THRIVING CHURCH

            THRIVING CHURCH       

Acts 2:42-47

Introduction:  A recent Pew foundation research suggests that mainline Protestant churches in the U.S. continue to experience decades-long decline, while the memberships of Pentecostal traditions are on the rise, according to new figures compiled by the National Council of Churches.[1] Another discouraging statistic. Sadly, only 28% of younger Americans between 23 and 37 attend churches. Other generations range between 43% and 52%. This is a significant drop in generational attendance and a large reason why many churches are seeing a decline in attendance. The cause is because churches are having a hard time changing with the needs of younger generations.[2] Have you wondered why we see the decrease in Protestant Mainline Churches and what is causing growth among the Pentecostals?

            The trend of growth and decline is normal in the life cycle of any Church. In the life of any church there is a time for growth, and at some point, it reaches its peak and then plateaus. Any Church which merely exists, for the sake of existing soon will start to decline, but when radical steps are taken and change is introduced that church will begin to thrive and grow.

            While many reasons can be attributed to the decline, only one reason can be stated for growth, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Spirit is honored, respected and given prominence there we see both qualitative and quantitative growth. The Holy Spirit was at work in the early Church in Jerusalem, so the Church grew in numbers. If we want to see Hope Church thrive and grow, and become impactful, what radical changes are we ready to make? I title this message, “THRIVING CHURCH.”  Acts 2:42-47

            Before we look into the early church Model, let’s understand our vision statement; Glorifying God by becoming devoted followers of Christ a few weeks ago we looked at. The early Church understood what Glorifying God means both personally and corporately together as a church. They followed a few principles that were inspired by the Holy Spirit fervently.

            Acts Chapter two, begins with the fulfilment of a 9^th century BC prophecy of Joel, “Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28-29.

            As promised, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon a group of 120 disciples, and several thousands of on lookers from all over the world. That day changed the history of the world forever.  Under the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter preached a powerful sermon and 3000 people were saved and got baptized. That was the First Church in Jerusalem. For our study we will call this Church, “The Acts 2 Church.”  

            In my study I noticed five guiding principles that guided the Acts 2 Church. My prayer is that Hope Church will apply those principles if we want to become relevant and fruitful in today’s world. They are: 1. Discipleship 2 God exalting Worship. 3.Connecting through Fellowship 4. Serving the Community. 5. Evangelism.  

I. DISCIPLESHIP: Vs 42

            It must have been very fresh in the disciple’s mind, the mandate of Christ to, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19.

            So, from the day one the early church took discipleship very seriously. Vs 42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.” The new believers were eager to hear, learn and grow from the apostles and their teaching. It was an individual choice and no one forced it upon them. It was not a one-time event but an intentional, ongoing discipleship program which is still going on in many churches. The early believers were devoted to the teachings of the “Apostles” The word apostle here was referring to the twelve disciples that Jesus designated the term apostle (Mk 3:14) later on Paul was also included in the list. The early Apostles still speak to us through their teachings in the NT.

            Here at Hope Church I am happy to share that we take discipleship seriously. We want all our members to grow in the knowledge of God’s word. We have a committed team of teachers, every Sunday teach Bible times, for men, women, children, and teens. This past week I was delighted to get a call from one of my lost disciples. “He went to through a real tough time, stopped reading the bible and attending the church. He told me, pastor one day I was desperate, and I picked up my Bible, and there I found a one-year reading plan you gave me, I began to read it, now I am at the 90^th day. Bible reading is giving me strength to face the challenges of each day. Now I want to study the Bible again with other believers.”

            That is the power of God’s word. The word of God is life giving, it reveals God’s plan for our lives, and it gives us strength to face the attacks of the enemy. Jesus knew God’s word and used is wisely against the devil. He urged his disciples not to live by the earthly food alone but by every word that proceeded from the mouth of God. The early Church was devoted to the teachings of the apostle, prayer, fellowship and God exalting worship.

II. GOD EXALTING WORSHIP:

            Vs 46, “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple…. praising God.  In our recent study we learned that, a healthy disciple is the one who engages wholeheartedly in meaningful, God-focused worship experiences on a weekly basis with the family of God.

