“Bearing His Reproach” (Heb 13:10-25)

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. (vs10-13)

We must go "outside the camp" to worship God, all the way to Christ, bearing whatever reproach necessary for sincere worship.  It is WORTH it for the soul. Everything that we do for Him is for our own soul's good, and it is WORTH the losses and sufferings that we endure.  We're on the winning but despised team.  But, the reward is WORTH the trouble.  Never compromise God's Son for human pleasures.

Secondly, eternal realities keep matters in perspective. We choose the better eternity, knowing that heaven and hell are real. He says, “let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (vs13-14).  We choose because we see Him whom others cannot, we hear and comprehend, when others cannot, and we have inward instruction by God to His elect.

We who preach give an account, and this demands faithfulness from us and you. We read, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (vs17).  Yes, we'll be judged on how we lived, so live for God's glory, rather than temporary pleasures.  Judgment Day puts everything in perspective regarding the present life. Live holy because it is better for you both now and then.

Thirdly, Jesus' death and resurrection is hope before God - that for His sake, because He suffered away sins unto God's approval, we can be sure that He works in us now. He says, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (vs20-21).”  We have the merit that we need, and people are wrong to preach a gospel that minimizes good works. We trust Christ FOR obedience, so we can bear fruit.  Grace is for godliness.

Finally, in sincere love, the brethren from Italy greet the Jewish Christians. He says, “Those from Italy greet you” (vs24). They don't hold them in contempt, look upon them idolatrously, or in any way think themselves less than brothers. They love people they have not seen because grace makes us LOVE God and His people.

Life's Miseries Are Upon Us (hymn)

Life's miseries are upon us, 
The burden of serving is too.

The war has many stumbles, 
Defeat comes 'cause of you.

The battle is sure to believers, 
Believe though cold with sin.

The devil seeks to deceive you, 
Receive more grace again.

His word shall prevail in the long term, 
The battle will turn your way.

The Savior who died will subdue them, 
The demons will all flee away.

“Suffer Persecution” (2 Tim 3:12)

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (vs12).

We will not live godly and escape rejection and persecution from men. We can't honor Christ, loving people openly in a way where they see Him, and men not reject us who reject the Savior. He said, “If they have called the master of the house [devil possessed], how much more will they call those of his household (Matt 10:25)?” You can't preach Christ in a way to avoid persecution, unless you change the doctrine or hold silence. But, to honor God, says God, requires that we endure the grief of sinners, as they BITE the helping hand they receive.

Don't be discouraged. You were this way, ruined in sin, and God got you the gospel. Don't be discouraged. The Lord will pull you from the fire, after you have suffered a while. Paul wrote faithfully, “But you have carefully followed my teaching, 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” (vs10-11). Like Jeremiah, He'll pull you from the pit, and you shall win ultimately. He told him, “And I will make you to this people as fortified bronze wall; and they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord” (Jer 15:20).

The remedy for man's hatred is not to HIDE or alter the gospel; it is NOT to lower the terms. The remedy is the comfort God gives to the afflicted. He says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23). You see the heavenly reward causes us JOY even now?

The hope of heaven, which is the truth of Christ's gospel, gets us through the day, not being cowardly before men. Many hate the offense of Christ's gospel, so they hold back the truth, proving their lack of faith, and reaping a low reward. But, those men and women... those godly laboring churches... that in spite of hatred, KEEP stretching forth Christ shall not only rejoice eternally, but we are comforted with joy, even now. We're blessed of God, though the world hates us, and His blessing TRIUMPHS over the misery of life, even as heaven conquers death, and doing God's will conquers the power of sin with pleasure. When the disciples were beaten for Christ, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer, so that the SUFFERING believer has help from God that you couldn't experience without the need. Suffering for Christ is FOR our good; He uses it to increase our assurance, power, and love.

Be wise. You will be hated, so hold fast to Who loves you.

