What Is the Bread of Affliction?

Well, we are concluding the celebration of the days of Unleavened Bread this year. We correctly understand, of course, that leavening represents sin, and we have meditated on the need to remove sin from our lives. Represented by that leaven about a week ago, we symbolically removed leaven from our homes in an effort to remind us of the need to remove sin from our hearts. We also correctly understand that Jesus Christ is the bread of life, and eating unleavened bread, pictures putting Christ in us, another beautiful meaning of these days. As I said, they're beautiful. They're meaningful lessons that we demonstrate each year during the Holy Days. But we must never forget that the symbols behind God's feast are multidimensional. We make a mistake when we think that they are limited to certain things because God thinks on a different level than we do. And the meanings of the symbols of His Holy Days are multidimensional. They have other powerful meanings that we don't always appreciate. Perhaps we don't always emphasize them. Perhaps we don't fully realize them. And this is also true of eating unleavened bread. And I would like to discuss an additional meaning that we don't often discuss of regarding unleavened bread and the meaning of it today from the Word of God. So if you'll turn to Deuteronomy 16 beginning in verse 1, we will see what this additional meaning is of unleavened bread. And as Reinhardt was giving his sermonette today, it was uncanny how well these messages tied together. It was almost as if he and I sat down for lunch. And I said, well, here's the theme for the afternoon. And he said, oh, I'll cover these. I'll cover this Scripture and this point. And I said, okay, I'll cover this Scripture and this point as well. I'll cover this point because they dovetail so well together that it is truly amazing in my mind. And hopefully you will come to see that as well. Deuteronomy 16 beginning in verse 1. It says, Huh?

The Hebrew word here for affliction is oni, and it means misery. It means trouble. It can also mean depression from the Hebrew. The bread of depression, the bread of trouble, translated in the New King James as the bread of affliction. I'm going to read this in verse 3 from the New Century version.

Brethren, we don't like to talk about affliction. We don't like to talk about trials. We don't like to talk about suffering. We like to talk about comfort. That's what we like to talk about. But the truth is, brethren, that one of the meanings of eating unleavened bread during the feast is to remind us that we are living in a carnal world as physical beings. And the result of that, of coming out of Egypt, of living our lives of discipleship, one of the results of that is affliction. And again, that's not something that's real happy.

It's not something we like to talk about a lot. But we are in the process of coming out of spiritual Egypt, and we are heading to the kingdom of God. And you know what all of us face in that journey? We all occasionally suffer affliction, because that is part of the plan. That's part of what God has planned for us. You see, brethren, the reason that is part of God's plan is that God is not in the comfort business.

God is in the business of building character. This means that living in a physical world, even as a stranger and a pilgrim in this physical world and marching towards the Promised Land, means that you and I will have periods of affliction and suffering. Hopefully also a lot of periods of settling down, of ease, of comfort. And that's not a bad thing in itself. But between those periods of comfort and ease and things going well, there are going to be periods of affliction and suffering.

And this should not shock us, because someone else taught us this fact by his very example. Someone else taught us that this would be necessary by the example of the life that he led. And that someone is Jesus Christ.

So let's go to 1 Peter 2 and verse 18. If you will turn there with me. 1 Peter 2 and verse 18. Peter was inspired to write, servants, all of us, by the way, should consider ourselves to be servants of Jesus Christ, servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and the gentle, but also to the harsh.

I might add that anyone can be submissive to someone else who treats them extremely well. That's easy. The hard part is to be submissive when you are treated harshly. Verse 19, Peter continues, for it is commendable if because of your conscience towards God one endures grief suffering wrongfully.

For what credit is it if when you were beaten for your faults you take it patiently? In other words, if we do something wrong and it comes back in our heads, frankly, we usually deserve the grief that we bring upon ourselves. He says you don't get a commendation for that. 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. Now, He didn't suffer for us so that we'll never have to suffer. Oh, my, no. He 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 or verbally abused, did not revile, did not verbally abuse in return. He didn't respond that way. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. He said, I am going to leave this abuse in the hands of my Father. Whatever I'm going through and experiencing, I'm just going to leave it in the God's hands, and I'm not going to worry about it. Verse 24, He Himself bore our sins on His own body on the tree that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.

