SUFFERING
1. Who causes suffering?–God or the devil?–Or man himself?
A. The devil causes much of man’s suffering:
(See Acts 10:38; Matthew 15:22; Luke 8:29b; 2 Timothy 2:26)
B. But it is God Who allows the devil to bring suffering:
Job 1:8-19 [God allowed Satan to bringJob to ruin with fire, raiding bandits & a violent storm]
Job 2:3-7 [God allowed the devil to afflict Job with boils]
(See also 1Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20)
C. God is ultimately responsible for allowing suffering:
Exodus 4:11 Who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or blind? Have not I?
1 Samuel 2:6,7 The Lord killeth, maketh alive, maketh poor…rich
Isaiah 45:7 I make peace, & create evil; I the Lord do all these
Amos 3:6b Be (calamity) in a city, & (hath not) the Lord done it?
(See also Deuteronomy 32:39; 2 Chronicles 15:2b,5,6; Job 12:14-25; Psalms 66:10-12a; Micah 1:12b)
2. Why does God allow the righteous to suffer?
A. He has a loving reason for everything He does:
Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to…the called
Genesis 45:4-8 Be not grieved…that ye sold me [as a slave]: for God did send me before you to preserve life
Genesis 50:20 Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good
Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes
Jeremiah 37:15,16; 38:28 [Jeremiah spent a long time in prison, but was safe there when Jerusalem was destroyed–Jeremiah 39:11-14 ]
Jonah 2:1-7a [Jonah suffered in the fish’s belly but it saved him from drowning & took him to land–Jonah 1:15,17; 2:10]
B. Suffering is often God’s loving chastisement:
Proverbs 3:11,12 Whom the Lord loveth He correcteth
Hebrews 12:5-12 Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten
(See also Deuteronomy 8:5; Job 5:17; 1Corinthians 11:32)
C. God’s chastisements are righteous:
Nehemiah 9:33 Thou art just in all that is brought upon us
Psalms 119:75 I know that Thy judgments are right, & that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me
Psalms 19:9b The judgments of the Lord are true & righteous
Proverbs 26:2 The curse causeless shall not come
Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search the heart…to give every man…according to the fruit of his doings
(See also Ezekiel 14:22,23; Hebrews 12:11)
D. Our suffering is less than we deserve:
Ezra 9:13 God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve
Psalms 78:38,39 Full of compassion…many a time turned He His anger
Psalms 103:10-14 He hath not dealt with us after our sins
E. Continue to trust Him, even though you don’t understand:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in Lord…lean not unto thine own understanding
Isaiah 55:8,9 Neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord
3. Some specific reasons that God allows suffering:
A. Suffering has been a fact of life since the fall of man:
Genesis 3:16-19 [Suffering brought into the world by the fall of man]
Job 5:6,7 Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward
(See also Job 14:1; Psalms 90:10)
B. We often bring on suffering by sin & disobedience:
Genesis 42:21 We are guilty…therefore is distress come upon us
Job 4:8 They that plow iniquity & sow wickedness reap the same
Psalms 31:9,10 I am in trouble…grief…because of mine iniquity
Psalms 38:1-8 There is no soundness in my flesh…because of my sin
Psalms 107:17 Fools…because of their iniquities, are afflicted
Isaiah 66:4 [Ignoring God & doing evil brings on mental anguish, fears & delusions]
Jeremiah 5:25 Your sins have withholden good things from you
(See also Jeremiah 30:15; Lamentations 1:20)
C. Because we’re disbelieving or disobeying God’s Word:
Deuteronomy 11:28 A curse, if ye will not obey the commandments
Psalms 78:32,33 They believed not…their years He consumed in trouble
Psalms 89:30-32 If (they) forsake My law…visit transgression with rod
(See also Psalms 107:11,12)
4. Suffering because of obedience & righteousness:
A. Sufferings & privations while serving God:
Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with many tears & temptations
1Corinthians 4:11 We hunger, thirst, are naked, buffeted
2 Corinthians 1:8 [Paul’s] trouble…pressed out of measure, above strength, despaired even of life
2 Corinthians 11:23-30 [Paul’s many sufferings & troubles]
Philippians 2:27a,30 Sick nigh unto death, to supply your lack of service
(See also 2 Corinthians 6:4-10)