“For the Sake of the Elect” (2 Tim 2:3-10)

(vs8-10) “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

We have mission in this life, to save the elect. We are NOT saved to be selfish but to stretch out salvation to others chosen of God. These sinners, like us, shall believe the gospel, and God's sent us who believe to search them out and recover them from falling. He says, “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them”, and again, “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Ezek 34:11-12; Jer 3:15). The Lord SAVES by the people that He has saved, so we live His way, doing His mission.

First, the Lord saves by saved people. Someone found you wandering and restored your sight. Someone helped you understand the mystery of the Book, and you're to spend your life helping others.

This doesn't mean you quit your job and become a “missionary”; it means that where you are, in whatever position God's put you, with whatever gifts you and I have, devote yourself to manifesting Jesus Christ, “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk” (1 Cor 7:17). It isn't enough that He's revealed to us. If we know His glory, then we live that others see Him too, doing what we can, day by day.

Secondly, the Lord saves the “elect” by us, so be sure that your labor isn't in vain (2 Tim 2:10). 1 Cor 15 says, “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (vs58). There is a people that Christ shall save, no matter how rebellious they appear.

From the outside, if you'd looked at your worthless soul, you'd be highly skeptical that He'd save you. Who'd have thought the cute baby in the picture was actually chosen of God, kept by the angels, and finally called to life by the gospel?

Preach Christ and know that Christ will make the blind to see, the lame to walk, the leper to be cleansed, and the unbelieving to believe. Isaiah 35 speaks definitively, “He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (vs4-6).

Preach Christ in the confidence that God does the saving.

Thirdly, we must ENDURE hardship in this task, because many hate us. Paul said, “I suffer trouble as an evil doer”, and, “I endure all things” (2 Tim 1:9-10). Many SHOULD be hungering for bread, but you offend them by revealing their need. Jesus says in John 9, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see'. Therefore your sin remains”. Yes, many should be hungry for electing love, knowing God's word and Spirit can be trusted. However, you wound man's controlling impulse when you put salvation rightfully into the hands of God, even “Him who calls” (Rom 9:11). Man should love those who save him... who seek his good... but he will hate you, even as he hated Christ.

But, don't be troubled. The God who raised Christ from the dead shall enable you to conquer, “according to my gospel” (2 Tim 1:8). Election sets forth a conquering God, and all who trust Him, no matter the hate of this present world, shall endure unto the end and be raised in glory.

Lastly, this is not an easy task, but the reward is great, even “eternal glory” (2 Tim 2:10). The Lord's promised us the highest reward.

We must labor in the heat of the day on His terms. We run the race that He set before us, His way, laboring in the battle according to the Commander. 2 Tim 1:4-5 says, “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And if anyone competes, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules”. Yet, the reward is far greater than the pain, even as, “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops” (vs6).

This is our light affliction because what's coming to REWARD our faithfulness on earth is eternal heavenly bliss. Don't quit and hide the gospel. Don't quit preaching and praying because you're opposed. As elect, get strength from Jesus' grace to hold Him out to His elect in this world. They will come, and you will be in heaven, eternally glorified, happy, and pleasing to God.

“All the Days of Your Life” (Gen 3:17-21)

“Then to Adam He said, 'Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: 'Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field” (Gen 3:17-18).

First, we shall have sorrow all the days of our life, and that won't change. No amount of grace or faith relieves us FROM experiencing misery, but grace will conquer the misery that we endure.

I heard the story, in passing, of a woman, not bad looking, who'd hoped and expected to marry and have children. Yet, “life passed her by”, and here she is old and alone with no one to help but God. She has HEARTBREAK and misery, lonely nights. She must see friends and family with children and loving marriages, while she thinks about the “ones that got away” and mourns her frustration.

This is common to us all. There is no one among us that achieves every dream and lives in peace without the torment of sin. The carnal nature is here so long as I live, so sin, temptation, frustration, failure, and pain will be our lot in life. We are forgiven, but the sin has brought grief and pain - (Gen 3:14-17) “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life”.

Our crime is that we wanted to be as gods, choosing between good and evil as we see fit. And, now, by rebellion, we know evil, and the pain thereof (Gen 3:4-10).

