GOD'S PURPOSE IN MY PROBLEMS (2 OF 6)
by Stan Coffey
God's Purpose in My Problems
The Significance of Suffering
Stan Coffey
1 Peter 4
As we think about the significance of suffering, I want to speak on the subject, ''God's Purpose In My Problems.'' Everyone has problems and the question is, how do you respond to them? The question is, what is God trying to teach you through your problems? What is God trying to say through your suffering?
Last week, we looked at the book of Job and how Job did not suffer because he had sinned. He did not suffer because he wasn't living for God. He was in the will of God, in fact, he was the best Christian on the face of the earth and yet God allowed Job to go through more suffering than any other person other than the Lord Jesus Christ. So, there is a great deal to learn from suffering.
One of the basic things that God uses to mature us in our faith is how we respond when suffering comes, when reverses come, when trials come.
So, look at I Peter, chapter 4 and verse 12. ''Don't be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you.''
Sometimes we believe that suffering is strange. Sometimes something happens that is negative and we say, ''Lord, this is so strange that this should happen to me.'' We say, ''Why me Lord?'' You ought to look around you and see all the other people that are suffering and say, ''Why not me Lord?'' There are some people who are just as good as you who are suffering even more than you are suffering.
Then on down in verse 19 he said, ''Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.
You can look at the part of the verse that says, ''those who suffer according to God's will.''
Now, not everybody is suffering according to God's will. Peter talks about three kinds of suffering. Number one is common suffering.
This is suffering because we live in a fallen world, suffering that every human being experiences. Every human ...
The Significance of Suffering
Stan Coffey
1 Peter 4
As we think about the significance of suffering, I want to speak on the subject, ''God's Purpose In My Problems.'' Everyone has problems and the question is, how do you respond to them? The question is, what is God trying to teach you through your problems? What is God trying to say through your suffering?
Last week, we looked at the book of Job and how Job did not suffer because he had sinned. He did not suffer because he wasn't living for God. He was in the will of God, in fact, he was the best Christian on the face of the earth and yet God allowed Job to go through more suffering than any other person other than the Lord Jesus Christ. So, there is a great deal to learn from suffering.
One of the basic things that God uses to mature us in our faith is how we respond when suffering comes, when reverses come, when trials come.
So, look at I Peter, chapter 4 and verse 12. ''Don't be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you.''
Sometimes we believe that suffering is strange. Sometimes something happens that is negative and we say, ''Lord, this is so strange that this should happen to me.'' We say, ''Why me Lord?'' You ought to look around you and see all the other people that are suffering and say, ''Why not me Lord?'' There are some people who are just as good as you who are suffering even more than you are suffering.
Then on down in verse 19 he said, ''Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.
You can look at the part of the verse that says, ''those who suffer according to God's will.''
Now, not everybody is suffering according to God's will. Peter talks about three kinds of suffering. Number one is common suffering.
This is suffering because we live in a fallen world, suffering that every human being experiences. Every human ...
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