This Suffering
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Introduction
Introduction
This series is all about cultural pressure
col 1:
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Our modern culture does not mesh well with Jesus
Naturally, there will be some suffering involved...
Today’s message is “This Suffering” which is the title of a Billy Talent song...
Hockey training story
I had missed it by one day
Suffering is hard to endure
You know why that was terrible?
I had done all that work for no payout
Suffering is so much easier when there is a reason for it!
This morning we’re going to talk about suffering with a purpose
More importantly, suffering with a purpose
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Suffering can be a good thing
There are 3 types of “productive” suffering
Keep in mind they may not always be productive
1. Suffering for payment
Punishment for a crime
You rob someone, you go to jail
Or penance - self-punishment as an expression of repentance
Crying out on the front lawn of girlfriend
2. Suffering for self gain
We’ve all heard “NO PAIN, NO GAIN”
Working hard gives us a payout in the end
I trained to get a spot on the roster
3. Suffering for the gain of others
Sacrificial type of suffering
We give of our selves for no return except for the betterment of others
Except for the betterment of others
Best example? Jesus on the cross
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
Paul’s sufferings are for something good
He WASN’T trying to give penance for his sins
He WASN’T trying to give penance for his sins
ASCETIC - characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
Filipino Good Friday ritual
29 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,
Back whipping in the streets
Ruben Enaje is called “The Filipino Christ” - reenacts the crucifixion
He has done it for 33 years
ASCETIC - characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
Some believe this cleanses his sin
Filipino Good Friday ritual
This isn’t what Paul was doing
Back whipping in the streets
Ruben Enaje is called “The Filipino Christ” - reenacts the crucifixion
He was going through something intentionally
He has done it for 28 years
For the benefit of others
Here are 5 things we can learn from suffering:
Here are 5 things we can learn from suffering:
As a Christian...
1. All Suffering is Not Equal
1. All Suffering is Not Equal
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
Suffering is subjective and assorted
Different struggles affect us differently
And there are a million ways that we can struggle
In Paul compares the church to a body
Just like the human body has different parts, the church has different parts
You might be an eye, you’re a hand, you’re a mouth...
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
kjgvb
Means you’re different; different strengths and weaknesses
If I put plastic wrap over my elbow… no big deal
Put it over my mouth though, and I’ll die!
If I use my mouth to open this Reese’s cup… easy
Try using you elbows...
Trials affect each of us differently
If a responsible accountant gets laid off with money in the bank, spouse’s income, rental properties… not the end of the world
with money in the bank, investments, rental income… not the end of the world
BUT a single dad living paycheck to paycheck may have a harder time
To make it worse, trials come in all shapes and sizes
Mental, physical, financial, relational, familial, spiritual...
It’s a scary world out there! But...
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1 cor 12:
We then learn this:
2. Suffering is Better in Community
2. Suffering is Better in Community
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
University of New South Wales and University of Queensland experiment
One group - hands in ice water moving balls into submerged container
Then squat against the wall til they gave up
Other group - hands in room-temp water with balls
Then stand on one foot while leaning and switching whenever
The pain group formed bonds and relationships
The other group made no bonds at all
Later they played a “prisoner dilemma game”
Pick 1-7
All 7’s give everyone the most money
Lower numbers give highest individual payout
The pain group picked 4.35 average to 3.58 average
Did experiment again - hot chilis and hard candy
Same results
People that go through pain together form stronger bonds and sacrifice more for each other
Jesus wants us to suffer together because it’s so much better than doing it alone
3. Suffering Prepares Us
3. Suffering Prepares Us
4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Prepares us to help others
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
When you go through something hard, it’s more bearable when you’re with someone who’s been there
First started leading worship
Glenn set me up with Jay Walden
He walked me through leading a team
Taught me how to use technology (CCLI, PCO)
Most importantly, remember you’re doing it for Jesus
We’re still close today
He understood where I was at an helped me through the struggle
Because he’d had to struggle too!
Our struggles teach us so that we may teach others!