So we have a new reason for living, a new reason for life by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. I believe that sometimes we have a misconception about our calling as we continue to live in the flesh. After we are converted and after we receive God's Spirit, we are given our marching orders.

We are to leave this world. We are to march forward towards the kingdom of God and the Promised Land, but we are still human beings composed of flesh. We still live in a world of futility, don't we? Sometimes we may think that Christ suffered so that we don't have to suffer. The truth is that Jesus suffered so that we don't have to pay for our own sins. He accepted upon Himself the penalty for our transgressions, and this resulted in Him suffering torture and death so that we can have eternal life.

But that does not mean that we are not to experience the bread of affliction or trials or suffering. This doesn't mean that He suffered so that our physical lives can be easy, can be comfortable, can be pain-free. We are mortal physical beings, and suffering again is intended to be part of God's plan to build a spiritual family. I'd like to tell you a story of how this misconception can affect us. Many years ago, I had a very close friend. He was probably the closest friend I've had in my physical lifetime. I first met him at Ambassador College, and we just had personalities, and we just got along exceedingly well.

I watched him as he met a girl, and he grew to love that girl. He left college, and the girl had a grandfather who owned a business in Cleveland, so sure enough, before I knew it, he was living in Cleveland. We did all kinds of stuff together. We played tennis together every week. We watched football games. We spent a lot of time as pals and buddies spending lots of time together. If he had one flaw, he was actually a very nice gentleman, and he grew up in the church.

Physically speaking, at least, for what I could observe, he was a very faithful person. If he had one flaw, and by the way, Satan knows every one of our Achilles heels. He knows every one of our potential flaws.

If he had one flaw, he was given too much in life too soon. By the time he was in his twenties, he owned a big home. Had a huge salary. Pretty wife, couple of kids, drove around Cadillacs, had a nice title at work, all in his twenties. Phenomenally blessed. Well, in the period of time, unfortunately, sadly, his wife began to drift from the faith. And she did some things that she should not have done, and he was devastated.

And I remember a very tense conversation with him once, near the end, before he would move away. And he said to me, Greg, I did everything I was supposed to do. I go to church every Sabbath. I tithe. I meticulously keep the Ten Commandments. I've done everything right I'm supposed to do. Why is this happening to me? And unfortunately, his marriage broke up and his wife left him. He was devastated. He was thinking of Deuteronomy 28, which sometimes, unfortunately, I think we may emphasize too much.

We may forget that the blessings and curses chapter are a national promise. It's not an individual promise. It's a national promise about a nation that was part of a covenant with God. And if the nation did what was right, that the nation would receive certain blessings.

And if it did, what was wrong? The nation would receive certain curses. And my friend could not understand how he was supposed to receive blessings because he was so faithful. And did so many things right, but he did. And how his life and the circumstances of life could cause so much pain and anguish. What we just saw here in the book of Peter, that Jesus led by example, great leaders are willing to do whatever they ask anyone else to do.

Because they lead by example. Jesus Christ suffered and grew in glory because he accepted it as part of the Father's plan for his physical life. He did this as an example that you and I must follow. Why should we follow it? Because God has a plan for each and every one of us in here, and that plan is different. Last night I heard Mr. Miller's sermon on the first holy day with a belt, boots, and a branch. I'm not going to give you a pop quiz today.

But one of the things that he mentioned in there again sparked a thought in my mind that I've already mentioned is the Cleveland before. But when we were called, and God called us into his way of life, and we were converted, and we came out of that baptismal tank, we had hands laid on us, and we received the Holy Spirit, we began a journey, didn't we? We began a journey towards the kingdom of God.

And we knew the end of the journey. It's called the kingdom of God. It's called the family of God. It's called being a spiritual child of God and living forever. But none of us knows the path that we're going to take that the Father has set before us to get us from here to there. Only the Father knows that. And my friend did not understand that there is a path that we all must take.

There is a burden or burdens that we all must bear. Sometimes those are due to our own actions. Sometimes they are due to other actions. And we'll talk about the four reasons for the bread of affliction later on in the sermon. But what I want to bring out here is the fact that none of us know what the Father is going to require us to do, to experience in that journey. When I was called, I was 17 years old, going on 18. I was not married. I was single. I was an electrician's apprentice.

