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Suffering

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Suffering can come in many forms from physical persecution and sickness, to emotional torment. I have never met anyone that has not suffered to one degree or another and to be sure all will suffer something in their lifetime. As Christians we have no promise that excludes us but we do have God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Hebrews 11:5-6  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
 6.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

God can and does use bad things for our good.

Romans 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.

Ø      One thing that we all must remember is that God is conforming us to the image of His only begotton Son the Lord Jesus Christ. This work takes priority over all things in our lives.

Romans 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.

Ø      The scriptures teach us that this is an on going work from glory to glory.

1 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Romans 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.

Please notice the following scripture concerning the Lord Jesus.

 Hebrews 5:8-10  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
  9.  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
 10.  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

The question is asked:

Will God allow us to suffer at times?

The answer. Yes

1Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

At times, some form of suffering works a greater good in our lives, or in the lives of others.

 As can be seen in the following:

The Lord Jesus Christ

Hebrews 2:9-10   But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
 10.  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

 Isaiah 53:4-6, 10  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
 5.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
 6.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 Vs. 10  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

 In the will of God’s plan, His Son would suffer in our behalf.

Do we not remember the words of our Lord and Savior right before His ordeal?

Matthew 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

The Apostle Paul

1 Corinthians 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.

Ø      There are many opinions to Paul’s thorn in the flesh but most will agree that it was something that God allowed him to suffer for his own spiritual good.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
 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.
 10.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Notice Paul’s wonderful attitude at God’s answer.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10  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.
 10.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Ø      The Lord Jesus had already told Ananias that Paul would suffer much for His name’s sake.

Acts 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Some of Paul’s sufferings

2 Corinthians 11:23-28  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
 24.  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
 25.  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
 26.  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
 27.  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
 28.  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 What did Paul learn from all the things that he suffered?

Philippians 4:11-13  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 12.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
 13.    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Notice -  that Paul was instructed to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to suffer need.

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