To begin our service programme Esther Chingngaihnem read out a chosen Bible verse taken
from the book of 2Corinthians 12:1-10, she held a prayer followed by a mass praise and
worship and surrendering to the lord. Our offering was dedicated by Elder Khamgoupau.
Pastor Dr Suankhanhau Gualnam made some announcement to the congregation, some of
the subject that includes were about the newly acquired pastor quarter, relief material,
prayer fellowship etc and he also welcome the first timer.
Our speaker for the day Elder T Roumuan, praise the lord for his guidance and thanked BYF
for such opportunity. After giving us some fact and figure about the ongoing crisis in our
home state he remind us that we are in a difficult situation. At times we do ask ourself, why
has God put us in such a situation? we do call the lord for help, in fact we depend on his
strength and at times we (including me he said) provoke and question God. But my brethren,
there is a purpose and aim in this persecution and oppression, God want something from us
in this situation.
His topic of sharing, ‘God’s purpose in our suffering’ 2Corinthian 12:7-10.In verse 7 of
2Corinthians 10, Apostle Paul indeed possess a high position in the spiritual sphere. Coming
back to the background of our text, it is clear that during that time there is new kind of belief
that prevails in the Church of Corinth, the Greek and Judas use to measure the spirituality of
a person in mysticism and supernatural things. For this reason Apostle was challenge of his
spirituality. In verse 7 ‘a thorn in my flesh’ can have a different meaning according to
different theologian, however it is clear that Paul do have his own difficulties. In verse 8,
three time he pleaded God to take off the thorn in his flesh. Renowned theologians are of
the view that the tone of Paul’s prayer is similar to the tone of Jesus prayer in Gethsemane
which shows that it’s difficulties is compare to one another. His prayer was answer in verse 9
of the same chapter.
1. God uses suffering to humble his children.
Recollecting our recent past of 1&2 years back, happening within our society, it is very
shameful said our speaker, it shows that we are egoistic and boastful people. When we
face the real difficulty it shows that we are nothing, we tend to forget and ask the lord
about his will, that is when it hinder the face of the lord for the favour of men was more.
Like Apostle Paul had said “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming
conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh”, for this reason God wanted us to
humble before him through our suffering.
2. God uses suffering to draw us to himself.
We are more focus on his blessing then the one who provided, the more we
receive his blessing we tend to forget the lord in our live. Sometime I think to
myself said our speaker that it is when we face hardship and in proverty that we
remember God. Our present crisis bring us nearer to him regardless of where we
are or who we are, what if we do not face such a situation? will we be seeking
God as we do now? Our mission field in Manipur which comprise of mission
worker as well as churches had been burned down to ashes, Do we care to think
on what kind of income is use to build churches? we never know it is from a
corrupted money, black money etc what if God wanted us to retreat from this and
started working within our family, so that we can work more efficiently in the
future. Looking from another angle, what if God wanted to remind us that the
church is not a building but the people, or what if God wanted us to approach him
rather than the concrete building. The song ‘lead me to calvary’ by w j Kirkpatrick
and Jennie Hussey is a song asking God for difficulties, this two composer knows
very well that it is through difficulties and hardship that we are nearer to God.
3. God uses suffering to display his grace.
From verse 9 of our chosen Chapter that says ‘my grace is sufficient for you’.
This line is spoken by God to Paul that his suffering were indeed considered but
above that his grace is greater that Paul’s suffering. Among the tribals in Manipur
especially among the non-naga tribe, in every issue there is a lack of unity among
us, but in this current crisis we can witness a different kind of unity amidst small
issue arises, thousand displace, hundred plus death and house burnt but no one
dare to give up, indeed it’s wonderful said our speaker. By the grace of God we
are still able to sustain all those Arms and ammunition pointing towards us. Only
by his grace we still stand firm and praise him in our suffering. His grace could be
witness through people we never know taking our side and spreading the truth for
us, in fact God is working and it’s really amazing.
4. God uses suffering to perfect his power.
In the second part of verse 9 it is said,’Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me’. Our speaker
shared one of his favourite poem during his school day called ‘footprint in the
sand’. In this poem the line he like to focus is “When you saw only one set of
footprints,
It was then that I carried you." The speaker compared this with our present
situation saying that it is in this very hardship that the Lord carry us, we face such
a situation that his power can be display through us. Like Apostle Paul had said
in verse 10 of the chosen chapter “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I
am weak, then I am strong”. It is also important for us to remember that we are
strong when we are weak. God never sleep, he doesn’t turn a blind eye in our
difficulties, he knows our suffering, he knows our weakness and in fact he heard
our prayer but why does it take time? Ask our speaker and continued by saying
that, its is why we say that God uses suffering to humble his children, to draw us
to himself, to display his grace, to perfect his power. We should know this a be
like Paul by saying, ”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”. Our speaker ended his
speech by exhorting the congregation to follow the footstep of Apostle Paul.
Moving onto the next item is a report on the newly bought flat by the church. In his
report Elder H Kamsuanthang focus on the intervention of God rather all the factual
figure associated with the buying of this flat. He said that there is a purpose in
suffering and also a purpose in blessing. Finding out that purpose is the main
important thing, he added. The next item is a presentation of special number by
Ginna group.
Closing song was led by worship team and benediction held by Elder H Zabiak, our
service was ended with the Lord’s prayer by the congregation.
