DEVELOPING A SOUL-SUSTAINING PERSPECTIVE OF SUFFERING

I. THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORD OF GOD

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

I. THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORD OF GOD

i. As you grow up in Him you see Him bigger than the troubles

Psalm 37:4 ESV

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

B.

Psalm 1:2 ESV

but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

C.

i. Law of Lord (God Himself)

ii. Meditates

The word predictive is gained not by a better superficial reading of the word. But a deep and disciplined diet of the Word

D. Word grounds us in the will of God

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

1 Peter 3:17 ESV

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

i. We grow up in holiness separation when we live in the will of God.

John 17:17 ESV

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

II. THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

A. Growth in Word is growth is Perspective. Seeing as God sees and how God wants you to see

B. You must see things as they are to good not as they are in the natural

i. In the Eyes of God 2:4

ii. This is a gracious thing (19, 20)

iii. In the eyes of God is very precious (3:??)

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

C.

Good is the holy pleasure of God not merely the felt pleasure of man; there is a human element of suffering that must rise to the divine perspective of the pain. The call of the Bible is to feel as God feels not, as man feels.

Gwelf Ontario

III. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OF TIME

A. Two words for time: konos and keiros

i. Kronos

ii. Kairos – the appointed time/

This is a Gracious thing (2:19-20)

Favor

B. Suffering is not to be seen in kronos