The glory of suffering

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Texas pastor Tan Flippin was left thanking God, after a cycling accident in 2018 landed him in the hospital with fractures to his hip. His ride that eventful day, past a stretch undergoing repair, beside a subdivision, led to the crash that threw him off his bicycle. He said later, “I’d gone through that area before with no issues.”

When the doctors at the hospital ordered a CT scan to check for a concussion, what they discovered was shocking. They noticed a large malignant tumor on the front of Tan’s brain. That discovery began a long journey of treatment that eventually led to bone marrow and stem cell transplants. Today, he is cancer-free.

Flippin said, “God allowed the accident for my brain tumor to be found.”

The story has led to Flippin's testimony being shared on a regular basis. He said, "People want me to tell this story and that my faith has inspired them and been an encouragement. I hear that about every week.”

We hear this story, and I don’t know about you, but there are moments in life, where I’m cruising along… and then it’s like Wham! You run into a massive pothole. The path that you’re so used to traveling upon, now has a new obstacle. And sometimes, you may swerve and avoid whatever the obstacle is, other times, like pastor Tim… You run into it… You crash…

And if you’re like me, as you’re laying there on the hospital bed, or in the back of the ambulance… You wonder “God, how can anything good possibly come from this?” Have you ever been there before? Have you ever looked at a season, a situation or a circumstance and wondered… “God, what are you up to here?”

You see for some of us, that’s our story at the moment… We’re facing some sort of a challenge, or season or setback… others of us, are maybe at the tale end of a problem. Or perhaps we’re going into a season.

If you were here last week, our focus was on resilient faith. Faith that gets us through hardships in life…If you have you’re bibles, our theme this morning is along the same lines.

IF you would. Flip over to Romans 5, In your bible. But also, go back to Genesis 37. We’re going to unpack this idea of hardships and difficulties in life, but we’re going to do so as we look at the life of Joseph.

As Christians we can 1. Glory in your suffering, Suffering Produces perseverance. 2. Perseverance produces character. 3. Character Produces Hope.

1. Turn with me first to Romans 5:1-5 as we’re told to Glory in our suffering.

The bible tells us: 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

As we look to the scripture this morning, we see Paul is writing to the Roman Church. on this topic of Faith. If you were here last week, you’ll recall that we went from speaking on this topic of faith in the first 3 chapters, from a theological perspective, to a last week in chapter 4 looking at Abraham…

But this week, we look at us, to you and I as believers.

In fact, the tail end of Chapter 4 explains: 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Then it goes on to say here in Chapter 5: 1 Therefore, since wehave been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

By the way The word Justified here being a legal term, pardoning a criminal from them from the punishment of wrongdoing. Goes on to say:

2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

So, we’re good with this? It makes sense… God sent his Son Jesus for our sins. Because of His sacrifice on the cross. We have been justified. And I’m grateful, for that…He took the punishment we deserved, and because of his love for us… placed it on his son… But here’s where I get caught up… Here’s where I kind of turn my head to the side with a bit of a goofy puzzled look.

Goes onto say: 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope

For me I look at suffering… and I’m like suffering, produces what now? Pain???? Maybe headaches??? The need for Tylenol??? And God tells us this morning… we also glory (Glory meaning we rejoice)

in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.

If you’re like me, and you wonder how suffering is worth rejoicing over… That’s our focus this morning.

If you have your bibles turn with me now back to Exodus 37. And as your turning there, we’ll look to a young man, who was well acclimated with Suffering. He’s our example this morning. His name is Joseph. Joseph you’ll recall is the second youngest son of Jacob (or Israel) as he would later be called.

And we went to Abraham, last week. Numerous descendants… then there is Isaac, to Jacob… Jacob to Joshua this morning.

Now you’ll recall Jacob had 2 wives, one’s really good looking! One’s… Meh…. One he really loved… One yeah, he loved… One’s name was Leah… but the one he really loved, ultimately who he would work tirelessly for… 14 years in total (you may recall) was Rachel.

And because of his love for Rachel… He had a special bond with his sons from Rachel… Joseph and Benjamin.

Now you’ll recall, Joseph is the oldest son of Rachel. And as the oldest, he had his fathers blessing. So, although he wasn’t Joseph’s oldest son… (That would have been Reuben) Joseph, had a special bond with his dad.

And here’s the problem, it made his brothers angry.

Genesis 37:1-11 tells us: 1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

So, we unpack this scripture, and for the sake of time, we’re going to look at this scripture from a broad perspective. What do we notice? 1. Jacob is in Canaan. 2. Joseph is tending the flocks.(funny how many of the significant figures in scripture are shepherds.) 3. Vs 3. Tells us, Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him (okay now the problem starts…)

How did that Go for Joseph? Did his brothers like that he was the favorite? Did his brothers like that he had this special robe? We’re they thrilled about these dreams? No, they hated him, they were jealous… They wanted him dead…

In fact, if we fast forward… They take Joseph, and first throw him in a cistern, I’m sure that was fun for Joseph!And then what? They sold him into slavery!

