Finding Victory and Connection Through Suffering in Christ

 

Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor discussing the different ways God punishes and humbles his children. He emphasizes the importance of remaining humble, as God hates pride but gives grace to the humble. The pastor also highlights the significance of personal testimonies, as they serve as a residual gospel and allow individuals to share their own experiences of God's healing and deliverance. He then shares a story about a memorable MMA fight between Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo, using it as an analogy to illustrate how life can beat us down, but we can still claim victory in Christ.

The pastor then discusses the concept of God allowing both blessings and evils in our lives, referencing the story of Job. He emphasizes that everything Job went through happened with God's permission, highlighting that God allows suffering and evil to be delivered to us. The pastor introduces the concept of four types of thorns that God delivers to us, the most common reason being to provide correction. He supports this with a reference to Jeremiah 43:10, where God sends Nebuchadnezzar to punish Judah for their disobedience.

The pastor acknowledges the struggles and hardships that people face in life, emphasizing that even in suffering, God is glorified, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He assures the congregation that no matter how severe the beating of life may be, God will get us through, and we can have confidence in the ultimate victory we have in Christ. The pastor shares his personal testimony of finding comfort in God through his faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that even when everything seems to be against him, Jesus is able to work things out.

The pastor then focuses on the story of a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding condition for 12 years. He emphasizes that many people in the church may attend services and events, but they never truly connect with God. He encourages the congregation to not just be associated with Jesus, but to reach out and grab hold of his tassel, symbolizing a deep and personal connection with Him. The pastor concludes by highlighting that when the woman touched Jesus' tassel, He felt the power leave Him, recognizing her genuine love and faith.

Key Takeaways:

- God punishes and humbles his children in different ways, including through correction and the use of thorns. These thorns serve to humble individuals and prevent them from becoming conceited. They also allow individuals to comfort others who may be going through similar afflictions. [12:45]

- Despite the challenges and hardships we face in life, we can still claim victory in Christ. This victory is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our faith in Jesus Christ. Even when life beats us down, we can rise again, just like Cheick Kongo in his MMA fight against Pat Barry. [24:30]

- God allows both blessings and evils in our lives, as illustrated in the story of Job. This serves to test our faith and draw us closer to Him. Even when we go through suffering and evil, it is with God's permission, and it is for our ultimate good. [36:15]

- In times of suffering, it is important to get intimate with God. Just as one would call a physician when in physical pain, we should call on God during times of suffering. God brings us into the Fellowship of His suffering to deepen our reality with Him and to draw us closer to Him. [48:20]

- The story of the woman with the issue of blood teaches us the importance of having a deep and personal connection with Jesus. It is not enough to just be associated with Jesus; we need to reach out and grab hold of his tassel. When we do this, Jesus recognizes our genuine love and faith, and He heals us. [59:10]

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 55:22: "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
2. 2 Corinthians 12:9: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
3. Luke 8:43-44: "And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased."

Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 55:22, what does it mean to cast your burden on the Lord? What does the verse suggest about the Lord's role in our lives?
2. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, what does it mean that God's power is made perfect in weakness? How does this verse challenge our understanding of strength and weakness?
3. In Luke 8:43-44, what does the woman's action of touching Jesus' garment signify? What was the result of her action?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Psalm 55:22 relate to the concept of God allowing both blessings and evils in our lives? How does this verse provide comfort during times of suffering?
2. How does 2 Corinthians 12:9 provide insight into the idea that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness? How does this verse challenge our understanding of victory in Christ?
3. How does the story in Luke 8:43-44 illustrate the importance of having a deep and personal connection with Jesus? What does this story teach us about faith and healing?

Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you cast your burden on the Lord as suggested in Psalm 55:22? How did it affect your situation?
2. In what areas of your life do you feel weak, and how can you apply the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9 to boast in these weaknesses, allowing Christ's power to rest upon you?
3. Reflecting on the story in Luke 8:43-44, is there an area in your life where you need healing? How can you reach out and 'touch the tassel' of Jesus in faith for your situation?
4. Can you identify a 'thorn' in your life that God might be using to humble or correct you? How can you respond to this in a way that glorifies God?
5. How can you deepen your personal connection with Jesus this week, beyond just attending church services or events?

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Humbling Thorns
God uses various methods to humble His children, including the delivery of thorns. These thorns, often seen as trials and tribulations, serve to correct and prevent individuals from becoming conceited. They also provide a means for individuals to comfort others who may be experiencing similar afflictions [12:45].

2 Corinthians 12:7 - "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial or tribulation you've faced. How did it humble you and how can you use this experience to comfort others?

Day 2: Claiming Victory in Christ Amidst Life's Battles
Life's challenges and hardships can be overwhelming, but victory is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our faith in Jesus Christ. Even when life beats us down, we can rise again, just like Cheick Kongo in his MMA fight against Pat Barry [24:30].

1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing? How can you claim victory in Christ amidst these battles?

Day 3: Understanding God's Permission in Blessings and Evils
God allows both blessings and evils in our lives, as illustrated in the story of Job. This serves to test our faith and draw us closer to Him. Even when we go through suffering and evil, it is with God's permission, and it is for our ultimate good [36:15].

Job 2:10 - "He replied, 'You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?'"

Reflection: Reflect on a recent hardship you've faced. How did it test your faith and draw you closer to God?

Day 4: Seeking Intimacy with God in Times of Suffering
In times of suffering, it is important to seek intimacy with God. Just as one would call a physician when in physical pain, we should call on God during times of suffering. God brings us into the Fellowship of His suffering to deepen our reality with Him and to draw us closer to Him [48:20].

Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Reflection: How can you seek intimacy with God during your current trials? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him?

Day 5: Cultivating a Deep and Personal Connection with Jesus
The story of the woman with the issue of blood teaches us the importance of having a deep and personal connection with Jesus. It is not enough to just be associated with Jesus; we need to reach out and grab hold of his tassel. When we do this, Jesus recognizes our genuine love and faith, and He heals us [59:10].

Matthew 9:20-22 - "Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, 'If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.' Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was healed at that moment."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more personal connection with Jesus? What steps can you take to reach out and 'grab hold of his tassel'?

Quotes

"We have a confidence that no matter how bad the beating is...that God is going to get us through...when we say we have a victory, we're saying because I am in Christ it doesn't make a difference what's going on right now the final outcome is I'll be on top." (source: [06:45])

"Sometimes God allows you to remain humble so he can keep on blessing you." [12:41]

"Your personal testimony is your residual good news." [15:02]

"When you're hurting and when you're suffering, you need to get intimate with the doctor. When you're in pain in the natural, you don't have no problem picking up that phone and calling a physician, but God is saying when you're in suffering, you need to pick up the phone and call him." [16:49]

"God uses thorns to humble us, to prevent us from becoming conceited. These thorns are not just for our correction, but they also serve to comfort others who may be going through similar afflictions."

"Victory in Christ is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our faith in Jesus Christ. Even when life beats us down, we can rise again, just like Cheick Kongo in his MMA fight against Pat Barry."

"God allows both blessings and evils in our lives, as illustrated in the story of Job. This serves to test our faith and draw us closer to Him. Even when we go through suffering and evil, it is with God's permission, and it is for our ultimate good."

"In times of suffering, it is important to get intimate with God. Just as one would call a physician when in physical pain, we should call on God during times of suffering. God brings us into the Fellowship of His suffering to deepen our reality with Him and to draw us closer to Him."

"The story of the woman with the issue of blood teaches us the importance of having a deep and personal connection with Jesus. It is not enough to just be associated with Jesus; we need to reach out and grab hold of his tassel. When we do this, Jesus recognizes our genuine love and faith, and He heals us."

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Transcript
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