Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Good morning and welcome!
What a wonderful time we had yesterday with our VBS and a big THANK YOU to all those who came to help decorate, to work the Bible school, brought food and supplies, and helped with the clean up.
This morning, you can see that the theme was “Mission to Mars” and don’t worry, the sermon this morning is not about outer space!
Instead, we are going to continue on with our sermon series “The Bible Doesn’t Say That,” and this morning we are going to be tackling the topic of Suffering ALWAYS Comes From Sin.
And the key word in this phrase is ALWAYS.
And for our backdrop of this topic we are going to be looking at the Book of James, chapter 1.
In just a few moments we will read , so you can being locating that in your Bibles.
And as you are looking, I would like for you to consider the notion that suffering always comes from sin.
Because how this translates is that anytime we go through any type of suffering, it is because God is punishing us for some type of sin we have committed.
That folks, is simply NOT TRUE.
In fact, Jesus himself tells us that . . .
Matthew 5:44-
And consider Jesus himself.
Did Jesus sin in any way?
Of course not!
However, we know that . . .
And finally . . .
Phill
And we know that Jesus suffered so that we would not have to, but it was not because of any sin.
And we also cannot blame all suffering that people endure on some type of sin they have committed either.
For instance, what about Job?
Did Job sin?
No, in fact the Bible tells us that . . .
Job 1:
But Job suffered.
In fact, Job suffered immensely.
He actually lost everything.
In the end Job was restored and blessed for his faithfulness but he suffered.
And his friends did exactly what we do sometimes.
They could not explain why Job was suffering, so they blamed it on Job!
And the “wisest of them all” . . .
And like I said, the reason they did this is because they could not explain the suffering that Job was enduring.
They couldn’t find a good reason, so in their mind Job must have had some sort of “hidden sin.”
But in reality we know that Job’s suffering was a test.
And when that didn’t work . . .
But still Job would not budge.
So, if Job’s suffering was not because of sin, why did God allow it?
This is where James comes in.
So, if you have found in your Bibles, I’d invite you to stand with me if you are able as we read the verses 2-4.
James writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Pure Joy!
Pure Joy!
So, when we take the situation that was going on with Job and we compare it to what James writes, a different circumstance begins to emerge.
We know that Job’s suffering was a test of Job’s faith.
And James tells us to . . .
Now, I personally do not know anyone who would initially consider the suffering that they are face with as “pure joy.”
And James is not really even telling us to go around saying “Yay!
I am suffering!”
No, what James is trying to get us to do is to look for the opportunity to grow closer to God through the trial and through the suffering.
We have ABSOLUTELY NO PROMISES that we will not suffer but what God does promise us is that . . .
And the very words of Jesus . . .
And . . .
The promise is not that we will not suffer, the promise is that God will be with us ALWAYS even in the midst of the suffering.
So, James is telling us to consider it pure joy when we suffer because James knows that this is an opportunity to learn from and grow closer to God.
He tells us in verses three and four . . .
And that maturity and completeness is key.
We must learn perseverance and endurance in order to “finish the race” as Paul puts it in many places.
The testing of our faith also brings us to a place of humility and a place where we put ALL our hope in God and God alone.
Many times we go along putting our hope in doctors and treatments, which are both a blessing to us, but even all of their knowledge and skill comes from God.
Our hope is in God and any healing we receive comes from God, regardless of what means God uses for it.
So we have to keep that in perspective because that is what is going to help us get through the trials, no matter what the outcomes.
And when we can persevere, James writes . . .
Suffering Because of Sin
So, what about this notion of suffering because of sin?
Do we ever suffer because of the sin in our life?
ABSOLUTELY!
Our Bible tells us in many places . . .
And . . .
Hebrews 12:4-
HOWEVER, God’s discipline is not afflicting us with some sort of horrible disease.
The best way I can describe God’s discipline is God drawing back a bit and allowing the natural consequences of our actions to take their course.
Paul writes to Timothy that . . .
2 Timothy 3:16
The reason I read that is because one of the primary avenues that we learn God’s will and God’s direction is from God’s Word.
Those who study God’s Word and apply God’s Word to their lives can do what is right and repent of their sin.
The other avenue is prayer and allowing the Holy Spirit to search us and purge us of unrighteousness.
But what happens is that we neglect our prayer life and our study of God’s Word.
We FAIL TO HEED the warnings that God continuously gives us.
And the time comes that when we refuse to listen and refuse to change our direction, that God draws back and lets the natural consequences take their course.
Not because God doesn’t love us, but because God does love us.
In hopes that we will return to God.
And part of discipline means learning, so even though God is with us, we still have to endure the consequences.
Because, as Paul writes . . .
Romans 8:18
Because ultimately the goal is eternal life.
Altar Call
HOWEVER, suffering because of sin is honestly a small piece of the overall puzzle and has to do with specifically disobeying God’s warnings.
Most of the rest of our suffering is honestly a mystery, except for the fact that . . .
And we could speculate and question “why” all day long and in the end we will not know.
But one thing that happens though when we don’t use suffering to grow perseverance is that we have a tendency to grow angry with God; bitter about what we have faced.
I wonder if that is anyone here today?
You have suffered and endured.
You feel like God has abandoned you.
Other people have blamed your suffering on sin, saying it was your fault.
I can’t promise you that God will answer the question “why.”
I can’t even promise that God will remove the suffering.
But I can promise that God can and will bring spiritual healing, if you will let him.
I can also promise that God will also be right there with you through the suffering.
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