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Uncomfortable Comfort – Part 1

By / Uncomfortable Comfort / 11 minutes of reading

Job 21:34
How then will you comfort me with empty nothings?
There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.

The video of this message can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/cusxsrBbjEs

Considering the difference between God’s comfort and invalid comfort.

As we all know, Christians are not spared from the pains of life. No amount of denial or speaking it out of existence can remove the unpleasant realities we all endure at times.

While I applaud the efforts that people make in showing comfort to those who suffer, like all things though, comfort has a vulnerability. It can be false, hypocritical, and invalid.

  • Invalid comfort looks to surface issues only, to the superficial things, and to what is convenient for the giver. It doesn’t like to sacrifice self for the recipient’s benefit.
  • Therefore, it often lacks grace.
  • Invalid comfort is more concerned about how the giver feels, than how the recipient feels.
    • There’s nothing worse than empty platitudes from an insincere person when you’re struggling. Instead of encouraging and strengthening your resolve to remain steadfast, it, like quicksand, sucks you down into doubt, fear, and insecurity.
    • Whereas authentic comfort reassures, imparting a degree of calmness while in the storms of life. It conveys a layer of wellness, of acceptance, and of security of the relationship to overlay the pain being experienced.
    • In short, comfort says, “I’m here for you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

The Bible tells us of a man named Job, who suffered unimaginably.
Without warning he had his wealth, his property, his possessions, his livestock, his staff, and his children, all destroyed.
He then lost his health; being covered in weeping sores, he was cast out of town to survive on the local rubbish dump with the dogs. He was the target of ridicule, humiliation, and slanderous gossip. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his fatalistic wife suggested he “curse God and die” (2:9).

  • Now, Job had 4 would-be friends who seemed to start out being empathetic and supportive of him in this nightmare (Job 2:11-13; 32:2-5. Bildad, Zophar, Eliphaz, and Elihu).
  • But their words soon turned ugly, increasing Job’s suffering. These 4 would-be friends were imperfect sinners who lacked the grace, the patience, and the selflessness that provides the self-restraint needed for helping someone in Job’s condition.
  • At every level Job was overwhelmed by the sense of loss, of devastation, of betrayal, of hopelessness, and depression. These 4 men did nothing but accuse Job of all kinds of wrong, attempting to convince him that sin was the cause of his suffering. Therefore, this was God’s punishment.

In doing so, they crushed Job’s spirit, robbing him of what little dignity he had left. Why, because they were thinking more of themselves than of Job.
But God’s testimony of Job was that he was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1).
Obviously, these 4 men had it all wrong!

On one occasion, exasperated Job, said to his friends in…
Job 21:34,    How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood (h4604 = treachery).

  • Job quickly picked up on their insincerity, and the worthlessness of their words. He realised that there was betrayal and abandonment in these 4 men.
  • For comfort to be of any real value, it needs to be authentic, other-focused, and felt through the recipient’s experience.

God’s comfort is NOTHING like what those 4 men showed Job.

  • I’ve titled this 2 part series “Uncomfortable Comfort” because I want us to see that within the uncomfortable times of life, God has real and valuable comfort which He offers for us to receive.

It needs to be remembered, that God speaks as one who suffers more than any of us.

  • Shortly after creation, Adam and Eve believed the lies of God’s enemy, and they sinned, introducing death and suffering into the world. Before long, human rebellion was so rampant, that the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart (Genesis 6:6). The original word for “grieved” carries the idea of pain that carves its way into the heart.
  • Stepping forward in time, we see unfaithful Israel becoming the source of great suffering for God. They rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel (Psalm 78:40-41).
  • In the New Testament, it was Peter, as we learnt last week from Acts 2, who publicly explained Israel’s ultimate wound to God’s heart. Men of Israel…  this Jesus, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:22-23).
  • God, better than anyone, knows the deepest pains, and our need for comfort. He knows the betrayal of those who claim to be loyal to Him. He knows the heartache from disobedient children. He knows what is to be slandered, misrepresented, mocked, and blasphemed. He even knows the pain of having His only child murdered.
  • When God speaks words of comfort, He’s emotionally invested. He’s involved because He loves us and cares for us. And because He cares, He feels our pain when we hurt.
  • For believers, we know God gets it, and He understands us in our suffering!
  • This is because God exists within the sufferings of His children. To this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). As Christ suffered well, so believers also, are equipped to follow Christ’s gracious and faithful responses in their suffering.

