Pastor's Blog

Text: Colossians 1:23-29
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation1 under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.


Life is about relationships:
In the relationships of life we have examples, role models which we follow in order to accomplish that which we wish to gain. For example, as parents, we understand that it is benefical to observe parents who are a little older than us so that we would learn by observing their relationship with one another as well as with their children. What is successful for them often times proves successful for us, and likewise what does not work for them often times will not work for us. This is in general, of course. The point is that we draw off of their experiences for our benefit. Growing in maturity in marriage would mean that we are growing in our understanding and experience that the marital/family relationship is in the team concept.

Young people learn somewhat in the same way as they observe those who are a bit older than they are as opposed to having their future directed by taking consensus among their peers. That may work fine sometimes, but they quickly learn to test their directions in life through the observing of the experiences and teachings of those who are mature (parents) or are growing in maturity.(those who may be a bit more mature than they) The youthful years play a major part of one growing in the understanding that life is about the team: The family at home, the church, and the community (how ever large that might be)

Christianity means relationship with Jesus. He is the example that we are called to follow, but since He is both God and man it is difficult to "match up" with Him in all things. Therefore, we draw on the examples of people just like us, like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, David, and even, yes, Goliath in the OT. In the NT, the one we are called to model and imitate is the Apostle Paul, whose letter to the Colossians we are currently going through. We are given much insight into the life of the Apostle Paul, therefore, it is good for us to take advantage of the example that he lived as well as take heed of the words that he wrote under the leading of the Holy Spirit. They are true.

As children of the light, we have been placed in a privileged position within the body of Jesus Christ, because of the grace of God. No other reason can be found in the Bible for this place which we have been placed. As in any other privilege in life, there are responsibilities and duties that come along with it. To this point in our letter, Paul has spoken to us through the Holy Spirit of what God has done for us through His Son Jesus and now begins to shift the focus of his letter to what the life of a Christian is like in everyday life.

Now he begins to indirectly address the question which often times has troubled and challenged the Christian Church through the ages. We are saved, now what! Some have minimized the teachings concerning what the Bible says about our responsibilities and duties as a Christian to the point where any fruits or works are considered wrong, as self righteousness or simply unnecesary while others have placed too much emphasis on them to the point that they become a demand to maintain one's saved condition. Probably the two verses which have led to these two extremes are the following:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {alone: Gr. by itself}
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.



The Apostle Paul begins the transition of his letter to the Colossian congregation by writing that he rejoices in what he is going through for them. As he sits in a prison in Rome, he shows them that he does not turn inward, and therefore feel sorry for himself, but rather writes to them that he rejoices that his sufferings will be to their benefit. In some way, the collective body will benefit because of his sufferings personally.

His sufferings were due to his identification with Jesus, and were not because of the things of life or as a result of his own poor choices. Everyone experiences the latter two situations, but only Christians experience persecution due to being yoked with Jesus Christ.

We must understand that any suffering which we experience does not contribute to the ransom for sin that was required by God. That is a done deal. But our call to identify/suffer with Christ in some way plays a part in the propagation/spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When God is put on display, some people will be affected and changed for the better by it.

Two of the illustrations from the Old Testament which we referred to last week show this to us.

KJV Daniel 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
KJV Daniel 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon

KJV Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
KJV Daniel 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Let us look at a few New Testament references which teach about suffering, and which clarify that suffering which Paul is referring to in our text is related to that which results from being identified with Jesus Christ.

1. We will experience the common sufferings of life.

1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. {thankworthy: or, thank}
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. {acceptable: or, thank}
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {for us: some read, for you}
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: {himself: or, his cause}
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. {on: or, to}
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

2. If we sow in the flesh, we will reap in the flesh

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

3. As part of the body of Jesus Christ, we will suffer for our identification with Him.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Examples: The first Apostles suffered in the body of Jesus

KJV Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
KJV Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

We all have a testimony of our life. John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace, had a testimony: I once was lost, but now I am found, I was blind, but now I see. Simply said, we all can say, this was my life, this happened, now I am this.

The Apostle Paul had the same testimony of his life. We sometimes get caught up in the idea that we are only "this" and forget that we are yet growing. The subject of growth will illustrated in the next sermon, in the last part of this chapter.

Why did Paul begin his discussion in this way and how did he get to the point to where he could say what he said about suffering?

1. When he was translated into the kingdom of light, it was prophesied to a man named Ananias that he was going to suffer.

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

2. He suffered for the cause of Christ

2 Cor 2:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

3. He understood the purpose of suffering and desired to participate in these sufferings in a greater way.

Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Paul began to teach about the actual living of a Christian life through his own example. (Note that this is the springboard that Paul uses to begin to teach of the Christian life: It is attitude, not practice. Practice will come later in this letter)

1. He understood and had come to experience that true relationship with Jesus was one of serving the other.

2. He had genuine joy in that his sufferings for the sake of Jesus was and would be a benefit to them spiritually.

Application

What does this mean to us today in our time, in our culture?

