Why God's People Suffer – Part 2 of 2

Will and in a fire, and additional shortbread Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible. I encourage you to write this letter so that you listen and if you requested, be glad to send you a copy of our publication. The Baptist witness articles will be a blessing to you. Our address is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217.

Today we bring you the second part of the message why God's people suffer number four sufferings that come our way can teach us more about his word and his workings in our life more about his word and his workings in our life we look at Psalm 119 this beautiful portion of Scripture that speaks repeatedly about the value of God's word or 71 it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn five statutes. What's a good amount of affliction here that I might learn my statutes. Now think about your own experience when is it that you have learned the most about the statutes of God learn most about the word of God, but not really reading his word every day continually growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But it's in the day of suffering and trouble when you're not just going to the Scripture casually to read not just saying I'm reading it on the news that your reading it because you're desperate to find him and as you read it in the spirit of God blesses you to have understanding and make an application to the thing that you're experiencing at that time you begin to learn something since this is not just technical knowledge. This is this is something that I'm involved. This is real believe this is happening to me.

You're learning more of his word.

All how rich is the word of God and one good thing about this is that you get excited when you see how effectively God's truth is been applied in your own life and that you're happy to tell other people about it's it's that which inspires you to be a good testimony and witness to others around you so as sufferings, it's in the midst of the sufferings that we are going to learn more about God's word about his truth and how it applies to our life, even in the midst of our trials. This is what Job said in the 23rd chapter of the book of Job verse eight that whole I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him out. Jones initial reaction to his loss was right said in all this Job sinned not been charged God foolishly because he said the Lord giveth and the Lord take the wife blessed be the name of the Lord.

But the king those dark days when he was trying to figure it all out. He couldn't put together and it seemed as he tried to approach the Lord, and there is not there. Cannot perceive him on the left hand where he does work, but I cannot hold him picking himself on the right hand that I cannot see it ever been there. That place where you try to read the Bible didn't seem to get in the light, no comfort, no understanding the play is about to give up. I can't pray the Lord had withdrawn himself completely.

But notice, Job talks about a stroke, talked about his perplexity.

He says in verse 10, but he knows the way I take when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Lesson to learn. Although it seemed to me I couldn't find it. Really one long nose away.

I take he knows all about me knows all about my life. You know the details of my life and those he knows are present. He knows your future.

What a great God we have, yes, Lord teaches us about his word and his workings in our life is one more in that connection James chapter 1 verse one James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad reading my brethren counted all joy when you fall into divers temptations and to imagine some of the people who were suffering in that day being driven from their homes, fearing not knowing what the next day was going bring forth and they got a letter from brother James and he says joy when you fall into divers temptations and find safe but guys just for good news and I'm I'm I'm glad he wrote that I feel better already sick my printer does not get cleaned if he knew what we were encountering but he's writing out of inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

So he says here's how you can tell the joint meetings that you will feel enjoy it and save as this is great.

I love being driven from our home. I love being deprived of all the struggles that I'm in counter know you can Enjoy because you know that the trying of your faith worketh patience or endurance or perseverance as you have this you learn patience you learn to endure.

You learn to continue. Learn to persevere in the wife but let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What's the end and you spiritual maturity, something amazing.

I can't see one good thing to possibly come out' not one good thing to come out of this trial. Too often the problem is they are looking only at some material benefit. If I could see that at the end of this trial.

I was going to be in reached and prospered and work out the way I wanted to but what about this is this that you should become spiritually mature be complete, lacking nothing. Therefore, giving glory to Jesus Christ. As a result of this work in your life.

Using the trials that you encounter a positive and number five God uses our sufferings are experienced in the midst of our sufferings. As an example to others as an example to others. James chapter 5 verse 11 the whole week, count them, they which endure you've heard of the patience of Job and have seen the Lord.

The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. I'm confident that when Job was sitting out there on the as sheep and he was scraping his boils and was in absolute misery and his wife and come to say curse God and die that it didn't cross his mind in knowing years to come is going to be a preacher there on the Sunday morning in Cincinnati Ohio that's going to talk about my experience and my experience is going to be a great example and an inspiration to them. You know thing about that. But God did not have plans already to put his experience in the book of James, and he says you think about it. Think about Joan. Think about how he endured. Think about the end of the Lord was merciful and gracious to him and the Hebrew letter Chapter 11 verse four says, by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and beat by beat, he being dead yet speaketh.

Abel been the right thing but suffered even his life was taken because he honor God and it was like but even in his day, evening speaks. His testimony is alive today, not allowed to go down to the 32nd verse and read the rest of that chapter that talks about those who through faith subdued kingdoms and practices obtain promises stop the mouths of mines quenched that I was a fire escape to the sword, out of weakness were made strong. All these are examples testimonies for us to know anything about us nothing about what was going to happen in this year.