Secondly, the remedy isn't a pie in the sky religion, but a comfort that works on earth. We believe God and use the miseries of today to draw near to the One Hope that we have, Jesus and Him crucified, the promised help of God - “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:7-9).

God's word is promising us Himself, His Spirit, and His heaven. We are to receive the blessings of grace, rather than deal with our misery by human efforts and turning our backs on Christ.

If we believe, then we shall conquer and endure. The misery will be broken and God's peace will rule. The good works of faith and love will produce the joy and life that's promised - (Gen 3:20-21) “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them”.

The key to conquering the sin and misery of the curse is to RECEIVE continually, and look immediately to the BLESSINGS of God.

Christ endured the curse, so even though we hurt because we are cursed with sin and death, He has earned the blessings that like ointment or medicine relieve us . It is not that God desirous us restless and cast down; it is that He has BARRED the way of healing by human strength and found foolish man's wisdom. He will save by grace and mercy in Christ-crucified, or you won't have peace with God - (Gen 3:22-24) “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life”.

God's promise is, “in sorrow you shall eat of it”, and, “you shall eat the herb of the field”, so He declares that in spite of grief, we shall prosper (Gen 3:17-18). In spite of deadness in the flesh, we'll live in the Spirit (Gal 5:16; 1 Sam 30:6-8). Instead of thorns destroying hope in Christ, they'll bring us to God's will and make us obedient, and we'll eat the FRUIT of His way.

These thorns, thirdly, are good. Without them, we'd go into Moab and not know to return (Ruth 1:1-7). We get proud, and without a messenger of Satan, the thorn in the flesh to trouble us, we'd forget God and preach Christ to elevate ourselves - “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to beat me, lest I should be exalted above measure... And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:7,9).

Without the pain, we couldn't feel that we were wrong, and we wouldn't care. Without the consequences, we wouldn't know to trust Christ in our sin.

Pain teaches us to TRUST Christ, and then He relieves us as promised.

Tommy Robbins, Cancer

It has been determined by the doctors that our friend and brother Tommy Robbins has cancer in his brain and bones and many other places in his body in addition to the liver and spine lesions already identified.  It is being determined whether any treatment is worthwhile other than to just alleviate his pain.   Again, I ask you to pray for the family and church there.  We sorrow, but not as others who have no hope.  We worship God along with Tommy in this and praise Him Who doeth all things well.  

-- 
Chris Cunningham, Pastor
College Grove Grace Church
615-566-7849
cunninghamtn@gmail.com
collegegrovegracechurch.com

Here is a link to Fairmont Grace Church, where Tommy pastors:

http://www.fairmontgracechurch.net/

The Light That Must Peek Through

My soul breaks and my heart is pained, I know the dream is BURST

I feel the grief of hope destroyed, Yet hope removes the curse.

I lost my heart, I feel the woe, I have a Healer, too;

I see beneath the darkened cloud the Light that must peek through.

If Christ has died to heal my wounds to ransom me to God

Then I can fight the hellish gloom and keep my love to God;

Oh praise the Name of “Pain No More”, the One who freely gives

He never breaks except to bind by promises giv'n.

The Power is of God and Not Us (2 Cor 4:3-5:1)

“For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor 4:6-7).

We have the gospel in fragile vessels, so that God may be glorified in saving us.  It is NOT a teaching of self-strength; the gospel declares a God who saves sinners and does everything by His power.

First, we have learned Christ by the power of God who shined light into our darkness. In the beginning, just as He created the heaven and the earth, He created us anew in regeneration, forming us into His children.  He caused the light of knowledge to shine, so that we know God. 

Satan had us bound by lies, thinking God was appeased by our efforts, though stained with sin.  We say, “It is the best I can do”, and we expect God to accept it, though it is vile and unthinkably below Him (Mal 1:7-8).  Yet, God REVEALS the law is so strict that my sins deserve death, and there is nothing I can do to honor God who demands perfection.  And, then, BLESS His holy name!  He shows the glory of His Son’s blood, as He died for us, taking away our sins, and earning heaven predestined unto us. He reveals Christ being GRACIOUS to sinners and giving men eternal life for their sins (Is 61:3).  2 Cor 4:3-5 says, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,  whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake“.

