In Response to Suffering

Introduction

Suffering in the New Testament

There are references, exhortations, and commands throughout the New Testament for us to suffer as Christ suffered.

- Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

- That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

- Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

There are references, exhortations, and commands throughout the New Testament for us to suffer as Christ suffered.

What does suffering look like in our context?

We have [[many questions]] about suffering, but the one question we will answer today will set us up to be able to rightly approach the many other questions on suffering that follow.

One Question: “When I suffer, and I am going to suffer, what should my response to this suffering be?”

Pray

Anecdote: The Endurance

[[Setting Sail]]

December 5th, 1914

Crew of 28 men led by Sir Ernest Shackleton

South Georgia Island to Antarctica

The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

Month 1

Terrible ice storm locked the ship rendering them to drive aimlessly

Month 12

The ice pack overcomes the ship leading the men to abandon the ship and hike north with lifeboats in tow looking for open waters

Month 16

April 15th, 1916

The crew makes land fall on Elephant Island

Shackleton and 5 others set sail for South Georgia

800 mile journey on a 22 foot lifeboat

Month 19

Shackleton and his team make it to South Georgia and lead a rescue operation to retrieve the 22 other men

August 30th, 1916

[[Summation]]

The name of the ship was “The Endurance”

Little did these men know two years prior that they were setting sail on what would be one of the greatest survival stories ever.

The namesake of this ship was the epitome of their lives for 635 days; these men’s lives were defined by trials, challenges, and suffering… yet they endured to the very end.

[[Application]]

As born again Christians, we have to approach our lives with the same mindset of the trials, challenges, and suffering that we are to face and endure.

Thankfully, we are living for much more than just survival.

These men left on this expedition expecting hardships, trials, and challenges to be thrown their way. Starting out with this mindset allowed the challenges (which surpassed there widest imagination) made the trial bearable.

Often times, we take off into the Christian life expecting for our challenges and trials to be subdued or even taken away entirely. Then, when we encounter the suffering that this world has to offer in its opposition to the Christian life, we are shocked and sometimes resentful of God casting doubt on his role in our lives.

We need to recalibrate our expectations of suffering and our reaction to suffering so that we might grow in them rather than be defeated by them.

Pray

We often see suffering as many things that we don’t experience in our lives like persecution, martyrdom, or catastrophes… and while suffering is those things is is much more broad.

To start us off, I want to look at 4 types of suffering that encompass many examples of suffering that we face in our every day lives.

4 Types of Suffering

Working definitions to further understand suffering

Worldly Suffering - suffering we endure as a result of the broken world that we live in.

Spiritual Suffering - suffering we endure as a result of the choice we’ve made in Christ.

Passive Suffering - ongoing suffering that we endure practically on a daily basis.

Active Suffering - occasional suffering that we endure in specific situations.

Individual Suffering - suffering that we endure on a personal and individual level.

Global Suffering - suffering that the world’s population is subject to endure.

Passive Worldly Suffering

Definition: on-going suffering that we endure on a nearly daily basis that is a result of the broken world that we live in.

[[Examples]]: aging and deteriorating bodies, strenuous work, and strained relationships. ()

Active Worldly Suffering

Definition: suffering that we endure on an occasional basis that is a result of the broken world that we live in.

[[Examples]]: sickness and disease, death and loss of loved ones, financial and economic hardship. ( amplified)

Passive Spiritual Suffering

Definition: on-going suffering that we endure on a nearly daily basis that is a result of the choice that we have made to follow Christ as our Savior.

[[Examples]]: guilt and shame, holy discontentment (continuous desire for further sanctification), weaknesses and demonic harassment. ()

Active Spiritual Suffering

Definition: suffering that we endure on an occasional basis that is a result of the choice that we have made to follow Christ as our Savior.

[[Examples]]: spiritual warfare, death to old self, persecution. (, , , )

3 Truths in

Remembering the one question, “When I suffer, and I am going to suffer, what should my response to this suffering be?”

We have a hope and inheritance in Christ Jesus (v.3-5)

This hope defines our lives, our actions, our words, and even our thoughts and intentions.

This hope is greater than anything that this world can offer and it is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading”

This entire chapter gives us a beautiful picture of what it looks like to live a life that is more concerned with the future glory that we have in Christ rather than the present suffering that we face in this world.

We join Christ in his suffering so that we too may be glorified in him.

The promised hope that we have in Christ overshadows the suffering of this present life.

,

The promised hope that we have in Christ overshadows the suffering of this present life.

Paul takes such a position that is to see these present suffering as so miniscule in comparison to the hopeful reward that we have in Christ.

This isn’t to diminish our present suffering as insignificant and petty.

But, it is pushing us to magnify the hopeful reward that we have in Christ.

What is that future hope?

[[What is this hopeful reward?]]

A return to Shalom

Shalom (or perfect peace) is the state of perfect communion between God and man.