Family: Do we realize that our family relationships thrive when we willingly and joyfully (even in suffering) serve for the benefit of the family, for our church, even for our community?

We exercise this by asking ourselves: What can I do today to serve/suffer for the sake of my family? my congregation? my community?

How could I put my family, my church, my community before me, put the needs of the group before my personal needs? When we do this, we are looking to build for the future, for those who are younger than us, for those who will be drawn to worship with us, for those who will be leaders in our community.

As we think upon the grace that God has bestowed upon us, and we ask ourselves the question today, "I am yours, Lord, now what?" let us silently reflect on that which the Lord has spoken with us today concerning the privileges and opportunities that are given to us today and which will be presented to us in the near future in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us now and always, Amen.

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

(We are doing followup on the VBS week with this sermon. We will return to the book of Colossians next Sunday)

KJV Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

We have no reason to fear when we are united to Jesus Christ through the cross and the resurrection but yet, fear is part of the consequence of our fall into sin. It has been said the the two biggest fears are public speaking and death. The Bible speaks much of fear, both from the point of calling us to fear as well as not to fear. Let us look at few verses to get started towards understanding of our text verse today.

KJV Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

KJV Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

KJV 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

KJV 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

KJV Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

KJV Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

These verses clearly point out that there is nothing to fear in the circumstances of life once we have come to understand what it means to fear God. The fear of God has been compared to the fear of water by a child who is in the water but does not know how to swim. Once the child who does not know how to swim comes to know that if he/she slips under the water, he/she will drown, there will be a definite fear of the water. But once the child learns how to swim, it then is able to enjoy the water, but yet knows that the water has the last word. Even so with the fear of God, God holds the last word in everything! We could call it respect for the water, or respect for God.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:

be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee;

yea, I will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.


In our text today, there are five promises which are given to those who have come to understand what it is to fear God. Our text is found in the book of Isaiah, in the 41st chapter, verse 10. This often quoted verse is given to those who were living around 700 years before the time of Jesus here on earth and through these verses is given to us assurance, comfort and direction from the Lord. Let us briefly consider the events leading up to this verse that is before us today.

Isaiah was one of the major prophets of the Lord who spoke the Word of the Lord to the people during that time. His book has been called the fifth gospel as he points to the Messianic kingdom of Jesus Christ, especially in the latter part of his writing. (chapters 40-66) It is interesting to note that the first 39 chapters of the book of Isaiah contain much history (but including prophecy) and the last 26 chapters contain the fulfilment of the promise, howbeit prophetically.. The Holy Bible has a similar makeup, for the 39 books of the Old Testament contain largely books of history (including prophecy) and the last 26 contain the fulfilment of the promise. It is a rich book in which one can spend countless hours of prayerful reading and meditation in seeking the heart and the ways of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

At the time that this was written, God's people were living in Babylon in exile, which was due to their disobedience to God and His commands. Beginning in chapter 40, the book shifts from a historical narrative to a tone of speaking from the heart of God to the hearts of the people, speaking of restoration. The introduction to the rest of the book of Isaiah is contained in the first 11 verses of chapter 40 and contains clear references to the kingdom of God which Jesus brought into the New Testament time and which will continue forever.

The Restoration
KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. {comfortably: Heb. to the heart} {warfare: or, appointed time}
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: {straight: or, a straight place} {plain: or, a plain place}
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. {with strong...: or, against the strong} {his work: or, recompense for his work}
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. {that...: or, that give suck}

Isaiah then asks a series of questions which are designed to show God's preeminence over all
12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? {a measure: Heb. a tierce}
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? {his...: Heb. man of his counsel}
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? {instructed...: Heb. made him understand} {understanding: Heb. understandings?}

The answers are provided for us.
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

How do idols compare with God?
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. {is so...: Heb. is poor of oblation}

Don't you know who I am?
21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: {It is...: or, Him that}
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

Who can you compare me with, or what can I be compared with?
(We are dwarfed by the creation, but the creation is dwarfed by God)

25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
ESV Isaiah 40:27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"?

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

KJV Isaiah 41:1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

Who is in charge anyway?
2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
3 He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

Who is in charge of the events of the world? God answers through Isaiah
4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

People responded, by drawing together, but not to Christ.
5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

Those who have their hope in idols encourage one another, they strengthen their idols.
7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

God now speaks to those who are in the Promise, including us.
8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

During VBS we focused on three happenings in history. Here are the three biblical references in brief:

They had respect toward God rather than toward man.
KJV Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
KJV Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.


