Chico Alliance Church
UNWRAPPING A STRANGE GIFT
REVIEW
Paul is in prison simply for preaching the resurrected Christ in a pagan world and a religious world blinded to the truth of a transformed life. From a seemingly negative circumstance, he is able to continually live the joy of the Lord. I ask, how can he do it? How is he able to experience joy in the middle of all the world's junk? As we delve deeply into his personal letter addressed to a local group of people in Philippi we too can find the secret of: Maintaining the genuine joy of the Lord while managing the grating junk of a fallen world. In short, Maintaining the joy while managing the junk. Paul's letter revolves around 4 central issues that effect my joy.
My axis, my perspective on life, the exaltation of Christ
My attitude, the servanthood of Christ
My life goal, knowing and being like christ
My source of power, the strength of Christ
When these four are properly aligned and adjusted, I will maintain joy in spite of any, I mean any circumstance. Besides, anyone can do back flips when they win the lottery. Few can genuinely live the joy of the Lord when the bottom falls out. The first key, is to maintain the RIGHT AXIS, the supreme perspective. That axis is, the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Phi 1:20
Paul lived it.
He rejoiced through his imprisonment
He rejoice in spite of improper preaching
He rejoice in the face of impending death and impossible life.
He was able because his focus was Christ-centered.
His imprisonment progressed the cause of Christ
Even improper preaching was getting the name of Christ out
To die would take him to Christ
To live would continue to experience Christ's work in Him.
Paul commanded it
Conduct yourselves worthy of the Gospel
By diligently preserving kingdom unity
"standing in one spirit"
By jointly pursuing kingdom goals
"striving together for the faith"
By Continually persevering against kingdom foes
"struggling together against the enemy"
That brings us to our text this morning.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Phi 1:30
This is the motive behind a worthy walk. This is not a private stroll in wonderland, spiritual Disneyland. This is a corporate struggle in a brutal war against a formidable foe. We have no choice, we must work and fight together for two reasons. God has gifted us with who wonderful gifts and strange gifts indeed.
Before we unwrap these gifts this morning, we need to pray.
INTRODUCTION
Everyone loves to receive gifts. Why? They have the element of surprise. They express care. They fill a need. They supply something useful.
God has provided us with many gifts. In fact, part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to aid us in understanding just what we have been given.
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1Co 2:12
This morning we are going to unwrap two of God's gifts and take a closer look. Perhaps, one of the gifts may surprise you and may even scare you. But hopefully by the time we are done reading the manual that accompanies this spiritual tool, we may learn to find joy in it. First look at our text.
"for to you (individuals) it has been granted.
Referencing each individual member of the body.
GRANTED
To give
To show favor to freely give
Graced
The verb tense here indicates a point time action. At a point in time, every believer has been given two gifts for Christ's sake. Even though these are gifts, they are gifts granted to us so that we can touch others on behalf of Chtrist. This is something that we must alwayw remember when we feel tempted to use the gifts of God for personal gain.
FIRST -- to continually believe for His sake.
Faith is a gift. "Believe" is the verb, "faith" is the noun taken from the same Greek root. The verb tense here indicates continuous action. Faith is not only an initial gift, but a continuous one. We need the grace of God even to believe. No one comes to the Son unless the Father draw Him. No one can lease God without continual faith. This faith is not primarily for our benefit, it is for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.
What a wonderful gift. We should thank him every day for such a gift that is the foundation to all that will ever take place in our life. Our responsibility, is applying all diligence in our faith, supply moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, genuine love. (2Pet 1)
Lets take a more extended look at the other gift mentioned here because it is a bit harder to appreciate.
SECOND -- to continually suffer for His sake
"for to you it has been granted for Christ's sake to suffer"
SUFFER
To experience something that comes from outside.
Stress is on the experience of evil rather than the painful feelings.
What a strange gift to give someone you love. Some of us are pursuing a goal God never intended--trouble free life. Before the fall, life was a dream. At the fall, a curse was imposed on the family, the individual, and on the earth. The curse was intended to graphically and continually demonstrate man's need for dependence on God. It seems whenever man gets comfortable in life, he gets callous and careless toward God. After the fall God intensified the work load. The more leisure time we have at our disposal, the more trouble we seem to discover. Ezekiel described the sin of Sodom as 1) abundant food, 2) pride 3) careless ease.
Fallen man expends all of his available energies straining to reverse the devastating effects of the curse apart from the plan, power and timing of God. Man continually strives so hard in the flesh to do what God can and will do
in an instant through His Spirit. Why? So he can prove himself independent of God.
There is a ominous false teaching that teaches, "God promises a trouble free life of health, wealth, power here and now." They will quote a crate full of well chosen "out of context" verses to prove their point. Just last evening I heard a preacher on the television addressing this issue.
"If God heals cancer in one person, he has to heal all cancer."
"If God delivers one alcoholic, he has to deliver all."
Friends, God is not obligated to do anything from sinful man. Who is in charge anyway? There are those in the church today who would draw considerable crowds by appleaing to a humanistic, man-centered people with the very message they want to hear. We often refuse to open this special gift of God's grace. We believe that somehow God owes us something for being such good people. We sing the song, "All to Him I owe" yet feel, "all to us He owes." We are developing a generation of people striving to get as comfortable as possible in this world and committed to avoiding hardship and suffering of any kind. We yearn for growth but so often refuse to submit to the very things God ordained to produce growth. We crave holiness but sell out to happiness because the road to holiness involves suffering and tribulation.
A prime example that I have heard over and over in church circles is, "Don't pray for patience!" What are we saying? We are saying that we would like to have this wonderful virture but are not willing to go through the process that it takes to develop it -- tribulation!
We must Seek for a balance understanding of the ways of God as revealed in His Word. Yes, God can and does heal! Yes, God can and does bless financially. Yes, God can and does prosper many businesses. Yes, God can and does exalt believers before men. But these blessings are an individual privilege not a universal promise that can be demanded by every believer. God knows the path that is best for each child. We are not all the same or learn the same. We can legitimately pray and desire these blessing but have no right to demand them from God who alone knows what we need.
