Some Answers We Need to be Ready For- Part 2

Some Answers We Need to be Ready For

Part 2

Text: 1 Peter 3:15–16 (KJV 1900)

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Series Introduction:

* There are some questions from unbelievers that we should be ready to answer.

* The sermon this morning is a different kind of sermon than I have ever delivered at this church.

* It is what is called an apologetic.

* The English word “apology” comes from a Greek word which basically means “to give a defense.”

* Christian apologetics, then, is the science of giving a defense of the Christian faith.

* There are many skeptics who doubt the existence of God and/or attack belief in the God of the Bible.

* There are many critics who attack the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible.

* There are many false teachers who promote false doctrines and deny the key truths of the Christian faith.

* The mission of Christian apologetics is to combat these movements and instead promote the Christian God and Christian truth.

* Last Sunday we answered the question “If God is always good, and God has the power to prevent evil things from happening in the world, then where does evil come from?

* and we answered the question “Did God create evil.”

* We also answered the question “Why does a good God allow evil to continue in the world?”

* This morning, in part 2 of the sermon “Some Answers we Need to be Ready for,” we will attempt to answer, from the Word of God, “Why does a good God allow innocent people to die in wars, and famines, and natural disasters.”

* This is the purpose of our message this morning:

Main Clause: "Since is good, and God is love, then why does God allow evil things like war, and famines, and terrible diseases, and the innocent to suffer?

* According to the apostle Peter in our text, then we need to always be ready to answer this question.

* This morning I would like to give you the answer to this question by proving the following:

I. satan causes the innocent suffer because he is actively attempting to usurp God's Love.

II. satan causes the innocent to suffer because we are the object of God's love.

III. satan causes the innocent to suffer by causing us to doubt God's love.

IV. God allows the innocent to suffer temporarily, in order to destroy suffering permanently.

Sermon Introduction:

* Imagine with me for a minute if you will, you are standing at the bedside of your son or your daughter, who’s body has been broken, and life has been destroyed by a catastrophic tornado in the Sweetwater-Philadelphia area.

* Their innocent body wracked with pain, their home and livelihood destroyed, their faith in God damaged to the point of despair, they cry out to God, while all the time they are looking right in your face, at you, demanding an answer was to why God would allow all this evil to come upon them!

* What would you do? What would you say?

* In our text this morning:

Text: 1 Peter 3:15–16 (KJV 1900)

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

* The Apostle Peter tells us that we should always be ready to answer to every man why we can still have hope when we don’t understand why God allows innocent people to suffer.

* The apostle Paul too, knew what is was like to suffer because of bad weather at sea, being shipwrecked, being bitten by a poisonous snake, false imprisoned, beaten and stoned and left to die.

* Listen to Paul as he speaks of these things in 2 Corinthians Chapter 11 and verse 24:

2 Corinthians 11:22–12:10 (KJV 1900)

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

* To arrive at a correct understanding of why a good God allows the innocent to suffer from was, famines, or even natural disasters such as the recent wars in Syria, or the recent natural disaster in Haiti, or even right here in America, people who suffered in Terrorist attack on 911, we must understand that we are in midst of a cosmic war that is going on all around us.

* We must first understand that we are part of a cosmic war that we cannot see.

* We cannot see this war, because it is taking place in another dimension- another realm of reality that transcends our reality, called the spiritual realm.

* The spiritual realm where the Elohim, spiritual beings exist that control and influence our world behind the scenes.

Main Clause:

"It is necessary to understand the nature of this war, in order to understand why God allows good and innocent people to suffer in wars, and natural disasters.

I. satan, not God causes the innocent to suffer because he is actively attempting to mar the image God's love.

* The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians Chapter 2 in verses 3 and 4:

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

* We are made aware of just how determined that the devil is in Isaiah chapter 14 and verses 5-15 where the Bible a glimpse of what Satan is trying to do to this world in order to hide the love of God from us:

Isaiah 14:5–15 (KJV 1900)

5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke,

He that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth…

(In this passage it is revealed to us that Lucifer, satan, is attempting to usurp control of the world from God.

We see that satan is ruling the nations “In anger”- in the prophet Isaiah’s words, satan is persecuting the inhabitants of this world, he is bullying the inhabitants of this world because he hates God, and is actively attempting overthrow God’s rule over the inhabitants of the earth.)

9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming:

It stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth;

It hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols:

The worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

In the New Testament we are told the same thing- that satan is the temporary God of this world.

* When satan came to temp Jesus in the wilderness right after his baptisim, satan offered to Jesus rule over all of the nations of the earth, if He would only bow down to satan.