I didn't know that their expenses will be recorded in the inspired Bible, but God was using their sufferings.

As an example to others what Donovan example of you been in your day of trouble in your our suffering. I think not only about the use were described in Scripture think about John Bunyan spent 12 years in the Bedford jail you could've gotten out any day that he would said I will never preach again, but he preached out the window of the jail you want to be at home with his little blonde daughter, but he suffered suffered imprisonment would not compromise but it was while he was a prisoner that he wrote the Pilgrim's progress book that had greater circulation than any English writing other than the Bible itself. Think about Corrie 10 boom when the concentration camp yet maintain her faith leaves on record. A beautiful testimony that inspires multitudes.

Think about Johnny Erickson taught who was injured when diving into the water. In 1967 has been in a wheelchair ever since. She now has a worldwide ministry providing wheelchairs for disabled people around the world. And when you read her beautiful writings and read how this woman had such loss in suffered so greatly now has such a beautiful spirit so honors God, but her testimony is been so remarkably use you come to understand that God sometimes uses the sufferings of his people. As an example to others. Is that not worthwhile. Is that not good. Number six uses our sufferings to prepare us to comfort others to comfort others as God is the God of comfort. All true comfort was, from him by his mercy and his grace in Isaiah chapter 51 verse 12. He says I even I am he that comforted you, who art thou that I shouldn't be afraid of a man that shall die in the Son of Man that shall be made as grass. God is the one who comforts us in Matthew chapter 5 verse four says Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Lord comforts those that have a morning spirit. Those were convicted of sin. Those who mourn because they see themselves as unworthy Richard before God there comforted as they look away from themselves about faith you. Jesus Christ is the leading Lamb of Calvary is the only hope for fallen and ruined centers, and then Paul speaks of this in more specific detail. Second Corinthians chapter 7 verse five he says for when we were coming to Macedonia. Our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side without were findings within were fears nevertheless gone the comfort of those are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus noticed. He points out that God is the source of the comfort but on this occasion the channel it was Titus God use this young minister who was very dear to the apostle be a great comfort to it. But he said God is the source of that we make a terrible mistake with we begin to look at the channel and assume that our comfort is going to be in the channel itself understand God is the source of it and God may use one channel today and another tomorrow. God is the God of all comfort back in the first chapter of the book of second Corinthians verse three Blessed be the God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies and the God of all comfort, I love that expression did not want to know is the God of all comfort.

Say I'm cast down. I'm in great trouble I'm in great need. I'm not suffering about physical affliction.

I've got difficulties. God is the God of comfort. I was so deeply touched one of the visits we had with Brother Martin Bates as he neared the end of his journey need sat there one day and wept his brother Bradley and he comfort it was a man of the hundred and one years old displaying great faith, but he knew he needed comfort as a brother.

God is the God of comfort. He can give you exactly what you need. How good to know who comforts 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 comfort God is the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abound.

Christ were able to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves in comfort means when you try to comfort somebody you don't give them the fluff that is out there in the world around us. Don't know God or haven't had any deep experiences in the midst of their sufferings and learned that God is the God of comfort that say to somebody who's kinda down and out well. You hang in there and that helped you down in the pit and owing to make in the next may also heighten their lot. This is just empty nothing that's meaningful nothing. It really would in a fire give you courage.

If you been out of that pit you find out how weak you were and how strong God is, how poor you were and how rich he is.

He sustained you and he blessed you were able to say or porch of the God of comfort and no matter how dark the night is weeping may endure for night but joy cometh in the morning and God's promise not to leave us nor forsake us in. Although you may feel like Job did for a moment that God is not near you still there. He still knows her circumstances.

He still knows your trials are comfort others. Such a joy, but I counseled with people the midst of their struggles after time, they would say you think someday that God might use me to help somebody else with the same trouble.

I know we've made great strides. I know there's been significant growth that person. Those not been helped by God's word. I've been comforted in my hour of trouble have been blessed to such a degree that I pray for the opportunity that I can comfort others see.

This is not a selfish thing just so we can be confident in our trouble and feel better about the situation but he comforts us that we might be able to comfort others of the same comfort wherewith we ourselves up and comfort we haven't found that comfort if all were doing is complaining about our situation or raising the question as to whether or not anything good can come from our suffering and comforting about else we've been comforted. We are to comfort others. Number seven sufferings come to reveal to us the value of the promises of God.

Wonderful to memorize Scripture. The promises of God that you commit to memory. But he brought back the mind and the time you need them desperately for the Holy Spirit.

