An Approach to Suffering that is Both Surprising and Superior

What a powerful song – no secular on earth could penetrate the human heart in the manner in which God’s Word does. The Word of God is the hammer that shatters the rocks of a stony heart for the King of Glory to come in.

Our church’s theme this year is Hope for Everyday Life

It really should be no surprise to us that sons and daughters of light on their way to the Celestial City who, like the creation, groan because we understand that we live under the rubric of a fallen world, and that living under these conditions follows a kaleidoscope of sufferings.

That suffering could be the result of our own sin or the result of sin that has happened to us – sin can be so devastating, so overwhelming, so disturbing that sometimes in our walk with the King of Grace that we suffer from a case of arrested development.

Oh the reality of a fallen world – the reality of our fallen condition can be so besetting, yes – we feel that. We know that

And I believe that’s why the hymn we sang rings to true to our hearts…

Do you feel the world is broken?
(We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen?
(We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't
Stop the light from getting through?
(We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new?
(We do)

And we will, Christian – we will all be a part of the coming glory. “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” – Hebrews 13:14

Bearing up under trials and sufferings in this life can, at times, be extraordinarily difficult to bear – yet we are not alone in our endeavor, striving against sin because we have “so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us” who have gone before us, having run the race, “looking forward to being received into the Celestial City of grace “who is the author and architect of our faith, that is God (Hebrews 11:10)

Alistair Begg: Christianity involves, always and in every case, action. To be a Christian is to be introduced to a life of steady persistence. (Running the Race, Truth For Life)

And it’s been quite the journey for some of a number of us, hasn’t it?

Steady persistence in our Christian walk does not entail a life of perfection – it does not always entail a life of smooth sailing or clear blue skies – no, the Christian life of steady persistence entails not just a life of steady endurance, but entanglements or “encumbrances and the sin which so easily besets us.” – Hebrews 12:1

That’s how the writer to the Hebrews described it. That is to say, “encumbrances” or “entanglements” refers to those stuff that has the potential to hinder us. The writer doesn’t categorize those things as sins, but just stuff that we have a tendency to enjoy could in fact trip us up and bring about a bit of turbulence – there’s always that potentiality.

Those entanglements/encumbrances for you could be a number of things. Perhaps for you is the fact you enjoy the culture of sports. Or, perhaps for you you enjoy video games and the gaming community and the lore/fantasy – it’s as though you are entering into another world.

Or, maybe you enjoy pop culture and the music that arises out of that because you love how the power of music moves you, or that you can relate to what the music says to you in your own life.

Perhaps you enjoy coming home from a hard days work. You find your sense of affirmation in the workforce and the results of the work of your hands. That’s a good thing. But understand that too much of a good thing has the likelihood of entangling us such that our health takes a dip as a result of too much excess, thus stifling our spiritual progress and maturity as a result of too much excess.

Perhaps you enjoy the use of electronics or entertainment to relax a bit, as you enjoy some much needed downtime. But too much of a good thing could result in being a couch potato such that your freedom has now become a vice to the degree that entertainment is life itself and you lose your sense of meaning and purpose, retarding your pilgrims progress on this earth, not faithfully employing the use of your spiritual gifts to the service of God’s people.

It’s these kinds of things the writer to the Hebrews says could slow us down in the race that is set before us.

Not only is there stuff that can slow us down, there’s also “the sin that easily entangles us.” The writer has in mind “the sins” that we are more dispositionally inclined to get tangled up. By that, I’m referring to whatever sin patterns that have show up in our lives. For some, it could be lying, or stealing, or drunkenness, or sexual immorality ad-infinitum.

All of us in this room, by virtue of our fallenness, have sinful dispositions – sins that we tend toward more so than other sins…

So what is it for you? What trial(s) are you facing. Did you blow it? And all of us have blown it a time or two…some worse so than others – but there’s always a remedy for that, saints.

“let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

The Apostle Peter and the church he is wrote to faced a trial – being persecuted for their faith in Christ. And as a result, they were scattered.

So he writes to them and starts off by saying “grace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (v.1)

Peter says this in lieu of their current circumstances that in light of their own affliction. In other words, we understand our own hearts that in the progress of our course here in the Christian life, we may become disheartened due to either the entanglements that have impeded our progress or our besetting sins that have tripped us up while in our course to the Celestial City.

There’s no question we’re going to get dirty – we’re always running from the clothes we’re wearing. But I want to highlight…

An Approach to Suffering that is Both Surprising and Superior

3 principles for handling trials that are dramatically different than our natural instincts

I. Understand the Temporary Nature of Your Suffering

1 Peter 4:7 - The end of all things is near… (stop)

This is a fascinating phrase! Peter doesn’t have in mind a believer’s momentary affliction – he has in view of the Lord’s return.

Romans 13:12 “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”

James 5:8 “You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

1 John 2:18 “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

There are numerous passages that stress the importance of believing and being ready for the Lord’s imminent return.

You know, you see all of this in light of Peter’s encouragement to a church in affliction and your own affliction and it begs this question…

A. How could this statement be true?

After all, we’ve been waiting for the soon return of our Lord for over 2,000 years? How do we view that in lieu of the current circumstances we face? And how did the church understand their affliction…

1. Because of their pending martyrdom

And the answer is

2. By comparing a full life filled with trials with the length and glory of eternity

In other words, if the end of all things is near/imminent, won’t your affliction come to an end as well? The time is coming when we will no longer need to fight the recycled sins of our past, let alone the desire to go back to those besetting sins.

