Why Does God Allow Suffering? | The Disease of Sin

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org sure everything goes well. I know the answers to all the hard but you need to share the gospel. We have the answers for the questions of why the remedy for the terminal should soon after Greg Laurie says we need to dispense God not give us the gospel gave us the gospel to share it as you share it. The Lord will was to use you very sorry limits on prescription refills were suspended, 11 of medicine through the storm. In the aftermath was that medication, they got creative and making sure was available was believers, we have a remedy for a deadly disease. The disease of sin today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie says we need to get creative in delivering that remedy the people who needed counsel.

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 sin, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of you 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 what 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 seeing. There by the way, God still in the healing business. Did you know that 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 a 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 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 a miracle and we've seen miracles, we think on it for amazing prayers. Evidently pray in faith and pray for God to heal will leave the results in his hand, because I do believe there could be some who are sick. They don't have to be. And if they would just pray for God's touch, they would find it because James were due says you have not because you ask not. Listen to this. I believe there are financial needs that can be met if maybe would 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 you have not because you asked not think of all the things that God may want to do in your life that he simply waiting for you to ask him about okay so this is what happened and I love the way Jesus healed this guy just classic, four-week, considerate, let's review the way Jesus healed other people. Sometimes people would touch him. There was a woman who had some physical problem or not sure what was about. She was always bleeding. She couldn't stop the bleeding and dies she reasonable I can touch the hem of his garment. I'll be healed. So one day Jesus was walking by. There's always a crowd around Jesus you know paparazzi people to consult these are the kind of thing and I and this woman said just touch them and I'll be healed and she manages to get her hand through a touch of the little edge of his road just touched it and all of a sudden Jesus sums it who touched me, who touched you everybody touched you the grabbing you there pushing you know someone touched me and he says I perceived power is gone out of me in the crowd parts and there's a lady hi settle key because it was more than okay. Jesus wanted to commend her for her faith. She touched him, but then other times Jesus touched people would be his touch that would heal them right.

Sometimes he would just speak a word and they would be healed with this one is classic because we read that he spit in the dirt and wiped it in the guys eyes can imagine. Someone came up for bro. Greg would you prevent sure what what you don't. It's in the Bible not suggesting I do that when here's my point.

Why that what is the methodology of healing change from person to person.

Why is it always Jesus touch them or why is it always they touched Jesus or why is it always go wash in the pool of silo.

Why is not always. He just speaks the word he changed his methodology if you will, so people would not focus on that would focus on him and so he spirit of the dirt. There's mud in your eye butting and maces go wash in the pool of silo. That's what the guy did for the first time in his life he can see. Imagine that guy's been blowing his whole life never had signs and for the first time he sees the face of our Lord. He sees the blue sky. He sees flowers he sees beauty. Wow, what a moment. So what was the reaction. John nine verse 10 reading from the new living translation. They ask him who healed you. What happened he said while the men they call Jesus made mud and smooth it over my eyes and told me to go wash in the pool silo and walks up the mud.

I want to watch. Now I can see now where is he now is is I don't know they took demand of the Pharisees, and as it happened, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath that Pharisees estimate all about it. He told them what he smooth them out over my eyes. No one is washed away. I could see that some of the Pharisees said this man Jesus is not from God breeze working on the Sabbath. Others said how can an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs, and there was deep division among them. Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who'd been blind and demanded this man will open your eyes.

You say he is and said hey you must be a prophet and does so this is really interesting.

He you know he doesn't even know what is fully And he doesn't know if you'll ever see Jesus again. You can easily say I want to get your religious debate guys. I don't know what I think about this guy know he just owns it.

Yeah, he's a prophet.

He was effectively speaking up for the Lord. He knew they were angry. He knew he could incur the wrath and be banned from worship and effectively ostracizing back in this day that the whole life of the Jewish person revolve around the synagogue, so he didn't want to get thrown out of the synagogue as I was your life of worship that was your social life. That was her family that was everything and so he knew he could be disfellowshipped or thrown out and he could have been very careful believe that way and I can't deny what is actually happening and I love this because he stood up for Jesus. And you know what God will bless you when you stand up for him. You stand up for him in your workplace, you stand up for him in your campus. You stand up for him and your family. You stand up for your more of you are wife because he said if you will acknowledge me before people all acknowledge you before the father and his angels Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment, you know, there's nothing lying here in the word of God worshiping the Lord together. I will encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home every Saturday and sunday@harvest.org human joint Christians, literally from around the world as we worship and we study the word of God together. So join us for Harvest at Home and harvest will wear in the Gospel of John today with our current series on a new beginning a series called life and pastor Greg is discussing the healing of the blind man. It is message called why does God allow suffering and I love what happens next.

