Current Apostasy

Q: What does the Bible say about sickness and God's displeasure?

The Bible teaches that sickness is never a punishment for God's children or an indication of His displeasure. In scripture, sickness is presented as a common human experience and is not to be viewed as punishment for sin. God does not use sickness to express discontent with His children; rather, it should be understood that Christ has already borne the punishments for all sins. For those who are believers, God’s approach to sickness can sometimes involve a form of chastisement, which is rooted in love and aimed at correction rather than punishment. As indicated in Hebrews 12:6, 'For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth,' God’s chastisement is designed to guide His children back to Him in a loving manner, not as a means of expressing anger or disappointment.

Q: How do we know God's glory is revealed through our suffering?

God's glory is revealed through suffering and redemption, as seen in the story of Lazarus. In the account of Lazarus, Jesus states that Lazarus's sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God (John 11:4). This indicates that God uses our trials, including sickness and suffering, to showcase His glory. The ultimate purpose of Lazarus's sickness, death, and subsequent resurrection is to reveal the divine power and glory of Christ. Our suffering, while difficult, can result in God being glorified, for it points to the greater truth of redemption and resurrection. God's greatest glory is manifest in the salvation of His people, as the entire narrative surrounding Lazarus’s story illustrates God’s redemptive work.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to understand chastisement?

Understanding chastisement is vital since it stems from God's love and aims to correct us. Chastisement is often misunderstood as punishment, but scripturally, it should be viewed as God's loving correction for His children. As expressed in Hebrews 12:6, God chastens those whom He loves, indicating that such discipline is rooted in a loving relationship rather than wrathful condemnation. Recognizing this helps to frame our experiences of hardship and trial within the context of God's purpose, reassuring believers that even in suffering, they are not abandoned but rather being refined and molded into Christ's likeness. This understanding encourages strength in faith, as one can perceive trials as opportunities for growth and deeper communion with God.

lost a loved one and added Lou Bowman to your family. Also, Gary Shepard's son passed away. I remember him in your prayers, a member of the family. He passed away on what, Sunday night? Fortunately, Gary was supposed to go in two days later and decide whether to pull the plug on him, so he didn't have to do that. That's why I'm thankful for that. But do remember him in your prayers. It ain't never easy for a parent to lose a child. Probably doesn't pay attention to what we would call laws of nature.

Let's begin our worship service with a hymn Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty Early in the morning Thy Son shall rise to thee Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty, God in three persons, All the saints adore Thee, Passing down their gold and crowns Around the plains we see. Jerobim and Seraphim, On and down before Thee, Which word can utter evermore shall be, holy, holy, holy, There's one beside Thee Perfectly powering love and purity. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! All the world shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea. Number 235.

Blessed art thou, gentle Savior, hear my humble cry, while on earth thy children call thee. ♪ Do not pass me by ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ Hear my humble cry ♪ ♪ While on others Thou art calling ♪ ♪ Do not pass me by ♪ Let a thought of mercy find a sweet relief. Be there in me, Patricia, help my unbelief. Savior, Savior, ♪ Hear my humble cry ♪ ♪ While on others thou art calling ♪ ♪ Do not pass me by ♪ ♪ Trusting only in thy beauty ♪ ♪ Would I seek thy face ♪ ♪ Heal my wounded, broken spirit ♪ ♪ Save me by Thy grace ♪ ♪ Savior, oh, Savior ♪ ♪ Hear my humble cry ♪ ♪ While on others Thou art calling ♪ Do not pass me by. Thou who bringeth all I confer, more than life to me. Whom have I urged beside Thee? Whom in heaven above be Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry. While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by. I'm going to read the first four verses tonight. The title of my message is Death for Grocery.

John chapter 11, Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus. And it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with wine, and then wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Let us pray. Our Father, we come in the blessed name and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord, who indeed is our righteousness. You have made him to be that unto us. And we thank you that you have told your children to come boldly to the throne of grace so you can help for the time it needs. If we are to worship you, we pray you'd wipe from us the thoughts of the world and fix our hearts and minds upon him who sits at thy right hand, having a copious salvation for his people. We praise you and thank you for your goodness toward us. We know that in this world, all of human history works together for the good of your people. to them who are called according to your purpose. And we are thankful that we can think such things, much less read them in your word and know them to be true.

Father, we pray for those who are sick and going through trials and tribulations, those who lost loved ones in our age family. Dear Shepherd, pray for the others who've been added to the prayer list. We ask the Lord to be with them, comfort them, and strengthen them in Jesus Christ. Help us tonight as we gather here that you might be pleased to open up your word to us.

Teach us, Father. We look through a glass darkly. Our understanding is dim. We know that your spirit can take the high and lofty things of God and speak to our hearts and minds. We ask, Lord, that you do that for us tonight. Help us now, we pray in Christ's name.

