* For Christ's Sake: Think It Not Strange - II

. . . your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you

Deuteronomy 31:6

Peter tells us the life of a believer or follower of Jesus should prepare for suffering; should get it in our minds that we will suffer even as Jesus suffered:

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:1

Apostle Paul comforts us through the testimony provided by Luke how God came to him in a vision and spoke these words:  

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.  Acts 18:9-10

That God ministered to him during that moment of weakness is just one instances that lets us know that despite what may come our way in terms of suffering tests, trials, tribulations, persecution, frustration, and fear in the way of people or situations, our faith should keep us fully persuaded:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

In the previous  blog, we began a list of 5 reasons why we suffer. We covered:

• Others around us 
• Circumstances of Life 
• Our Ministry

The last 2 reasons are listed below:

®        DIRECT SATANIC ACTIVITY:

Suffering can also enter our life as a result of direct Satanic activity.  

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  Luke 22:31

This is never more true than when you read the account of Job. This book begs the question, "Why do the righteous suffer?" God's testimony of Job was such that he was a righteous man (Job 1-2). 

• Job did not suffer because he had sinned, as his "friends" supposed. They believed if Job repented, his circumstances would change.  
• Job did not suffer because of anything he had done. Job was a righteous man. 

This was God's testimony of Job, Job's testimony of himself, and his reputation before man. Behind the scenes in the spiritual realm was the true cause of Job's suffering. There was a spiritual battle going on over the heart, mind, and allegiance of Job.

An important truth evident in Job's suffering is that nothing can enter the life of a believer without the knowledge and permission of God.  God, in His sovereignty either wills or allows everything in your life.

  

God does not cause your suffering. 

It is inflicted by Satan, 

but its limits are set by God.

God's power is greater than that of Satan, and you will experience victory every time if you continue to trust Him.

®        OUR OWN SIN:

The fifth way suffering enters our life, and unfortunately the reason we don’t want to admit, is because of our own sin and disobedience.  Jonah is an example of such suffering. In disobedience to God, Jonah headed the opposite direction from Nineveh where he had been commanded to go and preach repentance. He experienced a terrible storm at sea and ended up in the belly of a great fish because of his own sin of disobedience (Jonah 1-2).

Trouble should always be treated as a call to consider our ways and examine our heart before God. We may be suffering because of our own sin. The Bible reveals that God chastises those who live in disobedience to His Word. Chastise means to discipline, reprove, and correct:   

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Hebrews 12:11

God uses suffering to correct us and bring us back to His will for our life:

Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy Word. . .

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. . .

I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that THOU in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  Psalms 119:67, 71, 75

In these instances when we suffer due to our sin, keep this in mind, that there is a price to pay:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  Hebrews 6:7

Keeping in mind that there are 4 other primary reasons that we suffer; after careful examination remember, trouble is not necessarily a sign of being sinful. Keep in mind, the Bible also declares, 

"many are the afflictions of the righteous"   Psalms 34:19

When we suffer innocently and not because of our own sin, we should maintain a proper attitude towards suffering. The real test of our spirituality is how we respond in the day of adversity and distress:

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.   Proverbs 24:10

The Bible describes the attitude we should have when we suffer as a believer within the will of God: 

v      We should not be ashamed:  

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.   1 Peter 4:16

v       We should commit your soul (your suffering) to God, knowing He works all things for the good:  

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.  1 Peter 4:19

v       We should be happy when you suffer according to the will of God:  

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  Acts 5:41

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;   James 1:2

Apostle Paul, who understood by his own experiences, had this to say:   

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.  Romans 12:12

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:   1 Corinthians 4:12

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,   2 Corinthians 6:4

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.    2 Timothy 1:8

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.   1 Thessalonians 3:3

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.   2 Timothy 4:5

v       We should not think it strange when you experience suffering:  

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed ye may be glad with exceeding joy.   1 Peter 4:12-13

Apostle Paul summarizes the proper attitude toward suffering when he explains:   

For which cause we faint not; 

but though our outward man perish, 

yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 

worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: 

for the things which are seen are temporal; 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.  

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Be encouraged in Jesus Christ knowing that that 5th season, called 'due', will come:

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Galatians 6:9

Remember, God lets us know

(Bible Studies) 

02/23/17
11/07/18
02/26/20

07/20/22