            Talking about true worship to the Samaritan woman Jesus explains what kind of worship blesses God’s heart, “when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. John 4:33 There is something powerful that happens when believers come together and engage in God-exalting Worship. In the early Church the believers went to the temple to worship God on a daily basis.

            In this time and age going to church every day may not possible, but can we give one day the first day of the week, Sunday to the Lord? In the N.T Church, the disciples would gather on the first day of the week for worship, and for breaking of bread. “On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread,” Acts 20:7 They would also take up offerings every week. “Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.” I Corinthians 16:1-2.

            We are living in the last days. Many people’s love for the Lord is growing cold, due to the increase of wickedness in our world. The only way we combat this Luke-warmness is by being committed to a church where we come to worship. Paul writing to Hebrews, emphasizes the need for a regular gathering of the saints.

            “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25. Let’s honor our Sabbath rest. I strongly urge you to make it a habit of attending church every Sunday. Let’s show our friends and neighbors we are the followers of Christ and we go to church on Sundays to worship and fellowship with fellow believers. Let’s together build a strong worshipping community.  

III. CONNECTING THROUGH FELLOWSHIP

            Vs 42 & 46, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship…Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous (sincere) hearts. The Greek word for fellowship Koinonia means: To have fellowship with, participation in communion, arms-giving etc. The essential meaning of koinonia embraces concepts of community, communion, joint participation, sharing and intimacy. Koinonia can therefore refer in some contexts to a jointly contributed gift. The word appears 19 times in the Greek New Testament.[3]

            To put it in simple words. The early disciples loved to hang out together. Whenever they came together, they took part in communion and ate their meals with gladness and sincere hearts. In other words, there were no fake relationships, the early disciples genuinely enjoyed one another’s company. They connected with each other through fellowship.

            For the past eight weeks, we have practiced a form of Koinonia at Hope Church. We met Wednesday nights in our Life Groups, over a simple supper. Different ones prepared meals, we ate together, worshipped, studied from the word and prayed. That is what a Christian community ought to be. There is strength, when we connect with each other through our fellowship.

IV. SERVING THE COMMUNITY

            Vs 45, “they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” The early disciples served to meet the needs of their own community and also the needs of the larger community. Voluntarily they sold their possessions, goods, lands and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet, and they in turn distributed to anyone who was in need. The poor and the needy in the community were taken care by the generosity of the believers. What ways can you serve Hope Church community and the community of Sharon?

V. EVANGELISM:

            Vs 47, “praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Though this verse doesn’t directly talk about Evangelism, sharing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ the early Church was very intentional about Evangelism. The goal of their discipleship, worship, connecting through fellowship, and the acts of service was to lead people to Christ. As they lived out their Christian faith intentionally, day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

            I see here a powerful model of Evangelism. We often think, evangelism is only done when we go out and preach the gospel to a crowd of people or go to door to door distributing literature. Unfortunately, the times have changed where that type of evangelism is not welcomed in our society. Under such circumstances, how do we evangelize people? Last week we were encouraged by Ken Milhous, that ministry is all about, building relationships. It may be a slow and laborious process, but it can produce lasting results.  I see this kind of evangelism happening all the time in the New Testament.

            Consider this model: Jesus, reached out to Andrew, Andrew went out and reached out to Simon Peter and we know from the Acts 2 account, Peter preached the gospel and 3000 people were saved. They in turn went out and reached others. Many in the world are craving for love and human touch. It’s our job to reach out and touch people with God’s love. Let me reiterate the five guiding principles in closing: Discipleship 2 God exalting Worship. 3.Connecting through Fellowship 4. Serving the Community. 5. Evangelism.

            If we want to take Hope Church to the next level of growth and see it thrive what changes are we willing to make? My prayer for Hope Church is that we will continue to excel in the above mentioned five aspects of ministry, and trust the Lord to give us the increase. Amen 

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[1] http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/RNS-Report-US-churches-continue-growth-decline-trends.aspx

[2]https://reachrightstudios.com/9-important-church-statistics-2017/ 

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinonia

THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration: Our Daily Bread, February 20, 1994 carried this article, “Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersby illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers.  But those lives weren’t saved without a cost. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not “one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.”

