Oct. 31, 2021

 Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

• We are living in a world that is NOT PERFECT. 
• We are living in a fallen world.  
• Because of sin we also are not perfect. 

MAIN TEXT: John 9:1-3

Jesus makes it clear that suffering is not always connected to personal sin. 

May we NEVER be guilty of taking the promises of God and then make a formula. 

John 16:33. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 10:16. “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.  

Luke 9:23.  Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

John 13:16.  I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.

VERY IMPORTANT! Jesus didn’t die so we could experience the American Dream.

Sin will cause you trouble but not all trouble is caused by sin. 

Sin will bring suffering to a lot of people, but not all suffering is because of sin.

Sufferings and difficulties can have such a great purpose. 

1 Corinthians 4:10. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. 11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. 12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment. am promised that if I allow God to have his way, I will become a priceless vessel of honor and glory to him. 

Job said, “though God would kill me, I will trust him.” Paul said, “ALL things will work together for good to those who love God!”

2 Corinthians 6:3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.