0977 By Faith We Understand

Secret to marriage is to dwell with your wife with understanding 1 Peter 3:7

Secret to relationship with God is to dwell with Him by trusting. Hebrews 11:6

1. Faith gives understanding.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3

Your understanding is either enlightened or darkened (Eph.1:18; 4:18)

Jesus can open our understanding Luke 24:45

Lean not on your understanding Prov 3:5

Peace surpasses all understanding Phil. 4:7

Love Him with all the understanding Mt.12:33

God’s ways are passed finding out Romans 11:33

God’s ways are higher than ours Isaiah 55:9

“God is able to do more than man can understand.” – Thomas a Kempis

2. The doctrine of suffering.

A. Sin brought suffering.

B. Suffering of Jesus brought salvation.

C. The reign of Jesus will end suffering.

D. Suffering will refine us if we don’t let them define us.

3. Dealing with expectations:

- Jesus will take away all my suffering. Isaiah 53:3; John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3;12

(Jesus brought suffering to business but salvation to a man)

- Holy Spirit will take away all my suffering. Galatians 5:22 (Spirit gives us power, Jesus offered himself by the Spirit Heb.9:14)

- Faith will take away all my suffering. Hebrews 11:35;

Fear says what if, Faith says even if;

Faith is not bridge over troubled waters, it’s a path through them

Same faith that enables some to escape trouble enables others to endure it.

Same faith that delivers some from death enables others to die victoriously.

- Spiritual warfare will remove all my suffering. 2 Timothy 2:3

Suffering as sinner, saint and Savior!

All three people were on the cross!

Everyone receives the same suffering but not everyone responds the same during suffering.

Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

The last of human freedoms - the ability to chose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.

Viktor Frankl

4. How to suffer well?

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 1:6-7

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Hab.3:17-19

Joy in suffering. (Not from but in spite of)

Suffering is a little while. (Seasonal, temporary)

Grieving by trials.

Suffering doesn’t destroy genuine faith.

Don’t let satan rule you through your situation.