WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?

Transcription

1 July 9, 2017 Sermon Series: The Bible Doesn t Say That Sermon Title: Suffering Always Comes From Sin Why does God allow suffering? What is the purpose of perseverance and suffering? SCRIPTURES: 1. Job chapters 1 and Peter 2:20; 4:16 3. Romans 5:3 5 WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? Friends, this world is not your home, so don t make yourselves cozy in it. Don t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 1 Peter 2:11 (MSG) Suffering 1. Suffering is a part of life. 2. It makes us holy (as He is holy). 3. It is not proof God is unfaithful. 4. No suffering you go through is ever wasted. Secret to Suffering: Turn your suffering into a sacrifice of praise and prayer For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NKJV) JOB There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

2 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did regularly. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? So Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face! And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Job 1:1 12 (NKJV) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11 (NKJV) Types of Suffering 1. Physical: injury, accident, disease, result of an ailment. (Job 2:7) 2. Mental: justified or unjustified, concern over a matter. (Elijah 1 Kings 19:4 5; Paul 2 Corinthians 1:8 10) 3. Spiritual: from this fallen world, flesh or devil. (1 John 2:15 17) For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:5 7 (NKJV)

3 Word for suffering in the Greek here is Pathema. It s used three times. pathéma (path -ay-mah): that which befalls one, i.e. a suffering, a passion / suffering, affliction / passion, emotion / an undergoing, an enduring. Purpose of Suffering 1. Produce Fruit (James 1:3) 2. Silence Devil (Job 1:9-12; 2:3-7) 3. Makes us like Jesus (Phil 3:10) 4. Tech us Dependance (John 15:1=5) 5. Refine Us (1 Peter 2:20; 3:17) 6. Enlarge our Ministry to others (2 Cor 1:3-7) 7. Glorify God (John 9:1-3; 1 Peter 4:15) JOSEPH Genesis 50:19 20 DANIEL Daniel 1:1 4 NAOMI Ruth 1:20 21 Ruth 4:13 17 DAVID The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17 19 (NKJV) So David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 2 Samuel 12:13 (NKJV) JESUS The Apostles Creed: I believe in Jesus Christ who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried Matthew 27:1 2; 32 60

4 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 Isaiah 53:3 5 PAUL 2 Corinthians 11:22 30 / three times beaten with rods / stoned / five times whipped with 39 lashes / jailed countless times Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV) Peter Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, Follow Me. John 21:18-19 (NKJV) For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 1 Peter 2:20 (NKJV) Job And the Lord restored Job s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Job 42:10 11 (NKJV) Suffering isn t an individual event. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV)

5 Count It All Joy My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 (NKJV) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3 5 (NKJV) Tribulations --> Perseverance --> Character --> Hope Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV) You too will face suffering, but how will you suffer? Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 1 Peter 4:16 (NKJV) ADDITIONAL NOTES Why Suffering? Because of our own stupidity and sin (1 Peter 2:20) For taking a stand for truth and righteousness (1 Peter 3:14) We suffer for sin in our lives (1 Cor 11:31) Some lofty purpose of God (Job) For their faith (Heb 11) For discipline (Heb 12:6) Glorify God (Daniel 3:16-18, 24-25) Known Sin (Heb 12:5-11, James 4:17, Romans 14:23, 1 John 1:9) Prevent us from falling into sin (1 Peter 4:1-2) Keep us from Pride (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Galatians 4:15, 6:11) Build Faith (1 Peter 1:6-7) Cause Growth (Romans 5:3-5) Teach us Obedience & Discipline (Acts 9:15-16, Philippians 4:11-13) Equip & Comfort Others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

6 Prove the reality of Christ in us (2 Corinthians 4:7-11) Testimony to the Angels (Job 1:8, Ephesians 3:8-11, 1 Peter 1:12) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Corinthians 4:17 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10