Making Sense of Suffering - 1 Peter 3:13-22

This morning, we're going to deal with the subject. And really, there's a, this is a transitional period in the book of 1st Peter, and really a lot about a lot of what Peter's going to deal with moving forward, is this idea of suffering in the Christian Life, and As I was singing that song as we were singing but as I was singing that song I couldn't help but think about in light of the message I'm about to preach how thankful I am.

That Jesus has already won the victory. And I want to just challenges from the beginning this morning as we look at this passage of scripture and we a kind of come face-to-face with this idea of suffering and we think through the process of suffering, what this means, what this looks like that. Why we have to go through some of these things. I want to challenge us that we must view, all of the sufferings of this life and light of what Jesus Christ is already done on the cross. We're not fighting only for victory, but we're fighting for victory from Victory because it was Jesus Christ has done for us the 1st, Peter chapter 3. And while you're at turning their, I want to actually read for us, a passage of scripture out of Luke chapter, 9 of it will help to serve as an introduction for his here this morning. Luke chapter 9 in verses 21 through verse 23 and he straitly charged them and commanded them to tell. No man that thing verse 22 saying the son of man must suffer many things. I've been rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be slain and be raised the third day. And he said to them, all if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Every father, we come to this morning with our, our Bibles opened. And God, I pray that that would be a sign of our hearts position as well, this morning before you. I got to pray that by your spirit in through your word that you would accomplish your will and our service here this morning. I pray that for the believer that is here this morning as we are confronted, once again with this idea of suffering and there's not a believer in this room who has not experienced some kind of suffering in their life. Is Austin in those times of suffering that we either draw closer to God. Or are we find ourselves walking away from God? And God, we understand that it's your desire that through all of the difficulties of life that we would be strengthened in you that we would draw closer to you. And so, I pray this morning again that you would help us to get to gain or to regain a Biblical perspective, on this idea of suffering. And as we look at Christ, as the example is the one who has suffered the most I pray that if there are any in here this morning who are not yet a Believer, they're still in their minds. I trying to figure out who this a Jesus Christ is how the life of this man pertains to their life, how the life of the death, the burial in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I would have sent them got to pray that even through this passage is Peter. I put Jesus on display that we would see Jesus, And that today, those were unbelievers would become Believers as a place, our faith and trust and what Christ has done. Thank you for the opportunity to gather in this way. We pray that you go before is now in Jesus name, we pray. Amen. Their passage here that I just read Forest Luke chapter 9, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and he makes several things clear to them. He makes it clear that he is going to suffer many things. And then he was going to be rejected by religious leaders and be a killed. And only after that, what do you be raised from the dead? And he then turns to his disciples and says, if any of you are truly going to be a follower of me, you're going to have to deny yourself. Take up your cross. And by the way, the cross is Jesus spoke of it in that day, it was not merely a religious symbol that we Champion know. The cross was a sign of death. Was a symbol of death. Jesus says that you're going to have to take up your cross daily and follow me. And then he makes this enigmatic statement in verse 24 statement that it is contrary to what we might be expecting a statement that he at times. It's even hard for us to wrap our minds around. He says, for whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his life for my sake of the same shall save it. You see this way of thinking is not only countercultural but it causes every part of our human nature. Are flash to recoil this idea of that, that we are not doing all that we can do to become first. And to be best and to be seen in that way, it goes against every bit of our nature. But Jesus makes the statement in phatic Lee I without any wiggle room and he is a me or rather. What he is aiming to do is to bring those who are professing followers of Jesus to the place and their life, where they're going to have to count the cost where they're going to come face-to-face with this idea of what it really would look like to follow Jesus. What it would really look like to live a surrendered life, what it would really look like to die to myself on a daily basis. In order that Jesus may be first in my life. And I want to say, clearly this morning at the cost of following Jesus is described here by Peter in our texts by way of suffering. And I don't want to, you know, I don't want to cause anybody to run for the Hills this morning, but I think there's times when we do ourselves an injustice and an, in a disservice by not understanding the cost that is involved in following Jesus. I will say what we gain and following Jesus far outweighs any cost. But the cost is real, Peter is going to talk at Great Lakes in the remainder of this letter. Really about this idea of suffering. And maybe you're here this morning, you say, what, what is this idea of suffering? What does it mean to suffer in this biblical way? Will the Greek word? Here is a Pasco which means to suffer at to be acting on and do a to experience a sensation or impression. Usually painful, this Greek word is translated ones as indoors at once as sufferings a 22 times as suffer ten times as suffered four times as suffering and twice as stuffers. We would recognize this morning that suffering is a part of this life, and in a general sense to all of mankind experiences suffering a to some extent, maybe we would ask the question. Why I write this is one of those big questions that people often come up against when they're trying to understand who God is other trying to understand the idea of the Bible is, is why is there evil in the world? Why is there pain and suffering in the world? And the biblical answer to that is simply this, it's because of sin. 10. Brought about all of the evil that there is in the world that we experienced today. Suffering in the life of humanity as something that we experience. But what we talked about this on Wednesday night, out of the book of 1st Corinthians, there is a different kind of suffering, though, that I think Peter largely has in Mike and it's not just this General sensor. This general