Suffering
Notes
Transcript
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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
v.6-9 purpose of trials is to lead us to salvation
God has everything in control.
God actively does it or allows it to happen
“ ‘See now that I, even I, am he,
and there is no god beside me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
If it happened , I did it
Is a trumpet blown in a city,
and the people are not afraid?
Does disaster come to a city,
unless the Lord has done it?
Our God is sovereign
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
if it is necessary to bring salvation to lost mankind and if suffering is involved in that, so be it.
How did we get our salvation. The death of Holy Jesus on an agonizing cross. And we rejoice because we can be saved.
Do we balk at our own suffering so that other people can be saved?
The book of Peter is how to endure persecution.
Trials - also used in
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Be joyful because you know there is a benefit to these trials and circumstances.
All of this is for the purpose of verse 7
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.
1 Thessalonians
proofs of suffering
proves we are on the right trail
matures us
disciplines us
makes us trust in God
gives us the ability to help our brethren who are suffering
Vital purpose of our suffering is for the Salvation Of Lost Souls
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
we are not to be like the world. they grumble and dispute, Christians don't because our eternity is assured. When we suffer with those around us, our reaction is not the same. We will be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. So we can be the light of the world. We dont react like the world react. If the world see us suffering be it sickness, persecution, accidents, and we rejoice because our eternal future is unchangeable. We are now the shining light. For those that are down and complaining about covid we are rejoicing. when they see us, that we have the same problems they do, don't let those problems influence our attitudes or our lives. Then we draw them in by our actions. That is the purpose of suffering.
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Servants obey in all things. We are not like the world. Working in the world:
Story
People react differently when the boss is there because they are working for man. We are not working for men.
Whatever you do, work heartily as for the lord not for men. Our lives are different. The boss will realize that weather the boss is there or not we are working. We give an honest day of work, not because we are working for man but because we are working for the Lord. We do that so that everyone can see that Christians behavior is not like the world. When we are productive and honest in our work the boss wants to start hiring Christians. Our fellow workers see us rejoicing and working when they are grumbling. It is a magnet that draws in these people. They want to know what we have that they don't have. As long as everything is going easy, we dont show ourselves much different from the world. Maybe our speech and ethics. But when troubles come that is the perfect time to show how christians rejoice.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
God calls us to these troubling times. We give ourselves to serve God no matter the circumstances. If we have a hard boss we serve him diligently because we are not serving him we are serving God and we are letting everyone see that we rejoice no matter the circumstances. That draws men.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
We who are in Christ are to be imitators of Christ. Christ came down to save lost souls. So we desire to bring lost souls and Christ showed us that it includes suffering. Thats what draws others to us. Jesus did not condem the people while on the cross, he said forgive them. He gave his life to save sould. If we have trials, we know that they are God given things and he gives them to us so he can use us to bring others to him. This is the work that God has called us to do. For salvation.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
All the suffering is to bring men to himself through Christ.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.