God uses suffering, poverty, illness, and persecution in the life of Christians to produce the character of Christ in us. Suffering is not only a gift, it is a calling.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1Pe 2:21
Genuine Christianity is costly, not comfortable. It focuses on inner peace not physical prosperity. Because of this disastrous "prosperity Gospel" being taught today, when these unforseen, unexpected circumstances of life crash into our life like a flood, we made to feel that we have sinned or terribly failed God in some way. It may be true. We may be under discipline but not necessarily. Jesus suffered a great deal and had NO SIN in His life. He perfectly carried out ALL that He was given to do. We must stop always associating all trials with sin. They are the result of living in a fallen world. These tragedies of life cause to long even more for the day that Jesus Christ comes to set it ALL straight. For now God uses each trial and brings glory out of gloom, delight out of despair by His glorious might that mihgty works within us.
Paul amplifies in the next verse what he means by the "gift of suffering."
"experiencing the same conflict"
CONFLICT
Agonize, Contest
Striving for a goal
Suffering discomfort with a prize in mind
Paul told Timothy
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer. 2Ti 2:4
What were some of the hardships and difficult trials of Paul?
He struggled to encourage hearts of Christians.
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodocia, and for all who have not met me personally. Col 2:1
He suffered mistreatment
We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 1Th 2:2
He strove and fought for faith in a fallen world
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2Ti 4:7
He walked the walk of holiness.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Heb 12:1
2Corinthians 4:8-11
(8) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (10) We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (11) For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
2Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. (24) Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, (26) I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. (27) I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (28) Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul makes it abundantly clear, that NO believer is exempt from suffering. It is as much part of our walk as faith.
Peter urged,
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. 1Pe 4:1
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. 1Pe 4:13
WHAT ABOUT US? How much suffering do we experience for Christ's sake and not for sin's sake? What kind of suffering are we up against.
Deny the flesh when it cries for fulfillment
Committed to self-less giving rather than selfish grabbing
Spending time for the Lord as a first priority.
Enduring people pressure
Persevering ridicule
Persevering through difficult circumstances with the right responses and attitudes
Many of us use difficult circumstances as an excuse for defiance, and disobedience.
"I was so tired." "He ticked me off." "She had no right to treat me that way." "I was right in the middle of my devotions." "It has be a hard day."
You see, we have plenty opportunity to suffer for Christ's sake on a daily basis. The point is how we respond to the pressure and pain of people and circumstances. We require a better view, an eternal perspective on suffering.
We wish to draw from other Scriptures to further explore suffering in this life.
* Explore the source of suffering
* Examine the character of Suffering
* Extract the reasons for suffering
* Explain the responses to suffering
* Exclaim the release from suffering
I. THE SOURCE OF SUFFERING
Suffering from slight to severe is a consequence of life in a fallen world. We have all been personally effected by, or heard about in others incidents of agonizing suffering. I don't have or pretend to have all the answers to this perplexing puzzle, but I hope to at least lay some ground work for understanding the place of pain and suffering in this world. When some individuals contemplate the problem of evil, they arrive at some basic conclusions as a result of inadequate understanding of the character of God. Why does God allow such suffering and pain in our world? How can a loving God stand by and let this tragedy happen? God simply cannot be a loving and all powerful God and still allow evil to continue in our world. The only conclusion concerning the fact that evil still exists in our world is that God is not powerful enough or not loving enough to do something about our pain and suffering. In order to understand this bewildering problem of evil, we must seek a balanced understanding of least three factors.
A. God's Initial Design
God planned a perfect environment. Evil did not originate with God. He did not plan it, although He planned for it. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights who cannot be tempted by evil nor can He tempt anyone to evil.
B. Man's Intentional Default
We understand that sin came into our world through the heart and mind of Lucifer.
Scripture states clearly how sin came into the experience of mankind.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned - Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. Rom 5:12,14
C. God's Redemptive Design
God has a plan to eliminate evil. His plan must unfold in accord with His particular design. Yes, God IS an all-loving God! Yes, God IS an all -powerful God! But God is unwilling to presently eliminate evil from our world at the expense of man's free will. God currently allows evil for His eternal purposes, most of which we are unable to comprehed with our finite capacity of minds.
God allows sin and evil to continue to run their course as a natural consequence of the choices that man makes in his rebellion against God. God allows evil to continue at present to illustrate the absolute need for obedience to the original design of dependence. It is important to note however, that although God has not in His love and power yet eliminate evil, He continually engages His love and power and wisdom in transforming that evil into ultimate good as well as enable those afflicted by that evil to transcend their suffering to the glory of God. God's present plan involves temporarily employing evil for purposes for present often known only to Him.
God's ultimate plan involves eliminating evil with it's author and all his followers in the lake of fire forever. Death and sin must be seen as a result of Satan's subtle seduction of man in perfect environment to seek his own way independent of His loving providerÿand Creator. Suffering is the result of man's own selfishness and rebellion against the ways of God. Man's choices have brought him the natural consequences of sin from generation to generation. Man often thinks that he God is obligated to eliminate our suffering upon demand (request) without the necessity of bowing to His sovereignty or coming to Him in humble dependence. It can't happen. It won't happen.
II. THE CHARACTER OF SUFFERING
A. Biblical Terms
Misfortune, calamity, affliction
Mistreatment, oppression
Bear hardship, receive or suffer hard blows from without
Distressed by outward circumstances
Distressed by emotional upheaval
B. No respecter of Persons
Stress and suffering are experienced by believer and unbeliever alike. Contrary to some teaching, God does not promise the Christian suffering free living. In fact, He promises the opposite.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Joh 16:33
C. Never arrives announced
Sooner or later tragedy will march into you own living room. It is only a matter of time until your emotions will be assaulted and you composure ripped by the sound of a siren in the night or a cry or a phone call. You can't ever choose the time or place or intensity of the pain the penetrates your very soul and often shakes the very foundations of your faith.
Chico Alliance Church
September 13, 1989
"WHY ME?"
All of us have had t face suffering of some sort. Some examples still lodge firmly ingrained in the memory banks of Chico alliance Church.
Cancer, commas, accidents, heart failures, illness, old age, premature deaths. This says nothing of the heartache and evil we see everyday in the papers and news reports; incidences of starvation, child abuse, drugs, murders, poverty.
