Where does it hurt?

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to "Try Jesus!" If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining "Try Jesus."

I would also like to welcome those in Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arizona, Nebraska, and Washington. It is a pleasure to have you with us today. The Lord continues to expand his word!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."  (Psalm 122:1 KJV). The Lord is indescribable and uncontainable. We gather to seek him above all today. He is an amazing God!

Do you believe we are living in the last days? Did you know that these same words may have been spoken 100 years ago? Are the last days based on our calendar or on God's Sovereign timing? Regardless of the year, God is in control.

The Bible gives us some insight into last day events. For the believer, it's a time of excitement, joy, and peace. While signs of the end times may be unsettling, Christians should not be consumed by fear or panic. 

The Christian response to the end times is not one of fear and despair, but one of hope, faith, and continued love towards those who trust in the world and government to save them.

Today, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, we still find comfort in the presence and promises of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, Amen? Today, the body of Christ still proclaims, "Jesus is Lord!"

Let's pray saints, "Heavenly Father, thank you for taking care of all my needs since last week. Thank you, Lord, for showing me that I could commit to your Lordship with full allegiance because of your continued care for me.

Once again, we thank you Jesus for uniting us across this nation. Thank you for giving us this technology to share the "Good News" of the gospel to hearts looking for answers. As we open your word, fill us with wisdom and understanding.

Help us to consider it joy when the hard, difficult, challenging, disappointing, and sorrowful events that come towards us. Lead us in learning how to grow and mature through them today rather than act childishly and immaturely.

Open our hearts this morning to receive the things that will make us complete and produce your character in us. May we once again open our hearts to the commitment of learning righteousness and walking in obedience to you, Lord.

Holy Spirit, captivate our hearts and help us to stand in the armor and carry the sword that shapes our lives and defeats the enemy today, in the only name that is still above all names, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen!"

How many of you grew up with a competitive nature? How many of you consider yourself to be adventurous? How many of you consider yourself to be very daring? How many of you were first in line to take chances?

I had a very competitive upbringing around my life. If there was a challenge thrown at me, I usually would give it a try. Especially if it was against one of my siblings. I must have climbed more trees than I could count.

I probably swam in more unsafe waters than I can remember. There were other competitive events I found myself being pulled into at various times. Even before that crazy TV show called "Fear Factor" came out, I had already crossed that threshold.

When your parents medical cabinet carries every known first-aid kit available to man, you know you'll be ok. I don't think my house ever ran out of band-aids. My parents kept them in full supply when we went outside to play.

But the band-aids were no match for the soft touch and soothing words of my mother’s voice when I felt that first pain called "hurt." That word seemed to bring out the best nursing skills of my mother. Her comforting words were the ointment applied to the band-aid.

Most of you know those words. When I came in the house after scraping my knee, I knew those words would come. "Ahh, honey, you fell down, let mommy kiss that boo-boo, and make it all better."

After that speech, I felt like I could put back on my Superman personality and go out and challenge the world again. You, see it wasn't the band-aid (although it stopped the bleeding), it was those healing words of love that covered the hurt.

Sometimes I would run in the house with barely a scratch, to grab some of that comforting love. That loving elixir medicinal concoction kept me coming back for more. Do you think God cares for us in that same way?

When I think about many people in the Bible who endured much hurt, I think about Paul. Yes, there are others, including the man who tackled some boils. But Why Paul? Because Paul had those racehorse spiritual blinders on.

I played a lot of sports in my lifetime. I probably racked up uncountable miles of playing on different courts all over Pennsylvania. We've heard professional athletes speak of leaving their blood, sweat, and flesh on the playing field.

Before Paul's conversion, Saul (later called Paul) was so zealous for his Jewish beliefs that he began a persecution campaign against anyone who confessed allegiance to Jesus. He was bringing hurt on others.

But things would soon change. Now it was Saul's turn to face the creator of those he loved who Saul was persecuting. Please read these verses aloud into your spirit and those who may be in your family or study group.

(Acts 9:1-9). Saul had met his match on the religious playing field. He lost. Big time. His first afflicted hurt was to lose his ability to see. That fall to the ground probably hurt also. Paul did not see a vision; he saw the risen Christ (Acts 9:17).

That was Paul's first experience of playing hurt. There would be many more to follow. The Bible says God gives his children a loving spanking when we deserve it. I'll try to elaborate more on the two four letter words in this message.

Please read the following verses into your spirit. 6} "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7} If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8} But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:6-8 KJV).

Jesus had told Ananias in a vision that Saul was praying. When we suffer or hurt, prayer is usually not far behind. (Acts 9:10-12). Even an atheist will acknowledge God when he misses the nail with the hammer and hits his thumb.

He may use it in a blasphemy way, but his heart and mouth will still utter God or Jesus' name. (Acts 17:27; Psalm 34:18; 145:18; Ecclesiastes 3:11). Ananias had heard about the harm and hurt that Paul was afflicting on others.

Here were Jesus' words to Ananias about his concerns. 15} "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16} For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:15-17 KJV). Notice how Ananias greeted Saul. He called him brother. This is an important fact to showcase how Christians treat those who may hate us.

When Jesus told Ananias Saul was going to suffer for him, he told him in the Greek text, he would (paschō pathō penthō) for him. That word means to experience a sensation or impression, usually painful.

But that suffering can be done in a good cause, meaning to be well off. But it can also be received in a bad sense. That is, to suffer sadly. To be in a bad plight. Paul would go on to preach to many about his suffering.

There are many unbelievers who think Christians spread hate and shun the lost and hurting. Nothing is further from the truth. In obedience to the Holy Spirit, Ananias greeted Saul lovingly. It's not easy to love others with wrong motives.

We should always be ready as believers to pray for those who seek to hurt us. We can only do this through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need God's powerful love those who seem unlovable. Saul fit the unlovable character.

Later, after his name was changed to Paul, he found out what real hurt felt like. Remember, there are those who dish out hurt and those who receive it. Paul would be on the receiving end. Is there such a thing as a good hurt?

It seems that Paul, when it came to his own hurt, did not entertain the afterwards of his actions. He suffered hurt but for a different reason. Paul carried some good credentials about his suffering for the cause of Christ.

Please read into your spirit God's living nourishing word. (2 Corinthians 11:15-31). Paul did his boasting about the pain and suffering he did for the cause of Christ. Paul carried his cross of hurt daily.

24} "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25} Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26} In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27} In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 KJV). Why was Paul content in what he would face throughout his preaching ministry?

He said it best to those in Philippi. 4} "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5} Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6} Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7} But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8} Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9} And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10} That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:4-10 KJV). Many of you today are experiencing a hurt that just won't go away.

Your hurt and pain may be related to what the Samaritan endured in the book of Luke. Before we close for the day let's take a look at this well-known parable that deals with loving God and loving his created neighbors on the earth.

Sometimes in life we want to be able to choose our own path of who we consider neighbors to avoid hurtful conflicts. Like lovingly sitting down with someone who might be involved in false teaching or a cult denomination.

The lawyer (so-called expert teacher of the law), tried to test Jesus about it. (Luke 10:25-29). Please read the following verses aloud into your spirit. (Luke 10:30-37). Jesus showed this lawyer his unsettled hate in his heart.

The lawyer tried to justify not loving certain neighbors. He knew what to say on paper (The law) but couldn't translate it to his heart). Look at how each neighbor treated the hurt half dead individual.

[The legal expert viewed the wounded man as a topic for discussion. The bandits, as a victim to exploit. The priest, as a problem to avoid. The temple assistant, as an object of curiosity. Only the Samaritan treated him as a person to love.]