4 Comforts From God – which we cling to by faith
The 1st comfort is Jesus’ Cleansing Forgiveness
In the apostle John’s comparison between pretend and authentic faith, in 1 John  1:5-10, he says in verse 7… if we walk in the light, as He (God) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

  • At the heart of our Christian relationships is a heavenly relationship founded upon Jesus’ Cross that binds believers together.
  • Therefore, believers should give evidence to the light of God being real in their lives by mutually treating each other in a way that reflects the blood of Jesus… having cleansed us all from all sin.

This is God’s forgiveness serving as the foundation of our Christian relationships.

  • Christian fellowship is to be expressive of God’s character and the sufficiency of Jesus power to cleanse us of sin. Therefore, the therapeutic benefits of church community, of fellowship, of our togetherness, inspires us to treat each other as forgiven and precious.

This is because the quality of our fellowship displays what we truly think about God.

  • Jesus’ cleansing forgiveness offers us security of acceptance by God. It offers hope for change, hope for rescue, and hope for healing from failed relationships, and the disappointment that follows.

The 2nd Comfort is God’s Sovereignty
God remains Governor of the universe regardless of our present condition or state of mind. Even our negative feelings, our lack of understanding, and our confusion over a matter, does not change God’s authoritative position in the universe or in our lives.

  • While it’s difficult to accept sometimes, nothing happens without God’s prior approval.

In Psalm 31:14-15, David accepts God’s governing of his time, of the chapters and circumstances of his life. I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand… (Administration)

  • In Job 23:8-10, he shows us his God-centred perspective on God’s invisible activity.

8   Behold, I go forward but He is not there, and backward, but I   cannot discern Him;
9   When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the   right, I cannot see Him.
10  But He (God) knows the way I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Sanctification’s goal is to achieve precious purity.
We take comfort in our struggles, knowing that God trains us for our good, that we may share His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

  • In Isaiah 45:7, God states, I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.
  • While we get hung up on whether God actioned something unpleasant, or just allowed it to happen, He takes ownership of it all.
  • Whether God orchestrates disaster or can only see it coming and is powerless to do anything about it, is a futile argument according to God.

This argument is never heard in heaven because everyone in heaven knows that God providentially oversees everything. The beautiful and the ugly times of life are all under His governorship.

  • In 2 Samuel 16:5-14, we read of the time when King David was running from his son Absolom, who was hunting down his Dad to kill him (2Sa 16:11).
  • When David came to a town called Bahurim, a man by the name of Shimei came out abusing and slandering while throwing stones at him.
  • Then Abishai… said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head (2 Samuel 16:9).

10 But the king said… If he is cursing because the LORD has said to  him, ‘Curse David,’ who  then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

  • David understood the practical implications of God’s governing rule over the events of life, over the distasteful things, including other’s bad behaviour towards us.
  • At no point is God out-of-touch with our sufferings!

The 3rd Comfort is God’s Presence
If we feel alone, that does NOT mean God is absent.
Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your  presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol  (Death), you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall  hold me.

Solomon says in Proverbs 15:3, the eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Absolutely nothing escapes God’s attention or presence.
Even in the traumatic times of life, when we simply fail to understand any of what’s happening, God is there with us!

Think for a moment of Jonah, the wonky prophet for rent. God had to place him in a fish’s belly for 3 days and nights (Jon 1:17) before he would obey.

  • Jonah 2:1 records that Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish…
  • Not receiving a reply from God, Jonah ends his session of prayer with this…

I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9). Expecting death, he worships God and offers obedience should his life be spared.

  • Finally, God responds to Jonah. And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land (Jonah 2:10).

The fish heard God’s voice, not Jonah. Yet, he did experience the result of God’s response.

  • Jonah was never alone, never unheard by God, and never abandoned, despite how he may have felt during that time.

Even in times of bad decisions, or worse, in times of our disobedience,  God remains present. He is the invisible and silent attendant, our constant companion.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 It is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

The 4th Comfort is Heavenly Intercession
Although we don’t get to see or hear this heavenly activity, God assures us that it’s active, and the results are very real.

Holy Spirit Intercession
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Christ’s Intercession
In Romans 8:33, Paul asks, then answers an important question, Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Do not live in fear of peoples’ condemning words against you! Rejoice that it is God who justifies you. While others condemn you, God declares you innocent in Christ. Yes, there may be the need for greater obedience, but God does NOT write you off.

Romans 8:34   Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

The Father Keeps us in His Love
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Summary – 4 Comforts From God
The 1st comfort is Jesus’ Cleansing Forgiveness
The 2nd Comfort is God’s Sovereignty
The 3rd Comfort is God’s Presence
The 4th Comfort is Heavenly Intercession
In these comforts we walk by faith in God.

