12/08/2022 – “When Satan Tempts You to Despair.” (a very rich 8 minute ‘drink of water from a fire hose’ as in a ‘deer panting for water’)// Commentary: Sharing in the sufferings of Christ, another type of God ordained suffering.
I yearn to add some commentary here but I am on the run this morning. Living by “underpromise & overdeliver always”, I can’t promise I will be back here given the volume of urgent messages out there, I must move as the indwelling Holy Spirit directs me. Secondarily but not insignificant, after viewing an interview of the old sages – John Piper and John MacArthur *, I smiled for seeing an old friend again in John Piper. John preaches His Truth, but he has a genius for timely humor. How? Jehovah Jireh has a sense of humor and we are created in image of God. One body in Christ!, but, we all have unique gifts! I think it was Jonathan Cahn that presented and supported speculation that Yeshua (Jesus) will give us all a unique secret name that only the two of us will know. I don’t need that for my peace in Christ, but I certainly don’t reject it as out of hand either. Oops, gotta run. Always connected by His grace!
*(See 12/04/2022 post – John Piper and John MacArthur interview link)
p.s.: Ok, I’m back for a summarized note: Bear in mind that the presentation (link below) does not speak to “innocent” suffering. Example: When Jesus emphasized in a current context the tragedy of the Tower of Siloam collapse , resulting in multiple deaths. He specifically said this was not judgement out of love (God’s loving discipline). Modern day example: The poor Ukranian people caught between Putin/Russian and Zelensky/corrupt Oliagarchy (note: Zelensky just banned the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, presumably for national security reasons. What does the Ukranian church have to do with Putin? Such is our world, that we can’t get caught in a spin trying to explain the actions of the Devil and his minions, evil that is evil for evil’s sake, a hate for an all loving God.)
So, we ask: If God is sovereign, why does he allow the Ukranian people to suffer? Well, God forbid we should put “God in the dock”; we are not God – omniscient and all-loving. But, we can respond: “You know what, I think the Triune God knows about suffering up close and personal.” The Father put His Son, incarnate God, the unblemished lamb on the cross to save us from sin, not because we were good people because He loved us unfathomably. So, the Son’s horrific suffering resulted in a greater good, an understatement. Our needless suffering also leads to a greater good, starting with giving glory to our God! And such is the case of the Ukranian people showing unbelievable faith and courage amidst hell on earth; it’s as if I can hear the angels and the saints in heaven cheering now!
Question for the group: Do you think the Devil cheered when Jesus said on the cross: “It is finished”? Or did he recognize the eternal Truth that it was he that was actually finished?
Soli Deo Gloria!