Grace Church
04032022 Don't Suffer Alone
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Numbers 6:24–26ESV
- Peace Like A River
- Revive Us Again
- Lord I Need You
Hebrews 5:7–10ESV
Hebrews 5:7–10ESV
- Opening prayer, dedicationSymbol of Lent - Crown of Thorns [Liturgist]Music ministry498 Peace Like A River295 Revive Us Again (1,2,4)Lord, I Need YouIn the Hands of Christ My King (Chorus only)Word of God - Hebrews 5:7-10Message: “Don’t Suffer Alone”On this fifth Sunday of LentWe continue our preparation for the empty tomb and all the empty tomb representsSpecifically, we think of the “Crown of Thorns” and the suffering Jesus endured for usThere is so much for us to learnWe continue to study and learn how to apply God’s WordSo that we face each challenge of life in a manner that is pleasing to GodMost pointedly, this entire season of resurrection is focusing on how God calls us to be TOGETHER in all thingsThus, the title of the message today is “Don’t Suffer Alone”The shortest verse in the bible is John 11:35 “Jesus wept”That’s what Jesus did when his friend Lazarus diedJesus wept, not because Lazarus diedNot even because Jesus was not with Lazarus when he diedNo, Jesus wept because of the pain that Martha and Mary experienced at the death of LazarusThey believed that Jesus could have saved Lazarus if Jesus got there soonerThey felt like Jesus had left Lazarus alone, abandonedIn truth, Jesus had not abandoned LazarusJesus knew that he had “fallen asleep”Jesus had told his disciples of Lazarus’ death before they went to see LazarusAnd Jesus told them that they must go so Jesus could “Awaken him”Jesus told them why in John 11:14-15
John 11:14–15 ESV 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”In this short story, which comes from John 1, we see the truth that we will suffer and have painand whether we see Jesus there with us at that moment or notJesus knows our painJesus feels our painand Jesus want to lift that painPraise God for His grace and mercyThis story is just one example Jesus taught us that could only be demonstrated by Jesus coming to walk alongside usThis is the time in history being described in Hebrews 5:7Hebrews 5:7 ESV 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.“the days of His flesh” are the days that Jesus walked the earth in human formWhat did Jesus do more than anything else while walking with us?Jesus prayedJesus prayed to the point of pleading-which is supplicationWhen you see me get tearful and cry, all I’m doing is what Jesus didJesus wept - He wept LOUDLYTalk about counter-culturalThe King of Kings cried loudlySince Jesus came to save us and set an example for us, it tells us a couple of thingsFirst, Jesus let His emotions showJesus’ ExampleJesus Showed EmotionJesus was not afraid to let people know how He feltYet, Jesus didn’t fake it or put on a show for othersJesus was and it authentic and realSecond, Jesus knew to take His prayers to God the FatherJesus’ ExampleJesus showed emotionJesus Prayed to GodPsalm 22:1–2 ESV 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.I’d bet most of us have been there, for some it has been recentlyWe may feel like God has forsaken us or forgotten us or not listenedIn truth, by knowing to go to God in prayer, we are not aloneWe talk to God because we know He is with usWe go to God in prayer because we know that God is capable of saving usThird point, Especially in times of trial, we need supporters near usJesus’ ExampleJesus showed EmotionJesus Prayed to GodJesus Was Not AloneAs His crucifixion drew near, Jesus gave us this example in Matthew 26:36-39Matthew 26:36–39 ESV 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”Jesus demonstrated several things in thisEven though Jesus needed to go talk with God in prayerJesus did NOT send his friends “away”No, Jesus told them to stay nearbyJesus took the few He was closest to, Peter and the sons of Zebedee away from the others and confided in themJesus told them why He was so burdenedThen Jesus asked them to “watch” - some versions say “stay awake” while Jesus talked with GodNotice that these three in whom Jesus confided did NOT tell Jesus what to doThey did nothing but be present, so Jesus could be alone with GodOf course, if we continue to read the passage, those three didn’t manage to stay awake, but that’s another sermonThe point is that Jesus asked some people to stay with Him as He sufferedEven knowing that God could remove the impending sufferingJesus did not need the physical strength of those friendsJesus wanted them there for support AND to show them how WE should relate to God in the midst of trialThen, Jesus taught us that God hears us even if God doesn’t do what WE wantHow many times have you heard someone say, “THEY never listen”When what they should say is “They didn’t do what I wanted”?I heard that all the time when I was in politicsI heard it in businessand I have heard it as a pastorThe truth is, that sometimes we just disagree wit each otherAnd sometimes there is more at work than someone realizesWhen a child plead their case to stay up past bedtime, don’t parents sometimes have to say ‘no’ for reasons the child does not understand?Of course, and the same thing happens to adultsI have prayed that God remove a medical problem or illnessYet the illness did not go awayI know God heard me, and I know that the answer was either ‘no’ or ‘not yet’So, my job is to be obedient to what God says to do NOWEven Jesus had to demonstrate that He learned obedience by going to the cross for our sinsThat’s what Hebrews 5:8 tells usHebrews 5:8 ESV 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.Can you imagine knowing that your entire life purpose is to suffer so others can see obedience in suffering?That was only part of the purpose of Jesus’ lifeBut it is a part of OUR lives tooHebrews 5:9 goes onHebrews 5:9 ESV 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,We sometimes don’t give enough thought to the “process” of Jesus becoming perfectThat is part of the story we tell on Maundy Thursday ServiceWhat Jesus went throughWhich sets us up to more fully appreciate the Salvation we have because we are BelieversJust don’t forget the second part of verse 9,Eternal salvation for “all who obey him”My prayer is that each of us are both believers and OBEDIENTSo how can we live in a way that is obedient to this lesson of Jesus is teaching us in Hebrews 5:7-10?Don’t suffer alone!AcknowledgeTrouble is RealEverything fromBad medical newsFinancial heartacheLoss of loved onesWe will have troublesAcknowledge that God will hear our prayerAcknowledgeTrouble is RealGod Will Hear Your PrayerGo to God knowing He is all powerfulLet God see your pain and sufferingLet others see you are hurtingAlso let others see that you trust God to be with you in the darkest valley as well as on the highest mountainDon’t Suffer Alone-AcknowledgeTrouble is RealGod Will Hear Your PrayerValue of ConnectionDon’t face alone what God has designed for you to face with the support of othersIf entrusted to be with someone sufferingBe present and awakePray for themLet them lean on you, but only as you work as the hands and feet of JesusDon’t direct them, be present and let them leadJesus is being described as a high priest in the order of MelchizedekYou may recall from the recent message, “At the Throne of Grace Together”One of the most spectacular things Jesus did was to choose to leave the highest heaven to come to walk with usBy coming alongside us and becoming human for a timeJesus was fulfilling a requirement for high priesthoodI had us look at Hebrews 2:17-18Jesus came alongside us and became “LIKE” usThat we may know that Jesus understands our strugglesThat we may know we are not aloneBecause, we have a great example toBelieve in Jesus as the all capable Son of GodBe Faithful and pray ferventlyAnd do all this surrounded by fellow BelieversWe are called to live life TOGETHERTogether in good times and badAnd by all means, Don’t suffer aloneAmenClosing Hymn/Invitation: How Marvelous (start verse 2)“The Lord’s Prayer”Apostles’ CreedCommunionPastoral prayer/Benediction John 11:14–15ESV
Hebrews 5:7ESV
Psalm 22:1–2ESV
Matthew 26:36–39ESV
Hebrews 5:8ESV
Hebrews 5:9ESV
- I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)
- The Apostles' Creed