idea of life is hard But it's this idea and it's this understanding that, if I'm going to follow Jesus with my life, this life may actually become harder than it once was in many ways. And I know that is, I look out of the congregation this morning that there are many of us here. And we don't really know if we're just honest with ourselves and each other. We don't really want a cozy up to that idea, that life might actually be harder if I pursue Jesus Christ. More than I have been, what I want to remind us of is while that is true, what we must keep in mind, is that Jesus, is not only wanting us to think about this life, but he's wanting us to view this life in light of the life to come. To view this life in the light in light of the light that is to come. It's want to ask you this morning, maybe it specifically to Believers those who are Christians, those who are trust a Christ as their savior. Want you to think about this this morning, do you have room in your feet? Logical framework for this thing of suffering? Do you have room in your understanding of the Bible and your understanding of the Christian Life? Your worldview? We could say, do you have room for this idea of real and difficult and a hard suffering in? The reason that I asked that question is this, if you don't have room for suffering in your understanding of God's word and your understanding of the Christian life, I want you to hear me. Well, not if it comes. But when it comes, what suffering will do to you, or what suffering may do to you, is wreak havoc on your face. Yeah, you know, I have a lot of hard things already this morning. Okay. And I'm saying these things because I love you, okay? I say these things because I believe that the Bible is true and what the Bible tells us is that things are going to not get better and better and better and better until Jesus Christ. Finally, returns for the Bible, actually, declares that things are going to get worse and it's actually going to be harder to live out our faith as Christians and you say, We'll why on Earth we talkin about all of these things this morning because as a pastor, as part of my responsibility to prepare us for what may be coming our way, And again, if we are not prepared for this idea of suffering, if we don't have a Biblical, understanding of this idea of suffering, when we experience suffering, it may cause us to walk away from God. You remember the words that Jesus spoke and John 15:18? He speaking again to his disciples that he says, is this if the world hates you he knows it. It hated me before it hated you, if you're of the world, the world would love his own but because you're not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world. Therefore, the world hate is you remember the word that I said, unto you? The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you If they have kept my saying they will keep yours also. The world that we live in this world that we are called to be be in, but not of this world system is being led by the evil one. And it's one that will always be in tagged in this dig against God and his son, Jesus Christ, and his followers. And so Peter is riding to these churches to help them in light of their present experience to make sense of their suffering in a way that would help them to follow. Jesus. Are you with me this morning? The room is awful. Silent. I promise you that these things will be helpful to us. The first thing that I want us to do is look at verses 13 through 14. We're going to deal with this idea of suffering and happiness suffering and happiness. Verse 13 says this and who is he? Peter asking a question, who is he that will harm you? If he be followers of that, which is good, but the end if you suffer for righteousness, sake, happy are ye and be not afraid of their Terror, neither be trouble. This idea of suffering and happiness, are we to, to understand what it is that Peter is saying here, while I want to First say this this morning Peter is not a Prosperity preacher. But rather a persecuted one, Peter is not a Prosperity preacher that is trying to get the masses to follow him to a life that will will lead to all kinds of success that will lead to a wealth and Health Alliance that will lead to old in the world has to offer. No Gene painter is preaching in order that he might lead people to Jesus. He's not writing from a fancy office at a prestigious Seminary however he has no life experience at all. Know he's writing from The Real World of Rome. And it's clear that he in a personal way, has made sense of suffering in his life because even though he has suffered greatly, he is still inviting those to follow him as he follows Christ. He wants to pass these truths along, and the question that he asked to those who are followers of good or we could say to those who are followers of God, who, or what are you afraid of anyway? Pastor Mike said rightly this morning, I bet God is in control a church. I want to ask is this morning. Do we believe that God is in control and if God is in control, then who or what are we afraid of anyway? We say, amen. And I say, Amen. But I think it wouldn't take long for us to come up with a list of things that we maybe take some anti-anxiety medicine about. I think it wouldn't take long for us to put together some things that you know, we require a few Tums and maybe a couple Rolaids before we go to bed, we want to avoid the acid reflux. That is coming our way. maybe I was a little too much for all of you, but anyway, I think the question is a fair one and the question is a good one time. It's one that is supposed to help us rather than harm us who or what are we afraid of anyway, major key. When it comes to living a successful Christian, Life is having the proper perspective. And what I mean by that is allowing God's word to shave how we view the world that we live in today. I can I tell you the truth this morning? If we don't have God's word, this world is a scary place. I'm going to go out on a limb and I'm going to make some people mad and I'm going to make some people happy if we if we don't have the Bible and all that we have our leaders, like our current and previous presidents. To put our hope in. I'm building a bunker. In the point two acres that I own, okay. Seriously, this world is a dangerous place to live in the more calories or County rate is 10 out of 10. And if we're not allowing God's word, I just shaved how we view this world friend. Want to tell you, we're going to go through this life and then we're just going to be trying to experience the survival of the fittest. We're just going to be trying to do all that we can to avoid all that is difficult in this life, but I want to tell you, Jesus Christ came to give us life. And what he declared is that the life that he gives is an abundant life even in the midst of great difficulty. One of the obstacles that comes one of the obstacles when it comes to following Jesus. Well, is failing to believe as the kids singing ride that little song. My God is so big or great hands on which church, you came from,