I had already been rejected by a particular college located in Pasadena, California, that told me you are not of the stuff we're looking for. And I began my journey. I had not the slightest clue of what God would put me through for the next 40-ish years to bring me to where I am today. My career choices, the woman that I would marry, the diseases I would acquire, all the things that would happen in my life, I had no idea.

And today, I still understand eventually where I'm going to be. At 60 years old, I understand the end of the journey. And, oh yeah, I have plans for the next 10 years. About this time, God goes, hahaha! Your plans? Because we just don't know with a belt, a boots, and a branch as we're taking that journey where the Father is going to take us to get to the Promised Land.

But through that journey, He is going to allow us to suffer the bread of affliction, disparagefully, emotionally get us to where we need to be to serve Him. Let's go to Hebrews 5, verse 5. Hebrews 5, verse 5.

Hebrews 5, verse 5.

It says, So also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but it was he who said to him, You are my son, today I have begotten you. As he also says in another place, You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, which we know was a priesthood before there was a Levitical priesthood, who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with the eminent cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death and was heard because of his godly fear, though he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

The bread of affliction. I'm going to read this from the translation, New Century Version. While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because he trusted God. Even though Jesus was the son of God, he learned obedience by what he suffered. Now, Mr. Thomas, do you mean to say that Jesus, Jesus Christ, the son of God, actually learned something new? And the answer to that question is yes, absolutely, by living as a humble servant in the flesh with the temptations of the flesh.

And the sensations of having human flesh. By living that way, by emptying himself of his glory to become flesh and walk on earth, he lived and learned a richer and deeper meaning of what obedience is and how challenging it is through suffering. He absolutely learned obedience by what he suffered. And you know what, brethren?

You and I do as well. If we do it for the right reasons, the right motives, and have the right attitude or perspective through those challenges, I'm going to mention to you in a little bit how to pass the test that Mr. Klet mentioned in his sermon at. Romans 8 and 13. Let's go there and take a look at what Paul said to the congregation in Rome. Romans 8 and 13. As I mentioned earlier, we don't often like to talk about suffering, do we? We don't like to talk about trials. We don't like to talk about affliction. But the truth is that is an essential part of our calling. You know what?

Everyone suffers affliction. Your neighbor across the street, whom God hasn't called, your neighbor's suffering affliction. You may not talk about it. They may not mention it to you. But they're suffering affliction. The difference is, is most of the world suffers affliction without hope. They suffer affliction without realizing there is a purpose to it. And we have the privilege and the knowledge and the truth of realizing that affliction has a purpose for us. There is a reason.

And that reason is embedded in our hope and faith in knowing who and what Jesus Christ is and the fact that God is working with us as individuals to get us wherever we need to be. Romans 8, verse 13, By whom we cry, Abba, which is an Aramaic term, very enduring Aramaic term, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself, should be properly translated, itself, bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

And if children, then heirs and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him. That's affliction. That we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Haven't been revealed yet. You and I look like anyone else. We're fleshly. We get diseases. We get discouraged. Right now the world can't tell us from anyone else.

It is eagerly awaiting for the revealing of the sons of God. And that'll be done at the return of Jesus Christ. For the creation was subjected to futility. This is a Greek word, futility. Matayochos, which means useless or frustration or vanity. The creation was subjected to vanity, the uselessness, the frustration. Not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope. It's so that everyone would long for something better and more permanent and more substantial.

Verse 21, because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. And you know what? When we go through an affliction, when the doctor gives us that diagnosis, we don't want to hear.

We groan and labor within ourselves, don't we? If we lose our jobs suddenly and it was unexpected, we groan or labor within ourselves. If we have that unexpected bill, you know, a few weeks ago my geothermal system died. It's only going to cost $11,000 to replace it. When you have that unexpected expense, we groan and labor. Well, at least Mr. Thomas groaned and labored over that one, I can tell you that. Like birth pangs until now.

So we go through various afflictions, and through those afflictions we have a sense of groaning and laboring because we don't like it. It doesn't feel good. But brethren, the bread of affliction is part of God's development plan for our lives as physical human beings coming out of sin, but still living in a carnal world, we naturally, we were designed, because God chose to keep us human, we were designed to experience sufferings and challenges and disappointments because we learn obedience and faithfulness by the things that we suffer.

