Overcoming Life’s Problems
Who/What Causes Suffering?
FILING INFORMATION:
2000004
Subject: perseverance; attitude; love for God
Preached Originally: 01/09/2000 – Rapid City,
SD
Introduction:
A. This AM we spent time discussing why God allows suffering. Talked about how suffering can:
1.
Keep the
world from b/c too attractive.
2.
Bring out
the best in people
3.
Can give
us occasion to silence the enemies of God
4.
Can make
us appreciate the things we have
5.
Makes us
depend on God
6.
Can purify
us (by making us stronger in Christ)
7.
Makes us
sympathetic
8.
Teaches us
how to pray.
B.
Tonight: look at even more difficult
lesson. We will attempt to answer Who/what is responsible for the suffering
which God allows to exist?
1. Is it the work of God Himself? (Some: how could God do this to me?)
2.
Is it
Satan?
3.
Is it
simply the result of natural consequences in a world of cause & effect?
C. We do not pretend to have all the answers – but would like to point out some thoughts which are in the word of God.
I. Suffering can be the result
of our own actions.
A. God has created a world governed by natural laws.
1.
Cause/effect; action/reaction; sowing/reaping
2.
Gal.
6:7-8; Job 4:7-8
B. Violate these laws: consequences will ensue.
1. rock climbing; fall off cliff – consequences. (Not fall that kills – but sudden stop at bottom)
2.
play in
street – get run over.
3.
Eat unhealthy
foods – medical problems.
C. Because certain laws are violated – suffering is experienced.
1. because some natural law has been violated.
2.
Not necessarily
b/c we evil/ good. (Not
necessarily a moral significance to suffering)
3.
Relate scenerios
above.
D.
What
really hurts:
1. when we/someone we love suffers b/c someone else violates a natural law.
2.
Car wreck
caused by careless, drunk driving
3.
Child abuse;
etc.
E. This explains much of the suffering we endure in life. Some would say that ALL suffering = the violating of natural law. Some might say that God/Satan have nothing to do w/suffering….Don’t think that naturally true.
II. Suffering can come about because of the work of Satan
A.
Satan can
be a cause of suffering.
1.
Job
1:6-12; 2:1-6
2.
All of Job’s
family; possessions, etc. lost. Look at 2:8-10
3.
I b/l that
Satan responsible for much suffering today.
B. Satan still persecutes Christians. Note two scriptures which warn of the danger:
1.
1 Pet.
5:8-9
2.
2 Tim. 3:12
3.
Satan’s
objective: that we might curse
God.
a)
some do
just that when experiencing suffering.
b)
He wants
to wreck your life. Just looking
for right opportunity. Wants YOU
to curse God & die.
C.
Why does
God allow Satan to test us?
1.
to make us
better people.
a)
2 Cor.
12:7-10 – such infirmities increased the faith of Paul.
b)
Acts 8:4 –
They b/c came strong enough to go out & preach gospel.
c)
Phil.
1:12-14 – stronger in the Lord.
2.
The trying
of our faith can produce good things.
a)
1 Pet.
1:6-7
b)
God will
reward those who endure to the end. 1 Pet. 5:10; Heb. 5:8-9
D. Remember…..Satan has his limits.
1.
Job 1,2 –
God only let Satan go so far.
2.
1 Cor.
10:13 – God make a way of escape. Must look to that.
3.
Let us use
suffering to perfect, establish, strengthen & settle ourselves as children
of God.
III. God Dispenses Suffering
A. Sickness/death = result of sin entering the world.
1.
Rom. 5:12 –
sin of Adam brought physical death into world.
a)
god not
cause of phys death – Adam’s sin was.
b)
BUT…God
decreed physical death for all mankind as a result of sin.
c)
Gen.
3:17-24
2.
Is this
fair? What about small child or close
loved one whose life is snuffed out prematurely?
a)
Rom. 9:20-21
– do we have right to question God in these matters?
b)
There are
somethings that we simply can’t know why in this life.
c)
Job
questioned God over his suffering. Note God’s answer: Job
38:1-6
1)
God
expects us to handle our suffering righteously.
2)
Job 40:1-9
d)
we must
learn to consider death, pain, suffering from the correct viewpoint.
1)
2 Cor.
4:16-5:1
2)
greatest
sense of comfort: if
Christian: died w/the Lord.
3.
Must
determine to live so that we may go home to be w/God & them one day.
B. Suffering may come from God as a result of His chastisement.
1.
God indeed
chastens His children
a)
Deut. 8:5;
Prov. 3:11-12
b)
Rev. 3:19;
Heb. 12:5-8
2.
Must learn
his purpose behind it.
a)
not b/c He
delights in doing so – Lam. 3:31-33
b)
Chastens
out of necessity.
1)
correction
– Heb. 12:9
2)
to be
partakers of His holiness – Heb. 12:10
3)
so that we
may be righteous – Heb. 12:11
4)
so that we
may not be condemned w/the world – 1 Cor. 11:32
3.
When does
God chasten us? 1 Cor. 11:31 –
when we fail to chastise ourselves.
4.
How does
God chasten us?
a)
through
His providence
b)
His
providence can bring about events in our lives which can perhaps:
1)
wake us up
2)
cause us
to reflect on our lives/relationships w/Him.
3)
Cause us
to repent/turn back to Him if we are straying.
C.
It =
critical for us to take note that when God dispenses the suffering mentioned
above – it is not because He is
evil or despotic.’
1.
does it
b/c of sin
2.
b/c
sin/death entered the world
3.
b/c of
unrepented sin we b/c candidates for chastisement.
Conclusion
A. When we experience suffering in our lives:
1.
may result
form some law of nature.
2.
May be the
result of Satan
3.
May be the
chastisement of God.
B. Can we determine when some particular suffering is from God, Satan, Neither?
1.
not
always. Unless blatant sin
involved.
C. Must learn to react to suffering from viewpoint that it might be God in love chastening us.
1.
if we use
the occasion of suffering to:
a)
examine
our lives/relationship with God
b)
draw
closer to Him
2.
Then:
a)
if it from
God – if FULFILLS His purpose
b)
If it from
Satan – it FRUSTRATES His purpose
c)
If it neither….it
still brings us closer to Him.