WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.820 What would you ask God if you could ask him one thing, one thing you're concerned about, you wonder about, you have problems with? 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:18.339 Well, the Barna Research Group did a survey several years ago, and they asked people that question. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:22.000 If you could ask God one question, what would it be? 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.400 The number one response, why is there pain and suffering in the world? 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:41.060 That is the most commonly raised question or objection by unbelievers who explain why they don't believe. 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:50.320 I put it on your outline, something that John Stott, one of the most influential Christian writers over the past 50 years or more, 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:54.799 he agreed this is a very challenging question. 00:00:54.900 --> 00:00:55.799 He stated it this way. 00:00:55.799 --> 00:01:06.560 The fact of suffering undoubtedly constitutes the single greatest challenge to the Christian faith and has been in every generation. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:20.760 So, thinking people, and I'm going to assume all of us are thinking people, thinking people have always wondered, 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:27.160 if God is good, why is there so much evil and suffering in this world? 00:01:28.300 --> 00:01:36.400 If God is sovereign, why doesn't he prevent all these tragedies from happening? 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:47.420 And if God loves his children, us Christians, why does he allow us to experience pain and suffering? 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:52.260 Those are not just questions that unbelievers ask. 00:01:52.260 --> 00:02:00.840 We as Christians, if you've never asked out loud, talked about it out loud, you've at least thought about it at times. 00:02:02.460 --> 00:02:11.319 And these kind of questions naturally arise from the study we did last week on the providence of God. 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:24.459 How God is sovereign, how God is sovereign, totally in control. 00:02:24.459 --> 00:02:32.039 Well, tonight we're going to look at how the Bible answers some of these questions. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:37.519 Some of them will not be answered until we get to heaven. 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:40.219 But look on your outline, number one. 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:50.639 Suffering was not part of God's original creation, nor will it be a part of God's final new creation. 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:57.259 The Bible begins, Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:03.819 And it goes on to describe the days of creation after each day. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:08.139 It says it was good and it comes to the end in verse 31. 00:03:08.139 --> 00:03:13.279 And God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good. 00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:19.619 Well, the Bible ends with God creating a new heaven and a new earth. 00:03:20.619 --> 00:03:23.679 Revelation chapter 21, verse 1. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:31.699 And the promise that in this new heaven and new earth, everything will be good. 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:32.719 Look at two examples. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:41.199 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them. 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:45.120 They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:48.580 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:55.159 There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away. 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:57.620 And then verse 27. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:07.979 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:18.800 We can conclude two things from the way God created everything in the beginning and the way he's going to recreate everything in the new heaven and a new earth. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:23.879 Number one, God is not the source of sin, evil, and suffering. 00:04:24.939 --> 00:04:28.420 It is absent from his original creation. 00:04:29.280 --> 00:04:31.860 Everything was very good. 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:40.220 And it will be absent from the new creation, the new heaven and the earth, as he said. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:46.160 Number two, sin, evil, and suffering are present only in this fallen sinful world. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.580 Not a part of God's original creation. 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:58.080 It will not be a part of the way he recreates the new heaven and new earth where we'll spend eternity with him. 00:04:59.400 --> 00:05:00.360 It's the only present. 00:05:00.520 --> 00:05:06.360 Sin, evil, and suffering is the only present in this present fallen sinful world. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.620 Let's look at what little bit we know about how it happened. 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:14.860 Number two, sin, evil, and suffering entered the world when Adam and Eve sinned. 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:16.699 In Genesis 3. 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:28.100 When it comes to the actual origin of evil, of sin, the Bible is silent. 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:36.139 But sometime between the end of creation, when he created everything and it was very good, 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:43.479 and the appearance of the serpent that tempted Adam and Eve that you read about in Genesis 3, 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:45.639 something happened. 00:05:48.219 --> 00:05:57.759 Something happened that led to the existence of an evil being that the Bible refers to as Satan and sometimes the devil. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:07.519 A few passages of Scripture indicate that rebellion against God took place in the, what we would call, angelic world. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:10.159 Look at 2 Peter 2, 4, one verse. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.920 And if God did not spare angels when they sinned. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:21.879 Something that took place outside of what God reveals in his word. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:26.560 And then Jude 6 is very similar to 2 Peter 2. 00:06:28.020 --> 00:06:31.500 The book of Jude is very similar to the second chapter of 2 Peter. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:39.000 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:46.959 He is kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:50.599 Now that's about all I know about that. 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:53.620 And anyone else. 00:06:54.979 --> 00:07:08.699 Many people think that this rebellion against God in heaven resulted in the fall of a very powerful angel who became Satan or the devil. 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:15.879 And the less powerful angels who followed him in rebellion became his demons. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:20.420 Now the Bible does not really spell this out. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:24.180 The Bible does not explicitly tell us anything about that. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:28.920 But there's a few passages that imply it. 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:31.719 Two are found in Revelation. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:36.480 Note that they describe Satan as that ancient serpent. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:39.699 In Revelation 12, 9. 00:07:39.699 --> 00:07:43.659 And the great dragon was thrown down that that ancient serpent, 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:46.939 who was called the devil and Satan and the deceiver of the world. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:51.880 He was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:53.740 And then 22. 00:07:54.380 --> 00:07:57.660 And he sees the dragon, that ancient serpent, 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:01.200 who is the devil and Satan. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.680 I want to emphasize in that he's called the serpent. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:10.120 Because that's how he makes his first appearance in the Bible. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:18.639 In Genesis 3, he's the serpent who tempted Eve and Adam to sin against God. 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:21.840 But there's no explanation as to where he came from. 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:26.759 God created everything and it was very good at the end of Genesis 1. 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:31.120 Genesis 2 describes God's special creation. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.700 How he created Adam and then Eve. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:34.840 Brought them together. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.759 And then chapter 3. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.559 There's the devil. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:44.059 The ancient serpent. 00:08:46.059 --> 00:08:48.659 There's no nothing 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:53.799 about why God allowed him 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:55.879 to come into existence 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:59.819 and then come into his garden, 00:09:00.719 --> 00:09:01.659 his paradise. 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:04.279 The fact is that God has chosen 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.559 not to explain the original source of sin, 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.860 evil, and suffering. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.019 There is no explanation. 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:15.740 There is no explanation of 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:19.080 why he allowed it. 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:20.200 How it came about 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:21.060 or anything like that. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:23.320 But he does tell us 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:25.180 when and how sin, evil, and suffering 00:09:25.180 --> 00:09:27.860 entered into this world 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:30.759 and the lives of human beings. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:32.019 It's there in Genesis 3. 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:34.580 In the paradise of the Garden of Eden. 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:35.820 Perfection. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:37.060 Perfect environment. 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:40.799 Adam and Eve created in the image of God 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:42.460 without sin. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:46.820 They enjoyed perfect fellowship with God 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.200 and perfect fellowship with each other. 00:09:49.900 --> 00:09:51.220 And it was in that environment 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:53.460 that Satan entered. 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:57.019 Came to them and tempted them. 00:09:57.420 --> 00:09:59.840 He tempted them first to doubt God's word 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.660 and then to disobey God's word. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:05.879 Doubt what God said. 00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:09.220 And then disobey what God had clearly said. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:13.560 Both Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan 00:10:13.560 --> 00:10:17.340 and to disobey God. 00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:20.800 Read that in Genesis 1, 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.460 beginning in Genesis 3, 00:10:22.540 --> 00:10:23.600 beginning in verse 1. 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:26.060 On your handout there, 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:29.820 verses 13, 7 through 13 are listed. 00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:31.800 We're going to look at some of those 00:10:31.800 --> 00:10:32.660 in particular now. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:35.600 We can describe the immediate result 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.600 of their sin 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:40.019 was broken relationships. 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:43.379 The immediate result 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:45.180 of their sin 00:10:45.180 --> 00:10:47.000 was number one, 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:48.360 their relationship with God 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.440 was broken. 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:52.300 They both became afraid of God 00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:54.200 and tried to hide from Him. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:54.940 Look at verse 8. 00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:57.820 And they heard the sound of the Lord 00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:59.240 walking in the garden 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.379 in the cool of the day. 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.340 And the man and his wife 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:03.540 hid themselves 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:05.579 from the presence of the Lord 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:07.519 among the trees of the garden. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.039 They sinned. 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:13.039 Their eyes were opened. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:15.179 Not in a good way. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.360 And the first thing that they did, 00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:20.039 they hid from God. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:22.959 Then Adam implied 00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:26.240 that it was God's fault 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:28.199 that they'd sinned. 00:11:28.319 --> 00:11:29.259 Look at verse 12. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.659 The man said, 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:33.700 The woman whom you gave 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:34.939 to be with me, 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:37.899 she gave me the fruit 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:39.139 of the tree 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:41.179 and I ate. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:43.000 The blame game 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.879 is one of the oldest, 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:45.460 is probably the oldest game 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:46.500 in existence, isn't it? 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:50.200 He's blaming God. 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:52.000 Number two, 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:55.039 it's not just their relationship 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:55.620 with God, 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.259 their close, 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:58.299 intimate relationship 00:11:58.299 --> 00:11:58.700 with God 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.340 we're talking about. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.879 Walked with God, 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.899 talked with God. 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:03.580 But their close, 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:04.279 intimate relationship 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:04.840 with each other 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:05.360 was broken. 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.960 After the fall, 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:10.799 they were no longer 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.200 comfortable being naked 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:13.500 before each other. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:16.000 So they covered up 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:16.500 with fig leaves. 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.299 It says in verse 7, 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.939 Then the eyes of both 00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:20.600 were opened 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:22.279 and they knew 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.279 that they were naked. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:24.799 And naked's not good. 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:25.860 It's not bad. 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.560 It's good. 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.060 That's why 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:29.279 Genesis 2 ends. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.139 They were both naked 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:31.460 and they felt no shame. 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.120 It was just 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.919 the way it's supposed to be. 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:36.580 They sewed fig leaves together 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:37.379 and made themselves 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:38.139 loincloths. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.440 They covered up. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.740 They also turned 00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.639 against each other. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:44.800 Adam, 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:46.240 specifically, 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:47.700 blamed Eve. 00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:48.720 Look again at verse 12 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.460 with a different emphasis 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:49.980 this time. 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:51.279 The man said, 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.639 The woman 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.919 whom you gave 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:55.639 to be with me. 00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.399 She gave me 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.080 the fruit 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.259 of the tree 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:00.500 and I ate. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:01.879 You see, 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:02.500 Adam, 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:05.639 he's the real culprit 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.480 in it all. 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.100 He let 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:10.519 his wife 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.699 be deceived. 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.059 Why didn't he 00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:15.059 not speak up 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:15.559 when the devil 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:16.360 tempted them 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.379 because they were together? 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:19.259 But he 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:21.720 was not 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.000 being 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.820 the leader, 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:24.720 the man 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.700 that he should have been, 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.360 the protector 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.539 that God made him to be. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.399 And then 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.439 when he failed 00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:33.439 and he 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:34.580 sinned as well 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.360 through the eating, 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:37.159 he turns around 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.220 and blames God 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.980 and then 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:41.279 blames his wife. 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.799 That's been 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.299 an eternal 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:44.379 temptation 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.820 for us as men 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:48.060 to not be 00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:48.980 who God's 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:49.820 called us to be 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.980 and when we fail, 00:13:51.260 --> 00:13:51.700 we look around 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:52.100 and we'll find 00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.660 somebody else 00:13:52.660 --> 00:13:53.080 to blame. 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.340 We can get 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:56.960 a good idea 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:57.660 of the nature 00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:58.180 of sin 00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:58.600 by looking 00:13:58.600 --> 00:13:59.220 at the immediate 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:00.280 effects of Adam 00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:00.860 and Eve 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:03.240 and their sin. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:03.860 Number one, 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.100 sin is rebellion 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:05.900 against God. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.740 That's what they did. 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.560 Sin is rebellion 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.100 against God. 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.240 It is the failure 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:13.980 to do 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.980 what God commands. 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:17.000 Or 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.120 it is the doing 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:18.800 of what God 00:14:18.800 --> 00:14:19.620 forbids. 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.800 It can be active 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.620 or passive. 00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:24.760 Omission 00:14:24.760 --> 00:14:25.760 or commission. 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.080 Sin is number two, 00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:29.020 is the source 00:14:29.020 --> 00:14:29.420 of evil 00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:29.960 and suffering 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.560 in this world 00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.560 as seen 00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:32.060 in what the 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:32.879 entrance of sin 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.720 introduced 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.800 into God's 00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:36.400 good creation. 00:14:37.640 --> 00:14:38.100 I want you to look 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:38.920 at this list here. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:41.140 After they sinned, 00:14:42.140 --> 00:14:44.320 there was death. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.960 There was separation 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:46.660 from God. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:47.780 There was fear 00:14:47.780 --> 00:14:48.260 and hiding 00:14:48.260 --> 00:14:48.920 from God. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.300 There was shame, 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:52.080 a lack of transparency 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:52.940 and intimacy 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.260 between husband 00:14:54.260 --> 00:14:55.160 and wife. 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.540 There was a refusal 00:14:56.540 --> 00:14:57.140 to accept 00:14:57.140 --> 00:14:58.500 personal responsibility, 00:14:59.040 --> 00:14:59.920 accusation, 00:15:00.300 --> 00:15:00.800 and blame. 