No Human Intervention 人の手に寄らず

Galatians 1:11~24  ガラテヤ人への手紙  第１章１１～２４節

11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.

Researchers who studied a string of Pacific Ocean atolls are painting the first detailed picture of pristine coral reefs and how they can be disrupted by people - particularly, they said, by fishing.  "Reefs without people" were healthier than populated reefs, Public Library of Science Biology.  New York Times, 2/2008

Flight can happen without human intervention---to a point. If designed for it, it can be done. Technology is mature enough for such capabilities. As a matter of fact the RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV has fully autonomous mission capabilities. It is the first aircraft certified by the FAA to file its own flight plan in the US. You may see the Global Hawk as the forerunner of autonomous or independent flights. But, there are no passenger carrying aircraft is operational with autonomous capabilities, yet, and I am thankful for that!

What we have here in Galatians is that some people felt—very strongly—the Gospel Paul was teaching as not a real God-sent message at all.  They felt Paul had made it up!

Think back. Who was Paul trying to silence while his name was Saul? The very ones like Stephen (Acts 7) who in his dying lips, spoke of a Gospel of Jesus that had given him such comfort—even up to and including the end of his life.  And Saul killed him and others like him.  He had heard their witness and he clearly rejected it…at that time.

But that same message changed Saul in such a dynamic way that he turned around completely and started teaching and preaching that same Gospel Message he at one time tried to destroy. As we stated last week, Paul preached that there was ONLY ONE WAY and that way was through Faith in Jesus alone.  Can’t do it by works of kindness nor acts of self-promotion. We can’t be good enough. We are fallen creatures and we are in need of a Savior and Jesus is the ONLY one who can make it happen.

#1. The Gospel is not a human invention.

In verse 1, Paul states: …Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

Here in verse 11, he tells us that the Message is divinely rooted: by revelation (vs. 12). The origin was with Jesus Christ Himself. No one from Jerusalem told him this! He had heard it but he rejected it back then.  Much like us: we see the Gospel’s effect on people we know and we see the change.  We have the information about the Gospel but reject the Truth. Therefore we fail to understand this change in these people’s lives who were TRANSFORMED by God’s Spirit. We tend to explain it away with human reason: “Oh, they were weak…or they were at the end of their wits so, naturally, when you are in that state of affairs, no wonder they turned toward God-ish things!”

Informed fully but denies the Truth.

God turned the light on for Saul—on that road—who was ready to crush these crazy Christian people.  Later, in history, Wesley wrote: Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;! That is the testimony of the life changed by Jesus. That is where we all need to return to every once in a while when we get to feel we are better than others. Without the Gospel alive in our hearts, we would be dead…because that what we were.  We were far from Him.

#2. Humans are not inclined to the Truth.

Paul was the most unlikely convert to this new Faith. (vs 13 & 14) Later in Acts 26, when Paul was in front of King Agrippa, he told his story. He was part of a group that was called something like HALAKA.  (I believe I have the right spelling...) THEY followed the Law.  They would take the Law and add to it.  They would give it new meanings. The extra wordings became MORE important than the original text of the Law.   Saul was so set in his beliefs! In short, Paul would have been called a Terrorist in the first degree! He would be part of the plot to smuggling TNT on board the planes to kill Christians. Back then, he would be a terrorist. He would die for his belief.  He was out to kill them all. 

We all were in the stage of Death. There are many degrees of life. There is no degree of death. In a mortuary, all there are dead. Likewise, before Christ came into our lives, we who have trusted Him, were dead too.  Christ made us alive.  None seek after God: no not one! Do you think I was predisposed that I’d be in love with Jesus? No! Only God could reach us. The song goes: There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
no, not one, no, not one.
 None else could heal all our soul's diseases,
No, not one, no, not one.
  Chorus 1:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide til the day is done;
Oh, there's not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
no, not one, no, not one


#3. Conversion is the work of God.

“But when God…” 15 God took the first step. Set him apart from his mom’s womb.  The attacker becomes the proclaim-er.  As the believers in closed countries today. The one’s in the cells for their faith, most likely were the guards only months before. Christian Faith is contagious, in a sense. One has it and others see his/her life, and that affects that person.  It is a work of God in their lives.

 

Paul was fighting against God. He was not deserving of God’s Mercy nor was he asking for it.  Jesus asked him: “Why are you fighting Me?”

“Yet Mercy found him and Grace called him.” John Stout.

Any terrorist here today? Any one fighting your parents, your loved one? Fighting the teachers?  It is not a problem. Is there anything too hard for God.  Divine calling! In evangelism…

"We say, we are good people.  We don’t need this sort of thing in our lives. We can do it by ourselves. In fact, there is nothing for us to do! We have it all because God will take me in without this fanatic believer’s system.  Friends, that is another gospel, which is not good. It cuts God out of the picture, a picture which He drew!

