Why Do Bad Things Happen? Rom 8:22; 26-30 Why bring a sermon like this? Why bother in answering this question? -Because the world teaches that “life” just happens -Because book stores are filled with self help books that puts hope in skill, luck, and even a distortion of the gospel claiming you are a re ENTITLED to your “Best Life Now” -Because people who suffer without a biblical perspective… suffer for no reason (has purpose) -Because even you this morning deal with what this life has to offer and without a frame to filter it thru, you ask this very v ery question…WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN? Lets Continue Our Assessment Around The World Tsunami Dec 26th 2004 Released Energy of 23,000 Hiroshima Bombs, Millions Homeless in 11 countries, 150,000 dead or missing, trillions of lbs of rock moved 600 miles along the sea floor…WHY? World Hunger Fund 2009 963 million are hungry (we will never know what this feels like) 1 child dies every 6 secs, 300 children will will die before we leave this morning due to hunger… WHY? Pastor Alloys & the “Joy Orphanage” Named after my wife wife has 15 children that that they care for. Willing to do more but they do not have the funds. Children are turned away constantly from food, water, school…WHY? In America 9/11 Attack on WTC Number killed in attack 2,819, Amt of blood donated to NYC 36,000 units, Amt of debris removed 1.5 million tons, Jobs lost in NYC 146,100,Number of New Yorkers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder 422,000, Number of children that lost a parent 3,051…WHY? Hurricane Katrina Number of houses damaged or destroyed 850,791, 850,791, Cost of tax payers for debris removal $32 / cubic yard, Number of people killed 2,000…Why? At Home Charles Smith Has been in the hospital for months, his personality is not the same, he no longer tells jokes, he longs to be with his church family but is forced to stay in hospital care…WHY? Mark Hillard Admitted to hospital to have one surgery to fix his condition but it ruptured and now months later is still in surgeries and still in pain…WHY? Ms Teresa 20 years of constant pain. One of the most most dedicated and genuine ladies that I know. There are countless countless that have the the opportunity and ability to come to
church, even this church, but more times than not her pain keeps her from being where she wants to be…WHY? Countless of ppl are in pain and a nd deal with suffering but why? Has God left left us? Is God still in our midst?
God has a word for us. us. Your trials and suffering are not by accident. The events that occur in this fallen world are horrible but God does not sit idle waiting for the right time to bring His children home. home. God is in control
Read Rom 8:22; 26-30 The Biblical Principle Everything (world, life, job, tragedy, suffering, blessing, trials, hardships) Everything in my life is held in place by God so to NOW look like Christ and to one day ultimately BE LIKE CHRIST Man’s vs God’s Perspective -We read the Bible and see God responding to our actions… -Christ dying the cross was not result of Adam & Eve sinning… -Christ was not plan B, has always been plan A As We Walk Thru The Text And Talk About Your Suffering, You Must Remember These Guidelines -No matter your suffering, God Has Your Best Interest In Mind (Jer 29:11, Ps 16:8-11) -No matter your suffering, God is a God of Love (Worth what paid for…Paid w/ blood of Christ) -No matter your suffering, God has a Perfect Plan (Fits his character, we are like chess pieces) Without these guidelines, suffering just becomes a haphazard result of blind chance. A mere result of “that’s life” but God sits on the throne of heaven and uses and a nd indeed causes things to happen. It is our sinful perspective perspective that gives them evil connotations. Why Do Bad Bad Things Happen? Happen? To Achieve God’s Plan
God’s Plan…To Plan…To Achieve Achieve God’s Plan vs 28-29 All things (including suffering) works for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (which he foreknew) who are predestined to look like Christ WOW, NOW WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN Terms All Things-Bible says all things, things, God’s word is inerrant. To say this is wrong is to say say all of it is wrong (Abel) decisions as we do? Based on on circumstance? circumstance? What kind kind His Purpose-Does God made decisions of God would He be if His purpose changed from day day to day as our lives do? God causes things to to happen, He has a purpose.
Foreknowledge-Advanced determination to carry thru a plan which He has eternally purposed in the counsels of His own will, and which is to be carried thru without variation because the Lord brings to pass all that He has thus determined and decreed. Predestined-Thru God’s eternal knowing of you and your circumstances, you are predestined to look look like Christ at all costs. costs. To look like Christ is what you were created for, this includes your suffering. The text means that -God is in utmost control of the trials and a nd suffering in your life. -Suffering is NOT God’s way of punishing you, without a cause (Israel & Babylonians) -You must know that WHATEVER is happening, God is ALLOWING it to happen to serve HIS purpose.
