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Sermon:
Vexation
by Chris Cumming
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MP3
Recently I was approached by a member in the congregation asking that I
do a sermon on suffering experienced by firstfruits. In my research, I
found there are at least fourteen kinds of suffering spoken of in the
Word of God. Let list those here. Understand that some of these are
more rare.
Types of Suffering:
1] Adamic —all of mankind
suffers because of sin.
2] Demonic—either by
possession, influence and/or deception.
3] Victim—when we are sinned
against.
4] Collective—when nations or
people suffer poverty, famine, wars, etc.
5] Disciplinary—when God
chastens us to mature us.
6] Vicarious—which comes from
the ungodly in persecutions and other attacks.
7] Empathetic—which we
experience with others are suffering.
8] Testimonial—where God
allows suffering to send a message such as when He had Hosea marry a
harlot.
9] Providential—some suffer to
teach a lesson about God so that worship of Him increases. Example
would be Joseph’s imprisonment in Egypt.
10] Preventative—suffering
that warns us of greater suffering if we do not repent or heed God’s
warnings. Example, a pain in your side warning us of a possible burst
appendix.
11] Mysterious—where God does
not readily give us the reason. Example would be Job’s story.
12] Punishment—given by God to
bring us to repentance and to end the specific sin process.
13] Consequential—because of
foolish decisions. Example would be in Proverbs: the lazy become
hungry, adulterers reap what they sow, fools suffer harm, poor financial
stewards come to poverty.
14] Apocalyptic [uh-pok-uh-lip-tik]
—the Bible speaks of increased suffering as we enter the Tribulation.
Suffering is described in the Bible with words like:
1] adversity. Proverbs 24:10
2] affliction. Mark 13:19
3] anguish. Romans 2:9
4] distress. Lamentations 1:20
5] misery. Ecclesiastes 8:6
6] pain. Romans 8:22. In Job 33, it is uttered, “strong pain.”
7] persecution. Romans 8:35
8] punishment. Proverbs 19:19
9] suffering. 1 Peter 2:19
10] sword. Acts 12:2
11] travail. Ecclesiastes 4:6
12] trials. 2 Corinthians 8:2
13] torment. 1 John 4:8
14] tribulations. Romans 5:3
15] trouble. Psalm 9:9
16] vexation. Isaiah 65:14 …there are
others including famine, nakedness and peril..
So, why do we suffer? What is the purpose of this suffering? What
promises does God give us regarding escape from this suffering? Today
we will answer these questions and more as I encourage all of us to
understand and endure suffering.
Understand and endure suffering.
We will now take a journey through God’s Word. Our mission here is to
understand suffering. I will do this using subject headings. The
scriptures in each section will be in biblical order. Understand that
some scriptures apply in more than one subject heading.
We will experience
suffering
Psalm 34:19a
Many are the afflictions of the righteous:…
Mark 13:13 …end
time prophecy
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [see
Matthew 10:22]
Luke 14:27
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my
disciple.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of
the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from
me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when
I am weak, then am I strong.
Philippians 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on
him, but also to suffer for his sake;
2 Timothy 3:12 [see
Lesson]
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
Hebrews 12:11a
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
Attitude:
Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]
which is given unto us.
Romans 8:18
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.
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed,
but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that
the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Philippians 3:8-11
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both
to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake,
which is the church:
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.
James 5:10-11
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the
Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the
patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is
very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Action on Your
Part
Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own
ways before him.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and
my portion for ever.
Psalm 119:50
…immerse yourself in the Word of God
This is my comfort in my affliction:
for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes.
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will
lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose
himself, or be cast away?
Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Philippians 4:6
…see below for the promise that comes with
this prayer
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
2 Timothy 1:8 [see
Lesson]
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 [see
Lesson]
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 2:19-21
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure
grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye
shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye
take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Peter 3:17
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are
ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of
evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good
conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well
doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the
spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil
spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an
evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let
him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not
the gospel of God? \
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and
the sinner appear?
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.
God’s Hand in
Suffering
Isaiah 55:9
…lest any wonder what God is doing
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:10 [sermon,
"Stablishment"]
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Hebrews 12:10-11
…we gave the first part of verse 11 above
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby.
Promises and
Encouragements
Psalm 30:5
…read all 12 verses of this chapter
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may
endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 34:19
…we gave the first part of this above
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him
out of them all.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Matthew 4:23-24
…what Jesus did then and is doing now.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all
sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those
which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and
those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In
the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we
ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation,
which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also
suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and
salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of
the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Hebrews 10:36
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence
of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of
God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will
not tarry.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he
shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them
that love him.
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye
are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Revelation 2:10
…end time prophecy
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil
shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall
have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give
thee a crown of life.
Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.
Here are some quotes on enduring suffering:
“When you mature in your relationship with God you realize how
suffering and patience are like eating your spiritual vegetables.”
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere
and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
"Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will
be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these
horrors. No evil can resist grace forever."
"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger,
even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was
built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and
grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward."
"If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And
a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm."
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through
experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition
inspired, and success achieved."
~Helen Keller
A Parting Promise
Psalm 23:1-6
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and
I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Understand and endure suffering |
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