#4. God’s Presence matter more than Man’s Program.

16-~ He did not check out with others. Went away into the Desert. Re-read the OT with new eyes! All fell into place. Suffering Servant makes sense.  Griped his soul. Three years—same time Jesus gave to the 12!

18 - after three years met in Jerusalem lasted two week and saw two apostles.  21 No human involvement.  He did not go on the fast track. Not going to the right place, seeing the right people, doing the right course of study at So-in-so University.  No, his was in God’s school.

We need to be careful with our systems of discipleship. We may not need to send people away to hear a certain teacher. (we might…) Martin Lloyd Jones—great preacher—but no formal training! He was called The Prince of all Preachers.  D.L. Moody—a shoemaker…became one of the most respected preachers of his time...and even in our time!  We cannot clone Christianity. It is a matter of God’s Working in the hearts of men and women who are willing to be filled with His Good Pleasure.

Eric Liddle: I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.

 What is your pleasure? Are you following it with the Lord's zeal?

The presence of the Master matters more than the programs of man.

#5. When lives are changed the news gets around.

22-24 They did not know his face. They did know of his faith.

Our society calls us to a form of devotion. Over the last years, I have seen devotional books that go from “Hiding Place” to “Fast Pace”. From “30 min with God” to “Minute devotions”.  The Gospel for Dummies replaces Doctrinal studies. Comic book Sunday school material with little or no Bible content in them replacing in-depth Bible Studies.  We have become the result of a fast moving society with little time for God. We can go deeper. We do have the call for such a thing, but we want the fast way. Instant noodles for church. A ten min devotional instead of Bible teaching.  But these new people knew Paul’s testimony.  They did not know his face yet they heard his Faith. And what they did was grand: they praise God because of him! V24. He once was trying to kill us all—not now, this man who is preaching is telling us that the message he was trying to get ride of is, in fact, the Truth! His life was changed. That kind of life change gets around!

Around the world, who are the secular groups targeting with a different message? In Cuba, the government is targeting the young of their island to teach them Marxism to send them out into the world with this Godless teaching to make a difference in the societies.  The Socialist Party in Great Britain is targeting those who are 15-17. Can you see the change now? No, not yet but in a few years, the voting members of those societies will be the ones who will bring change in their societies.  Where are our young people today? They need to see a life changing difference in you and me so that they will carry this message to a world that is divided and sin-sick and, yes, spiritually dead. AND with a growing passion for God’s Truth!

Unless God moves in our present time, all would be loss once again because the Church was not ready to live a life of transformation before our society. The Church in Japan most speak to the needs—both spiritually and physically and emotional so that the Message of Christ is heard and understood. That people grow closer to the God who had made them. Only then, will the People of the World know that Jesus is alive. When they see our lives change because we now walk with King Jesus, we can then be a blessing.

 ____

Much thanks to Alistair Begg for his help with this series.

Only One Way ただ一方通行のみ

Galatians 1: 6-10

ガラテヤ人への手紙 第１章節６—１０

A great missionary, Hudson Taylor once said, “Unless there is an element of risk in your exploits for God, there is no need for faith.”
偉大な伝道者、ハドソン　テイラーはかつて言った、「神のためになす上で損失する要素がないとすれば、信仰を必要としない」

 

What is the cost of following the Gospel? In the early years of the Church, it cost a great deal! People were being killed for their Faith. Some were beaten. Others were driven out of the city.  Even today, the cost of following the Biblical Gospel cost us something.  In the contemporary society we live in, we are faced day in and day out with the cry for tolerance.  That is one of the words that drive me crazy!

It is not our mission in life to become a sore spot in people’s lives. We are not here to drive the modern society mad. But from every corner, every direction, the cry for tolerance is flown into our faces.  From Mags, to DVDs to books, film, music, intranet, education—it all screams for the world to be united in tolerance.  We are to be open-minded to everything.  The only thing they find intolerant in is intolerance.  

Thinking has so many views, so many levels and as Christians, we are going to face the fact that what we believe about the Gospel is against what the World System teaches. While they want us to be tolerant of their open views on any subject, we will be forced to either shut up or give away our belief systems. “They” will not have us be so narrow as to say that there is only one way to God.

Paul saw this in the churches he sent this letter to. There were a great deal of polluted teaching filtering down into the minds and hearts of these new believers and it made Paul angry. The pollutants from the society would affect the church. In history, one can see that no society that allowed everything survived. Society would not last when they let go of their moral fiber.  Here in this region of Asia Minor, the culture of the land was affecting the culture of the Church.  The purity of the Good News was being added to. The result was no Good News at all.