            Mitt Romney was recorded in a private conversation during his bid for the presidency: “there are 47 percent…who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That’s an entitlement. (and they believe) the government should give it to them.”

            Mitt Romney mildly put it at 47 percent of people being entitled in the US, however there might be more people than we realize feel entitled. Many seem to remain on the receiving end, seldom displaying an attitude of gratitude. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving shortly. Thanksgiving is not all about, turkey dinners and pumpkin pie socials. It is an occasion to show our thankfulness to God, family, and friends. Does it mean that we are grateful only once a year, how about the rest of the year? For a child of God every moment and every day is an opportunity to be thankful, however so often we forget to be thankful.

            Who do you need to thank today? This morning I want to address this crucial attitude, called, “THANKSGIVING.” We will see why God considers thanksgiving important, how Jesus encountered the attitude of ungratefulness, and an attitude check. Luke 17:11-19

I WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THANKSGIVING?

            In every culture people tend to appreciate those who are thankful and resent those who feel entitled, grumble and complain. Here are a few quotes on thanksgiving: “It’s not happy people who are thankful, but it is thankful people who are happy.”  “The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems with Joy,” Mother Teresa.

            Why God considers thanksgiving important? Thanksgiving is instituted and commanded by God. After leading the people out from their bondage in Egypt, God gave commandments, established laws, rituals, and offerings of sacrifices. We often misunderstand freedom to not having laws or boundaries, but true freedom comes when we abide by what God requires of us.             Among many offerings, fellowship or thank offering was one God required by his people. Leviticus 7:11-12 “This is the ritual of the sacrifice of the offering of well-being that one may offer to the Lord. If you offer it for thanksgiving, you shall offer with the thank offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of choice flour well soaked in oil.” (NRSV) In the OT rituals, giving thanks to God was just not a verbal declaration, simply saying, “thanks” but it costed something. People were instructed to bring an offering to show their thankfulness to God for all he had done for them and for their family.

            I grew up in a church where we were taught to bring an offering to God whenever we were blessed with a job, promotion, were healed of a sickness, passed an exam or celebrated a birthday or a wedding anniversary. Every Sunday the ushers used to receive a special offering called, “Thank Offerings,” along with the regular offerings.

            Thank offering moment was a joyful occasion for the rest of the body of believers to join with those who are rejoicing and testifying of what God has done for them and for their families. Gratefulness replaces grumbling and complaining and breads peace and contentment. What are you grateful to God today?

            Thanksgiving was not optional but a command from God. It was highly encouraged by prophets, and religiously practiced by the Israelites. Thanksgiving was a prominent feature in temple worship. Consider the following scriptures: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.” Psalm 105:4

            When the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem, David pitched a tent and placed the Ark in the tent and offered, “the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being. He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol (to invoke), thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: I Chron 16. In Psalm 107:1-3, we read, “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.”

            These and many other scriptures indicate, why giving thanks and praise to God is so important for God’s people. But unfortunately, many of us fail to give thanks to God, even after receiving so many blessings from God. Why such apathy when it comes to thanking God? Why such an attitude of ingratitude? In the scripture portion that was read from Luke 17:11-19, we come across a group of ten desperate lepers who cried out to Jesus for a miracle. Jesus heals all ten of them, but only one returned to give praise and thanks to Jesus. Why the rest of the nine did not come back to thank Jesus?

II. AN ATTITUDE OF UNGREATFULNESS.

            In the story we read, Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, passing along between Samaria and Galilee. History tells us that both Jews and Samaritans hated each other.  Jews hated Samaritans for their rejection of the history of Israel. Samaritans likewise hated Jerusalem’s temple and often heckled Galilean pilgrims who passed through Samaria on their way to the festival, sometimes even causing bloodshed.

            Luke did not explain why Jesus took such a longer route to Jerusalem, than a direct way. Normally Jews did not associate with Samaritans but leprosy broke down those social barriers. As he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers who stood in a distance calling out in one voice.

            “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” In the ancient times Lepers were social outcasts. These men were ceremonially defiled and forced to live outside the village.  In Leviticus 13:46 “He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” These lepers were required to stand at a distance, so they shouted, to get Jesus’ attention.

