Objectives n n n To understand why God

Objectives n n n To understand why God allows suffering / disabilities To consider our response to suffering To determine the Church’s role

Agenda n Why does God allow suffering? – – Sovereignty of God The Suffering Savior - Our model - Jesus Christ The Suffering Servants - Our Response The Church’s Role A Video Testimony n Question & Answer period n A Suffering Website n

Questions How many Christians are here today? How many came to Christ as the result of a difficult time in your life?

Honestly, how would your church leaders respond at their weekly meeting if I wheeled into your church ?

Sovereignty of God

Sovereignty of God Our Lives • Psalm 139: 16 • Psalm 139: 13 • Psalm 139: 4 • Mt 10: 30

Sovereignty of God Over Our Lives • For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139: 13 • All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139: 16

Sovereignty of God Our Circumstances • Lam 3: 34 -38 • Acts 2: 23 • Exodus 4: 11 • Amos 3: 6 • Mt 10: 29

Sovereignty of God Over Our Circumstances • Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it ? Is it not from the mouth of the Most“Who High gave that both • The Lord said to him, man calamities good things his mouth? and Who makes himcome deaf? or Lamentations 3: 37 -38 mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord ? ” • Exodus When 4: 11 disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it ? Amos 3: 6

Sovereignty of God World Leaders • Prov 21: 1 • John 19: 11

Sovereignty of God Over World Leaders • The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21: 1 • Jesus answered (Pilate), “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. ” John 19: 11

Sovereignty of God His Purpose Fulfilled • Prov 16: 4 • Psalm 115: 3

Sovereignty of God His Purposes Fulfilled • The Lord works out everything for his own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16: 4 • Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Psalm 115: 3

Sovereignty of God Our Lives • Psalm 139: 16 • Psalm 139: 13 • Psalm 139: 4 • Mt 10: 30 Our Circumstances • Lam 3: 34 -38 • Acts 2: 23 • Exodus 4: 11 • Amos 3: 6 • Mt 10: 29 When God Weeps, Joni Eareckson Tada World Leaders • Prov 21: 1 • John 19: 11 His Purpose Fulfilled • Prov 16: 4 • Psalm 115: 3

Sovereignty of God For Christ’s Life Yet, it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, … Isaiah 53: 10

The Suffering Savior Jesus Christ Our Model

The Suffering Savior - Jesus Christ Although our suffering is real and although our pain abides, we know that this is the way that God in His magnificent sovereignty has chosen to save the world. RC Sproul, Reason to Believe

Our Model Jesus Christ Last Supper (Mt 26: 17 -30) Judas agrees to betray Jesus Plot to killbeing Jesusmocked, (Mt 26: 2 -4) (Mt 26: 14 -16) Jesus prophesies Jesusflogged weeps over Jerusalem (Lk 20: 19) 13: 31 -35) and crucified (Mt John the Baptist beheaded (Mt 14: 1 -12) Jesus weeps at the tomb of Lazarus (Jn 11: 1 -44) Pharisees plotted to kill him (Mt 11: 14) People of Nazareth try to kill Jesus (Lk 4: 16 -30) Jews persecute Jesus for healing Temptation of Christ by Satan (Mt 4: 1 -11) on Sabbath (John 5: 16) Wednesday

Our Model Jesus Christ Gethsemane -being in agony, He Thursday was praying very fervently; and His sweat became likecup--yet, drops of The Garden Gethsemane -Take this …. (Luke notblood as I will but as 22: 44) you Gethsemane--”My soul is will (Mt 26: 39) with sorrow to the overwhelmed point of death. ” (Mt 26: 38)

Our Model Jesus Christ My God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27: 46) Golgotha (Mt 27: 46) Carrying of the cross (Jn 19: 17) Mocking bythorns the soldiers Crown of (Mt 27: 27 -37) Flogging of Jesus (Jn 19: 2) Jesus before Pilate (Mt 27: 11 -26) (Jn 19: 1) Peter disowns Jesus Friday Jesus Caiphas in a mock (Mtbefore 26: 69 -75) Jesus before Annas (Jn 18: 19 -24) trial (Mt 26: 57 -67) Jesus arrested (Mt 26: 47 -56)

From Christ to Us John 15: 20 No servant is greater than his master. If they I Peter persecuted me, 2: 21 they will To you this also. you were called, because persecute Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.

Our Response to Suffering

Suffering Servants - Our Response God cannot use mightily the man whom he has not wounded deeply. AW Tozer

ETERNAL PERSPECTI VE TRUST DAILY PERSPECTIVE JOY

TRUST

TRUST n No more heroic words were ever uttered by mortal man these words of testimony from the lips of Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him. ” Job 13: 15

TRUST God’s response to Job (paraphrased): n Job, I am your answer n When you know Me, you know enough to handle anything

TRUST You will not find one Godly man who came out of an affliction worse than when he went into it. Though for a little while, he was shaken, yet, at last, he was better for an affliction. But, a great many Godly men have been worse for their prosperity. Jeremiah Burroughs

ETERNAL PERSPECTI VE TRUST

Eternal Perspective Suffering here… …. means glory there! You cannot begin to understand suffering from this side of eternity Kimber Kauffman, College Park Baptist church

Eternal Perspective • I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8: 18) • Blessed are you when people. . persecute you…rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven (Rom 5: 11 -12) • For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (II Cor 4: 17)

ETERNAL PERSPECTI VE TRUST JOY

JOY No discipline for the present is pleasant. But afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Heb 12: 11

JOY n Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4: 12 -14) n Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. (Romans 5: 3)

JOY n In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (I Pet 1: 6) n Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice! (Phi 4: 4) n n n Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…. . (James 1: 2) Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thes 5: 18) Be joyful always…. (I The 5: 16)

JOY The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering and persecution - are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. Oswald Chambers, My utmost for his highest

JOY When sorrow comes, we have no right to ask Why did this happen to me? - Unless we ask the same question when joy comes our way. Irene Bargmann

ETERNAL PERSPECTI VE TRUST DAILY PERSPECTIVE JOY

Daily Perspective n Then Jesus said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9: 23)

Daily Perspective Suffering, with dignity, may enable you to mark more lives for Christ than anything else you say or do for Christ. Bill Hybels, Pastor - Willow Creek Church

The Purpose ETERNAL PERSPECTI VE TRUST DAILY PERSPECTIVE JOY

Christians ! Suffering ! Christ-like Character n And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom he foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many bretheren. Romans 8: 28 -29 Christlike !

Sufferings Christians The process ! Christ-like Character And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope Romans 5: 3 -4 The product: Christlike character !

Church’s Role

Church’s Role On the street I saw a small, sick girl shivering in a thin dress, with little hope for a decent meal. I became angry at God and asked why did you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it? For a while God said nothing. That night, he replied quite suddenly, “I did, I made you. ” Unknown

Honestly, how would your church leaders respond at their weekly meeting if I wheeled into your church ?

Video Clip !