00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:01.360 It's all there 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:01.760 in Scripture. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.500 They're listed there 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:02.900 for you. 00:15:04.180 --> 00:15:05.080 Pain and suffering 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:05.620 and the normal 00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.640 experiences of life 00:15:06.640 --> 00:15:08.260 like childbirth, 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.840 marriage, 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.600 the breakdown 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.280 of unity 00:15:12.280 --> 00:15:13.060 and oneness. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.240 Work. 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.600 There was a curse 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:18.320 upon the earth. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.240 Then the next chapter, 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:21.840 chapter four, 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.280 there was jealousy, 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:23.960 there was anger, 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:24.980 there was jealousy, 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.000 there was pride, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.240 and the first murder. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.680 Brother kills brother. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.639 Now, 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.779 that's sort of 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.779 a little introduction 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:37.639 on how sin 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.000 and evil 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.339 and suffering 00:15:39.339 --> 00:15:40.779 entered into this world. 00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.579 But I want us 00:15:42.579 --> 00:15:42.979 to look now 00:15:42.979 --> 00:15:43.539 at how God 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:44.659 is still in control 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:48.039 and He can be trusted 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:49.019 to take care of us 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.779 in the midst 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:52.620 of a life 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:54.019 surrounded by sin, 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:54.679 evil, 00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:55.899 and suffering. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:56.620 Now, 00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:57.059 I want everybody, 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.459 if you would, 00:15:57.459 --> 00:15:58.120 to turn to 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.580 2 Corinthians 7, 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.480 2 Corinthians 12, 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:02.639 and we're going 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:02.980 to look at 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:05.440 verses 7 through 10 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.879 in particular. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.379 And they're on 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.720 the back 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.419 of your outline. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.519 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.340 You don't have 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:17.879 to turn there. 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:18.580 I forgot that 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.240 I put it on here. 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.200 I thought I wasn't 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:20.840 going to have room. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.340 It's on that sheet. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.299 Paul gives us 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.600 in 2 Corinthians 12 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:29.879 one of the best examples 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.379 of how God 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.180 works through 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:34.060 the evil actions 00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:34.820 of Satan 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:37.600 and the suffering 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.680 of His people 00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:41.019 to accomplish 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.779 His good purpose 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.860 in us 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.000 and through us. 00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.240 Paul begins 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.540 2 Corinthians 12 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:48.680 describing a vision 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:49.139 of heaven 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:50.100 that he experienced 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.860 in the past. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.860 But what he says 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.779 next 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:55.519 is surprising. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.220 Let's just look at it. 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.399 Verse 7. 00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.139 So to keep me 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.360 from becoming conceited 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.019 because of the surpassing 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.539 greatness of the revelations, 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.859 a thorn was given me 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.680 in the flesh, 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.720 a messenger of Satan 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.379 to harass me, 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.319 to keep me 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.579 from becoming conceited. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.240 Three times 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.440 I pleaded with the Lord 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.119 about this, 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.599 that it should leave me. 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.960 But he said to me, 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:22.180 my grace is sufficient 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.840 for you 00:17:22.840 --> 00:17:24.220 for my power 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.160 is made perfect 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.400 in weakness. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.140 Therefore I will boast 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.980 all the more gladly 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.980 about of my weaknesses 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.460 so that the power 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.140 of Christ 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.759 may rest upon me. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.340 For the sake of Christ 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.420 then I am content 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:39.120 with weaknesses, 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.640 insults, 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.660 hardships, 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.180 persecutions, 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.900 and calamities. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.740 For when I am weak, 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:49.519 then I am strong. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.139 After Paul 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:54.099 had his vision of heaven, 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.539 he was given 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.839 a thorn in the flesh 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:58.920 for the purpose 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.480 that says there 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.019 in verse 7 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.680 of keeping him 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.500 from becoming conceited. 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.779 That phrase is repeated 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.660 a little bit later on. 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.160 The thorn in flesh, 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.819 we don't know what it was. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.319 I think most 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:15.980 commentators, 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.339 scholars who try to 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:19.259 figure this thing out 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.160 would think 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.039 is something physical. 00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.839 Maybe a problem 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.740 with his eyes. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.460 He says something 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.140 in Galatians 00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.980 about see what big, 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:28.200 at the end of Galatians, 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:28.940 he writes himself, 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.279 see what big letters 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.940 I'm writing with 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.180 as if he can't really, 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:33.940 he's having trouble 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.720 with his own vision. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.019 Some people think 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.980 he suffered 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.359 the effects of malaria. 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:41.039 some think, 00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:41.919 you know, 00:18:41.979 --> 00:18:43.419 just a lot of different things. 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.259 Some people think, 00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:44.500 though, 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.059 that it could be 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.319 something psychological, 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.139 emotional, 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:47.740 spiritual, 00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:49.459 something he struggled with. 00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:51.579 No one knows. 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.639 But it was some kind 00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:56.099 of issue 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:59.879 that hurt him, 00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:02.299 that caused personal 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.799 pain and suffering, 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:06.019 and he pleaded 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.740 with God 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:08.819 to take it away. 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:14.039 But God didn't. 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:18.680 God did not answer 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.399 Paul's prayer, 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.539 pleading three times, 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:25.980 remove this thorn 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.519 in the flesh, 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.779 but look on at verse 7. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.799 A messenger of Satan. 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.379 God sometimes allows Satan 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.759 to inflict us 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.680 with pain and suffering, 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.940 but Satan is always 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.420 limited by God, 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.159 and can only do 00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:43.200 what God allows. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.220 What book of the Bible 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.220 drives that point home? 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:48.559 Job. 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.759 The devil 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:54.720 can inflict much harm 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.400 on people, 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:58.680 but only if God allows it, 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.380 and only according 00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:01.860 to the level 00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:02.980 that God allows. 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:06.400 Job helps us 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.680 to understand that. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.580 And at the end of Job, 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.279 here's just sort of, 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:11.799 if you ever want 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.420 to read this, 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.160 Job's a hard book, 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:15.299 especially trying 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.819 to figure out 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.779 what his friends 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.360 were saying 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.559 and all that kind 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:18.880 of stuff, 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.240 but at the end, 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:20.779 Job, you know, 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.880 he asks him questions. 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:25.240 How does God 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.259 answer the questions 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.779 of Job 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.559 at the end of Job? 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:29.960 Basically, 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:31.539 God turns the tables 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.480 on him and says, 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.819 where were you 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.279 when I did 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.799 all these kind 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.240 of things? 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.539 And it's sort of like, 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:37.799 Job, 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.500 if you can answer 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.340 these questions 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:40.700 that I have for you, 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.900 I'll answer 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.460 your questions 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:42.980 from me, 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.620 you have for me. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.740 God does not tell us 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:49.220 these kind of things 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.200 for whatever reason. 