Why Does God Allow Us to Be Afflicted? by Martin G. Collins (https://www.

cgg.org)

Why Does God Allow Us To Be Afflicted?

Martin G. Collins
Given 29-Apr-23; Sermon #1706

Certainly there is a lot of suffering and affliction going on in the world, is

there not? There is also affliction, and almost just as much in the church,
which I am sure everyone finds interesting.

Why does God allow us to be afflicted? Affliction is understood in modern

phraseology as persistent suffering and anguish. That is quite accurate, is it
not?

Although affliction has a negative connotation to most people, it is a

necessary element of life with a positive result. It exists all around us in
various forms and severity. The labors and frustrations on a farm do not
seem strange to a farmer. The storm at sea is not unexpected to a sailor.
Sweat does not surprise a construction worker. And so to those who have
chosen to live a life of devotion to God, the afflictions of this world are not
unforeseen. So why do we usually think that God is punishing us or
neglecting us when we are afflicted?

Affliction is a very useful and profitable tool in the development of spiritual

character. The prodigal son had no thought of returning to his father's house
until he had been humbled by adversity. Hagar was haughty under
Abraham's roof and despised her mistress. But in the wilderness, she was
meek and lowly. Jonah slept onboard the ship. But in the great fish's belly,
he watched and prayed in his affliction. Manasseh lived as a corrupt king in
Jerusalem and committed enormous crimes. But when he was bound in
chains in prison at Babylon, his heart was turned to seek the Lord his God.

The Bible gives many analogies to illustrate the value of character building
through affliction. Bodily pain and disease have been instrumental in
stimulating many to seek God. At the same time, those who are in good
health, especially in the world, have no concern about God. A farmland not
tilled produces nothing but weeds, and it is the same with our mind. The

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weeds will run wild in the process of time if weeds are not pruned and
trimmed.

Similarly our hearts will be overrun with unruly spiritual weeds if the true
Vinedresser did not consistently check our growth by sanctified trials and
tests. Jesus says that every branch that bears fruit He purges so that it can
bear more fruit.

By analogy, no gold or silver can be finely wrought without first being

purified with fire. No elegant houses can be built with stones until hammers
and machines have squared and smooth them out.

There is a lot in life that depends on being fine-tuned, or purified or molded.

So we can neither become vessels of honor in the House of God until we are
melted in the furnace of affliction, nor lively stones in the walls of New
Jerusalem until the hand of God has beaten off the proud outgrowths and
tumors with His own spiritual hammer and chisel.

As we all know, life in the church can be very tough and the trials can be
very tough. But what differs between us and the world is that we have God's
help and we have the Spirit to be able to strengthen us and give us the power
to bear up under these things.

The Bible speaks of two general types of affliction: judgment and

purification. The suffering that represents God's judgments on sin and
suffering brings about our purifying as we identify with Christ.

Please turn over to Romans 8 to begin with in the Scriptures. God's judgment
on sinners is designed to punish them while the second type of affliction is
designed to perfect us and prepare us for greater service in God's Kingdom.
Now, our attitude through all afflictions should be the same as the
declaration of the apostle Paul here.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us.

What type of suffering was he referring to? How extensive were they?

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When we look at Paul's afflictions, we realize to an even greater extent the

real impact of his statement in verse 18. The apostle Paul's six lists of
afflictions give a comprehensive overview of the difficulties that he faced
during his ministry. We will just read through these lists quickly. There are
six of them, there are six passages, some are short and some are longer. But
we will begin by reading these six passages.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword?

But just in that one verse, that is quite a list.

I Corinthians 4:9-13 I think that God has displayed us, the

apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made
a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools
for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you
are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the
present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed,
and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own
hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being
defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world,
the offscouring of all things until now.

II Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not

crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

II Corinthians 6:4-5 But in all things we commend ourselves as

ministers of God: In much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in
distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in
sleeplessness, in fastings.

II Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as

a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above
measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews

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five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was
beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was
shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys
often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own
countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils
in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, in cold, in nakedness—besides the
other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all
the churches.

Of all these things that he has been going through and was going through, his
concern was for the members of God's church, each individual member and
the saints that God is preparing for His Kingdom. He kept his chin up. He
said that he was blessed in these sufferings. And it continues on with one
more list. That is number six, which is in II Corinthians 12. This is about his
thorn in the flesh that we are so well aware of.

II Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above

measure [So right there he gives the reason why he had that thorn
in the flesh.] by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the
flesh was given me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be
exalted above measure. Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the
Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [Therefore I
take pleasure in infirmities. Do we do that every time we have a
trial or sickness or infirmity? I do not think so.] Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We could add spiritually to that.