God uses these experiences to mold us into His adopted children. Life isn't always easy because it wasn't intended to be always easy. I can't speak for you. I can only speak for me because I only live my own life. But I'm going to make myself vulnerable here, and I'm going to tell you a little bit about what I've discovered in my own life.

Even though I desire comfort and ease, and trust me, I enjoy a good brew and comfort and ease, I like that. But even though I desire comfort and ease, I personally don't grow as a person during times of comfort and ease. I become stagnant. I become entitled. I become too comfortable. I grow when I'm stretched. I grow when I am stressed. That's how I grow. And since all of you are human beings, whether we want to admit it or not, I would assume that the same may be true for you as it is for me. Let's go to 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 1. 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 1.

This is the second letter of Corinthians that Paul wrote. He had received some encouraging news after his strong first letter that the church was beginning to change its ways. It was beginning to come around. He was encouraged by that. And he says here in chapter 8, beginning in verse 1, He says, Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, for in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality, meaning generosity. They abounded in spite of the fact that he said they were going through a great trial of affliction. He says, and in spite of the fact that they lived in poverty, they didn't have much. They abounded in the riches of their generosity towards the churches, towards Paul. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and fellowship of the ministering to the saints. So we see here that Paul commended the churches in Macedonia because they accepted great affliction combined with, and this is how we pass the test, combined with joy. Now that's easy to say theoretically, but it is very hard to do. Anyone can gripe when they're afflicted. That's natural. Also, anyone can experience joy when they're in comfort, when everything's going their way. That's also natural. It doesn't take any skill to do those things. But the key to the character that God is developing within us is to accept affliction, the discomfort, the stress of affliction with joy when that affliction comes upon us. That's hard. But you know, that's also one of the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5, joy. Let's see another example. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 1. If you'll turn there with me. Another letter of Paul's to the congregation at Thessalonica. Let's see if he has the same basic theme here.

1 Thessalonians 1 chapter 1. Paul, Sylvanas, Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.

3 Knowing, beloved brethren, that your election by God, for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 4 We lived exemplary lives as elders, and we gave to you, and we set a good example.

You remember that. 5 And you became followers of us and the Lord, having received the word in much affliction. 6 No, it wasn't easy to accept the truth. It was uncomfortable to live the life that God has called us to live. 7 Instead, Paul says they received the word in much affliction. Notice what other ingredient was added here. 8 With joy of the Holy Spirit. 9 Once again, just like we saw in 2 Corinthians, Paul is making that connection between affliction and how should we respond.

10 How can we pass the test? We leave it in the hands of the Father, like Jesus Christ did. We read earlier. 11 We just leave it in the hands of our righteous Father, and we endure it with joy. 12 Let's take a look at John, chapter 15, verse 8. 13 We read these scriptures recently. 14 And of course, we know that by this time, in John, chapter 15, Jesus has already washed his feet of the disciples. 15 They've already been through the Passover. Judas has already left. Jesus, of course, knew that Judas was going to betray him.

16 He knew that he was going to have this discussion with his disciples, that he was going to eventually go to the garden and communicate with his father. 17 He was going to be arrested, and he was going to face an unbelievable night and next day of anxiousness, fear, terror, and anxiety. 18 He knew all of that. 19 And now let's see what he says here in verse 11. Knowing in advance that he understands all of these things.

20 He says, chapter 15, verse 8, 21 By this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit. 22 And you know how we're going to bear much fruit? We're going to follow his example, because we've been told that.

23 He led an example. He suffered. And we have to accept the fact that that is part of our calling. 24 And it's through that process of the bread of affliction, accepting the bread of affliction with joy, that we can bear much fruit. 25 So you will be my disciples. As the father loved me, I also have loved you, 26 Abided my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love.

27 Verse 11, this is the key. Think of all that he already knows, that he's facing. 28 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 29 Is he facing affliction shortly? You bet he's facing affliction, far more than any of us will experience in our physical lifetimes.

