The great Christian delusion: Suffering has no part in the life of a believer who is walking with God

Transcription

1 The great Christian delusion: Suffering has no part in the life of a believer who is walking with God TNIV Phil. 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, NKJV 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

2 9 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 1:292:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3 Gift of eternal life Gift of suffering

4 Since God is good, why did He include suffering in creation?

5 Some suffering keeps us from more suffering

6 But serious suffering and death invaded creation because angels and man rebelled against God.

7 A superior angel was the first to rebel against God (Isaiah 14:12-15) Rev. 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

8 After God created Adam and Eve, Satan deceptively said to Eve that God was withholding knowledge that would make them totally wise. Gen.1:31 God made everything good. 2:15 Man enjoyed the best Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? 16 To the woman He said: I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you. 17 Then to Adam He said, Because you have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it : Cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,

9 Before Adam s sin, suffering and death was unknown among all living things 1. Adam s sin brought disease, violence, suffering and death to all life forms. 2. Therefore, all death is traced back to Adam s sin. 3. As descendants of Adam, we are all rebellious against God, parents, and all authority. 4. The source of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering may be our forefathers, our parents, ourselves, etc.

10 Yes. Suffering has to do with sin. But it is not always God punishing the sufferer for his/her own sin. Jesus suffered, emotionally. He was without sin Heb. 12: 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Jesus suffered mentally Luke 22: Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

11 God either causes or allows suffering in order to accomplish His purposes Jesus suffered and died in order to pay our sin debt. (Substitute) The suffering of Stephen planted seed that led to Saul s salvation

12 God Himself suffers Jesus suffered. The Spirit suffers 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. The Father suffers Psalm 78:38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, 40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert!

13 Our suffering as believers is probably not a punishment from God, but a path to God Chastisement is for the persistently rebellious child OK God, where do I go from here

14 Suffering teaches us, if we choose, perseverance which matures into character which gives hope through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. 5:2 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

15 Suffering diminishes our pride, forces us to pray Then we experience God making the difference 2 Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

16 Suffering is God s gift, His invitation to experience Him and His grace to grow Christ like

17 There may be as many different kinds of suffering as there are believers. Suffering is God s gift Some suffer more than others. That does not mean some are worse (more deserving) than others. It may mean that those who suffer more, bring more glory to God. (Job, Stephen, Lazarus, Paul, John, Moses, Joseph, Peter) Peter was crucified John 21:18 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. 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.

18 If we surrender to God being in charge of our lives, our suffering will Make us better people, more like Jesus. Cause other people and even angels to praise and glorify God