so strong and so mighty. And then, what are those little kid? Say, when we teach them to say, there's nothing my God cannot do. I, can I tell you that if we believe that with all of our hearts, that changes the way that we live our lives. If we believe that with all of our hearts that changes the way that we view this world. If we believe that with all of our hearts it changes the way that we think about our kids. And instead of saying, oh man, I feel bad for the Next Generation in the world. Think they're going to have to live in. I can't imagine what the world is going to be like, then no, we say that. I wonder what God is going to do is to the generation. That is because our God is so great. He is so strong and he is so mighty. There's nothing that our God cannot do. When is the Christian? We are face to face with whatever maybe on our list of troubling things. We would do well and it would be right for us to recognize that there are times that those things are greater than we are. You say, wait a minute. I are we moving backwards now? Well, how many of you recognize that you can't defeat cancer on your own? How many viz recognize that we are not ultimately in control of the economy and the fact that it cost a lot more than I want to admit? It cost to feed a family of six. I cannot change that, I could eat less, but that's a story for another day. How late is recognized that when your job is cut out, because there's reductions in the company, I went when your job goes away and there's no jobs out there in the marketplace for you to find that's bigger than you are. And so, what we must understand is that there are times when the things that we will experience by wake of even General suffering in this life, those things are greater than we are. How many of you know, that Rome was greater than Peter was, right? How many of you know that those who were against the church in the early days far outnumber the church and it's good for us to recognize that those things or those people at times are greater than we are and and this is where we begin. When it comes to a Biblical perspective, all those things are greater than we are. Listen to our God is greater than the day. And what we have in mind is in 1st Samuel is it 17 of the image of David standing before July? If you have this young man, likely a teenager who's coming up against this Mighty, Man, saw this giant of the Lance and David comes to him, not in his own strength or not in his own power? No, he says, he comes to him in the name of the lord, of the god, of the army of host or something like that, he's coming to a Goliath in the name of the god of Israel. And what David has confidence in is that even though the enemy might be greater than he is, even though the obstacle is mightier than he is, God is greater than the lion. And God gives David in that moment. The ability to overcome what he was facing in his life.

