Why do we suffer afflictions? What causes us afflictions in this life?

Afflictions School Family Jobs Financial Health Sickness of loved ones Death of loved ones

Afflictions All are afflicted – Matthew 5:43-45 To be expected of saints – Acts 14:21-22 Temporary – I Peter 1:3-9 Comfort – Matthew 5:4 Rewarded – Psalm 126:5-6 Examples

Afflictions Job Blameless, Upright, Feared God, Shunned Evil Possessions Greatest of all of the people of the East

Afflictions Satan comes in Job 1:7 God asks Have you considered My servant Job? Job 1:8 Challenge Job 1:11 God allows Phase 1 Job 1:12 Possession losses – Death of loved ones, Jobs, Financial – Job 1:14-19 Time to blame God? Job 1:16

Afflictions Job’s Reaction and Decision Job 1:20-22 Didn’t work for Satan – Time for Phase 2 Same as before Job 2:1-2 However, Job still holds fast his integrity vs. 3 Challenge & Allowance Job’s Reaction Job 2:8 Judgment by wife Job 2:9 Job’s Decision Job 2:10

Afflictions Job’s 3 “friends” come to see him Job 2:12-13 Job curses the day he was born Chapter 3 Human Reasoning, discussions, arguments Job Chapters 4-37 God talks with Job Chapters Job Responds 42:1-6 God is pleased with Job 42:7 Job to pray for his “friends” 42:8

Afflictions Sometimes we bring on afflictions ourselves If we allow our desires to fall for temptations that Satan has set before us Where was Satan in Job 1 & 2: Going to and fro on the earth, walking back and forth on it Has this stopped? I Peter 5:8

Afflictions God puts in place His law – Genesis 2:16-17 Satan changes God’s law and makes it desirable to disobey it Adam and Eve commits the first sin Punishment is given to the serpent, woman, and the man Effects all of mankind

Afflictions Conclusion: Does it matter what kind of life we lead? Act 24:10-15 Do we look/plan ahead or dwell on the past? Romans 8:18 How do we look at the afflictions in our lives? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 How do we react? James 5:7-11 Do we think about counting afflictions for Christ as joy? 1 Peter 4:12-19

Afflictions What is the common denominator? Satan Eastside has had many members afflicted this year. What are our reactions and decisions? Let us commit to being more faithful, stronger, patient, able to endure and obeying God to our fullest extent.