Friday, September 28, 2018

Myths and Mysteries - Happiness

(Due to technical problems, there is no audio recording of this sermon.)

This message is part one of a mini series of sermons on misconceptions that Christians have about the teaching of the Bible. This sermon speaks about the "myth" that many Christians believe, which goes like this: “God wants His children to be happy, so whatever makes me happy must be His will for me.”

Written Excerpts:


Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Introduction:
Several weeks ago I preached a sermon on suffering and I remember telling you that some people are very troubled or puzzled by the suffering that God’s children go through at times. It almost seems like some have the mistaken idea that suffering is a sign that I’m being punished for something I did wrong, and if I haven’t done anything wrong, then it is unfair for me or other good people to suffer. I referred to this type of thinking back then as a “Christian Myth.” That is, an idea that has no basis in biblical truth, but is still believed by many professing Christians.
I also remember saying that I had done a short series of Bible study lessons on Wednesday evenings some time ago on the theme of “Christian Myths,” and I may adapt them into a sermon series. I felt the Lord leading me to begin this study today.
Today we are going to consider another one of the “myths” that is relatively common among believers, as well as non-believers. I would describe the myth like this: “God wants His children to be happy, so whatever makes me happy must be His will for me.”
(Draper's Book of Quotations) The doctrine of man's inalienable right to happiness is anti-God and anti-Christ, and its wide acceptance by society tells us a lot about that same society. – A. W. Tozer
Before we go any further, I should also describe the opposite view, which is also a myth. “God’s will for my life involves anything and everything that makes me miserable.”
Speaking of happiness, I came across several things that I thought might make you chuckle:
(Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World)
·     Happiness and intelligence are rarely found in the same person. – William Feather (b. 1889)
·     Men who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact. – Bertrand Arthur William Russell
(Phillips' Treasury of Humorous Quotations)
·     Real happiness doesn't consist so much in what a man [has] as it does in what he doesn't want. — Josh Billings
(Illustrations Unlimited)
·     You should do something every day to make other people happy, even if it's only to leave them alone.
·     Chinese proverb – If you wish to be happy for one hour, get intoxicated. If you wish to be happy for three days, get married. If you wish to be happy for eight days, kill your pig and eat it. If you wish to be happy forever, learn to fish. 
·     A man had just had his annual physical exam and was waiting for the doctor's initial report. After a few minutes the doctor came in with his charts in his hand and said: "There's no reason why you can't live a completely normal life as long as you don't try to enjoy it."
Well, these various quotes have certainly shed some light on the pursuit of happiness haven’t they?
Today I want to speak to you about the mistaken idea that many Christians have expressed in one form or another. That mistaken idea is not supported in Scripture, so that is the main reason it is a “mistaken idea” and therefore is a myth! As I mentioned earlier, the mistaken idea (or myth) that is held by many people is this: “God wants His children to be happy, so whatever makes me happy must be His will for me.”
I.    Two things wrong with this statement.
1.      It proposes that our happiness is God’s highest goal.
When I say, “God wants His children to be happy,” I claim that my happiness and the happiness of all humanity is the highest goal and desire of almighty God. The problem with that view is that it doesn’t measure up with Scripture. The Bible makes it pretty clear that God’s greatest desire for human beings is for us to be in a genuine relationship with Him. In order for that to be possible, we must share His character and His nature.
Dr. John Oswalt – If a person constantly reads the NT in light of the Old, which the Church Fathers clearly intended by their joining of the two in one [collection], then it becomes unmistakably clear what the purpose of the Gospel is. It is the same purpose that God has had from Genesis 4 onwards: the transformation of human behavior in this world with the consequent possibility of living with God through all eternity. The OT shows us what that transformation is, and the NT shows us what God has done to make the transformation possible.
This means that unless Christians are truly transformed into the character of God, the whole purpose of the Church’s existence becomes blurred and confused….
Dr. Steve Herron – God is more concerned with our holiness than either our health or our happiness.
