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Brother Richie Juatco: Are you going through a difficult time right now, and because of that, you’ve asked, “Why me?” You know, research shows that we as human beings tend to notice and remember negative events more than positive ones, a phenomenon known as ‘negativity bias.’ And when something seemingly bad happens, some are quick to label it as ‘bad luck,’ but because luck is a concept of random events that does not factor in God being present in our lives, what’s a better way, or the proper way, of viewing unusual problems and difficult times in our lives?
Stay with us. This is what we will study today here on The Message.
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Brother Richie Juatco: Hi, I’m Brother Richie Juatco.
Brother Mark Vasquez: I’m Brother Mark Vasquez.
No matter how much we plan, work hard, or try to avoid troubles and problems, they are an inevitable part of life, especially in our spiritual journey. You might even ask, “Should I take a break or even quit my spiritual journey?” The key lies not in avoiding them entirely, but in how we approach and handle them. Viewing problems with God in mind, Brother Richie, what might be the reason that troubling things happen to us?
Brother Richie: You know for that, let’s go to what’s recorded in the book of Job. We’ll read from Chapter 36, the verse is 15. It says here,
But God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes.
[Job 36:15 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: Here the Bible mentions “suffering” and even “distress.” What should we understand about suffering? We read “God teaches people through suffering.” So then it’s not bad luck, but rather God getting our attention to teach us something.
Brother Mark: So why is it that the Lord God uses suffering and distress to get our attention and to teach us?
Brother Richie: We’ll get that answer also from what’s written. Earlier, we read 15. We’ll read now 8 to 10. It says,
But if people are bound in chains, suffering for what they have done, God shows them their sins and their pride. He makes them listen to his warning to turn away from evil.
[Job 36:8-10 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: The Bible teaches why God would use sufferings to teach people. We read that “God shows them their sins and their pride.” So if this happens to us, maybe it’s because we have become too prideful or arrogant. What does God do if that’s the case? We read that “He makes them listen to his warning.” What is God’s warning to those going the wrong way or living in sin? God instructs, “turn away from evil.”
Brother Mark: So what’s the proper response if someone were to experience these unusual problems or difficult times because God is correcting them?
Brother Richie: That’s a good question. What is the right way to respond to that, right, if God is teaching us through sufferings? Well, we’ll read from the Book of Job, still, chapter 5, the verse is 17 now. Here it says,
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
[Job 5:17 New International Version]
Brother Richie: The Bible tells us how not to react to God’s teachings. We read, “do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” So we shouldn’t get angry or resent being disciplined or corrected, by means of suffering from extraordinary trouble. What should we understand so as not to despise the correction? We read, “Blessed is the man whom God corrects.”
Brother Mark: You know, being corrected in itself is already a blessing. It shows that God wants us to do what’s right.
Brother Richie: That’s right
Brother Mark: But what’s another blessing? What’s a blessing that comes from accepting God’s correction instead of rebelling against it?
Brother Richie: Let’s read from Job 36. We’ll read from verse 11. Here it says,
If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
[Job 36:11 New Living Translation (1996)]
Brother Richie: The blessing mentioned is “they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.” Now what is the condition to receive this blessing? We read, “If they listen and obey God”.
Brother Mark: I’m sure all of us want that prosperity that comes from God.
Brother Richie: We want that right? Of course.
Brother Mark: That’s a great blessing coming from Him. So what’s an example of suffering that some might experience, that God uses to get people’s attention and to correct them, so that we could have the proper response if this ever does happen to us?
Brother Richie: One of the things that God uses, because we read, sufferings He uses to get our attention. One of the examples of that is what we can read here in Job 33, we’ll read from verse 19. It says,
God corrects us by sending sickness and filling our bodies with pain.
[Job 33:19 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: Here we learned that “God corrects by sending sickness.” What else? It says, “and filling our bodies with pain.” So when this happens to us, we should first think, “Why has God allowed this to happen to me? What might I have done to go against God?” This should be our perspective, so that we don’t fall into a mindset of being hopeless.
