When God Confuses You (cont'd)

Guest (Male): A well-known shoe company got it right many years ago. Don't brag about it. Don't even talk about it. Just do it. On today's Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Sheppard, you'll hear about some of the keys to winning the Christian race. Just before we kick off today's message, Pastor Paul's wife, Meredith Sheppard, has a few words she'd like to share with you during this critical season in the life of the Destined for Victory media ministry.
Meredith Sheppard: Hi, this is Meredith Sheppard. Pastor Paul was my beloved husband. I want to take a moment to thank every person who has supported Destined for Victory through your prayers and financial gifts. Your generosity allows us to continue bringing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to listeners near and far. Many are encouraged, strengthened, and reminded of God's faithfulness because you chose to invest in this work. We often hear from listeners who tell us that they heard Pastor Paul's message at just the right moment. A word of hope during a difficult season, a reminder of God's love when they felt alone, or a message that helped deepen their walk with Christ. Those moments are made possible through your partnership. As we look ahead, especially during these summer months, we invite you to continue standing with us. The need for the gospel has never diminished, and every gift, large or small, helps keep these broadcasts on the air and extends our reach to those who are searching for hope and truth. If this ministry has been a blessing to you, or if you believe in the importance of sharing God's word through Destined for Victory, I would be honored by your continued support. Simply visit our donate page at pastorpaul.net/donate. Together, we can continue proclaiming the good news and touching lives for the glory of God. Thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, and your commitment to advancing God's kingdom. I thank God for you and pray his richest blessings upon you and your family.
Guest (Male): Thank you, Meredith. When you give generously today, we have a special gift to share with you as our way of saying thank you. Introducing our latest booklet, When Humans Attack. You may remember the story of Mary and Martha from the Gospel of Luke. Martha is busy preparing a meal and doing household chores, and she grows frustrated because Mary, rather than helping her out, is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to his teaching. Pastor Paul Sheppard takes an honest look at the story in When Humans Attack, contrasting distraction and devotion and showing the value of pausing to be near Jesus. It also offers some biblical wisdom about how to handle unmet expectations and personal conflict. That's When Humans Attack, our thank-you gift this month when you make a generous donation to Destined for Victory. You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. That's 855-339-5500. Or by visiting pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. And you can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538.
Paul Sheppard: Have you ever watched your prayer request die? Have you ever seen your heart's desire die? Have you ever reached the point of disappointment that was so great until it absolutely confused you? That's where those sisters are. They're sitting by Lazarus' bed and they see him die. Jesus nowhere to be found.
Guest (Male): Well, if you answered yes to either of those questions, you picked a good day to join us for Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Sheppard because you're about to be reminded that God's ways are not always our ways, but they are the best ways and they're always designed for our growth and for our good. Remember to come visit us at pastorpaul.net to listen to our messages online on demand. That's pastorpaul.net. Now, let's start with our Destined for Victory message, "When God Confuses You."
Paul Sheppard: So on the first day, hours after the messenger leaves, these sisters see their brother die. Have you ever watched your prayer request die? Have you ever seen your heart's desire die? Have you ever seen your dream, what you were believing God for, what you were earnestly asking for, die? Have you ever reached the point of disappointment that was so great until it absolutely confused you? That's where those sisters are. They're sitting by Lazarus' bed and they see him die. Jesus nowhere to be found. Then the text tells us when the messenger arrives, the messenger gives the message and Jesus' response is, "This sickness will not end in death. It is for God's glory so that God's son may be glorified through it." When Jesus spoke those words, Lazarus was dead. How confusing is the God we serve sometimes when he says, "Oh, this isn't going to end in death," and it died. And Jesus knew he was dead because after he says that, he determines to stay where he is two more days. And he tells his disciples when he finally gets ready to go without getting any additional word, he tells his disciples, "Lazarus is asleep. I'm going to wake him up." He knew he was dead because Jesus isn't just a healer, he is God wrapped up in flesh. He is omniscient. He knows everything. Jesus knew what was going on. Here's what you need to understand. He was not operating according to his passion for these people. He was operating according to God's purpose for these people. I want to let you know when Jesus got that word and says it won't end in death, "This is for God's glory," he knows as he walks with the Father in that moment, he knows God has ordained this situation to go from bad to worse, from sick to dead. Sometimes God says, "In order to show you deeper dimensions of who I am, I have to take you to deeper dilemmas than you've ever experienced. I have to take you to another kind of pain, another kind of disappointment, another kind of confusion where you say, 'Lord, what's up with this?'" And he says, "God's purpose calls for me to not respond to these people based on my passion." Now, the text is clear: Jesus loved them. But he cannot respond according to his passion. He must respond according to divine purpose. And in this instance, it causes Jesus to have to act counter-intuitively. When you have a close