(God’s Wrath or Righteous Judgment for Sin and Sinners must be distinguished from Persecution and disciplining that God permits to transform His people and restore them.)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, note especially verse 9

Paul says unequivocally in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “That God did not appoint us to suffer [His] wrath or (righteous judgment) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This righteous judgment must be distinguished from certain types of discipline that God directs toward us to correct and restore us (see 1 Peter 1:6-9).

Even persecutions are permitted in the middle of our witnessing efforts as the devil’s resistance to the spread of the gospel: for example, Jesus words to Saul at his radical conversion “Saul, by persecuting my people you are persecuting me.” (Acts 9:1-6)

In fact, in many cases, the church has grown more in times of persecution than in more peaceful environments. Therefore, discipline and persecution that God permits, is meant to restore and prosper while God’s righteous judgments (or wrath) has as its purpose to fairly punish God’s opponents. Therefore, Paul’s admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 helps to distinguish these difficult experiences. Christians never experience God’s wrath because of the Atoning Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ; Therefore, what is meant by the term “tribulation(s),” especially when used in context of the last days (promised especially in Daniel 9:24-27?)

Some Christians believe in a literal 7-year tribulation period in the last days: they divide it into 2 parts of 3-½ years. The second part is referred to “the great tribulation.” This is a time of great persecution in which the Antichrist and his minions persecute God’s people, especially in Jerusalem. This persecution will be interrupted by the Risen Christ, the ultimate dispenser of God’s righteous judgment. Christians will be protected from this, how?

The Christian church is divided on this answer.

Some believe that Christ will return to do Holy War at the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period by The Rapture of the Church: both the dead in Christ first, then those Christians alive, that are transformed (1 Thessalonians 4:5-17). Others believe that this will occur mid-tribulation. Still others see the Rapturing of the Church and the Second Coming as One Event combining 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 with Revelation 19. It gets really complicated!

There is unity in the belief that the tribulations that Christians are allowed to go through in life are persecutions, tests, and trials to benefit His children, but divine righteous judgment of God have a whole different purpose: They don’t restore, they mete out just punishments, while “tests and trials,” aim to restore and redeem. (Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4)

The difference is important according to Paul in 1Thessalonians 5:9. We will always remain in God’s hove, even though He might discipline us. Even in the last days and its tribulations, Christ will make sure that His believers are raptured or protected somehow from His righteous judgment. Paul is adamant concerning this point, here (verse 9) and at other passages: e.g., Romans 5:9-11 (read)

Main Texts: Mark 10:13-16 & 10:17-24

The Call to accept Christ as little children, from infancy to 12
years old, was a radical call for ancient Jewish culture:
Countercultural.

In Jesus’ day, children, while loved (especially sons) were
considered for the most part immature, unreasonable and objects
to be trained. They were to be schooled until the ages 13, to be
considered a useful part of adult Jewish society.

Elite rabbis like Jesus should not waste their busy lives and
mission, addressing children, rather focus their needed attention
to the issues of the adult world. But Jesus broke this societal rule
and encouraged parents to bring their children to be officially
“blessed” by Him. (verse 14)

And He became incensed when His own disciples “rebuked”
them: The children and their parents, and even possibly Jesus!
But when Jesus heard their rebuke and saw their dismissive
attitudes, that was more loyal to their rigid Judaism, He become
indignant/angry at them (verse 14).

He then set up a new rule for His good news: “Let the little
children come to me and do not hinder them (and their parents)
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these”, not like the
proud but those running to receive His gift.

Like the children’s humble demeanor, the adults are to realize
humbly their need and accept Jesus’ grace, gift or they would
never enter the Kingdom of heaven (verse 15).

This story provides a fitting contrast for the Rich adult who was a
religious heavy weight (see Mark 10:17-24). He bragged to be a
heavy-weight in Judaism as well trusting in his riches. (The love of
money can become the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10)

Jesus pointed this out in verse 21, and with a heart of love asked
him surrender his first love and to receive the gift of Jesus
kingdom or have also treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

He refused the offer: “At this the man’s face fell and he went away
sad because in spite of his religious law abiding, he selfishly
accrued great wealth (my paraphrase of verse 22), he did not
receive the kingdom.

Contrast this to the joy experienced by the children and their
parents in Mark 10:13-16. They were willing to approach Jesus,

counter-culture, with the need and hunger to be blessed by Jesus,
and accept His gift of the Kingdom.