Tragedy of all kinds could be brought to our conscious thoughts in a moment. We are driven to ask why? How can a loving, all powerful God allow such suffering in His world? I certainly don't have all the answers, but we hope to at least to lay some Biblical ground work for understanding the place of pain and suffering in our world for the present.
III. THE REASONS FOR SUFFERING
As we have already discussed, God's present purpose in regard to suffering is to use it to bring about His eternal purposes. Of course, Satan has his own set of perverse purposes for trials. Suffering can be a great benefit to our growth in the Lord or it can become a great barrier to our relationship with God. Wrong responses to suffering can create a kaleidoscope of consequences and additional suffering. We are often responsible for the intensification of our trials because of our own unwillingness to do things God's way. Then we kick and scream at how terrible things have become and then we blame or curse God for not caring and doing something about our terrible misery.
A right response to suffering will require a correct understanding of the possible purposes and positive development that can come through those trials. However, trials will only produce positive character in us if we properly respond to them as directed by God. This is a principle well-known in the physical world. To exercise improperly will induce damage not benefit to the body. So responding to trials improperly will fail to produce the desired results.
Let us therefore extract some of the reasons for suffering revealed in God's operations manual so that we might better respond to those trials.
1. Trials Produce Purity and Maturity
According to Heb 2:10, Jesus was perfected through suffering.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Heb 2:10
We too learn obedience and develop maturity through suffering.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rom 5:3-5
Without tension, stress, and trial there is not growth. Just as we need gravity to develop properly physically, we need the pressure of trials to develop spiritually.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Jam 1:2-4
Joni Earikson Tada, well acquainted with what it means to suffer put it very well.
"When God brings suffering into your life as A Christian, be it mile or drastic, He is forcing you to decide on issues you have been avoiding. He is pressing you to ask yourself some questions."
God allows suffering to get us to take a look at some areas in our life just as He allowed Israel to come under oppression to bring them to repentance. God is much more concerned with our spiritual maturity and purity than He is with our physical or financial will being. He is more interested in our holiness than our happiness. For only when we are practicing true holiness will we be perceiving genuine happiness.
2. Cultivates Compassion for others
It is as we experience the comfort of God through difficult situations that we are best able to help others who suffer. We can identify with the hurt and confusion of the evil one that attempts to undermine our confidence in a loving God.
2 Corinthians speaks to this point as it confirms that the degree of intensity of suffer is always matched by equal comfort.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
1 Corinthians 12:26 reminds us that no member of the body is an island. The suffering of one affects everyone else as well whether we know and feel it or not.
3. Teaches To Trust In God's power Alone
Sometimes God needs to sweep away all the props we use to lean on. Those things from which we seek to draw our security and significance need to be shown for the empty vessels they are. We need to be reminded that this life is a supernatural walk that can only be lived through the supernatural means given through His Spirit. We are a technologically advanced society that prides itself on independence, ingenuity and self-help. Yet we have not progress a great deal when it comes to the human personality.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 2Co 1:11
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2Co 4:7
The result of the indwelling Christ is the ability to go through trials and not be destroyed but disciplined by them.
4. Suffering is the Path to Personal Glory and Blessing
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Heb 2:9
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2Co 4:17
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1Pe 4:14
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Rom 8:18
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. 1Pe 1:6-7
We desperately need the same attitude as Moses(Heb 11:25-26) chose toward suffering and hardship in this world.
He chose to endure ill-treatment in a hostile environment with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Why? He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches that all the tremendous treasures of Egypt because He was Christ-centered, and maintained and eternal perspective. The text says it was because he was looking to the reward. So also Christ who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2
We want the glory without the grit. We want the gain without the pain. We want to experience the blessing without the obedience.
5. Spreads the Word of God
Often times God must use persecution and such to get His people to go where He wants His word taken.
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Act 11:19
Paul stated that his affliction cause the Word to spread to many.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2Co 4:15
6. Brings glory to God
Reflecting on the healing of the man born blind in the Gospel we have some of the same questions and answers go through our mind. Why was this man born blind? Terrible suffering. Some of the standard reasons. Personal sin, ancestral sin. Jesus revealed one they had not considered. Simply to bring glory to God.
You see we often think that God has committed Himself to our wonderful well-being. We are taught that He is here to serve us and give whatever we ask for our gain. We forget that we were save to His glory not our personal gain. Suffering becomes a tool in the Master's hand to demonstrate His power and love to an unbelieving world. That power and love can be demonstrated through healing or not healing.
7. Discipline
This reason is related to the first but a little more direct. The first weighs heavily on discipleship and growth and may be unrelated to personal in. This is directly related to our sin and the need for correction.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Heb 12:9-11
Suffering is often the result of violating certain natural spiritual principles. When Israel was routed soundly by tiny Ai after stomping terrible Jericho, Joshua in a moment of weakness assumed it was God's fault. God made it clear that it was because of sin and told Joshua to stop blubbering and take care of the sin in the camp. It was simply their own disobedience that brought on the suffering and death. God was demonstrating that things must be done His way or suffer the consequences.
Galatians does not leave any room for misunderstanding when it states that we are responsible.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Gal 6:7
God disciplines in many ways. Rather than blame Him for what is happening, we should ask Him what is going on. As we encounter life and all its pain and suffering, our question should not be, "Why Me?" that is the response of a hard (perhaps confused) heart seeking relief from misery without meaning.
First we should realize that we live in a fallen world intended to drive us to God and will never be comfortable or pain free till Jesus returns. Next we should as, "What can I learn from this trial and how can I bring you honor as your child?"
All the while, we need to keep in mind just how our concepts of God will effect my response to suffering that floods into our life. If I believe that God is a loving God who is infinitely concerned with my ultimate (important distinction) good, then I will be better equipped to respond in a healthy way to any given circumstance. If on the other hand, I believe that God is obligated to keep me comfortable, I will be disappointed and will become bitter.
How we think concerning God and the place of trials and suffering in His master plan will effect my response. I know that God could remove any circumstance if it were in my best good and His greatest glory. Thus, if He doesn't, there must be a reason.
