The End at the Beginning

(John 19:30) “It is finished.”

Be assured, there is a purpose to your pain, and it will eventually 

end.

The Attributes of God

(Job 42:1-5) Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know... My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”

I'd rather have hope in an all-powerful God than certainty in a very limited me. 

✓God is all powerful (omnipotent).

(Colossians 1:16-17 MSG) For everything, absolutely everything— everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.

✓God is all knowing (omniscience).

God sees the end at the beginning. (Revelation 22:13)

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all knowing God.

(Hebrews 4:13 TLB) He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him.

✓God is ever present (omnipresent).

Isaiah 43:2

2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

Jeremiah 1:8, 19 

8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.  19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. 

Matthew 28:20

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I (Jesus) am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(Hebrews 13:5-6) “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Blessed Assurance

(2 Timothy 1:12) I am suffering... Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

1. We know that God loves us.

(Lamentations 3:21-23) Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

2.We know that God wants the best for us.

(Romans 8:31-32, 35-37 NLT) If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

3. We know that God has a plan for us.

(Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

4.We know that God will bring us through.

(2 Timothy 4:18) The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our struggles have a purpose and our pain has an end.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/be-assured-there-is-a-purpose-and-an-end

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/04-02-2017.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.