Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Take the City Walk
It was hardly seven in the morning...the trains were packed with commuters, subway packed with eager participants…of “TAKE THE CITY WALK”! As I wriggled my way through the crowd, I saw people of different “makes”, young and old, big and small, smiling their way to THE PADANG. For those who do not know about the history of Padang, Padang is the place where our very first National Day was held, where our Leaders declared Singapore’s INDEPENDENCE! How exciting it is to be gathered in this place again, after 41 years…
The hosts! Ps Hee Jhee and Ps Victor, did a really good job in trying to wake the sleepy heads present. There was a little quiz for us to fill in. Although it wasn’t National Day, we were given a chance to wish Singapore Happy Birthday in advance! At 9:08 hours, we were to watch our watches and shout “Celebrate Singapore”.
With the help of our resident hunk Jonathan Wong and some motivators, it wasn’t hard to move the crowd. “Move it!” A rather unique way of conducting warm-ups, I would say. The last action actually required you to put the back of your hands against your forehead, as though one had a “Headache!!...”.
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, was our guest-of-honour for the walk. Struggling to get past the crowd, I managed to steal some shots of him walking to the stage. He gave a really succinct but meaningful speech, describing the walk as the remembrance of the poor and needy. He called upon us to not only extend monetary aid, but to bless them from our hearts. Indeed, it is with the heart of worship to God that we give to the poor, as Jesus first gave us.
I was part of the Red Sector A team and we took the coastal route that brought us along the Marina promenade. Along the way, some of us started singing and the company was great! I give thanks for the many road marshals along the way. Some of them were the elderly. Their presence really motivated us to continue. God’s love could be seen through their radiant smiles.
It was a great time of fellowship for many. Werner Lee, a youthnet leader from Pastor Hee Guan network, thought that the walk was really a practical application of the principle of gathering. Though tired, Daryl Ong, his spiritual child, found the walk fun and enjoyable. He had a great time bonding with his spiritual father and brothers.
Despite the long walk, many gladly returned to the field to contribute their most “beautiful” smiles to the four thousand smiles project, a project initiated by the government and supported by TCS.
It has truly been a fruitful event as the nation and hearts are blessed. Hallelujah!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Our Love Affair with Jesus
Reporter: Sharon Thien
The gathering began with a powerful time of praise and worship, as we, led by Pastor Serene’s girls, sang love songs to Jesus.
Thereafter, Pastor Shufang gave a positive report of the Shanghai Summer Camp, speaking of how the Shanghainese were touched as the team loved and served them.
This followed with Pastor Serene’s debut sharing of: Our Love Affair with Jesus. She shared that the message had been on her heart for a long time and of her difficulties in finding an anchoring verse for the message. The message was a reflection of her heart’s cry and desire to realign our hearts back to the Lord.
“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19)
Tenderly but pointedly, Pastor Serene realigned us back to the crux of Christian faith.
Pastor Serene explained that according to the Oxford Dictionary love affair means a relationship between two lovers and here, the two lovers refers to Jesus and I.
Our Love Affair with Jesus involves:
1) Passion – The Motivation to Keep Going
2) Purpose – To Please the Lord
3) Prayer – To Live a Life Worthy of God
How Do We See Love?
Pastor Serene described that love usually begins with infatuation which goes through a process of testing and is finally sealed with a commitment called marriage. She compared the impermanence of marriage with the permanence of a relationship with God: In a marriage, the marriage vows will cease upon the death(s) of either/ both, whereas our relationship with God lasts for eternity.
Guard Your Heart
1. Double-Mindedness (with at least two purposes)
v Resulting from unfaithfulness (Matt 6:24, 1 Jn 2:15,16)
2. Disappointment
v Resulting from wrong expectation and image of God
v God is not a wet blanket or spoilsport
v (Refer to Rom 8:32, 35 and 2 Tim 4:7)
Pastor Serene challenged us to think about what it would take for us to choose to forfeit our relationship with God: “What are you asking for? Can you trust the Lord that He will give you the best? What price will you give Jesus up for? (Judas gave Him up for 30 pieces of silver.)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Purpose - To Please the Lord
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2)
Pastor Serene asked us to examine ourselves: Is my life pleasing to the Lord? And to ask God: Are You pleased with me? (Heb 11:6)
Prayer - To Live a life worthy of God
“Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Rom 8:8)
“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10)
Pastor Serene then led us into a time of ministry and many came forth to receive prayer.
