Pentecost 2 - Proper 5

 

June 6, 2021
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
A Right Regard to Suffering

Affliction and suffering are always unpleasant. So often they can lead to discouragement. How do you and I react when affliction and suffering come our way? Do we run from them? Do we embrace them? Do we deny they exist? In our Epistle lesson for today St. Paul gives us a right regard with respect to suffering and affliction.

Paul has a unique perspective. Consider his situation. Even though his physical body is weakening and decaying inwardly he is being renewed. What is it that Paul has come to understand? He knows that his affliction is being used by God to accomplish a higher and greater good. Listen to verse 17 of our text for today: “for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” This morning let us consider Paul’s perspective regarding suffering and affliction. What is Paul’s take on human suffering and affliction?

I.        Affliction and suffering can be used as opportunities for renewal. Listen to verse 16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day”

A.     Naturally, Paul’s words run contrary to conventional thinking. Decay and weakness rather than renewal appear to be the marks of affliction and suffering.

 

1.      Think of how sickness weakens the body.

 

2.      Think of how wrongs done to us can negatively affect our body and our mind. I can remember speaking to one of our members who commented that after one such event things are never quite the same. She described it as “a new sense of normal.” There were things that were normally done before. Now there is a new standard or routine.

 

3.      Affliction and suffering make us keenly aware that our body is only an earthly tent that is being destroyed. (5:1)

 

B.     Although it often accelerates the decay of the body, affliction and suffering can nevertheless direct us to Christ for inward renewal.   Again, listen to verse 16: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day”

 

1.      The very life of Jesus manifests itself in us (v.10) when we believe that, though “we are afflicted in every way” God will not allow us to be crushed (v.8) and that our inner life hidden with Christ in God can never be destroyed.

 

2.      The life of Jesus manifests itself when affliction and suffering in our lives produces endurance and character. Paul put it this way in Romans 5:3-5 “...we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.”

 

Transition: God’s purpose in affliction and suffering goes beyond this life, however.

 

II.     Affliction and suffering are preparation for glory.

 

A.     Affliction and suffering make us more conscious of eternal values.

 

1.      There is a strengthening of faith that confesses Christ as crucified and risen for us. Listen again to verses 13-14 of our text for today: “It is written: I believed; therefore I have spoken. With the same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence"

 

2.      Our own resurrection and acceptance by God is made strong through suffering and affliction. We will stand before Him on the last day. “...we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence”

 

B.     Affliction and suffering make us more heavenly minded.

 

1.      We become more aware of how transitory of our present life really has become. We become aware of the momentary state of affliction in comparison to eternity.

2.      We wait for the glorified body that will not be afflicted in any way in glory. In glory there will be an end of suffering, an end to pain, an end to misery.

Affliction and suffering are opportunities for renewal. They are preparation for glory. In the midst of life we are in death. When we have this perspective on affliction and suffering, we will be able to say with the Psalmist David: “It is good for me that I was afflicted” (Psalm 119:71)

Words-770
Passive Sentences – 1%
Readability – 61.0%
Reading Level –7.8

 

Pentecost 2 - Proper 5

Proper 5

10 June 2012

Mark 3:20-35

Let the Evidence Stand

The gospels are a record of Jesus’ instruction to His disciples. Just as Jesus taught His disciples about the Father, so in turn, the disciples teach us about Jesus. The purpose of the gospels are to tell us who Jesus is and what He does. In writing his Gospel, Mark introduces you to Jesus.

Many opinions concerning Jesus’ person are common. Some proclaim Him a prophet, others a moral guide and compass. Some contend that He was crazy, and if not insane, possibly a man possessed. Still others saw Him as a man set on mysterious mission. Mark will tell us more concerning Jesus. By viewing His words and actions, Mark will say to us, “Let the evidence concerning Jesus stand.”

1.            The evidence shows that Jesus has defeated sin and Satan.

A.            Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness. When, for 40 days and nights He was tempted by    the Devil.

1.            Satan used all his wiles to stop Jesus’ mission of grace. He failed!

2.            We are comforted to know the strength of our Lord Jesus when we are tempted and confronted by our sin. We will be constantly tempted by the devil, world and flesh. When those times come, we look to Jesus who overcame for us and is the author and finisher of our faith. Don’t trust in yourself to tackle temptation. You will fall to temptation. Trust not in princes, they are but mortal. Trust in the LORD with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6)

B.            Jesus’ exorcisms are evidence that Satan is defeated.

1.            They show that the stronger Jesus has bound Satan.

2.            They show that Satan’s kingdom is coming to a defeated end.

C.            Jesus glorious resurrection proves that the victory over Satan is His. 

1.            Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary destroyed sin, death, and the power of Satan. This all happened when Jesus cried from the cross, “It is finished!”

2.            His descent into Hell was public proof and the announcement of this victory.

3.            His glorious resurrection is convincing proof that the victory is His.

The evidence concerning Jesus is that He has defeated Satan. Because of this fact alone, He has the power to forgive and save.

2              The unforgivable sin suppresses the evidence about Jesus.

A.            We are comforted that no sin is too great to be forgiven.  Each of us sins against God and our neighbor terribly. Can they be forgiven? Satan would what you to doubt this. This is how he operates. In the beginning, he tempts us to think that any sin is but a trifle. But once you fall into sin, then he tempts to think it can’t be forgiven.

1.            Jesus’ perfect death paid the penalty of every sin.

2.            We can never sink so low that God’s love can’t be deeper. The Lord can never abandon you. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.

B.            But why, then is the unforgivable sin deemed “unforgivable”?

1.            It denies the clear evidence concerning Jesus. (As demonstrated by the scribes in our text.) They refused to let Jesus be Jesus.  His name means “Savior”. They denied He had any power to save. The unforgivable sin is simply that. It is a denial of Jesus. It’s the statement that Jesus is not God. It is a denial that Jesus did not come to seek and save the lost. It is unforgivable because it is a claim that Jesus can no longer help you.

2.            It resists and refuses the Holy Spirit who alone can bring man to repentance and faith.

3.            It refuses to accept the clear evidence concerning Christ and His work.

4.            Blaspheming the Holy Spirit removes the chance for forgiveness; it refuses to let God be God.

Jesus has the power to forgive and save. As a result, He gives an open invitation to become a part of His family – the church.

3              Jesus’ family is evidence by doing God’s will.

A.            Membership and inclusion into this family is open to all.

1.            It is universal “Whoever…” v. 35 “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

2.            There are no distinct physical marks of who is a member. Membership is known only to God. That’s why we must always remember – the church is invisible because only God knows who are His.

B.            However, there is nonetheless evidence of such membership – doing the Father’s will.

1.            The Father’s will for us is to believe in Jesus. (John 5:39) You study[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

2.            The Father’s will is to bring others into the kingdom. (Matthew 28:19-20) Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

3.            The Father’s will shall be self-evident. (Matthew 5:16, James 2:17) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Let the evidence, concerning Jesus, stand. May it be evident in your life.

Artwork by Ed Riojas, © Higher Things