Brother Mark: Well, that’s good. First, we have to think how the Lord God is involved with our situation. And after we have that mindset, that thinking, what then should we do in response to a sickness that one might encounter?
Brother Richie: That’s a good question. You know, we’re learning that God uses sufferings to get our attention.
Now, if the suffering He uses is sickness, what’s the right way to respond to that? We can use those written in the Bible as an example. How did they respond to the sickness God was using to get their attention? We’ll read here in Psalm 107:17 to 20. It says here,
Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he sent forth his word, and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.
[Psalm 107:17-20 Revised Standard Version]
Brother Richie: Here we learned that there were some of God’s servants before who, as we read, they “were sick through their sinful ways,” “[and] because of their iniquities,” they “suffered affliction.”
Brother Mark: So how sick did God allow this servant to become?
Brother Richie: Well, we read that “they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.”
Brother Mark: So how did this servant of God deal with this pain, this suffering that God allowed him to experience?
Brother Richie: Notice their response. It says, “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble.” So this too is what we should do when we are suffering due to our sinful ways. We should humble ourselves, and pray to God, and ask for forgiveness.
Brother Mark: So how could that help? How would that help that a servant of God would cry to Him and ask Him for His help when he’s been corrected?
Brother Richie: Well, just like what we read it says that “he delivered them from their distress.” How so? We read, “he sent forth his word, and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.”
So although God used sickness and suffering to punish His people, He was also the one who healed them.
Brother Mark: But why is it that God does this? Why does He use sickness or suffering to stop His servants from sinning or going down the wrong path?
Brother Richie: You know the purpose of God, in doing that, can be read here in the book of Job 33:17 to 18. Here it says,
God speaks to make them stop their sinning and to save them from becoming proud. He will not let them be destroyed; he saves them from death itself.
[Job 33:17-19 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: Here we see and we learn God’s intention in using such measures to make people, as we read, “stop their sinning and save them from becoming proud.” What’s the reason? We read, “He will not let them be destroyed; he saves them from death itself.”
Brother Mark: Therefore, it is actually because of God’s loving kindness that He uses sufferings to teach us. It’s no different from a loving parent who disciplines a child.
Brother Richie: Correct. Although the child might cry and suffer, an effective parent will use any means possible to save that child’s life. And if the child understands the intention, and the lesson learned is attached to the memory of the discipline, then the child no longer views what happened as a bad experience. Therefore, if we are going through or have gone through an extraordinary problem, make sure we learn the lesson God is teaching and take the opportunity to spiritually grow.
Brother Mark: That’s why, Brother Richie, when we look back on these experiences, on suffering that we might have gone through on our spiritual growth through hardship, we’ll also recall God’s care and His love.
Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, we are learning, you know, God uses suffering. It’s a good thing He’s correcting us, He’s teaching us. But those watching might be thinking, “I’m really trying to do what is right and follow God’s commands. I’m focused on trying to live properly and please Him. Why would He need to use suffering to get my attention and correct me?” One might think, “I’m already focused on Him. He already has my attention.”
Brother Mark: That’s a fair question. So we need to know if all of those out-of-the-ordinary sufferings are because God is punishing or correcting us.
Brother Richie: Now, brother Mark, if all of the problems, all of the out-of-the-ordinary sufferings, are not because of a correction or problem, we have to ask, what else could be the reason extraordinary or troubling things happen to our lives?
Brother Mark: Well, let’s learn what one of those reasons might be. Here in the Book of First Peter, we’ll read together in 4:12 up to verse 13,
My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.
[I Peter 4:12-13 Good News Translation]
Brother Mark: Here, the apostles teach us, “do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering.”
Brother Richie: Now notice, the painful suffering mentioned is not a punishment or correction, but rather a test. Brother Mark, what did Apostle Peter mean when he said, “[do not] be surprised at the painful test?”
