Good morning to Hilo, Hawaii and to all the countries of the world, also to our membership countries, and all the ministries and pastors that use this sermon to share with their own congregations, and then pass on some copies to others on their way home as they go deeper and deeper into areas that missionaries can’t get to, The Church Ministries is a Public Charity Status with our 501(c)(3) and we are in the 170 section with our hope still of having our church/mission finished as soon as I get well or healed or at least this infection goes, by the power of our Jesus, it will be a great testimony on suffering, confinement, poverty, loneliness, and malnutrition. We still are the Bible Truth Christian Church and we always will carry that name. I realize that at this time of year that everyone is so, so, depressed with trying to keep up with the Jones’s. You know who you are. That is the type of thinking that gets us all flustered. This time of the year is the time to fill our hearts, not our tree, with love and joy. This is the time of year to love our neighbor as thyself. This is the time of year to express our love to each other. This is the time of year to obviously, have the Christmas spirit, in our hearts, which should be there everyday of every year. The world, simply put, would be a much better place if we kept that Christmas spirit in our hearts every day as Jesus wants us to and do not forget the love, the love that should go out to everyone we come across everyday. This time of year is about giving, not from our pockets or from underneath that tree, but giving something that is completely free and even the most unfortunate can give, including me, is love along with that enormous Christmas spirit. So, if we go about our business this month with these loving feelings in our hearts we can all afford to have a very, very Merry Christmas. Christmas is free, giving is free, kindness is free, what ever your talents are you can share with others, if you are a landscaper go do someone’s yard for Christmas, if you can cook make some cookies or bread or make something that you could give. If you’re a mechanic help someone with there car, you all understand where I am going, give what you already have, you don’t have to buy what you already have to give, give yourself, give what you can, and what ever you think would please someone do it. We all are out there worrying what we are going to get for whom and for what, and some of us don’t have a dime to buy a thing for anyone, but like I said love is free, you can show your love in many different ways, helping people, praying for people. Prayer is free, so just pray for others, say nice things to others, smile at others bring the spirit of Christmas back the way it used to be. Go around with a happy face even though you can’t even pay your bills, or you don’t even know if your phone will still be on, bring back the trust and faith in God, we are celebrating the birth of our savior, we all don’t know the real date, but being Christmas it is just a time to honor Christ, that is the day the rest of the world is celebrating the birth of Jesus, we have to go along with everyone else. We can’t be out there saying Jesus was born on this day or this month, we all know that, and we all know when and how Christmas began, but it is up to us to change things, if the world new what was going on for real there would be mass confusion and panic. We just have to forget about everything that is going on around us that is bad, we have to change the world back the way things used to be, like in small towns where everyone knows everyone, the town would be friendly, maybe that is what I need is to go back to a little town in Montana. I had great memories and great friends that cared about each other. Look what happened to me in just a few days, What happened was an old friend from Faith Hi-way Ministry called, they would do commercials for your church and you would pick one that was on the demo tape and they would get the spots on local Television, and do the advertising for you, and they had all kinds of different stories and you pick that story to represent your church, anyway it was too far out of my reach for me, but we became friends anyway, so he had all these connections and really helped me. I then got a phone call from a guy named Al he was from Honolulu, he talked to me for a while and that alone made my day, then he got a hold of a Christian on my island his name was Eric, So Al called back and we talked again he told me Eric will call and come over and take me wherever I had to go. Friday around noon Eric called and took me all around town and probably saved my life for Monday, I would have been too tired to hitch-hike into town cash my check and go pay the rent, I would not have made it. So what God did was I got my check on Friday when I had Eric giving me this ride to the pharmacy. So he took me to the bank, then to the rental agents plus all the stores I wanted to go to, plus I picked up a few items that will change my life and it is a well thought plan, and so next week I will tell you how it went. Anyway I told Eric I haven’t been with a person for so long as a friend and do all the things I wanted and needed to do in 2 years. Erik was surprised, so from one phone call all of this changed, and now I don’t have to worry about walking all over town on Monday. God changed everything from one guy