WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Thank you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:29.960 Thank you. 00:02:30.739 --> 00:02:34.699 He brings about challenge in our life. 00:02:35.699 --> 00:02:41.299 So this morning, whether you're a Christian or not a Christian, you've got to know that you're going to face hardship. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:44.020 You're going to face challenges. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:48.560 It's what Psalm 119 calls afflictions. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:52.560 So let me ask you a question out of the gate here. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:56.819 What do you do when life gets hard? 00:02:56.819 --> 00:03:02.319 When things, when the heat gets turned up by God, what do you do? 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:05.039 What do you do when you don't get what you want? 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:06.259 What happens inside of you? 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:08.299 What happens inside of you? 00:03:09.299 --> 00:03:11.039 When you feel desperate? 00:03:11.419 --> 00:03:13.079 When you feel trapped? 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:14.840 When you feel cornered? 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:16.799 When you feel out of control? 00:03:16.799 --> 00:03:17.759 What do you do? 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.759 Do you give up? 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:20.799 Do you give up? 00:03:20.799 --> 00:03:22.219 Gloss over and check out? 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:26.639 Do you get mad, take charge and fight back? 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:31.739 Are you looking for someone or something to blame? 00:03:33.359 --> 00:03:38.159 Do you reach for the closest, cheapest pleasure to dull the hardship? 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:40.539 To forget about the hardship? 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:46.719 Whether you're a Christian or not a Christian, we will all be afflicted with hardship. 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:52.579 To be human on this side of heaven is to experience affliction. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:04:01.879 Affliction is a required class in God's school that everyone goes through. 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:13.560 As Christians, when the heat of hardship gets turned up, we turn to and trust in God's word. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.500 When God turns up the heat, we turn to his word. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:22.000 In fact, this morning what you're going to see is, 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:31.759 God turns up the heat so that we would turn to his word and trust in his goodness. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:36.600 God uses affliction for our good. 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:43.959 And this morning, I want you to see that by two main points out of Psalm 119. 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:47.040 It's a bit of a survey of Psalm 119. 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:51.699 The first point is this, God's word on affliction. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:57.379 And the second point is, God's word in affliction. 00:04:57.819 --> 00:04:59.939 What does God's word have to say about affliction? 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:05.439 And how does God's word function in affliction? 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:07.160 Anybody facing hardship? 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.379 God wants to address your heart this morning. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:17.199 When God turns up the heat, we turn to his word. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.180 Point number one, God's word on affliction. 00:05:20.180 --> 00:05:24.900 If you would open up your Bibles to Psalm 119, I'm going to read seven verses. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:30.019 Now, these seven verses out of Psalm 119 all have the word affliction in it. 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:33.720 And so this is all of what Psalm 119 has to say. 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:36.860 And it says some very important things about affliction. 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:41.600 So Psalm 119 verse 50 says this. 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:45.620 This is my comfort in my affliction. 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:49.720 That your promise gives me life. 00:05:50.200 --> 00:05:51.320 Verse 67. 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:54.740 Before I was afflicted, I went astray. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:56.500 But now I keep your word. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:57.780 Verse 71. 00:05:58.100 --> 00:06:00.860 It is good for me that I was afflicted. 00:06:01.140 --> 00:06:03.260 That I might learn your statutes. 00:06:03.259 --> 00:06:05.180 Verse 75. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:12.339 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous in that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:14.240 Verse 92. 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:21.399 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:23.219 Verse 107. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.839 I am severely afflicted. 00:06:26.159 --> 00:06:28.300 Give me life, O Lord, according to your word. 00:06:28.719 --> 00:06:31.819 And then Psalm 119, 153. 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:34.540 Look on my affliction and deliver me. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:37.399 For I do not forget your law. 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:40.399 Psalm 119 has some things to say about affliction. 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:41.120 Wouldn't you agree? 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:45.579 So what does the psalmist mean by affliction? 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:50.120 Well, what he's talking about is he's talking about hardship. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:52.000 Trials. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:53.500 Suffering. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:57.819 What's interesting is that the same Hebrew word translated affliction. 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:04.000 And Psalm 119 is translated in other places as poor. 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:07.980 So flip back to Psalm 86, verse 1. 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.120 David writes, 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:15.219 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:17.699 For I am poor and needy. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:20.039 For I am afflicted and needy. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:23.600 I'm suffering hardship and needy. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.980 So what this is getting at is this. 00:07:28.020 --> 00:07:33.040 Affliction, in Psalm 119, is a kind of being in want. 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:35.860 Lacking something. 00:07:37.020 --> 00:07:37.879 Lacking fullness. 00:07:38.200 --> 00:07:39.160 Lacking completion. 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.300 Experiencing hardship and pain. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:43.400 Lacking shalom. 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:45.720 Lacking peace. 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:47.140 It's a kind of poverty. 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:55.919 And what we see in our Bibles throughout it and what our experience tells us is that there are different kinds of poverty. 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:57.339 Different kinds of affliction. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.319 Different kinds of trials. 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:02.379 There's the easy and quick trials. 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:05.099 And then there's the hard and long trials. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:06.899 And then there's everything in between. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:15.359 This morning, I'm going to be talking about hardship, affliction in general. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:20.139 In a couple weeks, Samir is going to come back up here and preach on a specific kind of affliction. 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:21.279 Unique to Christians. 00:08:21.479 --> 00:08:22.939 It's called persecution. 00:08:23.679 --> 00:08:25.239 It's called suffering for Jesus. 00:08:25.719 --> 00:08:27.279 I'm not going to address that this morning. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:32.159 What I'm going to be addressing is kind of the general hardships of life that we all face. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:39.459 Affliction in God's school is not an elective. 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:42.459 It's a required class. 00:08:42.579 --> 00:08:45.199 That's implied in Psalm 119. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:48.219 But it's made explicit in a passage like James 1.2. 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:50.199 James says, 00:08:50.319 --> 00:08:55.100 Consider it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:09:02.139 In God's school, affliction is a required subject matter that's taught in a variety of classrooms. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:07.219 I'm guessing you're in the classroom of affliction right now. 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:07.959 At least one of them. 00:09:08.199 --> 00:09:09.159 Let me list some out. 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.639 Maybe you can identify with this. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.379 There's the classroom of societal hardship. 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:17.579 Maybe you've done time. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:20.039 Maybe you're on a list. 00:09:20.939 --> 00:09:21.759 Maybe you're homeless. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.100 You feel as though you've been pushed to the fringes of society. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.679 Maybe you feel like you're living in the shadows. 00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:30.980 That's a hard place to be. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:33.179 That's an affliction. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.399 That's a difficulty. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.639 Maybe it's the classroom of financial hardship. 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:41.419 Maybe you have a bad credit score. 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:46.519 Maybe you've racked up medical debt because there was no way else to pay for it and needed care. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.639 Maybe you've been sued. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:50.759 Maybe you had to declare bankruptcy. 00:09:51.459 --> 00:09:54.219 Maybe it's every month you fall deeper, deeper into debt. 00:09:54.339 --> 00:09:56.299 Maybe you're just overextended and vulnerable. 00:09:56.299 --> 00:10:02.879 Maybe it's just every month goes by and the ends don't meet. 00:10:02.979 --> 00:10:04.279 That's a hard place to be. 00:10:05.439 --> 00:10:06.839 There's some suffering there. 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:08.059 There's some difficulty there. 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:11.979 Maybe you're in the classroom of vocational hardship. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:14.019 Maybe your boss is demanding. 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:16.839 Maybe your boss is demoralizing. 00:10:17.219 --> 00:10:22.979 Maybe the problem is you don't have a boss because you're unemployed or you're underemployed. 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:28.379 And maybe you're underemployed or unemployed because you're overqualified or underqualified. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:30.240 Maybe your skills are out of date. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:32.200 Maybe you feel like you're out of date. 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:35.360 Maybe you feel adrift in your job. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:37.960 Maybe you feel trapped in your job. 00:10:38.040 --> 00:10:39.660 It can raise all sorts of questions, can't it? 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:42.520 What's my worth? 00:10:44.780 --> 00:10:45.960 That's a hard place to be. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:48.980 There's some affliction there. 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:50.120 There's some hardship there. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:54.520 And then, of course, there's the classroom of relational hardship. 00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:58.560 Strained friendships because of misunderstanding. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.479 Understandings, strained friendships because of sinning against one another. 00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:08.279 If you're a mom or dad of an infant or toddler, you're living a life of affliction. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:14.519 Constantly on, sleep deprived, oftentimes isolated. 00:11:14.959 --> 00:11:18.839 You ask yourself the questions, how many times do I have to say no to this child? 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:20.239 Does this child have a hearing problem? 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:27.899 Maybe you're a parent of a grown child, but a wayward child. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:33.379 Maybe throughout the day you're asking, you're wondering, where's my child now? 00:11:33.979 --> 00:11:34.859 What are they doing? 