Secondly, having learned the gospel, we keep learning it by trouble.  The problems of today cast us down, but not out.  They destroy SELF-confidence, but they lead us to a faithful God who saves us freely and miraculously.  I must see myself WEAK, so I can see how strong He is, so that I praise Him heartily, instead of taking His name in vain, saying “right things” from a spirit of flesh.  No, He conquers us and shines this light upon hearts TROUBLED with pain, broken with woe, and grieving the impact of sin - “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––  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.   For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.  And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,‘ we also believe and therefore speak”  (vs8-13).

God makes us see His graciousness, even as He came to the disciples when they were in the storm. He walks upon the storm of our trials, having full omnipotence and absolute control over them. And, He speaks peace to us, saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Mark 6:50).  He receives us freely, so we receive Him.  Then, we taste the power of peace, worship Him from the heart, and tell of His greatness SINCERELY (2 Cor 4:13).  The power of the fleshly confidence is broken for the song of heartfelt praise.

Third, God reveals that we’re SAVED to save others.  We’ve endured and been comforted to comfort others by the comfort that we’ve received.  Now, we’re better able to SERVE by the tears, and service - making us like Christ - is pleasing to God, honors His glory as many are saved, and brings us and many to peace - “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (vs14-15).

Lastly, look, Oh child of God, at the promises of heaven, and keep yourself in God’s love, rather than pondering your woes unduly. Keep eyes on the promises, the wealth of the invisible God bequeathed to you by blood, and the heavenly hope will outweigh the grief of the light and temporary affliction - “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens“ (2 Cor 4:16-5:1).

Compared to what you have in Christ, what you must weep over now is small and short-lived. You will be in heaven, and your current tears are strengthening your witness, improving your prayers, and transforming you into someone who can help others abide in God’s love also.

One of the greatest people I’ve ever met, Linda Stalnaker, was dying of cancer when we met, only to pass a couple of months later.  She had been a rock in her home, and by the way that she died - obtaining mercy, day by day, to live honorable and glorifying to God in her witness - was used to strengthen many.  This woman’s four children all came to faith in Christ AFTER she passed away.  I’ve spoken to one or two who said, “We leaned on her so much, that after she was gone, we knew we needed God.  She wasn’t there.”  Thus, God made her an example in death, and made her a witness to Christ by her absence, helping her family by tears she didn’t want to shed and a grave she would have chosen to postpone.

“Satan Hindered Us” (1 Thess 2:18)

 “Wherefore, we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (vs18).

The Lord can’t be hindered in His purpose, but His saints can be hindered by the devil, according to His will. Satan can stop nothing God plans to do, but he can ruin our plans, and we’re to fight against him by knowledge, knowing it was no “accident” but an evil being who hindered us from helping God’s people. 

Remember, therefore, when difficulties come, that we are NOT to quit, as if trouble wasn’t promised - “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and you know” (1 Thess 3:3-4).

So many think that Christianity is easy, but early joy gives way to trials, persecutions, and disappointments in doing God’s will (Hos 6:3-4).  I’ve seen many leave the gospel over a man or woman that they were attracted to.  Worshipping God offended the unbeliever, so the professed saint, chose peace in the home and pleasure over the Son.  It is quite foolish.

Don’t think this world is easy or that trouble stops because you’re saved, but PRESS ON to know the Lord and keep on believing Him when difficulties appear.  He who defeated Satan at Calvary, and who cast him out in regeneration, is He that defeats Satan in the day by day struggle (Luke 11:21-22). He cannot tempt or hinder us above what we can handle by God’s power, and there is grace sufficient.  Paul told Timothy, “Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Tim 1:8). 