So he had the right focus. He understood why these things came and why all
the suffering that he had to go through. And granted, we are very thankful
that we do not have to go through all of that. But even just a fraction of
going through that is an amazing thing to be able to have your mind so

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focused on God and serving the brethren that you can call it "pleasure in
infirmities" and the rest of the list. When he was weak physically, he was
strong spiritually, and that is what he desired. And that is what each of us
should desire.

Each of these lists portrays a wide variety of physical dangers, emotional

barriers, and spiritual handicaps, ranging from "trouble" to "hunger," from
"persecution" to "imprisonment," and "ship wrecks" to "hardships." We can
be so very thankful that we have not had to go through even a fraction of
these things.

Those lists of afflictions are summaries of the range of afflictions in the

Bible. They give added meaning to Paul's statement that "the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory with which
shall be revealed in us."

Affliction is simply any condition or problem that produces suffering and/or

pain. Scriptural images of affliction fall into three general categories:
physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Please turn over to Psalm 31. The psalms speak of affliction, graphically
portraying David's struggles with difficulties and challenges. On the physical
level, David suffered from hardship and anxiety. He also feared the physical
threat of his enemies. He had human nature and he suffered from fear even
though he was a very faithful man, and faithful to God, fear still crept in.

Psalm 31:9-13 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my

eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body! For my life
is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails
because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. I am a reproach
among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and I
am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee
from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a
broken vessel. For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side;
while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take
away my life.

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We can be thankful once again that we did not have the life that David did as
far as the amount of trials that he had to go through. Here, we see the nature
and sources of David's trouble. He believes that at least some of his trouble
in this case is the result of sin, either a sin of his heart or of which he alone
was conscious. You remember in another scripture where he talks about
secret sins, asks God to show him his secret sins or some overt sin which had
been the means of bringing this affliction upon him, as he mentions in verse
10.

So because of this, David mentions in verses 11 through 13 that he was

subjected to the criticism of his enemies, shunned by his neighbors and
acquaintances, and then he was forgotten by them like someone who had
passed away long ago. As famous as David was then, and is now to this day,
it is hard to imagine him feeling like they passed over him like he was passed
away long ago. David was exposed to the slander of others and they
conspired against his life.

In view of all this he called earnestly upon God to save him from his troubles
and to be his helper and his friend. And we always have to remember that
when we are facing suffering, affliction.

Back a few chapters, if you will, to Psalm 25. Emotionally, David reveals his
affliction in his contrite sinner's prayer in Psalm 25. His wrestling with sin
by facing the truth of his condition, rather than imagining something vague,
captures the emotional component of his affliction. The threat of his enemy's
unkind words or deeds were hard for David to push from his mind.

Psalm 25:16-18 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me

[speaking to God, of course], for I am desolate and afflicted. The
troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses!
Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.

So we certainly should consider when we are afflicted, going through trials,

or have been injured or whatever it might be, we certainly should consider
that there may be a sin or multiple sins involved, and we should certainly
search for them. David believed that if God would mercifully look upon him,
God would pity him. He would see his sad case and He would show him

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compassion, as when we see someone in distress, our eye affects our heart.
Our compassion or pity or sorrow for them, it affects us right in the heart,
does it not, deep down?

The word rendered "desolate" in verse 16 means "one who is alone or who is
solitary, forsaken, or wretched." And there are very few things that affect us
more deeply than loneliness. There are many out there, especially as we hear
on the roll call, all of the scattering of the brethren around the world, that
loneliness is a major factor in our lives as God's church. And it is something
that is very tough to deal with. We always have to turn to God and turn to the
brethren whenever we can for relief of that loneliness. But we do have a part.
Sometimes the lonely people tend to withdraw and they end up, especially if
they are introverts, not contacting anyone, which just adds to the loneliness.
So even a lonely person must make an effort to reach out to the brethren and
be able to not to slip into any type of despair.

This connection between suffering and sin, in the sense that one naturally
suggests the other, was more than once illustrated in Jesus Christ miracles.
One example was when Jesus forgave and healed the paralytic in Matthew 9.

Matthew 9:2-6 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying

on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son,
be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of
the scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemes." [There
is always those critics and there is always those negative people in
the audience, it seems.] But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said,
"Why do you think evil in your heart? For which is easier, to say,
'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? But that
you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive
sins"—then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and
go to your house."

So we see there that sin is connected with disease or afflictions and it must
be forgiven in order for those to be able to be healed.

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Let us flip back to the Psalms. Now, David sought forgiveness of his sins as
relief for his afflicted condition. In Psalm 51 we see David's prayer of
repentance after Nathan the prophet had gone to him regarding his affair
with Bathsheba.

