There is Purpose in Your Pain

(Luke 23:39-43) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Help others who are experiencing your same struggle. 

Helping others help you.

✓ Helping others distracts us from our own needs.

✓ Helping others helps us to see the

solution to your problem more clearly.

✓ Helping others allows us to put everything into perspective.

God's power will meet you where you are.

(Isaiah 58:10-11) If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun- scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

(2 Corinthians 1:3-7 MSG) All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it.

How to Help Others

1. Offer them stability.

(Luke 23:43 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you...”

(Psalm 40:2) He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

2. Offer them support.

(Luke 23:43 NKJV) "...today you will be with Me...”

(Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT) A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

3. Offer them salvation. Introduce them to Jesus. 

(Luke 23:43 NKJV) "...in Paradise."

(John 14:1-2) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me (Jesus). In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Jesus offers more than a better now.

He offers a better place.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/help-others-who-are-experiencing-your-same-struggle

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/03-05-2017.pdf

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