B. Suffering caused by persecution:
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given…not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake
2 Timothy 3:12 All that live godly in Jesus shall suffer persecution
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not ashamed, but partaker of afflictions of gospel
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God
Hebrews 11:35b-38 [Saints tortured, cruelly mocked, scourged, imprisoned, slain, destitute, afflicted, tormented]
(SeeRomans 8:35-37; 1Peter 2:19-21; 3:16,17; Revelation 2:10)
5. The benefits & good fruits of suffering:
A. Suffering causes you to seek His Word:
Deuteronomy 8:2,3 That He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by (the) Word
Psalms 94:12 Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, & teachest him out of Thy law
Psalms 119:71 I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes
B. Suffering refines & purifies you:
Job 23:10 When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold
Psalms 66:10 Thou, O God, hast proved us…tried us, as silver
Isaiah 48:10 I have refined thee…in the furnace of affliction
Zechariah 13:9 And I will…refine them as silver is refined
Hebrews 12:9-11 Chastened…that we be partakers of His holiness
(See also Proverbs 17:3; Isaiah 1:25)
C. It teaches you obedience:
Psalms 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word
Hebrews 5:8 Yet learned He obedience by things which He suffered
(See also 2 Corinthians 7:10a,11)
D. It causes you to bring forth more fruit:
John 15:2 He (prunes) it, that it may bring forth more fruit
E. It humbles you:
Deuteronomy 8:2,16 The Lord led thee in the wilderness, to humble thee
2 Chronicles 33:12 When he was in affliction, he humbled himself greatlyLamentations 3:1,17-20 Remembering mine affliction…my soul…is humbled
F. It teaches you patience:
Romans 5:3b Tribulation worketh (teaches us) patience
G. It makes you wiser:
Ecclesiastes 7:2,3 Sorrow is better…the living will lay it to heart
H. It gives you compassion & mercy on others:
2 Corinthians 1:4 That we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we are comforted
Hebrews 2:17 [As with Jesus, it teaches you to be merciful]
Hebrews 2:18 He Himself hath suffered…He is able to succor them
Hebrews 4:15 Be touched with the feeling of [others’] infirmities
I. It draws you close to & makes you appreciate loved ones:
2 Corinthians 7:4-7 We were troubled on every side…nevertheless, God… comforted us by the coming of Titus
6. Rewards in Heaven for earthly suffering:
Luke 16:19-25 [Lazarus the beggar rewarded & comforted]
Romans 8:18 Sufferings of present time not worthy to be compared
2 Corinthians 1:7 As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation
2 Corinthians 4:17 Our light affliction…worketh for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory
2 Timothy 2:12a If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him
Revelation 21:4 Shall be no more death…sorrow…crying…pain
7. Remember, Jesus also suffered:
Hebrews 4:15 [He] was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are
Hebrews 12:3 Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners …lest ye be wearied & faint in your minds
A. The reasons that Jesus suffered:
Isaiah 53:3 He hath borne our griefs, & carried our sorrows
Isaiah 53:4,5 He was wounded for our transgressions…& with His stripes we are healed (See also 1Peter 2:24)
Hebrews 2:9,10 Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings
1Peter 3:18 Suffered for sins, that He might bring us to God
(See also Hebrews 2:17,18; 4:15; 5:7,8)
B. Follow His example of enduring suffering:
Romans 8:17b If we suffer with Him…be glorified together
Philippians 3:10 That I may know the fellowship of His sufferings
1Peter 2:21 Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example
1Peter 4:1 As Christ hath suffered for us, arm yourselves
8. The right attitude toward suffering:
Job 13:15a Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him
Philippians 3:8 I suffered loss of all things, that I may win Christ
A. Endure suffering patiently:
Jeremiah 10:19 Truly this is a grief, & I must bear it
Lamentations 3:24-26 Lord is my portion…hope & quietly wait in Him
Romans 12:12a Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation
2 Timothy 4:5 Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure…God dealeth with you as with sons
