Afflictions

This message was preached by Stephen Brown at Sunday Night At the Light

Psalm 34:18-19

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁸ The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

2011 has been a difficult year for some of us. 2012 is the year of total recovery. He will give it to you triple. You are not cursed. It is the will of God. He is not after you. It is His will that He take through transition. He strips you before He blesses you.


1 Kings 17:3-5

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³ “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. ⁴ It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” ⁵ So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

Cherith means separation. Look at separation has a blessing. When He strips He prepares you for the greater. Look at it as gain. When you lose. He has to subtract before He ads. Pay attention to relationships in your life. Some relationships are seasonal. Some are in your life so they can see the power of God in your life.

Jesus said that you will go through persecution. God is not a genie in a bottle. When He doesn't move when you want Him to it doesn't mean He is against you. God i molding you and preparing you. He is still working on you. You are anointed but you still have to go through afflictions. Afflictions are injuries in the spirit. If you want the blessings you have to go through the testing. We live to overcome every affliction. You can't quit and give up on God. When you get mad at your job you don't quit. Don't run from Him.

Matthew 5:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

IF JEsus and His disciples went through what makes you think you are any different?

Romans 12:14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Psalm 119:71

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

Certain things afflict us that nothing else can. Everything you go through negative isn't of the devil. That jam you are in God put you there. Jesus was lead to the wilderness (Matt 4:1) He was tempted by the devil. Don't be surprise when you have the time of your life the devil comes. No one can set you up like God.

Olives through a process when trying to get the oil out. First it is shaken and the olives hit the ground. Then the olives are pressed and crushed. Lastly the olives are beat to get more oil. You think you are ready but God is still beating you.

1 Peter 4:12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you

This isn't new. If God put you in it He will bring you through. The tea doesn't come until it hits boiled water. He is conditioning you to a new position. Where there is a test there is testimony. Where there is misery there is a miracle.

If you don't go through God won't deal with you. IF you want to be used you have to go through the fire.

Exodus 1:12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹² But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they ^]spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.

Whatever God wants you to do accept it. 2011 is the year of persecution and affliction.