware of every detail of your situation. and crazy facts that really arent facts at all. The power of pain? And pain has a power. Romans 8:28, Pain Perspective If you have ever been betrayed by a friend, someone you loved and trusted, you can know a little of Christs fellowship in suffering. God Knows Our Suffering | Theology of Work Psalm 56 begins with David's cry for mercy because his enemies are attacking him. read more, Scripture: But heaven may feel like little comfort as days of pain on earth stretch into months and even years. He knew the physical pain of the cross, and the personal pain of betrayal. After all, missionaries, church planters and pastors work for God! To celebrate this book, Pams publisher will give away 5 copies! 2 Corinthians 7:10, For God sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek eternal life. So, what does that mean for us? You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. Heres the really important question: Will you find the positives in your pain? Topic: IF YOU KNOW JESUS YOU WILL KNOW GOD The angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar as she was alone and despairing in the wilderness and assured her that it was safe to return. For more information, see our, But, my friend, Im here to tell you that this is not how the rest of your life will look! Perhaps a person going through the excruciating process of cancer treatments could tell us how bad pain can become. Female, Are you a Pastor? It has marked me. He will walk with you through every dark valley. Church Of God. 12:7-10 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Paul didnt get a pass from pain. Upon accepting an award, the late Jack Benny once remarked, "I really don't deserve this. And most importantly, God was working on Josephs own heart, testing and probing and forming a young man who simply would not waver from his faith in God, even if life took him to the bottom of the dungeon, or the height of power and prosperity. This includes everything in the spiritual realm, including our emotional state. If youve got a red-letter Bible, more than likely, youve already spotted the red-letter moment. He knows your deepest fears. death, taxes, and then we added pain to the list because we are told in Genesis 3:19 that because of our own fallenness we will be: : but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Or if you have ever begged God to remove your anguish, and God denied your desperate request, you can know a little of Christs fellowship in suffering. We have been marked by destiny, purpose, favor, but is that the whole picture? Mark 5:21-43, Denomination: That doesnt mean that God causes our pain. Im one of the pastors here The insolent smear us with lies, but with our whole hearts, we keep Your precepts. So we must know God. 4. The same is true for our personal pain. It interrupts comfort. Just think, our field of knowledge DOUBLES every 18 months! The men and women in the Bible couldnt see how God was using their lives and their struggles either. 1- Pain Perversion And He is doing something about it. We must never glibly explain someone's pain as a work of God. God not only knows them quantitativly but He knows them by name. You are not alone. He will never fail you or forsake you. That had the biggest impact on her ability to persevere. Paul was saved about five years later, on the road to Damascus. It doesnt yet serve a purpose, but it is lovingly pushed, molded and fired at extremely high temperatures so that it will be ready for its final purpose. Even more mysteriously and astonishingly, sharing in Christs sufferings means we will one day share in his glory, a glory that will make todays sorrows seem light and momentary (Romans 8:1718; 2 Corinthians 4:17). Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. There is always a reason. Wildwind Community Church When we are in pain, we feel isolated. But the lesson is so difficult, the only way any of us would discover it is that God allows pain to be a part of our lives. Do not be anxious about anything,but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. No. So It, I can quote scripture to you. I felt unnoticed. Pt. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Psalm 139:1-6, Denomination: And as we behold Gods glory, we are being changed into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18), becoming more like him. read more, Scripture: Show me thy ways. We can only live one chapter of our lives at a time, and none of us knows exactly what the next chapter will bring. The greatness of this truth can only be seen when we consider the vastness of space and the trillions and trillions of stars. What youre experiencing may have caught you off guard, but it didnt take God by surprise. No, they do not themselves remove our pain. Low tolerance of pain vs. high We want to know that Jesus understands our suffering, which he does, but there is an even deeper fellowship when we understand a little of his. Only the pain of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 mobilized an entire nation to take the actions it needed to take, first in World War II, and now, in a global war against terror. Jesus came to this earth and lived a human life. The apostle Paul is the New Testaments version of an unsinkable Molly Brown. As was the case for the Titanics most famous survivor, Paul simply refused to go down with the ship literally. Peter, the natural leader of the post-Pentecost church, had only two such experiences, according to Lukes history. There are no guarantees for any of us, even those called into ministry. John was very specific about his Please avoid building trails that go uphill.Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs.
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