1. An adaptation of a Bible Study entitled Vertically Inclined by Mary A. Kassian

2. Mt. Affliction

3. Definition Affliction - a state of acute pain or distress of body or mind; to trouble; to grieve; to harass; to torment: to distress For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. Psalm 22:24

4. Hebrews 12:7-11 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

5. Hebrews 12:7-11 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

6. Mt. Affliction Am I the Only One? THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL "Why is my way hidden from The Lord?" "Why does He disregard my cause?" Isaiah 40:27 "Why has this happened to me?" Jeremiah 13:22

7. Mt. Affliction Am I the Only One? DAVID "Why have you rejected me?" "Why must I go about in sorrow?" Psalm 43:2 "Why do You hide Your face from me?" Psalm 88:14

8. Mt. Affliction Am I the Only One? ISAIAH "Why, O Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?" Isaiah 63:17 JEREMIAH "Why did I ever come out of my mother's womb? Jeremiah 20:18

9. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Perspectives 1. Life should be easy. Hardships are a part of every road. (v. 1)

10. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Perspectives 2. God doesn't care Hardships are an indicator of His love. (v. 6)

11. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Perspectives 3. I'm being punished. Hardships are God's training ground. (v. 7-11)

12. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Perspectives 4. I don't deserve this. Through hardships we fellowship with Christ. (Phil. 3:10)

13. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Preoccupations 1. It's too big - magnitude Hardships are small in light of the "bigness" of God. (v. 4)

14. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Preoccupations 2. It's too painful - intensity Hardships are worthwhile in light of their spiritual harvest. (v. 11)

15. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Preoccupations 3. It's lasting too long - duration Hardships are momentary in light of God's eternal purpose. (v. 10)

16. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Positions 1. I give up Don't be defined by your problem. Psalm 31:24

17. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Positions 2. Tripped up. Don't be defined by the process. Psalm 119:11

18. The Mount of Affliction Avoid Precarious Positions 1. Crippled up. Don't be defined by your path. I Timothy 1:15