The Suffering Christian

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The Suffering Christian

• 1 Peter 412-19

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Do Not Be SurprisedThink about where trials
come from

• From our own mistakes
• From the sins of others
• From time and chance

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Ecclesiates 911-12

• I again saw under the sun that the race is not to
  the swift and the battle is not to the warriors,
  and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to
  the discerning nor favor to men of ability for
  time and chance overtake them all.12. Moreover,
  man does not know his time like fish caught in a
  treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so
  the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when
  it suddenly falls on them.

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Do Not Be SurprisedThink about where trials
come from

• From our own mistakes
• From the sins of others
• From time and chance
• From God allowing the test

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This testing is specific, the preposition for
indicates purpose.

• Thayer trial of mans fidelity, integrity,
  virtue, constancy, etc.

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Why Does God Allow this?

• This is not heaven

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2 Corinthians 416-18

• Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our
  outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being
  renewed day by day. 17. For momentary, light
  affliction is producing for us an eternal weight
  of glory far beyond all comparison, 18. while we
  look not at the things which are seen, but at the
  things which are not seen for the things which
  are seen are temporal, but the things which are
  not seen are eternal.

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Colossians 32-3

• Set your mind on the things above, not on the
  things that are on earth. 3. For you have died
  and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

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Why Does God Allow this?

• This is not heaven
• There will always be conflict between light and
  darkness

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John 319-20

• "This is the judgment, that the Light has come
  into the world, and men loved the darkness rather
  than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
  20. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light,
  and does not come to the Light for fear that his
  deeds will be exposed.

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Why Does God Allow this?

• This is not heaven
• There will always be conflict between light and
  darkness
• Testing/trial is for improvement/growth/maturity

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Hebrews 126-8

• FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND
  HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. 7. It is
  for discipline that you endure God deals with
  you as with sons for what son is there whom his
  father does not discipline? 8. But if you are
  without discipline, of which all have become
  partakers, then you are illegitimate children and
  not sons.

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Testing is for Improvement

• It is a form of discipline

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James 13-4

• knowing that the testing of your faith produces
  endurance. 4. And let endurance have its perfect
  result, so that you may be perfect and complete,
  lacking in nothing.

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Testing is for Improvement

• It is a form of discipline
• It completes us, and produces endurance

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1 Corinthians 312-13

• Now if any man builds on the foundation with
  gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
  13. each man's work will become evident for the
  day will show it because it is to be revealed
  with fire, and the fire itself will test the
  quality of each man's work.

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Testing is for Improvement

• It is a form of discipline
• It completes us, and produces endurance
• It makes the inner man evident

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What Are We to do?
?

• Keep on rejoicing
• Recognize your blessings

1. Youre doing it FOR Christ
2. Youre doing it WITH Christ

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What Are We to do?
?

• Keep on rejoicing
• Recognize your blessings

• Look forward to exultation
• Glorify God
• Trust your faithful Creator

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Suffering Ordeals ARE difficult

• But there is purpose and glory and blessing to be
  found
• Trials are NOT a time to give up, but a time to
  stand up.
• Deal with ordeals and mature, strengthen self,
  and glorify God.