Insights
Pey Rou shared that she had a good experience of leading the worship as a vocalist. The thing from the message that struck her most was this: What price will you give Jesus up for? She affirmed that one day the test will come. She was also reminded to stay as a family. She prayed for someone during the ministry time and reflected that the things that could be done for the person were beyond her and she simply left the work to God.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Pastor Shufang Tribal Gathering – 24th May 2006: Run Girls Run
The session started beautifully with worship by our very own Shufang’s band – Fangsiang and her 12. The theme was stillness in the Lord and everyone was ministered to deeply as God’s reassurance came gently upon each of us.
Pastor Shufang shared that this is a season of faith. It is a challenging season. No matter what happens to us, we must keep our faith. Many things are happening to Pastor Shufang and she feels that she needs to pray hard as she has been receiving disturbing news.
Pastor Shufang wants to encourage us to keep running the journey of faith, especially so for the miracle catch. The Miracle Catch is a FAITH journey – we need to pray. And our only confidence is God Himself. We need to expect something miraculous to happen on 25th June!
So what kind of faith do we need to rise up?
We must learn to live to please God…..more & more.
Hebrews 11:6 : “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Faith starts by asking
TODAY is the day to start our faith journey if we have not started. Our God is a God of abundance! So we must learn to ask Him for what we want.
Matthew 7:7;11 THE PROMISE OF GOD - “Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and the door will be open to you”
“how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
God is able
Eph3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”
Wang Yin’s testimony:
Wang Yin was struggling with a lot of work load. Her cell group was also hard to manage. She felt herself fighting spiritual warfare, and coming to the end of herself. She couldn’t handle so many things, and this was made worse when she fell sick with a flu and sore throat. Two days before the encounter weekend in which 6 of her members were registered for, she awoke finding herself too sick to speak clearly. In the end though, she chose to go for the encounter weekend as a guide, by faith. She asked the Holy Spirit to come to administer to her girls, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient. During the encounter weekend, her flu didn’t affect her ministry and her voice became better! Even though she didn’t sleep well, she could hear clearly from God, and she saw God working in her girls. God used her, an empty vessel, to do His work. She will persevere in this race and continue to trust God and lean on Him.
Pastor Shufang said that many a time, we need to keep hearing the message of faith. This is because we tend to know it only in our heads, rather than internalize it with our heart.
Faith strengthens through unwavering
Romans 4:18-20 : “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he as about a hundred years old- and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in His faith and gave glory to God.”
We need to experience the miracle of God, we need God to give us a miracle in our lives and for the Miracle Catch (ask for names + proclaim God is able).
The end result of our unwavering faith:
Proverbs 31:25
“She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.”
Pastor Shufang ended the tribal gathering by getting all the girls to visualize the miracle happening in our lives, and then laugh out aloud. That was a symbolic and prophetic act of claiming God’s promise that all that we have prayed for will come to pass in Jesus’ name.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Miracle catch! 7 principals + 5 practical steps:)
By: Ing Ing (picture on the way soon!)
Hi Pastors, dearies and fellow bros-and-sisters in Christ,
i have typed out what God taught me during our half-an-hour QT at CG... for your reference if u do find some learning points too! :)
For those of u who may not have any idea how it came abt... basically, Watson, my leader's husband, told us to read the book of 1 Timothy. then we are to ask God how it helps us to know how to approach the miracle catch and da vinci code... i didnt have time to consider abt the da vinci code but was somewhat hung up abt watson's remarks that we should try to jote down a practical STEP-BY-STEP approach to the MIRACLE CATCH... that got into me cos upon first reading of the book, i really dun see much link, ha!
but I DONT CARE... if Watson says there is, then GOD MUST SHOW ME... cos i know God desires to talk to me... so there MUST BE... :)
ha, totally amazed by God... cos within 15min, HE OPENED MY EYES TO REALLY SEE HOW 1 TIMOTHY CAN GIVE ME 7 GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND 5 PRACTICAL STEPS TO THE MIRACLE CATCH...
MIRACLE CATCH: 100% GOD (Principle A) & 100% MAN (Principle B-G)
7 Principles to the Miracle Catch
A) Believe that even those who are seemingly impossible to be converted can be redeemed by God
1 Tim 1:12 - God's abundant grace upon Paul who "used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man"
Amazing grace! so everyone can be saved! So dont be deceived that not all can be saved, even the hardest to reach out or the most stubborn "anti-christ" can be saved cos the one who redeems is JESUS Himself!