This existed first in the Garden of Eden, it was broken when we fell into sin, and it will only be restored when Christ comes a second time to defeat sin once and for all.

The New Heaven and the New Earth… where God dwells with man and where there is no suffering.

This hope that we have in Christ is absolutely foundational to how we approach suffering in our lives… you can see this in the following three truths of .

We can’t control whether or not we will face suffering, but we can control how we respond when we face suffering. (v.6-7)

This is a relatively obvious truth that we find here, especially after having taken a closer look at different types of suffering in the world… but despite how obvious this may be, the promises of this passing world are devastatingly tempting.

But despite how obvious this may be, the promises of this passing world are devastatingly tempting.

This is the message of the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ that accepting Christ will not only lead to prosperity, but also protect one from suffering.

Jesus even tells us to experience suffering… He tells us that the world will hate us (), that we will have tribulation in the world (), and that we will be persecuted and reviled ().

There is a paradoxical relationship between Jesus instructing us to expect suffering () and also ensuring us that his burdens are light (), but this is not a contradictory relationship.

If we hope to experience his resurrection power in our lives, we too must expect to experience suffering as he did (, )

We can control how we respond when we face suffering (v.6-7)

This doesn’t contradict that fact that we are able to find peace in Christ, but it does tell us that the only true peace we can find is in Christ and not in this world.

If we hope to experience his resurrection power in our lives, we too must expect to experience suffering as he did (, )

Despite the fact that we will face suffering, we always have a choice in how we face that suffering.

I was often told growing up that the only thing I have control over is my attitude.

Anecdote: stolen backpack in Berlin

[[Two things in how we face suffering]]

In the midst of our suffering, we can find encouragement in the endurance and faithfulness of those that have set an example before us.

In the New Testament

- Peter responds with joy and gladness

- James responds with joy and confidence in the fact that God is equipping him

- Find encouragement in those around us and in Christ himself

God is glorified when we suffer well

Paul

Peter ()

James ()

In Church History

Early Church martyrs

The persecuted Church

The result of our suffering well reflects glory to God (v.7b)

Imagine the weight of your testimony to those around you that don’t know Christ but see your reliance upon him in the midst of your own suffering...

Imagine how many people have come to Christ over the centuries because of the testimony of those who suffered well and suffered with joy in the hope they have in Christ...

On the contrary, imagine the shadow you cast on Christ’s name when you suffer poorly and the opportunities that you miss...

Anecdote: My reaction to my bag being stolen in Berlin could have either detracted from God’s character in my life or glorified God’s character in my life… I had to make a decision in that moment in how to react.

Anecdote: stolen backpack in Berlin

Our response to suffering hinges on our faith (v.3-9)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

- We are guarded through our faith

We are not only protected from external attacks , but we are also kept within the graces of God.

In the context of suffering, our faith protects our salvation from attacks of the enemy (the inheritance of that salvation is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading).

It is by faith that we remain rooted in our hope of our future glory in Christ.

Likewise, our faith keeps us within the reality of God’s grace in the midst of suffering.

It is by faith that we suffer well for the glory of God.

- Our faith is tested in our suffering

Similar to , we can find growth in the midst of our suffering.

Suffering reveals any impurities and weaknesses. And upon finding those weaknesses and impurities, we can then go and refine our faith and deepen our relationship with Christ.

- Our faith leads to salvation

This is the message of the gospel that rings throughout the entire Bible.

Peter places it right here in the context of suffering to remind us that the end of our suffering is salvation and eternal life with Christ.

We are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ alone. It is not a result of our works, but it is only by the work of God through Christ.

Our salvation is not a result of our works, not a result of how much or how little we suffer, but it is a result of the faith that we have in the midst of that suffering.

our works, not a result of how much or how little we suffer, but it is a result of the faith that we have in the midst of that suffering.

Conclusion

One Question: “When I suffer, and I am going to suffer, what should my response to this suffering be?”

We are born to a living hope in Christ.

We can’t avoid suffering, but we can choose to suffer well.

We must rely on our faith in the midst of our suffering.

How will you suffer?

As born again Christians, we must live a life expectant of suffering. We must face this suffering head-on and we must suffer well when it is our time to suffer.

We must also never forget the purpose of our suffering. It is our being joined with Christ in a death like his so that we too join him in a life like his.

Will you suffer well? Or will you suffer poorly?

Do you suffer well? Or do you suffer poorly?

Will your suffering bring glory and honor to God? Or will your suffering bring pity upon yourself?

Does your suffering bring glory and honor to God? Or does your suffering bring pity upon yourself?

Will your suffering bring you closer to your loving Father? Or will your suffering push you further away from him?

Does your suffering bring you closer to your loving Father? Or does your suffering push you further away from him?

“When you suffer. . . and you are going to suffer. . . what will your response to that suffering be?”

“When you suffer. . . and you are going to suffer. . . what will your response to that suffering be?”