As I stated earlier this week, Peter Warren from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Denver shared during our YWAM San Diego/Baja Staff Conference and Retreat a few weeks ago. He shared the story of the fatal shooting on their Arvada campus back in 2007. He shared with us 7 reasons there is suffering in the world today. We have had a few difficult moments of suffering within our community lately so this was a very timely message. While we have not experienced anything as tragic as a shooting we have had some selfish acts by people as well as illness with family members so far away. Below you can find my notes from Peter's teaching. I apologize if they don't make a lot of sense, this is how my mind takes notes. HAHA!!
If God is Just & Kind, why do these things happen in the world?
7 Reasons people suffer
1. Some people volunteer to suffer.
What is the will of God? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 2 Peter 3:9
Bouleme: Already been determined (set in stone)
Thelema: God’s desire (wish but not set) - Matthew 6:10
2. The Tree of Life isn’t there any longer
3. The earth is dying (deterioration of the planet)
Gen 3:17 - 18, Rom 8:22,
4. The Selfishness of Mankind
Proverbs 16:25
Most suffering is from this!!
What can we do when we suffer because of the selfish decisions of others.
5. The Devil/Satan
Col 1:16 - Visible & invisible
Ezek 28
Is 14:13-14
Ezek 28 - sinned 4 ways
Rev 4 - drew 1/3 stars to him
Ezek 28: 17, Is 14:12 - Sent to the Earth
Dan 10 - Fear
1 Peter 5:8
Rev 12:10
Luke 13 - spirit of illness
Matt 12:22 - spirit of blindness
Luke 11:14 - mute demon
God gives us 7 things to use as “weapons” against Satan & his demons - Ephesians 6
1. Committing to walk in the truth - vs 14 - Belt of Truth
“Alethia” - not covered
2. Doing the Right Thing - vs 14 - Breastplate of Righteousness (Justice)
“Dikaios” - Justice & Righteousness is same word, Always does the right thing
3. Remaining Calm under Pressure - vs 15 - Shoes of Peace
“Eirene” Tranquility, being prepared
3. Staying True to my Personal Convictions - vs 16 - Shield of Faith
“Pistis” - Moral Conviction (Faith) - Vision for SDB: killed the bear but Momma Bear is coming after.
4. Knowing who I am in Christ - vs 17 - Helmet of Salvation
“Soterios” Salvation - 2 Cor 10:5
5. Fighting with/Having the Word of the Lord - vs 17 - Sword of the Spirit
6. “Rhema” God’s spoken Word to You personally (not “logos” which is the entire Word)
7. Praying in the Spirit Always - vs 18
6. Neglect or Abuse of God’s Physical Laws
Laws of Gravity, Thermodynamics, Aerodynamics, etc - Fixed Laws
If God has fixed laws and we have the ability to abuse or neglect them, then a possible outcome is suffering (Fire burns down house - wasn’t trying to teach lesson) God can speak to the Storm but often He doesn’t intervene when we abuse & neglect these physical laws. He expects us to be wise about them.
Some things happen because of our stupidity or chance.
Luke 10:31 by Chance a priest was coming down the road
“Sugkurian” Coincidently
Acts 17:17 “happened to be there” - same word
7. Some suffering comes from God
Because God is morally just, there are things He will not do & things He must do.
Job 1:5
Physically - Finite
Morally - live within the law, whether correct or incorrect
Rev 19:6
Heb 1:3
Luke 1:37
Titus 1:2
God lives by the same rules that He gave to us. That is why He is Just!
7 Reasons people suffer
1. Some people volunteer to suffer.
What is the will of God? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 2 Peter 3:9
Bouleme: Already been determined (set in stone)
Thelema: God’s desire (wish but not set) - Matthew 6:10
2. The Tree of Life isn’t there any longer
3. The earth is dying (deterioration of the planet)
Gen 3:17 - 18, Rom 8:22,
4. The Selfishness of Mankind
Proverbs 16:25
Most suffering is from this!!
What can we do when we suffer because of the selfish decisions of others.
- Forgiveness - Not forgetting or ignore justice but letting go of the responsibility to punish or revenge this, giving it to God instead!
5. The Devil/Satan
Col 1:16 - Visible & invisible
Ezek 28
Is 14:13-14
Ezek 28 - sinned 4 ways
- dishonest trading
- pride
- violence
- tried to be like God (Is 14:14)
Rev 4 - drew 1/3 stars to him
Ezek 28: 17, Is 14:12 - Sent to the Earth
Dan 10 - Fear
1 Peter 5:8
Rev 12:10
Luke 13 - spirit of illness
Matt 12:22 - spirit of blindness
Luke 11:14 - mute demon
God gives us 7 things to use as “weapons” against Satan & his demons - Ephesians 6
1. Committing to walk in the truth - vs 14 - Belt of Truth
“Alethia” - not covered
2. Doing the Right Thing - vs 14 - Breastplate of Righteousness (Justice)
“Dikaios” - Justice & Righteousness is same word, Always does the right thing
3. Remaining Calm under Pressure - vs 15 - Shoes of Peace
“Eirene” Tranquility, being prepared
3. Staying True to my Personal Convictions - vs 16 - Shield of Faith
“Pistis” - Moral Conviction (Faith) - Vision for SDB: killed the bear but Momma Bear is coming after.
4. Knowing who I am in Christ - vs 17 - Helmet of Salvation
“Soterios” Salvation - 2 Cor 10:5
5. Fighting with/Having the Word of the Lord - vs 17 - Sword of the Spirit
6. “Rhema” God’s spoken Word to You personally (not “logos” which is the entire Word)
7. Praying in the Spirit Always - vs 18
6. Neglect or Abuse of God’s Physical Laws
Laws of Gravity, Thermodynamics, Aerodynamics, etc - Fixed Laws
If God has fixed laws and we have the ability to abuse or neglect them, then a possible outcome is suffering (Fire burns down house - wasn’t trying to teach lesson) God can speak to the Storm but often He doesn’t intervene when we abuse & neglect these physical laws. He expects us to be wise about them.
Some things happen because of our stupidity or chance.
Luke 10:31 by Chance a priest was coming down the road
“Sugkurian” Coincidently
Acts 17:17 “happened to be there” - same word
- Be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Be wise - Ephesians 5:15
- “Ekpeirazo” to put God’s power to the test (Matt 4:5-7)
7. Some suffering comes from God
Because God is morally just, there are things He will not do & things He must do.
Job 1:5
Physically - Finite
Morally - live within the law, whether correct or incorrect
Rev 19:6
Heb 1:3
Luke 1:37
Titus 1:2
God lives by the same rules that He gave to us. That is why He is Just!
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Make sure you also check out all of the other stories through our YWAM Ministries.
Want to partner with us in all that God is doing? Head on over to our newly designed website to find out more. If you have questions, let me know! You can also support the work financially by clicking the DONATE NOW button to the right! Any amount helps!
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