Another question that I think we should ask ourselves and generally when it comes to this idea of suffering, Not only who or what are we afraid of? Anyway. But why am I suffering in this way? And again the suffering that Peter seems to have in mind is a suffering that comes because we are choosing to live in a righteous way. The girls are standing up here and they're presenting this American Heritage Girls I had to turn around and ask Grace what they were called cuz there's a doll that is the what was the American? Yeah, and I was getting those confused in my mind. I didn't want to get up and present the American girl group, okay? The American Heritage Girls you don't want to things, that is good about things like that. It is seeking to disciple and to train young people and how they can, they can follow Jesus Christ in their life. No matter what comes their way? Why am I suffering in this way? The suffering that Peter seems to have in mind is a suffering that comes because we are choosing to live in a righteous way. You know what the temptation. Austin is for those of us who experienced suffering for doing that, which is right. is to avoid suffering by doing that, which is

and that's a choice that many of us come to on a regular basis. And I believe this is why Jesus calls those who are going to be followers of his to take up their cross. What did he say? Daily and follow me that you see following Jesus is not only a decision that we make. The moment that we trust Christ is our savior following. Jesus is decision that we must make every single moment of every single day. Can I remind us this morning that if we are following Jesus, we are at odds with the world that is around us and can I just speak to Austin anymore? But I have a lot of years of experience behind me and can I say to you young people? Although the youth group looks vastly different than it did when I was at the youth pastor. You guys like things that didn't even exist when I was a youth pastor? I recognize that can I tell you that you are much the same as when I was a youth pastor and in fact you were much the same as when I was in Youth Group myself. Can I tell you? But if you expect to follow Jesus, with all of your heart, hear me hear me out and be wholeheartedly, embraced by the world. It is around you at the same time. You're believing a lie.

The world should not hate you because you're a jerk. Okay, I'm sorry. I said that some of you woke up your like when does happen. The world should not hate us because we're arrogant. The world should not hate us because we are all about ourselves. But what Jesus declares is that the world will hate us. If we are all about Jesus until there's his conflicts, often in our minds and in our life of, what Am I Living For, What am I trying to accomplish? And by the way, that is not a message, it is only for teenagers. If we want to be the most popular person in our workplace and we want to stand up for truth. I'm telling you that it's likely that you won't be the most popular person in your workplace.

And so at that moment we have a choice to make in our lives at what am I going to do? Am I going to choose to suffer? Some sort of persecution is I identify as one of those crazy Christians who believe what the Bible says about everything. And I allow the Bible to Define what gender is and I allow the Bible to find what marriages and I allowed the Bible to Define what my life is supposed to look like. And I'm going to live my life in that way. You may not experience persecution in the exact same way that the apostles did. But friend doing to tell you, you are going to be in that moment. What Jesus causes to be in Matthew chapter, 5, verses 13 and 14 the Salt and Light of the Earth. And as Paul tells Timothy and 2nd, Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12, yay, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

And if you suffer for righteousness sake, all right, now we're finally getting to my main point for number one. Happy are ye

Peter is not calling these Believers to put a smile on their face. He's not telling them what to do, but rather he's telling them who they are. Okay, I want you to think about that with me for a moment. Peter's, not writing to these churches that are scattered abroad in Asia Minor. And thinking about the present experience of their their persecution, their suffering. He's not saying when the enemies when those who are against Jesus Christ, come after you. What you're supposed to do is Simply Smile. Hey, that's not this idea of happiness that Peter has in my nuff again. He's not telling them what to do if he's telling them who they are or what they are in those moments and what Jesus would say in The Sermon, on the Mount, we'll just listen to what he says in Matthew Chapter 5 and verse 10. See, if this sounds familiar to what Peter say here, blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake? For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. This word happy in 1st, Peter chapter 3 and this word blessed or blessed in Matthew chapter five are the same Greek word and it means the same exact thing. And what Jesus was telling those at The Sermon on the Mount. Hey, listen, being persecuted for Jesus. He's not saying this is the way of salvation, but this is a reminder to us that we are saved and that we are difference in the world. That is around us. And so in those moments, don't just consider yourself to be burdened by the suffering. Rather consider yourself to be blessed. Because of the suffering. I don't want to stand up here. Even for a Split Second. And have you think that what I am saying this morning? Is that suffering is easy. But what I am saying is that if we truly suffer, when it comes to following Jesus, then what scripture says is, we are glass pane in your recent reading, along with me and those who are going through the Murray, Robert Murray mccheyne Bible reading plan Acts chapter 5 and verse 41. This this turned out to me, is I read it again this time around. And they departed from the presence of the council. Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer, shame for his name. I just think about the way that the apostles responded as they suffered for obedience to Christ, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the saying stuff for shame for his name. And so the end of this first. A question that we must come to grips with is this, I'm going to ask you if I'm going to be quiet after that, if you can believe, I can be for just a moment. I don't want you to think about what your answer is. Is Jesus worth suffering for?