calling me, and he just made a few phone calls and changed my life, and most likely saved it. I would have been too weak to walk that far, last month I almost dropped. Each month has been getting harder and harder, but I have to do those few things, and God saved me, using people I didn’t even know. Yes people have saved my life with just their emails and their cards and words, Take someone like Susan Jones, she lives somewhere in Washington and never talked to her or even seen her, but she has sent me more emails and cards and special get well cards, and scripture with films and short stories, she has always made me get through this she has taken the worry and fear and confusion plus the loneliness away. She has given from her heart everything to keep me going, another is Johan from Deo Valente Mission in South Africa, He writes every day and sends scripture and stories and writes to me like a man, “a personal friend” he too I never met or talked too. But these two people have given me more then anyone I have known all my life. They have given me the love that a man going through what I go through the love to keep me going. Every man needs someone and these two have done more then I could ever wish for, I mean like Susan she would send emails with about 5 different cards on each email with different sayings prayers and hope and all kinds of love and compassion. Praise God! Eric made me feel comfortable and we even went to my stores and I was able to get one thing I have been eyeballing for 3 months or so. Plus I got a old hat and a leather bag for my tools for change at The Salvation Army, Barbara wasn’t around but Sonny helped me look for a piece of wood for my new plan, and he did find me one but it was to thin. And my friend a Japanese woman I think she is from Japan, I think her name is Cindy at the Army Navy surplus store and got that thing I wanted for a long time. And she always gives me the deal; we are and have been friends for a long time. And you know I thank God for the life saving and happy day. Eric thanks, good memories make you feel better. And you saved me from maybe a tragic day on Monday, if it was a Thursday I might have driven, but I don’t drive anymore, especially after the weekend with the sermon and no food and no sleep. Bishop Shawn also blessed me this week, and I need to call him and thank him, he is another life saver. I don’t know what happened to Randy or Joanna, and I have been calling and praying and emailing with them for over 3 years, I sent them a few emails and maybe today they wrote I didn’t check today. I have to thank Marcella from the Living Waters Prayer Ministry, for praying for me, she has been sending me prayers for others and some of them are just for me, and you can tell, she is another life saver. The same with Keith Ratcliff, Elena Ramirez, and Keith is an old friend that cares about me, and Elena has sent me beautiful cards and artwork and poetry, she even sent me a special one she hand writes and sends by the mail, and those cost money but she did one for me for free. Plus I keep up my end with my special obligation to the Presidential Prayer Team to Elizabeth Bradford of the U.S. Navy to pray for her and her family and friends. I wish I could write like I used to, when I looked in the kitchen and noticed what Eric brought me food wise, I just cried. I realized something I have not had a regular container of real orange juice in this house in years, in fact I cannot remember when I had one. It does burn a bit but it made me feel better right away, just the taste was so new and different. I can’t thank him enough for what he did for me. Thank You God for answering my prayers. Well I should go to our sermon. Most of you all know my heart and my love for all of you. I pray daily that this church will grow to be able to help many others which I do want to stress today. You all know we do have to go through great amounts of suffering while we are here on this earth. There have been many who have died faithfully for the Lord Jesus. In this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33) As Christians we should expect continuing trials and sorrows when we exist in this world or should I say this cold world. (Matt. 24:10-14) “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Many are still living lives being unbelievers, and I am so sorry to say without Christ, and there are many others there guidance system is not of the Holy Spirit, and of course they are not fruitful. I pray and wonder there are so many effects that all point to Christ and still people don’t pick up on it, it baffles me especially around the Christmas season and it is probably the most important holiday and people don’t even ask questions about the Lord Jesus, and we are celebrating His birth. I had all these notes already written, and I am not even going to even talk about them. The hours I spent writing, it is just so heartbreaking to explain how Jesus was so hurt by His own people, condemned to be tortured and crucified by the same people he helped, healed, and ministered to. Then on top of it all they let a murderer go free in His place, it brings tears to my eyes. The object is nothing has changed the ones that are truly faithful continue to go through great amounts of suffering. You take even Paul 20 years after he became a noted Apostle he still was suffering, plus what he went through during those 20 