TEXT:
‘So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’ (2 Peter 3:17-18 NLT).
Today’s Teaching has studied the words: Faith, Precious and Submission. The last word in this series is “Suffering”. In Part 1, we studied “The suffering of Christ”. Now we consider the suffering of the Christian. Jesus said, ‘Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you’ (John 15:29). Paul prayed, ‘That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings’ (Philippians 3:10). He wanted to identify with Christ, in line with what God told him at his conversion, ‘For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake’ (Acts 9:16). Suffering is an inescapable part of Christianity.
The Suffering of the Christian
A. Key Areas in which Christians can suffer
(i) Through Deterioration, Disease and Death
This is physical suffering due to the ageing process, illness and death itself. Ever since Adam and Eve’s disobedience, mankind has suffered these things and Christians are not excepted. God never intended it in the beginning, but it is now a fact of life.
Given a choice, most would like a pain-free, healthy long life, which ends with death in their sleep. The reality is quite different, especially when illness and disability starts in our youth, or death is a long, painful and drawn-out experience. This is not the experience of just humanity alone, for the Bible says, ‘For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in sickness and death’ (Romans 8:22 TLB).
(ii) Through Disobedience – ‘Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’ (Ephesians 6:2). Obedience to God’s Word can make life go better, but there are consequences when we think it is not relevant for today. Peter stated, ‘Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong’ (1 Peter 2:20 TLB). Christians can sometimes complain about being persecuted but the real reason is they are not being a good spouse, parent, worker or an employee.
(iii) Through Self-Discipline – ‘Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to’ (1 Corinthians 9:27 TLB). This is when we take the initiative to be like Jesus. Our body may suffer and complain, but we make it do what will enhance our Christian life. Jesus suffered, sweating great drops of blood, such was His intense intercession. His goal, ‘I always do those things that please Him’ (John 8:29).
(iv) Through God’s Discipline – ‘My son, don’t be angry when the Lord punishes you. Don’t be discouraged when he has to show you where you are wrong. For when he punishes you, it proves that he loves you. When he whips you, it proves you are really his child’ (Hebrews 12:5-6 TLB). ‘Being punished isn’t enjoyable while it is happening—it hurts! But afterwards we can see the result, a quiet growth in grace and character’ (Hebrews 12:11 TLB).
Sometimes God must take the initiative to bring us back into line, not through physical punishment but godly chastisement.
(v) Through Demonic Attack and Persecution
It may be by oppression or possession. Either way, Satan only has one purpose; to steal, kill and destroy. He stirs up the world to persecute true Christianity.
(vi) Through God’s Desired End
The Bible has two classic examples of this. Joseph – ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NLT). Job – ‘You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord’ (James 5:11).
Joseph went through slavery and imprisonment for the greater good of saving his father, his family and millions of lives. Job suffered intensely because of the devil so God could prove He was right when He said Job would prove true to his faith. Paul said his suffering in prison meant the furtherance of the gospel, as believers rallied to carry on evangelising (See Philippians 1:12-18).
Thank God, when we love God and are called according to His purpose, ‘All things work together for good’ (Romans 8:28).
B. What the Christian can do when suffering
(i) Pray – ‘Is anyone among you suffering, let him pray’ (James 5:13)
There is a two-fold reason to pray. Firstly, to forgive those who are the cause of the suffering, as Jesus did on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them’ (Luke 23:34). Secondly, to bring God into it. Don’t run from God or accuse Him of being the cause of your suffering and abandoning you. Jesus prayed to the Father to take the cup of suffering from him, but added, ‘Not My will, but Yours be done’ (Luke 22:44).
(ii) Focus on the Saviour – ‘Looking unto Jesus’ (Hebrews 12:2)
Stephen endured martyrdom because he cried out, ‘Look, I see the heavens opened and Jesus the Messiah standing beside God, at his right hand!’ (Acts 7:56 TLB). So many Christians have seen Jesus when nearing death or during a time of crisis. Paul wrote, ‘But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News’ (2 Timothy 4:17 NLT).
(iii) Good Works – ‘So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right and trust yourself to the God who made you’ (1 Peter 4:19 TLB). Keep on doing what is right and good even through you are suffering.
(iv) Rejoice that you have an eternal future
No Saviour; no God; no hope. But that’s not the Christian’s viewpoint. Death is gain, for heaven awaits, which is far better. Our born-again spirit will be clothed with an eternal body, that cannot age, ache or die. Hallelujah!
(v) Remember God’s promises that are applicable to your suffering
There are battles to be fought and won here on earth. Fear can turn into faith, sickness can turn into healing because of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises (See 2 Peter 1:4).
Paul summed it up like this, ‘If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later’ (Romans 8:17-18 TLB).
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