Now, as I stated a few minutes ago, there are some people who think God’s main objective is for us to be miserable. That idea is also a myth.
When we understand the purpose for which God created us, we learn that our main purpose is to know Him and enjoy Him. And, in order to enjoy Him, we must be like Him. If we are going to be like Him, it is us that will have to change. God isn’t going to change so that He can be like us (except to the extent that He already has in the person of Jesus Christ).
2.      It makes happiness the main objective in all our pursuits.
When we say, “Whatever makes me happy is God’s will,” we automatically (even if it is unconsciously) make the pursuit of happiness to be the highest priority of our lives.
Therefore, Happiness has become our god rather than God Himself.
We become obsessed with “What will make me happy today?” The answer to that question becomes our motivation for life. We judge all our actions and pursuits in life by “Does this make me happy?”
Pursuing happiness will inevitably take our eyes and our focus off of Christ.
II.  Two simple but undeniable truths
1.      The pursuit of pleasure (happiness) is bound to end in disappointment.
We were created for a higher purpose, so anything less is certain to produce frustration, discontentment, and even anger. No material possession, no amount of earthly wealth or no extent of sensual pleasure can produce genuine happiness. Why? Because we were made for relationships; first of all, an intimate relationship with God, and secondly, relationships with other people because we are made in God’s image. Genuine happiness (joy) comes through meaningful relationships.
No one knew this any better than the author of Ecclesiastes, whom many people believe was King Solomon.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 17-20 (NKJV) 1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth [entertainment, merriment]; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. 7 I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. 9 So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. (Then he continues several verses later)
17 Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. 18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun.
Proverbs 21:17 (NKJV) He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
In the Ecclesiastes passage and in the Proverbs Solomon emphasizes the simple fact that pursuit of pleasure and happiness is a vain and worthless pursuit. It doesn't end up well.
2.      The pursuit of God is the fountain of pleasure, happiness and joy.
Hebrews 11:24-26 (NKJV) 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Because of his faith, Moses could easily see that identifying with God and God’s people would ultimately produce more benefit than the “passing pleasures of sin.”
Proverbs 16:20 (NKJV) 20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
“happy” – same word that is sometimes translated “blessed.” It carries the idea “to be envied.”
Psalm 144:15 (NKJV) 15 Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!
Psalm 16:8-11 (NKJV) 8 I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
You and I can seek out all kinds of activities and pursuits in life to make us happy, but the final analysis is this: God created us for Himself and the only truly lasting joy and happiness to be found is only found in God Himself.
Conclusion:
The title of the message today was, “Myth and Mysteries.”
They Myth is: “God wants me to be happy, so whatever makes me happy is God’s will for me.”
The Mystery is: “Happiness cannot be found by pursuing it.” 
Happiness can only be found in knowing Christ. 
The truth of our message today is the fact that we can pursue happiness and pleasure all our lives and still be unfulfilled, unsatisfied and unhappy. We can fill up our lives and our schedules with earning more money, acquiring more things, pursuing all kinds of recreational events, seeking to satisfy all our fleshly desires, and we can still be miserable. If we haven’t developed an intimate relationship with Jesus, nothing else will be able to fill the void that is left when we don’t have Him.
If you want to be happy… seek to know God; seek an intimate relationship with Christ; seek to be holy like Christ; then you will be “compatible” with the Lord and, knowing Him, your joy will be full. Holiness is happiness, because God is holy.
John Wesley – holiness is loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength.
Let us sing a closing song: Joy Unspeakable

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Dirty Feet and Clean Hearts



(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

This is a sermon that is based on the account of the last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples in which he took a basin and washed the feet of the disciples. It focuses on the kind of washing they needed as well as the kind of washing they already had received - the washing of their hearts. 