That reason may be hidden till heaven, but there is a reason.
1--It is the only way to bring about purity and maturity in me.
2--It helps cultivate compassion for others.
3--It teaches me to trust Him alone for real life.
4--It is the means of storing up glory and blessing.
5--It helps spread the word of the Lord.
6--It brings glory to God.
7--It helps keep me in line through discipline.
Lets stop mumbling and trying to manipulate God and others to help you avoid the pains of life. When we are not demanding present utopia from God, we are free to deal with trouble as it comes and respond in a manner that will bring us greatest growth and God's greatest glory. Scripture addresses the kind of response to trial that we should seek to demonstrate.
ACTION
Check my attitude toward trouble, pain, trial, suffering, hassle, work, inconvenience, stress. I can see it as a disappointment from a God who promises me a trouble free life here and now. I can view it as the result of living in a painful fallen world that won't change till Christ returns but a loving god has promised me the grace, the ability to endure whatever may come in a manner that will bring me growth and bring Him glory.
Chico Alliance Church
September 24, 1989
"WHAT'S A CHRISTIAN TO DO?"
IV. RESPONSE TO SUFFERING
A. Natural Human Response to Suffering
1. Fright
We are really frightened people. Fear is a direct result of the fall. Man found himself stripped and naked before a holy God left for the first time to his own adequacy for survival and under the threat of rejection by God. Genesis says that Adam was afraid. Vulnerable, inadequate, alone, responsible to answer for failure. When it comes to the hard things in life, we are really afraid of rejection and ridicule. We lose our focus on Christ and become self-centered and self-protective.
Like Peter, our focus on the Savior is diverted by the storms and circumstances of life and fear envelops our faith and we sink into the sea of despair where we must be mercifully rescued by our loving Lord. Fear causes two kinds of response. First, fear caused Adam to hide.
2. Flight
We have a natural tendency to RUN from unpleasant circumstances, to avoid those things that stretch us beyond what we think we can endure. We run from all that threatens rejection or confrontation. We develop self-protective devises to keep people from seeing us as we really are. After all, if people only knew, they would reject me. I sink into an attitude of not wanting to face anything that will threaten my already unstable condition. The problem with life, is that it doesn't care. We run into trials anyway. God uses those trials to drive us to Himself. A second response to fear is to fight.
3. Fight
We fight God, we fight others. Mostly our fear is manifest in our relationships with others.
B. Supernatural, Godly response to suffering
1. Rejoice
"I Rejoice in my suffering for you sake." Col 1:24
"We can exalt in our tribulation" Rom 5:3
"Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials." James 1
"Overflowing with joy in all our affliction." 2 Cor 7:4
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. 1Pe 4:12-13
It is clear that God enables us to maintain an attitude of expectation and joy by focusing out thoughts on may be accomplished through the trial we are facing. When we fail to obey this clear commanded response, we limit the outcome and fruit that could be accomplished through it. We do not have a choice. We are to count it joy by readjusting our perspective and our focus from self to Christ, from escape to growth.
2. Praise
This response is similar to the first but draws attention more directly to the attributes of God in a time when they seem to be obscure or in the shadows. We praise Him because of who He is. Job said, "Shall we praise the Lord in prosperity and not in calamity?"
3. Don't Lose Heart
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry (of reflecting God's glory to the world), we do not lose heart. 2Co 4:1
We have an important job to do. We have the distinct privilege of reflecting the glory of the Lord through these vessels of clay. With privilege and responsibility comes promise.
We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2Co 4:16
We have a Savior who knows by experience the task and trials before us.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:3
4. Comfort Others
God uses this suffering to encourage us to not only draw close to Him, but to draw near to each other. If we refuse to touch one another, God will allow the supply of grace to dry up from our life. If is often when we decide to turn our pity part into a compassion party, that we find the necessary resources that bring healing to our own life.
5. Pray
Over and over again in the Scriptures we are urged to cry out to God in our time of trouble. The Psalmist recorded many such cries to God in his terrible times of trouble. Jesus in His trouble, entrusted His soul to a faithful creator in doing what was right. Later in Philippians we will learn that we are not to respond to life with worry and fret, but we are to pray in faith. James 5 asks, "Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray."
It is in those wrenching times of dark despair and loneliness that God calls aside into His refuge that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. We find a oneness that could in no other way be developed as we realize the only reliable source is found in God.
6. Persevere
Finally, we look at the overall response we should have toward suffering, perseverance.
Chico Alliance Church
October 1, 1989
"Responding to Tribulation"
Tribulations
Those actions of people or those events of life that produce physical, psychological, or spiritual pain and or pressure in my life
SIMPLY--
Any person or circumstance that produces pain or pressure.
These pressures and pains range from slight to severe.
It may be anything from a financial disaster to an unexpected expense.
From imminent divorce to an irritating marital disagreement. From a totally rebellious child to a temporarily rambunctious child. From facing a terminal illness to sniffling through a troubling head cold.
Each trial that comes our way creates a crossroad of response.
1--I choose to respond as prompted by the Spirit according to the pattern of Christ.
2--I choose to respond as pressured by Satan according to the pattern of the flesh.
God has promised to enable me to righteously respond to any given pain or pressure that people or events may bring. And not only respond initially, but continue to respond, however severe or however long that trial may be. So how am I to respond to the hurtful people and harmful events that continually crash uninvited into my life??
The ridicule, the injustice, rejections, loving with no love in return, sickness and death, failed marriages, strained relationships, financial disasters, persecutions, attacks of the evil one, unrealized expectations and dreams.
Just what do I do with all of these bitter disappointments and tribulations? These are the things that are instrumental in producing pain and facilitate the development of any number of emotional disturbances like fear, disappointment, bitterness, feelings of worthlessness, anxieties, worries, depression, anger, and the list goes on.
My usual first response to many of these things is to RUN, find a way out from under the pressure before I break. I grope in the dark for some sanctuary of escape that will ease the pain that people or circumstances have produced. I run to entertainment, isolation, alcohol or drugs that temporarily relieve us from the reality of life. I may develop most any behavior or activity that has at its core to escape a painful person or event.
What does Scripture indicate our response should be?
