You Have Afflicted Me
Thomas Brooks' sermon explores how God uses afflictions to instruct and refine His people, leading them towards holiness and deeper communion with Himself.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that afflictions are a divine tool used by God to instruct His people, revealing the bitterness of sin and the sweetness of holiness. He explains that through troubles and trials, believers are taught to detach from worldly desires and prepare for eternity, recognizing the emptiness of created things compared to the richness of communion with God. Brooks highlights that even God's dearest children face significant afflictions, which serve to purify and strengthen their faith, ultimately conforming them to Christ's image.
Text
"I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness You have afflicted me."
Psalm 119:75
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now
I obey Your word." Psalm 119:67
God's corrections are our instructions,
His lashes are our lessons,
His scourges are our schoolmasters,
His chastisements are our admonishments.
By afflictions, troubles, distresses and dangers--the
Lord teaches His people to look upon sin as the most
loathsome thing in the world; and to look upon holiness
as the most lovely thing in the world. Sin is never so
bitter, and holiness is never so sweet--as when our
troubles are greatest and our dangers highest.
By affliction, the Lord teaches His people to sit loose
from this world, and to be prepared for eternity.
By affliction, God shows His people the vanity, vexation,
emptiness, weakness, and nothingness of all created
things; and the choiceness, preciousness and sweetness
of communion with Himself.
It has been the lot and portion of God's dearest
children, to be exercised with very great and
grievous afflictions; in order . . .
to the discovery of sin,
to the embittering of sin,
to the preventing of sin,
to the purging away of sin; and
to the discovery of grace,
to the trial of grace,
to the exercise of grace,
to the increase of grace; and
to the weaning of them from this world; and
to the ripening of them for heaven; and
to the completing of their conformity to Christ,
the captain of their salvation, "who was made
perfect through sufferings," Hebrews 2:10; and
to work in them more pity and compassion to
those who are in misery, and who sigh and
groan under their Egyptian taskmasters.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding God's Righteousness in Affliction - The Purpose of Afflictions - Afflictions as Lessons
- II points: - The Bitter Nature of Sin - The Sweetness of Holiness - The Role of Troubles in Spiritual Growth
- III points: - Preparing for Eternity through Affliction - The Vanity of Worldly Things - The Value of Communion with God
- IV points: - Afflictions as a Means of Grace - The Discovery and Purging of Sin - The Increase of Grace through Trials
- V points: - Conformity to Christ through Suffering - Compassion for Others in Misery - The Purpose of Suffering in the Christian Life
Key Quotes
“God's corrections are our instructions, His lashes are our lessons.” — Thomas Brooks
“By afflictions, troubles, distresses and dangers--the Lord teaches His people to look upon sin as the most loathsome thing in the world.” — Thomas Brooks
“It has been the lot and portion of God's dearest children, to be exercised with very great and grievous afflictions.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Reflect on how your own afflictions can lead to spiritual growth and deeper faith.
- Consider the ways in which you can support others who are suffering and in need of compassion.
- Embrace the lessons that come from trials, viewing them as opportunities to draw closer to God.