Is Jesus worth suffering for?

If the answer is yes, then as Peter says, we will not be troubled by their Terror. But if the answer is, I don't know. Can I warn you? Do you have in your heart when it comes to these things? So suffering in the mind of Peter, in the mind of Jesus suffering, for Jesus should be viewed as a blessing rather than a burden. I want to pause for a moment. I want to say a couple things.

This is one of those things that I am preaching. And I believe that God's word is true. This is one of those things and I'm just going to be clear and hopefully transparent not in a way that will hinder you from following Jesus. But this is one of those things that I have not yet mastered in my life. This is one of those things that when I am at the crossroads personally, when it comes to suffering, for the name of Jesus or going an easier way, The Broadway. I am often tempted to go the wrong way. but what scripture is doing this morning is it is calling us to make a decision to follow Jesus no matter what And we sing the song, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus and I believe that that is true but we needed to change maybe or a few lyrics in that song. And we need to sing to ourselves. It is worth it all. The follow Jesus in this life. Suffering and happiness some of your saying? Well, I'm not sure. I'm a whole lot happier about suffering. Maybe not in the way that we thought about it, previously. But when we think about it biblically, we understand that it is a blessing.

We're not going to make it all the way through this text or scripture. We're going to look, though. The first fifteen at least the second thing I want is to see is suffering and Hope. First 15 says this, but sanctify, the Lord God in your hearts. And be ready. Always to give an answer to every man that asked his new, a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. First, 15 begins with the excitation to sanctify, the Lord God in your heart. This word means to consecrate or to make something. Holy two of you, something and a proper way of saying, when it comes to sanctifying God in our hearts, that means to give God the proper place that he belongs. Can I remind us that the instruction of Jesus? When asked about the greatest commandment of all is that we would love the Lord. God are with all of our heart soul, mind and strength. Okay. Is this where God is currently in our lives? God is to be the number one priority in our lives. And when he is not our lives will be characterized by something lesser and something other And what most naturally falls into that place for me, is me? Okay.

When our comfort and our good and our Glory are our number one priority. We are living the American way.

But we are not following Jesus in the way that he has prescribed.

When are comfort in our good in our Glory, our number one priority, any kind of suffering, we Face will serve as a devastating blow. But when God is where he belongs, as it were on the throne of our hearts, rather than being a devastating, blow to his suffering, will provide opportunities for us to point people to the Lord. I don't know how to say this in a way that will make you like me anymore. Well, as not what I'm supposed to be doing anyway, right? You were talking about this?

How we view all suffering in this life matters to God.

and what I want to challenge us to do is to view the sufferings of this life, and the way that God views it, And I'm not going to stand up here again for a moment, I've already tried to make this clear suffering is hard. Loss is hard. Death is hard. A car driving through your house is hard. People around the world today Gathering wondering if their lives are going to be taking it hard. And what I don't want you to sing for a moment is that God in heaven is far removed from the difficulty of this know, what is Isaiah 53:3. Tell us about the Lord. Jesus Christ that he was acquainted with grief. What does that mean? It means that he knew it. Well, I can't experience those things and the hardship of our life is hard but it does not determine everything for us. When God is where he belongs in our hearts and in our life, we will see that God, even though this is a difficult thing, God is still good. That God is still faithful. And then God in his grace and somehow in his sovereignty. He wants to use these hard and difficult things for his glory, and our good, I've learned in my life church, I've learned this in many times the hard way, but I'll tell you this, with all of my heart that God does not waste our trials. God does not waste our suffering. We often do. But God does not. And if we would allow God to accomplish, what he desires to accomplish in, and through those things, friends would tell you, we will begin to see things from a whole different perspective.

Acts 16:25 is a Biblical example that comes to mind. Have again.

if I find myself to be in prison, in the next few weeks, For preaching, the truth of God's word. I'm not sure I've arrived yet at Paul and Silas status.

But can I tell you? That should be my desire. I need you think what will its read it? Maybe you're like, what are you even talking about?