Brother Mark: Well, he said here, “as though something unusual were happening to you.” Why should we not consider painful suffering to be unusual? Well, the Bible told us here, “you are sharing Christ’s sufferings.” Therefore, not all of those out-of-the-ordinary sufferings are because God is punishing or correcting us.
Brother Richie: That’s correct. And we know our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lived in obedience to God, and He encountered out-of-the-ordinary sufferings. So if we too want to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ and focus our lives on obeying God, what will happen to us? First of all, we have to understand the ultimate enemy, the devil, who will try to stop us. But also, we should understand that God will allow some of these attempts and obstacles to come into our lives. Why? We learned that this is to test us.
Now, Brother Mark, since we are learning, it is a test, to help us understand, what is God testing? You know, if these sufferings are coming into our lives, what are they testing about us?
Brother Mark: Let’s read what the Lord God is testing in the book of First Peter. We’ll read 1:6 up to 7,
Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.
[I Peter 1:6-7 Good News Translation]
Brother Mark: Apostle Peter again clarifies that “it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer.” Why do we have to go through trials? What’s the purpose? Well, we learned, “Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine.” Notice the analogy to help us understand the purpose of the trials that we suffer. Apostle Peter said, “Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire.”
Brother Richie: Now we should know that gold, coming from the Earth, goes through a process before it becomes the gold that we commonly see, like in jewelry, for example. And because gold is so valuable, some jewelry is merely coated in gold, giving the appearance of being completely gold, while others have no gold at all but just look like gold, which is where the term ‘fool’s gold’ comes from. How is gold tested to see if it’s real or genuine? It’s put in the fire.
Brother Richie: Through this process, all the impurities are burned out, and only the gold remains and is able to withstand the fire. So, because of this process of gold, in relation to this, what are we taught again, Brother Mark?
Brother Mark: The Bible told us, here we learned, “your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested.”
Brother Richie: Therefore, painful sufferings and trials in our lives can act as the fire God uses to test our faith. Brother Mark, when God is doing that, allowing these tests to come in, what does God want to see about our faith?
Brother Mark: He’s testing to see if “it may endure.”
Brother Richie: How can we prove that? How can we pass the test to prove that our faith is real, genuine, and that it endures?
Brother Mark: Let’s read here in the Book of Job. We’ll read 23, we’ll read 10 up to 12,
But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.
[Job 23:10-12 New King James Version]
Brother Mark: Here, God’s servant, Job, was also able to prove his true faith. How did he prove his faith in God? He said, “My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips.” He proved his faith by being steadfast, grounded, and not moving away from obeying God’s commands, despite the unusual problems and the difficulties he experienced in life.
Brother Richie: Brother Mark, when was that seen? When was his strong faith revealed?
Brother Mark: That strong faith was revealed at a very important time, also a time that we might experience. This time, it says here, “When He has tested me.”
Brother Richie: So during the tests, that’s when we get the opportunity to prove our faith. You know, Brother Mark, learning about Job, learning about how he was able to pass, how he was able to hold on to God’s words, what conviction did he have to make him do that?
Brother Mark: Well, the Bible shows us the conviction that Job had. It said here, “I shall come forth as gold.” He was determined to remain obedient. And what was his mindset to always remain obedient to God? He said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.”
So, if we too treasure or value God’s words as a necessity in life, we’ll always be able to obey, and we’ll be able to pass any test that God gives to us.
Brother Richie: That’s right. If it’s a necessity, we’re not going to be distracted. We’ll keep holding on to it.
Brother Mark: So, brother Richie, how can we determine if the unusual troubles, the difficulties that we’re experiencing, how can we determine if that’s God correcting us as opposed to Him testing us?
Brother Richie: That’s a good question. Which one is it, right? What’s the reason that we are going through that unusual suffering? As we mentioned briefly earlier, we should always stop and reflect, or examine, why God has allowed these things to happen to us.