 

 

Uncomfortable Comfort – Part 1 Read More »

Weakness that strengthens

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

There’s a line of worldly thinking which conveys the idea that weakness deprives us of happiness, therefore, weakness must be bad, wrong, and unloving. Such people often view weakness as debilitating and of no value. As Christians, we need to be careful not to buy into this wrong thinking.

God, on the other hand, actively employs our weaknesses as a means for strengthening us with His divine resources and for the purpose of His glory. As we read Scripture, we repeatedly see the Lord achieving this in ways we never imagined possible. He does this by using our pains, our inabilities, our struggles, and even the criticism of others. Into this unpleasant mix, He adds His behind-the-scenes power, coordinating so-called chance happenings, and stirring our hearts by His Spirit to recognise His work. Most of the time, we’re not aware of His miraculous power at work, however, we often have the joy of seeing the gracious results.

Our Saviour is not a harsh task master, rather, Christ is our high priest who… sympathises …with our weaknesses, …who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He truly understands us. Therefore, view your struggles as the Lord views them, as customised opportunities to squash self-dependence while increasing our reliance upon His sufficiency. This requires persevering faith in His ability to meet our needs and to be glorified through our struggles.

The apostle Paul explains that while in Asia, the affliction they experienced… caused them to feel …utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). While Paul confesses his vulnerability and desperation, he noticed that through his extreme suffering, Christ was rising to be Lord of his human priorities. 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 (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul recognised the essential opportunities for Christ’s purposes offered through times of suffering. In these times Christ’s strength can be experienced, causing inexplicable contentment.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, exhorts us to count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  Realising his reader’s difficulty in understanding their trials, James offers instruction with a promise. If any of you lacks wisdom… in relation to your trials …let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:2-5). Wisdom from the Lord infuses divine reasoning into our human experience, providing us with a heavenly perspective of our weakness and suffering.

The apostle Peter, who knew severe failure, uplifts his readers by reassuring them that God’s divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, growing our knowledge of God through His Word in difficult times is essential.

When we have exhausted all our ideas, energies, and resources, then are we set free from self to lean in dependant faith upon Christ. Through prayerfully reading God’s Word, we discover comfort in Christ and His majestic character. Through meditation upon His Word, we find earthly ease in recognising His sovereignty. We find relief while waiting for His intervention in our circumstances. We find peace, and even joy, from the truths of Scripture, and we find hope in His Lordship over our time and destiny.

Weakness that strengthens Read More »

Worship that Yields

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

Worship is an essential part of the Christian life as it orders our beliefs and priorities with Christ at the top. Worship lifts our thoughts and heart affections above the things and relationships of this world and attaches them to God. Without God-centred worship, we quickly regress to man-centred  religion with self in the middle. Therefore, worship that focuses on God is critical to a healthy and resilient walk of faith.

At the heart of authentic worship is a yielded attitude that confesses failings and inadequacies while proclaiming the majestic character of Christ. As Paul explained to the believers in Phillipi, believers in Christ worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). A self-elevated heart attitude disqualifies worship as it fails to recognise the supremacy of Christ, compromising Jesus’ Lordship with self-importance. Confidence in our fleshly desires, abilities, and achievements can only distract us from confidence in Christ.

Holy Spirit enabled worship always glories in Christ at the expense of self. Spirit motivated worship is permeated by awareness of God’s mercy which inspires real world sacrifices. This was Paul’s understanding when he instructed the Roman believers to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). No part of our lives, no relationship, and no desires or expectations are excluded from the prioritising effects of worship motivated by God’s mercy.

Recognising that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights… (James 1:17), believers redirect the accomplishments of this life to worship of the giver. God’s worthiness for whole-hearted worship rises above the difficulties caused by the pains of life. Amid life’s complexities and the difficulties of leading a rebellious nation, Moses’ song of worship reflected his heart’s attachment to the LORD. For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). Moses was looking far above the imperfections of the nation God had called him to lead, and he saw the multifaceted glory of Yahweh.

Like Paul, our worship begins by surrendering to the truth of God’s Word, which is God’s revelation of Himself. From God’s Word our beliefs and affections grow and develop, equipping us with the truths needed to offer accurate and God honouring praise. I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God… (Acts 24:14-15).

