Is our suffering a consequence of sin in some way? Could sin be impeding the Holy SpiritвЂ™s healing work? If so, our Lord will tell us and we can respond (1 John 1:9). We should never assume that a personвЂ™s suffering is divine judgment.Д«ut when we face suffering ourselves, it is good to ask the Lord if sin is relevant to our condition. Remember the innocent sufferings of Joseph, Job, and Jesus, the deaths of the babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2), and the martyrdoms of Christians across the New Testament. However, this is not the only explanation for suffering. From MiriamвЂ™s leprosy (Numbers 12:10вЂ“15) to HerodвЂ™s death in response to self-idolatry (Acts 12:20вЂ“23) and the plagues and punishments of Revelation, the Bible offers numerous examples of suffering as divine judgment on personal sin. In response to AdamвЂ™s sin, God pronounced, вЂњCursed is the ground because of you in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your lifeвЂќ (Genesis 3:17). One: God sometimes uses suffering to judge sin. Today, letвЂ™s consider three biblical explanations for such a response from our all-loving, all-powerful Father. When we plead with him for help with our suffering but he seemingly refuses to do what we ask, our confidence in his love and power can be shaken. This week weвЂ™ve been exploring ways to trust God when itвЂ™s hard to trust God. If IвЂ™m not sure something works in my life, why would I try to give it to you? One of his chief responses is tempting Christians to doubt their faith to a degree that impedes sharing their faith. Of course, Satan understands GodвЂ™s multiplication strategy and is doing all he can to stop it. In this way, the kingdom of God multiplies until every person has a personal opportunity to know Christ.

While God has no grandchildren (we must each enter into a personal saving relationship with him), those reached by those we reach are our spiritual grandchildren. Sixteen months after his homegoing, his legacy continues through every person his ministry is reaching with the good news of GodвЂ™s love. Luis Palau was a personal friend and a great hero of the faith. And that is exactly what we saw here in Manchester.вЂќ Thousands responded to the gospel through these projects.ДЄndrew Palau of the Luis Palau Association said, вЂњAs is always the case, when the church comes together in unity, serving the city, encouraging the body, and proclaiming the good news boldly, great things happen. Prior to the event, the two organizations joined with local churches to hold an eighteen-month outreach in which they shared their faith as they organized social action projects. Festival Manchester has been described as the largest outreach event in the northwest of England in a generation. Given spiritual trends in the UK, it is wonderful to hear that thousands of people responded to the gospel at a recent outreach event there organized by The Message Trust and the Luis Palau Association. Only 28 percent said they вЂњbelieve in either God or a higher spiritual power,вЂќ while 38 percent said the opposite. Only 5 percent of the population in Great Britain attends church on a given Sunday.

Faith outreach church