30 But you know how he's facing that affliction? He's facing it with a deep inner sense of a fruit of the Spirit called joy. 31 And his prayer for his church was that we would bear much fruit, and that we would reflect in our lives the joy that he reflected in spite of the bread of affliction that he was about to experience. 32 Let's go to James 5 and verse 10. I'd like to give a definition, the difference between happiness and joy. 33 Human happiness is due to something that occurs on the outside. 34 Oh, I got a raise!

Goodie! My best meal is set before me! Yeah! 35 That's what human happiness is. It's due to something that occurs on the outside. 36 But brethren, the difference between happiness and joy is joy is re-adiated from the inside out, and it transcends what's going on the outside. 37 Happiness, it can come and go, depending on the circumstance, because it's all external. 38 Joy is internal, and it transcends whatever is happening to us, whatever the doctor's diagnosis is, whatever financial setback we experience.

39 Joy transcends whatever's happening on the outside, because it's radiated from within. James 5, verse 10. James writes, 40 My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. 42 Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You see, they accepted their calling of suffering, and they did it patiently. 43 And because they were willing to do that, we look back in their lives and we can say they are blessed because they were faithful to the end.

44 They accept the dead bread of affliction, whatever that bread of affliction was. And for each of us, it's different. Let's see another example that ties in closely with the original Exodus, Hebrews 11, verse 23.

45 The author of the book of Hebrews writes, 46 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's command. 47 You know what his parents were going through? Affliction. A command had come out that all of these male children should die. 48 And they said, no, we're going to find another way. They were suffering affliction. 49 By faith, Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

50 No, he could have chosen comfort. He could have chosen to have those sweet-smelling little lotus-sended waters splashed on him every day by three beautiful women. 51 By being called the son of Pharaoh, being toted around in a chariot all day. 52 Moses! Moses! He could have chosen that as a form of lifestyle, but says, no, he chose consciously to suffer affliction with the lowliest, the servants, the slaves of Pharaoh.

53 And he did it willingly than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. 54 Esteeming the reproach, or the insult or the abuse of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. So he was willing to accept insult. He put more importance on accepting abuse, in contrast to the riches of Egypt. 55 For he looked to the reward, that of course is eternal life. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who was invisible.

56 By faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as dry land, whereas the Egyptians attempting to do so were drowned. 57 I want you to notice the stress, the trials, the suffering that is experienced by Moses. And he did it in faith, because he looked to the Promised Land. 58 In spite of that journey that he was going on, and like Yos, he really had no way of knowing where he was going. 59 He had heard the old joke that if he would have just listened to his wife, they would have been in the Promised Land in a matter of hours instead of forty years.

60 But men don't often listen to their wives, especially when it comes to directions. He didn't know the route that God was going to take him on, but he looked to the reward. 61 Again, I want you to notice the stress, the trials, the suffering experienced by Moses so he could be prepared for greater service. 62 Why did God allow Jesus to suffer affliction? Why did God allow Moses to suffer affliction? Why do you suffer affliction? Why do I suffer affliction? 63 I think maybe part of this answer can be in this little story that was sent to me by the realtor of our church building.

I found this interesting. This came to me a few days ago, and the man who's the realtor of our church hall, we've had discussions on religion, and he's not buying it. He doesn't go to church. He has no interest in God. He's an agnostic. He doesn't see any value in it. He thinks unkindly of preachers of people like me, and he just has no interest whatsoever. So when he sent me this email, it caught my attention.

Here it is. It's called the carpenter. It says, an elderly carpenter was exhausted and ready to retire. He told the owner where he worked that he wanted to quit so he could relax and enjoy the family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he had finally saved enough so he would be able to get by in retirement. The owner was sorry to see the carpenter go, but asked if he could at least commit to helping him finish the house they were just about to start. The carpenter didn't want to do it, but he reluctantly said yes. As work began, it was easy to see that his heart was not in it.

He cut corners to speed up the process. He became irritable and quickly frustrated with others. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. This was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finally finished his work, the owner came to inspect the house. Then, in a surprise turn of events, he handed the carpenter the front-door key and said, Congratulations! This is your house! My gift to you! Thank you for your years of service! The carpenter was shocked. What a shame! If only he had known he was building his own home.

He would have done it so differently. And that is how it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, at times putting less than our best into the building process. Then, with a shock, we realized we have to live in the house that we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But you cannot go back. Think of our sermon this morning. Forward. You cannot go back.

