God s Plan for Your Life: Spiritual Maturity Matthew 5:44-45

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1 IV. Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit: Suffering and Testing in the Christian Life Every human being experiences suffering and blessing in life, the Christian and the non-christian alike. This principle is demonstrated in our Lord s words in Matthew when teaching us about loving our persecutors: Matthew 5: But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Hence, the question for the Christian is not whether or not he or she will suffer or gain in this life since all humans will. Rather, the investigation for the believer lies in discovering the nature of our suffering and testing with regard to the objective(s) of God and how we are to respond. 1

2 Suffering for the Unbeliever While there are transitory or immediate reasons for the suffering in an unbeliever s life, the ultimate reason is to lead the unbeliever to God. God seeks, through such circumstances, to establish enforced humility where the person becomes acutely aware of their impotence and turns their attention to God and ultimately the gospel. The Blinding of Saul (Paul) the Persecutor Acts 9:1-9 The Prophecy by Jonah against Nineveh Jonah 3 Suffering for the Believer Suffering for the Christian, however, is unlike that of the unbeliever. He or she now belongs to God and God has a new objective for the believer, to bring them to full maturity in Christ that they bear much fruit. John 15:2b every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit 2

3 Guiding Principle of Christian Suffering and Testing This brings us to our guiding principle on the matter, one we covered in another lesson but will now consider with greater examination: Romans 8: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. The objective of God in the passage is to use all things as an instrument for our good. This, however, does not mean all things, themselves, are good. Rather, it means that nothing escapes the orchestration of God s sovereign and omniscient rule in our lives in using the most mundane or benign matter all the way to the most tragic and difficult matter, for our good. And further revealed in the passage is just what that good is, namely to conform us to the image of his Son. 3

4 As well, this does not mean that God, himself, made these events occur. While he is sovereign and rules in each event, he does not directly control things with regard to nature or volitional matters apart from just that, direct intervention and in the case of volitional agents (the exercise of the will, even then God does not control that though he can and has provoked it Ex. 7:3). That is to say, if a person chooses to rob you, that is not God s will but God does incorporate that into his sovereign plan through his eternal foreknowledge, omniscience and sovereignty so that such an event is sanctified and utilized, ultimately, for your good. Thus, God may directly cause an event, nature may cause an event, other people may cause an event, angels (both elect and fallen) may cause an event and you, yourself, may cause an event or a combination of these. The greatest concern for the believer is not who or what caused it but that which God intends for us to know and how we are to respond: That it is for our maturity in conforming us to the image of Christ That we are to apply his Word in faith to each testing 4

5 The Right and Wrong Way to Deal with Suffering Jim and Randy are both being considered for a promotion. Randy is less qualified than Jim. However, because Randy is good friends with the person making the promotion decision, Randy is chosen. Jim is a Christian, he has just encountered suffering. He is experiencing a vocational and system injustice. Wrong Way Pout Gossip Become passively aggressive in not cooperating Stay angry Right Way Continue trusting the Lord for the details of life (seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added) Continue a life focused on spiritual maturity/walking with God Be filled with God s Spirit Continue as an excellent employee Believe God s promises relevant to this event and rest in God s integrity that he will fulfill them as he wills 5

6 This does not mean things which are valid to do in each unique situation may not be done if these are legitimate human responsibilities, though they are being used as suffering and testing by God in your life. For example If injured you may file suit and peruse compensation but you also apply Biblical principles in the matter and trust God that he will work his will in this situation If denied a promotion you believe is warranted and is best for the company, you may still pursue avenues appelbut not with malcontent and so on and ultimately, if things do not go in your favor, you trust God that his favor toward you is sufficient and God s work is being done Two Main Avenues of Suffering and Testing for the Believer Negative Suffering and Testing Positive Suffering and Testing 6