This chapter is one of the sweetest in all of scripture as it gives some sense of the personal relationship that our Lord had with some of the people outside his immediate circle. It is the record of another miracle performed, but not of someone brought to Christ, but one to whom he attends because of a familial they have with them.

These first four verses set the tone for what is to follow in this chapter. These beloved friends know Christ personally, but they have much to learn. Spiritually, they have much to learn, and he's about to teach them many spiritual lessons in this encounter that he has with them in raising their brother from the dead. I think of the disciples as they walked with him, they knew him. They ate with him. He stayed some with their families. They walked with him for three years.

And yet, it wasn't until after Pentecost that they really began to know who he was and able to speak to him in a whole different way than they had before. After he rose from the grave, many of them didn't believe he'd been rose from the grave until they saw him personally. And those who did see him personally thought it was still over because he ascended on high. Peter quit, decided to go fishing, go back into the fishing business. Others didn't walk with him anymore. The disciples on the road to Emmaus thought, said they thought he would set up something here on earth and it hadn't happened.

So they had a lot to learn so that we, we never met Christ personally, but we have through his scriptures and grace given to us by giving us faith are able what we have in our understanding comes wholly and completely from this book. This chapter begins with a particular phrase which is often used in scripture. Lazarus is described as a certain man. You'll find that term used throughout scripture. And usually this refers to one of the elect, one whom Christ chose unto salvation from all eternity. This fact gives a great amount of understanding to the entire context Our Lord often went there in Luke chapter 10.

He says he went especially to Bethany to spend some time with Martha and Mary and Lazarus. The city has significance because of the description of Mary in verse two. It says there in Bethany, in verse two it says, it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Mary is described in some of the same terms as a woman who came to Christ in Luke chapter 7. One who came to Christ in Luke chapter 7 is described that way also. If you'll look over there with me to verse 36.

Our Lord is having dinner at one of the Pharisees' house and it says, and one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisees' house and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city, which was a center. When she knew that Jesus sat at the feet of the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood his feet behind him, weeping, began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed him with the ointment. And when the Pharisees which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner a woman this is that touches him, for she is a sinner. So that's one reference that uses the same kind of language to describe Mary. She washed the Savior's feet with tears and grinded, and also anointed him, and kissed his feet. in the city of Nain, which is also near Capernaum. But Bethany, not in Bethany in the Pharisees house, Mary's in Bethany, and our Lord is in Bethany visiting them. So that Mary's not this Mary, or that woman is not this Mary. That woman is not even Nain.

She's only described in one way. A woman who was a sinner, described as the Lord. inspired the writer Luke to call her that, and then also the Pharisees called her that. And if you're called a sinner by the Pharisees, one or two things are probably true. It suggests that you're either a Gentile or that you're a woman of ill repute. And that's generally the consensus of those who comment on that passage of Scripture, that she was a harlot. She was a harlot.

A woman also in Matthew chapter 26, if you look there, another woman. Matthew 26, verse 7. Verse 7 says, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box. Now, verse 6, it says he was in Bethany, but he was at the house of Simon the leper. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head, and he sat at me, and when the disciples saw it, They had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste?

For this woman might have been sold for much and given to the poor. And when Jesus understood that, he said, then why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work. This is the only person in all Scripture, this woman, in all Scripture, that the Lord says she did a good work. The only one. He didn't say that about any of his disciples. He didn't say about his mother. He didn't say that about any of the prophets.

He said that one time in Scripture, this woman had anointed him for his birth. She knew he was going to die and going to raise again and die for her sins. For in that she poured this ointment on my body and she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, whosoever the gospel shall be preached in the whole world, Or all there shall also be this, that this woman hath done, he told the memorial forth. She done what she could, he says of her in another place, she's done what she could.

But that language is also over in John chapter 12 when it speaks of Mary. Are the two the same? We're not sure. of Luke and John, or rather Matthew and John. The timeline is different, though the outline is the same. The timeline is different, but in John chapter 12, it says, Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany.

Now this is just before he goes to be crucified. Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been There they made him a supper, and Martha served him, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, which is very expensive, very costly, and anointed the feet of Christ and wiped his feet with her hair.

The house was filled with the odor of the ointment." So we have this theme sort of repeated by these women, whether Mary was also in Matthew, we don't know. The time doesn't line up. But we have this theme represent how these women worshiped the Lord.

They worshiped Him at His feet. It was said of Mary in another place, when Martha was covered about with a butt serving, that Mary sat at the feet of Christ. And I wrote and said, Martha, you've been covered about with a butt serving. Well, Mary's chosen that better thing. to be at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's proper worship. That's proper worship. Whether any of these were Lazarus' sisters, we don't know. But John, however he does, called her a beloved friend of Jesus Christ. A beloved friend.

