Sharing in each others suffering(part 7)

Dear friends,

BACKGROUND:
Warm greetings to everyone reading this part of a series of reflections based on 1 Corinthians 12:26’. This verse says that 'if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.' 1 Corinthians 12:26.In each of these reflections I have tried to present some principles about how to respond when it appears that God is silent to our pleas for His intervention. In the previous reflection I asked the following questions: Have you ever brought a situation before God in prayer? Secondly did that situation also involve a reasonable deadline which was missed? Thirdly does it appear that God remained silent even though all the deadlines had been exceeded?

In addition I made this affirmation: My cherished friend, if your answer to any of the above questions is in the affirmative, perhaps even a straightforward 'yes' then we have a common quest in this reflection: To discover how to respond in line with God's Word, and uphold His truthful principles when we are confronted with such a situation.
In part 6 i also began giving some examples from the Bible about how two individuals were under pressure to respond in very difficult circumstances: Ruth in the Old Testament and Peter in the New.

In conclusion to reflection part 6 I express some of my deepest convictions on the following issue: Friends, i personally believe God has a specific response to each of our situation. He will respond to us although HE MAY NOT CHOOSE TO COMMUNICATE IT THROUGH THE MEDIA WE CHOOSE.I BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST SPEAKS TO US ABOUT OUR OWN NEED, OUR OWN PAIN AS WE GET INVOLVED IN THE PAIN AND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.I believe that if there is going to be a response from God about how He will deal with our particular need it is linked to being involved in the needs of others. I INTEND TO EXPLAIN THIS A BIT MORE IN THE NEXT REFLECTION.

Friends in line with the commitment I made i want to share about how Jesus Christ speaks to us about our own need and pain by becoming involved in the pain and the need of others.Today i want to give three examples from the Bible. Job, Daniel and the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Job 42:10 it states that 'AND THE LORD TURNED THE CAPTIVITY OF JOB,WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS: ALSO THE LORD GAVE JOB TWICE AS MUCH AS HE HAD BEFORE.

Beloved friends, DID YOU NOTICE THE TIMING IN JOB'S RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY? IT HAPPENED AFTER HE MOVED THE FOCUS AWAY FROM HIMSELF AND BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF HIS FRIENDS. EVEN THOUGH THOSE WERE THE VERY FRIENDS WHO HAD BEEN CRITICAL ABOUT HIM AND BLAMED HIM FOR HIS MISFORTUNES. THEY HAD BURDENED HIM WITH ALL THE THEOLOGICALLY CORRECT REASONS WHY HIS SUFFERING MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A HIDDEN SIN AGAINST GOD.

Let me give you another example of this principle.Daniel 9:3-6 and with particular emphasis on v20-23'And WHILES i was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin AND THE SIN OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL AND PRESENTING MY SUPPLICATION BEFORE THE LORD MY GOD FOR THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF MY GOD
YES WHILES I WAS SPEAKING IN PRAYER, EVEN THE MAN GABRIEL, WHOM I HAD SEEN IN THE VISION AT THE BEGINNING, BEING CAUSED TO FLY SWIFTLY, TOUCHED ME AT THE TIME OF THE EVENING OBLATION.

AND HE INFORMED ME , AND TALKED WITH ME, AND SAID, O DANIEL, I AM NOW COME FORTH TO GIVE THEE SKILL AND UNDERSTANDING. AT THE BEGINNING OF THY SUPPLICATIONS THE COMMANDMENT CAME FORTH, AND I AM COME TO SHEW THEE; FOR THOU ART GREATLY BELOVED: THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THE MATTER, AND CONSIDER THE VISION. Then the Angel Gabriel God's messenger gave Daniel an interpretation or insight to the vision.

Dear friend, the above examples of Job and of Daniel illustrate a very important principle. The answer to the request they made to God is linked intricately to the needs of others.In subsequent reflections i intend to illustrate this principle by sharing example from both the Old and the New Testament of the Bible. In conclusion i want to share a very unique example in Luke 22:50,51 when Jesus was about to be arrested: And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, AND CUT OFF HIS RIGHT EAR. AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID, SUFFER YE THUS FAR. AND HE TOUCHED HIS EAR, AND HEALED HIM.

Friends, this is the ultimate demonstration of Victory. Jesus Christ in His moment of deep hurt, after being betrayed by someone He had ENTRUSTED things to care for REACHED OUT TO HEAL. NOTE THAT HE DID NOT RECOIL INTO HIS SHELL. HE DID NOT GET DEPRESSED BUT HE DEMONSTRATED THAT EVEN IN HIS HURT HE COULD HEAL THE HURTS OF OTHERS.BECAUSE OF THIS, HE RELEASED HIMSELF TO BE USED BY GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT. THEREFORE IN THE DARKEST HOUR OF HUMAN HISTORY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED FREELY AND CONTINUED TO SET DIVINE TIMING IN FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S WILL IN SCRIPTURE.

Beloved, you will never access ther answers you are looking for in a lifestyle of self indulgence. No amount of self-centred giving to any organisation whether spiritual or secular would help you gain access to the answers you are looking for.We must give with the motive of helping someone. Never in the hope that the gift would take care of our responsibility towards others. Inspite of numerous attendances to spiritual convocations, inner life conferences some wonder why they haven't arrived at the answers you are seeking. Well you are not alone in the statistics of those who have tried a host of methods. But then the answer is not in more self indulgence.

FOR ONCE MOVE HE FOCUS AWAY FROM YOUR OWN NEEDS.DIE TO THIS DESIRE TO HAVE AN ANSWER AND REACH FOR GOD'S IDEAL.HIS IDEAL IS THAT AS YOU TOUCH SOMEONE WHO IS IN NEED AND HURTING HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU(TO BE CONTINUED).

John