You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, Life is a do-it-yourself project. Your attitude and the choices you make today help to build the house you will live in tomorrow. I think a pretty good story. If I would change anything, it would be the end. Life isn't necessarily a do-it-yourself project. Thankfully, we have been given the precious gift of God's Holy Spirit to help us throughout our lives.

But I think the point is very clear. Are we getting tired? Has it been a long time? Those of us that have been around 30, 40 years, are we kind of exhausted? Are we ready to spiritually retire? Are we tired of the bread of affliction? Do we want to just take it easy and coast a little bit? Can't I just coast for the remaining ten years? Can't I just kind of take it easy?

And the answer is no, because God is still building. His house, and His house is you, your life, each and every one of us individually. So what causes the bread of affliction in our lives? There are four major reasons why we have and experience the bread of affliction. Four major reasons. And even though they're caused by different things, if our perspective is right, meaning we have patience, and we are committed to enduring whatever we have to go through with joy, radiated from the inside, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ, then God can use any of these four major causes of the bread of affliction to get us where we need to go.

Because it's His purpose to develop growth in us. He knows what we need. He knows what we can endure. And He knows how to get us from point A, which is leaving the land of Egypt to point B, literally walking into eternity. He knows how to do that for each and every one of us as individuals. So here's number one of the four. The bread of affliction can be caused by what we bring upon ourselves. Again, the bread of affliction can be caused by what we bring upon ourselves.

If you'll turn to Genesis 4 and verse 7. Powerful statement made to Cain, who obviously was symbolic of the human race at this point. And it is certainly so true in our own lives. Genesis 4 and verse 7. God says, if you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door and its desire is for you. You should rule over it. God is saying you have to make a choice. And when you make a choice and it boomerangs back on your head. That is a bread of affliction that we bring upon ourselves. Again, I can't speak for you. I can only speak for Gregi.

And I can tell you this, that most of the problems I have had in my life. All I need to do is look at the man in the mirror and see what the root causes of most of them. Most of my problems have been caused by what I brought upon myself in life. So we sin, we have weaknesses, and we can bring problems on ourselves. But God uses these events. He turns lemons into lemonade. And He uses even these events to develop spiritual qualities in us.

By allowing us to go through the bread of affliction by the dumb things we do in life that boomerang back on us. He can still use those if our attitude is right. If we are dedicated to living a life of patience. And again, radiating that joy from the inside out that transcends all the white noise and stuff going on in the outside. That tends to cause worry and anxiety and fear in our minds. So that's one reason. Number two is the bread of affliction can be caused by the Father giving us a spiritual spanking.

Now I know that's not politically correct, and I could be arrested for that in the 21st century for even using the word spanking. Because, maybe I should, the Father gives us a time out. Is that better? All kidding aside, the bread of affliction can be caused by our loving Father giving us a spiritual spanking.

And sometimes, if we don't get the point, if we don't learn the easy way, He'll make sure that we learn in a more painful and direct method. Hebrews 12 and verse 6. If you'll turn there with me. Hebrews 12 and verse 6.

It says, again in the book of Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 6, For whom the Lord loves He chastens. God is very merciful, He's very patient. God oftentimes sends us many, many warnings that something is about to happen. Years ago, there was a movie. And I'm trying to think of the name of the movie. It was really, I would not recommend anyone see it, because it really was not the kind of movie that Christians should watch. Don't ask me how I saw it, please.

But in one scene, the man says, he's talking to a picture of his late wife. And it reminded me a lot of me and the human race. He's talking to a picture of his late wife. And he has fallen in love with this beautiful playboy-esque woman. And he's trying to figure out if he should marry her. She's like half his age. And he's talking to a picture of his deceased wife. And he says, So what do you think? Should I marry her? And pretty soon the roost starts rumbling. The picture starts spinning round. The boy says, No! No! No! The room shakes. The ceiling's coming down. The room stops shaking. The picture stops spinning. And he looks at him and he says, So tell me, do you think I should marry her or not?

