More About Suffering

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=150 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04a76ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Must Christians Suffer"><U>Must Christians Suffer</U></A></div> <div> <B>More About Suffering</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials Tribulations"><U>Trials & Tribulations</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="More About Trials Tribulations"><U>More About Trials & Tribulations</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Dicipline"><U>God's Dicipline</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="God Is Sovereign"><U>God Is Sovereign</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What About Job?"><U>What About Job?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="More About Job"><U>More About Job</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="52665420.gif" border=0 width="101" height="66" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=103 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04b76bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <I><B><U>Riches In Christ</U></B></I><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riches In Christ"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>   </B><A HREF="id236.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MP3 Free Audio"><U>MP3 Free Audio</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id237.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study"><U>Bible Study</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" About This Ministry "><U> About This Ministry </U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ministers Pastors"><U>Ministers & Pastors</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Order Tapes"><U>Order Tapes</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Study Outlines "><U>Study Outlines </U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Radio Lesson"><U>Current Radio Lesson</U></A><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Statements Of Faith"><U> Statements Of Faith</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Events"><U>Special Events</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Directions"><U>Directions</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Louis Radio"><U>St. Louis Radio</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fridaynight Meetings"><U>Fridaynight Meetings</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Partners"><U>Partners</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=377 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> More About Suffering</div> <div> TCC--191</div> <bR> <bR> <div> MORE ABOUT SUFFERING</div> <bR> <div> A.     Introduction:  We have begun a series on the character of God.</div> <div>      1.     Our theme is that God is good and good means good!!</div> <div>      2.     We must begin such a study with Jesus because He is the complete revelation of </div> <div>           God. John 1:18; 14:9; Heb 1:1-3</div> <div>           a.     Jesus tells us that God is good. Matt 19:17</div> <div>           b.     Good is defined as what Jesus did. Acts 10:38</div> <div>      3.     That brings up an apparent contradiction -- what about suffering?</div> <div>           a.     Isn't suffering part of Christian life?God's perfecting tool for His servants?</div> <div>           b.     How can a truly good God allow all the suffering in this world?</div> <div>           c.     There is no contradiction.  People lack knowledge of the Bible, and</div> <div>                put their experience above what the Bible says. (mix apples and oranges) </div> <div>      4.     In this lesson, we are going to deal further with the subject of suffering in </div> <div>           relation to God's character:  first, a little review and then new material!</div> <bR> <div> B.     We must begin our study of suffering with Jesus.  Consider these points:</div> <div>      1.     During His earth ministry Jesus did not cause, send, or fail to relieve suffering </div> <div>           for all who came to Him -- He was the will of God in action. Matt 12:20</div> <div>      2.     Christ suffered some things for us so we do not have to suffer them. I Pet 3:18</div> <div>           a.     On the Cross, Jesus suffered the wrath of God and the punishment due us </div> <div>                for our sins so that we don't  have to suffer those things. II Cor 5:21</div> <div>           b.     He also suffered the consequences of our sins so we don't have to.</div> <div>                1.     Isa 53:4-6 tells us Jesus bore our sins, sicknesses, and pains for the </div> <div>                     purpose of removal. (AVON = sins and punishment)</div> <div>                2.     Gal 3:13 -- Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law: humiliation, </div> <div>                     barrenness, unfruitfulness, mental and physical sickness, family break </div> <div>                     down, poverty, defeat, oppression, failure, God's disfavor. (Deut 28)</div> <div>      3.     The NT teaches that we suffer for Christ and with Christ.Phil l:29; Rom 8:17</div> <div>           a.     The only thing we can do for Christ is spread the gospel</div> <div>           b.     The only thing we can suffer with Christ is persecution. Acts 9:4</div> <div>      4.     As we study the Book of Acts, we see that the first followers of Christ </div> <div>           experienced two types of sufferings:</div> <div>           a.     Persecution in the form of beatings, jail, slander, and even death for </div> <div>                preaching the gospel and obeying God.</div> <div>           b.     Physical discomforts due to obstacles in their way or things they gave up in </div> <div>                order to preach the gospel.</div> <div>           c.     There are no examples of them suffering for the Lord the way we use the </div> <div>                word -- sickness, car wrecks, bad marriages, job loss, etc.</div> <div>           d.     We must allow the NT to define suffering for the Lord for us. Acts 5:40,41 </div> <div>                </div> <div> C.     Yes, but what about the things God allows such as car wrecks, killer storms, and </div> <div>      sickness?  