Written Excerpts:


John 13:10 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

Introduction:

I want to speak to you today on a passage of Scripture that is familiar to us, but probably not often referred to. The passage that was read earlier in the service, John 13, relates the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. We’ll talk about the lessons we can learn from this story in just a moment, but first I would like to address a question that sometimes comes up in connection with this passage.

Is feet-washing a required part of the ordinance of communion? You may already be aware that some denominations or some Christians say it is, and others say it isn’t. I am convinced that it is not to be understood as a necessary part of the sacrament; not to be seen as an ordinance or requirement.

1. Verse 15, “example” – lit. a pattern. Jesus is telling them that what He did for them is a pattern or representation of what they should do.

2. “do as I have done.” The word translated “as” is a comparative. It does not convey the idea of doing the exact thing, but something like it or compared to it.

In that culture, there was little else that would exhibit the spirit of humility like the act of washing someone’s feet. In our modern western culture, with the majority of people wearing protective covering for their feet, there are many other ways that humble service can be demonstrated for others.

In His explanation, Jesus seems to make much of the fact that He did this in light of His position as “Lord and Master” (v. 14). The emphasis seems to be on teaching a lesson about how position/status should not prevent service, not on starting a new ceremony or ordinance.

Now, as we look at this story, what does it reveal to us about Jesus, the Savior?

I.    It reveals something about the Savior’s knowledge.

A.  He knew the right time had arrived.

John 13:1 (NKJV) 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – In the earlier part [of John’s Gospel] we are told that things did not happen ‘because his hour had not yet come’ (2:4; 7:30; 8:20).

John 2:4 (NKJV) Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."

John 7:30 (NKJV) Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 8:20 (NKJV) These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

Starting in John 12:27, there are four different texts appearing later in John that indicate now his time has come.

When Jesus knew the time was right He proceeded with the significant actions to demonstrate His humility and love for His disciples.

B.  He knew His identity and destiny.

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – Knowing this did not make him think he was above carrying out menial service. Knowing full well who he was, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet.

When we are secure in our identity, we don’t have to exercise superiority over others to “prove our worth” or to “show our status.” Knowing who we are in Christ, and being in relationship with the Father, gives us the confidence to assume the roles of a servant without feeling demeaned or humiliated.

C.  He knew the hearts of everyone.

John 13:11 (NKJV) 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."

Because He was divine, He could tell the motives and intentions of men’s hearts. Thus, He knew His betrayer. Judas is not the only one Jesus knows. He knows every one of us, including the deepest needs of our hearts and lives.

II.  It reveals something about the Savior’s love.

John 13:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – Jesus’ love was expressed not only in performing the menial service of foot-washing but also in what this act symbolized: his humiliating death upon the cross by which spiritual cleansing was made possible (this becomes clear as the story unfolds).

We are told by one author that the word “example,” we mentioned earlier that is used in verse 15, was a word that was used in extra-biblical literature (2 Maccabees) in close relation to the “example of death.” Brave martyrs are described as having provided an “example” to others.

So, the act of washing their feet, being an example to them, clearly could have had an additional reference to His pending death for them as well.

“loved them to the end” – (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) The evangelist’s statement that Jesus loved them ‘to the end’ can be construed in two ways: (1) adverbially, meaning to the uttermost, or as the NIV has it, ‘he showed them the full extent of his love’; (2) temporally, meaning to the end of his life, i.e. Jesus’ love for his disciples did not fail; it persisted to the last moments of his life. Perhaps there is intended ambiguity here, for Jesus did indeed show the full extent of his love, and he did so until the end of his life.

This act of washing the disciples’ feet was an act of service streaming from a heart of love. Remember this: love for others is not merely demonstrated by nice words, but also by sacrificial service.

III.  It reveals something about the Savior’s gift.

The Savior’s gift is implied in the words of Jesus to Peter after Peter had resisted having Jesus wash his feet.