Remember how fast Paul got into the issue at hand. He did not soften his voice. 

In verse 6, we find our first point for today: #1 the Turncoats.

If you looked at other letters by Paul, even Corinthians, that church was in bad shape.  Immorality and other issues were at play.  Still, Paul commends them, but not here.  He states “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you by the Grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.”  Here Paul addresses them with force and calls some of them turncoats.  With the church in Philippi, he was concerned while he was in jail that some preached out of envy. But he was glad that the Word was getting out. He said: “I rejoice.”  It wasn’t his style but people were hearing the Gospel. Not his style, but the essence of the Gospel here was being challenged!  

He uses a strong word here.  ASTONISHED or freaked out that these fellows were dealing with the Message this way. People were beginning to desert the Gospel. They took the coat of the simple Gospel and turned it inside out. Now the outward expression of the followers of Christ looked like the enemies of Christ.  

And it spread quickly. Paul said, in effect: I was just with you! And POW, you deserted the Gospel.  In the past, you had turned toward the Gospel—from darkness to the Light. But now, you allowed people to come in to turn your minds and hearts away from the One who loved you.  You changed your allegiance.  “I’m amazed—blown away!” They were the ones who were turning away from the Truth.  Turncoats. You are following a different gospel.  Groups all over—worshipping—praying—fellowshipping and then one after the other, gone AWOL (absent without leave).  With no thought of returning! This word here is used to mean to turn 180º turn as in the military.  If a Southern solider in the US’s civil war left the house in a gray uniform and returned at lunch in a blue uniform, THAT is what he is talking about!  Like the PM, Kan-San becoming a communist or Obama becoming a Republican.  

This radical change did not happen in minor issues but in vital issues of Faith.  You changed colors. Once on the red team, now you are on the blue team. You deserted your post. Leaving a person- God and deserting a personal relationship!  They have given up on the One who ‘verse 4ed’ them.  Read verse 4.

You were a beggar in the street with nothing/dead. Then Christ came and put on you the Robe of Righteousness.  You did nothing for it.  Made you righteous before God—forgiven in His sight. Paul says, “I heard that you have taken off His robes and put back on the rags you once wore!” The tradition of men, instead of the Grace of God! And with it, you lost your testimony in Asian Minor. 

Men tried to hold onto God but they let go of the Gospel.  Can’t do that! Some would say, “I know God but I don’t believe the Gospel!”  Turn to John 5:37-40 And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the One He sent.

Even when the name of the group has the word Jesus in it, or God or church or Christian…does not mean it is true. 

I belonged to a strong Protestant group growing up—strong historical roots. First church in the Americas.  But no one leader—elders, pastor believed in Jesus! Just a social club! Unity…Christian Science…JW…Does not belong in the same camp as Believers.  Why? It is another gospel that cannot save.  Nice people but lost.

Verse 7: They pervert the Gospel. And what is the Gospel? 

1. God is gracious to the undeserving sinner. 

2. None of us is able to better self or to make us better before the Holy God.  

3. Therefore, we have a problem.  Unless the one who comes is perfect, He needs to be a Man, and needs to be God=the full plan of all eternity.   

When we come to the end of ourselves, then God can touch us and make us whole.  That is what Paul preached and that is what these turncoats rejected. It was all of that PLUS Jewish rules and Mosaic laws and circumcised.  They taught that you couldn’t just know Christ in His fullness unless you embrace the extra gospel points.  They undercut the simple truth…the Apostolic Doctrines—the battle cry of the Reformation—a Biblical Christ.  FAITH ALONE.  The Only Way!

The ground is level at the Cross.  The turncoats were intolerant of the Gospel.

 #2 Trouble makers.  Verse 7 (5:10, Acts 15:24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.; Acts 20:30, 2 Cor 11:13) “throwing you” same word for the action of a tumble dryer.  Agitated. Hurting you. (Distort-change, alter) These trouble makers deserted FROM the Gospel because there was confusion ABOUT the Gospel as a result of a perversion OF the Gospel.  ... to leave the Gospel.  This is why we try to teach the Gospel according to the Bible/ Biblical teaching.

We are not to entertain you. Not to educate you but that we would become established in the Truth. 

 1 Tim 4:11-16 We are to be an example.  These Trouble Makers were there to turn things upside down and inside out with no care of the truth.  Not the truth at all.  What they taught, beware- See verse 9b. be eternally condemned

Are they coming from the outside? NO! From within the church!  Those who do not know the Scripture and have little grounding in the Word-beware. Easy pickings.   

