We Suffer With a Purpose 210606
Last week we looked at suffering as part of God’s call. We saw God’s promise to Paul that he would suffer and Paul passed that on to Timothy. Suffering does not happen to us because God is mean. Suffering was part of the plan from the very beginning.
Issac Watts A Christian Pastor during the early years of the 1700’s wrote. A Hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross? In it he asks the question we all must answer: (#430)
Am I a soldier of the cross? /A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause, /Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies /On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize /And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face? /Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace, /To help me on to God?
Sure, I must fight if I would reign; /Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, /Supported by Thy Word.
What is God’s plan for the believer’s suffering? Let’s look at the Word God gave to Paul
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
We can see that Paul praised the true God who revealed Himself in His Son. Who is of the same essence with the Father. He is the anointed one the Christ. He is the Ruler and Redeemer. Although the Son had this lofty position, He was willing to become a servant and submit Himself in taking on human flesh. This great benediction comprehends the entire gospel. God is the Father of mercies. Paul may have borrowed from Jewish liturgical language and a synagogue prayer that called for God to treat the sinful individual with kindness, love, and tenderness. David the king wrote in Psalm 103:13-14, As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
He is the God of all comfort. This is an Old Testament description of God who is the ultimate source of every true act of comfort. The Greek word for “comfort” is related to the familiar word paraclete, “one who comes alongside to help.” It is another name for the Holy Spirit. “Comfort” often connotes softness and ease, but that is not its meaning here. Paul was saying that God came to him in the midst of his sufferings and troubles to strengthen him and give him courage and boldness.
I don’t want us to forget Paul’s suffering. You can find Paul’s account in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28. There he tells of being beaten many times He was stoned, left for dead, and recovered. His back must have been solid scar tissue.
Many Christians have suffered for the gospel’s sake. Before Adoniram Judson finished his education he committed his life to foreign missions. He fell in love with Ann Hasaltine and wrote her father to ask permission to marry her.
“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life …to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”
A month later they set sail for India and Burma. On the long trip they studied the bible and came to the conclusion they had been wrong about baptism. They were baptized by William Carey when they arrived in India.
They had been sent out be the “American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions”. Since they were no longer Congregationalists they had to end their relationship with that mission board. Since there was not a Baptist Board of Foreign Missions a young man that had travelled with them, Luther Rice, returned to America to remedy that situation.
During the move from India to Burma their first child died. Ann suffered from one miscarriage and gave birth to two children later on. Unfortunately, both the children died while they were still babies. They suffered tremendously. Ann died of an illness in 1826.
In 1834, he married Sarah Hall Boardman, widow of fellow missionary George Boardman. The couple went on to have eight children, of whom five survived to adulthood. Sarah died in 1845.
During the only trip Judson took to America. Much to everyone’s surprise, Emily Chubbuck became his third wife in 1846. She gave birth to two children, of whom one died shortly after birth.
In 1850, Adoniram Judson developed a serious lung infection and was advised by doctors to go on a sea voyage. He died onboard ship in the Bay of Bengal on April 12, 1850 and was buried at sea. At the time of his death, he had spent 37 years in missionary service in Burma.
Near the end he wrote a poem: “In spite of sorrow, loss, and pain, our course be onward still; we sow on Burma's barren plain, we reap on Zion's hill.” ~ Adoniram Judson.
There are now more than 2 million Baptists in Burma/Mayanmar. The result of suffering by many missionaries over the 200 years ministry.
Let’s get back to Paul’s letter to Corinth.
In spite of his suffering Paul pointed Timothy to God our Father. He based his life on our God is the Father of mercies.
God’s mercy means God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress. Paul, and those with him, could encourage those who suffer because of his own experience. Recorded in chapter 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.
Depression is a condition carried by all of us at one time or another. Paul had his share a therefore in need of comfort.
The God of all comfort does not point to “flowery beds of ease” instead, the word translated “comfort” comes from the same root as the word John used to describe the Holy Spirit. One who walks along side of you when you are in need of an advocate, a helper or an intercessor.
The term “affliction” refers to crushing pressure, because in Paul’s life and ministry there was always something attempting to weaken him, restrict or confine his ministry, or even take his life. But no matter what confronted him, Paul knew God would sustain and strengthen him.
In his first letter 10:12-13 he has written. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
When he found himself struggling with depression and temptation he only had to remind himself of his own words of a couple years before.
