(Message by Pastor Dominic Rodrigues from Korba, Chhattisgarh)
It is my privilege to share the Word with you today. I am pastoring the Masih Aradhana Church , in Korba, Chhattisgarh, which is part of Race of Joy Ministries based in Agra
Today, as we open up our bibles, let us focus our hearts and minds to hear the word of God. May His word richly dwell in us-this is the purpose of hearing. We know the verse from John 3:16- an open invitation to all to believe in Christ and experience everlasting life; but let us remember the verse from Col.
Today, I want to talk about how to deal with difficult people and circumstances. Remember-we are called to be His witnesses wherever we go! How can we show-up Christ in our everyday life? We are going to face some difficult people, and some unpleasant circumstances; but thank God for Word. We read in it about people who found favor with God-even as they dealt with difficult people and situations in their own lives; and we can learn from them. You see, they were no different from you and me; for they faced similar hurdles, yet overcame those hurdles by displaying some unique traits of Christ-likeness. We will see them one-by-one
Noah
God called this man to do something special; He gave Noah a vision and a mission-something that had never been accomplished before-building an ark! You see, those days, there was no rain. People around had no idea of what he was talking about, as he went about building the ark. They mocked at him. But it is written about Noah in Gen. 6:9 “…Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”
And in verse 22, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” (Gen. 6:22). The character of obedience was Noah’s forte-no matter how little he understood of what God told him-he was determined to fulfill it. We can learn from Noah, obedience to God’s word-complete and immediate obedience. Not partial obedience of taking what suits you-which is in effect disobedience! Whatever God says, do it all for Him! This will help us face difficult people, because we live not as men-pleasers, but God-pleasers.
Jacob
We know the history of Jacob-a schemer, through and through. But there was a time in his life, when he had to deal with his past-he was about to meet his estranged brother Esau! He had heard Esau was coming with a company of 400 men. Left alone, Jacob struggled with his own emotions and fears, and he met God. He prayed, please bless me – “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” What happened? He was a changed man from then on-his name was changed from Jacob to Israel
Prayer signifies our dependence on God; prayer leads to humility. This is what we learn from Jacob-Humility. Jesus humbled Himself and He calls us to humble ourselves. This may be quite easy in God’s presence; but how about humbling yourself as you face others in the world? The Lord sees the heart; and His hand is stretched out against the haughty. Jacob humbled himself before Esau. We can learn this from him and humble ourselves before our brothers and sisters, here and now.
Joseph
Yes, we know about Joseph too! We know of his dreams and his interpretations. He loved his brothers and would visit them, bring them food. But you know what- his brothers hated him and sought an opportunity to put him away! People around us would do the same-they will forget our good deeds and even become ungrateful over a period of time, they will misuse us – these are the ‘well’ experiences that Joseph faced too! Or there may be a temptation we may face in our life; Joseph faced it too! And he triumphed over it. Gen.39:2 says that the LORD was with Joseph and He found the favor of God (v21). His question can be our quest too-“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Holiness is what God is calling us to. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and the Lord does watch over His temple. No temptation will be too great-for the Holy Spirit will be our Helper; the church leaders are there to help us; our brothers and sisters in Christ are there to help us lead a holy life-there is no excuse for ‘falling’ in sin!
Moses
Do you wonder what we can learn from Moses? Really, a lot! We know of all his excuses when God called him. We know of his anger and burden for the people of Israel. But let me choose for now one instance in Moses’ life and his character revealed through it – He longed for God’s presence. His Holy Presence will help us deal with difficult circumstances. Moses wanted God’s presence more than anything; remember in Exodus 33, he was given an option to proceed further to the Promised Land-with an Angel! But Moses cried out in verse 15 …and said to Him “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
We can learn to pray like Moses... Lord, I long for Your Presence only. Let me find grace in Your sight. Come with me! Help me.
David
Have you ever wondered how many people are willing to give advice and opinions when you have to face the difficulties in life? There will be quite a few. David faced it too. The young lad had heard Goliath and was determined to face the giant alone in battle (1 Samuel 17). But then he heard various opinions from his own brothers. Even king Saul had his own opinions (v33) and adviced David on what to wear and what to carry. And you know what David did – He followed none of their advices, but remembered his past victories in God-victories over a lion and a bear! David said to Saul: "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
Remember what God has done for you. For Saul had a plan for young David-but it was not God’s plan! David had a plan based on his own experiences of what God had done in the past; and a vision of the future-of what would happen to Goliath. And it worked perfectly!
Where do you go for your own vision of the future? Do you run to the church leaders and search for answers; or would you rather remember of what God has done with you in the past and yield to God’s plan? Forget not all His benefits-for He has redeemed your life from destruction.
Joseph (of Arimathea)
Luke 23:50, 51 talks about a just man, Joseph-who was watching and waiting for the kingdom of God
Here we are waiting for the Lord’s return. The Lord is coming to take His people… the harvest is indeed plenty, but the laborers are few. If you are watching and waiting for the Lord’s return, let us also do the right things-be just, be righteous, be merciful, be honest. Because we fear God, we will not consent to evil. Trust in God and do the right!
Jesus
Jesus left His glory, came as a baby; lived as a human but underwent inhuman sufferings; convicted though sinless, died among sinners, but rose again victorious. Peter had this image of Jesus fixed on his mind “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth…” (Isaiah 53: 7). That is why Peter writes:
1 Peter 2: 20-24
For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.
Suffer in silence. This is what we learn from Jesus. This is what we are called for when we have to deal with difficult people in our own lives. We have a perfect example in Jesus.
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