“Man of Faith, Why?”

6. “Man of Faith, Why?”

7. “Man of Faith, Why?” Physics?

8. “Man of Faith, Why?” Socio-Political-Economics?

9. “Man of Faith, Why?”

10. “Man of Faith, Why?”

11. “Man of Faith, Why?”

12. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer?

13. “ ... The most precious gift that marriage gave me was this constant impact of something very close and intimate yet all the time unmistakably other, resistant ﾑ in a word, real. Is all that work to be undone? Is what I shall still call [Helen] to sink back horribly into being not much more than one of my old bachelor pipedreams? Oh my dear, my dear, come back for one moment and drive that miserable phantom away. Oh God, God, why did you take such trouble to force this creature out of its shell if it is now doomed to crawl back -- to be sucked back -- into it? Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis From A Grief Observed ”

14. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? Job 6:26 26Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?

15. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? John 11 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? John 11 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus wept. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

17. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? John 11 38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

18. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer?

19. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? God is in control

20. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? God is in control Pain is Real

21. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? God is in control Pain is Real It’s not only okay, but expected to weep

22. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? God is in control Pain is Real It’s not only okay, but expected to weep God weeps with you

23. “Man of Faith, Why?” Pastoral Answer? God is in control Pain is Real It’s not only okay, but expected to weep God weeps with you You need each other at times like this

24. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer?

25. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? The Answer given to Job

26. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? The Answer given to Job Job 38:1-4 (see Job chapters 38-42 for God’s complete answer) 1Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? 3Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand…

27. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 1. The Nature of God - Who is He?

28. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? The Nature of God - Who is He? Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

29. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

30. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Good

31. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Good Loving

32. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Good Loving Powerful

33. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Good Loving Powerful Wise

34. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Good Loving Powerful Wise Holy

35. Exodus 34:5-7 5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Good Loving Powerful Wise Holy Just

36. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? The Nature of Humankind and this world - Who are we?

37. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? The Nature of Humankind and this world - Who are we? Genesis 3

38. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? The Nature of Humankind and this world - Who are we? Genesis 3Romans 1-3

39. 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:4 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

40. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 3. God ALWAYS does what is good and loving

41. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 3. God ALWAYS does what is good and loving Romans 8:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

42. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 4. God knows what he is doing when people suffer from tragedy

43. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 4. God knows what he is doing when people suffer from tragedy Hebrews 12:7-11 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined(and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

44. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 5. Bad things happen to ALL people

45. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 5. Bad things happen to ALL people Luke 13:1-9 1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

46. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 5. Bad things happen to ALL people Luke 13:1-9 6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig-tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

47. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 6. We ultimately were created for another world

48. “ …if I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy,the most probableexplanation is thatI was made foranother world Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis From Mere Christianity ”

49. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 6. We ultimately were created for another world Revelation 21:1-7 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

50. “Man of Faith, Why?” Theological Answer? 6. We ultimately were created for another world Revelation 21:1-7 5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.