Scars Become Stars

Sun.Oct 3/93 ------ Jn 20:24-29 SCARS BECOME STARS

- Visting I heard these words

- Are not scars marks of weakness?

- Places where hurts and wounds were

- A scar is something you want to hid.

- Unless you begin to brag about the "Red Badge Of Courage"

- A scar can make you stronger

ex.-- In Holland the dike breaks and many are killed. The hole is pluged with steel reinforced concrete. It is stronger than before and it will never brake in that spot again.

In a hospital a docter points out a nurse and says that she is the best nurse we have ever had. Than almost as an after thought, he adds "I guess it has something to do with the fact that when she was a teenager she spent 10 months on her back here.

Principle --

If you want to live an emotionally healthy and happy life you must discover how to handle the hurts that come.

• There are several types of weakness

1. Some are abused by other people

---> Ones that are out to get you

- Joseph sold in Egypt

- David chased down by King Saul

2. Some are realated to our personalities

---> Perhaps we are very trusting, or our feelings are very sensitive so we get hurt

- Cain ----- Gen.4:5-7

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And

unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

- Esau ------> Gen. 27:35-38

(v.38 ... lifted up his voice,and wept)

v.41

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing erewith his fatherblessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

- Samson -----> Jud. 16

3. Some are caused by life

---> Accidents, Sickness, Time

- Job lost his wealth, health, family

- Blind men from birth -----> Jn.9

Jn. 9:1

And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.

9:2

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

9:3

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor

his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

- Come back to the PRINCIPLE

If you want to live an emotionally healthy and happy life you must discover how to handle the hurts that come.

- Think for a momement of your wounds weakness,

- List them out

- Now what are possible strengths

- You cant’ help it when the hurt comes, But you can help it if the hurt lasts

II Cor.12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 SCARS CAN BECOME STARS 

THREE THINGS THAT I CAN DO

1. Don’t curse life’s hurts

- "He’s been going down hill ever since his

died".

- "She’s been drinking since her husband

walked out on her".

- "He dropped out of school when he did not

make the team".

- There are many ways to curse life’s hurts

------> Hurts can either make us bitter or

better

2. Don’t rehearse and nurse the hurts

- That’s reliving the event again & again in your mind

- A women who had lost her husband called by her Pastors office. She had been crying inside for 2 long painful years. As she talked, she related everything that had happened up to the time of her husband’s death --- everything!

She knew every detail. Finally she opened her purse and took out a sheet of paper and read to him the words of her Dr. he had explained to

her the cause of her husbands death.

After prayer and tears the pastor said " I want you to do something. I want you to tear up hat piece of paper and throw it away,. It’s time you stopped rehearsing and nursing your hurt!" Later on as she was going out of church one day she simply said to him "Thanks".

- As wounds heal those spots become stronger

3. Come to Christ First When Life Hurts

- In our weakness and wounds it Is Christ that we turn to

I Cor. 1:27

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are