Now the manner in which Martha and Mary approached the Lord concerning Lazarus is significant. Go back in our text in verse 3. It says this, Therefore his sister stood unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. Now he didn't say Lazarus' name, but he said, he whom thou lovest is sick. And that is significant. They approach Christ describing his affection For Lazarus, he whom thou lovest is sick. I can't tell you how many times I've been beside those who were sick and prayed and used these words. Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick.

Sickness is one of the common threads that attends all humanity. If we live long enough, we're probably gonna get sick sooner or later. Sickness is one of the common threads. But religion often uses sickness in a different way. Religion often puts sickness in the category of punishment for sin.

They sometimes use it as a goad to bring folks into submission and thus under control. Several times over the years, I've actually heard preachers say to people who are sitting in the hospital, you know, if your children would straighten out or if your husband would straighten out, you might not be in this position. Or if you'd straighten out, your children might not be in trouble. They use sickness to goad people. Sickness to goad people. They often say that believers are sick because God is displeased with them. Sickness, listen very carefully, sickness is never a punishment for a child of God. Never. Never. And it's never an indication of God's displeasure. It never is. If you're a child of God and you get sick, It doesn't have anything to do with God's displeasure. God is pleased with His people. God is happy with His people. God has a smile for His people. He's not looking to hurt you.

He's already hurt His Son for what you did and for who you are. He poured out His wrath on Jesus Christ. Some may be used as a chastisement. Our Lord may use sickness as a chastisement and thus But it is thus an exercise of love and kindness. Over in Hebrews chapter 12, our Lord talks about chastisement. And a lot of people think chastisement is punishment. Punishment, chastisement is not punishment. Chastisement is correction. It's like when you get off the track, God puts you back on the track. Now, however he does it, it's his business. Maybe maybe kind of hard on you, or it may be easy on you. I don't know. We can't figure out how God does things.

But over in Hebrews chapter 12, he makes it very clear that chastisement comes from a heart of love. From God's love for you. Verse 6 says, For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourges every son whom he receiveth. If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons. For what son is he whom the Lord chasteneth not? But if you without chastisement, whereof all God's children are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons." How come all of God's children have to be chastised? Because they all are all the time going off the rails. That's what we do. We're sinners and we can't stay in line. We can't keep ourselves. by chastisement. Sickness might be a way that he does it, I don't know.

But punishment for sin, punishment for sin for the believer was done one time by one man 2,000 years ago on a lonely hill outside Jerusalem. Our sin was justly punished in Jesus Christ and finally put away by the Lord's voluntary death. Lazarus' sickness was not necessarily chastisement, but it might have been. It would have been born of love for Him, and it would evangelize and bring Him to the feet of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, if that's what chastisement is.

That's what it was. Because regardless of whatever God puts upon you in this world, whatever chastisement might occur to you in God's economy, it'll end up this way if you're a child of God at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, seeking mercy and grace for your time to be. That's how it's always going to end up. Never ends up any other way.

Our Lord gives that reason for Lazarus' sickness. In verse 4, He says, When Jesus heard that he was sick, or heard that they spoke that way, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. This sickness is for God's glory. He first says that this sickness is not unto death. Lazarus will die.

In fact, our Lord gives him time to die before he goes and sees it. We'll see in our next study that he waited two days. He was sick. Around two days, he didn't do anything to stay right where he was. And then went, Lazarus is already dead. So he did die, but he also lived again, because the Lord raised him from the dead. This may be the meaning of the Lord's words when he says, this sickness is not unto death. I don't know, but it may be perhaps in a temporal sense.

But there is a greater thing that is governing this entire episode. And this is how the Lord sets up whatever happens after this point. He sets it up with this. And this is where everything must be, eventually. I've said many times, if I was ever going to put a model on the door, it would be, who gets the glory here? Because this is what it is. That's why we're here.

That's why you were saved. You weren't saved because you're a nice person or you weren't saved even for your own benefit. Though you benefited greatly from it, you were saved for the glory of God. For the glory of Jesus Christ. That's why if you were saved tonight, it's for the glory of God. God is glorified in the salvation of sinners. That's his greatest glory. He's glorified in creation. There's no doubt about that.

Did you watch any of that stuff where they went around the moon? 95 ain't that. That's only 250,000 miles away. That ain't even a scratch in the universe. But it's a wondrous thing. Our mountains, where we live, most beautiful place on earth as far as I'm concerned. I've seen some pretty places. Traveled to 14 different countries when I was in the service. Seen some beautiful, but this is it. This is the most beautiful place that I've ever been. I mean, I drive to Silver and drive back to Cherokee. I drive to Ashland and drive back to Cherokee. As soon as I get on 441 and get out there about where the Cherokee Walmart is, I look and there's that beautiful mountain.