00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:36.659 I wish they would call me. 00:11:37.219 --> 00:11:38.479 That's a hard place to be. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:42.719 Maybe your marriage is experiencing strain and difficulty. 00:11:43.339 --> 00:11:45.799 Maybe there was a breaking of trust in the past. 00:11:46.119 --> 00:11:51.139 And over time, walls have been built up in between you. 00:11:51.339 --> 00:11:55.679 And now you find yourself, after years, distant from one another. 00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:57.979 Hard place to be. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:11:58.879 Maybe you're single. 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:03.340 Maybe you were divorced without biblical grounds. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:06.300 And now you don't have the freedom to remarry. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:08.740 That's a hard place to be. 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:12.700 Or maybe you are free to remarry, but there are no prospects out there. 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:17.220 It was God who said, it's not good for man to be alone. 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:20.000 You're experiencing a not good. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.360 That's a tough place to be. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:27.519 When you have someone in your life that's dying. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.120 Or someone who's recently died. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:32.840 That's a hard place to be. 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.120 There's some difficulty there. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.399 There's physical hardships. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:39.679 That's a tough class. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.060 I was thinking about you all this past week. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:46.759 And I was just trying to list out some of the physical hardships that we're dealing with as a church. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.740 Here's a list. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:50.419 We've got multiple types of cancers. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:52.419 Arthritis. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.039 Multiple sclerosis. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.399 Parkinson's. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.000 Diabetes. 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.960 Some of us have pinched nerves. 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:00.060 Some of us have wrenched backs. 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:02.360 Some of us have torn rotator cuffs. 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:03.799 Varying degrees of blindness. 00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:04.860 Mental illness. 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:08.220 Body parts that aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing. 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:11.899 We're experiencing the outer man wasting away, aren't we? 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:18.360 As long as you're in that tent on this side of heaven, you're going to have hardship with your body. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.779 It's going to be difficult. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.000 It's a classroom. 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.720 Spiritual hardship. 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.399 Tough class here. 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:32.700 Because you don't think God can forgive you for something. 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:36.840 You don't think God can forgive you for your infidelity. 00:13:38.140 --> 00:13:39.720 Or maybe that you had an abortion. 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:41.259 Or you had someone have an abortion. 00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:42.960 You don't think God can forgive you for that. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.340 Skimming from your employer. 00:13:45.540 --> 00:13:45.960 Lying. 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.680 Feasting on pornography. 00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:48.520 Stealing. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:51.620 For some reason, you don't think God likes you. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:54.600 That's not what the gospel says. 00:13:56.280 --> 00:13:59.560 God in the gospel makes forgiveness available to all. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:06.620 We're all experiencing some kind of affliction, aren't we? 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.680 Some kind of hardship. 00:14:11.280 --> 00:14:13.900 It's not if, but when. 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:17.259 And it's just not a one-time when. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.460 It's when's the next one. 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:25.520 I was thinking about asking for a show of hands as I walked through those classrooms of affliction. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:29.860 And my guess is everybody would be able to raise their hands at least one of them. 00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:32.360 Probably two of them. 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.799 Maybe three of them. 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.819 How about all of them? 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:39.659 All of us can experience. 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.360 You know what that means? 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.919 Affliction is common among us. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:47.460 We're all experiencing it to some degree or another. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.960 God's school of affliction makes us desperate. 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:57.460 Would you look at Psalm 119, 153? 00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:03.220 Look on my affliction and deliver me. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:08.080 Look on my affliction and deliver me. 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.100 For I do not forget your law. 00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:15.759 Affliction makes you desperate. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.440 I know you've tasted that. 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:22.300 I know you know what desperation is. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.060 Overwhelmed. 00:15:24.660 --> 00:15:25.160 Trapped. 00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:26.680 Backed into a corner. 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:27.980 Isolated. 