9.00am and 10.30am Sunday 9 November 2003
Rev Des Botting
Reading: Philippians 3:1-11; John 17:15-21
Many people around the world eagerly awaiting the premiere of The Return of the King, the final in the trilogy of films based on Tolkiens novel, The Lord of the Rings. This is due to take place in Wellington in December and promises to be something really special. These films have not only won international acclaim, they have also been great promotion for New Zealand. The superb scenery that forms the backdrop of its episodes was filmed in some of the most beautiful parts of our country. But its not just the magnificent scenery and special effects that have made this film so outstanding. Its also its message, the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil, of freedom over slavery, a victory that would not have been possible without the sacrifice and commitment of a small group of people. It began at a council of representatives from all the peoples of middle earth, when Frodo, the hero of the story, takes up the challenge to destroy the ring, and others join him. Lets watch that significant moment from the film itself.
(Film segment cut after the words fellowship of the ring)
Note what they were called - The Fellowship of the Ring. That fellowship proved to be so important, because they were starting on a mission that would taxed them to the limit of their endurance. For some it would mean death. They didnt even know if theyd be able to achieve their goal. But the alternative, to allow Sauron, the dark lord of Mordor, to get his hands on the ring, was unthinkable, and whatever it would cost, they were willing to do all that was within their power to prevent that from happening. It was a critical time in the history of middle earth (and even that name has significance and relevance to our own situation). That commitment to work together to destroy the ring, developed into a fellowship that, while broken at times, enabled them against insurmountable odds to accomplish their goal. Everyone of that group had a vital part to play. Together they stemmed the tide of darkness sweeping over the land, and restored to the earth its rightful king.
And isnt this exactly what Christs Church is about? God calls each one of us to be part of a special fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, that has an identical goal to that of the fellowship of the ring, that is, to see Gods reign come on earth as it is in heaven, and to shine the light of the Gospel truth to the farthest ends and in the darkest corners of this earth. Its a fellowship made possible for us through Christs death on the cross. Its a fellowship that creates a special bond between believers. This is the kind of fellowship thats envisaged in our churchs Vision Statement - to be a Spirit-filled community winning followers for Christ locally and globally.
The Greek word for this special fellowship is koinonia, and means sharing, partnership, communion, and contribution. Paul uses this word in Corinthians when speaking of the Lords Supper. He says, When we drink from the cup which we ask God to bless, isnt that sharing in the blood of Christ. When we eat the bread that we break, isnt that sharing in the body of Christ.[1] Paul makes reference to this fellowship several times in his letter to the Philippians, and its appropriate as we prepare to share in Communion, and as we join in this Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church to look at the reference in chapter 3 where he says, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death[2]
The fellowship of his sufferings is the literal translation of the Greek. What it means is that following Jesus is not without its cost. Who better to say this than Paul, writing as he was from prison in Rome, and who suffered so much at the hands of his own people apart from all the other hardships he endured. His words bring great comfort to all who suffer for the Gospel. Yes, following Jesus is costly, but we dont suffer alone. Were initiated into a special fellowship, because it unites us to the One in whose cause we suffer, and with all who suffer because of his name.
The Bible tells us four things about such suffering:
1. Such suffering is INEVITABLE. Jesus made this very clear when he said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age houses, brothers, sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life.[3] Just before his death Jesus spoke about this to those who followed him. He said, If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first Remember how I told you that servants arent greater than their master. So if people mistreat me, they will mistreat you...While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.[4] While persecution and suffering may come in many forms, the one thing we can be sure of is that it will come. We see this in our own country where nearly everything that carries the label Christian is up for ridicule and derision, even although the very foundations of New Zealand society and the laws of our land are based on Biblical standards and Christian values. And yet people will bend over backwards to accommodate those of other religions. It is as Paul said, speaking from his vast experience, Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others.[5] Such trouble may be physical, emotional, verbal, or material. One this is sure. Suffering is inevitable.
Secondly, the Bible tells us that
2. Such suffering is PURPOSEFUL. There are many parts of Scripture that speak of the refining influence that suffering has on our lives. When the silversmith was asked how could he tell when all the impurities were removed from the raw metal, he replied, When I can see my face in it. This is exactly the purpose of the suffering were called upon to endure. It helps make us more like Jesus.
The Bible also teaches that suffering, when rightly approached, helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us.[6] Its far from easy at the time, but its encouraging to know that its purpose is to build strength of character. The refining of our faith that comes through suffering has exactly the same effect on us. As this weeks Blackboard quote says, The difficulties of life are intended by God to make us better, not bitter. We can rejoice in them because they strengthen the hope that we have of our inheritance through Jesus resurrection.[7] They also develop maturity and make us more effective and fruitful. James says, My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of troubleyou must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.[8] And in Peters second letter he said, Do you best to improve your faithIf you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.[9] God always has a purpose in what he allows to suffer.
3. Such suffering is a PRIVILEGE. Suffering because you belong to Christ is never something to be ashamed of. Its a real privilege to be called upon to suffer in his name. Were told that the Apostles, after theyd been whipped because of their preaching about Jesus, were happy, because God had considered them worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus.[10] Paul and Silas obviously felt the same when they were at Philippi. After theyd been beaten and placed in the stocks in the prison dungeon, they began praying and singing praises to God. They rejoiced in their troubles. Jesus will always bear the marks of the nail prints in his hands and where the spear was thrust into his side. We can bear the outward and inward scars with pride as being counted worthy to share in Christs sufferings.
