HOW GOD TURNS OUR PAIN INTO POWER ”

New Life Bible Church

August 10, 2014

Allen McLauchlin, Pastor

A family friendly, never alone, purpose driven church

Job’s Pain: If my misery could be weighed, if you could pile the whole bitter load on the scales, It would be heavier than all the sand of the sea! Is it any wonder that I’m screaming like a caged cat? The arrows of God Almighty are in me, poison arrows—and I’m poisoned all through! God has dumped the whole works on me.  Do you see what God has dished out for me? It’s enough to turn anyone’s stomach! Everything in me is repulsed by it— it makes me sick. “All I want is an answer to one prayer, a last request to be honored: Let God step on me—squash me like a bug, and be done with me for good. Job 6:1-9

1. God uses pain as a megaphone, to get our attention.

The arrows of God Almighty are in me, poison arrows—and I’m in constant pain! God has dumped the whole works on me. Job 6:4

If they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating. But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him. Psalm 89:31-33

Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of pain God wants his people to have. 2 Corinthians  7:9

When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Jonah 2:7

Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.; Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. Proverbs 20:30

2. God uses pain in a way of teaching us to depend on HIM.

Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze? No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success. Job 6:12,13

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through the pain. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

My pain was good for me, for it taught me to depend on the WORD. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. Psalm 119:71,72

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin, death and hurt? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:24

3. God uses pain in order that we might serious about discipleship.

At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One. Job 6:10

He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. You intended to cause me pain me, however God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50;19,20

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31,32

But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus ... the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love." Acts 20:24

4. God uses pain to generate more compassion in our lives.

One should be kind to a friend in pain. Job 6: 14a

If someone is overcome by some sin ... humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be you who is in pain.  Share each other's troubles and problems. Gal. 6:1-2

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. 1 Peter 3:16