Titus 1:10-11. 10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.   

They MUST be silenced as they destroyed houses. 

 

 #3 Truth Tellers.  V 8 even if we (ME) taught a different gospel-do not believe it! Condemned!  Twice stated that! Examine the teaching. Be like those in Acts 17. Test the Word. You should not even allow them a place to speak or sit! Why invite then into our homes via books etc? Do not follow them—nor give ear to the false teachers.  2 John 7,  Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 

There is only One Way and Jesus alone is THAT way. As Taylor said: “Unless there is an element of risk in your exploits for God, there is no need for faith.” Be bold with the Truth and see people get free!

Much thanks go to Pastor Alistair Begg for his clear teaching on this subject. Much of today's message was taken from one of his sermons on this same topic. 

the BIG RESCUE

The letter of Galatians written to answer the big question of personal and Christian Freedom.

We will look at three questions this morning: Whom was it written to?    Who wrote it?     Why was it written?

Two strong emphases: Paul’s God-given authority and Paul’s Christ-centered message. Once we grasp these points, you have the essence of the whole letter.

#1 Whom was it written to? The answer to the first question is a very easy one: to the churchES in Galatia. 

Not one church but the many in this area of what is now present day Turkey.  To the many fellowships that came to be as a direct result in the preaching from this man named Paul. 

In verse 13, we find “how intensely I persecuted the church of God…” This was the Church, universal.  The Whole Body of Christ. Believers everywhere! All who had placed their faith in the Lord Jesus were the target of his deep and personal attacks. He took great pride in seeking Believers out and driving them into jail and killing many that followed this Jesus.

But in this case, it is churchES that he is writing to.  This was a group of fellowships in the province of Galatia.  People were converted and gathered together to fellowship.Then it was to be passed on to the other churches in the area.

We find from Acts 14, the names of some of them.  Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe—all places where Paul was really hurt in some way by the enemies of the Cross!

That is whom it was sent to.

#2. Who wrote it? The first three words in English show us that: PAUL.

This was Paul's first letter to the churches.  In his usual style, Paul sets the stage with long introductions, but not in this one.  He is quick to get started as he was very serious.  It is written like a storm on the horizon.  Something was going to happen—all the signs of hardship were present—and Paul was not going to soften the impact one bit.

There was a BIG storm that was about to break in that area.  It was a deeply spiritual storm. Paul was concerned with the spiritual storm so he cut to the chase and did not give a long intro—as he usually did. And this was his first letter.

It was like getting on a plane at Narita.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome aboard flight 476 to LA.  We should be having a smooth flight today, but we must go over some important information JUST IN CASE! Should the cabin pressure become an issue, oxygen masks will fall from above your seat. Put them on and breath normally---even when the plane is in a tail spin and fire is seen on both sides of the plane…”

On the ground, all is OK but in the air—when there is an emergency, things are said in a different manner.  When you are in a storm, it is critical that certain things are said!

God-Given Authority (1:1)

Within the churches here, there were some bad storms just about to hit and YOU HAD BETTER LISTEN!  Trouble is creeping into the Church. People are teaching WRONG teaching—Wrong Doctrine. The spiritual health of the local churchES was in trouble.  The wrong teaching was that Salvation did not come from Faith in the Lord Jesus alone. Paul taught Faith plus nothing=Salvation. But these false teachers said we would NEED to add things to your Faith. You will NEED to follow the Jewish rules and traditions.

Paul cuts that off right away with verse 1.  Here Paul sates that His ministry has a God-Given authority.  The risen Lord had directly commissioned him on the Road to Damascus.  In fact, those who were challenging Paul’s ‘right’ to speak out was, in fact, challenging the Lord who had commissioned him. Looking back to Matthew 10:40, Jesus gives guidance to us when He teaches: “He who receives you receives Me.”  Did the false teachers in that area receive Paul’s teaching as from God? No! They did not really accept the Teachings of Jesus either and that was the problem Paul needed to cover!

Since the start of the Christian Church there in the book of Acts, the first people to come to Faith were Jewish. They were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and 5,000 devote Jews fell in line with the Teachings of their Messiah Jesus. They just added Jesus to the belief system and why not? It followed their teachings that He would be the fulfillment of the Prophecies from the Old Testament.  But now, Galatia, these new Believers were not from Jewish backgrounds. In fact, many had no background to follow at all!  Called gentile by the Jews. They had been a ‘pagan people group.’ As believers in Christ, the Jewish believers were struggling with a dual heritage.  They wanted to be strict followers of the Mosaic Law. Their new found faith invited them to base this new faith on LOVE and not on traditions. They also had difficulty with the concept that non-Jewish people could be part of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Paul wrote that any promise of Salvation that also requires Human effort is no salvation at all. Any belief system in the world that requires effort on their follower’s part to gain salvation denies the finished Work of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection.  They tried to improve the character of the followers. Only the transforming Power of the Holy Spirit can make us better than we are. Transformation! Newness of life!

