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  YOU HAVE AFFLICTED ME
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Thomas Brooks' sermon explores how God uses afflictions to
instruct and refine His people, leading them towards holiness and deeper
communion with Himself.

Topics: "Affliction", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Psalm 34:19, Psalm 119:67, Psalm 119:75, Isaiah 48:10, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 2:10, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7

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DESCRIPTION
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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.

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CONTENT
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"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.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/you-have-afflicted-me/
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