John 13:10 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – The cleanliness Jesus was speaking about was forgiveness of sins, which makes people fit to have fellowship with him, fit to enter the presence of God. The disciples were already clean in this sense because they had accepted Jesus’ word... Later, Jesus would say to his disciples, ‘You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you’ (15:3).

In the first part of the Lord’s reply, He obviously seems to be speaking in a literal sense: Those who have bathed before leaving home to come to the meal need only to have their feet washed because of the dusty roads.

However, the second part of the reply: “you are clean,” seems to have a separate, higher meaning. Thus, a reference to the gift of salvation/redemption provided by His upcoming death.

The disciples may have had dirty feet, but they had clean hearts.

Conclusion:

As I was thinking about this humble display of love and service that Jesus did for His disciples, I thought about the fact that we sometimes use the phrase “getting our hands dirty” when we speak about hard work or lowly tasks. Perhaps my sermon title should have also included the phrase “dirty hands” to emphasize the aspect of doing hard or humiliating work for others.

When we remember the awesome example of humility and service that Jesus provided, and we remember the gift of redemption He provided, we need to live out our lives in demonstration of gratitude by following His example. The highest form of devotion and honor we can show towards someone is to mimic their conduct and attitudes.

How will you, how will I, demonstrate our love and gratitude for Christ’s sacrificial love?

Before we share the elements of communion today, let us take our Praise and Worship Hymnals and sing the hymn: Here at Thy Table, Lord

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Conformed or Transformed



(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

This is a sermon that is based on Romans 12:2 and it speaks about the need for Christians to avoid the typical thought patterns and philosophies of the world and be truly Christian in our minds. 

Written Excerpts:


Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Introduction:

One of the challenges facing Bible Christians is the daily task to rise above the thinking and attitudes of the world around us and purposely live by biblical principles. I think we all understand the constant battle we face in overcoming the attacks of our spiritual enemy. We battle temptations, and we endure suffering as well as other trials that threaten our faith and our faithful obedience to the Lord. All of these are usually very blatant and recognizable as the Devil “seeking to devour” each one of us.

However, there is a much more subtle and sinister way that the enemy attempts to divert our allegiance away from closely following Jesus as a true disciple. This more subtle and sinister way is the constant pressure to conform to a worldly way of thinking and a worldly system of values that will inevitably impact our conduct and lifestyle. The Scripture that was read earlier contains a verse in which the Apostle Paul urges believers to not be one thing, but instead become something else. He urges them to NOT be conformed to this world, but to BE transformed by the renewing of their minds.

With the help of God’s Spirit I want to explore the meaning of the words Paul uses and then speak about the kinds of ways our thinking must be different than the world that is without Christ.

I.     What does Paul mean?

In verse 1, Paul has just urged his readers to make a dramatic offering of themselves to the service of God.

(Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) Whereas v.1 has called for a decisive commitment, v.2 deals with the maintenance of that commitment.

“conformed” – fashioned with or conformed to. Lit. stop being fashioned into… Conveys the idea of being fitted to a pattern.

Romans 8:29 (KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rather than fitting into the patterns of this age, we are to be fitting into the pattern of Christ’s image.

“world” – lit. “age”; not talking about physical world (creation), or people of the world per se, but the spirit of the age, the values, attitudes, philosophies, goals and aspirations. That which is in direct contrast with the “coming age.”

Mark 10:30 (NKJV) who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come (KJV, “world”), eternal life.

Ephesians 1:20-21 (NKJV) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Galatians 1:4 (NKJV) who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

“transformed” – μεταμορφόω, pres, impv, mid/pass verb, a compound word “meta” and “morphoō”; to fashion with; change form or transform. It is akin to our similar-sounding English word, “metamorphosis,” which is used to describe the process a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.

This is also the same word used to describe the change that occurred with Jesus on the “Mount of Transfiguration.” His form was changed and the disciples saw Him in a different form than they had been seeing Him. It is such a drastic change or transformation that what follows doesn’t seem to be much like what preceded.