There is abundant power to overcome obstacles, so they don’t have to make us fear or quit. They don’t rule God, He accounts for them, and He shall save you from them all, “Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor 1:10). Trust God when attacked by Satan, but don’t join teams with him, submitting to his evil will and missing out on your hope.  Don’t leave the fountain of waters for broken cisterns that cannot satisfy or save - “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer 2:13).  Don’t leave God for Satan, simply because the battle is hot.

Satan deceives you, and peace with him is no peace at all.  You must believe, that in spite of unbelief and sin, God is greater, on your side, and you have power against your foes (2 Kings 6:16).  You will not be defeated, and you will win.

“God is Greater than Man” (Job 32:8-12)

 “"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’ "Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.” (Job 33:8-12 NKJV)

We must be taught and told the most obvious, that God is GREATER than man. This world isn’t about what you and I want but what God has PROMISED us in Christ, which we shall have.

Do not think God UNJUST in how He treats you. He is always HOLY and merciful to them that believe; He is BRINGING you to salvation BY what you endure, even as the Judson’s counted the loss of their two year old son to be the loss of ALL they had in this world. They’d gone to India as missionaries and would die in the work themselves, but they hadn’t given God everything, so He took the boy, so that He’d give them Himself, and they’d have something GREATER than idolatry. Do not think that He is wrong, but IMPROVE yourself and grow by the pain you endure.

Ann Judson wrote, "Our hearts were bound up with this child; we felt he was our earthly all, our only source of innocent recreation in this heathen land. But God saw it was necessary to remind us of our error, and to strip us of our only little all. O, may it not be vain that he has done it. May we so improve it that he will stay his hand and say 'It is enough.'"

“Blessed Be the Name of the Lord” (Job 1:21)

“And [Job] said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there: the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”.

Job blessed the Lord, and so do you and I. We say, ‘God is great and God is GOOD” by TRUSTING Him, in spite of, the hardships that we endure (Rom 4:20-21). We JUSTIFY God in His grace and believe that He loves us, even when it appears that He’s forgotten us completely. We believe the promises, so we can be saved, believing that He gives and takes away, that all is RIGHT, all is love, and all will work according to His perfect purpose and grace (Rom 8:28).  God is GOOD to sinners, even WHEN He makes us cry deep and hurtful tears. God rules this world, so Satan is NEVER to be sought for comfort; we look to God who gives the pain to remove the pain, as He promised, for even Satan only afflicts as much as God allows - “And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that [Job] has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord” (Job 1:12). Thus, we JUSTIFY God rather than cast off Christ when all is bad, because we know that even this pain is for good.

Unbelievers, like Job’s wife, will curse and quit God in the bad times, and people who don’t have a suffering hope… a hope that is stable in storms… will flee to something else to REMEDY their sins, their storms, and their pain, “Then said [Job‘s] wife unto him, do you still retain your integrity? Curse God, and die“ (Job 2:9). But believers are KEPT by God THROUGH faith, so that we cannot deny the gospel that we believe. God gets glory in rewarding faith, keeping the tempted, and working things out for good. We shall see the end of the Lord, that He is gracious, and He heard our every cry - “Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy“ (James 5:11). God kept Job, and He will keep all for whom Christ died. Now, is our hope in Him, or do we believe in “good times” and happiness? If happiness is your god or getting everything that you want is your god (or even the things you most want) then you will perish, because God will let Satan loose upon His church, and only those who believe endure the storm.  Therefore, don’t preach some feeble “do as your people say” god who couldn’t hurt anyone and has no power over Satan. Preach the God who ensures us that we won’t make it, unless He gives strength and grace - “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men [following Christ] is impossible; but with God all things are possible“ (Matt 19:26).  The Lord WILL give grace to survive this world’s pain, and He will give glory, which is the REWARD of believing.