years. “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.” (1Cor.4:11-13) That is how many of us feel, but our reward will not be here on this earth or this world, it will be in heaven and that is where all of us will be having that real smile, pure love and pure happiness. What an event, like I said I do pray for the unsaved, I feel sorry for them, why can’t this Christmas season bring great blessings and have all people come to our Lord. As you all know I to have gone through so much that at times I wish and pray and hope for just one day of peace. I must need to go through more trials, and tests and more tribulations, the more suffering we go through it seems the more sensitive we become, and the warmer to others we develop into. We gain an understanding, and we gain a special closeness to the Lord, we defiantly have to pray a lot more than usual , and we have to have a close relationship with our Lord, if we didn’t we all would go completely mad. We know we are all targets by the evil one, we would have to be, and the devil doesn’t want us preaching to the lost to get them saved. He doesn’t want us sitting up at night praying for people and sending scripture and words of wisdom to all the needy and suffering, and the ones that are loosing hope and faith and some are on the brink of disaster, it is our job to minister to all of these people and send them the strength and love of our Lord.
O Lord Loving Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also our dear Father, we all thank You that You have permitted us to see another Christmas season. We ask that this season brings us all personal spiritual blessings. Let us go back and remember the Magi who were lead by a glorious star that was so bright that directed them all to the Christ Child. Let us remember that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus, who redeemed us from sin and death, and granted us eternal life with Him and You Father. Please bring this church continued growth so we can prosper from the work of our hands, hearts, and minds, as we help others and continually seek out lost souls and to bring them all to You Father, and Your Son. We do thank You we are able to bring the Gospel and saving grace to so many others throughout the world. Please Lord help us to gather the lost, bring to us O lord these chosen ones, so they can learn about your wonderful affection and fellowship and the Love of Your Son and the message of His birth in Bethlehem, and the finishing work at the Cross at Calvary. Oh Holy Spirit, during this Christmas season grant all the pastors, teachers, priests, chaplains, elders and laypersons a special outpouring to awaken the unresponsive listeners, to stir up the lukewarm, to encourage the shy, to reassure the doubting, to calm the disturbed, and to comfort the sorrowing and suffering. In the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen
Opening Prayer
For the same reason, except he be born again, none can be happy even in this world. For it is not possible, in the nature of things, that a man should be happy who is not holy. Even the poor, ungodly poet could tell us, no wicked man is happy. The reason is plain, all unholy angers are uneasy angers. Not only malice, hatred, envy jealousy, revenge, creates a present hell in the climb, but even the softer passions, if not kept within due bounds, give a thousand times more pain than pleasure. Even hope, when delayed, and how often must this be the case, make the heart sick, and every desire which is not according to the will of God is liable to pierce us through with many sorrows. And all those general sources of sin, pride, self-will, and idolatry are, in the same proportion as they prevail, general sources of misery. Therefore, as long as these reign in any soul, happiness has no place there. But they must reign till the curves of our nature is changed, that is, till we are born again. Consequently, the new birth is absolutely necessary in order for happiness in this world, as well as in the world to come.
My suggestion to all of you is to forget everything everyone that has ever told you, forget everything you learned from other people, and forget what you have heard in church, forget the sermons, just open your bible and go through all the gospels and read all the words and teachings that Jesus has spoken to all of us to hear and to learn. Try to make a fresh start forget all the books you took out at the library and forget all the Christian books you got at the bookstore, and even forget anything I have said, just remember this one thing and bury your head in the bible and read all those words in red, they made all those words of Christ in red for a reason. Plus when you get to start reading ask God and pray deeply for the Holy Spirit to show you the way and to assist and help and support you, spirit to Spirit, so the Spirit of the Living God can reveal just pure truth to your heart. And you will notice that thin red line of redemption running through the whole bible showing you the peace and tranquility of our Savior Jesus Christ, and you will learn the truth to the way of a lasting salvation and eternal life with a relationship that starts now, and your eternity also will start now, and when you find the truth and feel the presence of our Lord with you, then you will realize there isn’t anything to ever fear again. God will be with us always even till the end of the age.
