Prayer and Trouble Work Together Psalm 119 71

Prayer and Trouble Work Together Psalm 119: 71 - It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

• Troubles are God’s servant. • What troubles? – Ourselves: financial difficulty, relationship problem – Men: drunk driving, killing, 9/11 – Devil: Anything within the limit with God’s permission; for example Job (Job 1: 11 -12) – God: nature, nations, natural disasters, 10 plagues – All problems are in God’s control • Why? – God wants to get your attention and have you to go to Him in prayer

• Examples: – Israel in time of judges • Judges 3: 4 - And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. • : 7 - And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. • : 8 - Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. • 9 - And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. • 11 - And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

• Israel forgot God; God delivered them into another nation; they cried out unto God; and God delivered them. Cycle of captivity and deliverance – Manasseh – King of Judah • II Chronicles 33: 2 - But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. • 10 - And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. • 11 - Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. • 12 - And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

• 13 - And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. • Manasseh did evil; he was captured; he sought God while he was suffering; and God delivered him. He reformed Judah.

– Hezekiah, King of Judah • 2 Kings 19: 1 - And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. • 14 - And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. • 15 a - And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, • Hezekiah did no wrong and yet trouble occurred; still he cried out unto God for help

Psalm 50: 15 - And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. • Peter – Acts 12: 5 - Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. – Peter was free because of prayer from the church

– Not all will be delivered from troubles, but God will be with them in troubles giving them comfort, peace, and grace • Paul: 2 Corinthians 12: 8 -10 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. • 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. • 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong – Troubles are God’s servant bringing you to the knee toward God in prayer – Romans 8: 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.