Here are some words from Charles Spurgeon on Ps 147:3, “He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3):

… He restores broken hearts as well as broken walls. The kings of the earth think to be great through their loftiness; but Jehovah becomes really so by his condescension. Behold, the Most High has to do with the sick and the sorry, with the wretched and the wounded!  He walks the hospitals as the good Physician! His deep sympathy with mourners is a special mark of his goodness. Few will associate with the despondent, but Jehovah chooses their company, and abides with them till he has healed them by his comforts. He deigns to handle and heal broken hearts: he himself lays on the ointment of grace, and the soft bandages of love, and thus binds up the bleeding wounds of those convinced of sin. This is compassion like a God. Well may those praise him to whom he has acted so gracious a part… uncover your wounds to him who so tenderly binds them up!

A Young Man’s Testimony to Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (Joe Eaton)

November 7, 2009 by John Knight

I have read dozens of books, articles and web sites on disability, suffering and the Bible.  What you will see below may be the finest piece on disability and the sovereignty of God I have ever read.

It was written by Joe Eaton and is particularly powerful because Joe lives with the permanently disabling condition of spina bifida.  Please join me in praising God for the insight and wisdom God has granted Joe, who is just completing his first semester of college.

The Sovereignty of God in Suffering, by Joe Eaton (first posted on Facebook and used with his permission here)

A friend and I were talking a while ago about the sovereignty of God. She asked me how I thought the sovereignty of God related to disability. More specifically, how does believing the doctrine of the sovereignty of God affect my own experience with disability? At the time, my thoughts on the subject I weren’t very well-prepared or well-organized. But I have also been meaning to write some thoughts about this since I started this blog! So, finally, I’ve written some of my thoughts on this subject. I pray that these musings are Bible-saturated and helpful…

An understanding of the sovereignty of God has to start with an understanding of the glory of God. Romans 11:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” In other words, every detail of life is orchestrated for the glory of God. When I say that God is sovereign, I mean that “For those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).” In other words, God has ordained that no matter what happens to those of us who are elect, Christ would get the glory and we would get the joy. When we talk about the sovereignty of God, we have to start there. To believe in the sovereignty of God is to trust Him, that His promises are true and that His purposes are good all the time, whether we understand what He’s doing or not, because He’s always working for His good and our joy.

Well, you might say, it’s great to talk generally about how everything is going to turn out all right for believers, but what will look differently in our lives if we really believe that God is sovereign in our suffering? How does this truth sustain suffering souls? How do hard situations serve to bring us closer to God? Let me tell you that the sovereignty of God is a sustaining and sanctifying reality. I want to put a Biblical body around this idea, and then give you a few practical examples from my own life.

The reason we can have hope in suffering is not because it’s necessarily going to get better when we think it should get better. The reason we can have hope in suffering is because we have the hope of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us! The apostle Paul continually exhorts us, his readers, to have an eternal perspective; namely, to rejoice in our assurance of heaven rather than this earth that is not our home. For example:

Hebrews 13.14 ~ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

2 Corinthians 4.17-18 ~ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Colossians 3.1-3 ~ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

2 Corinthians 12.10 ~ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The common thread through each of these passages is this: we hope in the gospel, not in our circumstances. We hope in Jesus, not people. The end of our hope is not that our suffering is going away in this life necessarily (although it might); the end of our hope is being with Jesus in heaven. We ought to rejoice even in the suffering that God brings into our lives because we know that it will all work for our benefit by bringing us closer to Him!

These truths have changed my life. I’m not saying that I feel like I suffer very much, especially relatively speaking. I’m saying that no matter where we are in life, no matter what challenges God has brought or will bring us through, you and I need an eternal perspective. Both pain and pleasure are meant to point us to the same reality; namely, that Jesus Christ is infinitely beautiful and so much more than enough for our every need. Living for Him, even suffering for Him, is worth every moment of affliction! Why? Because Jesus shows you such beauty in pain, because He is there and He is carrying us through. C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers in our pleasure and screams in our pain.” That is so true.

