Grace Through Suffering
Paul said, we walk by faith and not by sight. From God’s heavenly perspective, the world is upside down. The world calls evil good and good evil. But from God’s perspective, the light of the truth of His Word expels the darkness of this world.
From the world’s perspective, a human right is the right not to suffer…. not to be taken advantage of, and not to be offended. In our litigious society, we look for people to persecute, retaliate against, and prosecute for causing us to suffer.
From God’s perspective, human rights are often godly wrongs. From His perspective, the tribulations and pressure of this world are a test. Our true character… God in Christ in us is revealed only through the testing of trials and the pressure of tribulation. Romans 5 says, “For tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience (His proven character within us), and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.” Through the trials of life, God’s Holy Spirt will teach us by experience the true meaning of hope of Christ’s return and the love of God
Jesus said before his crucifixion, all of you disciples will scatter and forsake me. But I’m telling you what will happen so that when you forsake me, you will remember my words. When you remember these words you will have peace, for my Father is with me. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.
In Philippians 1:28-29, Paul said, And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake…
In Acts 4, the temple authorities in Jerusalem said to Peter and John, “Didn’t we command you not to speak in the name of Jesus?” But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Peter answered, ‘If we don’t speak it, even the rocks will cry out.”
Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
Suffering and endurance is one of God’s promises. Suffering is a blessing in disguise. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” Even though he did not know what the future would bring, Paul was convinced that whatever happened to him, God would use for the advancement of the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Paul wrote by revelation in Romans 8:16-18, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
The crowd will cheer for us when we hit the winning run. However, when we strike out with the game on the line, the people we care about will watch how we react to adversity. Our true character is revealed in the trials and tribulations of life. Through the storms of life, God says in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The purpose for Ministry is to create an atmosphere where God can come help himself to our lives. If we are willing to change according to his will, not ours, then we will emerge from adversity closer to him. If our heart’s desire is to know him more deeply and more intimately, the answer to this prayer is in Proverbs 17:3, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” Through God’s fire of testing he will reveal what’s really valuable… For the crucible and the furnace of refinement is the test to reveal his character within our heart.
The greatest lessons of life are learned through the Lord’s refining fire…. Pain is inevitable… misery is optional. Through the pain, persecution, trial, and the suffering of this world, God’s refining fire will teach us the true meaning of Joy…. For joy is not the absence of pain. Joy is the presence of the Lord.
According to 1 Peter 4:19, Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Oswald Chambers said, Those who suffer and endure, God will call to be an example to encourage others to run to the battle lines in the spiritual battle. God puts his saints where they will glorify him.
In the parable of the three servants, the master before leaving for a period of time, had given each of his three servant talents to invest. To one he gave five, to another he gave two, and to the third he gave one talent. What was the difference between the servants?
Two stewards, the one who had received five talents, and the other who had received two talents, both loved their master. They were both bond-servants, slaves who were bound to their master by the bond of love. (See Exodus 21:5-6) They both invested the master’s talents and by the time their master returned, they had doubled their master’s original investment. They had made wise investments with a heart of love for their master. The master said to each of them, “well done thou good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little, I will entrust you with much… enter now into the joy of the Lord.”
The wicked and slothful steward who had received one talent said, I knew you were a hard taskmaster. You reap where you haven’t sown, and you gather where you have not thrown seed. I was afraid, so I went and buried your talent in the ground. Here, I’m returning the talent you gave me.”
From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. This servant did not love his Master. He was ungrateful and his actions were motivated by fear. However there is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment. He who feareth is not made perfect in love. Anything that is not done with the love of God will come to naught…. It profits me nothing.
The master said to him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed.
Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
So I’ll take the talent from you and give it to him who has the ten talents.
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
According to 1 Corinthians 13, Only that which is done in love is profitable. If not done with the love of God, it profiteth me nothing.
Life’s greatest treasures are revealed through God’s refining fire. Through the trials, tribulation, persecution and challenges of this world, God gives us the opportunity to prove that he alone is our sufficiency. Paul prayed three times In the midst of his pain and suffering, “Lord please remove this thorn in my flesh. Then I will be a better servant.” Twice God did not answer Paul’s prayer. The third time God answered, but it wasn’t the answer Paul had expected. God said. “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness… my grace is sufficient for thee.” Through the trials of life we will learn that Thy grace is sufficient for me.
Jesus said, Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven! Despite the suffering of this world, we can be of good cheer for Jesus Christ has overcome the world…
… that we may live to the praise of the glory of God’s grace… for thy strength is made perfect in my weakness…. grace is sufficient for me!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
