ow deep of a biblical understanding do you possess regarding God s intentions for tribulation in your life?

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1 U.S. C A P I T O L TIPS ON TAKING HOLD OF TRIBULATIONS TO: LEGISLATORS FROM: PASTOR RALPH DROLLINGER /7/365 DATE: SEPT. 3, 2012 H ow deep of a biblical understanding do you possess regarding God s intentions for tribulation in your life? Tribulation carries with it the idea of distress or suffering resulting from oppression, persecution or affliction as used in this study, things that happen to you that you are not the cause of. As we all know, tribulations are inescapable; so much so that some people reject God because of their presence; so why in the world does a loving and just God allow people to suffer and go through various forms of oppression, persecution and affliction? What good could possibly come out of that? Do you reckon with tribulation monochromatically, as something you simply need to put up with and endure in this world? Or do you carefully ponder it in 3-D color, soaking in the larger heavenly dimension? Embrace tribulation the way God intends for it to be: His agent to mature you and others in Christ likeness! Your ability to grasp, develop and live with such an understanding is the intent of this study. Read on! WEEKLY MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF FIRST-VOTES-BACK (MONDAY OR TUESDAY NIGHT) Dinner Served Capitol Room H324 Spouses Welcome I.

2 I. INTRODUCTION In studying the subject of tribulation I will attempt to unfold a verse found in Paul s letter to the Church at Ephesus. Easily overlooked in a cursory reading of the epistle, this is a profound insight into the mind, attitude and understanding of the great Apostle who, the annals of history record, had a stellar career in Christ and for Christ! This passage provides us with a huge insight into how this man of God thought and lived. Ephesians verse 13 of chapter 3 says: Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. Please allow me the opportunity to attempt to unleash the profundity of this passage for the purposes of our edification and growth in Christ II. THE RISK OF TRIBULATIONS Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations The Apostle s use of the word Therefore signals a connection between what he has previously said in this parenthetical statement (throughout the beginning of chapter 3) to the subject under examination this week: tribulations. Therefore is a conjunctive adverb that acts to bridge his progression of thought. The bridge is from the explanation of his personal calling to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel (vs. 8) to the role tribulations play toward that pursuit. In this light and context of tribulations, Paul first points out how others should properly respond to the tribulations they have continually observed to be present in his life. Since coming to Christ, Paul s rocky-road state of existence was certainly of no surprise to himself. Jesus had foretold this when He converted him on the road to Damascus. In Acts 9:16 Jesus said regarding Paul (then Saul), for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake. Accompanying the fact that tribulation was no surprise to himself, Paul here admonishes his readers personally to not lose heart in light of the vast and constant, intense tribulations that they saw surrounding him. They (and we too) needed to respond in a Paul-like fashion. The Greek word for lose heart, or disheartened is egkakao. It is used elsewhere in Paul s epistles to signify a loss of heart or to express the idea of growing weary. It means, To be utterly spiritless, worn out, exhausted. The option of losing heart is removed from the table by the Apostle s inclusion of the Greek negation: not. The following passages buoy this idea of not allowing yourself to harbor these kinds of scripturally unjustified sympathies for others or yourself. These passages contain the same Greek word egkakao and instruct the believer to be spiritually and mentally tough; they provide undergirding support for what Paul is politely asking of his fellow believers: that no place be given in their heart for self-centered woe is me type of thinking. These verses will help you as well, to mentally overcome and volitionally reject both blue moods, and falling onto the slippery slope of thinking you are either hurt or burnt out. All such thinking is self-centered. A. GALATIANS 6:9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. B. 2THESSALONIANS 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. C. 2CORINTHIANS 4:1 Therefore since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2

3 D. 2CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. This is a recurring theme of Paul s, isn t it? Do you notice anything in common with his usage of egkakao in each of these passages? It is that the believer should always be looking to the future when he or she will be glorified, living with their Savior in eternity, or if prior to physical death, the rapture of the Church and the eminent return of Christ. The believer should embrace and manifest these truths regarding their future reality. OUR FUTURE WITH CHRIST SHOULD MORE THAN ECLIPSE ANY PRESENT NEGATIVE ATTITUDES REGARDING TEMPORAL DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES If Tom Hanks says There s no crying in baseball! then how in this world could God ever allow pity parties for believers? While Tom Hanks and movie scripts are not the best informants for theological construct, the point remains that believers possess no biblical justification for feeling disheartened in light of their own trials or those of others. That is what Paul is saying when he states Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations. Why? Because trials and tribulations are the standard operating procedure in every believer s life. In the midst of tribulation or thereafter is our greatest formation. The great lessons gained through this God-given medium prepare us for the most valuable future service to our Master that is if we take hold of them! We are to count it all joy when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (cf. James 1:2-3). This God-given economy of maturation is designed to create completeness in Christ (James 1:4). On the other hand, to think that faith in Christ is the path around tribulation, one that leads to an Easy Street is to display biblical ignorance. Make no mistake here: The degree to which one seeks to serve Christ wholeheartedly is the degree to which one will experience tribulations. The two are close cousins (cf. per the progression of Matthew 5:1-12). Often times, if we are honest, our present struggles relate to the consequences of our own sin. But regardless of the ultimate cause, emotions such as losing heart are based on what one chooses to believe. Always ask, What does God want to teach me or accomplish through this situation? And remember to continually revisit tribulations that have since passed by with the same vein of thought. Sensing God s sovereignty through the struggle will buoy you to not lose heart. In confirming not only God s sovereignty, but His lordship, the believer should be the most heartened, emotionally stable of all people. In summary of this first point, the risk associated with God s economy of tribulation is that the believer will view it through a monochromatic filter and fail to grasp the personal significance of His purposes. Learn to ascertain God s formative desires in and through the tribulations He places in your path. James 1:5 states in this regard, but if any of you lacks wisdom (as to why you are undergoing your present circumstances) let him ask of God III. THE REASON FOR TRIBULATIONS [tribulations] on your behalf One of the very practical reasons for Paul s sufferings, among others, was to provide for us on your behalf a clear living illustration of 3

