Hi there,well, this is my first post of 2011. Not a lot of people knows that I'm taking up BS-theology and this one I'm posting right now is a sermon I did for our Preaching Subject. I will post the other one on my next blog. I hope you'll enjoy reading this. :) God bless.
Hope & Joy beyond Suffering
Isaiah 53:5-7
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Introduction:
What is suffering? Suffering is like a farmer who spends his whole life laboring to bring a crop to the harvest. Just as the crop is ready, a swarm of locusts fills the sky and consumes everything he has worked for. Year after year after year, the labor for these crops are lost to the locusts. Perhaps you have felt this way in your life or maybe experiencing this now. Every effort is taken away by the consuming locusts of life. Such as; relationship, job, health and anything that we hold precious we suffer loss when they are taken away. But God has a promise. Those who endure and wait on the faithfulness of God will be restored. Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”
What does the bible teaches us about suffering of Jesus? This is a very important question. The answer is that the suffering of Jesus is the expression of His Love for us.
John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his……
Jesus is committed and faithful to his purpose to suffer for his people and in order for us be restored into God’s kingdom. Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross is an example for every Christian and is the focal point of the Christian faith. That's where the deity, humanity, works, and suffering of Christ is most clearly seen. In 1st Peter 2:21-25; [“21 to this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…”] shows that suffering of Jesus had three great effects: it allowed Him to serve as our example, substitute, and shepherd. Scripture clearly states that Christians will suffer for their faith.
(Matt. 5:11-12; – 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.)
(2 Tim. 3:12 – 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted)
To say that believers are suffering for their faith but don’t understand the suffering of Jesus is a suffering that I think we should avoid. Jesus’ suffering is to save mankind, whereas ours … are mostly self inflected sufferings and results of our foolishness. Jesus Christ was perfectly in the will of God--perfectly righteous, gifted, and loved by God--yet suffered unjustly on a cross. He was the most unjustly treated person who ever lived on earth because, unlike you and me, He never did anything wrong. In all the circumstances of His ministry on earth our Lord was absolutely sinless. He is the perfect model of how we are to respond to unjust treatment because He endured far worse treatment than any person who will ever live, yet He never sinned. Those who suffer for their faith in Christ are perfectly within God's will.
B) Suffering is not always avoidable. "It is good for me that I was afflicted that I may learn Thy statutes. [Psalms 119:71]". No matter how careful we are in our everyday decision just so we won’t suffer with its consequences, somehow there’s a situation that comes up and leave you in low spirits. Suffering may not be only physical but also mentally disturbing. It may come in all degrees of intensity, from mild to intolerable. Addition to such factors, our attitude toward suffering may take into account how much it is, in their opinion, avoidable or unavoidable, useful or useless, deserved or undeserved. Everyone… I meant EVERYONE goes through suffering, even Jesus went through suffering. If Jesus suffered though he is perfect, how much more are we who are not? Problems are unavoidable for God’s people. As we love God and His word, we cannot avoid suffering. Our troubles can be a sign of effective Christian Living.
C) God is not immune to suffering. In the bible; it was difficult for the disciples to grasp the idea that their Messiah would have to suffer. The Jews who studied the Old Testament prophecies expected the Messiah to be a great king like David, who would overthrow the enemy, Rome
God is not a God who is above and immune from suffering, who just sits above us refusing to see us with all we are going through. He came down, suffered as one of us, and returned to life, all to defeat death and suffering in totality. He is also down here with us through His Spirit, experiencing today’s pain with us. God has chosen to be with us so that He can transform us to enable us to rise above our suffering and not be destroyed by it. He calls us not to give up on Him in this painful world, but to call on Him to guide us through it so we may become stronger.
D) Suffering is not always a result of sin. John 9:1-41 – “Master,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?” “Neither,” Jesus answered. “But to demonstrate that power of God.”
Some think that troubles are always caused by sin or lack of faith. A common belief in Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great sin. But Christ used the blind man’s suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God. We live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”(Job 2:10)There is no coloration in the world between righteousness and prosperity, and between suffering and wickedness. Many are the most wicked people prosper, and many are the most righteous people suffer in the world. God is so far past our own comprehension and understanding.
Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, God has the power to help us deal with it. When you suffer from disease, tragedy or disability, try not to ask, “Why did this happen to me? Or “What did I do wrong?” Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clearer perspective on what is happening. If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion.