1. Rejoice
2. Praise
3. Don't Lose Heart
4. Comfort Others
5. Pray
6. Persevere
"persevere"
1--to remain, make your home, abide, stay, live.
2--"under"
The word resulting from the marriage of these two terms is strong. We are told, when it comes to tribulations, to persevere, endure, remain under, keep in there, make your home there, live under the trial, hang in there, don't try to squirm out from under it.
To formalize the concept a bit:
Endurance is the ability to continue pursuing and doing what we know is right before God, in spite of my feeling, or fatigue and in spite of any pressure to escape, grumble, or crumble under the load.
This endurance commanded by the Lord is not merely closing our eyes and gutting it out until it is all over. It is continually responding to each trial that comes into my life in the way that God has indicated that I should respond.
ILLUS:
"If those kids don't stop that racket, I will go nuts!"
To hold back my verbal explosion for another 10 minutes is not endurance. Endurance is the ability to respond as Christ would respond with love and a servant's heart in spite of the pressure to pop. Endurance is refusing to take the fleshly escapes offered by the evil one and, drawing on the enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, respond to the situation according to the principle of sacrificial love and acceptance. I require radical re-adjustment of my perceptions before any transformation can take place in my performance.
III. UNDERSTANDING THE WAY OF ENDURANCE
1. Realize that god has not promised a trouble free life
We are left here on this earth:
To demonstrate our faith in the midst of famine.
To show the world our trust in the middle of trouble.
To continue our devotion to Christ even though sometimes surrounded by mystifying darkness.
There is no guaranteed provision for escape from testing,
Only guaranteed power to endure it. What about I Corinthians 10:13? God has not given a guarantee of escape from life's troubles and hardships here in this age. He has promised escape from the internal turmoil and hopelessness often associated with those trials. In fact He has indicated that troubles will come, and will overtake us just as they have ever since the fall of man. He has promised us the peace of Christ and the way of escape that will enable us to endure any trouble that may come our way.
The first step is to realize that trouble will come. Otherwise I will continually be attempting to manipulate God to satisfy my own pleasure and greed rather than His purpose and glory.
2. Entrust your Souls to a faithful creator to do right.
I Pet 2:23;4:19 James 5:11
FIRST
He is our Creator. He is faithful. He always does what is right.
SECOND
We entrust our souls.
Entrust is made up of two Greek words:
1--The word to place, or lay, or deposit
2--The word for beside, face to face, intimate relationship.
Thus the word means to place beside, deposit next to. We are to place our souls into the hands of the one who created us, who is faithful and has our best interest at heart. We are to give Him the control of our life no matter what. We are to leave our deposit in His bank expecting maximum return.
THIRD
We must next realize that endurance is a work first wrought in the heart by God through our own prayers of faith as well as the prayers of others on our behalf.
2 Thess 3:4-5;Rom 15:4-5;Col 1:11-12
We need a continual attitude of dependence, Prayer, and Faith. He gives endurance and directs our heart into the endurance of Christ.
3. Understand God's purpose for trial
**It produces purity and maturity
**It cultivates compassion for others
**It teaches to trust God alone (tests my faith)
**It is the means to glory and blessing
**It spreads the Word
**It brings glory to God
**It keeps me obedient
4. Focus on the Present Fruit of Endurance
1--The joy of helping others
"But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the enduring of the same suffering which we also suffer." 2Cor 1:8
"For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.: 2Tim 2:10
2--The joy of the abundant life and continual blessing
"Blessed is the man who endures under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:2-4,12
"Blessed" means, happy, jubilant, that ever increasing inner quality of life whose full bliss will be once for all realized in the future life. There is great joy when we endure trial. The joy comes as a result of divine approval and the subsequent experience of a quality of life associated with obedience. That kind of life is a crown we may wear here and now. The measure of that life is determined by my continual endurance under trial.
"But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings... Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Heb 10:32,36
3--Preserving of the soul
"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction (don't endure), but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul."
"Guard over you heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life." Prov 4:23
4--The peaceful fruit of righteousness
"It is for discipline that you endure...for our earthly fathers disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He (God) disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Heb 12:7,9-11
If we want:
A fruitful ministry and impact with people
The realization of all of God's blessing
Protection of the soul from a multitude of maladies
Personal righteousness.
Then we must learn to continually respond to life's pressures by entrusting our lives to the control of the Holy Spirit.
REVIEW
Expect tribulation
Entrust your souls to a faithful creator
Examine God's purpose for tribulation and endurance
Focus on living the highest quality of life here and now.
Anticipate the future glory associated with endurance
5. Focus on future glory
"Therefore, gird you minds for action, keep sober, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Pet 1:13
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Rom 8:18
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." 2 Cor 4:17
Do not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. Gal 6:9
6. Study those who endured before us
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
Those of Hebrews 11, Job, the prophets, the Israelites, the missionaries, saints through the ages.
7. Lay aside every encumbrance and sin
8. Focus on the Lord Jesus Christ
The story is told of a soldier in WWII that had enough of the front lines action and decided in desperation to desert during the night. When night time came he stumbled and crawled his way through the pitch black night. He was hoping to find his way to the coast line and get on a vessel back to England but he really had no idea of which way he was going in the dark. Finally he bumped into what he thought was a sign post. He inched his way up the post and lit a match to try to read the sign and find out just where he was. When he lit the match there appeared the face of Jesus Christ in the glow of the dim light for the post was not a sign at all, but a statue of Jesus on the cross. He all of a sudden came face to face with the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for our freedom. The next morning the soldier was back on the front lines once again with a new fervor.
CONCLUSION
Two choices:
1) Commit to the pursuit of life in the Spirit. (Endurance)
2) Capitulate to the pressure to settle for life in the flesh. (Escape)
God tells us to continually pursue and develop endurance. Endurance is the mark of maturity. Do you want to really experience all that God has? What are you facing this morning? Finances, sickness, depression, fear, worry, anger, family problems, marriage problems, even little irritations, relationship problems, controlling your tongue, adjusting your attitudes, sin problems?