4. Such suffering PALES into insignificance in the light of Gods glory. The Bible says that we will be called upon to suffer for a little while .[11] When seen in the light of eternity the time that we are called upon to suffer will seem insignificant in comparison. These are but momentary afflictions. The Apostle Paul states it very well when he says, I am sure that what we are suffering now cant compare with the glory that will be shown to us.[12] Jesus is our ultimate example in this. Although his sufferings were unique in that only he could take upon himself the sin of the world, yet the way in which he patiently endured them is the model we are to follow. The Bible says, keep your mind on Jesus who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you wont get discouraged and give up.[13]
When we read the stories of those whove suffered for their faith in more recent times, this is what has helped them to endure. This was true of Helen Roseveare, a missionary doctor in Zaire during and after the violent Sima rebellion in 1964. Helen had gone there to minister medically and spiritually to the impoverished and neglected. But when the uprising took place she was beaten and raped by rebel soldiers, a gun was held to her head and she was ordered to declare that the rebel President was the saviour of the world. She was put in front of a firing squad and threatened with execution. By the grace of God, she remained steadfast through all these tortures, and within days was healed inwardly of her traumatic experiences. This didnt dissuade her from continuing her work in that country and God used those horrific experiences to put her in a unique position of being able to identify with the oppressed and feel compassion for them.
Another story is from China. During the last century several Chinese Christians were given a vision of taking the gospel overland back to Jerusalem, where it all began. In 1940, a young man named Simon Zao became the leading figure in this missionary vision and its leading evangelist. In the middle of a snow storm, he and two other believers prayed over a map of China, and God showed them that they should concentrate on Xinjiang, Chinas northwesternmost province, and the bordering regions. A number of Christians had similar visions, and made their way to Xinjiang on foot, on camels and sometimes in cars, until a team of 20-30 gathered at the end of 1948. Then the Communist armies took control of Xinjiang, closing the borders. All the members of this Northwest Spiritual Movement were imprisoned as traitors and deserters; the five main leaders received particularly harsh sentences. Simon was the only one who survived. His wife was pregnant at the time, and miscarried. She died after a short time in the womens prison. During the first months of his sentence, the guards tried to make Simon recant his faith; they soon learned that it was pointless. Whenever he prayed, they beat him, until he started praying in secret. They hit him on the back with heavy wooden benches, and kicked him mercilessly, but he refused to recant. His refusal prompted the extension of his sentence, and in the end, he was transferred to the coal mines a terribly cruel place, in which few survived more than six months. Simon was a small, slight man, and had to mine and transport tons of coal 14 hours each day, seven days a week. Miraculously, he survived, secretly leading a number of his fellow inmates to Jesus. Simon was not allowed to receive any visitors, but he knew that there was no-one who remembered him, in this border city thousands of kilometres away from home. His relatives did not know whether he was dead or alive. The years became decades.
During his time in the labour camp, Simon occasionally looked up to the stars, remembering the mission of travelling on foot to Jerusalem. Hed heard that his wife and child were dead, and the passion and fire for the missionary vision began to die. In the early days of his sentence, he often prayed Lord, I will never be able to go to Jerusalem myself, but I pray that you raise a new generation of Chinese Christians who will fulfil the vision.
After many years of suffering in the coal mine, Simon was almost dead. The government transferred him to a chemical factory, where he was exposed to poisonous gases. His fellow prisoners tormented him even worse than the guards: they once stripped him to his underwear and threw him out into the snow, ridiculing him with the words Your God can warm you! For the first few minutes, the cold was like a knife, but when he cried out to God, he was suddenly surrounded by warmth he soon started sweating as in a sauna, and the snow at his feet melted! Another time the other prisoners blows once fractured his skull. When he woke up, though, the injury was healed. Such miracles didnt happen every time. For thirty of his forty years in prison, Simon suffered brutal beatings. In 1988, he was suddenly released, as an old and broken man, his body marked with signs of the torture hed suffered; hed entered prison in 1948, freshly married, dynamic and full of vision. China had changed completely. There was nobody waiting for him. He managed to rent a small room, where he remained for months in silent prayer. After a while, local Christians heard about him, listened to his story and brought him food and a Bible. His story quickly spread through many thousands of hearts like a fire, many tears were wept. He lived and served another thirteen years, in which time the Chinese church treated him with great respect. Simon Zao returned to his Lord on 7th December 2001, surrounded by Christians who loved him and in the knowledge that the vision lives on.
Its people like Helen Roseveare Simon Zao that we want to remember and pray for now, for God calls all who follow him to share in the fellowship of his sufferings.
The following is a brief thought from the Radio Rhema devotional, The Word for Today, which was a great encouragement to me when going through a difficult time. It is based on a verse from 1 Peter 1 - Dont be surprised at fiery trials as if something strange were happening.[14] It goes on to say, Were into microwaving, but Gods into marinating! Maturing takes place in the furnace of affliction; youll never know how strong your faith is until youve been there. Besides, when you get to heaven and stand beside all those heroes who sacrificed their lives for their faith, how will you feel when all you can claim is that somebody said a harsh word to you, or that you were overlooked for a position in the church. Hebrews 11 celebrates men and women whose faith was tried by fire, and despite their human frailties, God saluted every one of them. Like Job they each said, Though he slay me, yet I will trust him.[15]
Paul could say, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death Can you say that, too?
[1] 1 Corinthians 10:16 (All Bible references are from the Contemporary English Version unless otherwise stated.)
[2] Phjilippians 3:10 NIV
[3] Mark 10:28-30 NRSV
[4] John 15:18,20; 16:33b
[5] 2 Timothy 3:12
[6] Romans 5:3-5
[7] cf 1 Peter 1:3-6
[8] James 1:2,4
[9] 2 Peter 1:5a, 8
[10] Acts 5:41
[11] 1 Peter 1:6 NRSV
[12] Romans 8:18
[13] Hebrews 12:3
[14] 1 Peter 4:12 NLT
[15] Job