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.100 Powerless. 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.040 Helpless. 00:15:30.420 --> 00:15:30.980 Hopeless. 00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:32.940 Don't know when this is going to end. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:34.640 Desperation. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:39.060 The desperate place is a very uncomfortable place to be. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.000 Isn't it? 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:43.639 I experienced a really hard time three years ago. 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.679 I couldn't get out of it. 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:50.360 I was trying everything I could do to get out of the hard place. 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.919 But I was surrounded. 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:56.539 And God used it to bring me to an end to myself. 00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:59.120 It was very revealing. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.360 It revealed. 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:04.740 God was revealing to me through this hard time. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:07.360 What was at work in my heart. 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:11.460 You see when you are in a desperate place. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:14.460 When you are under the pressure of affliction. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:18.720 What's on the inside comes out. 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.279 This past week. 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:22.360 I was in my kitchen. 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.019 And I was by myself. 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:27.320 In this jumbo fly. 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.100 Just cruised on by. 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.419 I knew it was coming around again. 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:36.600 So I grabbed the closest weapon I could find. 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.860 A Better Homes and Gardens magazine. 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:41.980 I wasn't reading it. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:44.180 I picked it up as a weapon. 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:47.740 And that jumbo fly came around again. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:48.920 And I reached back. 00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:51.279 And I swatted that fly. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:55.340 I honestly thought. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.399 That was great follow through self-hiding. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.139 I whacked that thing. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:02.960 And it flew across the kitchen. 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.380 Hit the cabinet. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.039 Hit the wall. 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:05.819 And fell down. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.160 I grabbed a napkin. 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.480 And I pounced on that thing. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.140 And you know what I did? 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.079 I popped it. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.480 You know what I'm talking about? 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.140 Pressure. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.860 You know why I'm telling you this? 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:24.439 When you're experiencing pressure. 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:26.659 What's on the inside comes out. 00:17:29.959 --> 00:17:31.979 What's on the inside comes out. 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:39.539 Have you ever been under pressure? 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.639 And you start asking questions like this? 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.919 Where are you God? 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.219 Why are you doing this to me? 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.379 When's it going to end? 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.319 Anybody been there? 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:52.279 The prophet Habakkuk was there. 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.139 Habakkuk won. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.339 He was experiencing pressure. 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.919 The Chaldeans have come down. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.179 They're starting to rock Judah's world. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.099 And he's saying, 00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:01.240 God, where are you? 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:04.339 Why are you letting them do this to us? 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:04.460 Why? 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.539 Affliction makes you desperate. 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:15.000 It reveals your heart. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.420 And that's exactly what God is going for. 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:26.359 You see, affliction is a very effective tool in God's sovereign, faithful hand. 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:34.799 He doesn't use affliction like a better homes and garden magazine that's rolled up trying to swatch you because he's looking to beat you. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:41.559 Affliction in God's sovereign, faithful hand is a good thing. 00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:43.480 Look at Psalm 119, verse 75. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:56.319 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:59.360 The key word there is faithfulness. 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:08.319 God in his faithfulness afflicts those who are his own for our good. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:12.059 God's school of affliction is God's school of faithfulness. 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:15.279 He makes us desperate for a reason. 00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:21.960 To expose us in order to transform us. 00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:27.000 He wants all of your heart to be exclusively devoted to him. 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:32.379 And he is willing to afflict you in order to refine your heart. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:36.879 He exposes our heart because he's being faithful to us. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.259 It's heat. 