Many times I have had people ask me, “Why does God allow this?” Usually I have to answer, “I don’t know. But I do know God is aware of your situation and has a perfect plan for it.” Sometimes I have an idea pointing to God’s plan but I could be wrong. Therefore it is better to encourage the sufferer to seek God’s face and accept whatever comes from his hand.
Paul assures the Corinthians God comforts us so that we can use the same comfort to encourage and strengthen another. I hope these words coming from me are able to help not hurt. Paul sees his suffering as personally beneficial, driving him to trust God alone, but also as directly benefiting those he ministered to: “God … comforts us … so that we can comfort.…” To experience God’s comfort in the midst of one’s affliction is to become indebted and equipped to communicate the divine comfort and sympathy to others who are in any kind of affliction or distress. God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (1:4-6)
This verse (5) supplies the reason suffering equips the Christian to mediate God’s comfort. Whenever Christ’s sufferings were multiplied in Paul’s life, God’s comfort was also multiplied through the ministry of Christ. The greater the suffering, the greater the comfort and the greater the ability to share with others the divine sympathy.
We need to see whatever we go through as having gone through the Holy Spirit’s filter. We may often be confused and even fearful but you can be sure that God is neither. God never sleeps and is never surprised by events in our lives.
Paul was referring to the body of Christ’s partnership of suffering, which mutually builds godly patience and endurance. All believers need to realize this process, avoid any sense of self-pity when suffering for Him, and share in one anothers’ lives the encouragement of divine comfort they receive from their experiences the consolation that is needed. This refers to the Corinthians’ ongoing perseverance to final, completed salvation when they will be glorified. Paul’s willingness, by God’s grace and the Spirit’s power, to suffer and be comforted and then comfort and strengthen the Corinthians helped them to face their troubles head on.
Paul’s assurance to them can be claimed by us and carry us through whatever we face in life. Remember, our God knows the end from the beginning. He is never taken by surprise. When we rest in him we can know, for sure, that we suffer with a purpose.
I confess I have struggled with questions regarding the events we have gone through for the past few years. I willingly put those questions and concerns in the hands of our God and rest in the Holy Spirit’s comfort. Will you join me as we rest in him?
All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2016. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
We Suffer With a Purpose 210606
Last week we looked at suffering as part of God’s call. We saw God’s promise to Paul that he would suffer and Paul passed that on to Timothy. Suffering does not happen to us because God is mean. Suffering was part of the plan from the very beginning.
Issac Watts A Christian Pastor during the early years of the 1700’s wrote. A Hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross? In it he asks the question we all must answer: (#430)
Am I a soldier of the cross? /A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause, /Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies /On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize /And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face? /Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace, /To help me on to God?
Sure, I must fight if I would reign; /Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, /Supported by Thy Word.
What is God’s plan for the believer’s suffering? Let’s look at the Word God gave to Paul
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
We can see that Paul praised the true God who revealed Himself in His Son. Who is of the same essence with the Father. He is the anointed one the Christ. He is the Ruler and Redeemer. Although the Son had this lofty position, He was willing to become a servant and submit Himself in taking on human flesh. This great benediction comprehends the entire gospel. God is the Father of mercies. Paul may have borrowed from Jewish liturgical language and a synagogue prayer that called for God to treat the sinful individual with kindness, love, and tenderness. David the king wrote in Psalm 103:13-14, As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
He is the God of all comfort. This is an Old Testament description of God who is the ultimate source of every true act of comfort. The Greek word for “comfort” is related to the familiar word paraclete, “one who comes alongside to help.” It is another name for the Holy Spirit. “Comfort” often connotes softness and ease, but that is not its meaning here. Paul was saying that God came to him in the midst of his sufferings and troubles to strengthen him and give him courage and boldness.
I don’t want us to forget Paul’s suffering. You can find Paul’s account in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28. There he tells of being beaten many times He was stoned, left for dead, and recovered. His back must have been solid scar tissue.
Many Christians have suffered for the gospel’s sake. Before Adoniram Judson finished his education he committed his life to foreign missions. He fell in love with Ann Hasaltine and wrote her father to ask permission to marry her.
“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life …to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”
A month later they set sail for India and Burma. On the long trip they studied the bible and came to the conclusion they had been wrong about baptism. They were baptized by William Carey when they arrived in India.