David Powlison (Christian Counseling & Education Foundation) Wrote this the morning after receiving news that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer You Will Waste Your Cancer If you Do Not Believe It Is Designed For You By God It Does no good to say that that God uses cancer but does not design it. What God permits, He He permits permits for a reason. And that reason is His design. design. If God foresees foresees molecular developments developments becoming cancer, cancer, He can stop it it or not. If He does not, He has a purpose. Since he is infinitely infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes causes many pleasures and pains, but he is not ultimate God has a plan…Your suffering is ALLOWED by the God of the heavens. No matter the outcome here, accept that you thru your suffering s uffering are being USED by the GREAT GOD OF THE UNIVERSE. Why Do Bad Bad Things Happen? Happen? To Achieve God’s Plan We Have Seen God’s Plan now…God’s Means God’s Means…To Means…To Achieve Achieve God’s Plan vs 29 God has a perfect plan but but what is a plan without without action? God also has means to bring bring His plan into action. What was was God’s action to the vast army of the the Philistines? Philistines? It was David What was God’s action action to raise a leader to lead Israel out of Egypt? Moses put in river & preserved by Pharaoh What was God’s action to save the righteous from corruption & flood…Noah built the ark What was God’s action to the sin of all mankind…It was Jesus Christ…Satan thought he had won
God Had A Means And More Times Than Not IT WAS THRU THE WEAK OR MOST INCONCIEVABLE PLAN SO GOD WOULD GET THE GLORY Your Suffering Is the Same Way -Do you remember our biblical principle?
Everything (world, life, job, tragedy, suffering, blessing, trials, hardships) Everything in my life is held in place by God so to NOW look like Christ and to one day ultimately BE LIKE CHRIST Your suffering is a means to do what you are predestined or created to do “look like Christ” -Could it be that since your suffering is allowed (1 Cor 10:13) God wants you to FEEL something? -Mark speaks of Christ Christ as the the suffering servant, that we should expect suffering. suffering. Could it be be that this is how we are to look like Christ? (1 peter 4:1) -Could it be that who you are when you are suffering is who you really are? (instead of outside forces) James 1:13-15
Remember Our Guidelines God Has Your Best Interest in Mind God Is a God of Love God Has a Perfect Plan Your suffering is allowed, designed for you, y ou, and intended to promote Christ So How Will You Respond Why Do Bad Things Happen?…To Achieve God’s Plans
Your Purpose…To Achieve God’s Plans vs 30 Your plans are to now look like Christ and to one day ultimately be like Christ. This is the whole goal of the Christian life….Sanctification In verse 30 We see that those who God foreknew and predestined are to be justified and then glorified Justification-The act of God whereby He declares an ungodly man to be perfect while he is still ungodly. Glorification -God states that He already looks upon us, sinful creatures as though we were now in heaven. Verse 28 We know that all things work for God’s purpose (which is for us to look like Christ) and this includes your suffering. Thru your suffering you look like Christ and have become glorified and you look as if you are NOW IN HEAVEN. You have a purpose. God has not left you. Your suffering suffering is for a reason, so so that you may may look like Christ
John Piper Writes Christians are never never anywhere by divine accident. There are reasons reasons for why we wind up where where we do. Consider what Jesus Jesus said about painful painful unplanned circumstances: “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear bear witness (Luke (Luke 21:12-13). 21:12-13). So is
the same for your suffering. This will be an opportunity to bear witness. witness. Christ is infinitely worthy. worthy. Here is a golden opportunity to show that he is is worth more than life. To be in suffering is not God smiting smiting you. It is for a reason. reason. To take your suffering and complain and think that God is not in control or that He doesn’t love you is a wrong view of suffering -We are the hands and feet of the gospel The Great Commission is to be expected and enhanced thru our suffering To be in suffering (which is allowed by God) and not promote Christ is to waste it Through Your Suffering God Is USING YOU.. Using His Prize Creation…Using Who He Died For…It is not Random. -Do you think God is to small? -Do you think God is not in control? -Do you think your suffering is too big for God? -Do you think God can’t use us e fallen man to achieve His agenda? God Is Here…God gave His Son to take away the Sting of Death…God gave the church to help
Are You Suffering? Has The World Told You Wrong Ways to Deal Win Suffering? God Has You Where He Wants You God Has Your Coworkers Is a Position for YOU To Help Them Suffering Has A Reason…It Is To Achieve God’s Will.