Acts 16:25 in at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang Praises unto God. And noticed was the author of Acts tells us and the prisoners, heard them. Well, if you back up in the text, that you seen verse 23, that they had been beaten severely before being thrown into the inner prison Max maximum security. But even in light of their circumstances because they had sanctify the Lord God in their hearts. Listen. They prayed and they praised God. And what I wanted to see as a result of this genuine holds that they had continues on in Acts 16. Look at verse 26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. So that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bands were loosed. And a key for the prison awaking out of his sleep, right? I have in my mind, it's not a proper thing to have in my mind but I have in my mind at this security guard sitting in a room. There's all these screens around. He's lean back in this office chair and all the sudden he's like, what was that, okay. Now, you know, the struggle that goes on in my mind. Anyway,

And seeing the prison doors open, he drew out a sword and would have killed himself. Supposing that the prison that prisoners had been that fled. Because when you're the security guards in a maximum-security prison, and there's maximum security prisoners in this prison. If the doors are open and there's no one there with a weapon. I'm telling you they're gone. Butthole cried with a loud voice saying, dude, I self no harm. For we are all here. Then he called for light and spraying in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas. Now, I want to stop for a moment and say this

If you can stay in a prison cell, even when the doors have opened up. You believe that God is in control?

If you in a prison cell listen And It's Easy for us to read these verses and just say, oh yeah, after they were beating, they were thrown into the inner prison. If you can sit in a prison cell listen with bleeding wounds on your body.

And pray. And praise God. For a note, to tell you, you have arrived at a different level of Christianity. Then I think most of us have experienced you believe that God is good, no matter what you're facing by way of suffering. In this life, you believe that God is in control. You believe that God is good and you just want to follow God with your life. I want to tell you that as they sang praises and pray. Did you notice what it says the end of her is 25 and the prisoners heard them. A question that I have this morning as I'm thinking through this, man of God is Not Sanctified in my life and the midst of my suffering. And I want you to think about this, make personal application, don't think about me in the midst of my suffering. What are those? Who are also fellow sufferers? Hearing from me.

It's convicting and it's hard. But I want to tell you, if we are Sanctified in our hearts, you know what, our fellow sufferers are going to hear around us as. I can't believe that I'm going.

Why did I deserve and I deserve? What did I do to deserve this? I can't believe how hard this is. And then I'm Unbecoming. Embittered and angry about the circumstances in my life and I'm continually complaining about what I'm facing and I'm experiencing in this life. And I want to say this in a compassionate way to our church, family this morning. If that is how we respond in the midst of Life, life's difficulties. Are we any different than the world that is around us?

I will stop with a negative and we'll move on to the positive because the example is incredible here.

And the prisoners heard them. Okay. Keep that in your mind. The world is watching. K. The world is watching and and maybe even ever thought about this before but not only are Paul and Silas still there in prison somehow Paul his convince, the rest of those prisoners to stay for. The world is watching and how we live out our faith matters, much verse 30 and brought them out. And says, said sirs, what must I do to be saved? Say why on Earth did you bring us here to Acts chapter? 16. What is our scripture? Verse a here in 1st Peter 3. But sanctify the Lord God in your heart and catch this and be ready. Always to give an answer to every man that asked, if you a reason of the hole that is in you with meekness and in fear Until I think this is where a lot of us are, when we come to verse 15, I'm going to say this in a loving way, not apologizing for what I'm about to say.

And there's actually not a whole lot of people. In my life. That are asking me about the hole that I have.

K. I love you. Well. If there's not people as we go through suffering in this life, asking us about what it is that's getting us through. Think about the message that we're displaying to the world. I want to say this as a pastor. I am thankful for those who have suffered well in this church. And to be honest with you, as I have had the opportunity and this may sound strange. I've had the privilege of walking with many of you through a very difficult, thanks. I have gone to hospital rooms and I sat in the chair at the end of that bed. And I have gone to be an encouragement.

and I helped who, And in the midst of some of the most difficult things that some of you have ever gone through. I have heard This hope I've seen this hope that was in side of you. And I'm thankful for it.

Church. Where does our hope lie this morning? This man comes to Paul and Silas and ask him what he must do to be saved. And verse 31, ought to be a Hallmark at all, to be a highlight in our Bibles and they said, believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ and thou shalt be safe. And that the house, you know, a pop had in that moment. He had a physical reminder that it was worth it and we don't always get that in this life. Okay? We don't always see the exact fruit that comes by way of suffering. Well, I but I want to tell you, or I want you to think about this and just think about this in a very practical sense. Paul and Silas. Okay. Facing their suffering. The way they face that they had two options, they could have been in prison complaining about the chains that were wrapped around their ankles a complaining about the wounds that they had. And again, those things were real and those things were hard, but how many of, you know, that complaining about the difficulties of our life? Helps us this much?

