Why Does God Allow Suffering? | Embracing Correction

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Pastor Greg Laurie points out to the Lord will often administer correction when we wander off the path expected and embrace you shouldn't be concerned if you cross a line in the Lord gives US one you sent me concern when you cross a line and you feel no guilt at all. You should be more concerned when you can stand with them and then and even feel like it's okay with God. That's not be scared of.

Are you and is disciple and discipline related. Those who truly follow the Lord wholeheartedly genuine disciples. They often feel the loving hand of correction when the string disciples are sometimes discipline today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie points out that discipline may sometimes be perceived as suffering we may ask why we're facing. Greg points out that suffering can be a way this is a story of a blind man who was healed by Jesus. One day he also became a believer in addition to having his blindness healed. We've all heard people say, seeing is believing in his case, believing was seen because he saw things he had never seen before. He not just basis of friends and family, not just the beauty of God's creation, what you saw spiritually as well, and he discovered what the real purpose of life was because he saw Jesus in fact I was the first person he saw when he was healed. The Lord himself and that is why he saw everything else in its proper perspective.

And so, let's go now to John chapter 9 will read a few verses together now as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from birth and his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who send this man or his parents that he was born blind.

Jesus answered, neither this man nor his parents in, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day, the night is coming when no man can work. And as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world when he said these things, he spit on the ground and make clay with the saliva and the unknowing of the eyes of the blind man with the clay and he said go wash in the pool of silo which is translated, sent so the man went and washed and came back. There so here's this question who send this man or his parents to be in the stadiums and in other words, why was this man born blind and we can take that further the question why are babies born with a disability. Why is there war. Why is there terrorism. Why is her tragedy. Why why why goes on and on. Really, in the classic statement of this problem. Either God is all-powerful, but is not all good.

Therefore, he doesn't stop evil or he's all good but is not all-powerful. Therefore he can't stop evil in the general tendency is to blame God for all of the evil and all the suffering in the world effectively depressed all the responsibility on to him. And so this is not a rational thing that is happening when people do this, but there's nothing rational about it.

People are just upset and so they're passing these things on it. So here now Jesus is going to sort of set the record straight and let's deal with this question.

Can physical suffering under be a result of sin.

The answer is yes and no. Let me say in a broad sense, all suffering is a result of sin and I don't mean personal like this and was born with a disability. I'm not suggesting they did something bad to deserve that. Not at all. All suffering aging. Even a death. It's all a result of sin is the it was never God's plan for us to get sick. It was very God's plan for us to get all it was never God's plan for me to be ball all right because of the curse of sin. It affects me, it affects you and affects all of us because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden in Romans 512 says as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, death spread to all men because all men and women of course have sin. Well, we immediately think will why did God make it that way. Why didn't God create us so we would not sin. So what you're really saying this. Why did God make us into robots right he doesn't want to much of robots. He wants us to love them because we choose to love him, but with that choice to say yes also Kim the ability to make the choice to say no, so free will is our greatest blessing and in some ways our worst curse and so really we come down to this question about suffering, why it happened so we always want to find cause and effect.

What Jesus actually told the story in the book of Luke chapter 13 about a tower that fell in the group of Gentiles, a well-known news event tower fell and killed some people and so Jesus asked the rhetorical question.

Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem and then they said no I tell you again unless you repent you will also perish.

So basically Christ is addressing this idea of bad things happening that make no sense, and here's what he saying in effect, bad things happen.

People.there are not always explanations.

Sometimes we see evil people do evil things and pay the consequences right and sometimes we see godly people killed bus full of people going to a church retreat are killed by a drunk driver that pulls out of his lane and gets them, and he survives we say where's the justice in that we don't understand that things happen that are inexplicable this side of heaven here was price point pay a you think there were the worst sinners. Actually, they weren't in unless you repent you will perish.

In other words, guess what guys, no one gets out of here alive. Everyone's going to die bad things happen. Christians get cancer, Christians are killed in automobile accidents. A godly people phase tragedy. It is not always something we can explain, but the most important thing for us is we have hope this followers of Jesus Christ because there's more than life on this earth. There is life beyond. So that's acute so let's consider ways that suffering can work in our life. First of all there is corrective suffering. If you're taking notes. Write that down.