Whatever the trial, whatever the person or circumstance that brings pain and pressure into your life... Scripture through exhortation and example through prescription and pattern has made clear our responsibility to respond as Christ. Scripture enables us to endure through it all. For only after we have done the will of God will we reap the great reward sometimes in this life and the next but most assuredly in the next.
FIRST
Stop running away and start running the race set before you.
Stop trying to establish a comfortable life in a war zone.
It's just not going to happen!
SECOND
Entrust you soul to a faithful creator. Take your hands off and pray for the God of endurance to do a wok in your life.
THIRD
Realize God's purpose for these trials of life.
FOURTH
Focus on what God wants to accomplish through this trial.
Enable you to help others
Provide greater joy and bless me abundantly
Preserve your soul from the pain of disobedience
Produce holiness in my life
FIFTH
Think about what eternal blessings are in store.
SIXTH
Study those who have endured and remained faithful.
SEVENTH
Come face to face with those things that trip me up in the race.
EIGHTH
Keep my focus on the person of Jesus Christ.
Paul was able to conclude his life with a very bold statement concerning endurance:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The Lord will deliver me form every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever Amen. 2 Tim 4:7-8,18
Reach out to Him. For His grace is greater than any and all of your needs.
Chico Alliance Church
October 8, 1989
Deliverance From Suffering
REVIEW
Tribulation/suffering has been defined as those actions of people or those events of life that produce physical, psychological, or spiritual pain and or pressure in my life.
Scripture is clear as to how I am to respond to any given tribulation.
1. Rejoice--count it all joy
2. Praise
3. Don't lose heart
4. Comfort others
5. Pray
6. Persevere, Endure
Endurance has been defined as the ability to continue pursuing and doing what we know is right before God, in spite of my feelings, or fatigue and in spite of any pressure to escape, grumble, or crumble under the load.
It is clear that God does not always eliminate the perplexing people or events or maneuver me away from those trials.
Rather He uses those things to accomplish any number of objectives in my life and in His overall plan. We are encouraged, yes commanded to remain under, persevere, endure until God's objectives for the trial have been accomplished. We have examined a number of those objectives.
Tribulation
1. Produces purity and maturity in the saints
2. Cultivates compassion for one another
3. Teaches trust in God's power alone
4. Is the pathway to personal glory and blessing
5. Brings about the spread of God's Word
6. Brings glory to God
7. Means of personal discipline for sin.
What about God's promise for deliverance?
I thought God was a healing God. Can I pray for healing and deliverance? Does God ever bring about a miraculous removal of any of the terrible things I suffer? Yes, God is a God of the supernatural. And Scripture definitely describes some wonderful and unbelievable works of the Lord.
We we must always seek to present truth in balance. We must not fall off of either end of the Biblical balance beam.
At the one end of the truth beam:
God is a supernatural healing, delivering God both promised and pictured throughout the Scriptures.
The other end post:
God does not always heal in time and space and has not promised to heal everyone. This truth also is well pictured throughout Scripture.
The guiding factor in our discussion of deliverance from suffering must be a right axis, a proper perspective. To be Christ centered rather than comfort or self centered. We must have a proper view of suffering before we can ever seek to understand the issues of healing and deliverance.
We must have as our axis the desire to see Jesus Christ exalted in our life. If that will be best accomplished by a continuation of a given tribulation, so be it. If He will be more highly exalted by a miraculous deliverance than let that be the case.
We must have a Biblically balanced understanding of the supernatural work of God as revealed in the Bible. There are at least three categories of God's supernatural working in our world --- 1--Internal 2--External 3--Ultimate
This morning, I hope to bring some of these things into balance and give us cause to rejoice in Him for what great things He has done.
INTERNAL HEALING
The ultimate test of faith is not to see how excited and on fire we become because of a multitude of fiery signs and wonders. The ultimate test of the genuineness of faith is to see how faithful we remain in spite of a multitude of fiery trials and tribulations. Peter tells us that faith is refined and tested like Gold, and only after it has passed the test, will it result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Just ask Job how this process works. Ask Israel about the effects of the miracles in the wilderness, the continual demonstrations of power and even an audible voice and manifested presence on their ability to believe God.
Satan's contention concerning Job was that Job only served God because of god's abundant blessing and protection. Why do we serve God? Some churches today are preaching another gospel. It is a good news but it is a twisted version of the gospel. It is not God's good news. It is a teaching that down plays the seriousness of sin and accents the soothing of the sensual and sensational.
Often times we look at the size and the excitement and the wonder of it all and conclude that God must be in it. Not necessarily. I am not sure that it is God's work, especially when it is based on a perversion of His own definitive word.
Many people are "coming to Christ", but not as a result of realizing their sinfulness and selfishness. They are coming to Christ to be rescued from their uncomfortableness. This unbalanced brand of man-centered, sensational teaching rather than Christ-centered teaching is becoming more and more prevalent even in some of our more conservative churches.
Illus: A black singer sang an old spiritual in a way which threatened to inject reality into the proceedings. But the show's hostess clapped her hands, rolled her eyes heavenward and cooed, "Fantastic brother! Fantastic! Christianity is so Fantastic -- who cares whether or not it's true?." Os Guiness ref:PTL
Schuller:I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to the human personality and, hence counter-productive to the evangelism enterprise, than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition." Quote recalled by Chalcedon Report and an interview by John Lofton. Christian churches, liturgies, hymns, prayers, and spiritual interpretations have been rampantly reckless in assaulting the dignity of the person." Our rebellion is a reaction, not our nature. By nature we are fearful, not bad. Original sin is not a mean streak; it is a non-trusting inclination. Quoted from Schuller's book page 67
At the heart of this teaching we have a God who becomes a "Celestial Santa Claus" and a Christ who becomes the scapegoat for all my troubles. He becomes the one to rescue me from the suffering of my own selfish behavior and low self image and has promised to make things down here easier. If that is the Gospel that is being preached, real regeneration is not taking place.
Salvation comes to those who come empty handed to Christ, having recognized their sinful condition and desperate need of a Savior. It is coming to him with realization that I have offended a Holy God and Creator by my independent pride and resulting rebellious behavior. There are two tracks in Christianity today that lead to a dead end perhaps derailment.