“renewing” – (anakainoō); renovation – renewing (Strong’s); a complete change for the better (Thayer).

This concept reminds me of renovating a house; improving it for the better.

Colossians 3:9-10 (NKJV) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

“mind” – νοῦς, probably from the base of (ginōsko); the intellect, i.e. mind … by implication meaning: mind, understanding. (Strong's Dictionary)

(Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament) He uses it to throw into sharper relief the function of reflective intelligence and moral judgment which is expressed generally by καρδία heart.

The key to its Pauline usage is furnished by the contrast in 1 Corinthians 14:14-19, between speaking with a tongue and with the understanding (τῷ νοΐ), and between the spirit and the understanding (v. 14).

If the believers are to be transformed (changed) by a renovation of their understanding (thinking), then it seems that the meaning of “conformity to this age” has more to do with the mind (understanding, thinking) as well.

So, Paul is urging believers to:

a) Don’t allow yourselves to be patterned after the evil age we currently are in.

b) Keep on being changed by the renovation of your understanding and mind to conform to Christ.

(Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) The two processes [i.e., not being conformed and being transformed] are viewed as going on all the time, as the present tenses indicate – a continual renunciation and renewal.

II.  How do we make it happen?

So how does a person avoid being fitted according to the patterns of this present evil age?

Donald Grey Barnhouse, Sr. was the pastor of Tenth Street Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for over 30 years during the mid-1900s. He said: Some years ago, musicians noted that errand boys in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune. Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant. The boys did not know there was anything wrong with the peals, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch.

The secret to avoiding conformity to the current age and being transformed is to “whistle to a different tune than this world plays.”

(Barnhouse continues)

So we tend to copy the people with whom we associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to which we listen, almost without knowing it. God has given us His Word which is the absolute pitch of life and living. If we learn to sing by it, we shall easily detect the false in all of the music of the world. (www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/w/worldliness.htm)

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The way this transformation takes place is for us to train our minds and feed our minds more on God’s truth than on the world’s lies.

We must learn to “march to a different drummer.”

We must intentionally guard what we allow our minds to accept as true, good, and noble.

This is a story that his son, Donald Barnhouse Jr., related about his father:

When he was a teenager, in Watsonville, California, one of his favorite Bible teachers was a young man named Tom, who worked with an organization called “Christian Endeavor.”  It was big at that time.   Dad liked to go hear Tom speak whenever he could, so he asked Tom to let him know whenever he was going to be speaking in the area….

One day he got a wire from Tom saying that he was going to be coming through Watsonville on his way to speak in another town nearby, inviting my Dad to meet him on the train and ride to the meeting together.  Looking forward to hearing Tom preach, Dad met him on the train.  After they had greeted each other and talked a little, Tom pulled out his Bible and settled down to a little study.  My Dad pulled out a newspaper he had brought along, and started to read.

A few minutes later, glancing over at Tom, he said to his friend, “I sure wish I knew the Bible like you do, Tom!”  Tom glanced over at my Dad and said, “Well, you’ll never get to know it reading the newspaper!” (www.donaldgreybarnhouse.com/)

What are these stories conveying?

They are telling us that we cannot spend way more time consuming the philosophies and values of this world than we do consuming the principles of biblical truth, and hope to change into a person that is the image of Jesus.

If we primarily feed our minds on the trash that is primarily produced by Hollywood, our patterns of life will pretty well match up with theirs.

III.  How does it apply?

Having talked about what Paul means, and discussed how it can happen, then what kinds of examples can we share to explain how it practically applies to Christian living today?

I remember those who argued that “worldliness” was all about how you dressed, what kinds of entertainment or recreation you did, and other strictly external evidences. I think you would agree that there were a host of people who felt like they were just fine and okay because they weren’t guilty of the specific things people were condemning, but in reality, they were still no different from the world in their patterns of thinking and their attitudes. However, if Paul says conformity is avoided by a renovation of our minds then it must be a mindset and pattern of thinking that he is primarily addressing.