#3 Why Was It Written?

Paul sets up his credentials as in vs 1 “Paul—an apostle…”  Not an ego trip for him.  The Office of being an APOSTLE came from the Lord Jesus.  It means to be a Special Messenger.  One who was commissioned. Someone sent them out from someone higher than themselves.  How did Jesus do this? He called His Followers together to teach them.  He then called 12 men out of that larger group—setting them apart to a task He would empower them to finish.

Paul was added later. After the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, on the Road to Damascus.  His calling was not from men, not from a committee. He was there in that office by the Will of, not only Jesus but also Father God.  He was God’s chosen Messenger.  See 1 Cor 9:1 “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?”

Paul said he was the LAST to been chosen by the Lord for a very special task: take the Gospel to the Gentiles. And he had seen Jesus face to face. He had seen the resurrected Lord.  He was not part of Jesus’ Band but was added later.  By definition: Paul was unique.  Not passed on by bloodline. Not like the House of Lords.  Not from a privileged class.  That did not work for Paul. He had credentials but he counted them ALL as fifthly rags.  

His Salvation was based on Faith in Christ---ALONE!!!

Their question was not only directed toward him as a person but also they had a problem with Loyalty to the Apostolic Teaching.  Not only did they not like Paul, they really did not want to follow what he said—even when that teaching came from the Lord Himself.  They wanted it the old way: works, effort, tasks, heritage, not simply by Faith alone!

The Gospel was at stake here.  If Paul was not an Apostle, than what he wrote was worthless.  If it could be challenged in the First Century, it could be set-aside in the 21st Century. Just set aside what we don’t like. Marriage, morality, government, roles of men and women…all could be challenged.  

It is not a Viking Dinner.  Choose what you like and leave the rest.  We said this before: Some said: God said it; I believe it, that settles it for me.  But I say: God said it; that settles it for me! It is a question of Divine Authority. The Bible either IS the Word of God or it is not. It is! Live with that!

The Message was of Grace and Peace. Grace is the summary of the Gospel.  Undeserved Favor from God!

Peace comes from God.  The God of ALL Peace…  The Father of our (risen) Lord Jesus.

And where is Grace seen? In verse 4 HE RESCUED ME! The Great Rescue!  He volunteered to die for me. I HAD not ask Him!

Ill: A doctor who ‘takes on’ the illness.  Great! Take it on in his own body.   

We don’t deserve it either.  Can’t clean up our act by ourselves.  Zacchaeus in Lk 19:2 did not say: “I’ll clean up my life and then I will follow Jesus.” Jesus said Today Salvation has come to this house.  Because there was a Transformed Life!

We need to be rescued.   He died for our sins.

My lack of knowledge does not negate my need of being rescued.  

 C.T. Studd once said, “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop a yard from hell.”

---

Galatians 1:1-5

 1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers with me,

   To the churches in Galatia:

 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

---

~Alistair Begg of Ohio inspired much of this sermon.  Many thanks for the help and clarity.

Part 2, Theology of Suffering (WHAT DO I DO WITH THE PAIN?)

 Suffering: James wrote that Followers of Christ should “consider it pure joy” when we face trials because we know that this leads to perseverance, which then leads to maturity (James  1:2-4).  It is not that we enjoy the suffering, but we rejoice because we know that we are moving toward maturity. 

   From James, we can see one of the results in suffering—and I am talking about the trials Christians face, leads us to perseverance. Or we let it drive us into a black hole of self doubt and despair.  The trials are there to help us become mature in Christ…more than mature -- complete.

   Our faith being strengthened, our rough edges being worn down so that we are becoming more like Christ.  Mature and complete means the same thing in this context.  More than mature. All together. Full. 

   The stuff of suffering. Is it all about my comfort or my issues, or is it bigger than me?  I would tend to feel my comfort is important but not at the loss of what God wants in my life. I need to look higher than my life. Keep the standard high. We can’t allow our conduct and emotions carry us from the Teaching of the Cross.

One side note, if you please: The death of Osama bin Laden over the weekend. I would rather mourn the death of this man than to sing praises that he is dead. We, as Gospel Carriers, need to show a very cold and spiritually dead society that we carry the Message of God’s Love to everyone. I did not like the things he did…no question; he was an evil man!  But, to rejoice at the death of any person does not reflect the teachings of Jesus. 