And what about when God has you in the wilderness or the fiery furnace?</div> <div>      1.     Suffering is in the earth because of sin.</div> <div>           a.     We must daily deal with the consequences of sin and its effects in the earth </div> <div>                and in the human race.</div> <div>                1.     We live in an earth cursed by sin = killer storms; weeds; rust. Gen </div> <div>                     3:17-19</div> <div>                2.     We have bodies that are mortal = subject to sickness, old age, and </div> <div>                     death. Rom 5:12</div> <div>                3.     We interact with unsaved people dominated by satan. Eph 2:2,3</div> <div>                4.     We interact with Christians who are carnal and have unrenewed </div> <div>                     minds. Rom 12:1,2</div> <div>                5.     We have an enemy who is seeking to destroy us. I Pet 5:8; John 10:10</div> <div>           b.     This will continue until Jesus comes back to earth.</div> <div>      2.     That leads to the question -- how could God allow all this evil and suffering?</div> <div>           a.     We must be clear what we mean by "allow".  God allows people to sin and </div> <div>                go to hell -- that doesn't mean He is behind it or wills it in any way.</div> <div>           b.     Man really does have a free will -- he can choose good or bad, and all the </div> <div>                consequences which go with that choice.</div> <div>      3.     Consider also these points:</div> <div>           a.     Remember, suffering is here because of sin; it will not go on forever.</div> <div>                1.     When Jesus comes back to earth, pain and suffering will cease.</div> <div>                2.     In terms of eternity, 6,000 years of human history is very little.</div> <div>           b.     When human history is finally wrapped up, it will be a monument for all </div> <div>                eternity to what happens when men choose independence from God.</div> <div>           c.     God, who is omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful) is </div> <div>                able to take the bad, the evil, the suffering and cause it to serve His eternal </div> <div>                purposes, and bring great good out of it all.</div> <div>      4.     Suffering is present in the world, but it does not come from God -- it is the </div> <div>           result of:</div> <div>           a.     Living in a cursed earth.</div> <div>           b.     Interacting with people influenced by satan.</div> <div>           c.     Poor choices we make.</div> <div>      5.     Let's look at some examples of people who suffered and identify the source of </div> <div>           their suffering.</div> <bR> <div> D.     Israel after they left Egypt, after they were redeemed:</div> <div>      1.     When God brought Israel out of Egypt on their way to the promised land, He </div> <div>           had to take them across the Sinai Peninsula -- not a good trip!</div> <div>           a.     Some facts about the peninsula:</div> <div>                1.     It is mountainous = Mt. Sinai = 7,400 ft.</div> <div>                2.     It is dry; 1" to 8" inches of rainfall per year.</div> <div>                3.     Food and water scarce.</div> <div>           b.     Why are there desert places -- because of sin. Gen 2:6</div> <div>                1.     The difficulties Israel encountered on the trip = life in a fallen world.</div> <div>                2.     Remember, they also had mortal bodies subject to heat, fatigue, etc.</div> <div>                3.     There was also a devil working on their minds.</div> <div>      2.     On the trip, they did what many of us.                                                                                             </div> <div>           a.     They began to blame Moses (and God indirectly) Ex 14:11,12                                                                                                                                                 </div> <div>           b. They believed God brought them out of Egypt to hurt them. Deut 1:27</div> <div>      3.     The journey to the promised land was difficult, but not because God was </div> <div>           making them / allowing them to suffer.</div> <div>           a.     They were in a desert which was there because of Adam's sin, and there </div> <div>                was no other way to get to Canaan.</div> <div>           b.     There were actually two ways God could lead them -- neither was very </div> <div>                good (that's life!!). Ex 13:17,18</div> <div>                1.     Through the land of the Philistines (better according to sight because </div> <div>                     it was the most direct route).</div> <div>                2.     Through the wilderness of the Red Sea.</div> <div>           c.     Both ways were difficult, but God took them the best way.</div> <div>                1.     They weren't ready to defeat the Philistines; God would defeat Og of </div> <div>                     Bashan and Sihon of Hesbon before they got to Canaan and boost     </div> <div>                     their confidence in battle.</div> <div>                2.     At the Red Sea, God destroyed their enemy Pharaoh, and encouraged </div> <div>                     Israel with another demonstration of His power.</div> <div>      4.     So, we see that their suffering was the result of life in a fallen world, combined </div> <div>           with their own attitudes and misunderstanding of God's character.</div> <div>      5.     Many say that God led His chosen people, Israel, into the wilderness to teach </div> <div>           them, to perfect them, etc. -- and that He does so to us. </div> <div>           a.     Israel was in the wilderness because of rebellion. Num 14:22-35</div> <div>           b.     No where does the Bible commend them for their wilderness experience; in </div> <div>                fact, we are warned not to duplicate it!!  Heb 3:17-19; 4:1,2;11</div> <div>           c.     The wilderness is not God's place of perfecting for His special people, it is </div> <div>                the consequence of sin and rebellion!