ISSUE: #37

MEM

Message

No one wants to suffer. Yet many do. I know of good people, believers in Yeshua (Jesus) who are suffering. Is there a purpose in suffering? Do we look at others in their suffering and suggest they are evil or have a secret sin or they are self-righteous and deserve to suffer?

Be careful. There are many scriptures which indicate suffering is going to be our lot if we are following Yeshua. Many preachers teach we should have a life of ease and prosperity. If God so chooses to prosper us, praise Him. If He sees fit to try or test us, praise Him. We should take courage if we are suffering for His sake.

The Messiah suffered and gave His life: Acts 3:18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. (NAS unless indicated)

You may be called upon to give your life also, yet there is a positive result for such suffering: Revelation 2:10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Matthew 5: 10-12 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

1 Peter 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

John 16: 33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

I read an interesting article on "Thirty Biblical Reasons Why God’s People Suffer". Needless to say if we are suffering we need to ask for wisdom and understanding as to why we are enduring these trials (James 1:2-5; 4:1-4). When a brother suffers we are not to impute evil motives, as Job’s friends did, but pray for him. Remember, when we are in the care of our Savior we can look forward to His faithfulness and a crown of life in the end. It was Yeshua who said, "Take up your cross and follow me!"

Blessed be the name of YHVH!

Proverb

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Saying

Do I struggle on my own for the humility that can only come from Jesus (Yeshua)? Andrew Murray

I always view problems as opportunities in work clothes. Henry Keiser

Failure is not the worst thing in the world. The very worst is not to try.

Bible Quiz

1. What did Yeshua say about authority in heaven and earth?
2. What is a centurion?
3. On what island did Paul land after being shipwrecked?
4. What was Aquila’s occupation?
5. What does the name "Israel" mean?
6. In the New Testament, who gave the history of the Jewish nation in defending himself before the council?
7. Who said, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?"

Humility

We have very little concept of what the church suffers as a result of its lack of humility – the self-abasement that makes room for God to prove His power. Andrew Murray

Our suffering is sometimes the result of being prideful. Sometimes it is the result of failing to allow God to work in us, which is, making us in the image of His Son. How much more could be accomplished in and through us and the church, if we emptied ourselves of self and allowed Yeshua to shine forth.

Did you know:

Ohio: there are no natural lakes in Ohio, everyone is man made.

Pitcairn Island: The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia, at just 1.75 square miles (4.53 square km).

Rome, Italy: the first known city to reach a population of 1 million people in 133 BC.

• There is a city called Rome on every continent.

Siberia: contains more than 25% of the world’s forests.

S.M.O.M. – The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts, and as of 2001 has a population of 80, so less people than the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is.

Lighter Side

We do not promote a hell as portrayed in the following guffaw; however the nature of the human is apply portrayed.

A guy dies and goes to hell.

The devil meets him at the gate and says, "Alright, you have died and come to hell. You will spend eternity here, but you get to choose how to spend it. You may choose one of these three doorways. Once you choose a door, you may not change it. So let's get started."

The devil opens Door One. The guy looks in and sees a couple of people standing on their heads on a Concrete floor. The guy says, "No way, let's move on."

The devil opens Door Two. The guy sees a few more people standing on their heads on a Wood floor. The guy says, "No way, let's move on."

The devil opens Door Three. The guy sees a bunch of people standing knee-deep in cow manure drinking coffee. The guy says, "Great, this is the one I will chose." The devil says, "OK, wait right here, I will get you some coffee."

The guy settles in with his coffee thinking that this isn't so bad. What's the big deal?

After about 10 minutes a voice comes over the loud speaker saying, "Coffee break's over. Back on your heads!"

Children’s Story

After getting his home studies done early, Pierre was granted permission to go to the Hatah village. He wanted to learn more about the skill of carving the mother of pearl, from the shell of the ocean oyster. There were several in the village that could design and carve beautiful scenes on these plate sized shells They would also fashion small objects from the beautiful shells. They would string these together, making necklaces or bracelets. The mother of pearl carvings was in high demand by traders; their carvings would frequently end up in far away European countries.

Because Pierre was such a good swimmer and diver he often gathered the larger, deep water, Silver-lipped Pearl Oysters. The Hatahs prized them as they gave them a larger working area and had such beautiful colors. Occasionally Pierre would be there when a pearl was discovered in an oyster. The perfect pearl was a rare find; when one was discovered it was given to the village chieftain. These selected pearls were set in his silver scepter. This scepter was such an attraction to the men from the shipwreck they praised the Hatahs for their craftsmanship and tried to buy it. The business men were interested in obtaining not only the mother of pearl carvings but pearls also.

Jacques often took these highly prized carvings to other islands. He would trade them for objects of iron, manufactured outside the South Pacific islands. The iron knives, axes, hammers and saws, pots and pans, in turn, were sought after by the Hatahs. Sometimes the mother of pearl carvings were exchanged for chickens. The Hatahs had not refined the art of raising them; their meat was such a delicacy they were eaten before they could hatch their eggs.

Pierre knew this would be a way of getting into a thriving business, especially if he could learn the skill of carving the oyster shell. His father could take the carvings to Safe Harbor, on the Island of Mirada, selling to the merchants or trading them for him.

As Pierre scurried along the overland path his mind played out how he would tithe on the proceeds; mainly giving them to Missionary Bill; who could buy Bibles and distribute them to the indigenous peoples of the nearby islands of the South Pacific. His prayer was to help others find the true Creator God, not to worship helpless, worthless idols of stone and wood, mystical creatures, or the created instead of the Creator.

Pierre was near the village as he began to think of how he could repay the villagers for showing him how to develop the art of carving. He also desired to help the Hatahs to get off their diet of wild boar and monkey meat, as this was not proper to eat, according to Scripture.

His mother taught him how to care for chickens and gather their eggs; also how to set a hen to raise chicks. This was a difficult task because there were island predators that also liked chickens, especially their eggs. Of course the biggest predator to the Hatah chickens were the Hatahs themselves. To teach them to be patient, to raise chickens, would be one way to wean them from the forbidden foods and instill in them an art of animal husbandry.

Some of the other islands had Scottish settlers, where they raised sheep. Sheep could also be another possible choice of helping the Hatahs break their reliance on monkey and boar meat. That would require searching out the island for an area of grass land. Pierre remembered seeing a few valleys and hills with some grasses but was unsure of their value in raising sheep. He would talk with Missionary Bill about his knowledge of sheep herding. The Bible only mentions the Israelites were shepherds and does not instruct on how it is accomplished.

Oh Father, give me the courage to do what I can and wisdom in the pursuit of helping others. Blessed be Your Name.

Quiz Answers

1. It has been given to Him - Matthew 28:18

2. A Roman army officer who commands 100 men

3. Malta - Acts 28:1

4. Tentmaker - Acts 18:2-3

5. You have struggled with God and men and have overcome - Genesis 32:28

6. Stephen - Acts 7:1-53

7. Abraham - Genesis 18:23