I started preaching a new series last week called WRECKED! The series has been challenging to say the least. We are attempting to bring clarity to the age old question, Why is there pain and suffering in the world. It seems like every where we look today there is tragedy, pain, heartache, grief, and disaster. The Bible does not ignore suffering. In fact, the Bible says the source of suffering is Sin in the world. We also see that we should not ignore the suffering that is around us. As Christians we are called to be the salt and light in this world. This means we are called to relieve the suffering in the world while God still has us on earth.
In week one we looked at Paul who encouraged us to rejoice always. He encouraged us to be Christians who suffer well. He showed us that we can suffer with a purpose. When we suffer we have the opportunity to love Christ more, to become more like Christ, to speak to others about Christ, to watch others become Christians, and to make Christians more bold in sharing their faith.
This week we looked at suffering being under the Sovereign hand of God. When we realize God is in control then we can trust Him in all circumstances. In Acts 12 we read about the death of James in the church and consequently the deliverance of Peter. The passage tells us that the church was amazed at what happened to Peter, but I ask the question why not James. Where was God when James was beheaded. The answer is God was in control and He had a plan. As insensitive as that sounds, we must learn to accept those two truths if we are going to trust God. If God is not in control of every situation and circumstance in life then He can't be Sovereign.
The truth is that God warned James that He would drink the same cup as Him in Mark 10:39. We also see that Peter would eventually suffer a similar fate years later. But in both circumstances God was in control.
To listen to this message you check out the church's website @ www.ocbaptist.org.
I have also placed notes and passages of Scripture below from the sermon for further study.
From Jerry Bridges book "Trusting God"
1. God is completely Sovereign
2. God is infinite is wisdom
3. God is perfect in love
Passages of Scripture to read this week
The Book of Esther
Lamentations 3:37, “Who can speak have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?”
Ecclesiastes 7:13, “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked.”
Proverbs 21:30, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”
Isaiah 45:7, I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”
The story of Joseph - Genesis 40-50
Warnings about the doctrine of Sovereignty
1. Don’t ever use God’s Sovereignty to be excuse for your shortcomings. If you choose to be lazy and then expect God to get you a job because He is Sovereign then you don’t understand this doctrine.
2. Don’t allow the doctrine of God’s Sovereignty to cause us to respond passively to the actions of other people that affect us. We should take all reasonable steps within the will of God to protect and advance our situation.
3. Never use this doctrine to excuse your sin. Well I made a mistake, but God is Sovereign. God can indeed use our sinful actions to accomplish His Will, but He will still hold us accountable for our sin.
No comments:
Post a Comment