A Theology of Suffering, Part 4: Drawing Near to God
I can never take part in life
Black worms have bound me
The chance to break down
The sorrows that weigh me down
I will never see, I will never find
The voice of the deep, lives here
And trickles out in
Conscience-laced streets
Dark beats, the only joy
That escapes through
My cracked surroundings
Set the hatch on ajar
To your innermost chamber
Open for me
Let me fill every crack
I open the sluice, let the water flow in
Water interspersed with sprouts
Grows firmly to my bottom
The interpreter shadows the light
When will it light?
Jesus’ invitation
Can be the solution to this
Remember it was not I
Who stole the peaceful shining
The light inside
A complete surrender
Let the holiness of the Lord
Fill my insides
And the power of the Holy Land renew
My soul, my mind
To the Lord I am raised up
–Extol, “Innbydelse”–
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on Thee.
–Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)–
They that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles.
–Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)–
They should seek the Lord,
if haply they might feel after Him,
and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us:
for in Him we live, and move, and have our being.
–Acts 17:27-28 (KJV)–
Draw nigh to God,
and He will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
–James 4:8 (KJV)–
I will therefore that men pray every where,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
–1 Timothy 2:8 (KJV)–
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world.
–Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:20 (KJV)–
—
Lester Liles, ed. Streams of Healing: A Book of Comfort (Revell, 1958), pp. 76-100.
Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ (Whitaker House, 1981).
Renovaré, Connecting with God (HarperOne, 2006).
—. Prayer and Worship (HarperOne, 2009).
Catherine Marshall, Adventures in Prayer (Ballantine Books, 1987).
—. The Helper (Chosen Books, 1978).
Craig Keener, Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life (Baker, 2025).
Bold Spirit-Filled Preachers of the Word of God
When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.
–Acts 4:31 (KJV)–
God gave them greater degrees of his Spirit, which was what they prayed for. Their prayer, without doubt, was accepted, for it was answered: They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than ever; by which they were not only encouraged, but enabled to speak the Word of God with boldness, and not to be afraid of the proud and haughty looks of men. The Holy Ghost taught them not only what to speak, but how to speak. Those that were endued habitually with the powers of the Holy Ghost had yet occasion for fresh supplies of the Spirit, according as the various occurrences of their service were. They were filled with the Holy Ghost at the bar (Acts 4:8), and now filled with the Holy Ghost in the pulpit, which teaches us to live in an actual dependence upon the grace of God, according as the duty of every day requires; we need to be anointed with fresh oil upon every fresh occasion. As in the providence of God, so in the grace of God, we not only in general live, and have our being, but move in every particular action, Acts 17:28. We have here an instance of the performance of that promise, that God will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him (Luke 11:13), for it was in answer to prayer that they were filled with the Holy Ghost: and we have also an example of the improvement of that gift, which is required of all on whom it is bestowed; have it and use it, use it and have more of it. When they were filled with the Holy Ghost, they spoke the word with all boldness; for the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man, to profit withal. Talents must be traded with, not buried. When they find the Lord God help them by his Spirit, they know they shall not be confounded, Isaiah 50:7.
–MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY ON ACTS 4:31–
—
Dr. John R. Rice, Why Preach Against Sin? (SLP, 1946), p. 4. “Other preachers, who do not have the courage or the conviction or the devotion to preach hard against sin, rationalize and excuse their failure. Sometimes they pretend that love and kindness of heart prevent their preaching against sin. They do not want to ‘hurt their testimony’ by offending anybody! How much nicer such preachers are than Jesus Christ Himself who preached so plainly against sin!”
Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries (Bethany House, 1959), chs. 3, 7, 9, 13.
David Wilkerson, Hey, Preach…You’re Comin’ Through! (Revell, 1968).
Touched By God’s Fire, Sent With His Word – John Cho
VERY STRONG WESLEYAN-HOLINESS MESSAGE.
GREAT MESSAGE ON MORTIFYING THE FLESH.
FEELING THE FIRE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
SEEING VISIONS OF GOD.
–J.B.–
When a Spirit-Filled Missionary Gets Answers to Prayer
I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
–Acts 27:22-25 (NIV)–
What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality? – Jonny Ardavanis
THIS IS THE BEST SERMON
AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY I’VE EVER HEARD.
–J.B.–

Why Christians Are Compromising On LGBTQ Issues At an Alarming Rate – AiG
The Rat Race vs The Right Race
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
–Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)–
Do you not know that in a race
all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize.