ONE: Psychological transformations that occur through mental gymnastics and positive thinking techniques which appear to work and bring psychological relief.
TWO: Emphasis on the physical, external .
I am striving for balance here. God has not promised to always eliminate the negative trials and circumstance in our life. It is often a greater testimony to His glory to endure and still trust. To say with Job, "Though he kills me, I will still trust Him" is a much greater accomplishment than to say, "Because He healed me of this broken arm, I know I can trust Him."
If we can only trust God when He does just what we want makes us the god of our own life and He the servant to us. If we fall apart and turn our backs every time things turn sour, we clearly demonstrate the shallowness of our faith.
Paul makes it clear that God's priority in this age is the internal not the external.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2Co 4:16
God uses the external demonstrations of power in order to point to the greater, at least the more significant internal transformations.
EXAMPLE--THE PARALYTIC
Jesus declared the forgiveness of his sins an act of far greater implications than any physical healing. Yet because of the blindness to the spiritual significance of what He had just done Jesus said, "So that you may know that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins, take up your bed and walk."
We must stop exalting external demonstrations of God's power over the supernatural power of God demonstrated in the regeneration of the lost and inner healing of attitudes and personality fractures of those who come to Him. We get all excited about someone receiving physical healing only to die later anyway and if not a Christian spend eternity in hell.
Yet when a physically crippled person comes to the altar weeping in repentance before God and finds eternal salvation or finds healing for their troubled soul we see it as a second class sort of event. After all, our rebirth is the greatest miracle that could ever take place. To take a dead spirit destined to spend eternity in the fires of help and bring about its resurrection into newness of life is a miraculous work that will not be appreciated until heaven.
God equates the power that raised Christ from the dead with the power necessary to produce endurance and patience and joy.
...being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Col 1:10-11
Although we have many demonstrations of God's supernatural power manifested on the physical external level, by far, the emphasis is on the supernatural work of the Spirit of God in the heart. All of redemptive history leads up to the internal regenerating work made possible through the death and resurrection of Christ. All of history subsequent to that time focuses on the application of that work in the time and space to the sanctifying, transformation of every believer into the image of Christ.
The final phase of redemption will concentrate on the physical restoration of all of creation including our bodies.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (19) The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. (20) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (22) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (23) Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18-23
Deliverance and healing from Satan's bondage of anger, bitterness, fear, depression is of greater significance than a healed cold. If this is so, why do most of our requests for prayer revolve around release from some sort of physical predicament? God is concerned about those things. But it is not his priority.
However, we usually are more interested in physical comfort than spiritual completeness. Miraculous physical manifestations are not the foundation upon which we are to build our faith.
"Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "`No, father Abraham,' he said, `but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luk 16:31
If we insist on a physical focus we run the risk of always attempting to manipulate God for my own comfort rather than serve Him for His cause. Manipulation of others is an ancient form of sorcery and witchcraft. Remember, the seen is the temporal, the unseen is the eternal.
Even Jesus did not seek to avoid His suffering and pain by supernatural means, but through prayer and trust in the Father's plan. He allowed himself to go hungry, to be beaten, to die for us.
Paul went through all kinds of suffering. Paul suffered a demonic thorn that God refused to remove for higher purposes. God simply has not made a blanket promise of physical healing to everyone. Thus Paul suffered. Epahroditus almost died. Timothy had to take Pepto Bismol for his stomach problems.
Jesus told the home town crowd demanding a miracle show to prove his worth among them that He was not sent to heal everyone.
Luke 4:25-27 (25) I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. (26) Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. (27) And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed - only Naaman the Syrian."
We must keep a proper balance and eternal perspective. We must not be so frantic to receive physical healing that we become frustrated when for God's greater purpose we don't. God is much more concerned with our maturity than He is our mirth. He is concentrating more on our holiness than our happiness. Even if that maturity and holiness requires we suffer unpleasant physical and temporal trials. Eternal transformations of the soul kind, are of greater import to the kingdom than temporal re-adjustments of the physical kind.
EXTERNAL HEALING
Striving for the Biblical balance requires that we my no means de-emphasize the supernatural power of God to remove adverse circumstances and suffering by miraculous means.
God has established natural laws by which this universe operates. But for His own purpose and glory He may, and often does, choose to transcend those natural laws into the SUPERnatural.
There are physical laws and there are spiritual laws. If I jump off the roof I am painfully confronted with the law of gravity. If I violate Biblical principles and I am confronted with the law of sin and death, the law of sowing and reaping. As I yield to Christ and I am free to experience the supernatural law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
When God chooses to suspend His own natural laws it is always for a reason. Some periods and times in Biblical history were filled with more external miraculous displays of God's power with a far greater purpose than mere avoidance from misery.
Abraham experienced the miraculous as he walked by faith, as well as Moses and David and Samuel and Enoch. Yet the equally faithful Jeremiah and John the Baptist experienced only suffering and pain in proclaiming the unalterable truth of God's message.
The miracles of Christ were to bring authentication to His person and purpose. Each of the miracles were to teach a lesson. After the feeding of the 5,000-- I am the Bread of Life. At the resurrection of Lazarus--I am the resurrection and the Life.
Christ never performed miracles for His own personal benefit or just for miracles sake. That is part of the reason He refused to take Satan's "suggestion" to meet his own needs through the miraculous. God is our healer. God does continue to demonstrate His power through external healing.
The cross of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice provides the framework and basis for both my deliverance from the sin and sickness. Isaiah 53 makes it clear that Jesus took my place and by His suffering and substitutionary death I can experience healing. Matthew applies that truth to Christ's physical healing from the effects of sin on the body. Peter applies that truth to our healing for the devastating effects of sin on the soul.
Yet throughout history God has allowed physical suffering to continue and provided the supernatural internal work of endurance to His glory. Only God knows what kind of work will bring us the greatest growth and He the greatest glory. Our job is to ask, to pray, to believe to entrust our lives to our faithful creator in doing what is right. We are to leave the results in His hands and not demand from Him but receive what is best from His hand not continually nag for our own gain rather than His glory.
Paul speaks of supernatural deliverance from death through the prayers of the saints.
