TCH MINI-STUDY 20
GOD USES OUR SUFFERING TO HUMBLE US AND MAGNIFY HIMSELF
Suffering allows the presence, life, and
power of Christ to be manifested within our mortal lives (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).
Suffering reveals our weaknesses, and makes
us, out of necessity, dependent upon God (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Suffering teaches us that God is more concerned about our character
than our comfort (Romans 5:3-4; Hebrews 12:10-11).
Suffering teaches us that the greatest aspect of the Christian life is not
comfort and ease, but Christ likeness (2 Corinthians 4:8-10; Romans 8:28-29).
Suffering brings about obedience and self-control
(Hebrews 5:8; Psalms 119:67; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; Philippians 3:10).
Suffering allows God to manifest Himself and His help
(Psalms 56:8).
Voluntary suffering is one way to demonstrate the love of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-2, 9).
Suffering imparts
the mind of Christ to and in us (Philippians 2:1-11).
Suffering is part of the struggle against sin (Hebrews 12:4-13).
Suffering
is part of the struggle against evil men (Psalms 27:12; 37:14-15).
Suffering is also a part of the struggle in kingdom of God
(2 Thessalonians 1:5).
Suffering is also a part of the struggle regarding the gospel (2 Timothy 2:8-9).
Suffering is designed
to perfect and strengthen us, and to keep us from falling (Psalms 66:8-9; Hebrews 2:10).
Suffering produces discernment and increases
our knowledge of God’s standards (Psalms 119:66-67, 71).
Suffering can result from our glorifying the name of Christ (Acts 5:41;
1 Peter 4:14).
Suffering allows us to share in Christ’s suffering (2 Corinthians 1:5; 1 Peter 4:12-13).
Endurance of suffering
often results in endurance and patience, which often results in reward (2 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:12).
Suffering encourages
the administration of the gifts for the common good (Philippians 4:12-15).
Suffering often binds Christians together (Revelation
1:9).
Suffering causes us to discipline our minds by making us focus our hope on the grace to be revealed at the revelation of
Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6, 13).
Suffering teaches us to number our days so we can apply our hearts to wisdom (Psalms 90:7-12).
Through
suffering God is able to obtain our broken and contrite spirit which He desires (Psalms 51:16-17).
Suffering is often involved
in the struggle against injustice (1 Peter 2:19).
God uses suffering to humble us so He can exalt us at the proper time (1 Peter
5:6-7).
Suffering forces us to become humble (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Suffering is sometimes necessary to win the lost (2 Timothy
2:8-10; 4:5-6).
Suffering, according to God's will and purposes, may be a chastisement from God for sin and rebellion (Psalms
107:17).
Suffering strengthens and allows us to comfort others who are weak (2 Corinthians 1:3-11).
Suffering is small compared
to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8).
God desires truth in our innermost being and one way He does it
is through suffering (Psalms 51:6; 119:17).
The equity for suffering will be found in the next life (Psalms 58:10-11).
Suffering
is correlated to the opportunity for greater grace (2 Timothy 1:7-8; 4:16-18).
Suffering instructs us to be thankful in times
of sorrow (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 1:11).
Suffering most often increases faith (Jeremiah 29:11).
Suffering magnifies
our hope (Job 13:14-15).
When suffering, we should attempt to understand the reasons for our suffering: "In the day of prosperity
be joyful, but in the day of adversity [affliction, distress, harm, hurt, misery, pain, wickedness] consider [advise oneself, attempt
to understand, behold, perceive]: God also hat set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him"
(Ecclesiastes 7:14).
We suffer because we sow bad seeds: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall
he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption [inflict ruin, decay, shrivel, wither
away]; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7-8).
We suffer because of our
faith: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
We suffer because God is
developing our faith with the goal of praise and glory: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in
heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious that of gold that perisheth, though
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7).
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy
God: I will strengthen
thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all
they that were incensed against
thee shall be ashamed and
confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with
thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and
shalt not find
them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against
thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For
I the
LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not;
I will help thee”
(Isaiah 41:10-13).
GOD GAVE THEM UP TO VILE AFFECTIONS
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it
unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not
as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves
to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds,
and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,
to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their
error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do
those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them”
(Romans 1:18-32).
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he
will not fail thee, nor
forsake thee”
(Deuteronomy 31:6).
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
Billy Graham, American Evangelist
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things”
(Philippians
4:8).
YOUR LUST S THAT WAR IN YOUR MEMBERS
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts
that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,
because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of
God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore
he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double
minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in
the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”
(James 4:1-10).