Barb

Thoughts on John 9:1-12

1. Maybe today someone in your life is going through some trial?
2. Maybe things haven’t worked out in ytheir life the way they’d have liked?
3. So; we all ask “Lord Why?”

Somebody once wisely said:
1. We are either IN A TRIAL
2. COMING OUT of a trail
3. Or about ready to GO INTO a trail

TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS are a COMMON PART of life;
1. And MY JOB as your FELLOW BOND SLAVE F CHRIST is not to –
a) TEACH you how to ESCAPE or RUN FROM your problems;
2. But RATHER, my job is to-
a) Teach you how to SUFFER WELL
b) To learn to LIVE VICTORIOUSLY, even IN TRIALS

I. ‘God sees and cares’

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

There are numerous PRINCIPLES here that we need to remember
As we go through TRIALS and HARDSHIPS and We can be CONFIDENT that JESUS sees and cares because-
#1. GOD IS PRESENT

God takes GREAT INTEREST in YOUR LIFE
1. It says, ‘Jesus passed by’—————— He wasn’t somewhere else
This BLIND MAN wasn’t ALONE
1. JESUS was RIGHT THERE with him
a) JESUS was INTIMATELY acquainted with this MAN’S LIFE

TODAY in our life, someone we know feels like this POOR BLIND MAN;
1. Laying on the STREETS of LIFE as they ENDURE this TRIAL that they are in;
YET, we can see here that – JESUS is WITH US- Emmanuel

#2. GOD is INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED
#3. GOD CARES
#4. NO PROBLEM too GREAT
#5. GOD HAS A PURPOSE

II. WHY AM I GOING THROUGH THIS?

If you ask the PROSPERITY GOSPEL GROUP;
They’ll tell you that the REASON for this TRIAL is:
#1. Because there is SIN IN YOUR LIFE – OR-
#2. LACK FAITH

Sometimes we SUFFER for our SINFUL CHOICES;
But QUITE OFTEN, a SIN has NOTHING to do with our TRIALS

The world is FILLED with people like JOB’S FRIENDS;
And QUITE OFTEN they will BLAME others for their TRIALS

‘We’ll, there’s just got to be sin in your life…’ they will say, as matter of fact…
1. ‘Because God wouldn’t let you go through that otherwise’

Statements like that come from one of 3 GROUPS:
1. HIGHLY IMMATURE (spiritually)
2. UNEDUCATED (biblically)
3. SELF-RIGHTEOUS (lack understanding)

TYPICALLY, people who are CRITICAL of others in their TRIALS -
Have NEVER SUFFERED a DAY in their life
And they FOOLISHLY BELIEVE that there is –
Something SPIRITUALLY WRONG with those who DO suffer

Why do we SO OFTEN go through TRIALS?
What is GOD’S PURPOSE?

III. For the GLORY of GOD

IV. TIME IS LIMITED

V. GOD WORKS in DIVERSE WAYS

VI. HUMILITY REQUIRED

VII. OTHERS ARE WATCHING

The world may be able to ARGUE with your DOCTRINE
But they CANNOT argue with your TESTIMONY

One of the GREATEST PROOFS that JESUS CHRIST is Who He claims to be
1. Is OUR TESTIMONY

The world is DESPERATELY SEEKING for something that is REAL
1. Are we living it?

CONCLUSION:
1. God sees and cares
2. WHY AM I GOING THROUGH THIS?
3. For the GLORY of GOD
4. TIME IS LIMITED
5. GOD WORKS in DIVERSE WAYS
6. HUMILITY REQUIRED
7. OTHERS ARE WATCHING

In 1895 Andrew Murray was in England suffering from a terribly painful back, the result of an injury he had incurred years before. He was staying with some dear friends. One morning while he was eating his breakfast in his room, his hostess told him of a woman downstairs who was in great trouble and wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Andrew Murray handed her a paper he had been writing on and said, “Just give her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.” This is what was written:
In time of trouble, say, “First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.” And last, say, “In His good time He can bring me out again. How, and when, He knows.” Therefore say, “I am here (1 ) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.”

Love in Christ,
Barb

Beth