SERMON - THE HEALING POWER of AFFLICTIONS(Part 2)

Part 2

The Healing Power of

Afflictions

We learned that God uses afflictions as a means to chastise us, His children, for wrongs we have done. It is loving care and concern that He does as He does and stands ready to forgive the transgressions against Him and welcome us back to His loving arms. While He often visits afflictions upon us, just as we will learn in the sermon, Satan does as well.

We have to realize that any afflictions visited on us by God are done so with love while afflictions visited upon us by Satan are done in evil ways with no thought of chastisement but only of causing harm. As God is always in control even the afflictions visited upon us by Satan are done as only as God allows such. It is only when God lets down His wall of protection from around us that Satan does his evil to us.

King David sinned against God, but when he returned to God David found protection from Satan and all his evil ways.

Psalm 89: 20 I have found David my servant;        with my sacred oil I have anointed him.  21 My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. 22 No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him.

In these words God is telling the world that the devil cannot afflict anyone without His permission. Just a God visited affliction on Manasseh; God allowed the Assyrians to be Manasseh’s scourge, being used in a satanic method, but God remained in control.  

We ask why does Satan ever get control over man? The answer is that Satan gets control of the wicked,but even then God has set restrictions as to how far he can go with his evil. At any time a person who has been wicked can pray, confess, and repent to God.

Why is it that many that are seemingly righteous are suffering from illness and other misfortunes. We pray, we confess our sins and we say we have turned to God yet the illness continues. Are our prayers in vain? Have our confessions gone unheard? Has God abandoned us?

To all three questions the answer is ‘NO.’ ‘NO,’ and 'NO.' God has not forsaken you nor has He abandoned you. It is your human frailty, your inheritance from Adam and Eve as they fell to the wiles of Satan, in the Garden of Eden. You can rest assured that though your physical body may be impaired it is your spiritual being that must be your greatest concern... As you live through any illness or misfortune you must be ever aware that God is compassionate and will never abandon you.

Psalm 145: 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

We all have had friends that we know to be people of faith and people that love God with all their hearts. Most are Christian and there is no doubt to their claim of being Christian. Many have illnesses or conditions that necessitate medicines, prosthetic devices, walking sticks, wheelchairs and other human gadgetry to make their lives more easily lived. Are we to believe that God is somehow ignoring their malaise?

The answer is ‘NO.” God abandons no man. Man may abandon God, but God will never abandon a single one of His children.

 I cannot give a one word or even a one phrase reply as to why God allows any of His servants to suffer. My reply is, and I repeat Adam and Eve fell; it was their sin that made us all subject to illnesses, misfortune and other malaise.

What we must always be aware of is that God is there for us and will answer our prayers. That answer may not be the answer we are expecting, but an earnest prayer will be answered. This I know to be true without reservation.

Every pain, every illness, every misfortune we experience has an effect upon us and our outlook on every aspect of our lives. Believe it or not each of these things has a lesson to teach and with God’s grace that lesson will be learned. Just as an overwhelming pain seems to have power at time of experiencing such pain; the lesson learned has even more power than the pain that was experienced. God will see anyone through anything. The only thing you must do is ask Him to see you through!

No matter the pain or suffering here on earth there is a ready answer that God has given us.

2 Corinthians 4: 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

With the grace of God and by the power of His love we will prevail!

(Closing prayer)

Heavenly Father, God Most High, accept our praise or worship and most of all our hearts. All glory is Yours and Yours alone.

Father we are Your children and at times we suffer illness pain and suffering. At such time we ask that You be with us and touch us with Your healing power. Though our bodies may be weak we ask that You make our spirits strong and that You see us as worthy of Your promise of life everlasting. Please forgive us our trespasses and our weaknesses. We turn to You O lord and pray that You will accept us as Your children.

We pray for our brothers and sisters in the military and ask that You send Your angels to be with them and keep them from harm. Spread Your Mighty Arms and hold them in the Palm of Your Hand. Protect them Lord and protect us as well.

Touch the hearts of our elected officials, our judges, police forces and those charged with keeping this nation safe from our enemies. Open the hearts and minds of our enemies and fill them with Your Spirit of love and kindness. Be with our allies and with our many brothers and sister in foreign lands and protect them from evil. Strengthen them Lord and watch over them.

We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior 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