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:44.220 He turns up the heat on us to expose us. 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:48.460 To reveal our hearts so that he can attend to our hearts. 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:54.539 The great preacher C.H. Spurgeon said this about heat. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.460 Speaking of the heat of the sun. 00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:02.680 The heat that melts the wax hardens the clay. 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:10.400 And so God's affliction of people will either humble them or harden them. 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:16.320 God uses affliction to expose people's hearts. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:25.320 Affliction not only exposes our hearts, but exposes God's faithfulness to his own. 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:31.879 It was William Kuyper who was a member of John Newton's church. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:36.200 He was a desperate, depressed poet. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.639 And he wrote this line. 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:44.740 Behind a frowning providence is the smiling face of God. 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:49.579 Behind affliction is a faithful God who loves you. 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:52.799 He's seeking to expose your heart. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.000 To want to get something done. 00:20:55.439 --> 00:20:57.980 To transform you over time. 00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:00.539 Look at Psalm 119 verse 67. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.919 There's this before and after. 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:08.740 Before I was afflicted, I went astray. 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:12.200 But now I keep your word. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.339 You see what happened right there? 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:20.019 Before I was going astray, your affliction attended my heart. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.440 It changed me. 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:25.599 I responded in faith and now I walk according to your ways. 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:29.099 And so verse 67 is a corrective discipline of God. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:34.099 But God's not always seeking to get us in terms of his discipline. 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:37.440 Sometimes he disciplines us because just he loves us. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.759 We're not doing anything wrong. 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.640 Think of Job. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.600 God is seeking to conform us to the image of his beloved son. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:52.860 And he's willing to use affliction and hardship to that end. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:22:00.539 And so for Christians, for those of us who are in Christ, we can be confident of this. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:04.920 Affliction is always for our good. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:07.779 Always for our good. 00:22:08.060 --> 00:22:10.120 Look at Psalm 119 verse 71. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.480 This is an amazing statement. 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.380 It is good for me that I was afflicted. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:23.279 It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn your statutes. 00:22:23.820 --> 00:22:25.779 It is good for me that I was afflicted. 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:29.220 Remember Romans 8.28. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:35.599 God works all things out for the good of those who love God and been called according to his purpose. 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.579 He's in it for our good. 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.759 He's in it for our good. 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.759 What is that good? 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.839 Romans 8.29. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:47.059 We were predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, his son. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.559 He's conforming us to that. 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:52.319 James 1.2-4. 00:22:53.659 --> 00:23:00.599 Consider it all joys whenever you face trials of many different kinds because they produce steadfastness in you. 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:02.619 That's good in God's economy of things. 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.859 Do you remember Joseph? 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.819 Genesis chapter 50. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.819 His brothers come up to him and say, hey, what are you going to do to us? 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.940 Joseph says in verse 20, 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:16.340 What you meant for evil for me, God meant for good. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:20.480 God uses affliction for our good. 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:29.180 The affliction that you're experiencing right now, whatever classroom that you're in, 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.299 it's not random. 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:39.539 God in his faithfulness is working in and through your affliction for your good. 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:46.339 He has turned up the heat in order to turn you to his word. 00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:50.460 Are you turning to his word? 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:58.039 Let's see how God's word functions when the heat's on. 00:23:58.159 --> 00:24:02.019 So we've looked at what does God's word say about affliction. 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:06.339 Now let's see what God's word says in affliction. 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:08.180 There's three things I want you to see here. 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:11.799 God's word comforts us in our affliction. 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:15.240 God's word gives us life in our affliction. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:19.140 And God's word is our delight in our affliction. 00:24:20.100 --> 00:24:21.620 God's word comforts us. 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:23.820 Look back to Psalm 119 verse 50. 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.019 We read this. 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:28.900 This is my comfort in my affliction. 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:31.539 That your promise gives me life. 00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:34.619 This is my comfort in my affliction. 