Now let me ask you a question? Does this sound fun? Some of you, you’re the youngest of the family, or the second youngest… You know what it’s like to be told you’re the favorite… Up until late when my sister Jen opened her bakery, I heard it from my sisters all the time… Now I think Jen bears that title…

But being the youngest, or in Josephs case, second youngest in the family… bears a great responsibility…

We Go back to Romans then. Vs 3: 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. And we see how Suffering produces perseverance.

This word perseverance carries idea of “Patient Endurance.” And it’s a frame of mind… where in suffering, you come to the realization that you can’t do it… but he can… That you’re weak… but he’s strong… It’s like my daughter Jordyn learning to ride a bike for the first time… It’s new, there’s a sense of excitement… but once she got going… it’s like she wondered how she ever went without riding her bike in the past… God is like that.

Joseph is tending his sheep. He didn’t choose to be his dad’s favorite. He didn’t make the coat for himself, he didn’t give himself these dreams… Joseph is a righteous young man…yet he suffers… but listen, in his suffering it produces perseverance. (It produces patient endurance, on God, Frame of Mind.)

2. We glory in our suffering; suffering produces perseverance 2. Perseverance produces – character

As we go back to Joseph, we find that not only is Joseph the favorite, not only does he have this special coat of many colors, he’s also good looking. At this point in time, he’s been sold by his brother’s, to the Midianites, who sell him to Potipher in Egypt. One of Pharaohs officials and the captain guard.

But going back to his good looks, it proves to be problematic for Joseph. Genesis 39:1-15:

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

As we look to the scripture, we find that Joseph good looks get him in trouble. Evidently Pharaohs wife finds him attractive, and day-after-day, she is persistent. She tries to woo Joseph away… Joseph by the way is how old when he is sold into slavery 17. He’s not a little kid, he’s not on the tail end of life… He’s in the prime of his life. He’s at the age of vigor, and adventure, and even procreation…

And day after day, Potipher’s wife, the wife of the man who bought him as a slave. Tries to seduce him.And how does Joseph respond, not only does he maintain his integrity towards God. Vs 10 tells us 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

By the way men, women. You want to avoid, immoral behavior… Lust, fornication, impurities… You keep away from the source of temptation. Proverbs 5:8 tells us to: 8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house.

But here’s the point. Joseph is pure. The Lord is with Joseph. Joseph ends up being thrown into prison. By the way, he’s 17 when he’s sold into slavery. And 30 when he’s let out of prison. And we don’t know how long he was in Potiphar’s household. But it was 11 years or less in Potiphar’s household. And 2 years up to 13 years in prison. Either way, Joseph spent 13 years of his life, as a servant… or as an inmate….Not glorious titles… Probably a lot of challenging moments… Suffering moments… but what happened during this time?

Go back to Romans…. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

His suffering, it produced perseverance. Again, perseverance being this idea of patient endurance…In other words, in the face of strong opposition, he pressed on. He had his eyes on Christ. This endurance led to proven character.

When he was in the trenches, when was facing the hardships of suffering… Knowing, he drew the short end of the straw, knowing his lot wasn’t exactly ideal. He stayed faithful to God; God was faithful to him.

Some of your translations may say Proven Character. And by definition this word. Dokime. Means: “Proof.”

But this term was used of testing precious metals such as silver and gold to demonstrate their purity. You think of a metal smith, using intense heat to melt silver and gold in order to cleanse them from physical impurities… There’s a trial by fire that takes place in these moments… But God allows the trials to take place, so that through the suffering… and then Reliance on Christ…. And not on ourselves… that we come out of the fire, refined. more in line with what God had in mind for our lives.

You see the bad news, is that Joseph would face challenges. That he would face hardships. A trial by fire for 13 years… He would face rejection by his family member, and in the dark nights of the prison cell, may have even wondered if God had forgotten him… But here’s the good news, God would allow these 13 years, this long season of life… to work on Joseph, to work on his heart… So that he was ready for what was next.

You see God didn’t forget Joseph. Gen 39:23. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did

For some of us this morning, you may be facing a trial. You may be facing a circumstance of frustration. Maybe you’re facing a trial by fire… Friend, the Lord is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you… Surely, He is with you always.

3. Character produces Hope

As we go back to scripture, we see that the story is far from over for Joseph. God had taken him from his household, he had been sold into slavery, sent to prison, and gone through years of oppression. But the story wasn’t over. God would have the final say. God would Bring Joseph out of Prison, and not only would he be free… He would go from prison to the palace, from rags, to royalty.

You see God was up to something bigger, Even When Joseph Couldn’t see it. Gen 45:5-11

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

Friend, in the end. The dream that God gave Joseph would become a reality… Only it wasn’t in linear fashion. From A to B… God had a different plan in mind.

God would remember his Abrahamic covenant. He would use Joseph to keep the remnant of Israel safe and provided for. And it didn’t feel good at all times, it came with its challenges… but in the end. God would take what we would call a mess of a situation and make it a masterpiece.

God would take Joseph and through him… Romans 5 would be true: 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope

What about you this morning, what are you suffering? What season are you going through? What is your prison? What is holding you captive… We have Hope this morning.

I’m going to call the worship team back up.

Read Hebrews 6:13-20

Pray