Blessed Through Suffering
Pete has received many encouraging messages since he lost his wife. One message said, “never be afraid of starting something new. Remember that an amateur built the ark but a professional built the Titanic.” Pete recalls a Christmas banquet at the high school where he was principal. The speaker brought a pretty gift wrapped box and presented it to several students and asked, will you accept this gift?” Most wouldn’t take it. God offers us a gift. Many won’t accept the gift because they don’t know and trust the one who’s offering it. Even though the Word says “you’ll be more fruitful,” most men still aren’t motivated to accept the gift. What motivates men is the prospect of losing their wives. When Pete prayed about all of Suzan’s ailments: A brain tumor, atrial fibrillation, dementia, and double vision, God told Pete, “you’re listing your friends.” When he questioned this, God said to Pete, “here’s how you tell who are your friends. When you endure the trial and look back through the ordeal, have you grown in your relationship with Christ?”
All Suzan wanted to do was to make an impact: Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the ways of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Suzan’s son said that he never woke up and went to get breakfast without seeing the bible on the table that his mom had left open. Suzan’s secret to finishing well was to always rejoice in the Lord. She finished strong because she lived strong in the Lord.
1 Peter Chapter 5 teaches us about suffering and why God allows us to suffer. The apostle Peter wrote by inspiration, “THE elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye”“shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Spiritual leadership has lost a lot of its authority in the United States over the last forty years that Pete has been ministering. Biblical standards aren’t valued like they used to be. In the model of the apostles in the first century church, Peter called himself a fellow elder among the other elders. Peter and Paul ordained elders in the churches that they established as they planted new churches. Peter exhorted his elders because their role as servant leaders was essential to the church according to God’s divine design.
What should a believer look for in a new church? In any Christian endeavor, you’re putting yourself under the leadership, provision, and care of the shepherd of the flock. You need to find out if he has a depth and understanding in the knowledge of his Lord Jesus Christ. When he preaches a message, does he inspire you to follow the Lord? After you take him to lunch, you need to find out if he has a shepherd’s heart. Elders and pastors have a calling and anointing to be overseers of the health of the church. These are the leaders that Peter is addressing. Peter warns them that the quest for power is a downside of church leadership. Leadership in the church is to serve the flock of God with a servant’s heart. “Not as being lord over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” If the church has lost its impact, it’s because the spiritual leadership has failed. As Men of God we have been called to be elders within the church. How much pain does God have to bring to get our attention?
Cancer didn’t kill Suzan. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. The trials that we endure are designed for our growing in the faith. We still have work to do for which he’s called us. There’s a balance about grief. There’s a time for getting busy to minister but it won’t cure the aching sadness of profound loss. Our prayer is, “God make me a better man through this trial.”
We serve the flock of God not of duty or compulsion, or dishonest gain but of a heart to serve God’s flock, as an example to the flock. The unfair and unjust things that happen to us are “friends” that teach us humility. They teach us to be submissive to the Lord. They also teach us to be humble to others. Men of God were never “men of distinction.” They were humble, taking the form of a bond servant like Jesus Christ who humbled himself even unto death on the cross. Jesus Christ himself was an example of a “servant leader.” A good shepherd takes care of his sheep. Jesus Christ, the chief shepherd, leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul.
God doesn’t grade on the curve. We cannot be proud in our own conceits. Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time. In Isaiah 41:10 The Lord says “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Casting all your cares upon him for he cares for you. Casting is to throw it onto something else. There is no rest unless we cast all our cares upon him. At the cross of Christ, God allowed his own son to drink the cup of pain, separation, and death. According to Romans 8:32, “He who spared not his own son how shall he not also freely give us all things.” Job never was told the reason for all of the attacks he endured. Job said, “even if he kills me, I’ll trust him.” Job’s wife was distraught and had lost hope. She said, “why don’t you just curse God and die.” Job’s response was, “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” God’s grace is sufficient for me.
Pete’s friend Rocky spent five days with Pete after Suzan’s memorial service. That Saturday, they decided to go to the beach to meditate. They took a cue from the men’s retreats to write letters to God and then write what God dictates back in response. Here is what God responded: “I have called Suzan home because she accomplished everything in this life that I had called her to do. Rest assured that she would accomplish more for me by calling her home. I have helped myself to her life as I did my son Jesus Christ. I’ll show you greater things than you’ll ever know as you trust in me. Draw upon the resources of my grace. Heaven rejoices when you go through trials with a singing spirt. My heart is cheered when you endure trials without questioning my motives. My glorious radiance will shine through you and my Grace will be revealed through you.”
The chief shepherd Jesus Christ was given to us so that we can praise and bless him through it all. Casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael