SUFFERING IS AN INSTRUMENT IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD

In suffering, we find treasure.

Every suffering is a time to listen to God.

Every suffering is an invitation.

Accept our suffering.

Surrender our suffering.

NOTES taken @ homily given by Rev Fr Bobby Emprayil
13 March 2023 (Mon), Church of The Holy Family

First Reading - 2 Kings 5:1-5 - Naaman cured of Leprosy

IN SUFFERING, WE FIND TREASURE

Suffering is an instrument in the hands of the Lord

• Because of leprosy, Naaman went in search of the prophet Elisha and through healing, he believed. 
• Naaman's leprosy became an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring him to faith. 
• God uses our sufferings for His greater glory. 
• God uses our afflictions, sickness and suffering in great ways - for the salvation of many, for deliverance. 
• Job 36:15 - He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and open their ears by adversity.

 In our suffering, we find treasure

• Isaiah 45:3 - I will give you treasures hidden in darkness.
• Our greatest treasure, God our Father puts in a manger.
• The enemy wants to use affliction to destroy us but God intervenes to use our suffering for his glory
• Mat 18:14 It is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.  

 

TWO IMPORTANT LESSONS

1   Every suffering is a time to listen to God

• In all afflictions, God opens our ears. 
• Isaiah 50:4b-6 - Morning by morning he wakens my ears
• Every morning God opens my ears so that I may listen like a child. 
• Sickness and suffering are the means by which God speaks.  
  

2    God uses ordinary people for His glory

• Naaman knew about Elisha's healing through one of his maid servant girls. She became an instrument in the hands of God.
• She had the faith and she communicated her faith.
• God sometimes uses ordinary people, or someone whom we think are lower than us,  someone whom we think are not of any value.
• We should never belittle anyone, disregard anyone, or look down on anyone - because God can use them mightily regardless of their status in the world.
• The grace of God can be communicated through anyone He chooses. He uses the ordinary for His glory.
• If we are faithful in small things, greater things will be given to us. 

 

 

HAVING SPIRITUAL VISION

 

Having spiritual eyes - inner spiritual vision

• We sometimes misunderstand people - we suspect others, we think people oppose us, want to fight with us... if we have spiritual eyes, we can see that they are bringing something to us.
• With spiritual inner vision, we can recognize that God gives greater anointing & greater blessings for those who love the Lord.
  
• With spiritual inner vision, we will not be discouraged.  Even in failure, job loss, people misunderstanding or accusing us - the pressures are there - but we will not be discouraged. 
   

Nothing happens by chance

• Sickness is not by chance. A child losing faith is not by chance. Afflictions that befall us is not by chance.
• Allow the Lord to use our sorrows and our suffering. 
• Do not fall into despair. 
• The Lord is teaching us His way.
  

  

 

ACCEPTING OUR SUFFERING

 

Accepting our suffering 

• God will make a way but he needs our co-operation. 
• We need to accept our suffering.
• Accepting our suffering becomes our daily worship, surrender ourselves to Him.  

 Surrendering during suffering

• All those who surrender their lives during suffering will claim the victory.
• Do not give up, because deliverance belongs to the Lord and He will show us the way.
• Matthew 18:14 - It is not the will of my Father in heaven that any of these little ones will parish. 
• Surrendering is very powerful. We will receive peace that rules in our hearts. We will find clarity and we become strong.
• We may not understand all that is happening, but God's indescribable peace will stay with us, and we will not be discouraged.
• Pray constantly: "Lord, I surrender myself, take care of everything"

 

EVERY SUFFERING IS AN INVITATION

 

1   Every suffering is an invitation for repentance

• Let us enter into suffering for all our sins, uniting them with the blood of Christ.
• Offer up our suffering against all the sins we have committed, knowing that our suffering is so small in comparison to the sins we have committed.

2   Every suffering is an invitation for greater holiness and greater love

• Learning to love those who are against us lead us to greater holiness

3   Every suffering is an invitation for intercession

• Use our suffering for the thousands of others going through pain and suffering.
• Offer up our pain for the salvation and deliverance of others.
• When we do this, the evil power evaporates - the bitterness and the poison that is in our suffering will go away. 

 4   Every suffering is an invitation for thanksgiving

• For all the blessings we have received, we lift them up to the Lord.
• Our cup of suffering, when lifted up with thanksgiving, become our cup of salvation. 

 

 

 

In all our sorrows, our sickness, our suffering...
keep on offering,
keep on surrendering,
keep on praising.

Day 1
Video: https://youtu.be/LGRh7r9rlBY
Notes: https://gratitude-thanksgiving.blogspot.com/2023/03/notes-taken-homily-given-by-rev-fr.html
Day 2
Video: https://youtu.be/hc9CfnAZvOM
Notes: https://gratitude-thanksgiving.blogspot.com/2023/03/notes-taken-homily-given-by-rev-fr_15.html

Day 3
Video: https://youtu.be/jHRMZGKYvwM
Part 1 Notes: https://gratitude-thanksgiving.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-word-of-god.html
Part 2 Notes: https://gratitude-thanksgiving.blogspot.com/2023/03/overcoming-evil-by-word-of-god.html