INSIDE THIS CONNECTING POINT
- Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?
- Join Us For BELIEVE/Communion This Sunday (August 30)
- EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE Begins September 13
- The Importance Of Getting Involved In A Life Group
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” I am currently reading through the book of Job, and that is a question that has confused human beings for generations. Our sense of justice decrees that good people should be rewarded in good ways, and bad people should be rewarded in bad ways. But reality indicates that is not necessarily so. The Bible says that “it rains on the just and the unjust.” Jesus said to His followers in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” And Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:12, “Think it not strange when fiery trials come your way.” Trials and difficulties and persecution are a part of life. But the good news is that our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us in all our troubles.
The Apostle Paul wrote the following words in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
“All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
To begin with, Paul writes, “God comforts us in all our troubles.” Have you ever experienced the comfort of the Lord in the midst of difficulty? Sometimes the Lord comforts us through the Scriptures. Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” When we are hurting and needy, that is a good time to read the Bible, because it’s in the Word of God that we find answers for our questions, solutions for our problems, and healing for our soul. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:50, “Your word has given me life and comfort in my affliction.”
Sometimes God comforts us through His Spirit. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come into our lives and He would be a “divine comforter” to us (John 14:16, 15:26). Sometimes the Lord comforts us through other Christians (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). The bottom line is that God is a “mighty comforter” who works in a variety of ways to bring help, hope and healing to His people in times of need!
The Lord not only comforts us in our trials, but He also strengthens us through our trials (2 Corinthians 1:6-9). Also, the Lord has promised to eventually deliver us from our trials (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). But one of the primary works God does in us is He utilizes our trials to equip us to minister to others when they are going through trouble. The Bible teaches us that God never wastes a hurt. He uses the hurts we’ve experienced to help us understand what others are experiencing and how to help them in their time of need.
Several years ago a Fireman was rescued from the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York City after the twin towers were bombed by Islamic terrorists. The Fireman had spent 48 hours trapped under tons of debris, wondering if he would ever be rescued in time. After he was rescued, given an IV to get fluids back in his body, and given a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to eat, he returned to the scene of the tragedy so that he could give further assistance in seeking to rescue people who were where he had been. That’s what we’re to be doing in our lives. After the Lord rescues us from our trials and tragedies, we are to be partnering with Him and others to rescue other people from similar tragedies in our lives. We can be assured of the following truths: God will comfort us in the midst of our troubles, He will bring us through our troubles, and He will utilize the troubles we’ve experienced to help us minister to others!
As you pray today: 1) Pray for the Lord to show you people around you who need to experience help, healing and hope from the Lord; 2) Ask the Lord to show you how He can utilize you in those peoples lives to help and comfort them; and 3) Pray for the Lord to empower you to minister to others.
This Sunday (August 30) at Celebration we will be participating in Communion together, and concluding our BELIEVE sermon series. In this series we’ve been learning how to believe that Jesus can: 1) Use us to help others, 2) Change our lives, 3) Clean up our “messes”, and 4) Heal us from illnesses and injuries. This coming Sunday we’re going to be learning how to Believe Jesus Can Satisfy Our Hunger. Be sure to join us, and encourage some friends to come with you.
On Sunday, September 13, we begin our EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE Spiritual Growth Emphasis. We’re beginning this Churchwide focus because we know that our thoughts direct our emotions, actions, relationships and spiritual growth. And we know that if our thoughts aren’t in line with God’s Word, will and way we will live defeated rather than victorious lives. During the 5 weeks of Every Thought Captive we will be learning in worship services, Life Groups, podcasts, etc., principles from the Bible and the book Every Thought Captive, written by Pastor Kyle Idleman, how to “get our mind right” so that we can “get our life and relationships right.” You can obtain a copy of the Every Thought Captive book on Amazon or borrow a free copy on Hoopla; and you can find more information about Every Thought Captive at www.celebrationchurch.org. Don’t miss out on this life-changing emphasis at Celebration that begins on September 13.
One way that you can best take advantage of the EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE emphasis is by getting involved in a Life Group for those five weeks. Life Groups are small group Bible studies that meet on days and evenings throughout the week. They meet in-person in homes, coffee shops, business places, schools, etc. We also have online or hybrid groups.
In Life Groups people experience community as they develop friendships with other Christians. Participants also grow in their relationship with the Lord and in their knowledge of God’s Word as they study the Bible in a discussion format. And people involved in Life Groups typically explore Church and Community ministry opportunities together. If you would like to learn more about Life Groups or get connected with one, talk to one of your Campus Staff members or go to https://celebrationchurch.org/lifegroups/.
We love and appreciate you at Celebration. If you want to Learn more about Celebration’s ministries, share a Prayer Request with us, or Give to support God’s work, you can do so by going to www.celebrationchurch.org. Lives are being changed, marriages and families are being restored, and people are experiencing the transforming power of Jesus here through the ministry of Celebration Church.
Gratefully yours,
Pastor Dennis Watson
Lead Pastor, Celebration Church
dennisw@celebrationchurch.org
dennis.watson.96