They had no claim of power and status, especially from their
religious society, but the humble need to be “touched” or
“blessed” by Jesus; and not earn but receive the Kingdom as a
gift. The disciples’ failure to understand Jesus’ kingdom as a gift
of grace responding to humility, earned Jesus’ ire and rebuke.
And the children received, not earned, His hands upon them and
blessing.

They demonstrated the attitude needed to enter into Christ’s
Kingdom: The rich adult was out; the children and their parents
were in!

AMEN

(Is He now too busy rejoicing for a deserved victory, along with

the inhabitants in heaven.)

Main texts: Acts 9:1-19, especially verses 3-6; Hebrews 4:15;
Revelation 6:9-11

Does God with His massive victory over sin, through His Son
Jesus Christ, now live and only part of in an eternal, infinite
heavenly bubble, eagerly and happily awaiting us to join Him?

Yes & No: There is great rejoicing in heaven for every soul that
joins the great Feast of the Lamb (Luke 15:7) and it is ongoing for
eternity but there is also a divine awareness, intercession
(Hebrews 7:25) and empathetic feeling from the top down (from
God and the saints.) (Revelation 6:9-11)

They are not only rejoicing but feel our persecutions down here
(note the Lord’s rebuke of Saul in Acts 9:3-6.)

We who still live and work in this fallen world remain in all aspects
of life deeply entangled with our personal Lord, not from afar or
with an aloofness but with great empathy: “Saul why are you
persecuting me…” This statement is not just an example of
empathetic symbolism or a statement by the Lord as to how He

remembers how it felt when He was persecuted, rather it is a
“now” reality expressed in the present tense. And it applies also to
our present relationship with Christ. He, in His intercession for us
(Hebrews 7:25) “… is touched by the feelings of our infirmities
(KJV)” or my paraphrase of the NIV version: “for we do not have a
high priest who is unable to empathize (actually feel with us) in
our varied pains and struggles, very much part of this fallen world:
He somehow suffers with us (and so does heaven’s saints,
implied in Revelation 6:9-11.)

And He will act in all our situation in His time and manner. The
risen Lord confronted Paul on his way to Damascus to persecute
the Christians but Jesus, feeling their persecution, confronted and
stopped him. This was part of His intercession for His children
and even for their persecutor.

With His powerful revelatory act, He eased the believer’s
persecution by converting the persecutor.

Again, consider Jesus words to “Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me.” Again, this illustrates how God touched when His
children hurt: He somehow hurts with them and replies in His time
and manner.

Jeremiah 29:1-14; 2 Corinthians 9:11; Matthew 6:32-33

Mark 10:28-31 (earthly things gained with possible persecution);

Galatians 5:22-24 (The fruit or product of Spirit living in and through us);

Roman 12:2 (The developing of the mind/attitude that Jesus portrayed and Paul’s inner desire expressed in Philippians 3:10, his central driving force in his life and ministry).

These passages highlight the varied aspects of Biblical prosperity, especially clarified in the New Testament. It covers the whole sphere of life’s possibilities in a fallen world; where we are called to be living witnesses, which includes both experiences of resurrection power and sufferings (again not Philippians 3:10).

Jeremiah’s letter to the first of the Jewish exiles to Babylon (597 B.C.) instructed them on how to behave in their current situation of captivity: The message is found in verses 5-9. They were to settle down, accept God’s discipline and experience divine prosperity even in the context of their captivity.

Even in the Old Testament, Romans 8:28 was relevant. They were even expected to pray for the prosperity of their captors (verse 7); of course, the false prophets kept a hacking Jeremiah’s message concerning this (see Jeremiah 29:15-23).

God again rebukes them, tells them there would be many more deportations to Babylon. Therefore, learn to accept prosperity even in your captivity. Also read James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6-7.

This would be a lesson that both Old Testament and New Testament followers had to experience and learn: Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up; Peter adds “in due time” and Galatians 6:9 adds “if you faint not or give up.” Therefore, to prosper in the Lord includes all of the above verses that point to not only physical or earthly prosperity but spiritual prosperity; and developing, by the Spirit in all circumstances, the mind or attitude of Christ. And God’s support, both to the captives in Jeremiah’s time and us, who live and work in this fallen, challenging world, will be given continued support in spite the fact that we remain imperfect saints; again, note Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11-14 (read again).

Some ways God wants to prosper us;

1–Guide us in our praying for His personal purposes for our lives, in all areas of living and witnessing (Romans 8:28); (Mark 10:28-31); (Matthew 6:32-33)

2-Pray especially that we will develop the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24) and the mind/attitude of Christ in our dealings with the world: This is our primary goal and prosperity (Matthew 6:33).

