In the Midst of the fire(crises) –Part Four  by Pastor George

 

How God works

.God works in miracles.

.God is always there when you least expect it.

.God allows suffering into the life of the saint.

.Suffering is good, it is a gift.

 

Suffering & the Sovereignty of God

.3 Things about suffering:

Jeremiah 18:1-6 :”Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand”.

Isaiah 45:8-10 : The clay pot cannot question it’s maker.

1.You will inevitably face suffering. If someone tells you that you won’t suffer, it is a lie.

2.When you face suffering, you are at the centre of God’s will.

3.When you are going through suffering, God is not standing back and enjoying it. He is going through the suffering with you.

An overview of Israel’s History after King Solomon

.The Kingdom was divided after King Solomon. There were two Kings, Rehoboam and Jeroboam for Israel and Judah.There was a drop in the standards of the Kings after Solomon.The Kings did not know God.Because there was no leader who could lead showing God, God had to raise up prophets to prophecy about his wrath.

.When you do not put your eyes on God’s word, you will go into captivity.

.God had to allow his people into captivity, because he could not allow them to carry on in their sin.

.Every time you go and preach the gospel to a person who does not know God, you become a prophet for God.

.God prophesied through Isaiah and Jeremiah, that his people were going to suffer.

.Suffering brings out the true colours.

Sovereignity,Sustenance and Suffering

.Once we recognise God’s sovereignity over our lives, we can accept suffering.

Isaiah 45:5-7 :” I am the Lord, and there is no other”.

.If we relate to God in the context of his absolute sovereignty, we, the clay cannot question the potter, our maker.

1.Sovereignity: You understand the perspective of what you are going through.

We understand that he is the potter and we are the clay. He is moulding us, making us, begetting us.He is becoming father and mother.

2.Sustenance: When you are going through difficulties, you are not carrying your burden, he is carrying your burden.

God will not allow you to go to the point beyond which you will break. He will carry you through your suffering.

Your God is in the suffering with you. He will stand with you, he will not let you down.And when you come out, you will be beautiful.