* There seems to be an indication here that temporarily, God has allowed satan control over the nations of the earth.

* There is a spiritual war going on around us that involves the devil and the Angelic realm and control over the nations of the earth.

* We are quite familiar with the side of this spiritual warfare that we can see with our own eyes, but few of us really understand what is going on on the other side of the curtain, that we cannot see.

* The apostle Paul speaks of those things that are going on on the other side of this invisible war:

* In Colossians chapter 1 and verses 15-17, the Apostle Paul speaks of an “invisible God” that created every creature, and that some of those creatures are invisible.

* From this passage we gather that these “invisible creatures” have to do with the nations of the earth…

Colossians 1:15–17 (KJV 1900)

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

* Again, the apostle Paul says that we are being attacked by the tricks and deceptions of the devil, and that these deceptions of the devil are carried out by invisible powers that he calls “rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in “high” places.

Ephesians 6:10–12 (KJV 1900)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

* In 2 Corinthians chapter 10 the apostle Paul tells us that we are in an invisible war in which we are to attack satan, and pull down the strongholds that satan has built, in the minds and imaginations of men.

* Paul says that we are to cast down every “high thing” speaking of those invisible beings that are deceiving the world, that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God in the world.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (KJV 1900)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

* In order to understand why God allows suffering in this world, allow me this morning if you will, to use the Bible to paint you a picture of what is going on in this invisible spiritual warfare.

* Allow me to give you a little glimpse of what is going on behind the scenes of what we perceive as reality.

* I would like to attempt to show you another reality, a reality even more real, and more permanent than our own,

* a reality that transcends the perceivable, knowable universe,- an invisible dimension that parallels our own, the reality in which God lives- the spiritual word.

* God has a council of angles, called in the Hebrew tongue Elohim. There are spiritual, beings that work in the service of God in heaven.

* We find an very revealing passage of scripture in Psalm 82, where we see that God has a council of angels, spiritual beings, Elohim in the plural...

* I am reading reading a paraphrased version of the text found in Psalm 82:

1 God stands in the divine assembly;

(the assembly of EL the might God)

he administers judgment in the midst of the gods.

(now the gods, little g, are Elohim, plural for divine, spiritual beings.)

(God is pictured standing in the presence of these angles in an assembly, or a council in heaven)

(In this assembly of the Angels of God, God gives a rebuke to some of those angles at this assembly who were charged with overseeing the affairs of the nations of the earth)

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

and ⌊show favoritism to the wicked⌋? Selah

3 Judge on behalf of the helpless and the orphan;

provide justice to the afflicted and the poor.

4 Rescue the helpless and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They do not know or consider.

They go about in the darkness, so that all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I have said, “You are gods, ( gods, little g, meaning, Elohim, plural for divine, spiritual beings.)

and sons of the Most High, all of you.

7 However, you will die like men, (this shows that they were not men, but angles) and you will fall like one of the princes.”

(Then the writer of this Psalm praises God and says)

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,

because you shall inherit all the nations.

* All through the Bible we see little glimpses of this same scene that we see here in Psalm 82.

* We learn here in Psalm 82 that this council of angles, the Elohim, the assembly of the divine council of God in heaven, were tasked by God, the El, the mighty God, with overseeing the nations of the earth.

* We see from the Scriptures that the angles were created by God, and then assigned to the care and service of mankind on the earth.

* In the book of Hebrews, (Hebrews 1:6–14), we are told that the angles are “ministers of flame” sent forth to minister to them who are the heirs of salvation.

* We see this idea of the angles overseeing, and even protecting earth dwellers throughout the Scriptures:

* Psalm 34:7–8 says:

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth

Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good:

Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

* On one particular occasion the curtains are pulled away from our eyes, and we are allowed to see the other dimension, the spiritual dimension of the universe, and we are allowed to see what is going on around us in the world:

* Remember with me the story in 2 Kings Chapter 6 and verse 15:

2 Kings 6:15–17 (KJV 1900)

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.

And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man;

and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

* On another occasion, we are allowed a glimpse into heave of the throne of God and the Divine council of Elohim by the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah wrote:

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for “us?”

Then said I, Here am I; send me.

* On another similar occasion, we are allowed to peer into heaven and see God and His divine council at work, deciding how to carry out God's will on the earth in a particular situation...

1 Kings 22:19–23 (KJV 1900)

19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?

And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.

22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.

And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

* Again in the book of Daniel and in the Book of Revelation we are allowed to see into heaven and see into the throne room of God and watch as the earth's fate is decided by God and his divine council:

Daniel 7:9–14 (KJV 1900)

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. …

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

* Again in the book of Daniel we see the Elohim working and waring in spiritual warfare among the nations on behalf of God. An angle comes to the prophet Daniel as he is praying.

* The messenger that is sent to Daniel in Daniel Chapter 10 and verse 10 says that as soon as Daniel began to pray, he was dispatched by God to answer Daniel’s prayer, but he was hindered by an invisible being that was associated with the nation of Persia:

Daniel 10:10–21 (KJV 1900)

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia…

20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth:

and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince

* We have already seen glimpses of the divine council assemble before the throne of Godin the Psalms, and by Isaiah, and by the prophet Micaiah, and we also now see the very same scene as we are once again transported to heaven with the apostle John in the book of the Revelation and Chapter 4:

Revelation 4:1–5:14 (KJV 1900)

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?...

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

* Now with all this evidence of God and His divine council in mind, let’s take a look back and maybe this will shed light on a couple of passages that strike us a very odd at first when we first read them:

Genesis 1:26 (KJV 1900)

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 11:5–9 (KJV 1900)

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

* Now I have shared all of this information with you to prove a point.

* We humans on this earth are caught up in a cosmic battle between two realities, or dimensions.

* This is what spiritual warfare really is.

* and it is here, and it is now, and its real.

* And this warfare is why God allows the innocent to suffer from sin, and disease, and violence, and natural disaster.

* Now I have said all this about God and the angles in heaven to stress one point- we are in the middle of a Spiritual war that is taking place all around us in which satan is actively attempting to smear the name of God before the nations of the world.

Main Clause: "Since God temporarily allows the innocent to suffer, then we should be ready with answer when people ask why does God allow evil to continue in the world"

* Beloved our eyes need to be opened to the fact that we are at war with satan who is battling for the minds and souls of men in the world.

* And it is satan, not God who is behind the evil that mankind suffers through wars, and famines, and natural disasters in the world.

* The innocent who suffer, suffer because God is at war with satan and sin, and this suffering of this world is only temporary until God destroys the works of satan in this world, once and for all.

* God is a good God, God is concerned because of the evil and suffering in the world, and He is doing something about it!

Revelation 12:7–14 (KJV 1900)

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 19:11 (KJV 1900)

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

(I. satan, not God, causes the innocent to suffer because he is actively attempting to mar the image God's love.)

II. satan causes the innocent to suffer because we are the object of God's love.

* We know that the world is the object of God love, because He tells us so in John chapter 3 and verse 16:

John 3:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

* The world is loved by God its creator, and man was privileged by God with the right to have dominion over the world.

* Satan in his envy and jealously over mankind tempted Adam and Eve to disobey the will of God, and the obeyed their own will.

* Ever since that time the devil has been controlling the wills of men and enslaving them as members of His kingdom of darkness, slaves of sin.

* John chapter 10 and verse 10 plainly tells us who is behind all the wars, and the murders, and the sickness and the diseases, and natural disasters, and all the suffering that is going on in this world.

John 10:10 (KJV 1900)

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

* satan is the one who is destroying and causing the chaos and suffering of this world, not the loving Creator.

* In this same passage in John 10, Jesus plainly tells us who is responsible for all the suffering in the world:

33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

* Because the world is enslaved to sin, by the power of sin, the devil has become the God of this world:

2 Corinthians 4:2–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

(I. satan, not God, causes the innocent to suffer because he is actively attempting to mar the image God's love.)

II. satan causes the innocent to suffer because we are the object of God's love.

III. satan causes the innocent to suffer by hurting us, in order to make us doubt God's love.

* Now, I believe that God has given us an entire book in the Bible from which He shows us why He allows innocent people to suffer.

* Turn with me to the book of Job this morning- we will read together Job Chapter 1 verses 6-12:

Job 1:6–12 (KJV 1900)

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

* satan, the God of this world, has been given the opportunity to prove that He can win the allegiance of mankind, and usurp the authority of God over creation.

* In this account given to us by the Holy Spirit in the book of Job, satan is behind all of the suffering of the the innocent man, Job.

* Job, his animals, his children, all innocent people suffer in this account, but God does not do this evil to Job, it is satan that brings all this suffering upon Job.

* God does give satan the permission necessary to actually do the evil, but He has His own reasons for allowing this evil.

* We see in this story the principle that God does allow evil to happen, but He allows the satan to do his work, so that He might defeat satan. * God, in the story of Job, and in the story of human history, temporary allows evil and suffering, in order to allow satan’s rebellion, or evil to run out its course and be ultimately defeated.

*I believe that the story of Job is a real story about a real man, but it has been preserved for us here to illustrate for us the true nature for the destruction and suffering that exist in a world where innocent people suffer.

