This morning we are looking at the 6th blessing that affliction can be in our lives.

Open with me to Psalm 119.107:

I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.

The 6th blessing of Affliction is: AFFLICTION FORCES US TO TEST HIS PROMISES: Psalm 119:107 I am afflicted (6031 physical) very much (same word as waters of flood and the plagues of Egypt); Revive me, O Lord, according to YOUR WORD (Hearing the Divine Voice walking us through life 1697).
1. The word “very much” is an adverb. It is the same Hebrew word used of the way the waters of the Flood covered the earth (Genesis 7.18-19) and of the way the plagues covered Egypt (Exodus 9.3 on cattle; Exodus 9.18 the hail; Exodus 10.14 the locusts).
o Genesis 7:18-19 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered.
o Do you feel like troubles are raining down like the Flood of Noah? Do you feel drowned by your pain and problems?
o Then affliction can force you to test the promises of the Lord who wants to revive you by listening to the Lord’s Voice in His Word – guiding, leading, rescuing, and comforting!
o Exodus 9:3 behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence.
o Exodus 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.
o Exodus 10:14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them.
o Are your life’s pains like the plagues sometimes? Another one coming and you haven’t even recovered from the last one?
o Then affliction can force you to test the promises of the Lord who wants to revive you by listening to the Lord’s Voice in His Word – guiding, leading, rescuing, and comforting!
2. The word for “revive” is actually saving my life and is the same Hebrew word as used for the rescue of Rahab from Jericho as the walls crumbled and everyone else was destroyed and she and her family alone were rescued (Joshua 2.13; 6.17, 25).
o Joshua 2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death.” (NIV)
o Joshua 6:17 Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
o Joshua 6:25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
o Do you ever feel like you are not going to survive what you are going through?
o The pain, the hurt, the crumbling of everything you have held onto?
o Then you feel like Rahab did when the city of Jericho was destroyed – and God rescued her, spared her, revived her as Psalm 119 says. And that is what He allows afflictions to do in our lives (tear things down) so He can allow us to test His promises (revive us, rescue us, spare us)!
o Then affliction can force you to test the promises of the Lord who wants to revive you by listening to the Lord’s Voice in His Word – guiding, leading, rescuing, and comforting!
3. Afflictions allow us to experientially test God’s promises.
o Affliction usually increases, as we get older. But God's Word will always renew, refresh, and revive.
o Often we know so much more than we experience. Affliction is a reality check.
o Afflictions seem to grow through life to be more and more.
o After disasters people often listen better.

Affliction is a blessing.

From DYG-17b & WFL-30 - 030928AM - https://youtu.be/hWdSXJXJ3Nw

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