This is the idea that God will allow or send some pain in our lives to get our attention, let me say that again corrective suffering is the idea that God will allow, or even send some pain in our lives to get our attention, sort of wake-up call. By the way, that was not the case. In our story before his ear of the blind men. There's no cause-and-effect or this was just something that happened to him but sometimes sickness can come as a result of sin. There can be cause-and-effect. In some occasions because we read in John five of a man who was healed was a paralytic was and unable to walk.

He said you are well again. Sitting or something worse may come upon you, and will sometimes we bring misery on ourselves. You know summonses while by my you know livers destroyed. I need a liver transplant in you because you drank for your entire life. Or maybe you went out driving drunk and you God and accidentally got a D Weingartner why these things happen because you're doing stupid things. That's why are you know maybe around living in a moral life, and you get an STD.

Here even worse to get AIDS or something like that. I don't know why the seven because you were doing things you should be doing. There can be cause-and-effect, but there are other times that God will just allow something traumatic to wake us up to wake us up. This happened to Jonah member he God told him to go to Nineveh and preach his God wanted to lay down the biggest revival in human history. And God wanted to do it through Jonah. That was his plan. And Jonah said no way am I going to Nineveh because I don't want those people to repent. Because her wicked brother got just judge those Ninevites, so God said go Jonah said no, God said all was in God will always have the last word right you know the rest of the story. The storm came, Jonah got thrown overboard, swallowed by a great fish barked on the shores of Nineveh.

Finally, reluctantly I might add. He did what God called him to do, and the result was the greatest revival in human history. A million people effectively. A believing in turning to God. So you see there was discipline there in the Bible tells us in Hebrews 12 that the Lord disciplines those that are his and he says don't be discouraged when he corrects you. It's a reminder that you're his child to reminder so you shouldn't be concerned if you cross a line in the Lord gives US swot. You should be concerned when you cross a line and you feel no regret or guilt at all. You should be more concerned when you can sin with the band and and even feel like it's okay with God. That's what I'd be scared of.

Are you but your conscience is working in you, go over the line. The Lord has something out of the kennel wake you up. You should rejoice and be reminded that you are a child of God Mr. Greg Laurie of the second half of this message in just a moment. Whenever you send us a letter and email or post a comment on social media. We read every word. Pastor Greg, I've been encouraged by your teaching your podcasts. Everything is online study and everything else I can get my hands on.

Peace can only come from God.

I found a great church home for myself and have been attending faithfully for the past six weeks. Today I find that to be part of all the things I've been learning what is truly blessed me is seen God change my heart never shed so many tears that actually everything is God doing all around me ministry and teachings have been a big part of that thankful and want to vitiate God's richest blessings.

How have these daily studies minister to you and your family. Would you let us know tell us your story by calling 1-866-871-1144 again, 866-871-1144 Pastor Greg is pointing out to David, there are different kinds of suffering. Here's pastor Greg once again number two would be constructive suffering constructive suffering. This would be when God wants to do a particular work in your life were told that in second Corinthians verse 17. Our present troubles are quite small, but they won't last forever. Yet they produce for us and immeasurably great glory, not Greg Laurie great glory that will last forever. Paul had his thorn in the flesh. Remember that you talked about it in second Corinthians 12 why why would God allow the great apostle to be afflicted well sometimes are great blessings come great responsibilities and with those responsibilities can come a certain kind of pain. Paul had the privilege of dying and going to heaven and being called back to earth again. He talked about it there and read the he says I was caught up in the third heaven and I saw things I can't even describe for you what he says. But lest I get puffed up. I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me to keep me from getting proud three times out the Lord to take it away and the Lord said, my grace is sufficient for you are literally my gracious favor is all you need to pause a God's power works best in my week and so I boast that in my weakness.

I'm stronger that was constructive suffering key third category. What is God allow sickness and tragedy in this is to glorify God to glorify God. It can be the endurance of that suffering that can bring glory to God on this platform. I've had the privilege of interviewing Johnny Erickson totter, who many of you remember to me, one of the great heroes of the church. A lady who is gone through untold suffering. Starting with a diving accident is a young lady and since then she's had to do with breast cancer and so many hardships, but she so honest she's so truthful but yet she honors the Lord and in God is use Johnny sitting in that wheelchair to bring hope to millions of people around the world. So God is glorified through her suffering.

I think of my friend Nick voided check which was born without arms and legs and yet he is taken. This powerful testimony and ensured it to bring encouragement to people all around the planet you one place that Nick is very effective is with young people, and he'll do rallies in high schools and here's kids were depressed thinking life is so hard.