But when these promises mean the most.

Not just when you're reading them and memorizing them and thinking about them.

But when you are in suffering for an example, Isaiah chapter 43 first to win.

Thou passes the waters in the sink. If you pass through the waters, it's when it's a fact. With God's people. They are going to suffer. They're going to have trials in the world and he shall have tribulation. Jesus said I will be with me or promise say have I got so much pain.

I don't know how I can get through the day. God says I will be with me is about hearts broken. I suffered losses of suffered hardships and how to make God says I will be with the exam confuse I don't know what to do next. God says I will be with me and so the rivers, they shall not overflow me when I walk us to the father not be learned. Neither shall the flame kindle upon the promise chapter 49 Isaiah 49 verse 13 single heavens and be jaw floor and wake forth in a single mountains for the Lord of comfort is the lifetime the same way as me in the matter how great the troubles me. And when the Lord comfort to the extent of saying single heavens jaw floor, comforted his people have mercy upon is afflicted. But Zion said, the Lord has forsaken me my Lord a forgotten link that was a response to how can we sing badly for weeks begging God to change my situation banging on the flash time and begging not to change the way the Lord forsaken me that he asked the question, can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of a movie gave they may forget he will not forget the whole time greatly upon the palms of my hands by walls are continually before me. Even though a mother by forcing her nursing child, which seems preposterous. How could she possibly do it but sometimes it happened but he says even if that happens, I will not forget you because your name is engraved on the palms of my that's an expression that God uses just so we can get a visual picture of me that our name is always for the Lord.

I will be with the Hebrews chapter 13 verse five and six Lord once again promises I will not leave the nor forsake thee that we may boldly say the Lord is our helper all what a promise say I need help Lord to help her what what will your help. Could you ask for. I will not leave the nor for safety first Peter chapter 5 verse seven casting all your care upon him for key character for you reason I just don't think anybody cares. That conclusion was incorrect because it says he cares and the money is not as if he cares he cares about your situation he cares about your present he cares about your future, he cares about your burdens or heartaches or difficulties or challenges he cares about your spiritual development. He cares for.

Finally, over eight sufferings come to increase our desire for heaven.

It was long as everything is going rather smoothly report well settle down with the idea that is in such bad place after all this, said Linda stay here so this was the final destination. I'm not saying that we ought to come on grateful for the blessings of life, but I am saying that the Lord reminds us where to seek those things that are above were to be looking for and anticipating the second coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 8 verse 16 the Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. The Bible says about suffering I give you a lot of Scripture this morning at this.

It's just the tip of the iceberg.

The Bible is full of truth on this vital subject and yet many fail to grasp it all.

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 glory coming suffering is for the moment it's it's it's not really compared the glory. On the other side to enjoy the blessing the bliss of heaven assault far above whatever suffering whatever loss we have your there's no way to compact second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 14.

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you for all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the Thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God, for which cause we faint not. Though our outward man perish man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment for us a far more exceeding any weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal of the things which are not seen are eternal.

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved. We have a building of God and house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For this we grow old earnestly desiring to be called upon with our house which is far heaven is a you get all settled in here you you get attached to worldly things, material things, sufferings trials come and say all these things and I thought were so important, really don't amount to much earthly wealth flame prestige recognition only thing really don't mean much in my hour suffering great trouble thinking about what a day that will be when I go home to be with the Lord that this earthly tabernacle is dissolved. This body is laid in the grave. I have another house which is in heaven above to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord you suffer because of the evil in the world in which we live, we began to pray. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus, when the be a great day. If our Lord should come back for the day is over. What eternal joy all sufferings ended all heartaches behind us joy with him. I like these words by Thomas Brooks as he says Christians do not mutter nor murmur under your long affliction for you do not know what that by these long affliction. Scott may prepare and fit you for such favors and blessings that may never in by long afflictions.

God many times prepares his people for tempering spiritual and eternal mercies. If God by long afflictions makes more room in my soul for himself. His son is spirit his word. If I long afflictions, he shall crucify the heart more to the world, into thy relations and frame infection by soul more for celestial enjoyments asked about any calls to murmur Shirley, no with God and his goodness is teaching us in our trial is in preparing us for another world. Those we love and predestinated a purpose to be conformed to the image of his son election process to be completed when we brought out of the grave fashion to his image. Today we approach of the concluding part of the message why God's people suffer. I hope that it's been helpful and answered some of your questions. If you would like to get the complete message on CD requested writing this to address is the Baptist Bible talks 1703 Chuck, Cincinnati, OH 45217 22 next time. This is Sharon Bradley Junior bidding goodbye and may God bless you and all and in all and all