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:38.279 That your promise gives me life. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:43.440 What was the psalmist's comfort in the midst of his affliction? 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:48.920 God's promises was his comfort. 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:54.700 Now Psalm 119 verse 50 doesn't tell us specific promises of God. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.360 So let me just do that right now. 00:24:56.800 --> 00:25:01.240 Three promises of God that will comfort you in the midst of your affliction. 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:01.600 Ready? 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.980 God is sovereign. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:08.279 He exercises his power over all creation. 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:12.740 The book of Daniel teaches that God rules over the kingdom of men. 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.920 God rules over all of creation. 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:18.559 Nothing happens in all of creation outside of God's sovereign reign. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.480 Nothing takes God by surprise. 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.440 Nothing at all. 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:29.539 In fact, God is sovereignly orchestrating each of our lives according to his grand and glorious plan. 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:32.579 God has a plan for you. 00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:35.839 You're in his plan. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:40.460 And your afflictions are a part of his plan. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:50.799 God is seeking to do something good in your life through your hardship that he's brought on you. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:56.339 God is sovereign over our affliction. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.180 Are you anxious about what you're going to eat? 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:01.119 Are you anxious about what you're going to wear? 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:03.659 Look to Matthew chapter 6. 00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:06.039 Jesus speaks specifically. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:12.019 Makes a connection between God's sovereignty and meeting every need that we have. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:15.819 God is sovereign over our afflictions. 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.420 God is also good. 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:22.220 Let God's sovereignty comfort you. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.539 Let God's goodness comfort you as well. 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:29.019 Psalm 119 verse 67 and 68. 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:30.559 Before I was afflicted. 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.180 I went astray. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.279 But now I keep your word. 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:34.879 You are good and do good. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.599 71. 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:38.720 It is good for me that I was afflicted. 00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:41.480 Even in the hardness of affliction. 00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:47.160 God exercises his sovereignty for our good. 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:50.619 It's as though God is saying to us this morning. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:53.639 Hey, I promise not only am I sovereign. 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:58.160 But I'm exercising my sovereignty for your good. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:13.280 Do you believe that God has your greatest good in mind as you experience the hardships you're facing? 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:15.420 That God is good for you. 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:17.519 That God is sovereign. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.779 He loves you. 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:22.980 He gave his only son for you. 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:24.960 And if he's willing to give his son for you. 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:29.960 How much also along with him, Jesus, will he give you everything you need? 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:32.759 God has good for you. 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:42.519 Now, I realize that some of us are in situations that we don't see the good. 00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.559 Not right now. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.259 We're in a hard place. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.759 We can't see around the corner. 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.679 It's tough. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:55.220 So what I want to point you to is this. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.799 Two things. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.980 God is good. 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:03.940 You don't need to know what's going to happen in your circumstances to believe that God is good. 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:06.079 He has revealed that. 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:10.099 And secondly, you can be assured of this. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.700 Goodness is coming. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.299 Do you know why? 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.819 Jesus is coming back. 00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:21.299 And when he comes back, he's going to make all wrongs right. 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:27.119 We who are his are going to experience an eternity of goodness in God's presence. 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.200 He's going to make all things right. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:35.159 Let God's goodness comfort you. 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:36.799 He's sovereign. 00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:37.899 He's good. 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.680 And he is present. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.859 God is present. 00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.159 It's promise. 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.180 Let me read you some. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.220 Hebrews 13.5. 00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:48.200 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:54.419 I will never leave you in your sufferings nor forsake you in your sufferings. 