Go back to John nine, the giver's 24 so for the second time they call the man would been blinded told him give glory to God by telling the truth because we know Jesus is a sinner.

I love this guy okay I don't know whether he is a sinner or not. All I know is once I was blind but now I see I love never know what you do, how to heal you guys and already told you didn't you listen you want to hear it again.

Listen to this to you want to become his disciples to know instead of evangelizing the cursed is that you are his disciple. We are the disciples of Moses. This is such a classic statement on the part of the formerly blind man.

Verse 25. One thing I know once I was blind but now I see you know that much other gluttons were afraid to share our faith because, well, I'm not a theologian, and I don't have the answers to all the hard questions.

Yet maybe not, let me ask you this. Could you say like this day once I was blind but now I see once I was lost but now I'm found.

Once I was filled with guilds, emptiness, and now I have purpose and forgiveness.

You see, you are the greatest authority on what has happened to you know it's a greater authority.

What took place in your life then you are. You may not have the answers to everyone's question but I would suggest you know more than you think you do your theologian what a theologian technically defined.

It's a study of God, if you read your Bible today raise her hand only be read your Bible this week. Raise your hand if you are all theologians, because you're studying God that you may know more than some of those folks and those academic institutions so the point is we are a theologian of a sort that I think will work under fire.

You might be amazed at how much you have acquired sitting in church all the times you've been here and study God's word on your own and this is why evangelism is important for you as much as it is a important for the people your evangelizing thing see the people that are. Lastly, because the gospel but you need to share the gospel because as you give it's given unto you press down, shaken together and running over, and if you hang on to what God is giving you and never shared that can be hurtful to your own spiritual life. God did not give us the gospel to hoard it.

He gave us the gospel to share it. And as you Sharon, you find that the Lord will bless you and use you and it can be very exciting, but that yourself in this guy's shoes. He's completely blind. He's never seen this guy Claudia sunset.

As I said, and now his eyes are open and the religious leaders just one to argue with him but he stands up for his faith and now I love this because he stood up, look at what Jesus does for this guy even better than healing them of his blindness.

John nine for the last time verse 35 when Jesus heard what happened.

Someone told Jesus what happened to Jesus. Know the guy you blindness. Yeah, now he's being harassed by the religious leaders can you know what he said to them, no topic. They told Jesus of the guys said Jesus is that I can see the sky so he tracks this guy down verse 35 when Jesus heard what happened. He found the man and said healing in the name of the son of God to man answered. Who is he, sir, because I'd sure like to. Jesus said, you've seen them and he's speaking to you lose, paraphrase, buddy. You're talking to. Listen to what he says yes Lord, I believe any worship Jesus. Jesus told them I have come to judge the world, I've come to give sight to the blind and show those who think they see that they are blind to the Pharisees and were standing there heard him and said are you saying we are blind.

Jesus replied if you are blind you wouldn't be guilty but you remain guilty because you claim you can see I love how this worked out. Verse 35 Jesus heard he was cast out religion turned him away. Jesus took command.

Please know this is not about religion I'm so not into religion. Trust me when I tell you that I don't want to be a religious person, I know you may think I'm religious. I'm not that I never implanted becoming a religious person because I think religious people are just weird. But I do want a relationship with God, and I wanted to be real and I want other people to have a relation ship with God. So someone says that's religious whatever. But to me it's all about a relationship with the Lord knowing conclusion you know some of you have joined this year and maybe some is happened to you lately. This kind of got your attention a wake-up call of some kind.

Close brush with death may be someone you know died or something is happened and you don't know why it's happening. Could it be God is allowed this in your life as a wake-up call to get your attention. The lead singer Linkin Park Chester Bennington committed suicide. He hung himself in his home and Palos Verdes, and in the state's estate home in LA County. He was married with six children he killed himself. This is tragic on another rockstar another lead singer this is on the heels of Chris Cornell.

The lead singer of Soundgarden and as it turns out Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell were close friends and Chester Wood was devastated when Chris took his own life. But then he goes and does the same thing we think what we want.

I thought that was like the dream your a lead singer in a stinking rock band you're living in a beautiful home you have tons of money and you have all the luxuries of life above them struggled with depression and they use drugs. That's a bad combination.

I mean if you're dealing with depression.