Psalm 51:1-4 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your

lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I
sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found
just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.

David had his guilt revealed to him and his first act was to cry out for mercy.
And when David asked for mercy from God, he was expressing himself from
a heart that was crushed and broken by the consciousness of sin; he
understood the depth of sin and how raunchy it was. He made no attempt to
make excuses for his sin. He made no attempt to try to justify his conduct.
He did not complain about the righteousness of the holy law that condemned
him, because he knew he was guilty and accepted responsibility for it. So the
worst thing we can do when we discover a sin is to deny it or justify it,
which is the same as denying it. David had his guilt revealed to him and his
first act was to cry out for mercy, as I mentioned.

The hope of one who has sinned, when crushed with the consciousness of
sin, is the mercy of God. The ground of his hope was the compassion of God
and the measure of that hope was the boundless benevolence of God. David's
sin was so great that his only hope was in a Being infinitely compassionate.

Now, the Bible relates three main purposes for affliction of the righteous,
which I find interesting. They are very simple, but they are very clear.

The first purpose for affliction is discipline.

Since God is a father, He disciplines His children when they rebel. And
sometimes before they rebel. Such discipline may be preventative, as in the
case of Paul, who was given a thorn in the flesh to prevent him from having

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a problem with pride, as we read there in II Corinthians 12:7. However, the
Bible clarifies that this discipline is corrective, not vengeful; that David was
assured that, though his son would die, David's adultery and murder was
forgiven. Therefore, disciplinary affliction reveals God's love for His people.
Jeremiah's sufferings were due not as much to sin as to his faithfulness to his
prophetic responsibility. The suffering servant in Isaiah and Job, despite their
many woes, was firm in the conviction of his own integrity.

So the sorrows of the virtuous and the prosperity of the wicked were only of
brief duration. In the course of time things would adjust themselves justly.
God works according to the individual, whether in or out of the church, and
He works according to what we need in order to be made complete or perfect
for the Kingdom of God.

Psalm 73:3-9 For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but
their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are
they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their
necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge
with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. They scoff
and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks
through the earth.

I cannot get over how close a description this is of the leaders of the world
today and those who are in power in the United States. This is such an apt
description of them.

In verses 3 through 9, the psalmist gave a summary of the power and

freedom of the wicked and they seem to be carefree and unconcerned about
tomorrow. For them, life is now, and now seems like it will go on forever.
They are doing well as their wealth and power increase.

There are two main ways the wicked seem to enjoy greater freedom of
movement and speech than God's people do or than the poor of the world.

First, the wicked often do not seem to suffer from frailties, or affliction, or
adversities, or diseases, or hard labor as much as many who are poor or in

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the church. They seem to live beyond the frustrations of life. They live above
the laborious activities of making a living for their families. Our labor of life
includes frustration and diversity and sacrifice. But just imagine for a
moment having all the money you could possibly need. (Some have said, I
do not want a lot of money, just a little more than I can spend.) And it says
that about the wicked and the power that they want.

But just imagine that for a moment, even in your own house, plumbing
problems solved, you know, you need somebody to do some work for you
and they will say paint your house, solved with money. You are sick and you
need some type of care, solved with money. And on and on. You can just
think through your own life and the amount of things that seem like they
would be solved if you had money; and that is what the world is able to do.
The leaders, the wealthy are able to solve many of their problems with
money. Health problems are another issue altogether.

But I think about the lack of character building that they are doing and if you
take away that money, they are nothing. They do not have character, they do
not have skills. Anyway, it is just an interesting thought to know that you do
not want to be them. The wicked prosper in their wickedness, their eyes
sparkle because it seems everything is going well for them. Though their
hearts are full of evil schemes, the wicked succeed and prosper.

Second, the wicked do not regard God and His commandments. Instead, they
are puffed up with pride. They crown themselves with self-importance and
pride, leaving behind a trail of verbal and physical violence. Whatever they
have is gained by scheming and living lawlessly, disregarding the rights of
others, and they live at the expense of others.

The wicked scoff, they boast, they threaten, and they know how to use their
tongue as an instrument of evil because the source of their evil imagination is
from the heart by which they seem to succeed and prosper. They rule with
their tongue as they intimidate, and to instill fear in others. That is exactly
what happened through this last COVID crisis. Fear fear, fear. Same with the
Green movement and the climate control and the ESG. It is all fear, fear, fear
that they rule by.

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They attempt to decree how things should be done on earth, ignoring the
sovereign God in heaven. They charm and captivate others. And this is the
power, glory, and prosperity of the wicked from the mistaken vantage point
of humanity in its affliction. They are more diseased than anybody else on
earth because disease of the brain, disease spiritually, is far worse than any
physical ailment.

