We
have been led to believe that when a person is saved and right with God he
will not have any more troubles. Yet when we face reality, it seems that
Christians suffer more than the lost do. We often wonder why. In this study
we are going to find some answers from the Word of God. There are seven ways
taught in the Word of God that Christians may suffer.
WE
SUFFER BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS... Hebrews 12:6-11 "This is to Direct
Us into Christian Submission."
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
When
we suffer we should allow the Holy Spirit to take the Word of God and
examine our hearts, our thoughts, and our ways; as David asked of God in
Psalms 139:23-24.
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
God
sends Chastisement to:
A.
Identify us, Hebrews 12:6-8
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
B.
Purify us, Hebrews 12:9
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
C.
Glorify Him, Hebrews 12:11
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
II.
WE SUFFER TONGUE-LASHING...I Peter 4:12-16
"This
is done by society to
identily us wfth Christ's Sufferings."
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Pet 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1 Pet 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
III.
WE SUFFER TRIALS, James 1:1-6
"This
is to
Develop us for Christian Service."
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
A.
Trials develop our Patience, Vs 3
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
B.
Trials develop our Perfection, Vs 4
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
C.
Trials develop our Praying, Vs 5
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Note:
Trials are the testing or our faith. They come from the Saviour and are
to develop us. Temptation is the solicitation to sin. They come
from Satan and are meant to destroy us.
IV.
WE SUFFER TEMPTATIONS... James 1:12-15
"This
is to Deliver us from Confidence in
Self"
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
A.
The Surety of Temptations, 14a "Every
man is tempted"
B.
The Source of Temptations, 14b "When
he is drawn away with his
own
lust and enticed."
C.
The Strength of Temptations, Vs 15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
V.
WE SUFFER THINGS, Romans 8:28-29
"This
is to Display through us a Christ Simllaritv."
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
A.
The Puzzling Incidents, Vs 28 'All
things" (Its just one of them things)
B.
The Predestined Image, Vs 29, "The
image of His dear Son"
C.
The Process Involved, Vs 28, 'ALL
THINGS WORKING TOGETHER"
VI.
WE SUFFER THORNS...
II
Corinthians 12:1-9 "This is to Demonstrate to us Christ's
Sufficiency"
A.
The purpose of the thorn revealed, Vs 7
2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
B.
The prayer for the thorn's removal, Vs 8
2 Cor 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
C.
The profit of the thorn recognized, Vs 9
2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
VII.
WE SUFFER TRIBULATION, John 16:33
Tribulation
means Pressure "This is to Drive us to Christ's
Side,"
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
A.
The self-life that draws us away.
B.
The Saviour's love that draws us back.
1.
His Pressures... "Tribulations"
2.
His Pnoclamation... "Be of good cheer"
3.
His Pnovision... "I have overcome the worid..."
-Therefore
He makes us to be overcomers...
I
John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Romans
8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
May
we say along with the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24. "But none of these
things
move me, neither count I my life dear unto myseli; so that I might finish my
course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
