God's Strength Through Suffering
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I feel ill-prepared to address this subject this morning.
The question of suffering in life is deep.
If there is a loving God, why do we suffer?
Pray....
The Text Col 1:11
The Text Col 1:11
Context
Paul gives thanks for his brothers and sisters who are in Christ. Those who have “heard and come to understand the grace of God in truth” (v.6)
He tells them he has not ceased to pray for them...
filled with the knowledge of his will
so that they might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (what does that look like?)
Bearing fruit
Increasing in the knowledge of God
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
What might the people in the church at Colossae be suffering from or struggling with? What would they need to endure and have patience for?
Persecution from all sides:
Persecution from the Greeks (non-Jewish): Their exclusive religion
The Christian God will not accept worship of any other gods. He is the one and only true God
He cannot be brought into the pantheon of gods that were worshipped.
You must reject all other religions and embrace only Jesus Christ
1st commandment:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.
Persecution from the Jews
Con-artist Jesus who was crucified and who called himself the messiah, and God
Many Jewish people converted, but many did not
They were also being attacked from inside the church: people were bringing in new ideas and leading people away from Jesus and the true gospel
Bringing in new philosophies
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head (Jesus), from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
They would also be suffering from the same things that you and I suffer from
Health issues, financial problems, caring for aging parents, anxiety / depression, substance abuse, abusive or unhealthy relationships
The challenges of human life in a world tainted by sin have not changed much. For all our technology and advancements, we still haven’t found the answer for suffering and pain in the world
So Paul prays that they would be:
strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
Paul prays that they would be strengthened by God to endure the trails that they were facing. Here, he is not specific, but Paul knows that they are struggling with issues, just as every church does, and every Christian does.
As Christians we are promised that we will face trials:
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Becoming a Christian does not mean that you will no longer face the trials of life. In fact, you may suffer worse trials for the sake of Christ. We may suffer persecution in various forms as Christians, but we also suffer from many other trials in our life. As I listed earlier, we may have one or more:
Health issues, financial problems, caring for aging parents, anxiety / depression, substance abuse, abusive or unhealthy relationships
Theology Affects Our Ability To Endure
Theology Affects Our Ability To Endure
Our theology - our understanding of who God is comes into narrow focus when we go through serious trials in life. We endure suffering well when our understanding of God is correct and true.
Paul says in v.9-10
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Paul wants us to fully know God, and in doing so, we will be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Our ability to endure suffering in this life is greatly affected by our knowledge and understanding of who God is.
How does it effect someone if they believe that they are suffering from cancer, or some other traumatic life experience, as punishment for some sin that they committed in their life?
Job suffered, and his “friends” continued to try and convince him that it was because of some sin he must have committed. In reality - we get the backstory - we know that Job and his family suffered for a higher purpose that was unknown to him. When God finally speaks to Job, He says, “who are you to ask!”
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Sin does have consequences:
If we don’t eat well, we may suffer from health issues
If we’re careless with our money, we’ll end up with financial issues
If I abuse someone, I may end up in jail
If I smoke too much, I may end up with lung disease
But God is not punishing you because of your sin, and he’s certainly not punishing you because of your parents sin - the Bible is clear on that.
Sometimes we suffer, and we have no idea why.
We may ask God, “Why?” But the better question might be “How?”
As those who are in Christ, how do we endure the trials that have been set before us?
More so, how do we endure through the trials that have been set before us with joy?!
This is what I think Paul is saying to us here:
A life that is spent seeking to truly know God - to truly understand what God desires of you - a person that seeks to walk in a way that glorifies God - that person will be “strengthened will all power” - will be filled with the strength to endure whatever comes at them from any direction.
And:
When you are that person - no matter what comes at you - you will be filled with joy knowing that you are drawing closer to God. That God is so amazing that He can use the darkest hours of our lives to bring us closer to Him - and it glorifies Him and is for our ultimate good.
You can choose to shake your fist at God and shout, “That’s not fair!”
Or you can choose to say, along with Horatio Spafford:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
These are not the words of some stoic man who can endure anything by his own shear will. These are the words of a man that knows God deeply, and loves God deeply, and who clings to his saviour with everything he’s got.
I heard someone ask this question recently:
“Would you be willing to loose everything if you got more of God?”
His answer - “Because He’s worth it”
My mom, before she died due to complications from bone cancer said that that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to her.
I thought of that often when I was in a hospital bed suffering with colitis.
What draws us away from God? The comforts of life.
In our sinful, humble estate, it’s when we are in the midst of pain and suffering that we might see the face of God.
Application
Application
Have an eternal perspective
Have an eternal perspective
God sees things from an eternal perspective
Our life is but a breath of wind
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
A puff of mist. Our grandchildren might remember us. Even our great grandchildren. Our great-great grandchildren may have a photo of us in an album somewhere
Those who have gone before us may be gone from our site, but they live on elsewhere - with Christ, or without...
Do not measure goodness as the world sees good
Do not measure goodness as the world sees good
Do not count your blessings as the world would count blessings
God does not give you everything you want, he changes your heart so that you want the things of God
God changes our eyes and we begin to see what is truly good
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Remember, Christ Suffered for you
Remember, Christ Suffered for you
God is transcendant
God is imminent
Conclusion
Conclusion
The answer is not found in the question, “What does God need me to do in order for my suffering to end?”
But, what joy it is to draw close to my saviour in the midst of my pain. Pray with your saviour, “Father, not my will, but your will be done.”