B) Pray for our leaders
1 Tim 2: 3 - "then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"
It struck me that we are not just supposed to pray for those we are outreaching to, but also for our leaders cos somehow there is a special link... the bible says that it is good right after mentioning that we should pray for kings and all those in authority...
i believe a special favour comes along and all men will be saved cos God is pleased. So this reminded me of how the church wanted us to be committed and faithful to pray for Pastors in our midst.
C) Develop the qualities of an overseer and deacons - set an example for others
1 Tim 3: 2 - "...temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money"
1 Tim 3: 8 - "...men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain"
There are many examples given in this book about how to lead our lives and
1 Tim 4: 16 - Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
urges us to watch our lives closely as it can save us and people who see us! so we must set a good example.
D) Meet the needs of the elderly, widows & slaves i.e. those in need
1 Tim 5 advises on how to treat this special group of people... God showed me that it is really about putting others before ourselves, giving help to them and meeting the needs of them... similarly, the prebelievers have a need too. They have a spirtual need, they are spirtually blind. To reach out to them, we have to first meet their physical needs or emotional needs. Then with the bridge, we can then invite them to church!
E) Beware of what hinders my faith
1 Tim 6: 3-10 - "...unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind... 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction...For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
God showed me that I need to be aware of what hinders my faith... must do a self-check... is my issue MONEY? or is there something else that stops me from giving my best to the Miracle Catch or believing God for it?
F) Don't give up, last all the way till 25th June 2006
1 Tim 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith
God reminded me to last the race and fight a good fight!!! in fact, if you read 1 Tim thoroughly, you will realise that fighting a good fight is mentioned twice. Paul keeps urging Timothy not to give up. Similarly, i cant give up even if my prebeliever friends are not responding at all. I must not give up even at the last hour before service on the 25th June. God can make the miracle!
G) Be faithful with little
1 Tim 6: 20 - "...guard what has been entrusted to your care"
God told me that i need to be faithful with little. Be it the gals who are currently under my care or the few who are more responsive when i invite them to church or whatever, i must be faithful to serve them and love them. When God can trust me with little, then the miracle catch can come for me!
5 Practical Steps to the Miracle Catch
1) List down the 12 names, even the impossible
(Principle A - Believe that even those who are seemingly impossible to be converted can be redeemed by God )
2) Self-reflect
(Principle C - Develop the qualities of an overseer and deacons - set an example for others & Principle E - Beware of what hinders my faith)
3) Meet the needs of these 12
(Principle D - Meet the needs of the elderly, widows & slaves i.e. those in need)
4) Be faithful
(Principle B - Pray for our leaders & Principle G - Be faithful with little)
5) Dont give up (Principle F)
Yup, so this is a precious lesson God taught me and clarified for me practically what i need to do for the miracle catch :) hope u are blessed as u read. feel free to share this with anyone else if u find that it is useful for them too! :)
Bombarbed by God's grace, Ing
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Prayer Items to pray for Senior Pastor
Prayer for SP Scripture: Exodus 17:8-15
The Amalekites Defeated
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
Prayer for SP
Moses, being the leader of the Israelites, required Aaron and Hur to help hold onto his hands as Moses raised up his staff towards God. As long as Moses held his hands up,
the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning in their war against their enemy, the Amalekites.
Likewise, we need to uphold our leader Ps Khong in our prayers, so that he will continue to lead our church from victory to victory.
After the LORD had helped Moses to defeat the Amalekites, Moses proclaimed the name of God “The LORD is my banner” – Jehovah Nissi.
Let us now pray for Ps Khong that he will experience the victory of the LORD – Jehovah Nissi in every area of his life, that he will be a mighty conqueror!
- In his mind, emotions, spirit, lips;
- in his family life,
- in his spiritual life,
- in his relationship with his G12
- in his ministerial life – especially in the Magic of Love and in his leadership of FCBC
15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The [c] LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
Prayer for FCBC
What are the enemies that must be defeated in our lives?
- Spirit of unbelief – that afflicts our spirit man
- Spirit of fear and intimidation – that afflicts our emotions
- Spirit of negativity – that afflicts our minds
- Spirit of grumbling and complaining – that afflicts our lips
- Let us now pray on behalf of FCBC against all these enemies that afflicts us. Tear down all the work of the evil one in our midst.
