WHY GOD LETS PEOPLE SUFFER
Lesson 8: To Bring Others to Faith
MEMORY VERSE: EZE 30:8 Then they will know that I am the Lord
I. Two ways to bring others to faith by our suffering
A. Through the miraculous works of the Lord
B. How we react to suffering
C. Trusting our suffering has heavenly purposes leads to PHP 4: 7 The peace of God, which transcends all understanding
II. Through the miraculous works of the Lord
A. Rahab’s faith, what God did to Og. READ: Josh. 2:8-11
JOS 2:8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
B. Healing the blind man. The blind man did not know before he was healed, while he was suffering
1. Imagine what it would be like to be born blind, not today when there is so much accommodation for blind children, but at the time of Jesus. DISCUSS.
2. Read: Jn 9:1-16 JN 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
JN 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
JN 9:8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
JN 9:10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
JN 9:11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
JN 9:12 "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.
JN 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."
JN 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
3. Reread Jn. 9:2-3 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
JN 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
4. JN 9:30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
DISCUSSION: Read Jn. 9:18-41
JN 9:18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"
JN 9:20 "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
JN 9:24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God, " they said. "We know this man is a sinner."
JN 9:25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
JN 9:26 Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
JN 9:27 He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
JN 9:28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."
JN 9:30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
JN 9:34 To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.
JN 9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
JN 9:36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."
JN 9:37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."
JN 9:38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.
JN 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
JN 9:40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"
JN 9:41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
DISCUSSION: Why is it so difficult for those well educated to come to faith?
C. Lazarus. Lazarus did not know before he was raised from the dead that he would be healed. READ: Jn. 11:1-45
1. Lazarus & his sisters
2. Lazarus dies
a. Jewish customs
b. Sent for Jesus
c. Jesus’ response JN 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."
and he waits 2 more days. Disciples try to talk him out of it. Jesus says,
JN 11:14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.
d. The scene as He approaches
1)Martha’s comment, in what spirit? JN 11:21
"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. DISCUSS
2) Mary and the others come, Lazarus dead 5 days
3) JN 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
4) 6 days before Passover, they ate at Lazarus’ house. JN 12:9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
DANIEL 3:28-29 Shadrach, etc. & 6:17-27 Lion’s Den
D. Today’s world, miracles still happen to bring others to faith
1. Chuck Hubbard’s story. Career: Maintenance Supr.
a. Marine and Christian for may years
b. Began when mother ill. His feet went numb at odd
times
c. As mother got worse, numbness grew, accompanied by
tingling and pain
d. Diagnosis: Peripheral Neuropathy, nerve endings get
coated, common in Diabetics. He was not diabetic.
e. July-pain from feet to hips, sleep impossible, needed a
cane
f. Friend quoting scripture about joy in suffering were
annoying
g. Sept., 2 canes, can’t walk straight, didn’t miss work.
h. End of Sept., fell off chair, turned to cong. for prayer
i. Oct. set home from work. Needed wheelchair, wne to
every doctor
j. End Oct. pharm. at VA Hosp. “Can’t be Peripheral
Neuropathy
k. Episode at neurologist “Won’t leave until someone sees
my husband”
l. Hosp. MRI – tumor huge, may not be operable
m. 2nd MRI – miracle, tumor had shrunk: from all over top
and right side to part front to right side, 2 tumors
discovered
n. surgery- more miracles, 2nd tumor already cut off blood
supply
o. recovery – more miracles. 2hrs. in recovery, 24 in
intensive care
p. unto God be the glory. Their behavior in hospital
q. Witnesses: drs., nurses, staff, other patients, etc.
E. Doris Kaplan: cancer healed, dr. report, “Healed by God”
III. Through our witness in the face of suffering.
A. Facts
1. We will suffer. MT 10: 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
1PE 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
2. We are representatives. We live in glass houses
a. Hats we wear
1) Me: Jew, Christian, Am., female, mother, etc.
2) Will: Jew, Christian, CFHS, male, teen, scouts
b. Boy Scouts at Peppersauce Caves
c. Americans: Stratford, Am. movies & mags and news
d. Christians
1) My response to Neil
2) Nina’s response to my faith
B. To bring others to faith
3. Biblically - Job
DISUCSSION: READ: Job 1:1-11
1 a) Describe Job
1) Description: Great man JOB 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
b) Why does God bring Job to Satan’s attention? What is Satan’s reaction?
JOB 1:6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
JOB 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
JOB 1:9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
c) 1. How did Job behave with all his wealth? JOB 1:4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
People notice how we behave with our wealth too. Ruth’s story of wealthy woman in Mexico City church.
2. Why are they, we, called “Foothills Ladies?” Justified?
READ Job 1:11-2:10
d) What suffering does God allow in Job’s life to show Satan how a man of God suffers? JOB 1:12 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
JOB 1:13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
JOB 1:16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
JOB 1:17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
JOB 1:18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
JOB 1:20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
JOB 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
JOB 2:1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
JOB 2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
JOB 2:4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
JOB 2:6 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
JOB 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
JOB 2:9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
JOB 2:10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Did Job disappoint God?
B. 4. Biblically - Jesus
DISCUSSION: READ Luke 23:32-42
LK 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
LK 23:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
LK 23:36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
LK 23:38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
LK 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
LK 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
LK 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. "
How did the one criminal know Jesus was a man of God?
C. Others notice how we behave when we suffer
a. Last chapter. family & Chuck
b. Neil laid off in Florida & here, witness God’s love
c. BSF, boy dreamed of being a marine...
D. Prepare yourself so you will be ready. So others will see Jesus’ strength and love in you while you suffer
DISCUSSION: READ: 1PE 3:14-15 and 4:19
1PE 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
1PE 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
ARE YOU READY TO SUFFER TO BRING OTHERS TO CHRIST?