“Functioning in a Dysfunctional World”
October 21, 2007
I was reading an interesting story in the book of Joe this week. What? You haven’t heard of that book? It’s not in the King James Version or even the NIV or Living Bible. I read it in a magazine I get called “REV!”. It was pretty interesting. Let me share it with you. It goes like this:
There was a pastor whose name was Joe. He was blameless, upright, feared God and never lifted his messages from SermonCentral.com without giving proper attribution. He had two sons and two daughters who never misbehaved, and a growing church of 2000. And His district had just honored him as Pastor of the year.
And, behold, there came a day when Satan appeared before God, and the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant, Pastor Joe? For there is no pastor like him in all the land, for he is blameless, upright, fearing me, and never turning in his district reports late.”
And Satan answered God, “Does Pastor Joe fear God for nothing? Have you not blessed his average attendance figures? But if you cause his offering to dip and his secretary to run off with his treasurer – AND $100, 000 – surely he will curse you to your face.”
And God allowed Satan to test Pastor Joe. And his offerings DID dip, and his secretary DID run off with the treasurer – AND $100,000.
Now when three members of the local ministerial association heard of Pastor Joe’s troubles, they stopped by his office to comfort him.
And Pastor Joe wept bitterly, saying to his friends, “I should have stayed in business school and become an insurance salesman.”
And the pastor from the First Church of the divine Potential said to Pastor Joe, “You’ve got to keep a positive attitude about all this. Don’t cave in to negative thinking, but envision a bright future for you and your church. If you just believe it – you can achieve it.”
And Pastor Joe wept even more, saying, “But our church is facing scandal and financial ruin.”
And the pastor from the Holy Ghost Revival Tabernacle said to Pastor Joe, “Fa-riend, something lucrative is going to happen to you! Jeee-sus is going to pour out the glorious riches of heaven upon you and your church – but FIRST send your seed faith gift to the Holy Ghost Revival Tabernacle. Then God will multiply your gift a hundred, a thousand times – but just believe!
And Pastor Joe dropped his head on his desktop, saying, “But I DO believe!”
And the pastor from the Unified Universal Unity Center said to Pastor Joe, “Dude, I’m detecting some really negative energy here. Like, you’ve got to readjust your reality and envision a positive future. I can see it, man! Offerings are up, your secretary is busy typing up Sunday’s bulletin, and the treasurer just discovered an unposted deposit, which means the church has $100,000 more in the checking account than last reported.”
And Pastor Joe said, “I’m going for a walk.” And he left his comforters.
As he walked, God spoke through the dust devil in the parking lot, “Who is this who darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the churches foundation and declared the gates of hell should not prevail against it? Where were you when Rome attempted to wipe out Christianity and itself crumbled and Christians prevailed? Where were you when the Wesleyan revival saved England from a revolution like the one in France? Where were you when the Puritans and Pilgrims brought Christianity to America?
Where were you when Phinias F. Bresee and the people were marching around the tabernacle when they started the Church of the Nazarene?
“Where were you when I changed lives at the first Billy Graham Crusade in Los Angles? Where were you when I inspired contemporary Christian music and the Jesus movement? Oh, that’s right, you were the one with the peach-fuzz beard and that awful paisley shirt.”
Then Pastor Joe replied to the Lord, “I know that You can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” And Pastor Joe returned to his church.
The secretary and treasurer – and the $100,000 were still gone. But God was there!
I wanted to share that little story with you because of the last line. “But God was there.” We need to hear that don’t we? We need to always remember – that no matter what – God will still be there. You can count on it.
There’s a couple of other things you can count on, too. My dad used to say something about being able to count on death and taxes. I guess that’s true. I guess you could include them with trouble. In this life, one thing you can count on is (1) trouble. We live in a fallen world, in fallen flesh, with an adversary that wants to destroy us. Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” John 10:10
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
I wish I could tell you that when you become a Christian everything will be wonderful from that point on. That’s not what the bible teaches. Listen to what it says,
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
Matthew 24:6
”In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”
2 Tim. 3:12
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 1:6-7
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12-13
Friends, one thing we can count on is trouble. But there’s another thing we can count on. Like our friend, Pastor Joe, we need to realize that no matter what – (2) God will be there. Jesus knew He was giving us a difficult assignment. Just before He was crucified He prayed,
“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”
1 John 17:9-11
When Jesus was here in the flesh – He protected His flock. He knew how vulnerable we are. Jesus understood how frail and weak we are. He knew we needed divine help. So He prays for us. He prays for our protection. And God, the Holy Spirit comes in response to that prayer. He is here to help us. Jesus, in the form of the Holy Spirit, is here to help us. The bible says,
“Now the Lord is the Spirit…” “we all… are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
It is hard for us to understand the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is so far above us, but understand this – Jesus is always right here – right now. He said,
“… surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:20
It is hard for us to understand the incredible love that God loves us with. I think we would weep for joy if we got even a little inkling of the love God has for us. Folks, He left the splendor of heaven to come and rescue us. He, almighty and infinite God, took on the form of a weak finite baby human, so He could die for us! Jesus loves you! Jesus loves ME! And we are always on His mind. Have you ever thought about that? Every moment, every day, God is thinking about you! And every moment of every day – He is with you. You are never, ever alone! It may seem like it sometimes. Our emotions ebb and flow. Our feelings deceive us. But Jesus is always there with outstretched arms. Inviting. Beckoning. Welcoming. And when the battle is most fierce; when we seem most alone; When the enemy is raging all around us - it is then when we need to run to the open arms of Jesus.
You can count on the fact that you will face battle ahead. But also count on the fact that Jesus will be there with you. He will protect you. He will strengthen you. He will rescue you. With Him – nothing can defeat you (Romans 8:37-39). With Jesus by your side, nothing is impossible to you (Philippians 4:13). With Jesus with you, your weakness becomes strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). And Jesus said, “I will be with you all the way – even to the end of the world.”
There is one more thing you can count on, (3) God will use your trouble for good. Some how, some way, God will take your lemons and make lemonade. The bible says,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”
Romans 8:28b
To me, the classic example of that is Joseph. If you haven’t read that story for awhile, I encourage you to do so. It’s in the book of Genesis. Chapter 37 to the end of the book. Joseph was a favorite son of his father, which made his brothers jealous. Some of them wanted to kill him but sold him into slavery instead. As a slave Joseph was blessed by God, but even doing everything right and living to please the Lord, Joseph was accused of attempting to rape his master’s wife, which was a lie, and was thrown into prison. In prison he kept his faith and was blessed. And God was able to take him, because of his faithfulness in the midst of trial, and overnight, put him in charge of the whole country. To his brothers, who quaked in fear, he said, “What you meant for evil God used for good.”
When I think of those who faced great trials faithful and had God use them for good, I think of Esther, Samson, David, Abraham, and really, ever single believer. God allows trials in our live to help us grow and mature and become more faithful. There are two primary areas I have found that God does that. First, in the home. Secondly, in the church. Christlikeness is forged in the furnace of relationships. God wants you to become Christlike in all you do. To accomplish Christlikeness He must allow trial and pain. He not only allows personality clashes – He wills it for you. He not only allows people to annoy us – He wills it.
I think it grieves Him to see us go through these things, but they are a necessary part of the process. It brings Him no pleasure to see you stressed out and frustrated. He is there as you are weeping in pain and sorrow. He silently holds himself back from running in to rescue you. Like a loving mom or dad hurts for their child – He hurts for you, too. He only allows it – so He can use it for good in your life. And if you remain faithful and don’t give in – you will reap a reward of goodness.
There is one final thing you can count on. (4) You can count on the fact that it WILL be worth it. Listen to what the Bible says:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people…”
Hebrew 6:10
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18
I don’t know what you are going through or have gone through this week, but I want to encourage you – it WILL be worth it! I count on these four things.
1. Troubles will come. 2. God will be with me through those troubles. 3. God will use everything – even troubles – for my good. And 4, It will be worth it. Peter said,
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” I Peter 5:4
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
2 Corinthians 4:17
God loves you. You are so precious to Him. He has wonderful plans for you. Believe that. Believe that He created you for so much more. Just continue to endure and be faithful – no matter what. It will be worth it.
Pray with me:
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for the great love you have for me. Thank you for the plans you have for me. Thank you, Lord, for trials you bring me. I trust you will give me victory in everything I face. Thank you for your grace. Help me to walk in your love. Help me to walk in obedience. I commit my life, my soul, my all to you.
In Jesus’ Name,
Song: “The Battle Belongs to the Lord”