* In the story of Job, satan's strategy is to make Job doubt God's goodness and thus throw away his allegiance to God.

* The principle that is taught by the book of Job is that God is “temporarily” allowing the innocent to be destroyed and suffer, while He carries out His divine plan of redemption to save mankind from the grasp of the Evil one.

1 Peter 5:8–11 (KJV 1900)

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But 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. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

* For the time being, satan is deceiving the world into believing that God is author of evil.

* This is what is happening in the world today.

* Let me give you an example of how well satan’s deceptions is working in the world:

* I have taken the following comments from an article on the internet that asks the question “Why does a good God allow natural disasters?

* One commenter says:

“Evil has always been a thorn in the side of those - of whatever faith - who believe in an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good God.

As the philosopher David Hume (echoing Epicurus) put it in 1776: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. (That means unloving or evil toward the world.)

* Another commenter wrote:

The reason why good does not reduce suffering and evil in the world is simply because he does not exist!

Or if he does he does not care about humans at least on a individual basis, I am not sure he cares about them on a species basis.

Why does he not look after all the animal species that are facing extinction?

Evolution explains most of human behavior, and geology and physics explains most natural disasters.

If (a good) God intervened, there would be evidence. He would have to thwart the laws of physics or/warn people.

John O'Toole, Sligo Ireland

* Another commenter wrote:

Debating the intentions of a mythological character which allegedly has an interest in allowing 'bad' things to happen on planet earth?

Are we living in the 21st century or the 12th century?

Natural disasters, disease, accidents and co-incidences are all things that occur naturally and not as the result of the will of any fantastical all powerful Monster.

Maybe a comet will hit the earth one day and maybe all that will be left will be a copy of Dr. Dolittle.

Just because somebody wrote it down does not make it true.

Andrew Connor, Uxbridge

* And yet another commenter wrote:

Perhaps you should include non god-based religions to get out of this dilemma. Try Buddhism for example.

Isabelle Clinton, Forest Row, United Kingdom

* In the Garden of Eden, satan succeed in turning God's beloved world, mankind, against following the will of God, to follow His will because He was able to convince them that God was not good- He was able to convince them that God did not love them.

* Adam and Eve made a conscious choice to follow the word of the devil instead of the Creator.

* They were convinced that the serpent had their best interest at heart, that the serpent was the one who really loved them.

* Well, I imagine that God has to ask mankind the question “How’s that working out for you?

* The natural world in now following the will of satan.

John 8:34–44 (KJV 1900)

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

*Does satan have the power to hurt innocent people with war or natural disasters?

Well let's see...

* In our story of Job, we see God tell Satan that he has the power to hurt what belonged to Job:

Job 1:12 (KJV 1900)

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

So what does satan use to hurt Job ...

* First we see satan use violence and war to hurt Job...

Job 1:13–22 (KJV 1900)

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Second we see satan used the weather to hurt Job...

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Third we see proper response to suffering in this world...

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said,

Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,

And naked shall I return thither:

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

* Job never doubted God’s love for him. Job never doubted that God, even He allowed him to suffer, he never doubted that God loved him and has his best interest at heart.- that’s faith!

1 John 5:2–4 (KJV 1900)

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

* Satan was allowed by God to torment Job in order to test him, and this included “the fire of God” (probably lightning) which “fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants” (Job 1:16).

* This was followed by a “mighty wind” (possibly a tornado) that destroyed his home and killed his children (vv. 18-19).

* So if the fire from heaven and the tornado were somehow caused by Satan, they were still under the ultimate control of God for His purposes, but the were carried out by the will of the devil.

* Remember the storm that arose on the sea of Galilee? Jesus rebuked the disciples because of their lack of faith. This storm may have been of a more sinister nature, intended to destroy Jesus and his disciples. It many have very well been brought about by the devil. Notice that Jesus reacted to the storm in the same way that Job did. He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.

* Job reacted to the evil that befell him in the right way- by his faith in God’s love.

(I. satan, not God, causes the innocent to suffer because he is actively attempting to mar the image God's love.)

II. satan causes the innocent to suffer because we are the object of God's love.

III. satan causes the innocent to suffer by hurting us, in order to make us doubt God's love.

IV. God allows the innocent to suffer temporarily, in order to destroy suffering permanently.

* Remember the story of the prodigal son? That father loved his son so much!

*He also wanted His son to understand His great love for him, and He wanted his so to love him back.

1 John 4:16–19 (KJV 1900)

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.

He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

* What it took for His son to see how much his father loved him, and how much the father had done for him, was for the son to be allowed free will to decide to walk away and go his own way.

* Do you think that the father wanted his son to wind up suffering as a result of his rejection himself? Of course not!