It also prepares us to be better
Steel bar illustration
Bar of steel is worth $5
Horseshoes worth $10
Needles worth $350
Knife blades $32,000
Watch springs $250,000
The more you drill and refine, the more valuable it is
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
For MINISTRY and for GLORY
The best pro athletes work hard to get there
Bar of steel is worth $5
Why? He does have
Horseshoes worth $10
Alvin Kamara pulls his Jeep while carrying weights
Needles worth $350
Chris Chelios did his “hour of power” workout followed by a 40-mile bike ride and a 16-mile paddle surfing journey
Knife blades $32,000
Tiger Woods works out at 6:00am, driving range for 2 hours, 9-holes, 2 hours at the range, 9-holes, an hour at the green, second workout
That’s 13 1/2 hours a day!
Now if me and Tiger are about to tee off, who’s betting on Tiger’s drive over mine?
Watch springs $250,000
Tiger does that to be the best, but we don’t always choose our sufferings
The more you drill and refine, the more valuable it is
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
We’d be content to say, “No God, I don’t want to suffer. I’m content being where I’m at.”
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 5:3
Fortunately, God give us those things because He’s building us to what HE wants us to be!
That’s why we have our next point:
4. Suffering is to be Expected
4. Suffering is to be Expected
1 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,
1 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, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
You can EXPECT to be persecuted...
Have you accepted that?
Here’s the test: will you allow your children to suffer?
Sending Ronnie to Northeast
We don’t want our kids to suffer because we suffer
Gracie and cup stacking
If you don’t encourage your kids to encounter others who are “the least of these” you are building Pharisees!
Everyone suffers: young/old, rich/poor, male/female...
Everyone suffers: young/old, rich/poor, male/female...
AND Christian/unbeliever
That’s where problems start, when people tell you suffering stops when you’re a Christian
That’s where problems start, when people tell you suffering stops when you’re a Christian
Prosperity preachers
One did a teaching on Paul’s shipwreck in Acts
God sent an angel saying Paul will stand before Caesar
When he was shipwrecked he could be confident he’d survive
He did stand before Caesar because God always comes through
To apply this to us today, he said this:
“Now believe and declare you’re still going to get well, you’re still going to meet the right person, you’re still going to accomplish your dreams. Favor is coming, healing is coming, promotion, vindication, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus’ name.”
God does deliver on His promises… BUT
Has God sent you an angel promising you’ll get well, meet the right person, accomplish your dreams?
Does Scripture promise you a promotion? A new car? A private jet? NO!!
I believe in the prosperity gospel! I just have a different definition of prosperity...
I believe I am prosperous when I am being transformed into what God wants me to be
That requires pain and suffering. It’s not fun, but it is GOOD
Lyndsay Sands said,
Time is not the great teacher. Experience is. A man may live a whole life, but if he never leaves his home to experience that life, he dies knowing nothing. A mere child who has suffered and lived can be the wiser of the two.
5. Suffering is a Reason to Rejoice
5. Suffering is a Reason to Rejoice
Back to our original text: Why is Paul Suffering?
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
Why is Paul Suffering?
27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Paul knows exactly why he is suffering
It is this knowledge that gives him reason to celebrate
He WASN’T trying to give penance for his sins
Paul get to be the guy that carries the gospel to the gentiles!
This involves humiliation, beatings, imprisonment, and ultimately his life
He considers that a privilege!
That’s why:
29 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,
Granted? Like a gift? Our suffering is a gift?
Here’s the test: will you allow your children to suffer?
Taking Ronnie and Grace to Mexico
Why? I believe that struggle was good for him
I’d rather them die learning to live like Jesus
Than to live only clinging to safety
I’m not saying to risk your kids lives
BECAUSE Jesus didn’t come to hang out with the perfect
Gracie and cup stacking
He didn’t spend time with kings, rulers, and religious elite...
Especially at the expense of the tax-collectors, prostitutes and the poor
Why would I then teach my kids that they need to stay away from them?
I’m not talking about putting your kids in danger..
I’m talking about not telling ourselves a lie
That parenting is about making our kids happy
God is FAR more concerned with your kids holiness than their happiness...