As we all know the situation at the old local church, you will see the average person well to do with that plastic type smile and they tell you that everything in there life is wonderful, and they are a saved Christian and they are receiving everything that they need and they are all blessed. Then they begin telling you all the things that they are planning to do and what they all have that is new, and being puffed up about there new accomplishments and there new raise or there new promotion. In fact they probably never bring up the Name of Jesus the whole time they are talking. So you step back and analyze the whole situation and you keep listening to all this good stuff that is happening to there lives, and you are asking yourself are they having a relationship of intimate love with our Lord. But then you look deeper into there heart and you see some loneliness, some frustration, some worry, but you don’t want to say anything to hurt their feelings to break up their dream, I just nice and politely hand then a card and say if you have the time, come and join our service Sunday, here is the address, you can attend at anytime.
Please open your bibles to 1st Peter Chapter 4
1 Peter 4 (New International Version)
1 Peter 4
Living for God
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. [1Pet 4:1-6]
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. [1Pet.4:7-11]
Suffering for Being a Christian
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. [1Pet.4:12-18]
I have a friend whom I have very rarely seen smiling, except in a kind of polite way
- just before I got to know him, he was on a picnic with his family beside a river
- his boys were playing and, despite being warned to be careful, one fell in
- this river is beautiful, but fast and deep and very dangerous
- their oldest son dived in to help his brother, but he too was soon in trouble
- for a time it looked like both were going to drown, but somehow the younger got out
- their oldest son died there, and my friend and his family had to stand by helplessly
- they longed to throw themselves in, but knew that they would merely die with him
My friend was a Christian and he and his whole family are still strong believers
- I have no idea what he feels about it, because I haven’t the courage to ask him
- after all, what do you say to someone in such a situation?
- the stock answers you hear are
1) What happened was God’s will, and it is all for the ultimate good
2) This is a punishment or a message from God to teach you something
3) If you had enough faith, your prayers would have stopped it happening.
now, who would be crass enough to say anything like that in this situation?
who knows what to say to someone who has suffered in this way?
Peter decided to have a go in 1 Peter 4, and what he says sounds very strange to us
not because it difficult – he speaks plainly, with examples we can understand
it sounds strange because it is opposite to what we often hear preached in church
but the fact that Peter has the courage to say it, gives me a little courage to speak
its not that Peter says things which are different from the rest of the Bible
Peter agrees with the rest of Scripture, but he doesn’t agree with most preachers
The question is often framed as: How can a God of love allow suffering to happen?
- this is usually answered by Christians in one or two of three ways
1) God is all-powerful, so God has produced the suffering, and it is for our good
2) God is all-powerful, and suffering is wrong, so God will remove it if we ask with enough faith
3) God cannot do everything, and the world is fallen, so God can only help us put up with the sufferings and show us that he cares by sending his Son to suffer
I’m coming to the conclusion that none of these is right, and that the truth is actually rather horrific
4) God can do everything, and yet he often chooses to stand by and do nothing, even though he loves us and longs to keep us from harm and sadness
God is like my friend who had to watch his son die, helpless to do anything
but for God it is worse – he watches with the same heartache, but able to stop it
Why? I’ll come to that, but first, let’s see what Peter says.