Now, it is obvious that when our thinking is worldly, then it will lead us to conduct our lives accordingly. It will lead to “worldly” actions. But, if we do not address the patterns of thinking first, then worldliness will always be expressing itself in new and different ways as we change and as society changes.

What are some of the ways in which the mindset and philosophies of this present age are opposite to the thinking of Christ?

The following verses in Romans 12 give us some indication of how the principle can be applied. There are innumerable ways to distinguish between a spiritual Christian pattern of thinking and a worldly pattern of thinking, but here are a few additional examples.

a) The material world / possessions are more important than the spiritual world and eternal possessions.

“What is it profited if a man gain the whole world…?”

 “Success” is defined by what a person has acquired rather than by his/her spirit, than by relationships, etc.

b) Fun & Pleasure are more important than joy.

“People will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”

“In Thy presence is fullness of joy.” We are creatures made in the image of God and there is nothing that can provide true genuine joy other than close communion with our Creator.

c) Self-centeredness rather than self-sacrificing love and compassion.

Conclusion:

 (Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, by Spangler & Tverberg) In our materialistic, entertainment-oriented culture, people look at business titans, sports heroes, and movie stars as people to be emulated. Our society honors those who possess beauty and wealth. But in Jesus’ time and throughout the ages, the Jewish people believed that becoming a great scholar of the Scriptures represented life’s supreme achievements. In such a culture, it made sense that the Messiah should be the great of teachers.

John 17:14-16 (NKJV) I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Lenski, in his commentary, says, "‘Not of the world’ means that the disciples are like Jesus; they are not of the world in the same sense as Jesus is not of the world.”

Yet, according to v. 15, they are not taken out of the world; they are still in it.

Jesus is describing a state in which the disciples are not going to be taken from this world in death (like Elijah and others in the O.T. wished for), but they do not function as the world functions. They live by a completely different set of values.

Let us close by singing an old hymn: Since Jesus Came into My Heart

Afflictions of the Righteous



(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

This sermon concerns the topic of suffering and why it is experienced by righteous and godly people. It addresses the "myth" that is sometimes expressed implying that godly people should not experience tragedy, adversity or suffering.


Psalm 34:19 (NKJV) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Introduction:

A little more than a year ago I did a series of Bible studies on Wednesday evenings that I referred to as, “Christian Myths.” These lessons were in no way agreeing with the liberal Bible scholars who proclaim that many of the stories of the Bible are not real, but ancient myths. On the contrary, the lessons were speaking about the “myths” that some people attribute to Christian faith, but have no foundation in Scripture. These “myths” are ideas that people have grown to accept, perhaps on the basis of one or two verses of Scripture, and then have drawn a whole set of conclusions that depart even farther from the actual truth of the Bible.

I had thought I might develop a series of sermons out of the Bible studies, but I’m not sure if I will or not. However, the theme of my message today does relate to one of the errors many Christian people have accepted and could be considered another “Christian Myth.”

The error I am referring to is the “myth” that good people, godly people, or righteous people should not suffer. And, if they do, then it must be that God is punishing them for some reason. The Scripture we are looking at today in Ps. 34:19 tells us as a matter of fact, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I want to speak to you today concerning the fact of afflictions, the severity of afflictions, and the deliverance from afflictions.

I.      Afflictions are a fact of life.

“affliction” – Heb. word is translated “evil” over 400 times. Anything that can be described as bad or evil.

“righteous” – The word connotes conformity to a moral or ethical standard; “to be straight.” The obvious standard is the nature and will of God (TWOT). (See verses 13-18.)

The question is often raised, “Why do good (righteous) people suffer?” Or, “Why do faithful Christians go through intense testing and trials or afflictions?”

There are at least two answers in the Bible that are related to the matter of improving or enhancing our life of faith:

1) Tests/trials/tribulations, etc. all work together to make us stronger, if we approach them with the right attitude and frame of mind.

