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Introduction:
Why Do We Suffer?
4
Possibilities:
1.
Suffering may be the result of our own sin
and poor choices. (David and Bathsheba) Galathians 6:7-8
2.
Suffering may be the result of a satanic
spiritual attack. (Jacob, chapter 1) Ephesians 6:10-12
3.
Suffering may occur simply because we
live in a fallen world. (Tower of Siloam, Luke 13) Genesis 3; Romans
8:18-23
4.
Suffering may be the result of doing
good. (Peter preaches –prison) 1 Peter 2:19-21
Question: How do you deal
with unjust suffering?
Chip:
Chip says he was a “slow growing Christian”. He tried to be a good Christian
and help out and serve God –but he wasn’t as strong in the church as he is now.
He said that one day his friend got in a horrible accident and was permanently
paralyzed from the waist down. Chip felt like God was punishing him and
wondered why God hadn’t protected his friend. Chip felt his friends suffering
as his own and blamed God for hurting him. He felt like the suffering was
unjust and had no reason or place in his life.
Notes
on page:
Suffering
teaches us lessons if we take our curses and turn it into a blessing. Lemons to
lemonade.
1.
Suffering because of poor choices… Doing
wrong to yourself leads to hurting others. Giving into negative things that
don’t matter poisons your life and strays you from knowing yourself. The more
wrong you do the more wrong you think you are.
2.
Spiritual attack… Chip acknowledged that
he has met people under these sorts of circumstances and says it can be quite
isolating and devastating to a family. Satan loves to hurt man because he knows
it hurts God. We’re in the middle of a cosmic conflict between to forces.
Sometimes God’s people suffer because of this.
3.
Fallen world… This is not the world God
intended for man to live in. It is chaotic and prone to disease, natural
disasters, wars, famines… The world was not built to last and as it dies and
suffers many people who live her do as well. It’s not God’s doing –it’s the
earth’s.
4.
Doing good… God gives man struggles so
he can grow in ways he wouldn’t otherwise. Hard v. Easy theorem. It’s up to us
to learn from these lessons and grow as people. One of the struggles people
will face is standing up for their beliefs, what is right, and speaking truth.
They will be disowned, condemned, and mocked by people –but their sacrifice for
what’s right will be admired and appreciated by God.
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A
Model to Follow Ephesians 3:1-13
God’s
Prisoner = Paul
“For this reason I,
Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles…” (v.1)
God’s
Secret Plan = The Church
“Surely you have heard
of the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that
is, the mystery made known to me by
revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will
be able to understand my insight into the mystery
of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has
now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles
are heirs together with Israel, members together in one body, and
shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (vv.2-6)
Paul’s
Role in God’s Plan = The Administrator/ Servant
“I became a servant
in the gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of
His power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace
was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this
mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all
things” (vv.7-9)
The
Purpose of the Church = Educate and Give Access to God
“His intent was that
now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to
the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. According to His eternal
purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him and
through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence”
(vv. 10-12)
Paul’s
Plea
= Don’t Be Discouraged
Notes:
Unjust Suffering =
External Suffering which can be overcome by Internal Grace
The Gentiles were new
Christians. Paul had been imprisoned by Nero –a crazy ruler at the time. The
Gentiles were afraid for him and didn’t know what to do. Paul was writing to
give them ease and comfort. He said that he had been given grace by God and had
been given the privilege of knowing His plan. Paul had been a murderer of
Christians but now he was a Disciple of Christ and a leader of His people. Paul
said for them not to pity him because he was a blessed man by God. He said it
was God’s wish that the Gentiles be led together in one administration –a
church. This church would then represent man’s faith in God and their devotion
to Him. The church would be an ideal, an honor, and a humble blessing to man.
God would show this church to the heavenly authorities –the angels- who for
ages wondered why God had cared so much for men who seemed so weak. Through the
good done by men through their love of God angels may see the full extent of
God’s glory. Therefore Paul says, it is an honor to suffer for God as He has
suffered for man. All suffering and all glory shall be for Him.
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4
Principles to Remember When You’re Suffering Unjustly
1.
We are not alone/ abandoned/ hated/
victims
2.
Until we understand what God is up to
in heaven /in the world we will never understand what He is up to on
earth/ in us.
3.
Until we understand our role in
Christ/ His Plan, we will forever be frustrated with God’s failure to
fulfill our plans.
4.
Until we grasp the extraordinary
privilege and eternal impact of suffering for good, we will squander the greatest gifts and opportunities
God will ever provide us to glorify His name and commune with His heart.
Notes:
God’s goal: Not to make
us happy, but to make us loved so we can share God’s love with others.
We are capable of
overcoming the suffering we experience –but not if we act as victims of it.
Victims blame and become buried by their troubles. Victors accept their
challenges and find ways to overcome them through faith and wisdom. That’s why
so many people are inspired by “the underdog”.
All apostles except
John were martyred, murdered, and slain. When you live your life by God you
suffer by this broken world. To forgive others and overcome pain you have to
live with God. Turn to Him in times of pain. His love will make you whole and
loved.
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Conclusion
and Application -Ephesians 3:13
Don’t
be discouraged. God uses unjust suffering to reveal His character to others and
His grace to us. Look beyond the pain. There is more to
life than “right now”. The Christian life was never meant, this side of heaven,
to make people happy. The Christian life was meat to “free us” to love and to
be loved, and to experienced exceeding joy in relationship with Christ and one
another regardless of our circumstances.
Discussion
Questions
1. Have you ever suffered unjustly?
How did you handle it?
I’ve been accused of
doing things I haven’t done. It hurts that people think you’re capable of doing
something wrong that you didn’t do. My mom did that every once in a while. She actually
told me that once I peed my pants when I
was 5 or 6 and she yelled at me and put me on time out. Then she found out I
had a fever and a urinary infection and I had to be rushed to the doctor’s. She
said she felt so horrible afterwards for yelling at me for being sick. Of
course I don’t remember the incident but it is funny that she held onto that
memory and yet hasn’t realized the more recent times she accused me of stupid
things. She drinks a lot so every once in a while I’d have to ask her for lunch
money and she’d act like I was lying about needing more just to get $5 from
her. Oh well. People are going to treat you the way they’re going to treat you.
The world is going to throw whatever it’s going to throw at you. Sometimes you
just have to take it –and try not to take it personally.
2.
Which
of the “4 Principles to Remember” were most helpful to you? Why? Probably
Principle #4. If we focus all our time and energy on how life has “cut us
short” we will never be built up by the things we have been blessed with. You
have to first appreciate good in order to receive it. Acknowledging life’s
gifts –even the ones that seem like curses- is the only way to grow from them.
3.
Read
1 Peter 2:19-25, James 1:2-4, and Romans 5:1-5. Discuss the theme that emerges
from these passages as it relates to today’s message and your life.
“19 For this is a
gracious thing, when, mindful of God,
one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it
if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and
suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For
to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He
committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in
return; when he suffered, he did
not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to Him who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body
on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds
you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned
to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” -1 Peter 2:19-25
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when
you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your
faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James
1:2-4
“Therefore,
since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we
have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our
sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance
produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does
not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” –Romans 5:1-5
These
passages are affirming that God suffers too and has suffered for man –and if He
is the greatest good man can come to know then it stands that sometimes the
good must suffer. However, with the suffering man goes through they also have
God’s strength to overcome and endure because He is with us. In this people can
rejoice –that though others may succumb to their trials and pains –people who
walk with God can continue on living life with love and grace.
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