You know, for whatever reason their boyfriend broke up with them are the parents at their cell phone away or something.

Then and there. There is Nick without arms or legs.

Speaking of his hope and his joy in the Lord and he radiates joy and that the idea seems being there is a testimony and then when he begins to speak is an amazing story, so God can be glorified through the endurance of that separate a listener. This is not forget this point God can be glorified by removing that suffering. Sometimes the Lord will allow it then rose to be glorified by removing it wrong to be glorified by answering your prayer.

Everything looks bleak and I'll show you my power. That is what happened in the story before his or her lips re-reverses 3 to 4 and I want to add one thing to forward them understand when these words were originally given a written down by the scribes and those are recorded Scripture verse.

There were not chapters and verses, Jesus did not say chapter 15 verse one then speak that was out of later so we can find a way around the Scripture and sometimes those chapters and verses are are very helpful. Often times, in fact.

But sometimes there disruptive and I think if we not look at the verse numbers here and read the whole statement we get the idea. Jesus says neither this man nor his parents send that statement continues, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day for the night is coming when no man can work towards instead of telling how this man became blind or why he ended up lying. Here's what Jesus is saying story about that person is gonna happen, to heal this guy right here right now. By the way, God still in the healing business. Did you know that he still in the healing business.

You don't need a televangelist to throw his coat at you. You don't need to go to some so-called miracle service but you do need to go and pray, and here's what the Bible says if you're sick go to the oldest of the church of them lay hands on you and pray and anoint you with oil and the effectual verbal prayer of a righteous man avails much. So we pray and we ask God to intervene and he does. I always believe we should pray for healing. There's a promise of healing in Isaiah Isaiah 53 says, surely he took up her infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted lesson. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.

Computer commenting on the same verse as in first Peter 224 he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sins and live for righteousness by his wounds or stripes you have been healed so in Isaiah's passage. It tells us you can be healed and then Peter says it's actually already happened in the New Testament when a word like this is using the speaking also of physical healing. So God can heal. What is God heal everyone obvious answer no, but he does feel some solace. Pray for that.

So I'm called to pray for somebody in a hospital room. More facing some other physical challenge even if the odds are against them and things are looking bleak. We pray for miracle and we've seen miracles wheezing. Got answer amazing prayers. Evidently butts but we always say will Lord you know if you have another plan we see not our will, but yours be done. Heard some preacher sick never see that God not our will, but yours be done. That actually canceled your prayer out really what is God's machine is God silly or foolish. Of course we pray that I will be done are Lord modeled it for us in Gethsemane and he said father of its possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as you well know, was Jesus himself. So the point is, don't ever be afraid to save thy will be done but having said that, pray in faith and pray for God to heal will leave the results in his hand, because I do believe there could be some carsick that I don't have to be.

And if they would just pray for God's touch, they would find it because James 42 says you have not because you have to listen to this. I believe there are financial needs that can be met if maybe we just pray about. Maybe the Lord is actually waiting for you to say I need help from God.

I've tried everything I can to make this work myself. Lord, would you only pay you have not because US. Think of all the things that God may want to do in your life that he simply waiting for you to ask him about Greg Laurie important insight on suffering today. Some of the fruit.

It can yield how the Lord wants us to come to him for help and there's more to come as this study continues here on a new beginning and then we want to share a listener comment we received it says Pastor Greg, I wanted to thank you for today's sermon. It really spoke to me. I read a comment by a person I consider a friend mocking the faith than those who follow Jesus.

I was hurt and wanted to reply, but instead prayed for them and gave it to God that I heard your message and you said all that live a godly life will be harassed and persecuted for the faith that means you are on the right track with God. I wept listening to your words because it was the reassurance I needed to stay strong in my face.

Thank you for continuing to preach the word what were so blessed that God is using these daily studies to impact people's lives to give them encouragement and an anchor and if you partnered with us to help make these programs possible. Thank you for being used by God. Yesterday we appreciate that listener partnership yes and we have some unique ways to say thank you. Don't worry, that's right. And you know who you are out there that support us and thank you so much and God bless you I was a good walk up to you and shake your hand and have a few moments with you and I do run into people all the time. Dave, wherever I go, that listen to our radio broadcast that the part of their daily routine were thankful for that. But think all of you for that and he like to have a few more of you become a partner with us because I know a lot of you make a new beginning the part of your daily life or you listen to the podcast or you tell others to listen to it will thank you for doing that and by ordering these great resources we offer.

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