- Peter is writing to a community which has suffered a great deal already
- his opening acknowledges they “have been grieved by various trials” (1Pet.1.6)
- ch.2 hints that many of them are slaves with cruel masters who beat them (2.20)
- ch.4 goes through a catalogue of different types of suffering, both minor and major
Minor suffering such as showing hospitality to unwanted guests:
v.9: “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling”
as the saying goes: Guest are like fish. After two or three days they start to stink.
but hospitality was necessary when most inns were lightly disguised brothels
Another minor source of suffering was the Christian lifestyle
I don’t mean attending church, but not attending parties and public feasts
a meal, even at respectable homes, ended with a symposium (ie a drinking party)
or, if it was a higher class party, it ended with the after-dinners – call girls
not the street prostitutes, but the hetaerae – highly trained, clean, and respectable
but Peter said: none of this is for us, now that we are Christians:
v.3: “Sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (4) With respect to these, they are surprised you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.”
suffering? Yes – we should accept that Christians have to give up some things
Hetaerae
But these are very minor inconveniences, compared to the major sources of suffering
- Peter also talks about “fiery trials” (v.12), being “insulted for the name of Christ” (v.14), and “suffering as a Christian” (v.16)
- that was a real fear for Peter’s flock, because Christianity was illegal
- you could worship who you liked, but you also had to worship the emperors
- the Jews were OK. Their religion was official and Romans excused them
- they knew they had a Temple and a religion which didn’t allow other gods
- but Christians were what the Romans called ‘atheists’ – they had no gods or temple
- and they refused to worship the emperor, so they must be seditious criminals
We have the record of Pliny who was sent by the emperor Trajan to find the truth
- he said he arrested a couple of their ministers, and questioned them under torture
- these ministers were women and most probably slaves, like Peter’s flock
- we know they were women because Pliny used the female form ‘ministrae’
- and we know they were slaves because he tortured them, which was perfectly correct, and often a legal necessity, when questioning slaves
- he reported back that these Christians meet to sing worship to Christ as to a god
- and that they vow to each other to do good and to avoid all evil
- Pliny concluded that they were harmless, but faithfully carried out the Emperor’s orders by imprisoning those who refused to desist from this suspicious cult
Pliny the Younger
Peter says they should not be surprised when they suffer this kind of thing
- God had warned Adam and Eve that they would suffer pain, after the Fall
- when Adam and Eve sinned, they were told that now everything will go wrong
- from now on creation will be dysfunctional and will work against humans
- birth will be hard and often dangerous for humans; much more than other animals
- and weeds will grow more easily than food, unless we fight them laboriously
- and even human relationships will be hard work and will involve emotional pain
- Eve was told “your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you”
- ie families will be as dysfunctional and problematic as the rest of creation
- and relationships will be a source of the most profound pain we suffer
Adam and Eve Expelled
But we can cope with most of this pain, because there is a goal and aim behind it
- it is not easy facing any kind of pain and suffering, but a purpose makes it easier
- the pain of childbirth or a farmer’s backache is bearable because of its results
- the pain of an athlete’s muscles is easy to bear, because it marks achievement
- even the pain of a broken relationship or unrequited love is ultimately bearable because the risk is worth the chance of gaining the ultimate prize of mutual love
But what about suffering which has no purpose, which simply happens
- like arthritic pain which occurs whenever you move or also when you keep still
- or the despair of depression, isolating you from humanity with no apparent cause
- a painful terminal illness the suffering of which will only be relieved by death
- the unfixable painful void left by bereavement or, worse, by abandonment
- and the worst pain of all – watching a loved one suffering
How can we cope with these, and what can we say to someone suffering like this?
- what does Peter say? He says they have now reached their purpose in life!
v.13 “rejoice, because you are now sharing Christ’s sufferings”
v.1f “whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (2) so as to live for the rest of the time ... no longer for human longings but for the will of God.”
What does he mean? Does he mean that God has sent this suffering especially?