Ezekiel 18:23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God does not take joy in the death of the person who is far from Him.  His will is for ALL to come to a saving Faith in the Lord. Revenge is not good. I just had to say that and add another voice in the sea of voices on this topic…

   People are asking how Christians should respond to tragedy and suffering like what happened in Tohoku. Let’s go to our Teacher.  How did Jesus handle a similar question in His day? Turn with me to Luke 13:1-5 

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

   Evil is with us.  We see hurt and despair all over the globe.  It is always disturbing. In truth, tragedy surrounds us on every side.  We have to really look for non-tragedies to keep our balance.  In the ancient world, it was a theory that when bad happens to ANYONE, it was only because of sin: the blind man, the woman who was bleeding, the young man born lame; all, they thought, were that way because someone sinned.  Every day, some assume that tragedy generally reflects the Judgment of God for sins committed.  If tragedy comes, the responsibility lies with the one who experiences the tragedy.  That is far from true.

   Those suppositions lead our Lord to respond to the comments spoken to Him about the recent hardships in their country.  (Only Luke addresses these items.)  As Jesus usually does, He takes something people believed in (falsely) and turns it into an open door for reflection.  Rather than talking about life in the philosophical area, He brings it right home.  Repent.

   What had these Galileans done to deserve such a death?

   They too were no worse than anyone else. When the tower fell, what happened was not some kind of punishment, but an accident, something really random. That point is perhaps underlined by one incident-taking place in the north, in Galilee, while the other occurred further south, in Jerusalem. Location makes no difference. Tragedies can happen anywhere, at any time.

   The BIG question is not why did it happen.  Life happens! Things like this will always happen around us.  Sometimes it touches home and it causes us some intense pain. Sometimes, it is far away from us.  The truth is: things will happen. I can’t explain WHY the tower fell on those people in Siloam nor can I explain why the waves took out so many in Tohoku. I can only say that this is what life looks like in the real world. We are living in a fallen world and these kinds of things go on.  From the time after the Fall, things went wrong. People died, got sick, lost, hurt. We move on.  We don’t just push it off as nothing!  As Followers of Jesus, we can care, we can help out, and we can become part of the healing process—as we need the healing as well.  But as Jesus teaches, there is a response that pleases God in all this: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Our Lord takes the situation to a higher personal level. It makes it a matter of the person’s personal heart issue.

   What am I going to do with this situation? What am I going to do with personal pain of the masses? I need to be sure I am standing in a right relationship with the Maker. Repent of my sins and receive forgiveness. His Good News is that we can know forgiveness through having Faith in Him!  IF a tower falls on me, then I’d be ready to face my Creator. The hardest part might well be to acknowledge that we have in fact done wrong and NEED to repent.

   That may be why so many gave so generously on Easter Sunday. That is why Scot, Andy, Dee and Ken are ministering up north to the needs of those who are in pain. People can help. There is such pain, and those with the insight of the Gospel can be there to help the people along toward healing of their deep pain.

   James teaches us a great deal about our response to suffering. As we said at the beginning: James wrote that we should “consider it pure joy” when we face trials because we know that this leads to perseverance, which then leads to maturity.  It is not that we enjoy the suffering, but we rejoice because we know that we are moving toward maturity. Toward wholeness and being complete in Christ. A process. We are not what we were…

   Was God glad when Osama bin Laden got shot in the head?  NO! It broke His Heart that one more left this world without finding forgiveness of their sins. Was He glad that Northern Japan got hit so hard with the loss of life being so massive? NOT AT ALL!

   Please look with me at two verses: Romans 5:2-3 

 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

Romans 12:2 

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Use this as a filter for life.

We are only responsible for the questions we have been given the answers to.

   To be mature in Christ. It is the goal we, who are followers of Jesus, should all be living for! As your own Mother gave birth to you, cared for you, fed you, washed you, loved you—so that you would grow to maturity, the Lord is doing the same with all of us. That is our real goal in life!  

By the way: Happy Mother's Day!

A Theology of Suffering; Why does it hurt so much?

Do you really like to feel pain? 

If you had your choice, would you rather be given a free 10-day vacation in Hawaii would you rather have a nine-inch nail be pounded through your left eye? 

That is a no brainier: the trip, of course!  But wait, maybe on your trip to Hawaii, you’ll fall off the stairs as you board the flight.  You then get your leg cut on some metal piece of something and that causes your leg to get infected. And because it is so bad, you need the leg cut off?  Wait, what happened to the nice vacation part?

For many today, and since the world had situations that could go bad, no sane person really takes pleasure in suffering.  In fact, some would say that suffering is an indication of something abnormal.  Suffering means pain and that means it is bad.  Do you agree?