- Pray that we will be more than conquerors in every area of our life.
Release the power of scriptures to counteract all these enemies:
- Release faith into our hearts to believe God for the harvest.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)
- “ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power of love and a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)
- “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
(2 Cor 2:14)
To counteract the spirit of grumbling and complaining, we must give thanks and learn to praise God. (See Annex 1 for scripture reference).
Jehoshaphat won the battle against his enemies when the Levites praised God!
- Let us pray that there will be a spirit of thanksgiving and praise that arises in our midst.
- Let us pause for a while now to thank God for Ps Khong and Ps Nina.
- Let us thank God for our leaders, cell mates, and members.
- Let us praise God in advance for the many souls that will be saved in the Miracle Catch.
- Let us now end this prayer time with praise and worship from our hearts to God, for He deserves our praise and worship!
Annex 1: The Power of Praise
Scripture: Chronicles 20:1-30
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites [a] came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, [b] from the other side of the Sea. [c] It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'
10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his [d] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing [e] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah [f] to this day.
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.
29 The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Sharing on the tribal choir
The month of April saw our tribe taking to the stage as we served our Lord in the celebration ministry. Despite our complexities and inhibitions, there was great joy and unity in coming together as a whole to worship. May the sharing of our beloved brothers and sisters continue to be a source of inspiration for us.
"Worshipping together as a tribe gives me a strong sense of belonging. Despite us being very different, we are bound together by the Blood of Christ. Opportunities such as these are not just fun, but truly precious.Worshipping together in syncronity of actions brings personal worship to a higher level as we engage the congregation. Worship through songs are more than just words. It's an embrace of what we are singing, in the form of actions. I have a dream from the Lord. I thank God for this opportunity to see a silhouette of that dream."
- Eunice Lim
"Our tribe took part in the worship team for the month of April and I am proud to be part of this dynamic team.
It was a tough time for me as I was preparing for my end of term assignment papers and trying to fork out the time for worship rehearsals which fell on a weekday. I recalled rushing to rehearsals on
Thursdays and rehearsals always ended quite late. But it was always a pleasant gathering each Thursday, as we met in TCT to sing praises to our beloved God.It is amazing how serving the Lord can be so enjoyable. It was certainly physically exhausting to be jumping and clapping non-stop throughout service and throughout rehearsals. It was mentally grueling as well to memorize lyrics and to remember the actions but it paid off seeing the congregation praising the Lord with similar enthusiasm.
It is great to serve our Lord. Although our tribe lost a dear brother but being able to lay down our sadness at the Cross and conquering the rehearsals and service sessions with smiles, shows the commitment we have towards serving. Our Lord has not forgotten us and He rewards and blesses His children.
On Easter Sunday, our church witnessed many lives saved. That same day, I felt His presence amongst us, blessing us and I’m sure He’s pleased with our praise. I also am richly rewarded by scoring As in all the term assignments that I was rushing for throughout the weeks I devoted time to choir practices and services.
The Lord is indeed faithful and true to His words. Each time I sang, it was such a wonderful feeling. Knowing that He is pleased with my praise puts a smile to my face and pleasing the Lord is of paramount importance to me.
Heaven and Earth will shout Your praise,
The wonder of Your Name,
I’ll proclaim,
Evermore.
May the grace of the Lord shine upon us!
HALLELUJAH!"
- Nicole Chia
Thursday, April 27, 2006
The Doctrine of Suffering (by Pastor Hee Guan)
Definition
(12 Heb. Words and 21 Greek words convey such ideas as: to suffer, to endure suffering, suffering, distress, anguish, pain, to cause pain, to be distressed, to be hard pressed, to torment, to permit, to leave or to let alone)
Suffering is a mental distress which may or may not include physical pain. Anguish is intense suffering.
Redemption suffering of Christ
The Principle of Corporate Solidarity says that the action/state of one element of the body can affect the whole body.
Through one man’s sin, death came to all men
Rom 5:12-13a Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world.
Through one man’s righteousness, all man can be made righteous
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
The passage that best illustrates the redemptive suffering of Christ is in Isaiah 53.
… He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed… He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken… Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities…
Reasons for Suffering in this world
1 Judgmental suffering
Suffering that come about because of judgement of sin (committed by oneself or by others) - violation of God's law.
* Divine judgement upon 1st sin.