He had respect toward God rather than toward man.
KJV Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

He had respect toward the ways of God rather than the ways of man.
KJV 1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
KJV 1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
KJV 1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
KJV 1 Samuel 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
KJV 1 Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

These may seem like they are in the distant past, for most of us in our culture today have not experienced such situations. But those in foreign lands experience these miracles, as those who have been there can relate to as well as information we receive from those areas of the world. When we read of the accounts from the pages of history of the Bible, we are educated and we gain knowledge. But when we hear first hand testimonies of those who have experienced miracles of God, we are inspired.

This is one of the reasons why we invite people such as John Ruotsala, the FM administrator, to be with us. People such as Dr. K, from India. Let us take advantage of the opportunities to hear of God's work today in the lives of those who are persecuted for Christ.

A recent article in the VOM gives the testimony of one who witnessed a miracle similar to the first one we highlighted today. Here it the account.


"Noora and her two daughters became believers through the witness of Noora's younger sister. After Noora became a Christian, she wondered. "What am I supposed to do with my life now? How can I tell my husband?" Noora's husband, a sheik and leader in his mosque, was a dedicated Muslim. Noora could imagine what would happen if he found her Bible.

"When I usedd to see him beside me, I used to get cold and sweaty, and, you know, scared." Noora says. For a while she hid the Bible in a drawer under her daughter's clothes. But later she moved the Bible to a place her husband never went near--the oven.

One Sunday afternoon, Noora's husband did something very out of character for him. He brought home a fish, prepared it and slid it into the oven. Unaware that Noora's Bible was on the rack below, he turned on the oven ot cook the fish.

"As we sat there, I was sure that the Bible was burning, but I could'nt think about it." Noora says. She and her daughter looked at each other mutely across the table, afraid to say anything. "When it was done, he took out the fish and ate it. Then he left to go back to the mosque to pray. I asked my daughter to take out the Bible. But to our surprise, we didn't find ashes..We found the book was not burned. The color of the cover had changed, but the inside pages were the same. Even the Bible ribbon didn't burn. It was hot. And it had some dots of oil from the fish on it."

When Noora's husband finally learned that she had become a Christian, he beat her so hard her gallbladder ruptured. "I carried my cross and I left my house only with my clothes," she says. "Jesus is worth it, you know? I love him so much." Her husband, the sheik, divorced her.

"Jesus never promised that we would have a rose filled life, a good one," Noora explains. "As I go along with Christ, I share his suffering and I know the trouble I face is because I walk with him. When I converted, my family called me "infidel.' If they want a drink and I give them a cup of water, they don't take it from my hand. I am an infidel and I am not clean enoughlllto even give them a cup of water."

KJV Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Through the pen of Isaiah, God has pointed to the restoration, which is through Jesus Christ. When Jesus was here he told us then and he tells us today, that the secret of having no fear is to seek first His kingdom and its righteousness and all things needed will be added unto us.

These four illustrations show us that we live by faith, which means that trust in the God who we cannot see to provide us that which we are able to see, that which we need for life and to protect us from danger. The key in all these stories is that they trusted and do trust in God above all others and all other things.

Regardless of the cost, they feared God more than man, even to the separation of the family...Even though the Bible illustrations do not specifically refer to Jesus and his coming, we must acknowledge that God's working in history is to bring about redemption and restoration to his fallen creation. Isaiah points to this when he relays the message from God that "I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness."

In our last session of VBS, we tied all of this together as we demonstrated through role acting of what Isaiah was referring to when he wrote of God upholding them with the right hand of his righteousness.

ESV 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We invited the children to take turns playing the roles. It went this way. Sitting behind the desk, acting us Judge with a placard hanging around their neck which said, innocent and sinless was one role, which depicted Jesus. As the other role player, handcuffed, approached the desk with a guilty and sinner placard on their neck, the hammer of the judge affirmed their guilt, but then as the one stood there helpless and hopeless, the former Judge now got up from the chair, came around to the front of the desk, took off the guilty and sinner placard off of the child and put it on himself. He then took a placard which said, "forgiven by the blood of Jesus" and hung it over the neck of the child, taking off the handcuffs as he did so. The child walked away.....

KJV Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Thank you, Lord, for becoming sin for us, so that we might be made right with you through repentance and faith. Help us to remember to first seek your kingdom and your righteousness, knowing that the additional things that we need will be given to us. Help us to draw encouragement and inspiration from the example of Daniel, of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, from David, from Noora, but above all, from your Son Jesus Christ, who came to serve us so that we might live. We thank you that he took our place in what looks to the world like weakness,, and is now on your right hand in a place of power and authority, interceding there for us. May we rest upon your promises today and always! In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and forever!

Pastor Orval Wirkkala