friendship or close relatives or whatever and you hear they're in trouble, intuition causes you to run toward them to do what it's going to take to solve the problem. But when Jesus here is operating, he teaches us you can't live according to passion. You've got to live according to purpose. And God's purpose is calling for me to act counter-intuitive. And although I know my best friend just closed his eyes in death, God says stay where you are. I'm working out something deeper. He not only acted counter-intuitively in that way, but he also acts counter-intuitively in another way when he finally says to the disciples after two days of remaining where they were, "Okay, I'm going. Let's go to Judea." The disciples said, "Wait a minute, Master, I don't think you want to go there. The last time we were there, they tried to stone you." And you know, talking about intuitive, when you hear that folk are trying to kill you, intuitively you believe them and you stay away from them. But Jesus is not operating according to what he feels or the first law of nature, self-preservation. He's operating according to the first law of the kingdom, which is self-denial. And he says, "Let's go." The reason why Jesus is heading there, even though they tried to stone him last time he was in town, is because he knows these folk aren't going to kill me. I've come to earth to lay down my life. But when and how I die is not up to them. It is up to the Father who loved the world so much that he's given me as the payment for their sins. So Jesus said, "I'm going to die when God gets ready and I'm going to die how God ordains. And I'm going to lay down my life as a ransom for many sinners." So he wasn't worried about threats. He knew that the day was coming when God would simply use his enemies as pawns. And they would crucify him and nail him to a cross so that he could die for your sins and mine. And so counter-intuitively, he stays away from a friend he would normally run to, and counter-intuitively, he goes back to the region of Judea when he would normally be concerned for his safety. He's operating according to purpose. I want to let somebody know when you're confused by what God is doing and what God is allowing, he's not operating according to passion. He loves you. No question about it. God loves you. No doubt about it. Loves you every bit as much as he loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. But he does not operate in our lives according to his passion. He operates according to his purpose. And so on the third day, he begins the journey back toward the region of Judea. His disciples were thoroughly confused, but they said, "Well, let's go on and die with him," because they didn't understand what God was up to. He heads back. Imagine now how these women have been feeling the past three days, now into the fourth day. Day one, he's sick. They send for Jesus and later that day Lazarus dies. Imagine when the messenger got back. You know what they would have said by now by the time the messenger gets back on day two. Lazarus is not only dead, but they have buried him. It was common in that day in that culture to bury the dead later the same day that they died because embalming techniques were not readily available. The average person couldn't just call up the undertaker and plan several days for a service and all that. In that day, it was customary for them to wrap the body thoroughly and then to deposit it into a tomb later the same day because it would decompose quickly and they didn't want someone they loved for their body to begin to decompose. And so they would wrap it and they would put it in the tomb the same day. So by the time the messenger gets back, Lazarus is dead and entombed. You can imagine how they'd feel, seeing the messenger come back alone. Jesus is not with him. You can imagine that they would have said, "Did you find Jesus?" "Yes." "You told him?" "Yes." "What did he say?" Now, we don't know. The text tells us that his response to hearing the news was, "This sickness will not end in death. It's for God's glory that God's son may be glorified through it." We don't know if that was spoken only to the disciples or if it was spoken to the disciples in the presence of the messenger. But look at both scenarios. Neither one feels good. If he heard that, what did he say? Well, he said—I'll do it like the people in your life and mine—"Well, he said that it wouldn't end in death." Lazarus is entombed. How confusing is that? We know Jesus is not a liar. We know he's a holy man of God. We know he is the Son of God sent to redeem us. So there is no guile, no sin in him. So it's awfully confusing when the holy Jesus says this will not end in death and you just got back from the cemetery. That's confusing. Scenario one. Scenario two is no better. "What did Jesus say?" "Nothing." "Well, where is Jesus?" "I don't know." See, it's no better. Because these people are thinking, "How can the one we love and who loves us get this kind of word about one he truly loves and do nothing?" Have you ever felt that way? "God, I've been praying about this for some time. How can you do nothing?" They're confused. A few days pass and on the fourth day, Jesus is seen to be headed toward the village of Bethany. Whoever saw him first makes a beeline into the village where mourners have gathered. They have support. They've got mourners all around them. The text is clear: mourners have come to walk with them through this grief. And while I'm sure they appreciate the good intentions of these folks, their heart aches because they're confused by a God who loves them but who apparently is not operating according to his love for them. And they're confused. So somebody gets the word that Jesus is headed toward Bethany. And they make a beeline because you know how people are; they always want to be the first to tell. So somebody makes a beeline, comes bursting in the house with all those mourners, all those people. If you've ever been around big funerals and stuff like that and people come, not only friends and loved ones but strangers, folks you don't even know, but somehow they're connected somewhere in the family and show up and all of that. I've been around funerals all my life, growing up in a pastor's home and going with