            Jesus took a good look at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He fell at the feet of Jesus, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough, and he was a Samaritan. Jesus’ asks him surprisingly, “were not ten healed”? Where are the nine? Can no one be found to come back and give glory to God except this foreigner(outsider)?

Then he commended the Samaritan’s faith, “Get up! On your way! Your faith has healed and saved you.”

            What can we learn from this story? Out of ten lepers, nine may have been Jewish. Jesus’ sending the lepers to show themselves to the priest suggests that they were Jewish. One was a Smartian.  This Smartian may have been permitted to associate with them since they were all ceremonially unclean. Jesus healed all of them but only a Samaritan returned to give thanks and praise to Jesus for his miracle. The other nine were, eager to be declared clean so that they could return to normal life in society, evidently continued on to the priest, forgetting to give thanks.

            Though all the ten were together in their uncleanness but in their healing, they did not share the Samaritan’s deep gratitude. The Samaritan’s attitude of gratitude was reminiscent of the conduct of the Syrian Commander Naaman the Leper who was told by the prophet Elisha to dip in the river Jordan seven times. Do you remember that story? Though initially he was angry and reluctant to do so, but when he finally did it, his skin was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.  (2 Kin. 5:15).

            After experiencing that miracle Naaman worshipped the God of Israel and gave gifts. We see some similarities between Naaman and the Samaritan. They both were foreigners (outsiders), they both were lepers, God not only healed both of them of their physical sickness but restored their soul. When they were healed, they did not hold back in expressing their gratitude.

            Whereas in the case of the nine lepers, though they have experienced a miracle of healing, they were ungrateful to return to Jesus, in the process their miracle was only limited to a mere physical healing. The Samaritan man, recognized his source of healing, he took time to return to Jesus with gratitude, therefore Jesus granted him what I would call a “Double Miracle.” Jesus not only healed his physical sickness but also restored his soul. That is the blessing of being thankful to God.

            We see this type of scenario playing out all the time. There are many who cry out to God for help when they are sick or in trouble. God heals their sickness and provides a way out of their trouble. But they just like those nine lepers go on their way forgetting to give thanks to God who has healed them. There only a handful like Naaman the Syrian or the Samaritan, who after receiving healing pause and recognize where it came from and return to God praising and thanking. These are the ones who receives a “Double Miracle,” of physical healing and soul restoration. During this thanksgiving season, which one are you? Are you like those nine ungrateful lepers? Or like Naaman the Syrian and the Samaritan?

III. AN ATTITUDE CHECK

            In warfare, many times it becomes necessary for soldiers to go through an “attitude check” before a battle.  Winston Churchill once noted, “Attitude is a little thing, but makes a big difference.” For Christians, who are continuously engaged in a spiritual warfare it is absolutely necessary from time to time to go through an attitude check. During this thanksgiving season, let’s pause and take an attitude check. I don’t know about you, but there are times I move towards grumbling and complaining about things. Those are the moments I need to grab myself, and begin to pray or journal out all that I have been blessed by Jesus in my life. As I focus on God for who He is and what He is done, slowly but surely my heart begins to be filled with gratitude and contentment. Thanksgiving is not something we celebrate once a year, but it should become a daily practice of a healthy disciple of Christ. The antidote for entitlement, and discontentment, is a radical attitude of gratitude.

            Paul, writing to the Thessalonian believers reminds them that being thankful equals to doing the will of God. In other words when we are ungrateful we are living outside of God’s will. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  I Thess 5:16-18

            Giving thanks to God sets us free from greed and entitlement. It also liberates us from anger and resentment. Henry Nouwen notes, “The opposite of resentment is gratitude (from the Latin gratia = favor). Gratitude is the attitude that enables us to let go of anger, receive the hidden gifts of those we want to serve.”[1]  The Apostle Paul, cultivated this habit of thanking God for everyone, including the ones that were difficult. “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you,” Phil 1:3-4 Writing to the Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”

            What a difference that would make in our relationships, when we begin to thank God for all those who cause trouble to us, and remember them in our prayers. I believe for one that kind of prayers will definitely change our heart attitude towards difficult people.