And why do we do it? Why do I do it? Well, maybe cuz I'm looking for sympathy from someone around me. Maybe because it just I got to get this off my chest.

How how much better off do you think they were going through that prison experience, praying and praising God, rather than complaining and cursing God? So what I want you to see is that God was able to use their suffering for his glory. You say, how on Earth did he use their suffering for his glory? What do you think? Glorifies the Lord more than unbelieving people coming to Christ?

God, use beer difficulty to leave these unbelievers to personal faith and trust in Christ and Friends him to tell you, God did not waste their suffering in that moment and secondly, it was for their good. Church this morning. Where does our hope lie? If our hope lies in the pleasant circumstances of this life? If our hope lies in the good news, only if our hope lies in easier and better days, that lie ahead as we are being promised, if our hope lies in America being great again. Wow, that was a little too far. I can see on some new faces, If our hope lies in those things, here's want to tell you, we're setting ourselves up for great failure. but if our hope is in Jesus Christ, the one who Remains the Same, At the one who is unchanging? The one who has conquered death? And he has it in his resurrection, he has the ability to offer us life if our hope is in him, listen, how much better off, we will be making sense of our suffering suffering and happiness. Hey, are you suffering presently for the cause of Christ? What scripture tells you to do is to touch yourself blast? Is that easy? Know, how do we do that? By allowing the word of God, to shape, our view of the world number to suffering and hope? If our hope is in Jesus I'm telling you I'm not saying that I want to. But I'm telling you we can experience Unthinkable things. Without falling away. Without wandering away and without losing our hope you say how on Earth do you know that will the Bible is actually full of examples of those who have gone before us. I want to be careful about this, but I'm going to do it. Anyway. How many of you as a Christian here in this room? You can actually say, you know what? There has been a person in my life who I have experienced them suffering. Well, Let me see your hands. This morning K, you know that God wants to use your suffering in the midst of this church family. Paul deals with this, to the church at Corinth is well, a God wants to use these things in your life to strengthen and edify. One another But it will not happen if Jesus is not our hope. I have if I only had one more point, I would have made you endure.

I'm going to give you where we're going for next week. You can read ahead. The end of the chapter, you really going to wonder what I'm going to do with it anyway, The third thing that we're in a look at and we'll see this next week is suffering and holiness. Having a good conscience suffering and Holiness. And then, finally, we're going to look at suffering and Heaven. Okay, suffering and Heaven. If you're here without Jesus, as your personal savior friend, I want to ask you this morning. Where is your whole? What is your hope in? If it's not in Jesus Christ, it's in something that will let you down. I mean, you're glad to say this morning. That Jesus is your whole trip to your hands with testify that Jesus is our hope this morning, and he is to Our Eyes Are Fixed upon if you're here without Christ as your savior today, please come and talk to one of us. We'd be glad to sit down in a personal way and just show you from scripture how Jesus can be your hope, and it doesn't mean that he takes all of our trials away, as we've seen this morning, but he gives us a hope that that overcomes our trials and helps us to continue on as bright. Heavenly Father, we come to this morning. God. We're thankful for the truth of your word. We have talked about some, some difficult things and uncomfortable things, things that Probably truthfully, we'd rather not think about this idea of suffering. And yet your word has brought us to this place and so I pray that as we seek to make sense of suffering, God, that you would just allow us. God allows to to let the Bible to shape our our view that you would allow the Bible to shape our thinking when it comes to suffering in this life. and there will be, there will be questions that we have that we will not have exact answers to Let me look at your word as a whole. Got as we look at your plan, as a whole, what our hope is in this morning is that God, you are going to make all things right. Got, you are going to redeem that which is broken. And God, you have a future that is planned for us. Eternal weight of Glory as Paul would say that far exceeds any suffering that we would face in this life. So I'm going to ask God, a difficult prayer request. But it's sincere 1 this morning. I pray that as Bible Baptist Church. That no matter what comes our way from from The Sovereign hand of God, God, that you would help us to Suffer? Well in Jesus name we pray, amen.