my daddy, tagging along with him. I've seen all those scenarios. People come in and what have you. Had it happen in my life. Loved ones come and people you know and you greet them and loved ones and relatives. And then you see some folk and they come in, they act like they're just at home. You don't even know them. You bereaved, but you stop crying long enough to say, "Who is that?" That never happened to you? I'm sorry, I'm having a flashback. I'm sorry. That's just me. My bad. And all those people are around Mary and Martha. Somebody comes into the house and says, "Jesus is on his way." And look at what happens there in John 11. Martha gets up, runs out, and meets Jesus. He hasn't yet arrived into the village, but he's on the way and she meets him where he is. But Mary, we're told, stays in the house. Now, I've got to be a teacher of integrity, so I've got to tell you the truth. The scriptures do not tell us why Mary stayed in the house. So I cannot be emphatic. Having said that, I think I know why Mary stayed in the house. I think what we're looking at is an attitude. Okay, I can't say that emphatically, but when I write my commentary on the Gospel of John, telling you all now, that will be in there. I think we're looking at an attitude. I think Martha goes out. She too is confused, but she wants to encounter Jesus as soon as possible. And she says to him, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." But Martha said, "But even now, I know that the Father will give you whatever you ask." She has something in her heart that tells her, "I'm not quite sure why you have come when you've come. I can't say for sure that I know what's going on here. But I know who we're dealing with. And even now, I know the Father will do what you ask." She had some hope in her heart. She didn't know where to put her expectation. You know that by what she says next because Jesus said, "Your brother will rise." And she said, "Well, I know I'll see him again in the resurrection." So she's not sure what's going on here. But she's got some hope in her heart because the right one has shown up. Meanwhile, Mary's in the house. And I think what we're seeing is a sister with an attitude. I think we're seeing a sister whose attitude is, "I wish I would get up and go running out there." He heard about our crisis three days ago. Okay, so he was out of town and couldn't be there when Lazarus died. Okay, I understand that. But as soon as you hear that your boy is dead, seems to me you would have beat the messenger back to our house. Seems to me that you would have come in there and hugged us and consoled us and comforted us and helped us get this thing together. And instead, the messenger told us that he gave you the word and you still didn't come. And I think her attitude is she is not a happy sister and she is feeling like, "I don't think Jesus wants to see me right now." Now you can have a different take on that. I respect yours. But I think we're dealing with—have you ever had an attitude with God? Come on, I know you got your big Bible and you look holy, but now have you ever had an attitude with God? I think that's what we're looking at. And I love what Jesus does after he has this talk with Martha and when Martha says, "I know I'm going to see my brother in the resurrection," Jesus tells her, "You're talking about the resurrection, but you're talking to the resurrection." He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anybody who dies, though he were dead, if he's in me, yet shall he live." So Jesus is trying to say to Martha, "You have had your deepest pain, but it's because you can't learn new lessons about God till he takes you to new places." And then I love what he does after he has his chat with Martha. Then we're told Martha goes back into the village and into the house where she pulls her sister aside, the text says, and she says to her, "Jesus is here and he is calling for you." I love that when you get an attitude with God, he doesn't get one with you. I love that when there's an attitude, you got it all by yourself. Oh, I love that because I've had days when I've had an attitude with God. I'm so glad that God has never decided to get an attitude with me. I cannot afford for God to have an attitude with me. Anybody with me on that? I can't afford that. And I'm glad that the Lord looks beyond my fault sometimes and sees my need. And so he knew she's sitting in the house with an attitude. But he says, "Martha, tell your sister I want to talk to her." And Martha goes in and communicates that. And now Mary comes out. And I love that when Mary gets to him, John 11 tells us she begins to weep as she says to him, "If you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died." If indeed she had anger and attitude in the house, you've got to understand that anger is often hurt demanding justice. Anger is often a hard shell that you put over top of hurt. But what you really want is justice. And so if she left the house angry, by the time her eyes met the Savior, who is love embodied, when she saw love looking at her, it melted the anger and all she had left was hurt. And she was willing to take her hurt and give it to Jesus. Oh, I want to tell somebody God is saying to you it's time for you to quit being angry with me and understand that I love you with a perfect love and it's time for you to melt that anger away. Take your hurt and give it to me.
Guest (Male): God is always for you, even when he confuses you. And because of him, no weapon formed against you, not confusion, not doubt, not even death, shall prosper. Thanks for being with us for today's Destined for Victory message, "When God Confuses You." To find out more about Destined for Victory's mission and purpose or about the special gift reserved for you when you give generously today, please come see us at pastorpaul.net. That's pastorpaul.net.
Paul Sheppard: If you want to know what it looks like to live a life that pleases God and to do his will, look at Jesus, for he came for the express purpose of doing the will of God, of pleasing his heavenly Father, and of fulfilling his divine call and purpose. That's next time in our message, "Being Holy, Being Human." But until then, remember, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.