7 Negative Suffering negative suffering in the life of the believer comes from two sources, it is either personally initiated or divinely initiated. That is to say, either you are injuring yourself or God is introducing into your life some kind of negative suffering. Both of these are negative because they either stem from you doing something wrong or God responding to something wrong which you are doing. The recalcitrant believer refuses to respond to their conscience as God s Spirit convicts them over things which are gross departures from faithful living. And through a damaged conscience from an ongoing negative response to God s Word and Spirit in their life, the believer will engage in a lifestyle which either personally brings misery or calls upon God to bring additional misery with the objective of arresting their attention and bringing them back to fellowship with God. Examples of this: 7

8 Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32 Sickness from Sin James 5:14-16 David s Lament Psalm 32:3-5; 119:67 Psalm 32:2-5 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Positive Suffering this suffering, unlike negative suffering which is due to our prolonged turning away from God, is because we are turned toward God and positive to his Word and Spirit. As a plant we no longer are resisting where we have been planted but now seek to mature and in this we are blessed by God to suffer and be tested in various ways for his glory, our maturity and the blessedness of being a witness of his grace for which he promises eternal reward. These are equivalent to military honors. This may be termed suffering for blessing. 8

9 Axiom:Every single problem in the life of the Christian is to be dealt with through the Word of God by the power of the Spirit of God. Either we will find a promise, a series of promises, doctrinal concepts, or an entire doctrine and/or many doctrines relevant to whatever problem(s) we face and apply them, by faith, as divine solutions while to our problems. While we do those things required of us we live trusting that God will do the things he has promised and we cannot nor should attempt to do. Some Categories or Kinds of Suffering and Testing for Blessing General Suffering and Testing (Matthew 6:25-34) as noted earlier this is the suffering common to all people, believer and unbeliever. This refers to the logistical conditions common to man. While the unbeliever has no divine promises upon which they may rely in time of general suffering and testing, we may. 9

10 Prosperity Suffering and Testing Luke 12:48 if given much, much is required Luke 16:10 faithfulness of dishonesty with a little determines you handling of much The nation of Israel abundance produced indifference Health Suffering and Testing Job lost his health, trusted God 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 we are wasting away, the world tries to preserve life, we look for the coming life System Suffering and Testing Genesis the life of Joseph Daniel the life of Daniel Trusting God that he is able to work his will though you may be in the midst of a system which appears, by all reason, to be untouched by divine presence People/Social Suffering and Testing Genesis 20 Abraham, Sarah and King Abimilech 2 Timothy 4:14 Paul mistreated by Alexander the Coppersmith 10

11 Disaster Suffering and Testing Job Job lost his health, family and finances Acts Paul, in spite of 14 days of being battered at sea and the ship being wrecked from which the guards sought to kill all prisoners including Paul, he is not executed Satan/Demonic Suffering and Testing 2 Corinthians 12:7 -Paul s thorn a messenger of Satan The temptation of Satan to Christ Integrity Suffering and Testing 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul s thorn that he may not become prideful. Witness Suffering and Testing Luke 6:22 -Being hated and excluded because you are a witness of Christ Rev 2:10 -Being persecuted by the instigation of Satan even unto death for faithfulness Fitness Testing and Suffering James 1:2-4 to produce steadfastness 11

12 Principles to Know about Suffering (source -Lake Erie Bible Church, Pastor Ken Reed) A disciple is not above his Master, if our Lord suffered and was tested, so shall we be John 15:20 The Lord knows your sufferings and will deliver you from them all. Exo.3:7; Psa.9:12; 35:10 God will not put upon you tests you are not ready to handle. 1Cor.10:13 He will supply you with the grace to handle any test. Pro.3:34 Failure to handle persecution and testing explains why some move away from the life of faith. Mat.13:20,21 Our sufferings are part of the divine plan of God for the sufferings of the whole body of Christ. Col.1:24 Our sufferings are designed to cause us to place our trust in God and not our own abilities. 2Cor.1:9-10; 1Pet.4:19 All suffering and causes will be completely eliminated in the eternal state of the new creation. Rev.7:17; 21:4 12