There can be clinical depression all acknowledge that sometimes people are just depressed because they have no place for God in their life, then you are drugs to that, then that's like pouring gasoline on fire that's another sky takes his own life on the heels of his friend and he did it on the birthdate of his friends and he actually recorded this song and saying it after Chris died in talking about Chester from Linkin Park now and the song was called one more light and I in the loan song. It asked the question who cares of one more light goes out in the sky of a million stars. It flickers flickers who cares many things will I do with anyone committed suicide. So you cares for my goes out Jesus Christ he cares about every person, every man, every woman cares about every unborn baby cares about every person because of the elderly person in the last moments of their life in the newborn and everyone in between he cares for us. He loves us. He has a purpose and plan for our life, and he can change your life. Think about this. This man was born blind, had his world rocked by Jesus in a moment, everything changed for him and you know I said God still in the healing business. Let me taste Mel's God is still in the life changing business to know what your state is here tonight. I don't know if you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, or I don't know some of you are deeply depressed are some of you may be of even contemplated suicide. Some of you have possibly even attempted suicide.

I did just want you to know there's hope for you in a relationship with Jesus because the same Jesus, it changes men can change you. He can forgive you of all of your sin and what you need to do is come to him.

This man believed in Jesus you believe in the son of God yahoo Izzy I'm him. I believe Jesus is here.

He's asking you the same question, do you believe in the son of God, so I don't know much about him but I want to know I want to believe Jesus will accept you and forgive you and he will change you don't to clean your life up and come to him. You just come to him and he'll clean your life up sought a 12 step program. It's a one step program is not 12 steps are 25 steps or four steps one step come to Christ. Repent and believe that's a step you watch will happen for you.

God will do that for something to pray and I want to extend an invitation to any of you that need Jesus here any of you watching right now are listening right now. I know many do.

I want you to know that this promise of forgiveness is that every person who will believe in Jesus and the moment we can pray and I'm going to extend an invitation for you to put your faith in Jesus Christ, who died in the cross for you. 2000 years ago took all of your sin upon himself and then he rose again from the dead three days later. If you believe in him to forgive you but you must come to him just like this guy in our story came to Jesus, you must come to Jesus you watch with the Lord will do for you.

Let's pray father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus the Lord Jesus, thank you for coming. I pray now for those that are here those that are watching, listening, wherever they are. If they don't know you, Lord, help them to come to you and believe, right here, right now. I pray that your Holy Spirit will convict and convince them of their need for you that this will be the moment of transformation in Jesus name I pray, amen, Greg Lord important prayer about coming to the Lord to find forgiveness of sins. And if you like to do that. Pastor Greg will help you in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes Prof. Greg.

We often invite listeners to write to you, we invite them to let you know how these studies impact their lives. Yeah we mentioned your email address or simply greg@harvest.org by we talk to them each day.

But it's always nice when they talk to us.

You enjoy that. Yes I do and listen. This is so we can have a two way conversation so you can communicate with us as we continue to communicate with you and together like links in the chain. We will all do our part to bring the gospel to our generation.

So if you would prayerfully consider that I'd really appreciate it. Bottom line, just write me a letter today. He will give you the address. I look forward to hearing from you and this writer addresses a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 drugs you know today, and if you can include in investments for these daily studies can continue.

That would be great. We are completely listener supported. You can also go online to harvest.org. There you can make a donation and get the details on the resource would like to send you to thank you for your investment.

It's a book called don't give the enemy a seat at your table written by Pastor Louis Giglio. He points out where in the battle for the control of our minds and our enemy is trying to push a narrative that will lead to defeat the subtitle is it's time to win the battle of your mind and will send you this book to thank you for your investment. Again, that's harvest.org or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime at 1-800-821-3300 Pastor Greg you pointed out the importance of asking Jesus to forgive our sins. A few moments ago. Yes, could you help those who want to do that very thing right now. Yeah, you know, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ stands at the door of our life any knocks and if any man will hear his voice and open the door he will come in maybe. As you've heard me speak today while you've heard another voice speaking to you with the voice of God and you realize you need Christ in your life you need your sins forgiven you want the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die. We here's what you need to do. You need to pray and I would like to lead you in a prayer right now or you will be seeing the Jesus Lord come in the my life. I choose to follow you. So let's pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin. I turned from that sin. Now and I put my faith in you be my Lord, my Savior and my God, my friend. I choose to follow you, Jesus.

From this moment forward. Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer I want you to know on the authority of Scripture that Christ himself is coming to your life.

The Bible says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. If you just pray that prayer and minute you can know today you have eternal life MEI be the first to save you. Welcome to the family of God. Yet we want to help you grow as a believer want to send you our new believers growth packet will set it free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg today. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go to harvest.org and click on know God you know in our fast-paced inpatient culture is no wonder we grow impatient waiting on God's timing.

Next time pastor Greg points out that the Lord's timing is perfect.

We need to be perfectly content getting in step with his plan to join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie everybody thinks her list. Beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner.

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