Oftentimes, brethren, the father gives us all kinds of advance warning, indications, situations in life. And we just don't get it. We ignore it. And unfortunately, sometimes he has to give us a spanking. Verse 7, But if you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons with sons. For what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which you have all become partakers, because we are all his sons and daughters, then you are illegitimate and not sons. So he's saying, there are times when a loving father has to discipline us because it's needed. God uses this correction to develop spiritual qualities in us. And again, it's a bread of affliction. But if our attitudes are right, we have patience and joy, God can use these experiences as well to get us where we need to go. Number 3, The bread of affliction can be caused by Satan instigating trials and tribulations. Satan instigating trials and tribulations. Ephesians 6 and verse 11.

Ephesians 6 and verse 11. We know, of course, that our enemy is the prince of the power of the air, also referred to as the god of this world. And he instigates all kinds of attitudes in people. And sometimes those attitudes can be very negative. You can talk to someone and meet them for the first time. You can just sense a hostility or sense that they're distracted, that something's on their minds or something is bothering them.

Ephesians 6 and verse 11. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. So Satan can instigate trials and tribulations to come upon us. Out of the blue, totally unexpected, things can happen through his influence that cause affliction in our lives. I like to use the analogy that Satan uses his spiritual Wi-Fi network to encourage thoughts of resentment and anger and rebelliousness and discouragement throughout our world. We were born and we came into consciousness. We were automatically found that Wi-Fi network. You don't need a passcode. You don't need to know anything special about it. We were instantaneously connected to Satan's Wi-Fi network the day we were born. And we can all be influenced, every human being in this earth. And he instigates trials and tribulations and problems upon people.

And now the fourth reason. The fourth reason is the bread of affliction can be caused by the natural consequences of being physical and living as mortal, fragile human beings. There's really no one to blame but the fact that we live in a physical world. I'm going to read that again. The bread of affliction can be caused by the natural consequences of being physical and living as mortal, fragile human beings. Let's go to 1 Corinthians 15, verse 46. Take just a portion out of what's normally known as the resurrection chapter.

And see what Paul reminds us about how we are naturally. What comes first? Before we walk into the kingdom of God, before we step into eternity, before that we are still dust. We are still carnal. We are still made of flesh in this physical world.

And because of that, the natural consequences of this physical world is living as a mortal human being. It's not because we have done anything wrong or bad. It's the consequence of life. And God is going to allow that bread of affliction to occur to some of us. You might be 30 years old and say, well, why do I have arthritis already? I have to take pills because arthritis hurts me. And I'm only 30 years old. It's because that is the bread of affliction that the Father has allowed you to experience. And you will learn empathy in a way that you would have never known it before.

Suffering pain develops within us an empathy we are incapable of unless we experience it. You know, we can have sympathy. Oh, I really feel sorry for you and I'll pray for you. But empathy is when we put ourselves in someone else's shoes. And you know how you do that best? When you felt that feeling, when you've experienced that pain. When you've also dealt with those anxieties and those fears and that anxiousness, that transcends from mere sympathy to empathy, to really knowing. We have someone in our congregation, a young woman, who before she was called was rear-ended in a car. And her vertebrae's in her neck were hurt badly.

She's had one fused and the surgery just hasn't worked like everyone hoped. Why? Because that is the bread of affliction. There is something that the Father is allowing her to learn through that process. That is her own personal bread of affliction. Why do some people have their beloved lifetime mates pass on, die?

Because we're all human and we're physical. And that's part of the aging process. The ravages of aging, meaning we get aches and pains and we slow down and we don't think as clearly as we used to. All of those things are part of the built-in bread of affliction, the natural consequences that God established when He created human beings so that He can get us from point A to point B. Now, we don't want to be like people in the world.

When they experience these afflictions, they just get bitter. You've probably heard the stereotype of the bitter old man. You talk to, and I've known a lot of bitter old men, you just talk to them, they're resentful about their lives, they're cranky, they're always angry because they have no hope. They don't understand what this life was about. They don't understand why we were put in this earth, why we were made physical.

And all that the Father does to get us from here to the Promised Land. They don't understand any of that. They have no hope, no comfort. All they know is that they're hurting and they're angry with God, much like the friend that I mentioned earlier in this sermon. He was angry with God. He lost his faith in God because he did a lot of things right. But his life went wrong, and he had to experience the bread of affliction, and he couldn't deal with it. He quit. He gave up. He threw in the towel. We don't want that to happen to us.