–1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)–
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
–Galatians 5:7-9 (NIV)–
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
–Matthew 6:33 (NIV)–
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
–1 Timothy 6:9-11 (NIV)–
—
Barking loudly against sin as a tone, for shock preaching, is commanded in Scripture. God has ordered preachers of his Word to speak this way. This is why the Son of God did so. Its not 100% always supposed to come out this way necessarily. Its also a sign of Spirit baptism. Not mental illness.
–Isaiah 56:10; 58:1; Matthew 23; Acts 4:31–
God gave them greater degrees of his Spirit, which was what they prayed for. Their prayer, without doubt, was accepted, for it was answered: They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than ever; by which they were not only encouraged, but enabled to speak the Word of God with boldness, and not to be afraid of the proud and haughty looks of men. The Holy Ghost taught them not only what to speak, but how to speak. Those that were endued habitually with the powers of the Holy Ghost had yet occasion for fresh supplies of the Spirit, according as the various occurrences of their service were. They were filled with the Holy Ghost at the bar (Acts 4:8), and now filled with the Holy Ghost in the pulpit, which teaches us to live in an actual dependence upon the grace of God, according as the duty of every day requires; we need to be anointed with fresh oil upon every fresh occasion. As in the providence of God, so in the grace of God, we not only in general live, and have our being, but move in every particular action, Acts 17:28. We have here an instance of the performance of that promise, that God will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him (Luke 11:13), for it was in answer to prayer that they were filled with the Holy Ghost: and we have also an example of the improvement of that gift, which is required of all on whom it is bestowed; have it and use it, use it and have more of it. When they were filled with the Holy Ghost, they spoke the word with all boldness; for the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man, to profit withal. Talents must be traded with, not buried. When they find the Lord God help them by his Spirit, they know they shall not be confounded, Isaiah 50:7.
–MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY ON ACTS 4:31–
—
Dr. John R. Rice, Why Preach Against Sin? (SLP, 1946), p. 4. “Other preachers, who do not have the courage or the conviction or the devotion to preach hard against sin, rationalize and excuse their failure. Sometimes they pretend that love and kindness of heart prevent their preaching against sin. They do not want to ‘hurt their testimony’ by offending anybody! How much nicer such preachers are than Jesus Christ Himself who preached so plainly against sin!”
David Wilkerson, Hey, Preach…You’re Comin’ Through! (Revell, 1968).
—. “What Happens to the Church When Preachers No Longer Preach Against Sin?”
—. “Running the Right Race.”
WesleyGospel, “David Wilkerson: Pentecostal Evangelist and Pastor.”
Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (Banner of Truth, 1974). “Take heed to yourselves, lest you be void of that saving grace of God which you offer to others, and be strangers to the effectual working of that Gospel which you preach; and lest, while you proclaim to the world the necessity of a Savior, your own hearts should neglect Him, and you should miss of an interest in Him and His saving benefits. Take heed to yourselves, lest you perish, while you call upon others to take heed of perishing. Though there is a promise of shining as the stars, to those ‘who turn many to righteousness,’ that is if they are first turned to it themselves. Their own sincerity in the faith is the condition of their glory though their great ministerial labors may be a condition of the promise of greater glory. Many have warned others that they come not to that place of torment, while yet they hastened to it themselves: Many a preacher is now in Hell, who hath hundreds of times called upon his hearers to escape it. Can any reasonable man imagine that God should save men for offering salvation to others, while they refuse it themselves? Many a tailor goes in rags, that maketh costly clothes for others. Believe it, brethren, God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man, and consequently faithful in his Master’s work.”
A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Wingspread, 1998).
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline (HarperOne, 2018).
Google A.I., “Top 50 Actors That Have Died In the Past 10 Years.” Reality check: all of these famous actors are no longer alive! Carl Weathers, Raquel Welch, Bob Saget, Sidney Poitier, Betty White, Sean Connery, Kirk Douglas, Max von Sydow, Luke Perry, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, Val Kilmer, Martin Landau, Bill Paxton, Ray Liotta, Margot Kidder, Mary Tyler Moore, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Gene Wilder, and Chuck Norris.
—. “Top 50 Musicians That Have Died In the Past 10 Years.” Reality check: all of these musicians are no longer alive! Prince, David Bowie, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, B. B. King, Eddie Van Halen, Chris Cornell, Neil Peart, Tina Turner, Coolio, DMX.