Now, although while we’re in the middle of going through extraordinary problems or difficult times, we might not be able to decipher or determine the reason God allows them to come into our lives, that’s going to be revealed in time. But the one thing that we can be sure of is that, whichever reason it is, Brother Mark, the response is actually the same. We should respond the same way to whatever reason God is using to let these things come into our lives.
Brother Mark: So what’s the proper response? What should we keep on and continue doing in our lives, even though troubles might come?
Brother Richie: We’ll read from what’s written in Psalm 42. We’ll read from verse 11, and this is the response we should always have. Here it says,
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
[Psalm 42:11 New International Version]
Brother Richie: Here we see this servant is going through problems that are causing him to feel discouraged and depressed. Now, although he might not know the exact reason at this moment, we see him examining himself.
What did he ask himself? He said, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” What is the proper response to problems that he was actually advising himself? He said, “Put your hope in God.” How did he plan to prove his hope was in God? He said, “I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
So praising and worshiping God is always the proper response to problems. This is what God’s true servants do, no matter what. This is the reason why we here, inside the Church Of Christ, never forsake or neglect attending the worship service.
Brother Mark: But, Brother, Richie, you know, some might be thinking to themselves, “I don’t understand how that would help.” They might be thinking, “How is attending the worship service always going to be the solution, regardless of whatever type of problem I’m going through?”
Brother Richie: We can understand that people might think that, right? “I’m going through this problem. You’re telling me to go to the worship service? You’re telling me, go to the house of worship. So what would that do? How can that help?”
Let’s continue to read the answers recorded in the Bible. We’ll read from Psalm 27, verses 4 and 1, and here it says,
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
[Psalm 27:4 & 1 New International Version]
Brother Richie: King David is the one speaking in these verses. And notice what he wanted amidst all the problems that he was experiencing at the time. He said, “this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.”
Brother Mark: Why did King David want to be in the house of the Lord or in the temple?
Brother Richie: Well, he’s the one who said “to seek him [to seek God] in his temple.” So it is God that God’s servants look for when they’re in trouble. And where can we always find God? He is in His house or His temple.
Brother Mark: So what can God do for us if we’re feeling, for example, confused about what’s happening in our life, or what if we’re feeling weak because we’re so tired of problems we’re dealing with, like carrying heavy burdens, extraordinary troubles, that suffering we have to experience?
Brother Richie: That’s right. If we’re confused, we don’t know what, or we’re feeling weak, why do we want to be with God? The Bible says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation… The LORD is the stronghold of my life.” So God will be the one to give clarity if we’re confused. He’s the one who will point us in the right direction. He is the one who will provide us with the strength to keep on doing what is right.
Brother Mark: We all want that strength. We need that strength that comes from God.
Brother Richie: So we need to be with God.
Brother Mark: So if we’re with God in His house, in the temple, what should we do? What is it that we should do in the temple or the house of God when we’re feeling distressed or we’re going through suffering?
Brother Richie: Let’s read from Psalm 18, we’ll read verse 6, and this is what we’d be able to do. It says,
In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
[Psalm 18:6 New International Version]
Brother Richie: What did this servant do when he was in trouble? He said, “In my distress, I called to the LORD.” We have learned in this program that calling on God is by means of prayer.
Brother Mark: So, if a servant of God were to go into His house and imitate this servant that we read earlier, who went to God’s house, he prayed to Him, what can we pray for, what this servant also asked for?
Brother Richie: Well, we read, he said, “I cried to my God for help.” What is the result, because he cried to God, he prayed to God for help? He said, “my cry came before him.”
Brother Mark: Where did God receive this prayer of this servant?
Brother Richie: Just like what we read, it says, “From his temple he heard my voice.” So, although calling and praying to God can be done anywhere, at any time, going to God’s house to pray is different. God’s house is special. It is a special place. It is where special gatherings, devotional prayers, and worship services are conducted. When one prays to God in His house, especially during a worship service to Him, it all the more shows how much one is depending on and hoping for God’s help.