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.000 But look at what, 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.880 I sort of jumped 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.180 to go in, 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:53.779 look at what happened 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.740 in verses 8 through 9, 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:57.140 look at the back and forth. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.600 Paul prayed 00:20:58.600 --> 00:20:59.120 and asked God 00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.900 to remove the thorn. 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.660 God answered 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:03.259 by saying no 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:04.840 and explained 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:05.880 why he said no. 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.440 Verse 9, 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.299 but he said to me, 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.360 my grace is sufficient 00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:09.860 for you 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.380 for my power 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.960 is made perfect 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.640 in weakness. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.200 Paul responded 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.200 by accepting 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.380 God's answer 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.160 and trusting 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:16.559 that God 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:16.920 would work 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:19.100 through his strength, 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.980 God's strength 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.019 through Paul's weaknesses. 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.140 Look at it, 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.720 verse 10 again, 00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.920 the end of 9 and 10. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.380 Therefore, 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.039 I will boast 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.580 all the more 00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:28.559 about my weaknesses 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.960 so that the power 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.519 of Christ 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.620 may rest upon me. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.120 For the sake of Christ, 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.279 then I am content 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:34.980 with weaknesses, 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.700 insults, 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.120 hardships, 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.120 persecutions, 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.859 and calamities. 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.219 For when I am weak, 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.159 then I am strong. 00:21:42.239 --> 00:21:42.479 Now, 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.319 I want us to understand 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:47.119 when Paul responds 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.939 this way, 00:21:49.219 --> 00:21:50.879 it's not as if, 00:21:51.719 --> 00:21:52.099 okay, 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:54.559 and he went on 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.699 and life was good. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.779 He didn't have any issues. 00:21:56.879 --> 00:21:57.679 He didn't have any struggles. 00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:00.039 Paul had a horrible life. 00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:04.099 Paul experienced 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:05.259 more physical, 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.119 emotional, 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:07.119 pain, 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.219 pain, 00:22:09.219 --> 00:22:10.019 and we can imagine. 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:11.239 Just read some of the things 00:22:11.239 --> 00:22:12.479 it says in 2 Corinthians 00:22:12.479 --> 00:22:13.799 about what he went through 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.439 in chapter 10, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.179 for an example. 00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:18.139 Paul's sufferings 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.819 as an apostle, 00:22:18.979 --> 00:22:20.379 beginning in verse 16. 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:25.320 It was hard for him to accept 00:22:25.320 --> 00:22:27.500 what God said 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:29.860 and carry it out. 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:32.500 But he had to write 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.840 just a great attitude. 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:40.060 Paul's attitude was, 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.679 if God said, 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:41.700 if God said, 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.879 my grace is sufficient 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.500 for you, 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.299 for my power 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.919 is made perfect 00:22:44.919 --> 00:22:45.559 in weakness, 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:49.480 he so loved God 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.799 and trusted God 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.460 and wanted to be used 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.119 by God, 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.519 he was willing 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:56.879 to live most of his life 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:58.679 in pain 00:22:58.679 --> 00:22:59.339 and suffering 00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.240 and discomfort 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.659 in order to 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:04.679 do God's will, 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:07.799 which resulted in 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.620 preaching the gospel 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.539 and many people saved, 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.180 churches being planted, 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.519 gospel spreading 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.140 throughout the Mediterranean world 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.500 and in all of that, 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:17.580 God was glorified 00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:18.220 and that was good enough 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.560 for him. 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.460 In all of that, 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:22.460 many people were saved, 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.920 churches started 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.180 that would impact 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.380 future generations 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.180 and that was good enough 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.539 for him. 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:31.079 He wasn't concerned 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:33.139 about himself. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.539 He just wanted 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.559 to be used by God 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.799 but at the same time, 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:38.019 he knew that a better day 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.539 was coming. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.319 He knew that his suffering 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.000 and pain 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.099 and disappointments, 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.980 heartaches, 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.599 it would all end one day 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.759 and he'd live in perfect 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:48.740 goodness, 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.700 comfort, 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:50.680 joy 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:53.659 in the new heavens 00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:54.299 and new earth. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.259 Think about this. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.539 Suffering usually 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.240 makes people 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.500 better or bitter. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.819 Paul's a great example 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.119 of someone 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.980 who became better. 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.299 Most of you 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.680 are familiar 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.440 with the story 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.819 of Johnny Erickson Tida. 00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:09.960 She's been a faithful 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.740 servant of the Lord 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.299 in a wheelchair 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.059 for what, 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.539 50 years maybe now 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:17.480 and she truly 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.220 made the best 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.960 of her suffering. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.420 Been an inspiration 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.079 to many people 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.519 who have gone 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.259 through heartaches. 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.940 Do you know someone 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.899 who has responded 00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:27.079 like that 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:28.159 to suffering? 00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:29.579 Somebody that 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:31.179 inspires you, 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.179 somebody who's just 00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:33.839 a trophy of grace 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.779 in the way that they 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.539 have responded 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.399 like Paul 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.799 or like Johnny. 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:44.480 Maybe not their whole life 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:46.159 but in certain ways. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.980 Anybody come to mind 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.079 in your life? 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:54.519 We won't call 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.179 anyone's name 00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:55.980 who's become bitter 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.939 from life's suffering 00:24:56.939 --> 00:25:00.859 but some of us 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.279 know people 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.859 who have. 00:25:03.659 --> 00:25:04.559 Life's hardships 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.619 made them bitter. 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.480 Let's close this, 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.399 wind this up. 00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.099 What are some 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.639 of the keys 00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.220 to allowing 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:11.939 the sufferings 00:25:11.939 --> 00:25:12.319 of life 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.299 to make us better 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:15.159 instead of bitter? 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:18.180 What can help us 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:19.880 be more like Paul, 00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:21.720 more like Johnny 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:23.340 and be better 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.519 rather than bitter? 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:29.259 Well, number one, 00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.500 look on the paper there 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.540 to believe 00:25:31.540 --> 00:25:32.560 what God says, 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.360 what the Bible says 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:33.759 about God 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.320 using them 00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.740 for good purposes 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.660 in our lives. 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.840 There's just a list. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.279 You can read it. 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.620 We're going to run 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.080 out of time 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.480 so I'm not going 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.259 to read all of those 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:47.339 but one, 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.559 two, 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:47.819 three, 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.099 four, 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.440 five, 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:48.759 six. 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.220 Six different passages 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.379 just as an example 00:25:51.379 --> 00:25:53.559 of things the Bible says 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:56.599 how God uses 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:58.160 sufferings, 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.440 difficulties, 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.339 trials 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:04.200 for our good 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:05.240 to develop 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.119 our character 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:08.299 to teach us 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.839 compassion 00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:09.440 and empathy 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.259 for others 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.480 to prove 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.240 the genuineness 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.140 of our faith 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:16.740 to make us 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.539 more like Jesus 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.819 to bring glory 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.599 and honor to God. 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.339 Number two, 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:24.420 another key 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.380 to allow these 00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:25.819 sufferings 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.500 to make us better 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.279 to trust 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.740 that God 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.519 is both great 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.299 and good 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.319 as Jerry Bridges 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.140 says in this quote, 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.720 look at it, 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.740 God in His love 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.099 always wills 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.960 what's best for us. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.019 In His wisdom 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.240 He always knows 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.940 what is best 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:40.440 and in His sovereignty 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.620 He has the power 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.459 to bring it about. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.139 But in order 00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:47.759 sometimes, 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.799 we've got to accept this, 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.679 in order at times 00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:51.000 for God 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:53.079 to be glorified 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.599 and His 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:56.359 big plan 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.839 accomplished, 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:01.899 we suffer. 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:05.800 He uses our suffering 00:27:05.800 --> 00:27:08.660 for that ultimate good 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:10.720 and it's hard 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:13.019 and we shouldn't say 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.780 it's not hard. 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.780 Paul would never 00:27:15.780 --> 00:27:17.519 just laugh 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.259 and carry on 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.300 about how his life 00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:19.780 was wonderful, 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:21.180 his life was hard. 00:27:23.060 --> 00:27:24.300 But he looked at it 00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:26.400 as this is not the end. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:29.060 He looked at it 00:27:29.060 --> 00:27:30.280 from an eternal perspective. 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.120 Better days 00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:31.500 were coming 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.220 for Him 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.460 and they'd be forever. 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.220 But in the meantime, 00:27:35.340 --> 00:27:36.120 he was willing 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:38.960 to have less, 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.100 to suffer more 00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.759 so that others 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.540 could have more 00:27:43.540 --> 00:27:44.759 at least spiritually speaking. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.860 Not suffer eternally. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.420 That kind of thing. 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.019 Paul says all this better. 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.500 One of my favorite verses. 00:27:54.300 --> 00:27:55.040 Romans 8, 28. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.659 And we know that in all things, 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:58.220 God works for the good 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.299 of those who love Him, 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.539 who have been called 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.700 according to His purpose. 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.759 Any thoughts on this tonight? 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.519 You cannot answer 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.879 everybody's concerns 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:17.039 about why 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.200 there's sin, suffering, 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.079 and evil in this world. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.460 I can't answer 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.799 all the questions I have. 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:26.159 about why these things are. 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.879 I don't know. 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:30.259 And there may be times 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.940 in your life 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.680 where a friend 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.559 or family member 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.440 have gone through 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:36.180 some kind of devastating loss 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.819 and they're Christians. 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:37.639 They look at you and say, 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.819 why would God 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.720 allow this to happen? 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.399 Why would God 00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:41.480 cause this to happen? 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.139 And sometimes 00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.859 the best answer 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.700 you can give them is, 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:45.859 I don't know. 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.879 And I don't think 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.899 anybody knows. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.360 God knows. 00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:52.320 And we may find out 00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.000 when we get to heaven. 00:28:54.300 --> 00:28:55.580 But we have to trust 00:28:55.580 --> 00:28:56.400 that God does know 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.019 what He's doing. 00:29:00.080 --> 00:29:00.700 You know, 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:02.620 in a much, much, much 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.740 smaller way, 00:29:04.300 --> 00:29:06.360 our children, 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.380 when they're little, 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.680 they don't really understand 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.860 why we do things 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:12.560 that hurt them, 00:29:14.780 --> 00:29:15.740 disappoint them, 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.640 tell them no. 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.900 But we know, 00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:21.200 but maybe they're just, 00:29:21.280 --> 00:29:22.280 they're just not at the age, 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.040 the ability 00:29:23.040 --> 00:29:24.340 that they can understand it. 00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:27.220 And we're just not, 00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:28.440 our thoughts are not 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.280 like God's thoughts. 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.420 We just can't understand 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.800 everything. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.040 And we have to accept that 00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:33.960 because God's God 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.620 and we're not. 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:37.300 But He is good. 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:40.140 He created this world good. 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.100 He's going to recreate 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.880 everything good. 00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.940 And He is working 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.860 in the midst of the mess now. 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:49.180 Still in control. 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:53.040 Working for ultimate good. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.920 His purpose. 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.280 Other people's good. 00:29:56.300 --> 00:29:57.360 And we just have to trust Him.