Further, these verses remind me to hope in the purpose that God has in whatever I’m going through. He has brought so many amazing opportunities into my life that I never would have had if He hadn’t blessed me with a disability. He allowed me to play wheelchair basketball for 11 years, through which I gained many amazing friends! He also blessed me with opportunities to encourage teammates and other athletes with the truth and example of what it means to be transformed by the gospel. I didn’t do it perfectly by any means, but I trust that God worked through me during my time in wheelchair basketball. God has also given me many opportunities to speak at different events about my thoughts on disability and how God has blessed me through it. God has taught me patience in the times when my disability has made life more challenging. He has sanctified me through my disability and I’ve definitely learned to trust Him more!

God has used all of these things to shape my eternal perspective. The sovereignty of God gives my disability a purpose. If God were not sovereign, disability and suffering would be pointless. So I cling to the hope that the God who spoke the universe into existence spoke these “slight, momentary afflictions” into my life for my good.

Disability and suffering and I exist for the glory of God. I pray that in times of suffering and times of pleasure, my life would magnify the One who “died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:15).”

God Prepared a Worm (Spurgeon)

"God prepared a worm," which teaches us that GOD IS IN OUR BEREAVEMENTS AND LOSSES.

Jonah's great comfort was destroyed by a very little thing. It was only a worm, but that was enough to destroy the gourd. Oh! how soon may our earthly comforts be taken away from us! There is a little fluctuation in the markets, and the prosperous merchant becomes a bankrupt. A little red spot appears in the cheek of your fair child, and in a few weeks she is taken away by decline or consumption. A very little thing may soon destroy all your comforts, and make them to be like the withered leaves of Jonah's gourd.

It was also, probably, an unseen thing that wrought this havoc. Very likely Jonah did not see that worm. God prepared it, but the prophet did not discern it, until he saw the destruction it had caused. And, my clear friends, some little unseen thing may yet come to you, and turn into grief all your present joy.

Besides, it was a very foul thing, a worm, a maggot, at the root of this gourd; and through this foul thing it withered and died. It is sometimes the sharpest bitterness of our grief when we have our joy spoiled by somebody else's sin. The venomous whisper of a wicked gossip, a foul drop from the black tongue of slander, has poisoned the very well-spring of domestic bliss. In Jonah's case, the Lord prepared the worm; and although no evil thing can be charged against the good God, yet at the back of man's free will there is the great truth of divine predestination, which, without taking any evil upon itself, yet overrules even the waywardness of man for the Lord's own glory. People often think that there is no worm which can eat into their comfort; but God can prepare one, as he did in the case of the prophet. He as much prepared the worm as he prepared the gourd, he as much destroyed the comfort as he first of all gave it to his sorrowing servant.

… lastly, I said that it was not in the text verbally, but it was there in spirit, that IN ALL THIS GOD WAS PREPARING HIS SERVANT.

Do you not see that God was teaching Jonah by the eye and by experience? Unless the Lord had put Jonah through this process, he could not so well have argued with his servant. So the gourd must go, and the wind must come, and the sun must beat upon the fainting prophet, and Jonah in his angry temper must get to feel great grief over his poor gourd which had met with such an untimely death, and then God comes to him, and says, "Art thou troubled about thy gourd? Hast thou pity upon a gourd, and should not I have pity upon a great city with more than a hundred and twenty thousand helpless children within its walls, and all those thousands of unsinning cattle? Should not I spare these, when thou wouldst have spared this tender plant, which sprang up in a night, and withered in a night?" Sometimes, God puts us through an unusual experience in order that we may the better understand him; and sometimes that we may the better know ourselves. Men who are of a hard nature must have hard usage, diamond must cut diamond, that at last the purpose of the great Owner of the jewels may be accomplished.

Then, dear heart, with thy sore afflictions, God is preparing thee to be a comforter to others. Thou distressed and troubled one, God is training thee that thou mayest be a very Barnabas, the son of consolation, to the sons and daughters of affliction in times to come. I would suggest to some of you here who have to bear double trouble that God may be preparing you for double usefulness, or he may be working out of you some unusual form of evil which might not be driven out of you unless his Holy Spirit had used these mysterious methods with you to teach you more fully his mind.