The word that is translated
“affliction” in the ESV is translated “tribulation” in the KJV. It has a lot of
different meanings: “trouble”, “anguish”, “persecution”, “burdened”, etc. So
this word can be used for most any kind of difficulty in our life. Most people
seem to think that any difficulty we encounter means either God is indifferent
or he is angry with us. Jesus’ disciples, upon seeing a man who had been born
blind, jumped to the conclusion that someone had to sin in order to cause this
condition. You can read the account in John’s gospel chapter nine.
In this sermon we will try to get a reasonable answer to the question, “Why
do we suffer?” First of all, we need to be assured that…
God is a comforter. Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies
had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear
within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by
the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by
the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing,
your mourning, your zeal for me, so that
I rejoiced still more.
The Apostle had certainly suffered. We
will get to his specific case in short order but first, let’s look at God’s character as a comforter.
When Jesus spoke about His going away
(John 15:26ff) He promised that He would send the “Helper” to the disciples.
The KJV translates the word as “Comforter”. The word is used for a defender, an
advocate, or a legal assistant. The word is used for the Holy Spirit who would
take Jesus’ place when he ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit would lead them
into a deeper knowledge of the gospel and give them a divine strength so that
they could stand up under the coming trials.
Do you want God’s strength and
comfort? Remember, we must suffer in order to be comforted.
We would have no need of comfort if
we were comfortable. To be made comfortable we must first be uncomfortable. God
will make sure we are in need of comfort. Then He will pour out that comfort.
We need to have been comforted…
In order to comfort others. Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration,
comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love
and peace will be with you.
As Paul closes his letter he gives
final words of encouragement. He begins with “rejoice”, and goes on to
“restoration”, “comfort”. “agree” and “peace. Everything that comes into our
lives passes by God first. Among God’s gifts is suffering and it is given to us
so that we will be comforted. We suffer in order to be comforted and we are
comforted in order to make us able to comfort others.
If we look at Paul’s life we see
that…
Paul was familiar with suffering. Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 11:24-27. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews
the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with
rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was
adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers,
danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in
the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in
toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often
without food, in cold and exposure.
These words are Paul’s own testimony.
We do not have another source for all of these events but we can be confident
they are true since we have Paul’s witness. Five times he received thirty-nine
stripes with the lash. Under the law of Moses punishing someone with the whip was
strictly limited. According to Deuteronomy 25:3 beatings were limited to no
more than 40 stripes this was to keep from breaking the man’s will. Three times
he was beaten with rods. One of those times was in Philippi. There the jailer was
ordered to beat Paul and Silas with rods. The result of that beating was the
conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family. Paul was stoned at Lystra
on his first missionary journey. The crowd believed he had died — and they knew
what “dead” was. I believe he died at that time and that experience is what he
referred to in 2 Corinthians 12 when Paul wrote about “a man” who was “caught
up into paradise”. He was careful not to give the idea that he was boasting
about himself.
He was shipwrecked three times. We
know that after this writing he was in one more shipwreck. He faced danger on
every side. No matter where he went he suffered. Some have suggested that when
Paul came to a new town the first thing he did was check out the jail because
he would certainly be there before he left. If such a place existed, I would
suggest that he also would have checked out the local emergency room or
doctor’s office because he would likely have need of it. He went on with his
report on his ministry…
He had a “thorn in the flesh”. Let’s read on 2 Corinthians 12:7-8. So
to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the
revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass
me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded
with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
Paul’s testimony would be a strong
encouragement to pastors and missionaries NOT to be conceited. The result of
his conceit was “a thorn in the flesh”. We do not know what the “thorn” was but
we do know it was very disturbing to Paul.
We look back at the list he gave us.
Beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and in danger. He might have been reminded of the
words Jesus gave to Ananias after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus
road. The Lord told Ananias “Go, for he
is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings
and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for
the sake of my name.” Acts 9:15-16
God had promised that he would be a chosen
instrument! In Galatians chapter one Paul refers to his being set apart before
he was born and called by God’s grace. So he was chosen even while he was in
rebellion against God. He had been filled with arrogant pride through most of
his life and after he was caught up into paradise he was in danger of falling
back into that attitude.
So he was given “a thorn in the flesh”…
That was God’s tool to free Paul. Let’s read in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For
the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
This thorn was a messenger of Satan!
This may be hard for you to understand. God will allow Satan access to our
lives to humble us. Paul had pleaded with God three times asking that this “thorn”
should leave him. Instead of removing the thorn God simply said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” You
see, God does not choose us because of our power, or ability, he chooses us to
be instruments of his. Our role in life is to submit our weaknesses to God’s power.
We are all he needs and he is certainly all that we need.
As Paul came to an understanding of
the way God was working to keep him from being conceited he could rejoice in
his difficulty. Our weakness becomes the stage upon which God performs his
miracles. When we are weak, God is strong! For the sake of Christ, we can be contented with our weakness.
Suffering is the path by which…
God is purifying His people. Let’s look at Peter’s words on the
subject 1 Peter 4:16-19. Yet if anyone
suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that
name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household
of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not
obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely
saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore
let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful
Creator while doing good.
Sometimes it is God’s will that
Christians suffer. Peter encourages us to not be ashamed when we suffer in that
manner. We should glorify God by our suffering. The phrase, “according to God’s will” doesn’t refer
to how we endure. It is a matter of suffering for doing right if that should be
God’s will. The Bible teaches us to say, “if the Lord wills” when we consider plans for the future.
Remember, nothing comes to us that does not go by God first! We should do good
while we trust in God to care for us.
A key to understanding this whole
passage of Scripture leads to an answer to the question, “Why do we suffer?” We
were comforted in our suffering not so we could be comfortable but so we could
comfort others. Christianity, in its essence, is not self-centered and is not
focused on health, wealth and human comfort. It is focused on how we can
minister to the needs of others. First, it’s important for us to know that we
have really come to know Him — the Lord Jesus Christ. We came into this world
as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. As such, we have all sinned. The payoff
of sin is death — physical and spiritual! But, the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. The gospel begins with salvation and continues
with growth in grace and knowledge resulting in sanctification.
All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English
standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.
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