It makes my, it gets my breath every time. Every time. Why? God's glory's in that. He said that in Romans chapter 1. God is glorified in this wondrous thing of creation. He's also glorified in providence. How he rules this world. How he moves and manipulates and guides all things for his glory. But his greatest glory is this. The salvation of his people.

When Moses asked, show me your glory, he said four things. I'll make my goodness pass before you. I'll proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will show mercy unto whom I will show mercy. And I will be gracious unto whom I will. That's all about salvation.

This is what glorifies God. And so this thing, this Lazarus being sick and dying, Christ said that's for God's glory. It's for God's glory. This sickness, this death, and this resurrection are for God's glory as are all things, but that glory is specific here. He says this, but for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. So the glory of God is involved and actually in salvation the glory of God is contingent upon the work of Jesus Christ being successful. His glory. Because Lazarus being raised from the dead is a picture of you and me being saved.

We were dead in trespasses and sin. We were, what Donny Bell said, twice dead and plucked up by the roots. That's what we were. Graveyard dead. But God made us alive. How'd he do that? He said, live. He did it through the preached word. Somehow, it's a wondrous thing, but he made us alive through the Holy Spirit, taking this word and planting it in our heart and giving us life from Him. It's a wondrous thing, but until that happened, we didn't know anything about God. And what we thought we knew about God, we didn't know. He made us alive.

This is a picture of salvation. Remember this. It's for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. His words are truly the word of God and that glory is entirely so. This thing where he will walk up to that tomb and say, Lazarus come forth. Wayne Landy said, he's still wrapped in them gray clothes. He's still wrapped up like a mummy. How'd he get out? He couldn't walk. He floated out of that place. Let him go. That's a picture of what our Lord said to us. We's in our grave clothes. We's bound up in sin. And our Lord said, loosen and let him go. We preach a gospel that frees men. It doesn't hold them down. It doesn't bind them. It lets them go. This is a picture of what the Lord does for his people.

Remember the miracles performed. We've looked at this already, but for the purpose of having people know that without question Christ is the Son of God and that His words are truly the Word of God. In the grand scheme of salvation, the glory of God is contingent on the glorification of Jesus Christ. Christ must be glorified in order for God to get all the glory. The Bible says that. Look over at chapter 12 of John, beginning with verse 27.

Our Lord says, now is my soul troubled. What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. He's about to go to the cross. But for this cause, I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came a voice from heaven saying, I have both glorified it. And we'll glorify it again. The people, therefore, that stood by and heard it said that it thundered. And others said an angel spoke to him. Jesus answered, this voice came not because of me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world. Now is the prince of this world cast out. And I, if I be lifted up, withdraw all men to me. This, he said, signifying what death he should die.

That death is what glorifies God. God said, I have glorified Him, and I'm going to glorify Him more. And as our Lord prayed in John chapter 17, He named what this glory was. And you want to know what glorifies God and the salvation? It's the salvation that is led by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He said in John 17, one of these words spake Jesus, and He's talking about chapter 13 through 15, as He's speaking 13 through 16, and he lifted up his eyes in the heavens and said, Father, the hour has come. Remember what I said in chapter 12, shall I say, keep me from this hour? No, this hour has come.

Glorify thy son, that thy son may also glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as life, that they may know Thee, the only true God in Jesus Christ." And he said, how is God glorified if Christ is glorified? In what? Giving eternal life to as many as God has given Him. And he said in verse 4, I have glorified Thee on earth. How I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

This is what he's talking about when he says he's not sick unto death. He's sick for the glory of God. He'll die for the glory of God. He'll be resurrected for the glory of God. So will you. So Lazarus is sick for a moment, he will die and be buried for a little bit, and will be quickened to life for the glory of God manifested in the glorification of Christ.

We've seen this before. In John chapter 9, verses 1-3, as Jesus passed by and saw a man that was blind and was a burden, the disciples asked him, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind. And Jesus said, neither hath this man sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be manifested in him. He was blind from birth, that God might be glorified. Lazarus will die, will be sick and die, that God might be glorified in his resurrection, in his life.

This is the gospel. In these four verses, the gospel is set forth in plain language. Help us to understand and appreciate it as we look further into this chapter. Father, bless us to understand and pray in Christ's name. Amen. All right, God bless you.

Current Apostasy

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about sickness and God's displeasure?

How do we know God's glory is revealed through our suffering?

Why is it important for Christians to understand chastisement?

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Current Apostasy

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about sickness and God's displeasure?

How do we know God's glory is revealed through our suffering?

Why is it important for Christians to understand chastisement?

Sermon Transcript

About Tim James

Comments

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