The time will come when we will no longer need to war within ourselves the because we the Lord imminent return will be actualized when he raptures his people, and we will be united with “the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.” – Hebrews 12:23

Then we will finally see our affliction as momentary in view of eternity.

The Apostle Paul was so honest about his affliction. In his second letter to the Corinthian Church, he ended up being attacked by the very church he ministered to. Some false teachers had entered into the fray and attempted to turn the church against the Apostle such that they began to attack him by undermining his apostleship. So the Apostle wrote a letter of severity to the church.

We don’t have that letter, the Lord saw fit not to include that in our Bible during the process of superintending His Work. But notice Paul’s reaction to the Corinthians…

2 Corinthians 6:11 - Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.

In other words, what are you doing? We love you, what are you doing? You are persecuting me now? You want to question my apostleship from the Lord and the ministry that I’ve been entrusted with – ok, here are my credentials…

2 Corinthians 11:23-29—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

Talk about a trial filled life, which doesn’t seem readily encouraging at all – in fact, it seems to smack of the morose. But if we understand that our affliction the way God does, then that makes all the difference in the world. I can see the Celestial City, can you?

I can see those around me who have stumbled and have fallen and I can come alongside them in their weakness and say, the end of all things is at hand! We don’t run away from the people God’s people. We don’t run away from the people we love. And don’t run past me, should I fall…

“The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” –

INSERT PICTURE https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/123768880_3628447340547435_1419119777043241051_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p960x960&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=yVuV2eC0TJgAX9B1BXC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBzrMMX7xCRvudywbQsEx0FaQuJgmIQfObmS4uuj6S9Dg&oe=6478BCED

And beyond the gates of this world lay our Christ and the home he has prepared for us

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Is all creation groaning?
(It is)
Is a new creation coming?
(It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst?
(It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this?
(It is)

3. Jesus may return for His children at any moment

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 - For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

“Perhaps today” is the hope and prayer of all true children of God. I’m not sure we say enough about the imminent return of Christ…but we should…

Perhaps you are lay in the epicenter of a trial right now [and by God’s grace I hope you’re trying to handle it God’s way and not your own]…

And then all of a sudden you hear the sound of a trumpet…would you be excited? You’ve often heard me say that today’s a good day for a rapture. I recently recall saying that to someone who is in the midst of their own trial, and the person’s face lit up with a teary eyed smile of relief because this person knew that this trial would not last forever because through our own set of circumstances lay the end of all things. One age of man will be gone, and the era of Christ will begin…

INSERT IMAGE https://kenpulsmusic.com/images/celestialcity1.jpg

But in the meantime, we wait like a spiritual bride waiting for our Christ, our groom.

4. God’s timing is not our timing

2 Peter 3:8-9 - But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

In other words, our Lord is outside of His creative time – He is not bound to time as we are.

So if we appropriate trials the way God sees them, we would understand that whatever we’re facing, for however long we face it, is a temporary and momentary affliction in view of the surpassing glories that are to come for those who have a personal relationship with Him.

B. What is the evidence of this understanding?

1. sound in judgment

2. sober in spirit

3. fervent in prayer

During seasons of trial and even failure, our thinking can be sullied and our eyes temporarily hindered either by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of pride of life. And our feet slip into what CS Lewis described as a Swamp of Despondence.

I can think of a number of people in our church who are going through fairly deep waters….but they’re living right in the middle of verse 7…these principles describe their approach//their response…

That’s one of the benefits of being part of a church family…having such brothers and sisters who are portraits of grace of what God’s Word says…able to give us warning signs…and should we fail - should we succumb to our own lusts and enticed, they get their hands dirty have to pull us out of our swamp of despondence…

I want to speak to God’s people, right now – we may not completely know what’s going on in your life. Perhaps you’ve isolated yourself to chase after your own besetting sins…

At some point, you have to decide…I’m going to lay my way down, and I’m going to pick God’s way up.

- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart…(Pro 3:5-6)

There's no sound louder than a captive set free

So let the redeemed of the Lord say so

Sing of His promises ever more

Pour out your thankfulness, let it overflow

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so

There is joy in the morning

Springing up in my soul

There is life worth living

'Cause He calls me His own

And there's a hallelujah

After sweet victory

So while you live life and see good days…

II. Use Your Limited Times and Resources to Invest in Others

Let me give you something specific…

A. Keep fervent in your love for another – v. 8

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another…

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

If you know a saint of light who has either fallen into sin on their own accord, and they are going through rough sees, affirm your love for that person and throw them a life line.

B. Be hospitable to one another – v. 9

1 Peter 4:9 - Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

C. Employ your gifts in serving one another – v. 10

1 Peter 4:10 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies…

1 Peter 2:24-25 - …and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

III. Rejoice That Such a Life Brings Glory to God

1 Peter 4:11 - …so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 3:15 - …but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence…

The mission of Faith Church is to glorify God by winning people to Jesus Christ and equipping them to be more faithful disciples.

1 Peter 4:11 - …so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.