Series: Is That You, God?
Sermon: Pain: God’s Biggest Problem
“Many Christians would probably admit that pain was God’s one mistake. —Phillip Yancey”
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! —John 9:1-7 NLT
Pain Produces
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” —John 9:1-2 NLT
How Can a loving and all powerful God allow evil and pain to exist?
Pain Defies
“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” —John 9:2 NLT
Common Explanations of Pain
- Because of
- Because
- Becasue
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. —John 9:3-4 NLT
God can use pain in valuable ways…
- to
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. —James 1:3 NLT
- to
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. —Hebrews 12:6 NLT
- to
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. —2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT
Pain Bring an
We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! —John 9:4-7 NLT
Application:
Are you willing to embrace suffering if it drives you to God?
Are you willing to alleviate suffering to drive others to God?