Good News Travels Fast...

Do You Want God To USE You Greatly?
Then You Must be Willing To be Bruised deeply….

It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply. A.W. Tozer

There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God…

Now at this time [a few days later] Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea), and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby [John The Baptist] leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him. And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she [Mary] who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home. Luke 1:39-45, 56

Disappointments Can Be Opportunities to Encourage Others…

And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong

For rich and poor ones, the road is so long…

There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God…
This is only true if I have the right perspective, the right heart…

Our PainHas A Purpose…
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

We Discover Our Own Strength. When James talks about the trials of life he describes them as a test, but not so God can see how strong you are. God already knows that. Pain is an opportunity not for God to see how strong you are, but for you to see how strong you are.

Pain makes you stronger. Tears make you braver. Heartbreak makes you wiser.

Pain Expands Our Endurance. When we’re tested through the fires of pain, what’s forged on the other side is perseverance, endurance. If you’ve never ran more than a couple of hundred yards in your life, it doesn’t matter how much you would want to, your body couldn’t physically run a marathon tomorrow. It simply doesn’t have the endurance built up.

Pain Matures Us. When perseverance finishes its work you are mature, and maturity helps you see the world differently.

Life is like photography, we need the negatives to develop….

Pain Teaches Us What PleasureNever Could. When James says that perseverance will lead to completeness, he’s referring to a fuller scope and understanding of life that only pain can teach you.

Pain Gives Us What PleasureNever Could. James finishes describing a life of perseverance as one “not lacking anything.” To get everything you need for life, pain is an absolute necessity. Without pain, you would never truly appreciate what hope is. Without pain, you would too easily forget your need for God.

Success is what happens after we have survived all of our disappointments...

Pain Is The Price For A Greater Reward.

Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor, and an endless blessedness]! 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Pain QualifiesUs As Comforter’s…. [READ: 2 Corinthians 1:3–11]God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts and encourages us in all our troubles so that we can comfort and encourage others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort [His reassurance, His encouragement] through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Disappointments can become opportunities to relate with someone in a way uncommon to most people. Similar experiences can often unite even those who are very different from each other. Sometimes, disappointments aren’t as much about us as we feel they are. Maybe, they’re actually something God wants us to use to accomplish his purposes on the earth. When we can relate to someone in love, having had similar experiences, we can encourage them.

You may not want to hear these words in the midst of your disappointment...
Your pain may not be about just you. It may well be about other people, God may just be preparing you to minister comfort and hope to someone in your future who will need what you can give them because of what you're going through right now. And if you are faithful to cling to God now, I promise He will use you greatly to comfort others later.

Those who have suffered tend not to judge others experiencing similar suffering. Not being judged is a great comfort to those who hurt. When you're in pain, your world narrows down to mere survival, and it's easy for others to judge you for not "following the rules" that should only apply to those whose lives aren't being swallowed by the pain of disappointment….

Suffering often develops compassion and mercy in us. Those who have suffered tend to have tender hearts toward others who are in pain.

We all experience disappointments—even those God is using to fulfill His perfect plans on the earth. Disappointments aren’t setbacks, though. They are tools God can use. When we submit our disappointments to Him by worshipping, we can become an encouragement to others, and then with them, we overcome the disappointments. We learn, to use them as fuel instead of failure.

So This is Christmas | Part 2 - Good News Travels Fast Pastor Mark Evans

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