            My prayer for all of us during this thanksgiving season is that we will have an attitude check and see if there is any ungratefulness, complaining and entitlement and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Let me close with this powerful reminder from the apostle Paul: “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7. Amen

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[1] https://renovare.org/articles/why-thanks-giving-is-life-giving

SUFFERING

SUFFERING!

John 16:25-33, 11/5/2017

Introduction: Throughout New England, this October was one of the warmest — if not the warmest ever recorded with an average temp of 61.4 F, since 1947, notes the Boston Globe. The October month personally, brings back the memories of the loss of my father. Nationally, this October month has been a sad month as it brought so much pain, and loss. It started with the Las Vegas mass shooting, and ended with a terrorist attack in Manhattan New York. As I watched the News, I was saddened, and also surprised by the attitude of the New Yorkers. For many life, as usual, the Halloween Trick or Treaters went on their way as if nothing ever happened.

            What do you say about such attitude, should we call it resilience or sheer apathy? I wonder what makes anyone pause and ask, what is really going on in this world? Whenever tragedies of such nature occur, especially those who have lost loved ones, battle through questions such as, Why me? Why is this happening to me? Why now? Some even blame God saying, if God is all powerful why didn’t he then stop the gunman from shooting or the terrorist from driving a truck over innocent people? Some struggle with the age-old question, if God is all loving why is there evil and suffering in this world? Can God eradicate evil and suffering?

            I too, have experienced suffering in my life, which left me with more questions than I can find answers. I am sure, you might have your own share of suffering. I want to be empathetic to those among us who perhaps are going through a tough situation, by not giving pat answers or giving Christian clichés. However, I want us to explore Suffering: The origin of suffering, why does God allow suffering, what should be our response to suffering, and how God is going to deal with suffering, in the end I hope we will come away with some answers.  John 16:25-33

I. THE ORIGIN OF SUFFERING:

            Whether we turn on the TV, or read the newspaper, among many things we cannot but notice suffering and much suffering around the globe. If there is one thing common to all people regardless of religion, race, class, and gender, it is suffering. It is universal and it is inevitable. The poets talk about it, politicians haggle over solutions to alleviate suffering and pastors and priests pray, and come alongside to comfort those who are hurting and suffering. How do we understand suffering which is part and parcel of all human lives? Where did it all begin?

            In the beginning God created the world. Everything that was created by God was very good. God made Adam and Eve in his own image, endowed them with a free will and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony and peace with God with one another and His beautiful creation. But one day they decided to play God, wanted to know good and evil. They were deceived by Satan, disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit.

            Their eyes were opened. For the first time Adam and Eve were ashamed and fearful, they wanted to run away from God. God pronounced curses upon, Satan, man, woman and the earth. The ground that once produced all kinds of vegetation and fruit, now was cursed. A family that once enjoyed love, and peace now had to deal with a tragedy as their older son Cain killed his younger brother Able. That was the beginning of pain and suffering.

            How did God respond to the wickedness in the beginning? “The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.”

            Genesis 6:5-6. God destroyed mankind except Noah, his family along with them clean birds, reptiles, and animals and built a new world. By this we know God is not the creator of evil and suffering. Then the question comes, why do we suffer?

II WHY DO WE SUFFER?

            The God we serve is not a sadist, he doesn’t necessarily derive pleasure from seeing people suffer and go through pain. However, at times he may allow suffering to show the world of his love and power and teach his children valuable lessons of trust, obedience dependency on him and one another. Three years ago, I underwent a surgery, during the healing process, several days I woke up in the middle of the night crying out to God in pain. I felt like as if God didn’t care about me, was million miles away from me and totally uninvolved in my situation. It was a distressful time for all of us.  Thankfully after several months of pain and agony, I was healed of that situation. Did you ever feel that way? If you did, then you are in a good company.

            Whenever we go through suffering of any kind it is natural, for a child of God to cry out and say God, where are you, why are you not doing anything, why have you abandoned me, and so on. Ravi Zacharias in his book, Has Christianity Failed you? talks about pain, suffering and brokenness. He notes, “God intervenes on three different occasions in the N.T. He met Saul of Tarsus who was bent on destroying the church, in a dramatic way. That encounter on the road of Damascus changed Paul’s life entirely, (Acts 9:4). Sometimes change comes that spectacularly.

