• God loves us.God loves us.• Jesus has conquered death.Jesus has conquered death.• The problem of pain…The problem of pain…

IT’S IT’S FRIDAY…FRIDAY…

BUT BUT SUNDAY’S SUNDAY’S

COMINGCOMING

1.1. GOD IS OMNISCIENTGOD IS OMNISCIENT2.2. GOD IS OMNIPOTENTGOD IS OMNIPOTENT

3.3. GOD IS LOVEGOD IS LOVE4.4. WHY IS THERE PAIN?WHY IS THERE PAIN?

IMPOTENT

MALEVOLENT

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

IT’S A PUNISHMENT

YOU MUST HAVE FAITH

IT WILL HELP YOU

GROW

DON’T WORRY.

BE HAPPY.

JUST BE THANK-

FUL

IT’S A PUNISHMENT

YOU MUST HAVE FAITH

USED FOR

PUNISH- MENT

SATAN USES IT TO PULL

US AWAY

CAUSES REPENTANC

E

IT’S FOR GOD’S GLORY

JUST BE THANK-

FUL

IT WILL HELP YOU

GROW

DON’T WORRY.

BE HAPPY.

Things to remember about painThings to remember about pain::

1.1. Life’s challenges help us to growLife’s challenges help us to grow

Who are kept by the power of God through faith for Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, that the genuineness of your faith, being being much more much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,the revelation of Jesus Christ,(1 Peter 1:5-7, NKJV)(1 Peter 1:5-7, NKJV)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have patience. But let patience have its its perfect work, that perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.(James 1:2-4, NKJV)(James 1:2-4, NKJV)

Now as Now as Jesus Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.God should be revealed in him.(John 9:1-3, NKJV)(John 9:1-3, NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called those who love God, to those who are the called according to according to His His purpose. For whom He foreknew, purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined He also predestined to be to be conformed to the image of conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.brethren.(Romans 8:28-29, NKJV)(Romans 8:28-29, NKJV)

And not only And not only that, that, but we also glory but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.the Holy Spirit who was given to us.(Romans 5:3-5, NKJV)(Romans 5:3-5, NKJV)

It is natural for us to wish It is natural for us to wish that God has designed for that God has designed for us a less glorious and less us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; But then arduous destiny; But then

we are wishing not for more we are wishing not for more but for less.but for less.

C. S. LewisC. S. Lewis

Things to remember about painThings to remember about pain::

1.1. Life’s challenges help us to growLife’s challenges help us to grow2.2. A world free from harm is A world free from harm is

logically impossiblelogically impossible

Things to remember about painThings to remember about pain::

1.1. Life’s challenges help us to growLife’s challenges help us to grow2.2. A world free from harm is A world free from harm is

logically impossiblelogically impossible3.3. Much suffering is caused by poor Much suffering is caused by poor

use of freewilluse of freewill

Things to remember about painThings to remember about pain::

1.1. Life’s challenges help us to growLife’s challenges help us to grow2.2. A world free from harm is A world free from harm is

logically impossiblelogically impossible3.3. Much suffering is caused by poor Much suffering is caused by poor

use of freewilluse of freewill

...was blameless and upright, ...was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and and one who feared God and shunned evil.shunned evil.(Job 1:1a, NKJV)(Job 1:1a, NKJV)

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." In all this the name of the LORD." In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.wrong.(Job 1:20-22, NKJV)(Job 1:20-22, NKJV)

"Shall the one who contends "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct with the Almighty correct Him? Him? He who rebukes God, let him He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” (Job 40:2, NKJV)answer it.” (Job 40:2, NKJV)

Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that You can do everything, And that know that You can do everything, And that no purpose no purpose of Yours of Yours can be withheld from can be withheld from You. You. You asked, You asked, 'Who 'Who is is this who hides this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You You said, said, 'I will question you, and you shall 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' I have heard of You by the answer Me.' I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor You. Therefore I abhor myself, myself, And repent in And repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6, NKJV) dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6, NKJV)

Things to remember about painThings to remember about pain::

1.1. Life’s challenges help us to growLife’s challenges help us to grow2.2. A world free from harm is A world free from harm is

logically impossiblelogically impossible3.3. Much suffering is caused by poor Much suffering is caused by poor

use of freewilluse of freewill4.4. God God empathizesempathizes with us when with us when

we hurt.we hurt.

For we do not have a High For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was with our weaknesses, but was in all in all points points tempted as tempted as we are, we are, yet yet without sin.without sin.(Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)(Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)