More than Being Happy (sermon)

I- If you love Jesus you will be happy

TRANS: This month we have been talking about the ways shallow and incomplete ideas about who God is actually undermine faith and run contrary to the bible, and how in fact there is MORE to it than that.

More than Believing in God

More than Being Good

this week we are talking about how Following God and believing in Jesus. Is about more than being happy all the time.

More than Happy.

I’ve got the Joy joy joy joy down in my heart....

I love that song and there is a TON of good in it.

The problem for me was when things didn't go my way. I compensated for this by putting on a smile as long as I could, and then breaking down when it all became to much.

ANd for me that led to questioning my faith, or God’s love or jsut beating myself up

...

It wasnt till I got to college that I read and was taught just how much of the Bible was about tragedy, loss, and trouble.

Y-

TRANS: I think hardship tragedy and struggle impact many of us in that way.

Its those kinds of things in life that really challenge some of those shallow ways of looking at God we have.

More than Believing in God

If following God is about Believing in “a” god

If following God is all about Being good so good things happen to us. Trouble shatters that illusion the first time you get fired for doing the right thing.

More than Being Good

If following God is all about Being happy, as soon as we are unable to keep that smile on we doubt weather we had faith at all. Or we beat ourselves up when God seems to give us more than we can handle.

So what often happens is we are either

Wrecked by tragedy, dissapointment, hardship or loss.

this week we are

OR

2. We deny, bury, rationalize, spiritualize, or otherwise explain away tragedy, hardship, or loss and put on a happy face.

Ultimately both lead to our destruction, because when we AVOID or ignore our pain others get hurt and we destroy ourselves.

Because PAIN LEAKS. EHS

So what do we do with this?

G- “Tragedy is a part of life on earth + The Sickness doesn't end in death”

TRANS: It wasnt till I got to college that I read and was taught just how much of the Bible was about tragedy, loss, and trouble.

Tragedy, disappointment, and loss are discussed throughout scripture. Its a major theme.

Job

Psalms

Lamentations

Ecclestiasties

the prophets

most main characters

If you open your bible at random there is a pretty good chance the page you turn to will address some kind of trouble, tragedy, or disappointment.

I dont know how we got the idea that the bible is about putting a smile on

Scripture and our experience are clear

But tragedy IS NEVER ABSTRACT

.

Today we focus on a story the gospel of John

in it we see how people respond to a couple of tragedies. And we get an idea of how Jesus and his followers deal with dragedy in their own lives.

“Jesus Wept”

It is worth it to hear this story, because in some ways it paralles ours. It is worth hearing it, and placing yourself in the shoes of the various people around. There is so much here.

After I will point out the main thing that stands out to me, but there is more going on than we can possibly talk about today.

As someone who hates to memorize things that one has always stayed with me.

Background - The Call and the Stakes - “The Sickness doesn't End in death”

I dont know about you but that makes me a little uncomfortable. I tried to find a good picture of Jesus weeping but I gave up becasue they all bothered me so much.

RIsing action - Jesus decides to Go, encounters Mary and Martha and the mourners. A Painful Encounter - “If you had been Here my brother would have lived.”, “Jesus Wept”

Climax - Lazurus is Raised from the dead - “Lazurus come out”

But its true Jesus wept.

Falling action - Some believe some dont, Jesus’ death warrant is signed. “Take the grave clothes off and let him go.” - “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than -that the whole nation perish.”

“47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Resolution - For Lazurus new life, For Jesus glory and death coming

There are two things that stand out to me in this story.

1. Tragedy is a part of life and CANT BE DENIED. “If you had been here my brother would have lived.”

2. Death doesn't have the final word, “The sickness doesn't end in death.”

this is not just Lazurus’ story, its the story of the whole bible.

God’s people, the most faithful people face great tragedy, loss, disappointment, and trouble.

AND death doesn't have the final word.

The bible says both of these things are true at the same time. One doesn't overwhelm the other or outweigh the other especially in the moment of tragedy. If it did, Jesus would not have wept OR lazurs would have stayed in that tomb.

The lie is that we have to choose one or the other.

Either we paper over tragedy with prayers and platitudes.

OR

We sink into tragedy and lose connection to God.

But the story of the gospel is that both statements are true. The pain in our lives cannot be explained away or justified by good that may result. It cant be ignored or covered ut. BUT while we weep, just like Jesus. We REMEMBER death doesn't get the final word.

That two things are true, “Jesus Wept” and “the sickness doesn't end in death.”

Y - How do we live in light of that tension in our lives

Transition: The lie is that we have to choose one or the other.

Either we paper over tragedy with prayers and platitudes.

OR

We sink into tragedy and lose connection to God.

But the story of the gospel is that both statements are true. The pain in our lives cannot be explained away or justified by good that may result. It cant be ignored or covered ut. BUT while we weep, just like Jesus. We REMEMBER death doesn't get the final word.

That two things are true, “Jesus Wept” and “the sickness doesn't end in death.”

TRansition: So how do we live in this tension?

Maybe you are resisting the urge to honestly grieve a loss.

Then…

Lament, weep, share your feelings with a trusted friend, pray your pain, Read Lamentations, or Job, or the Psalms.

Resist the urge to cover it up, with piety or self medication. Feel your feelings with someone who cares about you. Cry out to god.

And wait in that confusing inbeteween between the promise of the resurrection and the reality of life under the sun.

Maybe you are stuck in grief that has led to hopelessness.

Then...

Cry out honestly to God like people have done for thousands of years. Like Mary and Martha, “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died!”

Know and remember that God brings life into dead places

Reach out to some one who will sit there with you. Cry with you, and pray with you.

Maybe like many of us you are desperately trying to hold the two together. Being honest about your pain with yourself and God AND waiting in hope for Resurrection.

Then...

Remember what kid of God we have.

Perhaps you have a friend or a family member

Then...

Draw near to them. Offer a listening ear.

Allow them to be in pain and sit in the discomfort of their pain. Listen, cry, pray. Be like Jesus to them an step in and stand beside them. Let them know they dont suffer alone.

grieving loss: death, disappointment, a dream isnt coming true, the hurt just seems to keep coming...

Then..

Maybe you know someone grieving

elaborate

May we....

Stop denying loss and feel our feelings (pray them, share them, feel them, write them, WEEP THEM)

AND place your hope in the Resurrection.

W

Transition: Following Jesus is not always as black and white as we would like it to be. The bible doesn't tell us exactly what to do in every situation. It doesn't even often tell us exactly what to think either. Instead its a GOD inspired collection of stories.

Its full of stories of people trying to do two things at the same time.

WHILE

Believe that God is at work. Believe the good news. Believe in Resurrection

WHILE

Living in the real world. Often Full of pain and struggle.

Its Abraham and Sarah unable to conceive a child.

Its Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers

Its Jesus going to Jerusalem even though it will lead to his death.

Its Christians in acts scattered and persecuted.

Its Horatio Spafford losing his whole family and fortune to multiple tragedies.

AND

WHILE

It’s also Issac born to hundred year old parents.

It’s also Joseph being able to save his family.

It’s the empty tomb.

Its the gospel spreading through the world on the lips of scattered Christians.

Its Horatio Sapafford blessing generations with his hymn ,”It is Well”

Our faith doesn’t attempt to paper over pain. Instead it argues, that GOD is at work bringing healing to bad situations.

Bring light into darkness

Hope into sorrow

and

Resurrection in to death.

And when a follower of Jesus lives that out it proves the gospel more than even the most well reasoned argument or convincing scientific proofs, or amazing miracle.

Lets pray together.