REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD

REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD 02 : Justice For All Nations FGA Genesis Cell Group 6th March, 2009 Welcome.

REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD • 01 : Home for the Homeless • 02 : Justice for All Nations • 03 : God’s Economy • 04 : Christian Stewardship • 05 : Christian Care & Compassion • 06 : Christian Hospitality

Video Clip : Shooting Dogs • Hutu • Tutsis • 6 April, 1994 • Genocide - massacre

What do you think God feels when He sees such injustices? • Why do you think mankind can be so cruel to each other? For what reason? To what end? GENOCIDE 6 April, 1994

What does Ecclesiastes 5:8 speaks about? Ecclesiastes 5:8 - If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. • Our response to Oppression – do not be amazed or marvel. • Ultimately there is a Supreme Judge of all. How God administers justice and how He judges is not for us to speculate or even make a demand upon BUT what we know is that God will judge.

Proverb 22:8 – Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.Proverb 21:15 – When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. • What do the above verses mean? What are some of the consequences of injustices? What can be experienced when finally justice is done? • What thoughts & feelings are aroused in us when we feel human rights have been violated? What really goes inside us as Malaysians in relation to the many issues in our political & social sphere? Is it right for us to have such perspectives? How would Jesus have responded if he were to be in our country today?

Proverb 22:8 – Whoever sows injustice will reapcalamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. What do the above verse mean? What are some of the consequences of injustices? What thoughts & feelings are aroused in us when we feel human rights have been violated? • Choices & Consequences : Injustice • If you sow injustice (or, iniquity), you will harvest disaster and your ability to oppress others will come to an end. The wicked reap what they sow. • See Job 4:8 and especially Gal 6:7-8.

Job 5:8 - Job, if I were you, I would ask God for help. • Galatians 6:7-8 7You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life.

Proverbs 21:15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. • What do the verse mean? • What can be experienced when finally justice is done? • When Justice is done. • Result – • the righteous are joyful • the wicked are terrified because God is just and the wicked will get the punishment they deserve in the end.

Malaysia – political & social issues • What really goes inside us as Malaysians in relation to the many issues in our political & social sphere? • What thoughts & feelings are aroused in us when we feel human rights have been violated? • Is it right for us to have such perspectives? How would Jesus have responded if he were to be in our country today?

Question There is a relationship between His Steadfast Love and His Acts of Justice. What do the 2 passages from Psalm have to tell us about this relationship? Psalm 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice – the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 37:6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. • What is “God’s steadfast love”? • What is “God’s justice” or “Justice of God” JUSTICE = LOVE JUSTICE + LOVE = CROSS OF JESUS

HEBREWS 10:30-38 30For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33sometimes beingpublicly exposed to reproach and affliction,and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37For,"Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."

CEV 30We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. 31It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God! 32Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others. 34You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever. 35Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36Learn to be patient, so that you will please God and be given what he has promised. 37As the Scriptures say, "God is coming soon! It won't be very long. 38The people God accepts will live because of their faith. But he isn't pleased with anyone who turns back."

APPLICATION • Prayer of blessing for our nation and those in authority. • Pray for countries under oppression. • Start to dispense justice to those around us.

GOD BLESS

REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD