How Does God Deliver Me from Pain by Pain?

Summary

In this episode, Pastor John reflects on the challenging questions raised by Chloe regarding suffering and God's deliverance in the book of Job. He explains how God uses affliction to open our ears and deliver us from self-reliance and destructive paths. Through biblical examples, he emphasizes that suffering can serve as a transformative tool for growth and understanding. However, the challenge remains in recognizing God's purpose amidst pain, as demonstrated by Job’s own struggles. Pastor John highlights the importance of teaching others about God's sovereignty and Providence in the face of suffering.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Affliction as a Means of Deliverance**: God delivers the afflicted through their affliction, showing that suffering can lead to life-saving outcomes, as illustrated by a woman whose broken leg led to the discovery of cancer.
• 😀 **Job 36:15 Explained**: The verse ‘God delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity’ is explored, showing how God uses suffering to open our hearts and ears to His truth.
• 😀 **Real-Life Examples**: Pastor John shares stories of people whose suffering ultimately led to deliverance, like David’s affliction in 1 Samuel 29, which saved his family from destruction.
• 😀 **Affliction Redirects Our Path**: Sometimes, suffering is used to cut us off from destructive paths, helping us return to obedience, as seen in Psalm 119:67: 'Before I was afflicted, I went astray.'
• 😀 **Suffering as a Teacher**: Affliction can teach us to rely on God, as described in Psalm 119:71, where suffering helps us learn God’s statutes and gain spiritual insight.
• 😀 **The Role of Affliction in Biblical Interpretation**: Martin Luther highlighted that affliction is a key to rightly understanding scripture, emphasizing that suffering can deepen our understanding of God's Word.
• 😀 **Affliction Helps Us Rely on God**: In 2 Corinthians 1:9, Paul explains that his affliction brought him to the point of death, making him rely entirely on God, rather than on self-reliance.
• 😀 **God Uses Every Type of Suffering**: Affliction is not limited to one form; God uses all types of suffering (except for final destruction) to deliver us, as reflected in 2 Corinthians 4:8.
• 😀 **Even Death Can Be a Deliverance**: Isaiah 57:1 shows that even the righteous man’s death can be a form of deliverance, sparing him from a worse calamity, and ultimately bringing peace.
• 😀 **Misunderstanding God’s Purpose in Suffering**: Like Job, many believers can miss the purpose of their suffering, failing to see that God is working in their lives through trials. Job’s story shows how one can misunderstand God’s intentions, thinking He is acting out of cruelty or heartlessness.
• 😀 **The Need for Biblical Teaching on Suffering**: Pastor John stresses the importance of teaching a biblical understanding of suffering, so believers can recognize God’s sovereignty and trust in His purposes during difficult times.

Q & A

What is the key verse that Chloe is asking about in the Book of Job?

Chloe is asking about Job 36:15, which states, 'God delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.'

How does Pastor John explain the concept of God delivering us through our affliction?

Pastor John shares that God can use affliction to deliver us in various ways, including by opening our eyes to deeper truths or saving us from greater dangers. He gives examples like a woman whose broken leg revealed cancer, ultimately saving her life.

Can you provide a biblical example where affliction led to deliverance?

One example Pastor John mentions is in 1 Samuel 29, where David was initially shamed and prevented from going to battle with the Philistines. This affliction led him back to Ziklag, where he discovered his town had been attacked by the Amalekites, and was able to rescue his family and possessions.

How does Psalm 119:67 relate to affliction and God’s deliverance?

Psalm 119:67 says, 'Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.' This verse illustrates how affliction can be used by God to turn someone away from a destructive path and bring them back to obedience.

What role does suffering play in understanding the Bible according to Martin Luther?

Martin Luther argued that suffering is a key to rightly interpreting the Bible. He stated that suffering can be used by God to teach believers deeper insights into Scripture, alongside meditation and prayer.

What is Paul’s perspective on affliction as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:9?

In 2 Corinthians 1:9, Paul shares that his affliction brought him to the brink of death, which led him to rely not on himself but on God, who raises the dead. This highlights how suffering can help believers depend solely on God.

What kinds of suffering does God use to deliver us, according to Pastor John?

Pastor John explains that God uses every kind of suffering, short of final destruction, to deliver us. This includes physical pain, emotional distress, and even death, as long as the suffering does not lead to ultimate destruction.

How does Isaiah 57:1 relate to the concept of suffering and deliverance?

Isaiah 57:1 states, 'The righteous man perishes and no one lays it to heart.' This suggests that sometimes death can be a form of deliverance, as it may prevent the righteous from experiencing greater calamities.

Do Christians ever fail to understand God’s work in their suffering?

Yes, Pastor John acknowledges that Christians sometimes fail to understand God’s work in their suffering. This can happen if they lack a biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty and how He uses suffering to teach and refine them.

What is one reason Christians fail to see God’s purpose in their suffering?

One reason Christians fail to see God’s purpose in suffering is that they haven't been taught a biblical view of suffering, including the belief that affliction can be used by God to bring spiritual growth and understanding.