April 19th, 2025 message from Liberty Church in Lula, GA

This past Sunday, April 19th, during our morning worship gathering, Lead Pastor Eric Stewart opened up a powerful new journey through the book of 2 Corinthians with a message titled “The Power of Affliction.”Right from the beginning of chapter one, we’re reminded of something that often feels contradictory—yet deeply true: that God is both fully aware of our pain and fully present within it. Paul introduces God as the “Father of mercies and the God of all comfort,” and Pastor Eric unpacked what that really means for us—not as an abstract idea, but as a lived reality.This message challenged us to rethink what comfort actually is. It’s not always God pulling us out of hardship—but more often, it’s God walking with us through it. In a world that constantly seeks escape from pain, we were reminded that God’s promise is His presence, not always immediate relief.As the sermon unfolded, we saw that affliction and comfort don’t exist separately—they often overflow together. The same life that experiences deep struggle can also experience overwhelming grace. It’s in our weakness that God’s strength becomes most visible.One of the most impactful truths from the message was this: our affliction may not just be about us. God can use our pain as a platform to shine light into someone else’s darkness. The struggles we walk through can become testimonies that point others to hope, healing, and ultimately, to Him.Pastor Eric also didn’t shy away from the reality that affliction can feel overwhelming—even to the point of despair. Paul himself described moments where he felt beyond his own strength. But that place of weakness serves a purpose—it shifts our dependence away from ourselves and firmly onto God, the One who raises the dead.And that leads to one of the most hope-filled promises in the message: God will deliver. Not always on our timeline, not always in the way we expect—but His faithfulness is never in question. Even when the answer feels delayed, heaven is not silent, and God is still at work behind the scenes.The message closed with a powerful challenge—affliction carries power. The question is not whether it will shape us, but how. Will it grow us spiritually? Will it draw us into deeper community? Or will it lead us toward bitterness?Ultimately, we were left with this defining question:What power are you allowing affliction to have in your life?This sermon wasn’t just about understanding suffering—it was about reframing it. Seeing it not as meaningless pain, but as a place where God’s comfort, purpose, and power are fully at work.OUR LIBERTY CHURCH CORE VALUESI Will Worship EnthusiasticallyI Will  Pray ConsistentlyI Will Grow Intentionally I Will Serve HumblyI Will Give Generously I Will Share BoldlyFind out more about Liberty Church at www.thelibertyfamily.com Contact us vis email at [email protected].