Why are Christians going through sufferings?

# Why are Christians going through sufferings?

I. Suffering is a Biblical principles

1A. . Testimony of Jesus – John 16: 33

“The world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world. “

Tribulation – thlipsis = pressure, burden

Courage – tharsos = be bold

Overcome – nikao = get the victory

Dr. Bill Graham said, “we are not fighting for the victory but fighting from the victory”.

     2B. Testimony of Ap. Paul – I Thess. 3: 4 –

“For verily, when we were with you, we told    you beforehand   that we are to suffer affliction; even              as it came to pass, and ye know”.

           # Philipp 1: 29 – Because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe                   on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:

3C. Testimony of Ap. Peter – I Peter 4: 12 –

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to                   prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you”:

Strange – xenos = a guest

# Charles Spurgeon said, “Tears can clear the eye to see with an improved vision and                                    perspective…Losses reveal the insufficiency of all the things around us that we cherish,

                enabling us to appreciate the all-sufficiency of Christ alone.”

II. Suffering identifies us with Christ – I Peter 4: 1

“Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for                 he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin”.

Flesh – body, soul and spirit

1A. in His Birth – early chapters of the Gospels

King’s order to kill – flee to Egypt (winter season)

2B. in His Mission –

middle portions of the Gospels.

Criticism from everyone even, for good

Nobody was with Him to comfort (humanly speaking)

Nobody was with Him for prayer

3C. in His Death – last chapters of the Gospels

             # At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318            delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.

III. Suffering brings unity – Acts 12: 5

“Peter therefore was kept in prison:

but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him”.

1A. Persecution by Herod – 12: 1

2B. They killed James’s brother of John – 12: 2

3C. Pleased the Jews – 12: 3

4D. Church was in suffering

5E. 12: 16 – But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened,

they saw him and were  amazed.

Professor Robert Clinton wrote, “God will teach you one thing perhaps in a thousand ways:

to forming Christ in you.

IV. Suffering brings great Testimony –

1A. 2 Cor. 1: 3 – 4 –

who comforted us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any                            affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also

abounded through  Christ.

2B. Philipp. 1: 14 –

and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more                                 abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

3C. Since God sent Job through the sufferings, still we use Job as an example

V. Sufferings glorify the Lord

1A. Joseph –

Sold to Egyptian as a slave, gone to prison, finally became the Prime Minister

2B. Gen. 50: 20 –

And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this                  day, to save many people alive.

3C. John 9 – man blind from his birth

John 9: 2 – And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents,

that he should be born blind?

John 9: 3 – Jesus answered, neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of                      God should be made manifest in him.

I. Suffering is a Biblical principles

II. Suffering identifies us with Christ – I Peter 4: 1

III. Suffering brings unity – Acts 12: 5

IV. Suffering brings great Testimony –

V. Sufferings glorify the Lord

Our reaction to sufferings

I. Fix our eyes on the Lord – Heb. 12: 1- 2

looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before him               endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the      throne of God.

Ps. 34: 4 – 5 – I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him and were radiant; And their faces shall    never be confounded.

II. Never give up – Job 23: 10 & 11

But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept and turned not aside.

III. Trust in the Lord – Pro. 3: 5 – 6

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding:

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.

IV. Don’t be discouraged – 2 Tim. 1: 12

for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have           committed unto him against that day.

 

# 2 Cor. 4: 16 – 17

               Therefore, we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.