Our God Reigns Over Pain
Isaiah 52:7 NIV
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring GOOD NEWS, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
And if you boil The Gospel down to 3 words, it’s this: “OUR GOD REIGNS.”
Jesus not only reigns over your sin, but he wants to reign over your pain.
Sozo (σῴζω) Greek — the word translated “to save,” also means to heal, make whole, restore, deliver.
“Your faith has made you whole or healed.” — Mark 5:34
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (sozo).” — Romans 10:13
There’s an invitation to allow God to reign in your pain, because he doesn’t want to just heal you, he wants to make you whole.
Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
How do we allow God to reign over our pain?
1. Recognize our Need
Psalm 51:17(NIV)
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
How do we allow God to reign over our pain?
1. Recognize our Need
2. Respond in Faith
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
1 Peter 5:6-10. (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
In order for God to reign over your pain. The depth of your vulnerability will shape your soul’s stability.
How do we alllow God to reign over our pain?
1. Recognize our Need
2. Respond in Faith
3. Return in Gratitude
Luke 17:15-19 (NIV)
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
In order for God to reign over your pain. Pain can’t remain on the throne of your life, but you also can’t ignore the pain of your life.
How do we allow God to reign over our pain?
1. Recognize our Need
2. Respond in Faith
3. Return in Gratitude
4. Remain in Him
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
“Our degree of wholeness is tied to our degree of openness.”
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