00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:55.859 It's promise. 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.899 Fear not for I am with you. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:59.220 Be not dismayed for I'm your God. 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.259 Isaiah 41.10. 00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.079 I'm with you. 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.960 Even in the midst of your hardship. 00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.879 Psalm 23.4. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:09.500 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, there's some hardship. 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:16.619 I will fear no evil for you are with me. 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:23.539 Psalm 16.8 is one of my favorite verses in the scriptures. 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:27.659 I probably quote it to myself and other people 20 times a week. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:31.620 I have set the Lord always before me. 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:34.519 Because he is at my right hand. 00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:35.440 He's with me. 00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:37.400 I will not be shaken. 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:40.960 I will not be shaken by these hardships. 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.960 Because God is with me. 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:47.360 Brothers and sisters, God promises us. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:50.679 I will always be with you. 00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:53.799 When times are good, when times are hard. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.139 We're just called to trust him. 00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:59.240 To believe his word. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:01.439 To trust that he's sovereign. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.240 That he's good. 00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:03.899 That he's here. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.099 That he's present. 00:30:06.199 --> 00:30:08.639 It comforts us even in affliction. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.839 So, are you feeling out of control? 00:30:13.719 --> 00:30:16.119 Call to mind that God is sovereign over all things. 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:20.259 Are you feeling like your circumstances are for evil? 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:22.659 Call to mind that God is good. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:24.779 And is working all things out for your good. 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:29.619 If you are feeling as though that you are alone in your hardship. 00:30:29.959 --> 00:30:32.119 Call to mind you're not alone. 00:30:32.699 --> 00:30:34.259 God is with you. 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:37.799 And brothers and sisters, when we see other people going through hardship. 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:40.439 We can speak these things to them. 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.039 It will help them. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:45.919 God's word comforts us. 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:46.939 In affliction. 00:30:46.939 --> 00:30:50.019 His promises do our hearts good. 00:30:50.739 --> 00:30:54.419 But God's word also gives us life in affliction. 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:57.779 So, Psalm 119.50 says this. 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.779 This is my comfort in my affliction. 00:31:00.199 --> 00:31:02.779 That your promise gives me life. 00:31:03.159 --> 00:31:04.839 Look at verse 107. 00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:07.500 I am severely afflicted. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:09.819 Give me life, O Lord, according to your word. 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.480 Has anybody been on an airplane? 00:31:11.939 --> 00:31:12.639 Raise your hand. 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.500 Has anybody been? 00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:16.119 Remember the pre-flight deal? 00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:19.579 Flight attendants talking at the front of the plane. 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.559 They're saying, welcome. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:23.379 Thank you so much for flying Christ the King Airways. 00:31:23.459 --> 00:31:24.399 Glad you are with us. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:28.840 If we get up to 32,000 feet and there's a sudden loss of cabin pressure. 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:33.220 There will be oxygen masks that drop from the bins above your head. 00:31:33.580 --> 00:31:36.640 And so, would you please put the oxygen mask above your face? 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:40.920 And if you're traveling with a small companion, would you put then the oxygen mask over their face? 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.740 Do you know what I'm talking about? 00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:50.100 Our trials, our hardships, our afflictions, it's like a sudden loss of cabin pressure. 00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:53.120 Things can go crazy all quick, can't they? 00:31:54.020 --> 00:31:55.360 Things start flying around. 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:59.720 God's word is the O2 mask. 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:02.600 It's life for us. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.280 It's vitality for us. 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:08.259 It helps us keep our sanity in the face of hardship. 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.839 We're able to endure. 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:14.019 Press through difficulties. 00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:20.339 If you want a picture of that, turn to Jeremiah chapter 17, 5 through 8. 00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:23.139 It doesn't use an oxygen mask. 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.359 It uses a different picture. 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:26.079 But you'll get the point. 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:31.220 When the heat is on, not only do we survive, 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:33.720 but we thrive. 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:39.879 Because God's word is our life in the midst of affliction. 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:43.580 Jesus lived this out day after day. 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:48.240 He suffered hardship all throughout his 33 years of living. 