A Christian response to Trials, Troubles, Sickness and Sorrows in the World. Pt. 4
Good morning
We are blessed with sunshine, blue skies and mild temperatures for this time of year. The song birds are making their way back to Ohio from the southern states and bringing their lovely and cheerful songs to brighten each morning.
This morning we continue to look at why we experience suffering, injustice and all kinds of trouble as we seek to live by the gospel in an evil world. I do recommend that you read the book of Job because the theme is about the suffering and calamities that Job had to go through and the purposes of God for his life.
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 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.
The Christian suffers on behalf of Christ.
Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
In this text of scripture the word "conversation" refers to how we live our life. In other studies I pointed out that the word "way" is the life path we create by the choices that we make. Hopefully we are all seeking to create a path or way that is God honoring and points others to Christ. This is what the word "conversation" means to us.
Paul is in a Roman prison when he wrote the letter to the church at Philippi. He had every reason to doubt God's plan and to be discouraged because he could not freely preach the gospel. At least, that is what the Philippians thought was going on with Paul.
Imagine their surprise when Paul talked about rejoicing a lot in this letter. He also addressed suffering that Christians will face simply because of their faith and allegiance to Christ. Suffering in this text refers to deep sadness because people have hostility to the truth and it also can refer to physical sickness.
Paul tells us not to be terrified of any adversaries who oppose our witness for Christ. He tells us that it is a privilege not only to believe in Christ but to suffer for His name's sake.
Paul also called this a "conflict" which is related to the word "agony" or "agonizing." He is teaching us that resistance to the gospel is to be expected and suffering for Christ is a real part of the Christian life.
We naturally do not get up in the morning ready to embrace suffering and conflict and yet this is what scripture is teaching us. There are false teachers who preach that when you are saved you will be healthy, wealthy and problem free. This is man's teaching and is not supported by the scripture.
Christians should suffer patiently for their faith.
1 Peter 2:18-21 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The apostle Peter also addressed the issue of Christian suffering. He reminds us that we should not be surprised if we do something wrong like breaking a law and we suffer punishment for our wrongdoing.
Next, Peter says that if we suffer for doing well we ought to take the suffering with patience. This posture of heart is acceptable to God. Why? Because His Son Jesus Christ suffered far more than anyone of us ever will suffer in this life. Jesus suffered all the way to the cross but it was for our sake that He endured it.
Peter teaches us that Christ is our model for responding to suffering. He did not sin nor did He speak deceitfully. When the religious leaders and soldiers reviled Jesus by heaping physical and verbal abuse upon Him, He did not respond in kind.
When Jesus suffered maltreatment at their hands He did not threaten them. Rather He prayed, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus committed all things to His Father in heaven when experiencing suffering, rejection, torture and a death on the cross. How Christ lived needs to shape our response when we are in the grip of suffering.
Christians should not suffer for breaking civil laws.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Peter weighs in several times on the subject of suffering. The Christian should not be suffering or punished because of breaking the law. When a Christian disobeys civil laws that action brings shame upon the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter says we may suffer for well doing. That means we can expect to suffer when we are living according to the Word of God and following the teaching of Christ. We may suffer if we attempt to share God's truth with those around us. People may become antagonistic toward us because they resist the gospel. They may spread lies about us, seek to ruin our integrity or verbally assault us. However, we can glorify God when we live by faith and turn to our Father for strength to endure.
Suffering is not unique. Rather, it is a part of normal Christian living.
1 Peter 4:12-16 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Once again Peter brings clarity to Christian suffering. He says "Don't think that something strange has happened to you when you experience suffering." Why? Because, as we have seen, suffering is to be expected in the life of a Christian.
Peter calls suffering for Christ's sake something to rejoice in. We will be glad we suffered for Christ in that day when He brings us into His presence. He tells us not to be ashamed when we suffer for Christ. Rather, we are to glorify God because we are counted worthy to suffer.
If a Christian is verbally assaulted we should be happy because this means that the Spirit of God and His glory rests on us or is working through us to bring glory to Christ.
Peter again reminds his audience which include us, do not suffer as a common criminal or as a gossip who sticks their nose into other people's business.
John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ give us the proper expectation that the believer should have regarding suffering and persecution. The world hated Jesus Christ and if we are truly born again, the world will hate us too.
If we say we are born again and the world (lost people around us) love us, then something is wrong with our profession of faith. We are not greater than our Master, Jesus Christ. He suffered mightily and we will share in His sufferings.
Points to Ponder....
We are blessed with sunshine, blue skies and mild temperatures for this time of year. The song birds are making their way back to Ohio from the southern states and bringing their lovely and cheerful songs to brighten each morning.