3-Pray that you and I will function selflessly in the prosperity of the Body of Christ; and, ask and receive the spiritual gifting chosen for us by the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 4:4-11” “… for the common good”, not for our egos!

4-Consider the fact that in the whole process of prospering in the Lord, our mistakes and the world’s challenges will be covered by the Lord, Romans 8:28 “… for our good.”

Consider the fact that “God is able to do more abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.” So that we prosper in all areas of living and witnessing, considering also Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And His plans for all of us is to prosper us holistically, but more importantly to be more like Christ in the midst of all our captivities.

AMEN

A Sermon expounded from John 17:1-26.

Matthew 6:9-14; Luke 11:2-4; Galatians 4:1-7 and Romans 8:14-17

Our relationship with God our Savior and Lord is illustrated in the N.T. with the deepest, most loving relationship possible in this life: Parent to child. When this relationship is good it provides, world wide, the greatest example of love, joy, but when the parents are bad or evil, it becomes repulsive and shocking to all good parents everywhere. God manifested His love for us by sending His Son to atone for our sins, while we were yet sinners. We become adopted children, precious in His sight. He asks us to refer to Him primarily not as oh Powerful God, but as “Father” (Matthew 6:9) and even “Dad or Daddy” in Luke 11:2 (See also Galatians 4:6, “Abba Father” Romans 8:14-17)

And even when scripture tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; it is referring to awe and respect for our creator parent and sustainer not to be scared of Him. Both renditions of the Lord’s prayer reminds us to develop a respectful intimacy with God our Father and our dad, daddy (“Abba”). The aspects of God, parenthood can be summarized by the following points:

1. Respect “Our Father”
   1. Matthew 6:9-10. Remember the danger of over familiarity especially in relationship to heavenly Father.
   2. Intimacy (love) Father! Luke 11:2
      1. see also Galatians 4:1-7 and Romans 8:14-17; verse 17 “Abba”
   3. Adopted Children; In ancient societies, Roman and Jewish was very important and precious; See Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:14-16
   4. As our Divine Parent He is delighted to provide for us
      1. Note the second part of the Lord’s prayer in both Matthew 6:11-13 and Luke 11:3-4; Note these provisions come after worship and respect for our all powerful and loving parents.
   5. The primary things He wants us to develop; “the chip off the old block.” Develop HIs character. The fruit of the Spirit, especially, forgiveness (Matthew 6:13-15; Luke 11:4; Galatians 5:22-26)

Read Genesis 17:1-26, especially verse 17; Genesis 18:1-15, especially verses 10-13

When Paul rehearses the theological significance of God’s dealing with Abraham and Sarah’s, he presents a picture of faith, and rightly so, but seemingly without much struggle and no mention of their laughter (See Romans 4:1-25, especially verses 18-25). Not only did Abraham and Sarah laugh at God’s seemingly ridiculous proposal, but they lived an imperfect life, in spite of the fact that all along the way God spoke to them directly. But, there were long times of silence when their lack of understanding and faith manifested in their actions, examples: lying to Pharaoh when they lived in Egypt during a famine about Sarah not being his wife; a similar episode with King Abimilek lying again with Sarah not being his wife (20:1-18); Abraham’’s relationship with Hagar had produced Ishmael, but God insisted that Sarah, not anyone else, would produce the miracle Son of Promise (16:1-16). Abraham and Sarah were not so perfect as Paul describes in Romans 4:18-25, note especially verses 19-20 “... yet he and she did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, what? In the passage in Genesis clearly presents a more realistic human picture of them. The major challenges to their faith was their time waiting and their ages: Abraham was 99(17:24) and Sarah way passed child bearing age (Romans 4:18-19 “...Her womb was dead.”) But from God’s point of view and ability He reiterated that he and Sarah must be the parents. At this he fell face down and laughed, “but to himself” (Sarah was close to 90 years of age!) But, God knew they laughed, see also 18:17, even though they thought they were hiding it from God. But, nothing can be hidden from our God, so better to be honest. And even though they lied, God remained faithful, because He realized that they were only human. But, I don’t think that their laughter was a sin of disrespect but a sort of nervous laughter overwhelmed by the promise!

1. 1. Finally sometimes in certain difficult to believe situations we need divine hope: Paul suggests in Romans 4:18, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…” This idea may be connected to one of Paul’s gifts of the Spirit: the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9 a special impartation of faith, beyond saving faith, to empower to remain hopeful for the miracle promised to happen. This is what I think Abraham, Paul and others received and although remaining imperfect, God brought these promises to pass.

Re-read Romans 4:18; Hebrews 10:23-25; Philippians 1:6