1 Corinthians 15, however, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust. That's the way that you and I are presently made in this physical life. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust. We're just like Adam and Eve.

We're made of dust at this point. And we suffer the pains and the frustrations of growing old, of having things happen to us that we don't want to happen to us. Trials, afflictions, continuing. And as it is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man. Now, as I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And while we're flesh and blood, you know what we'll experience? To get from point A to point B, we will experience the bread of affliction through that journey.

The flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes the people who have God's Holy Spirit and do a lot of good things, they are faithful, they pray, they study, they attend Sabbath services, they give to others, they keep the commandments of God, they also get diseases.

Sometimes their spouses also walk out on them. They suffer financial setbacks. Sometimes they lose their jobs. Sometimes it's just the natural consequences of being physical and living in a carnal human world. We are human living in a fragile body in this world. We have the promise of the resurrection, but until then we're subject to futility, just like we read about in Romans 8. Remember that Greek word meant vanity, a sense of uselessness.

Even though we're strangers and pilgrims in this physical world, we often get diseases, we have job loss, we have financial struggles, we have relationship issues, we have the ravages of old age because that is part of the bread of affliction. We can either accept that affliction and become bitter and angry and isolated, or we can pass the test. We can understand that that is part of God's plan for my life, whatever it is.

I'm going to deal with it, I'm going to accept it with patience, and starting from the inside out, I'm going to radiate joy. A few years ago I heard a pastor say that when we were converted and called, we gave God a blank check. We basically said to him, you write in the amount, you write in the sacrifice I have to make. It may be cancer, it may be that my spouse will walk out on me, it may be that I'll lose a job or have a relationship that goes bad. But when we started that journey, we gave God our lives, and that is a blank check.

The Father will write in whatever He wants us to experience in order to get us from where we are today into the Promised Land. From the Father's perspective, any of these four reasons can be used to take our lives to a higher spiritual level if we believe and understand the afflictions are for a greater purpose.

And sometimes we don't even know that purpose yet, and if our attitude allows us to benefit from them. Firing in again with the sermon we had this morning, going forward in faith. Can we do that? Are we willing to do that? Our final scripture today, 2 Peter 3, verse 10. Why is all of this so important? Well, there's coming a time in the conclusion of God's plan that everything physical in this world, usually the things that we cling to the most, is going to be burned up and dissolved.

It's going to go away. And you know what will be left? Spirit and that character that we developed that's within our spiritual being. Everything else will be burned away. Everything else will be dissolved. 2 Peter 3, verse 10. What's going to last? Holy conduct and godliness. Because that is the character that will be part of our spiritual personalities, our spiritual beings. When everything else is gone, that's the part that will remain. And how is that developed throughout our lives?

Think about it. This physical life that we are going through now, this is simply training wheels. Our lives are just training wheels, so that we can have the bumps and bruises and fall off the bike and scrape our knees and bloody our nose because God has something far more valuable planned for us as we step into eternity and no longer need the training wheels.

So what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, tying in again with the sermon we had this morning, looking forward, not behind, not standing still, not being stagnant, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace without spot and blameless, and consider that the long-suffering or the patience of our Lord is salvation.

Who set the example for us to have patience? Jesus Christ Himself. How long has He been waiting patiently for the plan of God to come to fruition, for everything to be worked out? Thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of years! That's how long He's been waiting, continuing as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to Him, has written to you. So again, someday all the physical and material things of this world will be dissolved.

All that will be left is righteousness and the powerful spiritual qualities you developed in this lifetime. Why does the Father give us the bread of affliction so that by these frustrating and challenging and painful experiences, we can develop holy conduct and godliness, as Peter mentions here? Because, my dear brethren, that is the only thing that will remain.

So let us endure to the end. Let us be willing to pay any price. Let us be willing to never look back, but to move forward, to experience whatever bread of affliction we are called upon to endure with patience and radiating joy in our lives. And let us never forget that we are in the potter's hands. Allow him to use the bread of affliction to mold us into new creatures in Jesus Christ. Have a wonderful end and conclusion of the seventh day of Unleavened Bread this year.