James 1:2-3 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

2) Our experiences give us the “credentials” to offer comfort and assistance to others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

There is a third reason why the righteous suffer afflictions. It has nothing in particular with the life of faith, it is just a fact of life. I’ve often said that our world has been drastically affected by the curse of sin. Evil entered our world at the time of Adam & Eve’s disobedience and it has brought innumerable consequences to all of the inhabitants. All types of suffering, tragedy and disaster have plagued our world ever since Adam and Eve were dispelled from the Garden of Eden.  The main reason anyone suffers is because we all live in a fallen world.

Yes, there are times when it is easy to see that tragedy, adversity, etc. are the direct consequence of wrong choices in life. BUT, we can also recognize that there are frequent times when the circumstances we face seem to have no direct connection to bad choices, yet we experience tragedy, disaster and suffering anyway.

Jesus and the apostles all spoke about this fact of life.

John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Acts 14:21-22 (NKJV) And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NKJV) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

2 Timothy 3:10-12 (NKJV) But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Hebrews 11:35b-38 (NKJV)  And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

In every one of these passages, Jesus and the apostles were speaking directly to believers and disciples when they repeatedly warned about tribulation, affliction, and suffering.

In the passage where our original Scripture text was found, Ps. 34, we read at the very beginning of the Psalm that King David wrote it when he was pretending to be “mad” as he fled from Saul to Abimelech (aka, King Achish of Gath). So, in the contextual setting of this psalm, David is running for his life, realizing he is hunted by a man who wants to kill him. Certainly, he felt that his current “afflictions” were many!

This week I just finished reading a book that I’ve known about most of my life, but I had never read it before – Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand. (I highly recommend this book to every Christian.) I know that the sentiments expressed by Rev. Wurmbrand are mutually shared by thousands, and perhaps millions, of Christian believers even today who suffer for their faith. Most of them consider the suffering they endure for Christ as a privilege. And, they have a passion for witnessing to their persecutors that is hard to accurately describe.

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Afflictions are a fact of life.

II.    Afflictions are severe.

In Ps. 34:19, King David described the afflictions as being “many.”

As I stated earlier, when he was fleeing for his life, running from King Saul, he unquestionably felt like his afflictions were “many” (i.e. all around, on every side).

I think I have referred to this fact in connection with the passage in James 1:2, “…when you fall into divers temptations” (KJV).

The word “divers” is sometimes translated as “various”, but it carries the idea of many-colored, manifold, or motley. Old English word “divers” is probably related to our common word, “diverse.”

Writers have said that James is portraying trials and testing to be all around, on every side and in all shapes and sizes.

I’m quite sure that many of us here have had those times in our lives when that is the feeling we experienced. It just seemed as though we were being pressed on every side with troubles of various kinds.

Afflictions can definitely be severe at times in our lives.

III.   Deliverance from afflictions is possible.

Even in the midst of severe afflictions and trials, King David expressed his faith that God would be his deliverer.

“delivers” – to snatch away; rescue; pluck; or recover.

Ps. 34:19b … But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Remember that David is writing poetry. He is simply expressing his confidence that God takes care of those who belong to Him.

God provides the victory. God will vindicate him.

But… deliverance is not always literally physical, at least when it is understood in the context of the whole Bible.

Sometimes the deliverance is literally and physically in this life. Sometimes the deliverance is specifically spiritual, and sometimes the deliverance is more specifically eternal.

See:

2 Corinthians 4:14 (NKJV) [context of vv. 7-9, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed]    14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

Conclusion:

I have periodically tried to address the topic of adversity and suffering because we all go through those times in our lives when it seems the trials are especially severe.

I hope we have been reminded that we “should not think it strange when we are faced with fiery trials.”

I also hope that we understand that God will provide the grace we need to endure and come through the afflictions of life with victory and a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Let us close our service by singing the closing hymn: God Leads Us Along