SERMON - THE HEALING POWER OF AFFLICTIONS

Part 1

The Healing Power

Of

Afflictions

We often hear words relating to infirmity, illness and ill-fortunes that beset Christians attributed to Satan and Satan’s doings alone. We hear those problems as evils laid upon us at Satan’s whim. While some illnesses and ill-fortunes may indeed, be attributed to Satan, many are works of God as his punishment for the sins and misdeeds of man.

If you read 2 Kings 20::21; 21:1 -16, you will learn about a King of Israel, and his actions against God.

Manasseh, the King referenced, became very evil. He sacrificed his own son to idols, practice sorcery, set up pagan Asherah Poles, and led many Israelites to paganism and murdered others.

In 2 Chronicles 33:11, we learn that it was the Lord who sent an army of Assyrians and allowed Manasseh to be taken prisoner and taken to Babylon. By reading further we also learn that in his distress he called on the Lord, confessed his misdeeds and repented. In 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 and 15 The Lord restored him to his throne. In 2 Chronicles 33:19 we learn that it was his prayer, confession and repentance that were heard and accepted, by God, thereby making him right in God’s eyes.

What have we learned here?

God visited afflictions upon Manasseh, not Satan. God used those afflictions as His rod of correction. We also learn that that we can never give up and we learn that even the vilest sinner can be brought back to God if prayer and true repentance are offered to God Himself.

Even King David admitted that after he went astray from God’s Way he too suffered from God’s afflictions.

Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
       but now I obey your word.  68 You are good, and what you do is good;
       teach me your decrees.  69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
       I keep your precepts with all my heart.  70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
       but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted
       so that I might learn your decrees.

In King David’s own words, it was “Through afflictions,” that he saw clearly.

We often ask ourselves and hear others ask “How could a loving God allow these awful afflictions that facing me?”

God’s ways are mysterious and He does not answer to us and has every right to chastise us in any way He so chooses. 

Psalm 66:10 For you, O God, tested us;  you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison  and laid burdens on our backs.  12 You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,  but you brought us to a place of abundance.

God uses afflictions as His method of refining us and does so to make us righteous thereby gaining worthiness in His eyes.

Just as your human dad took no pleasure in chastising you for a wrong you committed, God gets no pleasure from it as it is the healing brought about by our realization, prayer and repentance He seeks. Just as a surgeon knows that the operation he performs will result in recovery pain, he also knows that the pain of the operation is necessary to rid his patient of the malaise suffered.

God knows that we live in a world filled with evil and He also knows we will often fall. It is through the afflictions visited upon us that we can remove the evils we do through prayer, confession and repentance.

When I use these words, ‘prayer, confession and repentance,’ I mean to say, ‘Pray to God, confess to God and repent to God.’

In order to convey the message I seek to teach I will deliver this sermon and two parts. Just as I said in one of my initial sermons Jesus kept His sermons brief and to the point. With this said, I will now reiterate a few points of today’s sermon before saying a ‘Closing prayer.’

Contrary to common statements all infirmity, ills and ill-fortunes can be attributed to Satan. Some, and this will be made known in Sermon 94, are Satan’s doings but God uses afflictions as His methods of chastising us. We, through prayer, confession and repentance can get back into God’s grace and He will welcome us back with open arms and a warm heart.

Just as your own Dad took no delight in chastising you when you did wrong, God takes no delight in our being visited with affliction, and is there for our return. Just as we have leaned in our Christian walk, ‘You reap as you sow,’ we must do all within our power to refrain from being disobedient to God’s will.

(Closing prayer)

Almighty God, Creator of all there is, we come to You with our praise and with thanksgiving for all You provide. Lord, we worship You and we love You and ask forgiveness for the sins we have committed against You. Forgive us O Lord and strengthen our resolve to sin no more.

Lord, we are weak and often fall and, if You choose to chastise us in Your desire to have us see our ways as not of Your liking, Lord please know that it is through our human frailty that we fall. Allow us to recognize our weaknesses and return to You. As You are our God; there is no other.  

Almighty God we ask that You bless and protect our military, our elected officials, our judges, police forces and the many men and women that see to our national security. We also ask that You bless our brothers and sisters in need of protection from evil doers. Open the minds and hearts of their oppressors and have Your Holy Spirit fill their hearts and minds.

Father, we pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever,

Amen, amen and amen.   

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Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com