OVERCOMING PAIN
Warren David Horak
…We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.Acts 14:22
No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
[No Cross, No Crown (1669)][1]Penn, William (1644–1718)
As we say today,“no pain no gain!!!”
While we are on earth we will experience pain. Yet one day when we are in heaven we will be free from sorrow, crying and pain He will wipe every tear from our eyes as we will be totally healed and completed in Him.
How do we cope and deal with pain in this world as the whole earth is groaning in pain until Jesus is revealed and restores all things to Himself. The pain and sorrow of the earth will only increase the closer we come to Jesus’ return. These are the labour pains. Every Christian will need to know, how to not only cope, but overcome our pain.
In order to survive the battle we are facing. We are called to pain and through pain. The more we understand what God is trying to do in us and through the easier, the yoke will be. We are on this journey, which is started with pain and ends with glory. We are on our way back to the garden where Adam and Eve lost our inheritance. We will recover all if we don’t give up!
Only when we more fully understand pain our pain and others pain will we be able to overcome pain in our lives.
Definition:
pain1 the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc.. 2 emotional suffering or mental distress. 3on pain of subject to the penalty of. 5 to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc..[2]
Thesaurus:
painnoun1. ache, cramp, discomfort, hurt, irritation, pang, smarting, soreness, spasm, suffering, tenderness, throb, throe (rare), trouble, twinge noun2. affliction, agony, anguish, bitterness, distress, grief, hardship, heartache, misery, suffering, torment, torture, tribulation, woe, wretchedness noun. afflict, aggrieve, agonize, cut to the quick, disquiet, distress, grieve, hurt, sadden, torment, torture, vex, worry, wound verb[3]
To understand all pain we need to go back to where all pain came from.
When we sinned against God in the garden and went our own way this caused both our Father deep pain and all of mankind to suffer untold pain and grief. When sin entered the world so did death and sickness and poverty.
Most of our sin is rooted in our pain. As we seek to relieve our own pain.
We need to look to the Lord to overcome this deep pain that we have. Only Fathers unconditional love can heal us of this terrible pain we carry.
The purpose of pain
- Pain itself is not bad it has a purpose. Pain shows there is a problem. Without pain in our bodies we would destroy our bodies without knowing what we are doing. The pain shows us that our bodies are having trouble in some area. Pain in our emotions shows we are wounded in some area and if not treated and healed will be a breeding ground for demonic activities.
The Message
You begin to heal only when you hurt
God sent me to wash myself
for me to see the end...
I saw His smile
grow His love
for the future of the beginning...
Is God's road
more narrow
than our footprints?…
By Akiane
What causes all the pain?
- Separation from God
Separation from God causes all the pain on theearth.We were created to abide in our Fathers love and dwelling in His presence. We are created to dwell in perfect peace, joy and love. We were created to dwell within another kingdom. This Kingdom is called the Kingdom of heaven.
We are not created to be bombarded with evil from morning till evening. Because we are born within a war, we have tried to make our own heaven on earth.
Once we have been separated from our creator’s presence, we are confused and tormented with fear. This pain motivates us into all kinds of distractions. Together with satan we have invented every form of comfort from religion to prostitution, to ease our pain.
We are running from our pain, always seeking safe harbour in every place but the Lords rest. This rest is His presence. Yet it will cause us a great deal of pain to enter His rest and abide in his rest. The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence yet the violent will take it by force. The force is not fleshly force. This violence is to deny self and taking up our crosses to follow our King. As we do this we enter His realm of peace and joy. This realm is called the Kingdom of Heaven. We can enter this realm now.
This is our call, to inherit this wonderful Kingdom. Yet, to enter and abide in this Kingdom we need to lay down the kingdoms of the world. Lust of flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. When we do this and follow Jesus we enter into His eternal realm of love and peace and rest. The dwelling place of His presence.
This Kingdom is within us. It is not based on the externals of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the house you live in, but it is solely dependent upon Jesus ruling everything in this Kingdom.
