Sharing the happiness of God, part 24, maintaining God’s happiness in suffering; John 15:11Title: Sharing the happiness of God, part 24, maintaining God’s happiness in suffering; John 15:11.
5. God’s happiness does not diminish in times of underserved suffering.
2 Cor 6:4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God [demonstrating ourselves as ministers of God’s reflected glory], in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
2 Cor 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
In verses 4-5 we see the positive believer’s pressure. In verses 6-7 we see the positive believer’s stability.
2 Cor 6:6 in purity [rebound], in knowledge [perception], in patience [grace orientation], in kindness [grace towards others], in the Holy Spirit [FHS], in genuine love [inner happiness from RMA],
2 Cor 6:7 in the word of truth [truth behind every matter], in the power of God [PSD’s]; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left [shield and sword],
In verses 8-10 we see the positive believer’s adaptability.
The language changes from prepositional phrases to antithetical situations in which the believer must adapt the doctrine he has been inhaling but not exhaling, i.e. not applying.
The buildup of inhaled doctrine in the soul gives the believer an ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances of pressure, without being destroyed.
2 Cor 6:8 by glory and dishonor [prosperity to sudden suffering], by evil report and good report [condemned and commended]; regarded as deceivers and yet true [misunderstood while true];
2 Cor 6:9 as unknown yet well-known [invisible hero and successful], as dying yet behold, we live [going through death and not knowing if we will live]; as punished yet not put to death [under divine discipline and able to quickly rebound and recover],
2 Cor 6:10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
sorrowful yet always rejoicing – receiving sorrowpaingrief yet always possessing inner happiness.
Though your sorrow or pain may not be seen by others, God sees it and He delivers by means of His word.
Ps 119:28 My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Thy word.
Sorrow, pain, grief all become a pressure that turns the believer inside out revealing the expressed happiness within resultant from years of residual doctrine.
poor yet making many rich – to lose it all and become completely impoverished yet maintaining happiness and others see what makes you tick and they are enriched.
When others see your doctrine in action it makes them rich, even if for a moment. There have got to be millions of undocumented instances where a negative believer or an unbeliever witnessed the power of doctrine in a positive believer. Usually they are impressed, but then quickly forget about it or try to explain it away since they don’t understand. What a wonderful opportunity for that person to explore its source, but sadly many do not.
having nothing yet possessing all things – losing the details of life [job, profession, normal function] yet never losing the results of doctrine in the soul.
This is not the same as being impoverished. This is a loss of what you would consider your normal daily function. You may lose your job, a housewife may undergo divorce, a business may go bankrupt, etc. but you still have the necessities of life. What cannot be taken away is the RMA, the love, and the happiness that comes from your buildup of doctrine. These are the all things.
Luke 10:41-42 Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Pressure will not remove Mary’s doctrine. She becomes one of the greatest believers in the Church.
Phil 2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
Phil 2:18 And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
Notice that joy can be shared with other believers. What a refreshing thing to share rather than a cranky, miserable, self-centered attitude. [Where did you park your broom?]
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
1 Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1 Peter 1:7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1 Peter 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation [deliverance] of your souls.
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Acts 5:40 And they took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
Acts 5:41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
6. Divine discipline removes happiness, yet rebound and recovery will turn the curse into a blessing and happiness will be restored. |