THE BLESSING OF TEMPORAL SUFFERING

Pastor Rick Jackson

Hebrews 2:9 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.

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Very few of us enjoy suffering. Often some wag will say, "If God is a God of love why is there suffering?" Even Christians suffer and sometimes complain, whine, and murmur. But suffering can be a good thing. It can do good things. Through the Scriptures we can get a glimpse of the good side of suffering. It's not finished yet, you will not see the finished work until the day you arrive in glory, but I can guarantee you when we as God's children get there we'll understand and say, "Oh... okay. I get it. I see the need. I am glad it happened that way."

I. SUFFERING COMES WITH FREEDOM TO CHOOSE! [Gn. 2:15-17]

-parents should protect their children but wise parents do not over-protect them (make them ride that bike!)

-a world with choice is preferred over a world without pain

-there is a great danger when there are no consequences to wrong choices and actions

II. PAIN IS THE WARNING SYSTEM THE CREATOR GAVE US [Ps. 78:34-35]

-without discomfort sick/hurt wouldn't visit a doctor

-worn out bodies wouldn't get rest

- When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

III. SUFFERING CAN REVEAL WHAT IS IN THE HEART [Jm. 1:2-5, 1 Pet. 1:6-8] -like gold & silver refined by fire

-My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

-Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

-sometimes what we see is not good (pharaoh)

IV. SUFFERING CAN DRIVE US TO GOD & HIS VIEWPOINT [Mt. 5:10-12]

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

V. PAIN LOOSENS OUR GRIP ON THIS LIFE [Eccl. 12:1-14]

VI. SUFFERING GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRUST GOD [Job 1-42]

-God didn't explain to Job at first, He was silent, then He pointed to His workings in nature in chapters 38-39 and basically said, "If you can’t do all this that I do-- can't you trust me to do right by you?] 40:1-4ff

VII. GOD SUFFERS WITH US IN OUR SUFFERING & WE CAN JOIN IN WITH CHRIST IN HIS SUFFERINGS

-God hates sin, grieves over the lost, grieves over Christians' sin [Eph. 4:30, 1 Pet. 2:21, 3:18, 4:1, 4:13]

VIII. GOD'S COMFORT IS GREATER THAN OUR SUFFERING [2 Cor. 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. 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.

IX. IN TIMES OF CRISIS WE FIND ONE ANOTHER [2 Cor. 1:3-4]

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

X. GOD CAN TURN SUFFERING AROUND FOR OUR GOOD [Gn. 50:20, Rm. 8:28, Is. 53]

-But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

- 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.