The Power of Pain - Audio

Bakersfield First Assembly

The Book of Job “The Question of the Ages—Why?” The Power of Pain 1. Pain can sensitize us to the suffering of others. 2. Pain can make us narcissistic. "Forgiveness must be given, but trust must also be earned." Titus 3:10 (NIV) – [10] Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. Matthew 3:7-8 (NIV) – [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? [8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Acts 26:20 (NIV) – [20] First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV) – [15] “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. [16] But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Job 16:15-17 (NIV) – [15] I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust. [16] My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes; [17] yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure. 3. Pain can purify our prayers. Lamentations 2:19 (NIV) – [19] Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street. 1 Samuel 1:13-16 (NIV) – [13] Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk [14] and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.” [15] “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. [16] Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Job 16:18 (NIV) – [18] O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest! 4. Pain wants to be heard. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) – [8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Job 16:19-21 (NIV) – [19] Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. [20] My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; [21] on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. 5. Pain can reveal our true intercessor, Jesus. Hebrews 7:23-25 (NIV) – [23] Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; [24] but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. [25] Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Job 16:22 (NIV) – [22] “Only a few years will pass before I go on the journey of no return. 6. Pain can lead to fatalism. Romans 8:18 (NIV) – [18] I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) – [16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 7. Pain will be permanently alleviated in heaven.