SUFFERING THAT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Suffering is a reality for God’s children.

1.    The use of the word “suffer” in the New Testament.

a.    Suffer (65x)

b.    Suffered (38x)

c.    Suffering (5x)

d.    Suffering (10x)

2.    Types of suffering mentioned:

a.    Suffer justly (Rom. 8:17)

b.    Suffer need (Phil. 4:12)

c.    Suffer tribulation (1 Thess. 3:4)

d.    Suffering reproach (1 Tim. 4:10)

e.    Suffer trouble (2 Tim. 2:9)

f.     Suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12)

g.    Suffer adversity (Heb. 13:3)

 

3.    Suffering presents a problem for the Christian unless he understands that there is a positive side of suffering that must be understood.

 

4.    Suffering provides numerous benefits to God’s people.  Last week, we looked at four benefits of suffering.

a.    Less of self and more of God

b.    Alerts us to the things are important

c.    Experience the attributes of God:  forgiveness, healing, deliverance

d.    Become like Jesus our Savior

 

5.    Let’s continue our study under the title:  Suffering That Makes A World of Difference.”

 

I.             SUFFERING ALLOWS US TO APPRECIATE JOY

 

A.   The opposite of suffering is joy.

 

B.   If all we ever knew is joy in our lives, we would not really know how to appreciate it.

 

C.   When David sinned with Bathsheba, he committed a horrible atrocity.

1.    Instead of immediately confessing his sin, he attempted to cover it up.

a.    He had Uriah put to death.

b.    He married Bathsheba, and she bore their son.

2.    During this time, David was afflicted deep within (Ps. 32:3-4).

 

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.  Selah.

 

3.    When David writes his confession of sin in Psalm 51, it is interesting that he mentions joy in two verses.

a.    Psalm 51:8

 

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken my rejoice.

 

b.    Psalm 51:12

 

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…

 

D.   David had experienced joy before his transgression.

During his transgression, he experience deep sadness and suffering within.

He longed for the joy that he once possessed. 

When that joy was returned to him, he appreciated it in a different way.

 

E.   Other forms of joy appreciated.

1.    The joy of peace after an enemy has been conquered.

2.    The joy of prosperity after famine or loss.

3.    The joy of relationships after conflicts and strife.

 

II.           SUFFERING DEVELOPS POSITIVE CHRISTIAN ATTRIBUTES

 

A.   The Bible teaches us to develop numerous Christian qualities.

 

B.   One of the qualities we need is patience.

1.    Two verses:

a.    1 Timothy 6:11

 

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

 

b.    2 Peter 1:5-7

 

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.

 

2.    The definition of patience:

a.    Strong (5281):  cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy

b.    Thayer:  steadfastness, constancy, endurance, in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

c.    Vine:  lit., an abiding under

d.    Illustration:  Jesus (John 19:17)

 

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called, the place of the skull, which is called in he Hebrew Golgotha.

 

3.    How does a person learn to “abide under”?  How does a person learn to endure?  How does a person learn to never swerve from his loyalty to faith and piety and from his deliberate purpose?  ANSWER:  It comes through the trials of life.

a.    Romans 5:3

 

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience.

 

b.    James 1:2-3

 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

 

C.   Example:

1.    You see one person fall apart when he is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.  He cries.  He curses.  He doubts.  He might even quit God.

2.    Another person is diagnosed with the same life-threatening disease.  He never wavers.  He leans in toward God.  He prays more.  He is more faithful than ever before. 

3.    The difference often times is patience.

a.    One does not have it, and his spiritual life looks ugly and foul.

b.    Another has it, and his spiritual life looks like that of a conqueror. 

 

D.   Other qualities suffering develops within us.

1.    Dependence

2.    Humility

3.    Compassion

4.    Caring

5.    Deeper faith

 

III.         SUFFERING ENABLES US TO COMFORT OTHERS WHO ARE SUFFERING

 

A.   Have you ever heard someone say:  “I know how you feel?”

1.    Sometimes it is said by someone who has never experienced what the individual is going through.

2.    Sometimes it is said by someone who has experienced a similar trial that person is going through.

3.    NOTE:  The reality is that we never really know the feelings others are experiencing as they go through painful experiences.

 

B.   If we have suffered a similar experience, we learn how to comfort others who are going through a similar trauma.

1.    2 Corinthians 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 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.

 

2.    When we see another struggling, we shouldn’t try to convince them that we know what they were going through.  We should try to remember all of the things that brought us comfort when we were afflicted, then use them to comfort the other person.

a.    Just sitting with the individual

b.    Giving the person a little time to get away from the situation

c.    A card

d.    A verse from the Bible

e.    A book to read

f.     A song

g.    A prayer

h.    Taking care of other responsibilities for the person

i.     Taking the person out to eat

j.     A cup of coffee or a meal brought to the house

 

C.   Those who are suffering need good comforters, that is, those who come along side another person in order to provide some relief, company, joy, and concern. 

1.    We do not solve the problem.

2.    We do not talk so much thinking that we are their professional counselor who can heal their emotional scars.

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Suffering makes me aware of the joyful times in my life and causes me to appreciate them more.

 

B.   Suffering perfects us as God’s children.  There are some attributes that can only be obtain by passing through the trials of fire.

 

C.   Suffering enables me to comfort others using the comforts that I received when I was afflicted.

 

D.   1 Peter 4:16

 

Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.

 

1.    Let him not blame God.

Let him not be angry.

Let him not grow bitter.

Let him not leave the faith.

Let him not lose his soul.

Let him not harm others.

2.    Let him use his suffering to bring glory and honor to God through his afflictions.