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings - what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 2Ti 3:11
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, Psa 46:2
James outlines a procedure in 5:14-20 through which we may find healing in the church today.
Unfortunately due to a narrow translation of the Greek term here this procedure has been limited to PHYSICAL healing. Any word has a range of meaning determined by usage and context. The word translated "sick" in James 5:14 is the Greek word for "strength" with a negative put in front of it. It should actually be translated, "Is anyone among you without strength, weak?"
If you run a usage check of this particular Greek word you will find it used in at least three different spheres. FIRST, it is used in the Gospels to express one who is physically weak or sick. SECOND, it is used in the Gospels for one who is suffering from demonic influence of some sort. THIRD, it is used for a weakness in ones faith, a spiritual struggling of some kind.
If James intended to indicate that all three of these spheres ought to prompt a call for the elders, we ought to have the alter full at the church at every service. I feel that we have missed a healing power and process that God has made available to the church for healing on all levels. I believe that James presents this procedure as an answer to all the "sickness" that he has exposed throughout his letter.
Since I believe that this is the case, I also believe that we ought not take the process lightly. It should never be exercised as a mere religious ritual that we perform. It should never become so familiar to us as a denominational distinctive that we for get that each element of the procedure is as important as the other.
The elements are given as follows:
CALL FOR THE ELDERS
This is an act of humility that is a necessary step on the part of the one seeking help. In calling for the elders, they recognize that they are dependant creatures that must have help outside of themselves. It is also a recognition and acknowledgment that there is a problem that needs attention. We must never underestimate the importance of this step in the healing process. Continual stress should be made that this act is not just for physical symptoms but for weakness of any sort including sins of the soul that lead to physical problems.
CONFESSION OF SIN
Doctors tell us that much of our physical illness are psychosomatic or have been brought on by improper lifestyle. We must never assume that the one who has come for physical healing is even aware of some sin in their life. Due to a very poor view of sin in the church today, it might be necessary to probe and teach before prayer takes place. If this person comes for healing of their stomach problems which are due to the sin of unbelief and worry, God will not (generally, He may at His choice do it any way) heal the stomach problems until the sin of unbelief is confessed and prayer for healing in that area is offered.
We are much to quick to apply the oil before we apply the Word. Our elders need to be trained to discern and how to ask the right questions. In our rush to complete this procedure after a communion service in a limited time frame we miss the heart of the healing process and create internal doubt in some that the process really works. This procedure is really a counseling procedure that should be given time and much prayer by godly men.
PRAYER
The call for prayer demonstrates that not only does the one calling for the elders need external help but so the elder are dependant on the grace of god flowing from His throne of grace helping in time of need. This must also be given consideration. Men must be in touch with God. They must be prayers at home as well as at church. They must know how to pray according to the will of God. They must have the armor of God in place and know how to battle the enemy in fervent prayer. For James makes clear that it is the fervent prayer of a righteous man that accomplishes much.
I John 5 gives us the assurance that if we observe sin in a brothers life, we can pray and the Lord will give LIFE. He will give healing, restoration, renewal.
ANOINT WITH OIL
Anointing with oil is to be done while praying, "pray over him anointing with oil in the name of the Lord". Much has been written and discussed as to the significance of this anointing. Some take it to be medicinal, some symbolic. I feel that it is an external act representing a deep truth that it is not people that heal but the Spirit of God on the basis of the atoning sacrifice of Christ our Healer.
FAITHFUL PRAYER RESTORES & HEALS
The word for restore interestingly enough is also used in the same three spheres as the word translated "sick". It is in reference to physical healing, as well as deliverance from demonization. This is God's response to our proper obedience to the steps previously outlined.
FORGIVENESS OF SINS
Sin brings consequences for the Christian. They may be temporal but they are real. god is not mocked, what we sow we reap. If we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption but if we sow to the Spirit we will reap eternal benefits. When the believer calls for the elders and in obedience confesses the sin that has caused the weakness what ever it may be, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to keep on cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
SAVE SOUL FROM DEATH
Verse 20 summarizes the benefits of restoration process. If we pray and one calls on the Lord, his very soul (personality, mind, will emotions) are prevented from further separation and death due to sin and God provides cleansing from a multitude of sins.
ULTIMATE RELEASE
As I stood by the side of my father's casket, I remember that deep longing for the power to raise the dead. To bring to life to that pale lifeless shell. I realized then that God's purposes were different from mine and that far greater work had been accomplished and other begun through his death.
What if Christ had insisted in escaping the suffering of the cross? Where would that put us? Can we do any less if greater glory would result through the experience of suffering rather than sensationalism. We are assured that all pain and sickness will one day be removed and eliminated. These bodies will receive the redemption for which they now long with deep groaning along with creation.
Ultimate, eventual release is our glorious hope and is not to be compared to the gloom that is present in our world today. Friends, we live in a painful fallen world and we long now for that which we cannot have until Christ returns.
In the meantime, we have the avenue of prayer. In prayer we seek draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. Help we will always find whether it be a supernatural internal transformation of our soul or a miraculous relief of our suffering by physical healing.
CONCLUSION
We have touched on suffering, tribulation, pain. God tells us that it is here to stay. He tells us how to respond. He tells us what kinds of things it may accomplished when we choose to respond correctly.
I would like to summarize and offer some steps for handling suffering.
1--RESTORE OUR PERSONAL PRAYER LIFE
Tell Him just how you feel. Make your requests known before God and the peace of God will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Our prayer is not to continually bombard the throne with demands or even continual requests. Our desire is to develop intimacy with Him so that we may rest in His love.
2--RECHARGE OUR PRAISE LIFE
We can get so enveloped with the negatives in life that we loose sight of all that God is doing.
3--REFUSE THE PURPOSES OF SATAN
4--REST IN THE PURPOSES OF GOD
5--REVIEW THE CHARACTER OF GOD
6--REFUSE TO FOCUS ONLY ON EXTERNAL RELEASE
7--REQUEST THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH TO PRAY
8--RELY ON THE WISDOM OF OUR FAITHFUL CREATOR
When this is our posture, we will be able to truly thank God for the trials that come our way and we will have the kind of heart that will be prepared for God's SUPERnatural hand of deliverance.