1Peter 4:19 Let them that suffer…commit the keeping of their souls to Him (God) in well doing
B. Pray for strength to endure suffering:
Luke 18:1 Men ought always to pray, & not to faint
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray
C. We should expect afflictions & trials:
Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous
Acts 14:22 Must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom
1 Thessalonians 3:3,4 No man should be moved by these afflictions: for…we are appointed thereunto
1Peter 4:12 Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
(See also 1Corinthians 10:13; 1Peter 5:9)
D. Stand strong, endure hardness:
Acts 20:23,24 None of these things move me…that I might finish
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier
Hebrews 11:25-27 Choosing rather to suffer affliction…he endured
James 5:10,11 Take the prophets, for an example of suffering affliction …we count them happy which endure
E. Be happy despite sufferings:
John 16:33b Ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer
Romans 5:3 We glory in tribulations…worketh patience
2 Corinthians 7:4b I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation
1Peter 4:13,16 Rejoice..ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings
F. Don’t murmur against God:
Job 1:20-22Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly ( also 2:9,10)
Psalms 17:3 I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God
G. Remain faithful:
Psalms 119:143 Trouble & anguish…yet Thy commandments my delights
9. Wrong attitudes towards suffering:
Exodus 6:9 [Despair:] They (Israelites) hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, & for cruel bondage
Ruth 1:20,21 [Complaint:] for Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me
Job 2:7-9 [Bitterness:] Then said (Job’s wife), Curse God, & die
Proverbs 24:10 [Giving up:] If thou faint in the day of adversity
Jeremiah 15:18 [Questioning:] Wilt Thou be unto me as a liar?
(See also Proverbs 18:14; Lamentations 3:39)
10. God comforts & strengthens us when we suffer:
Exodus 3:7 I have seen the affliction of My people…heard their cry… I know their sorrows
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn…they shall be comforted
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you
Romans 8:26 The Spirit helpeth our infirmities
1Peter 5:10 But God…after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you
(See also Psalms 23:4; 37:24; 145:14)
11. Deliverance from suffering:
A. The Lord promises to deliver us from our suffering:
Psalms 30:5 Weeping may endure a night, joy cometh in the morning
Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions…but the Lord delivereth
Psalms 103:9-14 He will not always chide…He knoweth our frame
Lamentations 3:31,32 Lord will not cast off for ever: though He cause grief
Isaiah 54:7,8 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but…mercy
(See also Exodus 3:7,9,10; Deuteronomy 26:6-8; Psalms 66:11,12; 94:12-14; 107:11-14; 118:17,18)
B. Pray for deliverance:
Psalms 34:6 Lord heard him, & saved him out of all his troubles
Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, & the Lord…delivereth them out
Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee
(See specific examples in Ezra 9:5-15; Isaiah 38:1-3)
C. God’s conditions:
2 Chronicles 6:27-30 [Release from suffering if men repent & seek the Lord]
2 Chronicles 7:13,14 If My people…shall humble themselves, & pray, & turn from wicked ways; I will hear…forgive…heal
Job 33:27-29 If any say, I have sinned…He will deliver his soul
Job 36:8-11 If they obey & serve Him, they shall (have) prosperity
Jonah 2:1-10 [Jonah praised God in his trouble, & was delivered]
12. Your duty toward the suffering & afflicted:
Job 6:14 To him that is afflicted pity should be showed
Job 16:5 I would strengthen you…asswage your grief
Isaiah 50:4 Speak a word in season to him that is weary
Luke 10:30-37 [The good Samaritan] Go, & do thou likewise
Romans 12:15b Weep with them that weep
1Corinthians 12:25,26 Whether one member suffer, all…suffer with it
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens
Hebrews 13:3 Remember them which suffer adversity
James 1:27 Visit the fatherless & widows in their affliction
(See also Job 19:21; Matthew 25:34-45; 1 Timothy 5:10)
13. The suffering of the worldly wicked:
–Or even of backslidden, disobedient Christians:
Deuteronomy 28:20 The Lord shall send upon thee cursing…because of the wickedness of thy doings
Deuteronomy 28:15-67 If thou wilt not hearken…these curses shall come…
Job 15:20a The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days
Psalms 32:10a Many sorrows shall be to the wicked
Isaiah 42:24,25a Neither were they obedient unto His law. Therefore He hath poured upon him the fury of His anger
Isaiah 57:20,21 Wicked are like troubled sea…no peace to the wicked
Hebrews 2:15 Who through fear of death were…subject to bondage
1 John 4:18 Fear hath torment
(See also Job 20:all; Ecclesiastes 2:22,23; Lamentations 3:42-47)
14. Much of the world’s suffering is often self-inflicted:
A. Drug abuse, alcoholism etc.:
1Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile (his body), him shall God destroy
Proverbs 23:29-35 [Alcoholism brings on woe, sorrow, wounds]
(See also Proverbs 23:21; 31:4,5; Isaiah 5:11; 28:7)
B. Overeating:
Numbers 11:19,20 , [Hebrews gluttonously overate quails & as a result, the fattest of them” died–See Psalms 78:26-31 ]
31-34
Philippians 3:19a Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly
(See also Proverbs 23:1-3,21a)
C. Overdoing physically gets body’s resistance down:
Ecclesiastes 12:12b Much study is a weariness of the flesh
Philippians 2:27a,30 He was (sick) nigh unto death, not regarding his life
D. Suffering because of sexual sins:
Romans 1:27 [Sodomites]…receiving in themselves that recompense of their error [disease & infection]
E. Pollution by factories, pesticides, chemicals etc.:
Isaiah 24:5 The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof
Jeremiah 2:7 Ye defiled My land, & made (it) an abomination
Amos 7:17b Thou shalt die in a polluted land
Micah 2:10b Because it is polluted, it shall destroy you
Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy & polluted, to the oppressing city
Romans 1:30,32a Inventors of evil things…worthy of death
Revelation 11:18b [God will] destroy them which destroy the earth
(See also Genesis 4:8,16,17; Isaiah 5:8; 14:21 re: unnatural cities & industrialisation)
F. Greed & oppression cause wars, suffering & misery:
Proverbs 7:1-26 [Achan’s covetousness caused many Israelites to die]
Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house
Nahum 3:1 Woe to the bloody city! it is full of lies & robbery
1 Timothy 6:9,10 They that will be rich…drown in destruction…sorrows
James 4:1,2 From whence come wars?…even of your lusts…ye kill
James 5:1-6 Rich men…ye have condemned & killed the just
(See also Psalms 73:3-20; Micah 6:12-15)
15. What suffering does for the unsaved or disobedient:
A. Some do not repent despite suffering & affliction:
Isaiah 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt
Isaiah 42:25 Yet he knew not…yet he laid it not to heart
Isaiah 57:17 I smote him…he went on in the way of his heart
Jeremiah 2:30a In vain have I smitten…they received no correction
Jeremiah 5:3 Thou hast stricken them, but they…refused to return
Daniel 9:13 All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer
(See also Nehemiah 9:26-29; Isaiah 9:13; Amos 4:6)
B. Suffering causes the truly wicked to curse God even more:
2 Chronicles 28:22 In time of his distress did he trespass yet more
Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, & that without remedy
Isaiah 8:21 When they shall be hungry, shall curse…their God
Revelation 16:9-11 Men scorched with heat, blasphemed God, repented not
(See also Leviticus 26:23,24)
C. It causes some to repent & seek God:
Deuteronomy 31:17 Many evils & troubles shall befall them [to make them realize they’ve forsaken God]
2 Chronicles 15:4 When they in their trouble…sought Him, He was found
Psalms 78:34 When He slew them, then they sought Him: & returned
Isaiah 26:16 Poured out prayer when Thy chastening was upon them
Jeremiah 2:27b They have turned the back…but in the time of trouble
D. It even turns some unsaved or disobedient to God:
2 Chronicles 33:9-13 [Manasseh’s suffering in prison turned him to God]
Job 34:31,32 I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more
Daniel 4:30-37 [King Nebuchadnezzar’s abasement & salvation]
Luke 15:16-20 [Suffering caused the prodigal son to repent]
Revelation 11:13 Earthquake (killed) 7,000…remnant gave glory to God
(See also Hosea 2:6,7)
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