</div> <div>           d.     Their own foolish choices brought Israel to the wilderness.</div> <div>           e.     But, even in the wilderness, we see God's goodness -- He cared for them as </div> <div>                a father and met their needs. Deut 1:31; 2:7</div> <div>      6.     Sometimes people say:  God's got me in His fiery furnace to perfect me.</div> <div>           a.     Let's look at that account in Daniel 3.</div> <div>                1.     King Nebuchadnezzar made an idol of gold and commanded that all </div> <div>                     should bow down and worship it.</div> <div>                2.     Anyone who did not obey was to be thrown into a fiery furnace. v6</div> <div>           b.     Three Hebrews refused to bow to the idol -- Shadrach, Meshach, and </div> <div>                Abednego. v12;16-18</div> <div>                1.     The king had them thrown into the fire -- note, a wicked king put </div> <div>                     them in the fire for not worshipping an idol</div> <div>                2.     God did not perfect them in the fire, He preserved them. v25-27</div> <div>           c.     Once again, we see God's goodness: preserving and delivering His people. </div> <div>                </div> <div> E.     Let's look at some NT examples of suffering to determine the source.</div> <div>      1.     Some say God allows people to be sick so that He can heal them. John 9:1-7 </div> <div>           a.     The disciples asked Jesus why this man was born blind.</div> <div>                1.     v2 -- Note, the disciples saw a connection between sin and sickness.</div> <div>                2.     Jesus did not tell them why the man was born blind.</div> <div>           b.     v3,4 -- Jesus told them that the works of God had not yet been manifested </div> <div>                (demonstrated) in the man at this point. Jesus said He had to do the work </div> <div>                of God (heal him).</div> <div>           c.     If blindness was the work of God, then Jesus, by healing the man, was </div> <div>                undoing the work of the Father.</div> <div>           d.     If God does good / bad to us and then turns around and undoes it, isn't </div> <div>                that a house divided? Matt 12:25,26</div> <div>           e.     The issue isn't why did this happen, but how are we going to deal with it?</div> <div>                1.     People in mortal bodies born into a fallen world are born blind -- </div> <div>                     that's life.</div> <div>                2.     But, God, in His goodness, sent Jesus to undo the damage.</div> <div>      2.     Paul's shipwreck at the island of Melita. Acts 27</div> <div>           a.     As a result of persecution (near riots) in Jerusalem, the Romans arrested </div> <div>                Paul; he appealed his case to Rome. Acts 21-26</div> <div>           b.     While on the sea journey to Rome, Paul warned those in charge of the ship </div> <div>                not to proceed any further. Acts 27:10     </div> <div>                1.     The officers did not listen and set out to sea. 27:11-13</div> <div>                2.     A huge storm blew up and the ship went down. 27:14-44</div> <div>           c.     Paul was shipwrecked because of a decision made by another person -- not </div> <div>                at God's hand.</div> <div>                1.     God saved Paul and the others on board -- His goodness and mercy.</div> <div>                2.     Paul calls this experience an infirmity = an obstacle, difficulty </div> <div>                     encountered  while preaching. II Cor 11:23-30</div> <div>      3.     Once on Melita, Paul was bitten by a snake. Acts 28:1-3</div> <div>           a.     Why? He's a murderer getting what he deserves. No wait, he's a god. v4,6</div> <div>           b.     Why was Paul bitten?  That's life in a fallen world. But, we see God's </div> <div>                goodness in this -- Paul shook off the snake with no harm done. Mark </div> <div>                16:18; Luke 10:19; Ps 91:13</div> <bR> <div> F.     Conclusion:</div> <div>      1.     We could give example after example such as these, but, hopefully, you are </div> <div>           beginning to get the point.</div> <div>      2.     I realize we have not yet answered every question, but we've sorted a few more </div> <div>           apples from oranges.</div> <div>      3.     I know some of you are thinking, yes, but what about all that stuff in the OT?</div> <div>           a.     The things we see in the OT are judgments against sin and rebellion. </div> <div>                1.     God allowed people to reap the consequences of their actions.</div> <div>                2.     Judgment came after much verbal warning.</div> <div>                3.     It didn't happen to Joe Christian doing his best to serve God.</div> <div>           b.     Right now, we are dealing with Joe Christian!!</div> <div>      4.     We must remember our guidelines:</div> <div>           a.     Jesus is the complete revelation of God; start with Him.</div> <div>           b.     The OT must be read in light of the NT.</div> <div>           c.     We cannot put our experiences (or anyone else's -- including Job) above </div> <div>                God's Word.</div> <div>      5.     The Bible does not contradict itself.</div> <div>           a.     If it says God is good and good means good, then that is what it means.</div> <div>           b.     If we see something in the Bible or our experience which appears to </div> <div>                contradict that principle, it means we do not yet have full understanding of </div> <div>                the apparent contradiction.</div> <div>      6.     But, as we continue our study, with each lesson, we'll see more clearly that God </div> <div>           is good and good means good!!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id87_m.htm" TITLE="More About Suffering"><U>Back to Top</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > <script language="javascript" src="http://www.dataplain.com/cgi/js_counter.cgi?kannady"></script>  </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>