Living With Suffering
Many of us live with prayers that have not yet been answered. What is the place of suffering and the ‘unhealed’ in the life of faith when we want to live honestly but also hopefully?
Many of us live with prayers that have not yet been answered. What is the place of suffering and the ‘unhealed’ in the life of faith when we want to live honestly but also hopefully?
The early church believed that God would heal their own sick members through the ministry of people with the gift of healing but also through the regular ministry of the church. How could we/should/do we copy these patterns?
The story finishes in a similar way to how it started. Jesus comes to people who have messed up, who know they aren’t capable, who aren’t to be trusted and he restores purpose and personhood to them.
He did it then, and he still does.
Have you been ‘cancelled’ or ‘unfollowed’ yet? All you will need to do is express an opinion that someone doesn’t agree with and the pile-on will follow as sure as night follows day. Our unity can be so fragile. Some of us know that Christians can be as bad at this as anyone else.It’s why Jesus prayed for us. It’s the longest prayer we know that Jesus prayed. It might be the most important prayer you will get to listen in on.
Sometimes our pain is caused by the reactions of others.
We can be overcome by their disapproval and condemnation of us and the way we live.
We can be overcome by their disapproval and condemnation of us and the way we live.
Watch how Jesus deals with the sense of guilt and the condemnation of others.
Anxiety preys on all of us.
It makes us fear we won’t have enough, or that we will be overwhelmed.
Jesus knows this and is able to transform these fears of not having enough to living abundantly.
Too many of us wonder whether we are good enough, or fear what others might think about us.
The power of shame can be crippling.
Jesus rescues us from that power so that we can live joy-filled lives.
How did the ‘hopes and fears of all the years’ meet in Jesus?
How do we invest well in the next generations?
Into our children’s lives, and the children in our church, and in grandchildren?
Humility is the key – it marks out God’s people as following Jesus. It can be the mark of our relationships together and can be the mark of church together.
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Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance
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