4 someone who could endure great tribulation and come through it victorious, a better man! In a similar sense, one of the reasons that God allows suffering and tribulation in our lives is to showcase us as a victorious example to others around us. It is critically important for you as a Christian holding public office to consistently personify victorious Christian living in all circumstances, no matter what the form of tribulation you may face! VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING SHOULD BE THE NORM ON THE HILL, NOT THE EXCEPTION Paul s extended years of imprisonment and almost continual suffering, were cause for great encouragement to those influenced by his life. He endured all in order to fulfill his exemplary ministry. Note the partial listing in 2Corinthians 11:23-28 of what Paul endured and was victorious over: 23 I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirtynine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches. How do your present sufferings compare to Paul s? If he could live victoriously through those perils, due to the indwelling Holy Spirit, can you deal successfully with the hand you ve been dealt? Yes! Notice these further glimpses into the mind of Paul and his inner attitudes toward tribulations: A. ROMANS 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. B. PHILIPPIANS 1:13 & 14. so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. C. PHILIPPIANS 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body How are you in terms of persevering and living victoriously in your present tribulations? Do you view your trials as an opportunity to illuminate victorious Christian living on [another s] behalf? Do onlookers view your tribulations as exemplary? Ephesians 3:13 reveals first the risk of tribulations: Don t miss learning the lesson God is trying to 4

5 teach you. Secondly, Ephesians 3:13 teaches us one of the reasons for tribulations: in order to display the power and victory of Christ in you; you are to be an example to those around us. There is at least a third truth we can glean from this passage IV. THE RESULT OF TRIBULATIONS For they [tribulations] are your glory At first read, this ending phrase is somewhat confusing to understand. How can Paul s tribulations be glorious to others? The clause does not mean that the readers are to give glory to Paul or to boast about him, and the author of Ephesians is not setting Paul in the place of Christ as redeemer, for too much in the letter indicates the unique position he gives to Christ. 1 In examining the larger context, everything that Paul is saying in this parenthetical section (3:1-13) is for the glory of the Gentiles. Keep in mind the church he is writing to in Ephesus is a Gentile church.. I.e. the fact that the mystery was made known that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body partakers of Christ Jesus through the gospel (3:3, 6) is the glorious news of salvation. And this too, Paul s tribulations, have equated as well to the further dissemination of the Gospel to the Gentile world. It is in this sense that Paul s tribulations are your glory because they helped spread the Gospel! One commentator adds to this an additional wonderful insight: We might then have expected Paul to write here which are for your strengthening or even for your salvation. Instead he refers to glory.for the life in question is not physical life, but eternal life, the life which is associated with glory. 2 Paul s tribulations led to the advancement of the Gospel, and the Gospel when received leads ultimately to the glory of the believer s eternal life with Christ. This is synonymous to the idea stated in Colossians 1:27: to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory to this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Cf. Eph.1: 18). In 2Timothy 2:10 Paul said, Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. DOES YOUR REACTION TO TRIBULATION AID OR DETRACT FROM THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL? God s expectations for tribulations are results that transcend you. Don t overlook this fact! Such an understanding will help you respond more responsibly to trials; Remember, everyone s watching you! V. CONCLUSION Tribulation in this world is meant to refine us personally; there is no escaping this economy of God; God uses tribulation to mature those whom He loves. But in addition, tribulations provide a stage for you to either parade your victorious-in- Christ attitude or else diminish it in the eyes of an on-looking world. Lastly, tribulations exist in proportion to your impact for Christ. The greater your impact on the world for Christ, the greater will be your tribulations. It is this association between impact and tribulation that equates to the glory of the Gospel as it impacts others lives. The biggest tip for taking hold of your tribulations is this: Like Paul, get used to them! Embrace tribulations as a God intended way of life. They are His method of maturing you and witnessing through you to others. 1 Earnest Best, The International Critical Commentary: Ephesians (T&T Clark Ltd., Edinburgh, Scotland), p Ibid, p