The Gift of Suffering

The Christian’s Joy                                          “The Gift of Suffering”                                                              Phil. 1:29-30   For Christ’s Sake (v.29)   1 Pet. 2:20d-21; 4:19 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps…. 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. .     Acts 17:24-26, 31a 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,[a] 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, … 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; Acts 4:27-28 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.   Eph. 1:4-6, 11; 2:4-5 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[a] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. .. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 2:4 But[God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—     For Our Sake (v.30)   C. S. Lewis (The Problem of Pain): “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world”   Salvation (Faith- Gen. 50:20; Lu.13:1-5)   In evangelism (1:12)   Sanctification (Ro. 5:3-4)   1 Pet. 1:6-7 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.     In Dependence (2 Cor. 1:9)   In Maturity (Ja. 1:2-4)   In Ministry (2 Cor. 1:3-4)   3. Glorification (Jo. 9:3; 1 Pet. 4:12-14,16; 5:10)   Matt. 5:11-12 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.