Bible Study via Live Stream

July 28, 2020 Bishop C. Anthony Muse

Theme - “A Time to Weep and A Time to Laugh!” Lesson #2 Subject: “Understanding the Cause of Your Spiritual Pain!” Foundational Scripture for Series: Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 3:4 Scripture References:

1. St. Matthew 11:6 2. Lamentations 2:1-22 3. St. Luke 19:41 4. St. John 11:35 5. Romans 10:3 6. Proverbs 29:1 7. Proverbs 6:15 8. I Thessalonians 5:3 9. Psalms 13:1-8

Notes:

• During this pandemic, don’t question your faith and don’t be angry with God! o Read St. Matthew 11:6. o God is the one that can help you!

• God can only set the church on fire if He starts with us individually. • Lamentations is a book where God steps in to correct the church because He loves the church too much to let it go

astray. • Lamentations 1: Strength to Hold on Until My Change Comes. In summary, this is a “Once upon a time...” chapter. • Lamentations 2: Pain Whose Cause Is Spiritual.

o Funeral Dirge - A funeral sermon that is a sad eulogy. In our text, we learn about the spiritual death of Judah, God’s chosen people. The worst part is that God turned his back on them because when He gave them a warning, they did not yield to the warning; they didn’t pay it any mind.

o This sermon is meant to tell about the destruction that occurred. • There are painful times for every Christian! Christians cannot escape pain!

Premise: In times of pain, merely managing it is not the answer. We must seek the cause and respond with God’s remedy. Takeaways:

1. Spiritual pain is a warning that something deeper may be wrong. (Positivity will come out of it if we fix it!) 2. Worldly “placebos” (something that makes you think you’re taking medicine, but you’re not) can provide

temporary relief, but cannot cute gets cause.

3. Spiritual pain can be self-inflicted, but God can use it to get our attention, show that we’re loved, and allow us to experience His grace.

• Set your affections on things above! • When you are in pain, you need help and relief! • If you treat the symptoms, but ignore the cause, you are not effectively getting to the root of the cause. • God wants to heal our pain and not just cover it up!

o Ask God…What is my spiritual condition? • There is a time to weep in everybody’s life! St. Luke 19:41 and St. John 11:35

o Weeping is an emotional response to a cause. Internal weeping means no happiness. • Israel and Judah was the church! • Don’t forsake the Word of God! • Sermons must push you to change and challenge you to grow in the Lord! • A symptom is something that indicates the presence of a disorder. • God’s people are beautiful people! • In the temple, there was the Ark of the Covenant. This was the place where God said I want to live with you; God’s

address where He lives in the temple with His people. • Footstool of God - symbolizes the presence of God. The footstool represents your enemy/enemies. When your foot

was on the footstool, that meant that you had victory over your enemies. o So, as long as you have God, you will have victory over your enemies!

• Habitations means all the places where they were free to live. • Use your pain to get closer to God! • There are times when we fall into the hands of an angry God! Disobedience to God can cause you spiritual pain!

o There’s only one answer to help you…REPENT!!! • The power of God is when you can avoid a painful situation! • Pain can be inflicted on you, but it can be done to help someone else! • When you stick with God, he will bring you out! He will turn your pain into joy and laughter! • No matter what pain you are going through, when you stay with God, He will bring you into a season of joy and

laughter! Focus on:

1. Pain of Sinners: Pain That Comes to Unfaithful Christians 2. Pain of Christians: Pain That Comes to Faithful Christians. This pain is when God can get something out of your

pain. The outcome matters. God will get the glory out of your pain! • Bishop Green - Pain and suffering can bend and break us, but it can also break us open to become the person that

God intended us to be. It all depends on what you do with the pain and if you offer it to God! o We can be the person that God intends for us to be, so that what is in us can flow out!

• There’s elevation at the end of your pain. Point 1: Let the WORD diagnose your condition! Romans 10:3

• Sometimes, we treat God like we are making up our own rules as we go along the way (disobedience). o However, God loves us so much that He still comes after us!

• You need a sermon that will make you do good. Then, you will feel good! • Heed the warning of God, so that the pain passes! • Thank God for the Warning: The pain occurs because God is trying to get our attention. This is a good thing! God’s

correction is a good thing! • Good trouble is when God is trying to tell you something. God is trying to trouble your life; He’s trying to trouble your

spirit! o Your pain means there is hope instead of sudden destruction! o This pain is for you to prayer more, praise more, fast more, etc.

• Sudden Destruction NO Remedy! o Proverbs 29:1 o Proverbs 6:15 o I Thessalonians 5:3

• Pay attention to God’s warnings!

• When you have pain, it means you are not destroyed yet and you still have hope! • God’s good is still going to come out of my pain.

o When God is trying to straighten us out, we experience pain, but a time of laughter will come! o Hold on to God and perfect yourself! o There’s grace and mercy in the midst of your pain! Tell God all about your troubles!

§ Psalms 13:1-8 • Don’t let satan speak a final word of lamentations over you!

o God is turning that word around when you turn to God! o Your change is coming!!!

• Turn your pain over to God!!! o There’s a song of joy and praise coming your way!

Prayer of Salvation:

• Salvation is not to make you perfect, but it is to make you better and to know that your sins have been paid for! If you are not saved today or need to rededicate to Christ, please stop and say this prayer unto God…Father, I have sinned. I thank you for Jesus who died on the cross for my sins. Come into my heart and save me. I receive you and because I ask and I believe, I am saved forever!!! Amen!!! Hallelujah!!!

o If you said this prayer of salvation or rededication, please email Bishop Muse at bishopmuse@gmail.com.