He rules completely through righteousness, peace and joy. This is our mission to live in this realm of the Kingdom of God with our redeemer King who rides the white horse. He is the Prince of Peace, Sar Shalom!!! We are His beloved and He is the lover of our soul. This is the Kingdom, which we lost when Adam sinned in the garden. We are no on our way back to the garden, every Christian is called to this garden of rest. Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-16; 6:19.
- Sin
Sin causes great pain. The terrible guilt and shame that man carries is the pain caused by separation from God. Jesus through the work of the cross, conquered sin. When Adam sinned he was now afraid of God and hid from Him. So too many are hiding in their pain of their shame.
I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.” Psalm 41:4
David needed healing for his soul after he sinned. We also need healing after we have sinned. Every time we sin we sin against our own souls. The first things that happens when we sin, is that our soul is cut off from the presence of the Lord. Once this happens our souls is in pain like a baby who is separated from their mother comfort and touch. Secondly our soul is now defiled by the sin like dirt on a clean sheet our souls are soiled. If we continue to do this, our souls will so infected with the sin. That sin will now rule our soul like cancer cells ruling over a body. This will eventually result in death. The wages of sin is death. This sin ravages its victims all across the earth and even within the Church.
The only way to be healed and restored is to repent and return to His presence and washing of the water of the word. Jesus has overcome the consequence and power of sin for us so that we can rule over it.
When we sin not only does it cause us pain but most of the time it will cause pain to others. As Adam sin affected the whole human race, so our sin will touch those around us. Unfortunately, I have caused much pain by not walking in righteousness. However, He has forgiven me and will even help restore much of the damage of I have done by His love and grace.
- Betrayal and rejection
Betrayal
This is one of satan’s most destructive weapons. It is designed to totally destroy the person being betrayed. Only a close friend can betray us. The closer the person is the more painful the betrayal. The closer the person is to us the more pain is caused. The most infamous betrayer of all was Judas. Jesus overcame this betrayal by loving Judas unconditionally and even called him friend when he cam to betray him. What great love that was.
Many people think denial is betrayal. These two sins are totally different the rest of the disciples denied Jesus, yet only Judas betrayed him. Betrayal is where we slander and or attack our brothers behind their back. When betrayal matures it will even betray us to our very faces.
Betrayal will always start in the heart of someone who is offended at us. If they don’t forgive us they will end up speaking about us behind our back and eventually attacking us directly or indirectly. This all happens because there is no real godly love. Love does not get offended. Love will never betray us, no matter what we have done. The person who betrays a friend does so to ease their own pain caused by the offence.
One of the Key issues as are in the last days is betrayal. Jesus warned us.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.Matthew 24:10
Rejection:
Although rejection is not a painful as betrayal it is still very painful Jesus disciples all reject/ denied Him. We have all been rejected at some time. This causes tremendous pain as we were created for love and acceptance so when we are rejected for some reason we are severely wounded.
Our gratitude to most benefactors is the same as our feeling for dentists who have pulled our teeth. We acknowledge the good they have done and the evil from which they have delivered us, but we remember the pain they occasioned and do not love them very much.Chamfort, Nicolas (1741–1794)
- Love deficits.
Love deficits are areas in our soul where Fathers love has not been poured in. Most people grow up in some form of broken home and end up with many broken relationships. All these wounds cause a huge amount of pain. These wounds are our love deficits. Where we needed love we got accused, abused or rejected.
When we don know Fathers love we have gaps in our heart that cry out to be filled with Him. Only can satisfy this deep yearning and pain we all have. The only place that will satisfy is the garden if intimacy eating from the tree of Fathers unconditional love.
- Fear of man and circumstances.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.1John 4:18
Fear involves torment, torment is extremely painful. We are created to live by faith and love. When we are afraid its causes pain as fear is a disease of the soul which needs to cast out. Once we are healed from this fear we are free to love and trust God and even love our enemies. One of the greatest bondages on earth is fear. The enemies main weapon is fear. To the degree that we are afraid of people and things, to that degree we are in pain and bondage. In order to be true overcomers we will need to overcome fear at this time.
