IT MIGHT NOT BE YOUR SIN THAT CAUSED IT 1

1 NOW AS JESUS PASSED BY, HE SAW A MAN WHO WAS BLIND FROM BIRTH.
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, WHO SINNED, THIS MAN OR HIS PARENTS, THAT HE WAS BORN BLIND?”
3 Jesus answered, “NEITHER THIS MAN NOR HIS PARENTS SINNED, BUT THAT THE WORKS OF GOD SHOULD BE REVEALED IN HIM."
John 9:1-3 (NKJV)

• When a negative thing happens It is not always that the person whom the thing happened to has done something bad or committed a terrible or hideous sin.

• In some cases or instances God usually permitted a thing to show His greatness, change the focus of the person whom the evil happened to, and at times to show His greatness or sovereign power.
• It is always believed that if an evil thing happened; people want to believe the person It happened to must have committed a sin or done something bad; but that might not be the truth (Job 8:4).
• The answer Jesus gave to His Disciples when they asked the reason why the blind man was born blind; gave credence to what was said at the beginning of this teaching.
• Whenever any evil happened to an individual, the first thing that usually comes to people's minds is, the person must have done an evil—committed a terrific sin.

• Paul as a prisoner in his voyage to Rome was shipped wrecked and escaped to the island of Malta. In his bid to gather few sticks to make fire for warmth, was bitten by a venomous snake, the residents of the island's response was that Paul must have committed a terrific sin—he surely must be a murderer. Someone who has just escaped a sea hazard now bitten by a snake, It means law of retribution is at work:
3 BUT WHEN PAUL HAD GATHERED A BUNDLE OF STICKS AND LAID THEM ON THE FIRE, A VIPER CAME OUT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT, AND FASTENED ON HIS HAND. 4 SO WHEN THE NATIVES SAW THE CREATURE HANGING FROM HIS HAND, THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, “NO DOUBT THIS MAN IS A MURDERER, WHOM, THOUGH HE HAS ESCAPED THE SEA, YET JUSTICE DOES NOT ALLOW TO LIVE.” 5 BUT HE SHOOK OFF THE CREATURE INTO THE FIRE AND SUFFERED NO HARM. 6 HOWEVER, THEY WERE EXPECTING THAT HE WOULD SWELL UP OR SUDDENLY FALL DOWN DEAD. BUT AFTER THEY HAD LOOKED FOR A LONG TIME AND SAW NO HARM COME TO HIM, THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND SAID THAT HE WAS A god" (Acts 28:3-6 NKJV).

• In Job's incidents his friends who came to console him on what happened to him also concluded that his children who died must have offended God (Job 8:3).
AND also for such a thing to happen to him, he must have done evil things (Job 11:5,11).

• He must have maltreated others, abused the underprivileged or the poor, and must have been disobedient to God.
• People generally always jump into a conclusion that whoever an evil happened to must have been EVIL himself or herself (Acts 28:3,4).

• Now, let us explore what could be the cause of any evil that happened to a person, particularly if the person is a believer in Christ Jesus.
I. One reason out of many which Jesus Christ gave is, that the glory of God, the works of God, might be revealed in the person (John 9:3).
II. In Paul's case, we could only conclude that the devil would not want him to get to Rome. After he defended his case in Jerusalem, when arrested, Jesus Christ appeared to him in a vision that he should not be afraid, as he testified of Him in Jerusalem, he would testify of Him in Rome also:
"BUT THE FOLLOWING NIGHT THE LORD STOOD BY HIM [Paul] AND SAID, “BE OF GOOD CHEER, PAUL; FOR AS YOU HAVE TESTIFIED FOR ME IN JERUSALEM, SO YOU MUST ALSO BEAR WITNESS AT ROME" (Acts 23:11 NKJV).

• Of Course, the devil would not want him to testify in Rome, knowing the importance and the implication of his witness and testimony before the emperor Ceaser and those who are at the highest echelon of the society.
  III. Another thing that could be the reason for an evil occurrence in a Believer's life is, when such a believer is being prepared for a particular assignment which what has happened to him or her would serve as a training for the believer, that the comfort which such would receive in the negative occurrence would be an advantage—a thing which they would use to comfort other people that would be brought on their way:
  3 BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF MERCIES AND GOD OF ALL COMFORT, 4 WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TRIBULATION, THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE IN ANY TROUBLE, WITH THE COMFORT WITH WHICH WE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED BY GOD. 5 FOR AS THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST ABOUND [overflow, plenteous, abundant, superfluous, flood over, over and above] IN US, SO OUR CONSOLATION ALSO ABOUNDS THROUGH CHRIST" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NKJV).
• Whoever would be used of God may be permitted to pass through some experiences which might not be because of the evil he or she has done, but to prepare such for the assignment ahead:
  11 (FOR THE CHILDREN NOT YET BEING BORN, NOR HAVING DONE ANY GOOD OR EVIL, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION MIGHT STAND, NOT OF WORKS BUT OF HIM WHO CALLS)" (Romans 9:11 NKJV).

• It seems most of the people that would be used for a great work in God's Kingdom on earth usually pass through severe challenges or tribulations.

• Thus, Apostle James says, when such trials are being passed through, you should count it all Joy:
  2 DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN TROUBLES OF ANY KIND COME YOUR WAY, CONSIDER IT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREAT JOY. 3 FOR YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED, YOUR ENDURANCE HAS A CHANCE TO GROW. 4 SO LET IT GROW, FOR WHEN YOUR ENDURANCE IS FULLY DEVELOPED, YOU WILL BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, NEEDING NOTHING" (James 1:2-4 NLT).
• Paul in his epistle to the Romans also says the tribulations are meant to build Godly character:
  3 AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE ALSO GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS, KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE; 4 AND PERSEVERANCE, CHARACTER [approved or godly character]; AND CHARACTER, HOPE" (Romans 5:3,4 NKJV).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Whatever is not planted in your body that is working against your health is rebuked and completely uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

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