Gen 3:16-19 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
*Failure to employ our God given resources in accord with wisdom. Judge for laziness, lack of foresight, companionship of fools & greed.
Prov 19:15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
Prov 22:3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Prov 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Prov 11:24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
*Suffered as a result of faithlessness.
Num 14:31-33 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But you--your bodies will fall in this desert. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert.
*Israel faced judgmental suffering because of her iniquities.
Psa 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
*Israel suffered for her guilt.
Isa 24:5-6 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.
*Judah destroyed because of sin.
Jer 13:22 And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"-- it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated.
Lam 1:5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.
*Jerusalem in ruins and Zion suffered for her transgression.
Neh 9:26-27 "But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they put your law behind their backs. They killed your prophets, who had admonished them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
*Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to the apostles and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:1-11
*Judgement for profaning the Lord's body and blood at the communion table
1 Cor 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
*Because of sin, creation is subjected to futility and bondage to decay.
Rom 8:18-21 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
*Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel suffer from eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of God.
2 Th 1:9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.
2 Testimonial suffering
Suffering for the purpose of bringing glory to God.
*Expected to be partakers of Christ’s suffering.
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Followers may suffer for
A His sake
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,
B righteousness’ sake
1 Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened."
C the Kingdom of God
2 Th 1:5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
D the gospel
2 Tim 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
E resisting Satan
1 Pet 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
F being a Christian
1 Pet 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
G His name
Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
*Through suffering, Job gave testimony to the integrity of his trust in God. It is a test
of integrity as a testimony to others and not judgmental for certain sins.
Job 2: 7-10 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
John 9:2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
3 Preventative Suffering
Pain may be a warning signal of physical dangers. Without pain people would be subjected to many calamities. Some suffering in a fallen world is a beneficial warning of the danger of more tragic possibilities. Pain is a sign that action should be taken; it implies that if action is not taken, the survival chances of the living thing are going to decrease. Sometimes physical suffering becomes a sign of spiritual need (the need for God). God may also allow physical suffering to keep one from more serious spiritual problems.
*Paul's example.
2 Cor 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
4 Empathetic Suffering
Some suffering arises, not from sin, but love. We may enter fully through imagination and concern into another's feelings. Empathy with others who suffer produces suffering.
*The prophets of old (Eg. Jeremiah)
*Paul
2 Cor 2:4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
*All of us are to weep with those who weep.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
*God, Himself, experiences empathic suffering too.
Gen 6:6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
5 Educational Suffering
The greatest good of the Christian life is not freedom from pain; it is Christlikeness. God is far less concerned with the comfort than with the character of His people.
*Suffering produces character.
Rom 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
*When we fail to endure, we may require discipline as does any child.
Heb 12:10-11 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained
*The follower of the Lord not only passively accepts discipline, but actively disciplines himself. To achieve the higher values in a fallen world requires disciplinary suffering.
1 Cor 9:25-27 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Response to suffering
We need the wisdom of God to determine whether a given experience of suffering is judgmental, empathic, testimonial, preventative or educational.
1 We need to repent in response to judgmental suffering.
2 In response to testimonial suffering,
*Follow Christ’s eg. of endurance
1 Pet 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
*Continue to hope in God
Heb 11:36-38 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
*Moses consider suffering abuse for Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt
Heb 11:26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
*See it as completing the suffering necessary for the building of the church.
Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is
still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the
church.
*Know that it assures future glory
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
*Eternal perspective – present suffering is slight in comparison with eternal glory
Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the
glory that will be revealed in us.
Cor 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal
glory that far outweighs them all.
*Rejoice
See 1 Pet4:13
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3 Receive preventative and educational suffering for your own good.
Result of redemptive suffering in Christ
a. proven genuine faith (1 Pet 1:6-7)
b. glory that would follow (1 Pet 1:11)
c. commending from God as Christ’s follower (1 Pet 2:20)
d. redemption (1 Pet 2:23-24)
e. blessing for ourselves (1 Pet 3:8-14)
f. opposition for evil human desires (1 Pet 4:1-4)
g. joy when Christ’s glory is revealed (1 Pet 4:12-14)
h. dignity in bearing God’s name (1 Pet 4:15-16)
i. strength, firmness and steadfastness in the Lord (1 Pet 5:10-11)
j. comfort as well as comfort for others (2 Cor1:3-5)
k. character (Rom 5:3-4)
l. produces a harvest of righteousness and peace (Heb 12:10-11)
