A FEW REASONS FOR SUFFERING
“All sunshine and no rain makes a desert”
1. It is sometimes the result of sin:
A. Your own sin. Prov 6:9-11; Prov 11:8; 1 Pet 4:15;Job 5:17; Ps 119:67; Prov 3:11-12; Heb 12:5-8
B. The sins of others. John 15:18-20; 2 Thes 1:4-9; 1 Pet 4:17-19; 2 Sam 24:15-17
C. Your parents’ sin. Ex 20:5; Lev 26:39; Prov 29:15;Jer 32:18
2. It is due to Satan and the fall
A. His direct animosity: Job 1-2; Rev 12:3-17; Lk 22:31; 1 Pet 5:8
B. The creation is fallen, cursed: Job 5:7; Job 14:1;Gen 3:16-19; Rom 5:12
C. So don’t get attached to this world: Job 19:25-27; Job 13:15; Job 14:14; 2 Cor 4:17-18; 2 Cor 12:7-10;Rom 8:18
3. God often uses it to refine us: Job 23:10; Ps 66:10; Isa 48:10;1 Pet 4:1-2; Mal 3:3
A. To keep us humble: Job 4:1-5; 2 Cor 12:7; 2 Cor 4:7-10
B. To remind us of our weaknesses and wean us away fromthem: Job 34:14-15; Ps 104:27-29; 2 Cor 12:8-10
C. To teach us to trust Him, not material possessions: 1 Pet 1:3-7; 1 Tim 6:17; Mat 6:19-21
D. To focus our faith in Him: Job 13:15; Job 19:25; Ps 56:1-4
4. God often uses it to prepare us for service: Lk 22:31-32
A. It sifts our false friends and brings true friends together: Job 2:11-13; Job 15:1-13; Job 16:2; Ps 80:4-6; Prov 17:17
B. It eliminates false motives for becoming a Christian: Matt 13:20-21; John 6:26, 66-67; 1 Jn 2:19
C. So we can comfort others: 2 Cor 1:3-6; 2 Cor 8:9;Heb 4:15; Rom 12:15
D. To help us witness: 2 Cor 4:8-11; Jn 15:1-2
More Benefits of Suffering:
**It brings greater blessing: Matt 5:3-12; 1 Pet 3:14; 1 Pet 5:10; Jas 1:2-4
**It gives us an opportunity to show the love of God: Prov 24:11-12
**To better appreciate Jesus’ suffering for us: 1 Pet 2:21-25;Heb 12:1-3
**It gives God an opportunity to demonstrate His faithfulness:Gen 50:20; Lam 3:21-23; 1 Cor 10:13; Ps 34:17, 19;Ps 94:12-15
**To drive us to prayer