Overcoming Life’s Problems
Understanding Why God Allows Suffering
FILING INFORMATION:
2000003
Subject: attitude; faith; perseverance
Preached Originally: 01/09/2000 – Rapid City,
SD
Introduction
A.
Series
continues on overcoming life’s problems.
1.
Today’s
lesson will be 3 part in nature.
2.
Next week’s
lesson will conclude our discussion on suffering.
3.
Will conclude
entire series in a few weeks. Want
to talk about handling depression ,etc.
4.
Hope you
still enjoying the series.
B.
Why does
God allow suffering?
1.
an old
question.
a)
Asked by many: Why does a loving God
allow suffering, sorrow, hearache, death? Why does He allow this to happen even among His children?
b)
Perhaps you
know someone who b/c bitter toward God b/c of suffering?
2.
Question
asked/expressed by Job. See 3:1-5.
a) remember he lost family, land, monetary resources, health.
b)
Don’t have
to look very long/hard to see people asking same things in our modern world.
c)
Columbine,
Jonesboro, natural disasters, shootings, disease, etc.
d)
Answers to
why found in scriptures.
e)
Often: this (suffering) looked only from man’s
point of view & we see only NEGATIVE things associated with suffering.
C.
Going to
see the importance of looking at this from God’s
point of view.
1. must learn to look at it from viewpoint of His plans for us in prep for eternity.
2.
Isa.
55:8-9
3.
Let’s look
at the Scriptures to determine:
a)
why God
allows suffering
b)
why
Christians can even rejoice in midst of suffering.
II. Why God Allows Suffering
A.
Suffering
keeps this world from becoming too attractive.
1. 1 Pet. 2:11 – Peter says we are sojourners/pilgrims.
a) our stay here only temporary. Must learn to look on an eternal scheme.
b)
Heb. 13:14
2. This world not our home. We just passing thru. You can/will fill this way – if you have become committed to serving God.
a) Phil. 3:20-21 – note the hope that motivated Paul.
b)
This world
looks attractive to those who primarily concerned w/material things. Christians
can fall into this trap!
c)
Heb.
11:13-16 – God prepared something better for us.
d)
Even if
physical bodies pass away – those who serve Him have hope in a body
suited for eternity.
1)
2 Cor.
5:1-5
3. If no suffering:
a) no one would want to leave this temporary world.
b)
No one
would desire the “eternal” home & thus prepare themselves for it.
4.
But
affairs of this life are so ordered by God;
a) that the world soon loses it’s attraction.
b)
Hard for
young people to understand. But…
as you grow older…..we begin to desire something better.
B.
Suffering
can bring out our best.
1. Happens quite frequently.
a) time of natural disaster; someone loses a home due to fire, etc, terminal illness…..
b)
see
constant support of friends, food prepared; financial support
2. Congregation here to be commended.
a) relate to FC Christians. They rejoiced through their trials. How’d they do that?
1)
Rom. 5:1-4
2)
Tribulations
can develop character.
3. Certainly….we all can learn hope, perseverance, & humility. It can truly bring out our best.
C.
Suffering
gives occasion to silence the enemies of God.
1. Back to story of Job.
a)
Job.
1:6-12
b)
Satan
wanted to prove God wrong about Job. Claimed Job served God b/c God had blessed him.
c)
Job’s
patience under suffering silenced Satan.
2. God desires that Christians silence derail Christianity.
a) by patiently enduring…serving God during times of suffering:
b) value of being a Christian shines through – 1 Pet. 2:15
c) Faith will sustain us in suffering.
D. Suffering makes us appreciative.
1. greatly blessed in this life.
a) can be easy to take for granted. Forget to thank God – from tiem to time.
b) Suffering – will make us more fully appreciate:
1) good health
2) good friends/loving family/material possessions.
2. can help us appreciate more fully our brethren – Phil. 1:3-8
E. Suffering makes one more dependent upon God.
1. Motto of world: be your own boss: lean on/trust only in yourself. God can be moved out of way if not careful.
a) Lk. 12:16-21 – parable of rich fool.
b) Discussed dealing w/news from DR. No hope. In such cases as this – you suddenly realize how much we depend on God.
2. When life = total crisis; when all hope is lost; when there no where to turn:
a) the Christian can turn to God
b) Learn to lean on Him. Acts 17:28 – realize – truly it is in Him who we move, live, & have our being.
F. Suffering helps purify us.
1. 1 Pet. 1:6-7; Js. 1:2-5
2. Suffering can be like fire purifying gold – can be a hard/uneasy process. Unpleasant at the time.
3. Suffering can develop maturity in our person.
a) overcome: we can stand w/more confidence in Chirst.
b) We can ser God w/glory/honor.
G. Suffering makes us sympathetic.
1. helps us to be better able to comfort others in their affliction.
2. 2 Cor. 1:3-4
3. we may think we can sympathize w/someone.
a) but until we been there personally = there = no true understanding of their hurt.
b) When we personally experience suffering.
1) we can more identify w/Rom. 12:15
2) can b/c better suited to serve others – Heb. 4:15
H. Suffering teaches us to pray.
1. should always be a praying people. We need to pray at the right time for the right things. But….
2. In midst of sufering we really learn how to pray.
a) earnestly; perseveringly
b) Rom. 8:26
3. Mt. 26:36-46 – note Jesus on night before His death. Prayed not once but 3 times.
Conclusion
A. let us begin to see why a righteous & merciful God allows suffering – even to the innocent.
1. remember: if we look at it only from man’s view – we will not understand why it permitted – we’ll only see the negatives associated with it.
2. When we learn to look at it from God’s point of view – we can b/g to appreciate why He would allow it to occur.
a) 2 Cor. 4:16-18
B. Must never forget that regardless of how muc we might suffer – God’s love will never fail. Rom. 8:35-39
C. Want to learn to get through such trials/suffering w/confidence & hope?
1. come to Christ. Turn to Him.
2. Get life right by obeying gospel/making your commitment to be faithful.
D. I N V I T A T I O N