Scripture refines our beliefs and fuels worthy worship which blesses both God and the church. This is the Holy Spirit’s intension, because God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Religious loyalty to set patterns or expectations, fail to express a changed heart and life. Our changed affections rise in praise because if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). And the new person in Christ longs to worship Him, to speak well of Him, and to sing His praises.

A yielded worshiper seeks the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. They set their minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2). For there, in the presence of God, we find salvation, cleansing, security, Godly perfection, and hope of eternal life.

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Surviving Surprises

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

Surprises can shock us with joy or grief depending on the circumstances. Unexpected happenings can have either a fun or devastating effect on us, and we have to manage both. Thankfully, for the Christian, God provides the resources needed to not only survive the difficult surprises, but to overcome the shock of them. While impact from good surprises usually pass quickly, sometimes the unwanted ones don’t. In such times we need the LORD to overlay His grace upon our lives in such a way that we realise His protection.

Reading God’s Word with prayer has the ability to calm us, to center our thinking, and to show us different ways of viewing our circumstances from God’s perspective. Scripture exposes us to the heart of God and shows His constant presence in our lives. While prayer, both private and with fellow believers, is a critical expression of our faith response to God. It speaks out what the heart is feeling, and what the mind is thinking. Prayer permits us to explain to the Lord our feelings of conflict, our confusion, our pain, and our need of God. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live… (Psalm 119:76-77).

God’s Word, read prayerfully, allows for self-examination without abuse from outside. It enables our hearts to be fueled with God’s beauty in the midst of our pain. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (Psalm 119:18). Scripture shines light into our darkness which helps align our hearts with God. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart (Psalm 119:34). God’s Word enables us to understand the necessity for obedience  and selflessness through times of difficulty. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! (Psalm 119:36).

Taking in God’s word prayerfully, enables us to recognise that God is able to turn away the reproach (shame) that I dread, for your rules are good (Psalm 119:39). While the enemy strives to attack our hearts with shame, regret, and fear, God speaks certainty and acceptance to us even when we are struggling with failures. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. I remember, LORD, our ancient laws, and I find comfort in them (Psalm 119:50-52).

Worship during difficulties is not blind to the painful realities of life. Rather, worship looks above our distress and focuses on the unchanging and holy character of the Lord and His Word. Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge (Psalm 119:54). Especially when recovering from unpleasant surprises, our souls need to be assured through praising God, through trusting thanks for all things, and through following Him when others are saying and doing the opposite.

Worship heightens our motivation for obedience and inspires Christlike living. Worship shifts our affections towards God while moving our attention to pain away from self. Especially when experiencing unpleasant surprises, we need to consciously infuse joy from worship into our pain. This allows sorrow to be mellowed with the softness of assurance.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts… (Psalm 95:6-8).

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God is the cause and we are His effect

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

Something in the human heart seems to always ask “Why?” Embedded within our DNA is this compelling desire to understand the reason for things being the way they are. For the most part, this compulsion serves us well and leads humanity to the most amazing and beneficial discoveries. But the opposite is true also. Understanding why the unpleasant things exist can show an ugly or undesirable reason for the reality we experience, which again, is beneficial for us to know.

This is also true in relation to God, just on a much larger scale. For the Christian, God is the ultimate cause of all things (Isaiah 45:7), yet He not only allows His creation to interact with each other, but also with Himself as Creator, LORD, and Saviour. Yes, it’s true that Yahweh knows all things, even the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21), whereas we know very little, least of all our own hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). Which highlights the grace of God in wanting us to know Him.

Jeremiah explained God’s promises to Israel before returning them from Babylonian exile to their homeland of Israel. God told His people that you will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:13-14). God wants to be found, and He wants us to experience the blessing of knowing Him as the cause of our seeking Him. God desires to be known, and believers now desire to know Him (Psalm 37:4). Our right desires are the effect of God’s gracious desires for us.

We may not understand all the intricate mechanisms the Lord employs to bring this about, but we do know the outcome. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). God the Father caused His Son Jesus to bring us peace with Him through the cross, which is the effect we experience, for which we are very thankful. James 1:17 adds, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights… And there is no gift greater than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul stretched the gospel application of this truth out for the Corinthian church in this way. Because of Him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). We Christians can boast of God, who alone caused Jesus Christ to become all the needed things on our behalf that we could not be ourselves. Therefore, wisdom, righteousness,  sanctification, and redemption, are the results we have been gifted with through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s no wonder Paul later wrote to the Ephesian church, it’s by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). The extent and complexity of all that God has gifted us with is enormous. The more we think about this, the more we conclude that God is worthy of our boasting, our praise, and our gratitude.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5).

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