* No, that father was so concerned for His son that he waited every day for him to return.

* Our heavenly father, the Creator does not want this world to suffer either, but the world does suffer because of sin, and so the Creator patiently allows sin to take it's full course in the world, so that men would look upon their suffering and, like the prodigal son, come to their senses and come to the Creator for mercy so that their suffering might be taken away.

* It is not the will of God that the world perishes in violence and disasters, but it is the will of satan, the god of this world.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV 1900)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Matthew 18:12–14 (KJV 1900)

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Luke 9:51–56 (KJV 1900)

51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

* As we learned with the story of Job, satan is the one responsible for suffering from the violence of war and natural disasters that plague the world in which we live.

* Also, as we learned from the story of Job, Yes, God has allowed suffering of the innocent in this world indeed!

* But this suffering is not the will of God.

* Could God stop all the violence and natural disasters. Most certainly!

* but in order to do so, God would have to judge the world and destroy all sin.

* If God did that there would be no one left, all of mankind would be consumed in the judgment of sin, because we are all sinners.

Main Clause:

"Since a good God does allow the innocent to suffer, then we should be ready with answer that God is God, and God is concerned about the suffering of this world, and God is doing something about it!"

* Here is the answer to the question before us this morning- Why does God allow innocent people to suffer from sickness, and pain, and violence, and natural disasters?

* Because God has delayed the judgment of sin in order that He might carry out his plan of redemption of the souls of men.

* Men question the Goodness of God because of the evil violence of men, and the terrible suffering and death caused by natural disasters, but God Himself entered into His own creation and suffered along with us that He might destroy suffering and death once and for all.

* satan would have you to blame God for suffering and pain in the world, but the truth is that God Himself endured that same suffering of the innocent that men complain about, that you might be delivered from suffering permanently, once and for all.

* Listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet as he tells us how God suffered on our behalf as He was carrying doing something about our suffering:

Isaiah 53:3–7 (KJV 1900)

3 He is despised and rejected of men;

A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:

And we hid as it were our faces from him;

He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs,

And carried our sorrows:

Yet we did esteem him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities:

The chastisement of our peace was upon him;

And with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned every one to his own way;

And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

Yet he opened not his mouth:

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,

So he openeth not his mouth.

* Oh naysayer! Oh one how doubts the love of God because you hold God accountable for all the suffering and pain in the world- listen to the words of a God who loves his word, suffering so the He might end your suffering!

Psalm 22:1–22 (KJV 1900)

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not;

And in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in thee:

They trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered:

They trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn:

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him:

Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb:

Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon thee from the womb:

Thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have compassed me:

Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths,

As a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

And all my bones are out of joint:

My heart is like wax;

It is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd;

And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;

And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me:

The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me:

They pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may tell all my bones:

They look and stare upon me.

18 They part my garments among them,

And cast lots upon my vesture.

19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord:

O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword;

My darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth:

For thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren:

In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

1 Peter 2:24–25 (KJV 1900)

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Corinthians 15:21–26 (KJV 1900)

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Hebrews 2:9–18 (KJV 1900)

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (KJV 1900)

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

* Oh my friend, God does allow death, and war, and disease, and famines, and natural disasters in the world, but because of the works of satan, these evils exist in the world!

* Our loving Creator is more concerned with the suffering of this present world more that you will ever know, and could ever imagine!

*And the Creator Himself has suffered in order to save us from our suffering!

(I. satan, not God, causes the innocent to suffer because he is actively attempting to mar the image God's love.)

II. satan causes the innocent to suffer because we are the object of God's love.

III. satan causes the innocent to suffer by hurting us, in order to make us doubt God's love.

IV. God allows the innocent to suffer temporarily, in order to destroy suffering permanently.

Conclusion:

Main Clause:

"Since a good God allows the innocent to suffer, then we should be ready with an answer when people ask why and tell them-

* God is only allowing the evil and suffering in the world by death, and famine, and disease, and war, and natural disasters to continue on a temporary basis.

* We need to tell them the answer to suffering is that, God loves His creation, but satan is actively trying to turn the minds of mankind away from the love of God by creating havoc and chaos in the world.

* God is concerned with the suffering of the innocent, and He is doing something about it!

* And it caused Him to come down here with us, and suffer with us, as a man, so the He might defeat the works of satan, and deliver this world that He loves and destroy all suffering for ever.

* I have been preaching mainly to saved folks, but there may be one among this morning that God has spoke to your heart about how much God loves you, and how much He suffered for you, that you might be saved.

* Will you come and place your faith on the work that Jesus did on the cross for you, that you might be saved from sin and death and receive eternal life?