This morning we continue to look at why we experience suffering, injustice and all kinds of trouble as we seek to live by the gospel in an evil world. I do recommend that you read the book of Job because the theme is about the suffering and calamities that Job had to go through and the purposes of God for his life.
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 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.
The Christian suffers on behalf of Christ.
Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
In this text of scripture the word "conversation" refers to how we live our life. In other studies I pointed out that the word "way" is the life path we create by the choices that we make. Hopefully we are all seeking to create a path or way that is God honoring and points others to Christ. This is what the word "conversation" means to us.
Paul is in a Roman prison when he wrote the letter to the church at Philippi. He had every reason to doubt God's plan and to be discouraged because he could not freely preach the gospel. At least, that is what the Philippians thought was going on with Paul.
Imagine their surprise when Paul talked about rejoicing a lot in this letter. He also addressed suffering that Christians will face simply because of their faith and allegiance to Christ. Suffering in this text refers to deep sadness because people have hostility to the truth and it also can refer to physical sickness.
Paul tells us not to be terrified of any adversaries who oppose our witness for Christ. He tells us that it is a privilege not only to believe in Christ but to suffer for His name's sake.
Paul also called this a "conflict" which is related to the word "agony" or "agonizing." He is teaching us that resistance to the gospel is to be expected and suffering for Christ is a real part of the Christian life.
We naturally do not get up in the morning ready to embrace suffering and conflict and yet this is what scripture is teaching us. There are false teachers who preach that when you are saved you will be healthy, wealthy and problem free. This is man's teaching and is not supported by the scripture.
Christians should suffer patiently for their faith.
1 Peter 2:18-21 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The apostle Peter also addressed the issue of Christian suffering. He reminds us that we should not be surprised if we do something wrong like breaking a law and we suffer punishment for our wrongdoing.
Next, Peter says that if we suffer for doing well we ought to take the suffering with patience. This posture of heart is acceptable to God. Why? Because His Son Jesus Christ suffered far more than anyone of us ever will suffer in this life. Jesus suffered all the way to the cross but it was for our sake that He endured it.
Peter teaches us that Christ is our model for responding to suffering. He did not sin nor did He speak deceitfully. When the religious leaders and soldiers reviled Jesus by heaping physical and verbal abuse upon Him, He did not respond in kind.
When Jesus suffered maltreatment at their hands He did not threaten them. Rather He prayed, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus committed all things to His Father in heaven when experiencing suffering, rejection, torture and a death on the cross. How Christ lived needs to shape our response when we are in the grip of suffering.
Christians should not suffer for breaking civil laws.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Peter weighs in several times on the subject of suffering. The Christian should not be suffering or punished because of breaking the law. When a Christian disobeys civil laws that action brings shame upon the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter says we may suffer for well doing. That means we can expect to suffer when we are living according to the Word of God and following the teaching of Christ. We may suffer if we attempt to share God's truth with those around us. People may become antagonistic toward us because they resist the gospel. They may spread lies about us, seek to ruin our integrity or verbally assault us. However, we can glorify God when we live by faith and turn to our Father for strength to endure.
Suffering is not unique. Rather, it is a part of normal Christian living.
1 Peter 4:12-16 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Once again Peter brings clarity to Christian suffering. He says "Don't think that something strange has happened to you when you experience suffering." Why? Because, as we have seen, suffering is to be expected in the life of a Christian.
Peter calls suffering for Christ's sake something to rejoice in. We will be glad we suffered for Christ in that day when He brings us into His presence. He tells us not to be ashamed when we suffer for Christ. Rather, we are to glorify God because we are counted worthy to suffer.
If a Christian is verbally assaulted we should be happy because this means that the Spirit of God and His glory rests on us or is working through us to bring glory to Christ.
Peter again reminds his audience which include us, do not suffer as a common criminal or as a gossip who sticks their nose into other people's business.
John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ give us the proper expectation that the believer should have regarding suffering and persecution. The world hated Jesus Christ and if we are truly born again, the world will hate us too.
If we say we are born again and the world (lost people around us) love us, then something is wrong with our profession of faith. We are not greater than our Master, Jesus Christ. He suffered mightily and we will share in His sufferings.
Points to Ponder....
- Christians will suffer for their faith in Christ and loyalty to their King.
- Suffering comes in many forms and may be agonizing.
- Christians should not suffer as a criminal.
- Christians should rejoice when suffering and seek to glorify God in it.
- Christians should expect suffering because the world hated Christ and if we are born again, the world will hate us.
Most of us seek to avoid suffering and hardship because we view it as negative and painful. Jesus said that the world will hate us because it hated Him.
Suffering is one reason why we need the grace of God to flow into our hearts. He gives us the grace we need when we need it. It is a grace that sustains us through difficult times and trying situations.
May we go boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and help in our times of need.
Bob
Comments
Post a Comment