E) God makes use of suffering in his plan for our life. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8 – Finally when I could stand it no longer, I decided to stay alone in Athens
Many questions arise about why God does what he does, why he allows certain things to happen, why not step in and make everything right? Maybe it’s to help increase our faith and trust in him. Perhaps to teach and discipline us; we sometimes learn our greatest lessons after having suffered the consequences of our own actions.
To make a point; if we never endured suffering, hardships, trials and tribulations how would we know how to trust God, how to call on his name, how to pray ever harder, to look towards him for strength comfort, and deliverance? We cannot always know why he allows each and every instance of suffering to come into our lives but it’s up to us to remain faithful. The existence of suffering does not at all mean that God cannot stop it or he doesn’t care, it simply means that he has chosen not to do so, of course you know that such troubles are a part of God’s plan for us Christians. Experiencing problems and persecutions can build character (James 1:2–4), patience (Romance 5:3–5), and sensitivity toward others who also face trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
II – What should we remember when we suffer?
In Luke 21:5–36: 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life. (Luke 21:17–19)
A) On earth, everyone will die, but believers in Jesus will be saved for eternal life. God does not expect us to enjoy suffering. In Luke 22:41–42; Jesus himself asked God to spare him the agonies of the cross; this was days after telling the disciples to pray that they might escape persecution. It is rather abnormal to want to suffer, but as Jesus’ followers, we should be willing to suffer and if by doing so, we can help build God’s kingdom. God will always be with us in our suffering (Matt 28:20) and that He will one day rescue us and give us eternal life (Rev.21:1–4)
B) Through HIS suffering, Jesus fully identified with us. Hebrews 2:18 – for since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and is tempted, and he is wonderfully able to us. If you have suffered, ask God how your experience can be used to help others. Jesus’ suffering made him a perfect leader, or a pioneer of our salvation. He did not suffer for his own salvation, because he was GOD in a human form. Jesus completed the work necessary for our own salvation. Our suffering can make us more sensitive servants of God. People who have known pain are able to reach out with compassion to others who hurt. Jesus understands our suffering and will help us through our trials. He understands our struggles as he has faced them as a human being. He understands your need and is able to help. (Hebrews4:15-16). When we face trials, go to Jesus for strength and patience.
C) Jesus was willing to obey, even beyond suffering when necessary. Hebrew 5:8 – and even though Jesus was God’s Son, he had to learn from experience what it was like to obey when obeying meant suffering. Have you ever felt that God didn’t hear your prayers? Jesus was in great agony as he prepared to face death (Luke 22:41-44). Although Jesus cried out to God asking to be delivered, he was prepared to suffer humiliation, separation from his father, and death in order to do God’s will. But Jesus obeyed perfectly, even under great trial; He did not avoid suffering because he had a higher purpose. It was a life that he chose freely (John 10:17-18). Jesus can help us obey, no matter how difficult obedience seems to be. At times we will undergo trials, not because we want to suffer, but because we want to obey God. Let Jesus’ obedience sustain and encourage you in times of trial. You will be able to face anything if you know that Jesus Christ is with you. Suffering may be an opportunity to practice submission before God. Be sure you are praying with reverent submission, willing to do what God wants. God responds to his obedient children.
Conclusion:
God is most at work in our lives when we are at our lowest point. That's the time when he's eager to talk to us. He is our potter and we are his clays. He uses our lowest points to shape us and mold us to become a better person. It is easy for us to acknowledge God's goodness when we are at our highest point of our lives, but what if we are at our lowest? Trials in life are very difficult and we tend to question God, but you know what, it is HIS way of toughening you up, getting you all ready for the future. When it seems impossible to get through a problem, always remember that He is teaching you a powerful lesson. God is working at a supernatural way in our lives and what you're enduring today will give you more endurance for tomorrow. Your faith will be stronger, your skin will be thicker, and your wisdom will be greater. We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. God is always there during our rough times just ask him to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; he will stay close and help you grow.
In Romans 8: 18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
This is an amazing promise! We will be glorified together with Christ! Is it worth the trade off to be mocked and then rewarded with being glorified with our Creator? Of course it is! Suffering in this life is so insignificant in light of eternity that it is not even worthy of a comparison. It may not seem this way when we look at our circumstances, but when we look out to the joy set before us, it is nothing. Though picture of the coming persecutions and natural disasters is discouraging, but ultimately it is a cause not for worry but for great joy. When we see these events happening, we will know that the return of our Savior is near, and we can look forward to his reign of justice and peace. Rather than be terrified by what is happening in our world, we should confidently await Christ’s return to bring justice and restoration to his people. For Christians, there is always hope and joy beyond suffering. What is true will remain true, even in suffering!
