Blessing Through Suffering.

First Church of God in Harvey

Sunday Morning, June 5th, 2011

Let us pray

Welcome.........

Saints, I have some good news for you. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord..." or "It is appropriate to give thanks unto the Lord," or it is alright to give thanks unto the Lord. Why? Because the Bible Says, O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.......

This day, the one that we know nothing about, is the day that the Lord hath made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Someone might ask, how can I rejoice in the mids't of all that I am going through. Just simple trust God, and start praising him, and see what he will do.

Almost 7 years ago I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer. I did not want to talk too much about it, but in my mind I wonder why would God allow this to happen to me? Why would God allow terrible things to happen to his children? I went to my doctor 11 days ago, and he was excited of how things have turned out. He said to see him in a year, and from all indications I am healed. It is not the doctor, it is the God whom I serve. The God whom I serve is a God who can heal cancer. It doesn't matter how things might appear to be. God can do that which is impossible with man..............

In a very short time, Job had lost all he had materially, 7000 sheep; 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she asses, a very great household, but that was not all, he also lost all his children. What do you do when you have lost everything? What do you do when you are completely wiped out? What do you do when you see all that you have worked for goes up in smoke? Some people might cry; some might start acting crazy; some might put a bullet to their head, but the Bible says that Job arose, rent his mantle, shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.

The story did not end there. Job had lost everything, but he was still in good health. People will say I don't have any money, but I am healthy. "So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."

The story did not end there, Job had lost everything, his body was covered with boils, but at least he had a wife to comfort him, but don't get carried away, for the bible says, Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." There are people out there who might be close to you, who are ready to give advise when you are going trough your troubled times. Even though Job was going through his suffering, he did not acted like Adam who obeyed his wife Eve as we were told last Sunday, but God gave Job some holy boldness, and this is what he said, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" " In all this did not Job sin with his lips".

Somebody came here today that needs some encouragement. Somebody came here today that needs to be reminded that there is joy in serving Jesus. Somebody came here today that needs to be told it is not all that bad, because Jesus knows how to turn darkness into light. Somebody needs to leave here today, and be able to say, I am so glad that I came into the house of the Lord.

Today we will be reading from 2 Corinthians 4 verses 8 through 10 and verses 15 through 18.

How can someone be blessed through suffering? How can someone be blessed when that pay check you are getting is never enough? How can someone be blessed when it seems there is always trouble after trouble? Very good questions, but I want somebody to know today that trouble is a way of life especially for the Christians. How can someone be blessed as they watch their house going up in smoke. Such was the case of one of our dear sisters on last Tuesday afternoon The Bible says In Job 14 verse 1, "Man that is born of a woman is of a few days, and full of trouble." That word trouble means according to my dictionary, a state of distress, affliction, danger or need.

In our text for today it says, "We are troubled on everyside..." I want somebody to know there are trouble all around. There is trouble in the home and out of the home. There is trouble in our neighborhoods. There is trouble in our schools. There is trouble in our cities. There is trouble in our nation. There is trouble among the saints. There is trouble with the preachers. You name it, because everywhere you go there is trouble. You and I did not ask for trouble it just came our way. Jesus says in John 16 verse 33, " In the world you shall have tribulation," or in the world you are going to find trouble.