JESUS IF YOU LOVE ME, THEN WHY DO I HURT?
II Corinthians 1:1-7, Corinthians II 11:23-30
Intro: The apostle Paul is the writer of the Corinthian books. As far as I am concerned He is the greatest convert that has ever lived but even in his life we find him suffering. In II Corinthians 11 we find Paul discussing some of his sufferings. In v 23-24 we see he is beat and faced death, he has been beaten three times with rods, stoned and left for dead and was shipwrecked spending a night and day in the deep. He has met perils of water, of robbers, of his own countrymen, by the heathen, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea and among false brethren. But it absolutely amazes me what Paul says in verse 30. He says if I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. Paul didn’t suffer these things because he was living wrong. He suffered them because he was living right.
Intro: I feel confident in saying that every one of us at some point or another in our Christian life has questioned God and asked Him why we are going through some of the things we go through. One of the biggest lies of the devil today is that you must have sinned because now you are paying for it. But I declare to you this evening you don’t have to sin in order to suffer. All you have to be doing is living right. Some of us have walked right under the arm of God and we still have to go through some things that cause us to hurt. I vouch to say unto you that sometimes you will suffer more living right than you would have living wrong. The difference between suffering while you are living right and suffering while you are living wrong is that if you are living wrong trouble can last you a lifetime and beyond. However, if you are living right your sufferings are only temporary. I want to preach tonight on the subject “Jesus if you love me then why do I hurt”.
I. For your own GOOD
A. Some people are hard headed and they have to learn the hard way
B. (Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.
C. Even when we don’t realize it God is working for our good
II. For our GROWTH
A. If you triumph over trouble one time when it comes back the second time you will be spiritually ready
III. For the GLORY of Christ
A. (2Corinthians 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
B. (2Co 11:30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
C. When we are in the total will of God then will He be pleased
D. When we are at our weakest point then can Christ be glorified
E. Paul wanted the power of God more than he wanted life
IV. For our GAIN at the end of
A. Job after all his suffering gained at the end
B. (Job 42:12) So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
C. (Mt 5:10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
