Sermon on Compassion and Suffering by Pastor Marc E. Simeon

CHRIST THE ROCK CONGREGATION SUNDAY MAY 14TH2020 Sermon by Pastor Marc E Simeon CELUI QUI SOUFFRE A DROIT A LA COMPASSION DE SES AMIS CELUI QUI SOUFFRE A DROIT A LA COMPASSION DE SES AMIS TO HIM WHO IS AFFLICTED, KINDNESS SHOULD BE SHOWN BY HIS FRIENDS

LECTURE: JOB 6:1-14 Job 6:1 Job prit la parole et dit: 2 Oh! s'il tait possible de peser ma douleur, Et si toutes mes calamit s taient sur la balance, 3 Elles seraient plus pesantes que le sable de la mer; Voil pourquoi mes paroles vont jusqu' la folie! 4 Car les fl ches du Tout-Puissant m'ont perc , Et mon me en suce le venin; Les terreurs de Dieu se rangent en bataille contre moi. 5 L' ne sauvage crie-t-il aupr s de l'herbe tendre? Le b uf mugit-il aupr s de son fourrage?

6 Peut-on manger ce qui est fade et sans sel? Y a-t-il de la saveur dans le blanc d'un uf? 7 Ce que je voudrais ne pas toucher, C'est l ma nourriture, si d go tante soit- elle! 8 Puisse mon v u s'accomplir, Et Dieu veuille r aliser mon esp rance! 9 Qu'il plaise Dieu de m' craser, Qu'il tende sa main et qu'il m'ach ve! 10 Il me restera consolation, Une joie dans les maux dont il m'accable: Jamais je n'ai transgress les ordres du Saint. du moins une

11 Pourquoi esprer quand je n'ai plus de force? Pourquoi attendre quand ma fin est certaine? 12 Ma force est-elle une force de pierre? Mon corps est-il d'airain? 13 Ne suis-je pas sans ressource, Et le salut n'est-il pas loin de moi? 14 Celui qui souffre a droit la compassion de son ami, M me quand il abandonnerait la crainte du Tout-Puissant.

INTRODUCTION As I was preparing this message, two groups of people were in my mind. First, the ones who are suffering during this pandemic, who numbers we read about on a daily basis. Some are suffering at home Some are in the hospitals and won t probably make it. represent the

The second classes of people that were in my mind are the care givers. Those heroes in the front line, who put their lives on the line everyday seeking to save some or making the home going as pleasant as they can for some. We will pounder compassion, the one thing Job was begging from his friends who found it more convenient to play the role of judges in the happenings of his life. on the word

Dfinition du mot Compassion Sentiment de sympathie envers les maux d'une autre personne. Synonymes : piti , empathie, sensibilit , sympathie Contraires : indiff rence, insensibilit tymologie : D riv du latin "compassio" : souffrir ensemble.

Definition of compassion sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it Synonym for compassion PITY, COMPASSION, COMMISERATION, C ONDOLENCE, SYMPATHY mean the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another. COMPASSION implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

Who needs compassion? Everyone who is in need or in pain? Everyone who is victimized Everyone who is in sorrow or guilt. Everyone who judgment of God. is under the

My older daughter was very compassionate for her little sister when they were little. Every time the little sister got a spank or was being chastised, she would be in such distress. My wife and I were always in shock to observe how the compassion she had for the little sister was not mutual. We joke a lot about these good old days, and now, they have a well balanced relationship if not the other way.

I always feel guilty when my wife gets sick because I can never repay the tender care and the compassion I receive from her when I am sick. Even if I try hard, I always come short. When I was little, there was almost a joy to be sick; you will get a little can of sweet nestle condensed milk all for yourself. You may even get a box of Ritz cookies. The whole house is dedicated to make you well and all the attention is on you during the sickness. Getting well was usually bitter sweet.

Job 6:14 Celui qui souffre a droit la compassion de son ami, M me quand il abandonnerait la crainte du Tout-Puissant. (LSV) 14 "To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. (NKJV)

SHOWING UNCONDITIONAL KINDNESS TO ALL Many a times, we the servants of God walk around as judges looking for people to declare guilty. It is true that all men are guilty in the sights of God, because the Bible declares: For, all have sinned and come short to the glory of God. It is true that we need to let the unrepentant sinner know how he is perceived from the optic of the holy God. Although salvation is the ultimate need of all men, but sometimes salvation may not be the immediate need of a soul.

A homeless man said it best: Soap, soup, salvation. Remembering homeless man in a cold night, manage to make it to a shelter to spend the night. First, the shelter offered him a bar of good smelling soap and directed him to the shower. After a good hot bath and some clean clothes to put on, they offered him a hot bowl of chicken soup. how as this

Cleaned and well fed, then they directed him to the chapel to hear about salvation. In reminiscence, he wrote this poem: Soap, Soup, Salvation. Many times, we Christians are guilty of being generous with our prayers and stingy in our deeds.

THE THE CASE After Job had lost all his possessions and then all his children, he then lost his health with an incurable disease. In pain, in grief, in agony, in anguish and in despair, he began to pour out his sorrows but to the wrong ears. Have you ever meet a don t care person in a time of need and urgency? Job was in need of compassion Job was in need of encouragement Job was in need of hope CASE OF OF JOB JOB

Job was in need of sympathy Job was in need of empathy Job was in understood. Job was in need of kindness. Job was in need of optimism Job was in need of something or someone to snatch him out of the misery state he was in. need of being

Job was in need of someone to just listen to him and allow him to just pour it all out. Job was in need of someone who understood pain, hopelessness. Job was in need of someone who was not keeping theological incorrectness. lost, grief and count of his

When he sensed that his friends were more ready to give him a sermon, he snapped and confronted them. I know that you guys think that I am guilty, or that I am living a double life. I can see your verdict of me in your faces. I can read it in between the lines in your words.

Lets say that I am as guilty and well deserving of my calamities as you think, shouldn t our friendship covered for that. Shouldn t our common humanity prompt you to feel compassionate toward me? You are human susceptible to the same pitfalls if ever it is in sin that I fail. You are my friends; you should be the last to condemn me because you know me, and you know my record. like me; you are

HOW TO MINISTER TO PEOPLE IN AFFLICTION Having to suffer is one thing, but having to win the compassion understanding of others is far more difficult. Ga 6:2 Portez les fardeaux les uns des autres, et vous accomplirez ainsi la loi de Christ. (LSV) 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (NKJV) and the

1Th 5:14 Nous vous en prions aussi, fr res, avertissez ceux qui vivent dans le d sordre, consolez ceux qui sont abattus, supportez les faibles, usez de patience envers tous. (LSV) 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (NKJV)

Col 3:12-14 12 Ainsi donc, comme des lus de Dieu, saints et bien-aim s, rev tez-vous d'entrailles de mis ricorde, de bont , d'humilit , de douceur, de patience. 13 Supportez-vous les uns les autres, et, si l'un a sujet de se plaindre de l'autre, pardonnez-vous r ciproquement. De m me que Christ vous a pardonn , pardonnez-vous aussi. 14 Mais par-dessus toutes ces choses rev tez- vous de la charit , qui est le lien de la perfection.

Col 3:12-14 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

LA REPONCE DE JOB A SES AMIS. Job 6:1 Job prit la parole et dit: 2 Oh! s'il tait possible de peser ma douleur, Et si toutes mes calamit s taient sur la balance, 3 Elles seraient plus pesantes que le sable de la mer; Voil pourquoi mes paroles vont jusqu' la folie! Job comprenait que ses paroles taient m lang es de folie. Job cherchait un moyen attirer la compassion de ses amis. Il n est pas bien d interrompre quelqu un qui cherche disputer son innocence devant Dieu.

The most difficult thing in a counseling session is the ability to remain calm and attentive when the person in question may be saying a lot of nonsense. To withhold that strong desire to straight them right prematurely is what makes one a great counselor. Job was one of the wisest men alive in his time, he knew that his words were mixed with folly but he still felt deserving of the listening ears of his colleagues.

4 Car les flches du Tout-Puissant m'ont perc, Et mon me en suce le venin; Les terreurs de Dieu se rangent en bataille contre moi. Pour Job, il y avait quelque chose qui ne marchait pas. Job sentait que le sort de quelqu un d autre est jet sur lui. Job sentait que Dieu n tait pas juste dans son arr t contre lui.

Job sentait que son innocence tait vaine et inaper ue par Dieu. Job ressentait la d ception de la part de Dieu. La conception que Job avait de Dieu tait questionn e parce mettre la main sur la faute pour laquelle Dieu serait si f ch de lui. confusion et la qu il ne pouvait

8 Puisse mon vu s'accomplir, Et Dieu veuille r aliser mon esp rance! 9 Qu'il plaise Dieu de m' craser, Qu'il tende sa main et qu'il m'ach ve! 10 Il me restera du moins une consolation, Une joie dans les maux dont il m'accable: Jamais je n'ai transgress les ordres du Saint. Job tait d u de Dieu et voulait en m me temps s abstenir de transf rer son affection vers un autre que son Cr ateur.

Job faisait appel a la mort parce quil vivait un paradoxe, un cauchemar. D une part, il ne veut rien avoir affaire avec le diable, et en d autre part, le silence de Dieu r sonnait trop fort dans sa conscience. Donc la seule solution semblait de rendre l me! Les vrais serviteurs de Dieu se retrouvent dans cette vall e plus fr quemment que vous l auriez imagin .

when God doesnt make sense is the title of a book written by Dr James Dobson If it is not the judgment of God, then what is it? I have no business with the devil and I have kept the right path before God, then what is the explanation for all these calamities and now my health, and now my so called friends!

11 Pourquoi esprer quand je n'ai plus de force? Pourquoi attendre quand ma fin est certaine? 12 Ma force est-elle une force de pierre? Mon corps est-il d'airain? 13 Ne suis-je pas sans ressource, Et le salut n'est-il pas loin de moi? I can sense that some children of God are angry with God over the way they or their families were not spared by God from contracting the disease.

Even if you get your theology right, you can still tend to think that only the wicked should be sick and in lacks. Yet, many who seem to be the least beneficial to God are enjoying a full life with no hindrance.

TRUSTING GOD IN THE BLANK Job could never get his theology right because he was missing some clues in the puzzle. While Job was thinking of the judgment of God, while in reality, he was an object of pride to God. While Job was thinking that his life was meaningless to God, yet he was spotted as the most righteous man in his generation. While Job thought that all was finished for him, yet he was going to get back on his feet better than ever before.

While Job thought he was forgotten by God, yet his picture made the front page in God daily newspaper. While Job was neglected on earth, he was a crowned hero in the throne of God. While Job thought that his dilemma was a small personal affair, a whole book of the Bible was going to be devoted to the story of his life. While Job thought that he was living the last chapter of his life, he was about to embark in the better half of his life where God was about to grant him double for his trouble.

CONCLUSION 14 Celui qui souffre a droit la compassion de son ami, M me quand il abandonnerait la crainte du Tout-Puissant. What is your attitude in these days of turmoil? You who are under the gun of this pandemic are my target of attention today. Who said it is all finish for you; is it a man or God Himself? Who said this sickness is going to see that last of you? Is it a man or God Himself?

Who told you not to make plans for the future? Is it a man or God Himself? We need to show compassion to all the suffering people. We must not discriminate Christians and non Christians in our sympathy toward the ones who are suffering. between

This may not be the best time to preach with words but let your actions do the preaching for you. If you are a nurse caring for corona virus patients, please give equal care to all your patients.

The grumpy old man who is the most difficult patient on the floor may just be scared of death, be a beacon of hope and the hands of God to him. The lady with tattoos all over her body who is so demanding and so ungrateful may be dealing with guilt of the past knowing that her days are numbered.

I think that the people who work in the front lines with these infected patients and who are doing it with a full heart are the closest to Jesus any human being can ever get. Because they expose their healthy lives in hopes of saving sick people. Maybe you can even save some dying souls and usher them to paradise just like Jesus did for one of the criminals who were on the cross next to Him if you treat them right.

Job 6:14 Celui qui souffre a droit la compassion de son ami, M me quand il abandonnerait la crainte du Tout-Puissant. (LSV) 14 "To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. (NKJV) AMEN!