If you don’t encourage your kids to encounter others who are “the least of these” you are building Pharisees!
I’m not talking about putting your kids in danger..
I’m talking about not telling ourselves a lie
That parenting is about making our kids happy
God is FAR more concerned with your kids’ holiness than their happiness...
What Does Suffering Look Like for Us?
What Does Suffering Look Like for Us?
I just came out of an extremely difficult time
NC was a challenge for us
The church was wonderful
We were not a good fit
Living like a square peg was brutal
Left California with confidence
But God used my suffering to show my reliance on HIM!
It also caused me to question to death this church
That’s why we snuck up here...
I believe God used that season to prepare me to be here
It was excruciating for us, but totally worth it!
Your suffering may look different:
For you, maybe suffering for Christ IS...
A parent who tells their child they won’t help them when they’re in addiction
Someone who learned their husband or wife had an affair but they stay
Someone who learned their husband or wife had an affair but they stay
The student who leaves their friends to sit down with the kid sitting alone
Paul’s suffering is to sacrifice himself for the benefit of others
Suffering for Christ is NOT...
Calling yourself a turd in a punch bowl
4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
When someone decides to move across the globe to share the gospel
Jesus didn’t say, “why are you persecuting the church?” He said, “me!”
Leaving family, friends, financial security all behind...
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
I mentioned before that all suffering is not equal...
You can EXPECT to be persecuted...
Some of these things are harder for others than some
But I think changes in what we know as suffering may be coming soon
Our country seems to be heading in a certain direction
I’m not a heavy political guy
I don’t believe fighting for laws is what Christians need to worry about
Politicians are going to fight for what’s popular
If we share the gospel with others, their hearts can change
Then the laws will naturally follow
Here’s the test: will you allow your children to suffer?
However, our laws do indicate what the hearts of our people look like
Sending Ronnie to Northeast
We don’t want our kids to suffer because we suffer
Sometimes watching our children suffer
We hear the statistics that Christianity is in decline
Gracie and cup stacking
If you don’t encourage your kids to encounter others who are “the least of these” you are building Pharisees!
Prayer in schools, divorce rates, abortion, gay marriage, transgender issues...
I heard on the radio that they’re going after the pastoral housing allowance again
Dem. Pres. candidate Beto O’Rourke says churches who don’t practice same sex marriage will be stripped of their tax-exempt status
Paul knows exactly why he is suffering
We enjoy some great religious freedom right now, but that isn’t guaranteed
col 1:
27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
I’m 35, I hope to spend the next 30+ years ministering with you
Paul knows exactly why he is suffering
A lot can change in 30 years
What if we lose our tax-exemption?
What if we’re fined for preaching the gospel?
What if we’re forced to close our doors?
What if it becomes illegal to be a Christian?
I sure don’t want that
But maybe that’s what the church needs to wake up!
For Me
For Me
Christianity was never meant to be easy
Christian story
Thrown out of his house
In 1999 he was at a Bible camp at Pat-timura University
Quit school, stole money, stuck gum everywhere, slept all day
Slept with a married woman, I told him he had to leave
Then he threatened my me and my wife
Said he didn’t believe in God because of me
You call yourself a pastor?
He said some vicious things to me...
I heard through the grapevine he was going to come after me and Tash
Violently knocking at the door
I grabbed my gun and answered it...
I’m not condoning violence but I felt I needed to protect my family in that moment
Pulled it out… it was the UPS guy dropping off a TV
We did ultimately reconcile
After that I struggled caring for people...
I came to a place where I realized this:
I came to a place where I realized this:
People are going to hate you
They will take advantage of you
They will steal and attack
But that is NO EXCUSE to stop loving for the sake of Christ
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
We don’t love Jesus because the world loves Him
We love Him because He loves us
And I say we do whatever it takes to keep loving Him!
Closing
Closing
Buddy Hamby
The pain I feel has infected my thoughts this week
It’s either pointless, or God will use it
I will have to learn the importance of sharing the gospel with everyone
Prayer
Prayer