1 the PAIN project Revelation 21:3-5(The Message) I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good — tears gone, crying gone, pain gone — all the first order of things gone.“ The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate."

2 the PAIN project continued There is coming a day and time when PAIN will be no more. When the saints of God find their habitation in the New Heaven and Earth. All pain and suffering and death will be gone. No more to plague God’s redeemed. But until then… what? How do we deal with the PAINS of this life? No matter how you slice it… life has PAIN. We have pain in our bodies, pain in our minds and pain in our hearts. Pain can be found in all areas of life. And often when you least expect it. No one is exempt. 1. What is the CAUSE of pain? 2. What is the PURPOSE of pain? 3. How shall we DEAL with pain?

3 the PAIN project continued The nature of being human is that we seek to abate or remove pain from our lives. When people prefer pain something is wrong. But having pain in ones life does not mean that we are bad or always have some sin that is plaguing us. It simply means we are part of the human race and subject to the fall. But God has an answer to our PAIN. Let’s begin our study by examining the question: 1. What is the CAUSE of pain?

4 the PAIN project continued We may experience pain as a prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. Receptors on the skin trigger a series of events, beginning with an electrical impulse that travels from the skin to the spinal cord. The spinal cord acts as a sort of relay center where the pain signal can be blocked, enhanced, or otherwise modified before it is relayed to the brain. One area of the spinal cord in particular, called the dorsal horn is important in the reception of pain signals.

5 the PAIN project continued CAUSE of pain continued… The most common destination in the brain for pain signals is the thalamus and from there to the cortex, the headquarters for complex thoughts. The thalamus also serves as the brain's storage area for images of the body and plays a key role in relaying messages between the brain and various parts of the body. In people who undergo an amputation, the representation of the amputated limb is stored in the thalamus.

6 CAUSE of pain continued… Further we often feel emotional pain when we do not get what we want, need, or expect. We might feel hurt, rejection, bitterness, abuse, injustice or simply emotional pain. In such cases, we have not received the behavior or outcomes we expected or believed we deserved. We have this kind of feeling or emotional pain in cases when *people* do not behave to us in the ways that we expected as well as in situations where *life* does not give us what we feel we need or deserve. In addition we believe, "I cannot feel happy unless I get that which I believe I need.“ We have associated our security, satisfaction, self-worth or freedom with something that we are not getting from persons, society, God, or life as a whole. What does the Bible say about this? James 4:1-3

7 Cause of Pain: What does the Bible have to say about this? James 4:1-3 continued… 1. Conflict Will Arise – But Why? “desires” go unmet… vv.1-2a a spiritual, emotional, relational void is created - injury 2. Unmet Desires – But Why? “you don’t” TALK to God… v.2b we bottle up our pain and pain compounds pain – silent suffering 3. Motives Are Wrong – But Why? “want… for pleasure”… v.3 we are unforgiving, want to get even, our will not God’s – judgmental When spiritual, emotional, or relational pain remains… it is a clear sign that we have yet to let Jesus heal the original injury [that rests in a memory] and thereby we continue suffering alone and silent, because we refuse to talk to Jesus… thereby remaining as judge and jury… and freedom remains at bay.

8 the PAIN project continued 1. What is the CAUSE of pain? 2. What is the PURPOSE of pain? Simply put, pain is a “SIGNAL” that something is wrong. The degree of pain often reveals the degree of wrong. Be it physical, spiritual, emotional, or relational. Accepting the truth that pain is simply a signal is critical in developing a lifestyle that will facilitate HEALING and moving through and past our pain. It is God’s desire that you be delivered from all the lies that may cause PAIN in your life so you can know His Freedom!

9 Purpose of Pain: What does the Bible have to say about this? 1. Suffering Produces Perseverance – But Why? to cause our HOPE to be in the Lord – Romans 5:1-3 pain and suffering CAN become a cause for growth and hope in the Lord 2. Suffering Can Stop Sin – But Why? it becomes an opportunity to TRUST God – 1 Peter 4:1 versus the person who RESENTS & REJECTS God for what has happened 3. Suffering Is A Meeting place – But Why? where pain is God is – Exodus 25:22; Hebrews 2:18; 4:15 at the place where MERCY is needed God shows up and speaks When you encounter PAIN and you will, know that God’s purpose is for you to place your HOPE and TRUST in Him, as you do that SIN becomes less and less of an issue in your life, and you REALIZE God is meeting you there in that place of PAIN. Now simply TALK to Him… He is with you!

10 the PAIN project …to be continued You Can Be Free! Meet the Lord Right Now Right Here! Don’t Wait! John 8:32 (NIV) “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."