They had been sent out be the “American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions”. Since they were no longer Congregationalists they had to end their relationship with that mission board. Since there was not a Baptist Board of Foreign Missions a young man that had travelled with them, Luther Rice, returned to America to remedy that situation.
During the move from India to Burma their first child died. Ann suffered from one miscarriage and gave birth to two children later on. Unfortunately, both the children died while they were still babies. They suffered tremendously. Ann died of an illness in 1826.
In 1834, he married Sarah Hall Boardman, widow of fellow missionary George Boardman. The couple went on to have eight children, of whom five survived to adulthood. Sarah died in 1845.
During the only trip Judson took to America. Much to everyone’s surprise, Emily Chubbuck became his third wife in 1846. She gave birth to two children, of whom one died shortly after birth.
In 1850, Adoniram Judson developed a serious lung infection and was advised by doctors to go on a sea voyage. He died onboard ship in the Bay of Bengal on April 12, 1850 and was buried at sea. At the time of his death, he had spent 37 years in missionary service in Burma.
Near the end he wrote a poem: “In spite of sorrow, loss, and pain, our course be onward still; we sow on Burma's barren plain, we reap on Zion's hill.” ~ Adoniram Judson.
There are now more than 2 million Baptists in Burma/Mayanmar. The result of suffering by many missionaries over the 200 years ministry.
Let’s get back to Paul’s letter to Corinth.
In spite of his suffering Paul pointed Timothy to God our Father. He based his life on our God is the Father of mercies.
God’s mercy means God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress. Paul, and those with him, could encourage those who suffer because of his own experience. Recorded in chapter 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.
Depression is a condition carried by all of us at one time or another. Paul had his share a therefore in need of comfort.
The God of all comfort does not point to “flowery beds of ease” instead, the word translated “comfort” comes from the same root as the word John used to describe the Holy Spirit. One who walks along side of you when you are in need of an advocate, a helper or an intercessor.
The term “affliction” refers to crushing pressure, because in Paul’s life and ministry there was always something attempting to weaken him, restrict or confine his ministry, or even take his life. But no matter what confronted him, Paul knew God would sustain and strengthen him.
In his first letter 10:12-13 he has written. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
When he found himself struggling with depression and temptation he only had to remind himself of his own words of a couple years before.
Many times I have had people ask me, “Why does God allow this?” Usually I have to answer, “I don’t know. But I do know God is aware of your situation and has a perfect plan for it.” Sometimes I have an idea pointing to God’s plan but I could be wrong. Therefore it is better to encourage the sufferer to seek God’s face and accept whatever comes from his hand.
Paul assures the Corinthians God comforts us so that we can use the same comfort to encourage and strengthen another. I hope these words coming from me are able to help not hurt. Paul sees his suffering as personally beneficial, driving him to trust God alone, but also as directly benefiting those he ministered to: “God … comforts us … so that we can comfort.…” To experience God’s comfort in the midst of one’s affliction is to become indebted and equipped to communicate the divine comfort and sympathy to others who are in any kind of affliction or distress. God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (1:4-6)
This verse (5) supplies the reason suffering equips the Christian to mediate God’s comfort. Whenever Christ’s sufferings were multiplied in Paul’s life, God’s comfort was also multiplied through the ministry of Christ. The greater the suffering, the greater the comfort and the greater the ability to share with others the divine sympathy.
We need to see whatever we go through as having gone through the Holy Spirit’s filter. We may often be confused and even fearful but you can be sure that God is neither. God never sleeps and is never surprised by events in our lives.
Paul was referring to the body of Christ’s partnership of suffering, which mutually builds godly patience and endurance. All believers need to realize this process, avoid any sense of self-pity when suffering for Him, and share in one anothers’ lives the encouragement of divine comfort they receive from their experiences the consolation that is needed. This refers to the Corinthians’ ongoing perseverance to final, completed salvation when they will be glorified. Paul’s willingness, by God’s grace and the Spirit’s power, to suffer and be comforted and then comfort and strengthen the Corinthians helped them to face their troubles head on.
Paul’s assurance to them can be claimed by us and carry us through whatever we face in life. Remember, our God knows the end from the beginning. He is never taken by surprise. When we rest in him we can know, for sure, that we suffer with a purpose.
I confess I have struggled with questions regarding the events we have gone through for the past few years. I willingly put those questions and concerns in the hands of our God and rest in the Holy Spirit’s comfort. Will you join me as we rest in him?
All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2016. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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