What we really need as Believers and as people who live in the real world is a better understanding of pain—yes, a theology of suffering that reflects real Biblical reality.  We must go beyond the myths of suffering we get from our cultures and look to the Bible—as our final authority—for a solid Biblical view.  To have God’s view of suffering is essential to being able to handle suffering better than most—like falling off the staircase at the airport.

Suffering is normal, after all.  It is a part of a Believers life. It is part of LIFE!  Especially the suffering we have for the Cause of Christ.  Look to Phil 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, あなたがたはキリストのために、ただ彼を信じることだけではなく、彼のために苦しむことをも賜わっている。 and 1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. あなたがたは、実に、そうするようにと召されたのである。キリストも、あなたがたのために苦しみを受け、御足の跡を踏み従うようにと、模範を残されたのである.

I know that some would say this is not so, but we need to be Biblical and find our answers IN the WORD of GOD.

What we are going to do today is look at some views of suffering that effect us, look at the Word of God—at Jesus’ teaching about suffering and look into seeing the joy of suffering.  I will then hand out some papers for you to do some homework—a study guide, if you will, and we will continue our study next week.  Suffer with me, please.

Does Jesus talk about suffering?  The fast answer is YES.  A great deal.  From the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-11, we read:

 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
 for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
 for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
 for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
 for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
 for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
 for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Mat 5:4  悲しんでいる人たちは、さいわいである、彼らは慰められるであろう。

:5  柔和な人たちは、さいわいである、彼らは地を受けつぐであろう。

:6  義に飢えかわいている人たちは、さいわいである、彼らは飽き足りるようになるであろう。

:7  あわれみ深い人たちは、さいわいである、彼らはあわれみを受けるであろう。

:8  心の清い人たちは、さいわいである、彼らは神を見るであろう。

:9  平和をつくり出す人たちは、さいわいである、彼らは神の子と呼ばれるであろう。

:10  義のために迫害されてきた人たちは、さいわいである、天国は彼らのものである。

:11  わたしのために人々があなたがたをののしり、また迫害し、あなたがたに対し偽って様々の悪口を言う時には、あなたがたは、さいわいである。

 

 

Matthew 10:28 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 16:24-25 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it.

Mark 10:29-30 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Luke 12:49-53 49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
 

Matthew 10:28 また、からだを殺しても、魂を殺すことのできない者どもを恐れるな。むしろ、からだも魂も地獄で滅ぼす力のあるかたを恐れなさい。

Matthew 16:24-25 ²⁴それからイエスは弟子たちに言われた、「だれでもわたしについてきたいと思うなら、自分を捨て、自分の十字架を負うて、わたしに従ってきなさい 自分の命を救おうと思う者はそれを失い、わたしのために自分の命を失う者は、それを見いだすであろう。

Mark 10:29-30 イエスは言われた、「よく聞いておくがよい。だれでもわたしのために、また福音のために、家、兄弟、姉妹、母、父、子、もしくは畑を捨てた者は、:30  必ずその百倍を受ける。すなわち、今この時代では家、兄弟、姉妹、母、子および畑を迫害と共に受け、また、きたるべき世では永遠の生命を受ける。

Luke 12:49-53 わたしは、火を地上に投じるためにきたのだ。火がすでに燃えていたならと、わたしはどんなに願っていることか。

 

On your handout for homework, we will ask you to consider reading Luke 14:26-17, and 33; Luke 21:12-19; and John 12:24-26.

How has our minds and attitudes been challenged in this area of suffering and pain? Our culture has spent a lot of money and time to move us away from the Biblical teaching of suffering and pain. Want to loose weight—don’t take out a gym contract with hard exercise and painful diets-take this pill instead and watch the pounds fall off.   Don’t fight city hall-don’t go against the flow of culture—give in and watch your life get easier…

Cultural Myths About Suffering-all from my point of view.

1.    As Believers in Christ, we should not suffer in this life.

2.    When we are living in God’s Will, living godly lives, we should experience few hardships.

3.    Suffering means something is wrong. It is an abnormal state.

4.    Suffering has no redeeming or positive results.

5.    Suffering means we can have no joy. It robs us of the choice to rejoice.

6.    Spiritual people don’t hurt emotionally when they suffer.

7.    If God really loves us He won’t let us suffer very much. His love means that He will put a hedge around us to keep terrible trials from entering and hurting our lives.

8.    Lastly, when we do suffer, God is punishing us out of anger. He is vindictive and wants us to suffer when He is angry with us.

Do any of these sound like they have made room in your thinking?