00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:51.360 He walked this out. 00:32:52.520 --> 00:32:56.840 He trusted God's word over and over and over again. 00:32:56.839 --> 00:33:00.500 So God's word is our comfort in affliction. 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:02.839 God's word is our life in our affliction. 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:06.220 And God's word is our delight in our affliction. 00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:09.399 Psalm 119 verse 92 reads this. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:15.059 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:19.279 There's a bit of caution here, isn't there? 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:25.200 The psalmist is very aware that if God's word had not been on his heart, 00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:28.039 he would have been swept away by his hardship. 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:31.159 He would have been overwhelmed. 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:34.559 He would have perished in his affliction. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:40.019 We don't have to do that. 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:47.399 We can take delight in the midst of our affliction by trusting in God's word. 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:56.040 We know that God has good for us in the midst of our afflictions. 00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.720 We know that God is sovereign. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:00.040 We know that God is good and loving. 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:02.100 We know that God is present with us. 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:07.480 And that confidence is a source of joy when we have the heat being turned up, 00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:09.579 when we have the pressure coming down. 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:13.180 Those promises not only give us life, 00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:17.679 but they give us joy in the midst of affliction. 00:34:18.359 --> 00:34:19.779 That's why James can say, 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:22.859 hey, whenever you face trials of various kinds, 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:25.319 consider it all joy. 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:29.739 Because you know the testing of your faith is going to develop steadfastness. 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:31.199 It's for your good. 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.139 God's growing you. 00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:34.559 It's for your good. 00:34:36.419 --> 00:34:38.619 We value something greater than comfort. 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:41.659 To become more like Jesus. 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:46.579 And we realize that affliction is necessary to that. 00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:49.299 So we can say along with James, 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:55.000 we consider it all joy when we face afflictions of various kinds. 00:34:56.920 --> 00:35:02.659 The prophet Habakkuk wrapped up the book of Habakkuk with some amazing words. 00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:08.299 He went from being a complaining prophet to a rejoicing prophet in chapter 3. 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:13.019 And he reflected on God's deliverance of his people. 00:35:13.680 --> 00:35:16.560 And it resulted in him being joyful for his salvation. 00:35:17.060 --> 00:35:19.960 It's very instructive for us who are facing afflictions. 00:35:20.600 --> 00:35:22.560 We delight in God's word. 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:24.360 We delight in our salvation. 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:29.320 And it becomes a source of joy in the midst of hardship. 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:32.140 When God turns up the heat, 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.519 He does so in order to make us desperate. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:39.000 So that we would turn to and trust in God's word. 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:42.440 God has good for us through afflictions. 00:35:43.100 --> 00:35:44.620 So you know what the call is this morning? 00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:48.300 We, when affliction comes, 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:51.600 We take hold of God's word. 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:55.019 And we press into affliction. 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.880 And through affliction, 00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:59.000 With hearts full of faith, 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:03.539 That God is good in the midst of affliction. 00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:06.800 So here's how we're going to close this morning. 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:10.080 The worship team is going to come up. 00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.840 And as they're coming up, 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.940 I'm going to encourage you, 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:16.780 Just take a moment in the quietness of your heart. 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:20.100 To cry out to God in your affliction. 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:25.040 Ask Him to help you to trust His promises. 00:36:25.560 --> 00:36:27.480 So that you could be comforted. 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.680 And strengthened. 00:36:29.200 --> 00:36:31.400 And experience joy in the face of hardship. 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:34.140 And after we sing, 00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:36.420 Jeff Slater is going to come up and close. 00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:38.060 I'm going to ask the elders, 00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.720 Samir, Daniel, Jeff. 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:41.580 We're just going to be up here in front. 00:36:41.720 --> 00:36:43.480 And if you would like us to pray with you 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.680 In the midst of your afflictions, 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:46.300 We would love to do that. 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:48.200 So now let's pray. 00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:50.080 Well, let's pray in our pews, 00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:51.300 And then we'll sing. 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:52.400 Thank you. 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:55.140 So agora let's pray. 00:36:55.140 --> 00:36:56.620 Well, let's pray. 00:36:56.620 --> 00:36:57.840 And we'll sing. 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.320 Bye bye.