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Faith Baptist Church
Why Am I Afflicted?
It's easy to see difficulty as unbearable, undesirable, even unfair...especially when you are in the middle of it. But, is it possible that God has a plan? Is it possible that God is working out something in your life that will draw you closer to Him and cause you to trust Him more? Join us as Pastor Coppock answers the question, "Why Am I Afflicted?"
Locations & Times
Faith Baptist Church
1235 S Park Ave, Titusville, FL 32780, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
“God uses adversity to make us better!”
I. So That I Will Obey
A. Psalm 119:67, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word.
1. 119:67 We go astray when things are easy.
Our tendency to stray is the very reason we needed the Shepherd! Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
2. 119:67 Affliction many times drives us back to obedience.
3. In the valley we can find comfort in the rod and in the staff. Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
B. “When things are easy, we do badly. When things are hard, we do better. It is the nature of the sinful beast!”
Illustration: Loving parents afflict the backside of the child when they go astray; this brings them back to the path.
1. The rod drives foolishness away. Proverbs 22:15, Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Proverbs 29:15, The rod gives wisdom.)
2. Correction delivers the child from destruction. Proverbs 23:13, Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
“God will use affliction to teach us obedience— to get us to a better place!”
II. So That I Will Learn
A. Psalm 119:71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.
1. 119:71 It is good that we have been afflicted so that we might learn!
2. God afflicts us when we refuse to learn respect for Him. Psalm 55:19, God shall hear, and afflict them, even He that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
3. Trials produce maturity. James 1:2, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV
4. God is good enough. He allows us to suffer in order for us to learn our weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:9, And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
B. “God has to show us our weaknesses! THEN we can be strong!”
C. “Your burden is a bridge for your progress!”
III. So That I Will Believe
A. Psalm 119:75, I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
1. 119:75 Affliction teaches us to agree with and believe in God.
2. 119:75 The LORD’s judgments are right. (not twisted)
3. 119:75 It is BECAUSE God is faithful to us that He brings affliction to us.
B. We will ultimately agree with and believe in God’s judgments!
1. We are delivered! Psalm 34:19, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
2. We are loved! Any father who loves his child will bring discipline to him. Proverbs 3:11, My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. NKJV
C. “God’s correction is a signal of His ownership and faithful love!”
“God uses affliction to teach us to believe in His faithfulness!”
I. So That I Will Obey
A. Psalm 119:67, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word.
1. 119:67 We go astray when things are easy.
Our tendency to stray is the very reason we needed the Shepherd! Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
2. 119:67 Affliction many times drives us back to obedience.
3. In the valley we can find comfort in the rod and in the staff. Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
B. “When things are easy, we do badly. When things are hard, we do better. It is the nature of the sinful beast!”
Illustration: Loving parents afflict the backside of the child when they go astray; this brings them back to the path.
1. The rod drives foolishness away. Proverbs 22:15, Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Proverbs 29:15, The rod gives wisdom.)
2. Correction delivers the child from destruction. Proverbs 23:13, Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
“God will use affliction to teach us obedience— to get us to a better place!”
II. So That I Will Learn
A. Psalm 119:71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.
1. 119:71 It is good that we have been afflicted so that we might learn!
2. God afflicts us when we refuse to learn respect for Him. Psalm 55:19, God shall hear, and afflict them, even He that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
3. Trials produce maturity. James 1:2, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV
4. God is good enough. He allows us to suffer in order for us to learn our weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:9, And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
B. “God has to show us our weaknesses! THEN we can be strong!”
C. “Your burden is a bridge for your progress!”
III. So That I Will Believe
A. Psalm 119:75, I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
1. 119:75 Affliction teaches us to agree with and believe in God.
2. 119:75 The LORD’s judgments are right. (not twisted)
3. 119:75 It is BECAUSE God is faithful to us that He brings affliction to us.
B. We will ultimately agree with and believe in God’s judgments!
1. We are delivered! Psalm 34:19, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
2. We are loved! Any father who loves his child will bring discipline to him. Proverbs 3:11, My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. NKJV
C. “God’s correction is a signal of His ownership and faithful love!”
“God uses affliction to teach us to believe in His faithfulness!”