- Wounds of war and tribulations
Physical attacks sickness etc. All causes pain which is sent to distract us from the Lord.
Bad things will happen. We don’t always understand why. The question is, what are going to do when it comes to us?
Loosing a loved one, going bankrupt, going through a divorce all cause great pain. This is all part of Gods training for us, to reign as kings in this life. To reign as kings means we will rule in life through Christ. This means we will not get discouraged no matter what happens, for God is our hope and trust. He is our all and in all. He will teach us learn through our deepest pain and overcome through His Love.
- Birthing Gods will and purpose for your life.
One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.Bagehot, Walter (1826–1877).
Growing causes pain. No one on earth is exempt from the pain of life. The only real difference is how we handle the pain we are allowed to go through. As we grow spiritually and Christ is maturing in our life this causes great pain to our outward man as it has to die daily. As we deny our selves.
All birthing causes pain: Any ministry or godly vision that is to be birthed will cause pain the greater the ministry the greater the pain. The pain is like the seed dying but once the baby is born the pain is forgotten.
A woman, when she gives birth to a child, has grief (anguish, agony) because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers her pain (trouble, anguish) because she is so glad that a man (a child, a human being) has been born into the world. So for the present you are also in sorrow (in distress and depressed); but I will see you again and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one can take from you your joy (gladness, delight). And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]. John 16:21-23 AMP
Joseph had a dream of greatness. This dream cost him his family. His brothers became jealous of the godly vision he had. God used this jealousy to get Joseph in position to show him favour. If we have everything and we don’t have any problems then why do we need His favour and grace. Father will lead us into places where we can only look to Him. He begins where we end -- We die, He lives.
God allowed this to happen to Joseph in order to mould him and prepare him to rule one day. He had to learn to forgive his brothers before he could be exalted. Those who have thrown us into the pit are the very ones God has called us to help. Yet, what they mean for evil God means for good. This is the path of the end time Josephs.
Every godly vision/dream will come to a place of death, when it seems like everything God has told you is going in the exact opposite direction to what He said. Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick. As we reach this place of almost loosing our hope, tremendous discouragement attacks us. We are now in great pain and in very real danger of giving up on the heavenly vision. This is when we die and He lives. A bruised reed He will not break. If we call on His name in our pain He comes and heals us. Only if we don’t loose our hope in Him.
1 Chron 4:9-10. The great prayer of Jabez was birthed in pain. Jabez name in Hebrew means pain. His mother bore him in pain and called his name pain. When he prayed that great prayer it was so that he would cause no more pain. He obviously felt guilty for causing his mother pain. The birthing of anything godly causes pain.
- Godly pain vs worldly pain.
Conviction of sin brings pain to our souls.
When we are convicted by the word and the Holy Spirit concerning sin, this gives us pain. The pain shows us there is a problem. This pain is very good for us. Like the pain you feel in your hand when you put it on a hot stove. This pain will save you burning your hand severely. As soon as you feel pain, you know there is a problem.
The natural instinct when people here the convicting word of God is to draw away or close their ears. The pain might go away but the problem that is casing the pain wont. We need to be very thankful to the Lord for the pain in our lives. We know there is problem, if there is pain, now we can at least face it and deal with it head on.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38
Godly sorrow/pain leads us to repentance. Godly sorrow brings forth good fruit.
For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves,what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2Cor 7:11
Chastisement of our Father causes us pain.
As pruning causes pain to plants, so when our heavenly Father chastises us it causes us pain. This pain is supposed to teach us something. That is why we are disciplined. We are admonished not to hate His discipline. This discipline is for our good. Hebrews 12:11. 1Peter 4:17. This discipline comes in various forms, tribulations, sicknesses, weakness, financial lack etc. God has got many ways to discipline us for our good. 1 Corinthians 11:30-32