- well, James might be thought to imply this when he says (in James 1.12):
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has withstood it, he will receive the crown of life which God promised for those who love him”
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. [James 1:12 NIV]
but James warns people NOT to conclude that God sent the suffering of the trial:
- v13: “Let no one say then he is tested: I am tested by God. For God cannot be tested and he himself tests no-one.” [“trial” and “testing” are the same Greek word]
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [James 1:13 NIV]
-James regards suffering as a test by God, but says God is not the source of the test
- he says that God is the sender of all good, not of evil. He does not send evil on us
- as in Jm.1.17: “From above comes every good gift and every perfect gift”
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. [James 1:17 NIV]
So why do Peter and James think it is so wonderful to suffer pain and trials?
- do they mean that God uses this suffering to purify them from sin?
- Peter appears to imply this in ch.1.6f: “you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith may be more precious than gold ... refined by fire”
- so does this mean that suffering comes as a result of sin, and suffering cleanses it?
- this is what Job’s three friends spent 34 chapters trying to convince Job of
- their argument, in one sentence, is:
‘you must have done something wrong because God brings good on the righteous and punishes the sinners with evil’
- but God says to them in Job.42.7: “I am angry with you because you have not spoken of me what is right”
- they got it wrong! God does not bring evil on sinners to punish them
Well, not in general. But in the Bible God does often punish people with disasters
- for example we read that God punished Pharaoh, and sinful Israel
- but it was always after many warnings, so when it happened they knew exactly why
- God would be like a terrible parent if he punished his children without warning
- it’s like getting a clip round the ear without knowing what they’d done wrong.
- You’d never learn what was wrong. You’d only learn to avoid getting within reach
- God is a good parent who warns his children and helps them change their ways
- and he only punishes or chastises them after many warnings and corrections
- so if you aren’t sure what you have done wrong, it’s not a punishment from God
So why has suffering come, or why has God allowed it come, particularly on me?
- that’s what Job repeatedly asked God, and God eventually answered him
- but he answered him with questions: Do you know how big the universe is?
- do you understand it? Do you have the power to create it and keep it running?
- when Job admitted his ignorance, God then declines to explain suffering to him.
What? No explanation? I find this exasperating beyond measure. Why no answer?
- is the explanation too complicated? That’s the implication of God’s answer to Job
- is it none of our business? Probably, but there is no hint that God deliberately hides it
- is the answer unbearable? Probably, while we are here in these bodies
I suspect that we are intelligent enough to partly understand, but not strong enough
- Peter forever returns us to Christ’s suffering on the cross
- if we suffer, we are closer to Christ who suffered for us, and didn’t give in
- if we suffer, we understand a little of what Jesus went through for us
The connection with the cross is not immediately obvious. It may be too painful
- you probably know Moltmann’s concept that God the Father suffered when Jesus died
- so the whole trinity was involved in the death on the cross.
- but this implies something very profound about the painfulness of the cross
- to see it, think of my friend who stood helpless, watching his son drown
- now think of God, who watches Jesus die, and suffers all the same heartache
- but now consider that God is not helpless – he could step in at any time and stop it
Now multiply that, because the cross is in some ways only the visible pain of God
- because if God loves us, and knows our suffering, he feels that same pain constantly
- knowing that he could intervene, and yet, for a reason we don’t know yet, mustn’t
- at least, on most occasions. Sometimes he intervenes with a marvelous miracle
- which only makes it worse that he has to stand by and see the others suffer
- that seems to me to be unbearable pain, and I’m glad I have no experience of it
Now look at Jesus. At any time he could have said: Stop, I don’t want to continue
- like someone who is being tortured who is told all the time: You could stop this
- just tell us what we want and we will stop. And they long for death to end it
- Jesus was tortured for us, and he must have longed for death long before it came
- Jesus foresaw this terrible suffering when in Gethsemane, and he wanted to die
- he said to his disciples: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death, remain here with me” (Mt.26.38 etc) “I am so sad, I want to be dead. Don’t leave me”
- and what did they do? They were so concerned that they fell asleep.