Brother Mark: We could see that missing the worship service is never the solution to someone’s problem.
Brother Richie: No. It’s actually going to worsen problems.
Brother Mark: People might think it’s the solution, but instead of missing the worship service because of these unusual or extraordinary problems in life, we should all the more run to the place of worship. We should all the more be dedicated in our worship services to God.
Brother Richie: Correct! This is also why we, members of the Church Of Christ, are advised to go to the worship service early in order to have time to have our personal prayers and ask God for help.
Brother Mark: So what would be the benefit of handling the troubles in this way, always putting our hope in the Lord God, by praising and worshiping Him in His house or in the temple?
Brother Richie: We’ll read now Psalm 65, we’ll read from verse 4, and it says this,
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.
[Psalm 65:4 New International Version]
Brother Richie: Notice the blessings of always running to God’s house when we are in need. We read that “We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.”
Brother Mark: The good things we can receive are guidance, comfort, peace, even healing.
Brother Richie: But also notice how the Bible specifies to whom God gives these blessings. We read, “Blessed are those you choose.” Therefore, God’s chosen servants are different in how they view and handle problems. The solutions they use are different from those of the rest of the world. They do not experience bad luck, but rather look to God for His lessons and grow spiritually. They use every opportunity to do that. This is the faith of the members of the Church Of Christ.
Brother Mark: Now, as you get to know more about the Church Of Christ, you’ll also get to know the stories of its members, like Megan Francisco. In this short clip from the show Stories of Faith, we’ll see how faith guided Megan in dealing with a difficult time in her life. Let’s take a look.
[Video clip – Stories of Faith: Megan Francisco]
Brother Richie: We hope that hearing this story is an inspiring reminder that you’re not alone in your spiritual journey.
Brother Mark: If you’re hearing about the faith we uphold inside the Church Of Christ for the first time, we encourage you to continue learning more about God’s written words taught here inside the Church Of Christ.
Visit a congregation near you. Or if you want, ask us a question now by clicking the link in the description and inquire how to listen to the basic teachings of the Bible.
Brother Richie: And if you’re already going through those lessons, or wherever you are in your spiritual journey, we hope that the message you heard today has brought you closer to God and deepened your understanding of the truth taught here inside the Church Of Christ. On behalf of all of us here at The Message, we thank you for joining us in this episode. But before we conclude, please join us for a short prayer.
Brother Mark: Our loving Father in heaven, thank You very much for this program, for this way to be able to receive Your holy teachings. We understand that this life, that You have given to Your people, may have sufferings and extraordinary problems we have to deal with. But Father, we know that as Your servants, this is also Your way to speak to us. If we had to ask ourselves, if You are punishing us or correcting Your children, may it be that those who need to be corrected find it within themselves to be able to follow Your holy commandments.
Help those who are going down the wrong path, to correct their ways, and help us to live a life that truly pleases Your holy Name. But if we are experiencing trouble because of the tests here in this life, may it be that we prove to You that our faith is genuine. Help us to stay obedient to You, always obeying Your holy commandments. And regardless of whatever troubles that we have to go through, may You always find all of us active in our worship services. May we never turn our back on You. Instead, may we dedicate ourselves fully to praising and worshiping Your highest name.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, You are the greatest example that we have, because even though You suffered from troubles in this life, You never turned Your back on the Father. You always followed His commandments, and we pray that You will teach us to do the same. Help us, Lord Jesus, to stay faithful and loyal to our Father, so that one day we could be there with You in the Holy City, praising You and our Father in heaven.
Father in heaven, we have faith that You will bless all of us. You will give us the strong faith that we need. And please always bless those who lead and guide us, especially our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo. Please bless with him the Deputy Executive Minister, Brother Angelo Eraño Manalo.
Thank you for listening to our prayer. We pray these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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