Welcome to Delight in Grace, the teaching ministry of Rich Powell, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. Rejoicing in the face of suffering really seems counterintuitive. We might expect surprise, worry, fear, or anger in the face of hardship. But 1 Peter 4-13 calls us to rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. But how do we do that? Today, Rich shares the confident expectation we can have that will lead to settled satisfaction in the midst of deep pain.
Let's listen to this message titled, Suffering is Shared. This is part 4 of a sermon first preached January 22nd, 2023. And one of the apostles was James the Less. James, the other James, was a different one.
Big James, right? James the Less, Jesus calls him, in the chosen, Jesus calls him Little James. Little James is portrayed as one who has, he walks with a limp, he's injured. And Jesus is sending his apostles out to heal people, to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, and to give relief from evil spirits and all of that. They're going to be doing miraculous things in the name and authority of Jesus. But Little James is impaired, and he comes to Jesus with a question. Now, when I listened to this dialogue, I thought the writers of that did a profoundly good job of explaining good biblical theology of suffering. So, I'm going to play it for you this morning.
I hope nobody's upset by this, but it's a six and a half minute clip. Listen to what Jesus says to James. Master, Little James, may I have a moment? Of course, forgive me, I'm not always confident to speak.
Slow to speak, that's a very good quality. I wanted to ask you a question, please. You're sending us out with the ability to heal the sick and lame. Yes, that is what you said.
Yes. So, you're telling me that I have the ability to heal. Forgive me, I just find that difficult to imagine with my condition, which you haven't healed. Do you want to be healed?
Yes, of course, if that's possible. I think you've seen enough to know it's possible. Then why haven't you? Because I trust you. What?
What? Little James, precious Little James, I need you to listen to me very carefully, because what I'm going to say defines your whole life to this point, and will define the rest of your life. Do you understand? In the Father's will, I could heal you right now, and you'd have a good story to tell, yes? Yes, that you do miracles. That's a good story, but there are already dozens who can tell that story, and there will be hundreds more, even thousands. But think of the story that you have, especially in this journey to come, if I don't heal you, to know how to proclaim that you still praise God in spite of this, to know how to focus on all that matters so much more than the body, to show people that you can be patient with your suffering here on earth, because you know you'll spend eternity with no suffering.
No suffering? Not everyone can understand that. How many people do you think the Father and I trust this with? Hmm? Not many. But the others, there's so much more. So much more what? I don't know. Stronger?
Better at this? James, I love you, but I don't want to hear that ever again. I know how easy it is to say the song of David that I fearfully and wonderfully made, but it doesn't make this any easier. And in this group, it doesn't make me feel like any less of a burden.
A burden? First of all, it is far easier to deal with your slow walking than it is to deal with Simon's temper. Trust me. It's good theology. Are you fast?
Do you look impressive when you walk? Maybe not. But these are things the Father doesn't care about. You are going to do more for me, and most people ever dream. So many people need healing in order to believe in me, or they need healing because their hearts are so sick. That doesn't apply to you, and many are healed or not healed. And you are going to do more for me, and most people ever dream. That doesn't apply to you, and many are healed or not healed because the Father in heaven has a plan for them, which may be a mystery.
And we remember what Job said. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
When you pass from this earth and you meet your Father in heaven, where Isaiah promises you will leap like a deer, your reward will be great. So hold on a little longer, and when you discover yourself finding true strength because of your weakness, and when you do great things in my name, in spite of this, the impact will last for generations. Do you understand? Yes.
Yes. Thank you, Pastor. A man like you, healing others. Oh, what a sight.
I can't wait to hear your stories when you return. Shalom, my son. Shalom. And James. Remember, you will be healed.
It's only a matter of time. That's transformation. Use another example, Paul's thorn in the flesh. We don't know exactly what it was. It could have been a physical calamity, a physical malady of some sort. It could have been a person.
We don't know. But he asked the Lord three times, Lord, can you take this away from me? I could be more effective. This is exactly what little James was asking. Lord, if you take this away from me, I could be more effective for you.
And Jesus knew different, didn't he? My strength is made perfect in your weakness. You see, that weakness is transformed into glory and power. It's not Paul's glory and power. It's God's glory and power.
It's a transformation process. And that's why Paul said, therefore, I rejoice in my adversities. Christ gave us the ultimate example on the cross, where his cross was an agony that you and I will never be able to comprehend, not only physically, but spiritually.
But that cross became his glory. You see, it's not just a replacement. It's a transformation. One last example.
Jesus said, your sorrow will be turned into joy. So here's the example, all right? You've seen an acorn. You take that acorn, and that acorn becomes what? An oak tree, a mighty oak tree. You see, it's not that the acorn is replaced with an oak tree.
No, the acorn dies and becomes and grows into an oak tree. That's God's plan for our suffering, whichever kind of suffering we're talking about. And that's why Jesus said to his followers in John 16, 20, your sorrow will turn into joy. Know that.
Understand that. Take that home with you and repeat that. Your sorrow will turn into joy. Adam began the service reading this, and when he was reading his call to worship, I'm like, okay, that's my sermon in a nutshell.
Let's all just go home. Romans 8, look at this with me. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Let me use an idea that C.S. Lewis talked about to kind of help us understand this verse, all right? Let me use my dad as an example, okay? My dad is with the Lord.
He has been since 1994. If I were to see my dad today, fully delighting and satisfied in the presence of God, if he were to just appear to me, I'd be tempted to fall down and worship him. But he's not God. He's not the one that's worthy of worship. But you see, that's the glory that awaits us. Because John says, when we shall see him, we shall be what?
Like him. Your sorrow, your suffering is transformed into glory. That's God's plan. Let's let that truth captivate us so that we don't just react to suffering in a natural way.
Let's do it by the grace of God. Father, you have so much to teach us. And, Father, we recognize that we are broken, and we live in a broken world. But, Father, thank you that you've made yourself known to us, and you have spoken to us in person, the person of your son, the Lord Jesus. And you have done all the work necessary for us to be reconciled to you so that we can be like Christ. And, Father, we thank you for your support. We can be like Christ when all things are made new. Father, help us to see the big picture in your plan and purpose in the human condition of suffering. Thank you for what you have done and for what you will do. We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen. We're so glad you've joined us for Delight in Grace, ministry of Rich Powell, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. You can hear this message and others anytime by visiting our website, www.delightingrace.com. You can also check out Pastor Rich's book, Seven Words That Can Change Your Life, where he unpacks from God's Word the very purpose for which you were designed. Seven Words That Can Change Your Life is available wherever books are sold. As always, tune in to Delight in Grace, weekdays at 10 a.m.