- I think that may have been harder than the actual pain and humiliation of the cross
Job also suffered so terribly that he wanted to die, and his wife said: Do it
- curse God and die, kill yourself, even though you know it is against God’s will
And Peter addresses those who have “suffered in the flesh” for whom life is over
- “for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of your life... for the will of God” (1Pet.4.1f)
- they had suffered to the point where they wanted to die, but they haven’t given in
- after that, what more could the world, their flesh or the devil throw at them?
- they have, as Peter said, “ceased from sin” and “live only for the will of God”
If they had been on a battlefield, they would have been awarded a medal of bravery
- even if they died, they’d get it posthumously, to recognize their unyielding suffering
- but because they are in a hospital bed, or in their home alone, they are ignored
But let me remind you where you are. You ARE on a battlefield
- let me remind you why we are suffering – the world is under enemy occupation
- let me remind you who we are – we are God’s servants within the Enemy’s territory
- and let me remind you of the aim of history – Jesus will return and defeat Satan
We ARE soldiers, behind enemy lines, and taking casualties at a terrible rate
- in some countries we are attacked with baseball bats, bullets and prison
- in other countries we are attacked with enticements, bribery and moral corruption
- we may want to abandon our post when we are injured or ill or just fed up
- we will still be welcomed home for having fought, but we won’t be the heroes
- the heroes will be those who continued against unstoppable odds
- who stayed at their post when they were ill, in pain, in despair, with nothing left
- they didn’t choose to be there – they didn’t plan the injury or the illness or the pain
- but what made them heroes is the way they dealt with it. They didn’t give in.
- they continued faithful to the end, always looking out for what they could do
- or just continuing, faithful, often to the end. They will be the heroes in heaven
Because what makes our suffering different from that of others, is what follows
- this life is not the end, but only the opening stunt at the start of an action movie
- it is the overture before an opera, the quick taste before eating the meal
- the best is yet to come, and it will last much much longer
- that’s why Peter says “they are surprised you don’t join them in their debauchery” (v.4)
- if this life is all there is, the main aim is to enjoy it while you can
- instead Peter says “when the fiery trial comes upon you... rejoice”
- because this part of your life, the bit on earth, is the only place to earn a medal
- and you can’t plan to earn one - something dramatic has to happens to you
- and then you can earn a medal by continuing bravely through whatever that is
- so when that fiery trial comes, rejoice that you have an opportunity to shine
- and then grit your teeth, because it won’t be easy. Worthwhile things never are.
Loving everlasting Father, as we close this day we want to thank you for your teaching, Your anointing, Your listening and Your love. Dear Jesus You our are comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and whatever shall come our way this week help us to conquer any battle that is placed before us, consider our endurance, steadfastness, and patience to gain your refreshment and to be complete in all your ways, and continue a thorough good work in us, to mold us to what You want us to be. We are Your chosen people, holy and dear loved, and we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We bear with each other and forgive one another. We forgive all people as You have forgiven us. We hold onto these virtues, we put on love which binds us all together in perfect unity. We all take comfort and boldly say, that the Lord has encouraged us and has sat beside us through all these good and hard times. You have been our helper. We will not be confused anymore with any more non-love. We will not fear or dread anything because what can mere man do to us. We proclaim the Word toward Heavens, toward hell, and toward the Earth. We are clothed in Christ, the powerful blood of the Lamb, for we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are fully armored, fully protected, and totally complete in Him. Praise the Name Of Jesus! And everyone together says: Amen and Amen
Closing Prayer
Timothy, you know what I teach and how I live. You know what I want to do and what I believe. You have seen how patient and loving I am, and how in the past I put up with trouble and suffering in the cities of Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Yet the Lord rescued me from all those terrible troubles. Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others. But evil people who pretend to be what they are not will become worse than ever, as they fool others and are fooled themselves.
Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things. Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved. Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds. 2Tim. 3:10-17 CEV
Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:17-18 NIV
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Cor.1:5 NIV
“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way; let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” James 1:2-4 NLT
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Matt. 16:24-28 NIV
1) What happened was God’s will, and it is all for the ultimate good