Let’s look at How God Views Suffering

1.    We are, in fact, called to suffer for Jesus. Phil 1:29, 1 Peter 2:20-21

2.    We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God; we are destined for trials. Acts 14:22, 1 Thess 3:3

3.    Suffering is normal and expected or inevitable in the Christian life. 2 Tim 3:12

4.    God uses suffering for our good, to conform us to the likeness of His Son. Rom 8:28-29

5.    We have a choice to rejoice in our suffering.

6.    Spiritual people feel many painful emotions when they suffer. Mark 14:33-34, 2 Cor 2:4

7.    God did not prevent His own Son from Suffering. Rom 8:32 And He did not prevent Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, Job, David, …. And others He loves from suffering greatly.

8.    Suffering may be God’s loving discipline, for our good and for His Glory.  Heb 12:7-11

Do any of these sound like they have made room in your thinking?

But it hurts so much!  When we see the pain on people’s faces, we feel badly.  When we hear of suffering, we get uncomfortable, wishing the topic would change.  Yes, life does hurt and it is painful. But, it could be way worse.  Without the Grace of God on Earth—things could be a lot harder affecting the lives of so many.

Some find ways of dealing with suffering, other than a Biblical way.  Their view of godliness is challenged.  “I missed my devotions this morning—He won’t give me what I ask for.”  “I need a favor of God, but I don’t want to bother Him with the request—so I’ll go to a Saint and ask him to intercede on my behalf.”

“I have this lucky charm that has helped me in the past…”

“I have this lucky chant I use to get me through hard times…”

All this is NOT the way of the Cross. It is not found in Biblical teaching or practice. You only need to go to Christ DIRECTLY and you will find His love and help.  If you are doing anything like that in your life practice, you will need to, not only stop that, but also seek forgiveness for taking the wrong way through life.  Seek His Hand and His forgiveness.  You will find the end will go better for you. You will be doing life the Master’s Way.

You will be in good company should you doubt your suffering.  As Jesus anticipated being crucified, He felt deeply distressed and troubled  恐れおののき、また悩みはじめて (Mark 14:33).  He was overwhelmed with sorrow  悲しみのあまり死ぬほどである (Matt 26:38 and Mark 14:34). He was deeply distraught  どんなにか苦しい思いをする (Luke 12:50). Jesus was troubled in heart and in His Spirit (John 12:25, 13:21).

One thing people don’t need when they are going through a hard time is people telling them to hang in there.  Things will get better. A slap on the back.  Smile, why don’t you? Be happy!  Truth is, the suffering may be more real than the other person understands. That person who is going through that hard time needs some compassion. Someone who will cry with them—if needed.  Someone who will get down with them and listen and not talk. Some have a hard time listening because they don’t know when to stop talking.  Listen to the hurting person. Let them be silent. Silence is not a bad thing. And you can’t always fix what is wrong anyway.  Allow the Grace of God to touch them. Pray for them in silence.  What can you really say? With Job, his friends spoke a great deal but really did not understand the situation….as Job didn’t understand either. It was a God Thing.

We are to come along side those who are hurting. See how the Lord does it?  In Isaiah 42:2-4 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice; 4 He will not falter or be discouraged till He establishes justice on earth. In His teaching the islands will put their hope.”
 彼は叫ぶことなく、声をあげることなく、その声をちまたに聞えさせず、:3  また傷ついた葦を折ることなく、ほのぐらい灯心を消すことなく、真実をもって道をしめす。:4  彼は衰えず、落胆せず、ついに道を地に確立する。海沿いの国々はその教を待ち望む。 

He is not loud.  He will not force Himself on you.  He is not out in the street yelling at you. You are hurting and He will be by your side. You are a bruised reed…a flute that has been hurt—He will fix to make beautiful music once again.  Don’t be thrown away. Encouraged to press on and to be used once again for His Glory.  If you feel you are more smoke than light, He will work with you. It will take time but He restores the broken hearted. In Isaiah 40:29 “29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”　3０ 弱った者には力を与え、勢いのない者には強さを増し加えられる。31しかし主を待ち望む者は新たなる力を得、わしのように翼をはって、のぼることができる。走っても疲れることなく、歩いても弱ることはない。

Is that you this morning, my Friend?  He cares for you in ways you will only start to understand. 43:4 “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…I will give men in exchange for you.”  あなたはわが目に尊く、重んぜられるもの、わたしはあなたを愛するがゆえに、あなたの代りに人を与え、あなたの命の代りに民を与える。

You are THAT important to Him. He will restore your life…in Christ Jesus the Lord.  THAT is His promise.

Next week, we will look into the saying and strong belief of "There is joy in suffering!"

Purpose and Results of Suffering. 

On May 8th, Lord willing, God is our MAIN Resource in Suffering