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Series: Pressing To A Blessing

Part II: Finding God’s Purpose In

Grief - Pastor Alton Trimble

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020

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SERIES: Pressing To A Blessing

FINDING GOD’S PURPOSE IN GRIEF – Pastor Alton Trimble Bible Study & Life Groups: Wednesday, April 22, 2020

MATTHEW 5:4 “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” HOW TO BE BLESSED IN A BROKEN WORLD:

A. GOD DOESN’T EXPECT US TO BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME.

ECCLESIASTES 3:4 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven... There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

B. GRIEF IS ESSENTIAL TO MY HEALTH.

PSALM 32:3 “When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me, and I moaned all day long.” PSALM 39:2 “I was silent and held my peace to no avail. My distress only grew worse.”

SIX WAYS THAT GOD BLESSES A BROKEN HEART:

1. GOD DRAWS US CLOSE TO HIMSELF.

PS. 34:18“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” (NCV) HEBREWS 13:5“I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”

II CORINTHIANS 6:10“Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the Lord.”

2. GOD GRIEVES WITH US.

ISAIAH 53:3 (Jesus was) a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. He knew suffering first hand.” JOHN 11:33-36“When Jesus saw Lazarus’ sister sobbing, and saw how all those with her were crying also, his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved...Then Jesus started crying. ‘See how much he loved Lazarus!’ They said.”

FINDING GOD’S PURPOSE IN GRIEF – PASTOR ALTON TRIMBLE

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ISAIAH 61:2-3 (Jesus) “He has sent me to comfort all who mourn, to give to those who mourn in Zion joy and gladness instead of grief, and a song of praise instead of sorrow.”

3. GOD GIVES US A CHURCH FAMILY FOR SUPPORT.

ROMANS 12:5,10,+ 15“In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others... Be devoted to each other like a loving family... Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.”

1 THESSALONIANS. 5:11“Comfort each other and give each other strength.”

4. GOD USES GRIEF TO HELP US GROW.

God even uses pain to help us grow. He does it 3 ways:

i. He uses it to get our attention.

PROVERBS 20:30 “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.”

ii. He brings good out of bad.

ROMANS 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...” (NIV)

iii. He prepares us for eternity.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:17-18 “These troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep focused on the things that can’t be seen.” (CEV)

5. GOD GIVES US THE HOPE OF HEAVEN.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 “We don't want you to be ignorant about believers who have died. We don't want you to grieve like the people who have no hope.” (GW) REVELATION 21:4 “God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away." (NIV)

6. GOD USES OUR PAIN TO HELP OTHERS.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 “God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we received from God.”

FINDING GOD’S PURPOSE IN GRIEF – PASTOR ALTON TRIMBLE

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What in your thinking can the perspective of the believer be?

Please discuss.

On what basis do you make your assertion?

2. Have you ever experienced grief?

In what context?

Please discuss.

3. When grieving, were you drawn closer to God or were you more distance?

Please discuss.

4. What difference does the fact that God grieves and understands suffering from personal experience make in how you think about your season of loss?

Please discuss.

5. How have you allowed God to use your pain to be a blessing to other?

Please discuss.

If you haven’t, what needs to happen to get there?

Please discuss.

Prayer Points April 22, 2020

There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might. (Jeremiah 10:6)

God You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Pastor Trimble and Sister Trimble

Thank you that “His mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of his heart will be understanding. (Psalm 49:3)

Because they have set their love upon You, therefore You will deliver them; You will set them on high, because they have known Your name. 15 They shall call upon You, and You will answer them; You will be with them in trouble; You will deliver them and honor them.16 With long life You will satisfy them and show them Your salvation. (Psalm 92:14-16)

Thank you that You “Uphold their steps in Your paths, that their footsteps may not slip” (Psalm 17:5)

Thank you that You are working all things together for their good to because they love you, for they are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28)

Thank you that you have supplied all their needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19)

Unsaved Thank you for removing blinders from minds of unbelievers and causing them to believe – Your word says “whose

minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is Your image, should shine on them.” (2 Cor. 4:4)

Thank you for causing them to receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved Thank you for causing sinners to repent of their sins and turn to You, so that their sins may be wiped away. (Acts

3:19 – NLT)

COVID 19

Thank you for giving leaders wisdom and physicians wisdom to create a vaccine to combat COVID 19 - For You LORD gives wisdom; from Your mouth comes knowledge and understanding (Prov. 2:6 – NIV)

Thank you for turning President Donald Trump’s heart in the direction You want him to go - The king’s heart is in Your hand LORD, like the rivers of water; You turn it wherever You wish (Proverbs 21:1)

Thank you for providing all necessary items (gloves, masks, ventilators, all protective equipment needed, resources needed in combating COVID 19 - You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16)

Thank you for protecting all doctors, nurses, first responders, EMT personnel, police officers, fire dept. workers, grocery workers, bus drivers and all other people who are making it possible for us to take care of our business - But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

Thank you for comforting those families who have lost loved ones - You said Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Give leaders wisdom to go in the right direction – For you Lord gives wisdom; from Your moth comes knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6 – NIV)

GCFI Partners/Body of Christ

Thank you for meeting every need - And You God will meet all our needs according to the riches of Your glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

Thank you for helping us to continue to be of one mind “… being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:2)

Thank you for comforting Queenie Brown, Logan and Lisa Baughman, Darnell Christman, Bruce Watson, Regina Hooks, Kellye Wilson, Rod and Theresa Smith, Paul Taylor and all others who mourn - You said Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4)

Thank you Father that “We your people Seek You Lord and Your strength; Seek Your face evermore!” (1 Chron.16:11)

Father, thank you for helping us to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of You, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor. 10:5)

Father, thank you for helping us to press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which You, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14)

Continue to strengthen the faint hearted – You said “You give power to the faint, and to him who has no might You increases strength (Isaiah 40:29)

Thank you for showing us Your ways, O Lord, teaching us Your paths (Psalm 24:4)

For we hope in You, O Lord. You will answer, O Lord our God. (Psalm 38:15)