            In the second incidence, God intervenes to bring the apostle Peter out from the prison in Jerusalem. In Acts 12:5-10, we read that, “An angel comes into the prison and leads him through the gates of the prison and into a street, after walking with Peter for a good distance, the angel leaves him. Why didn’t the angel lead Peter all the way to the prayer meeting where the disciples were praying for his release? Why was Peter left on his own to find his way there? Peter was Jesus’ friend, yet he was rescued from the prison and then left in the street half way.” Have you wondered why God doesn’t take you all the way through a problem, only brings you to a halfway and leaves you on your own? He does that to teach us to walk by faith and not by sight.

            Sometimes the miracle is dramatic; other times it is a halfway miracle. The third intervention, we read in (Matthew 27:46), where we see Jesus was on the path to Calvary.  At the last moment, when his pain is at its worst and humiliation at its highest, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus is the Son of God, but left at the mercy of his enemies. This sense of abandonment by God seems to be repeated too often, at times those who are closest to God often appear to be least protected by Him. Can you think of all the apostles, and the missionaries who have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel?  Yet God calls us to trust Him, and wants us to know that He is in control.

            Ravi Zachariah, concludes, “Some of us he meets in dramatic ways—often at the moment of our salvation. For others, it may seem that he is with us only halfway as we serve him in difficult circumstances. And still other of us may not be delivered from our trails, even to the point of death.” Without exception, No one enjoys suffering. It is agonizingly, and excruciatingly painful. No one can fully understand its intensity except those who are going through it.

            The apostle Paul, writing to encourage Romans in their suffering notes, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” In some versions, “God makes all things work together for good, or in all things God works for good.” Romans 8:28. We may never know why some people suffer more than the others? But we do know that nothing in the whole wide world, will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In light of this, what should be our response?

III OUR RESPONSE IN SUFFERING

                Along with you I too am wrestling with this subject called suffering. I do not have all the answers however, I share with you a few scriptures that helped me in my time of distress.

            I hope that you will find some solace to cope with your situation and respond positively in your suffering. My advice to you is, it is OK to express honestly how you feel to God when you are suffering. There is a whole book in the Bible called, The Lamentations, which is the work of one who had a broken heart. So next time when you are in trouble, don’t hold back, pour out your anguish to God, and he won’t be offended, in fact he invites you to call upon his name when you are in trouble, and he will send a rescue party to deliver you.

            When we are suffering, we fall into a trap of thinking that we are the only ones who are suffering unduly, while the rest are having an easy time. However, that perception is not true. The Apostle Peter writes to the persecuted Christians to see their suffering in a broader context, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” I Peter 4:12 “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.” I Pet 5:8-9

            Sometimes we suffer because of the consequences of our sins, other times we suffer because of the sins of others. Yet other times we suffer because Satan incites violence, and hatred against others just like in the case of recent shootings. Whatever it may be, we must realize that we will have trouble, as long as we live in this fallen world. In John 16:33, we read Jesus’ warning to us, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. But be courageous! I have conquered the world." Jesus conquered the ruler of this world that is the devil. Jesus is closer to the broken hearted. We are healed by his stripes. To all those who are suffering right now he offers the two very things we need they are: Peace to deal with our present and courage to deal with our future.

            In our suffering where do we find peace? Only in Christ, he said, my peace I leave with you not according to the world. How can we find courage? By looking at the one who has conquered the world! Through his own suffering and death, he has deprived this world of its ultimate power over you. Suffering cannot defeat you and death doesn't have the last word anymore. Jesus has the last word! Dear friends, if we are going through some sort of suffering, let’s take heart Jesus has overcome the world. What gives us strength and confidence in our present suffering? It is the hope of our glorious future. As we look to Christ for deliverance, he may come to us quickly and dramatically change our situation, or he will take us only the halfway and expects us to walk the rest, or we may go to death never seeing the deliverance.

            But when Jesus restores all things to God, he will establish His Kingdom on the earth where all those who believed and suffered for Christ will find their final reprieve from suffering. Let me close with this scripture, from the Revelation of John: “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” Rev 21:2-4 Come Lord Jesus! Come Quickly! Amen