Psalm 73:10-17 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a

full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the
ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I
have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in
innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened
every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," behold, I would
have been untrue to the generation of your children. When I
thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—until I
went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.

And that is where we are. We are in the sanctuary of God and we understand
their end. It is not always easy to react honestly to the prosperity of others
while suffering hardship. The psalmist knew and confessed this problem,
admitting the turmoil of his own experiences. His emotions expressed self-
doubt and envy. He admitted his shortcomings. As a result, he was plagued
and chastened while experiencing mental turmoil.

Also, he suffered affliction that took the form of punishment because he

could not understand why he was suffering. Not until he turned to God for
the answer. Nevertheless, these ordeals would result in greater spiritual
maturity. And this is one of the greatest benefits of affliction: spiritual
maturity through discipline.

Now, the second purpose for the affliction of the righteous is sanctification.
Afflictions are not necessarily the punishment of sins. But many times they
are the trials of education. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions that
are part of the process of sanctification. Afflictions may help to bring about

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an inward transformation that is gradually taking place, resulting in pure and
righteous and spiritual thoughts expressing themselves in an outward life of
goodness and godliness, and of a good and fine witness of God's way of life.

For those who can stand the test, suffering has a purifying effect. The
thought of affliction as a form of divine teaching and purifying is found in
Job, especially in the speeches of Elihu, who insisted that trials are intended
as a method of instruction to save us from the pride and presumption that
brings about destruction. The same concept is found in Psalm 119. You do
not have to turn there. I am just going to cherry pick a few verses out of
there, where we see David's sanctification being brought about through his
affliction.

David's affliction restored him to obedience.

Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep
Your word.

His affliction taught him God's decrees.

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I

may learn Your statutes.

His affliction proved the power of Scripture.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort and my affliction, for Your word

has given me life.

Psalm 119:92 Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have
perished in my affliction.

His affliction demonstrated God's faithfulness.

Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and
that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

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Please turn back to Romans 8. We suffer together so we may also be

glorified together with Christ. Our sufferings follow the pattern of Christ that
confirm that we are united with Him.

Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs—heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that
we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.

So we bear afflictions as Christ did; are persecuted and tried for the same
thing, and thereby show that we are united with Him. That does not mean
that we suffer to the same extent that He did, of course; we do not, but that
our lives imitate His in similar sufferings to what He endured. We persevere
through these afflictions in the same attitude He had thereby showing that we
are united to Him. He had an attitude of sacrifice and humility, and we
should have the same.

The apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 1:5, "For as the sufferings of Christ
abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ."

Please turn over to James 1. Afflictions cannot sanctify us except when Jesus
Christ uses them as His sledgehammer and mold.

James 1:2-5 [this section is about profiting from trials] My

brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials [It is
amazing how many times in Scripture joy is connected with trials
and affliction and suffering], knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him.

These trials, of course, are not direct inducements and enticements to cause
us to sin, but they try our faith and they show whether we are truly convicted
to our faith in God or whether it is merely a preference. Trials only coincide

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with temptations regarding testing our faith. Trials differ from temptations in
that trials are not presented for the purpose of inducing us to sin. Their
purpose is not to make us angry, especially not at God. They are not to make
us irritated. They to give us a final attitude of joy because we see the end
result. In a sense, James 1:13-14 states that it is true that God never tempts us.

The various kinds of trials we might experience, of course, are sickness,

poverty, mourning, persecution, and so forth. We are to count it a matter of
joy that our religious beliefs are subjected to anything that tries it. It is good
for us to have our beliefs tested. It is not pleasant, initially, but it is in the
long run. And it is something that we are to look at as joy, and rejoice in
them, which is probably the hardest part of a trial, or sickness, or whatever it
might be in that way of affliction.

We can have no illusions about the intensity of the struggle with sin. But we
must realize also that sanctification does not occur merely by our own
attempts to counteract our own human tendencies. There is not only a
process of moral accomplishment, but there is also an inner sanctifying work
within us being done by God Himself. So the Holy Spirit works through the
faithful recognition of the law of truth. And we respond by love and the net
result is spiritual maturity expressed in the fulfilling of God's law of love to
our neighbors, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When we are suffering from sickness or disease, or something contagious,

something like that, are we responding to that trial in love or are we showing
up sick? Because that is what we want to do. We should be careful of
quarantining ourselves if we have anything that is contagious, sickness or
otherwise, and have love for one another. This is a way that we can bring joy
to others, really, in our afflictions, by not passing it on. Just one small
example.

A third purpose for affliction is for God's glory. (I told you these purposes
were simple but very meaningful.)

Job's affliction is the classic illustration. When Satan accused Job of only
serving God because of his human comforts that God provided, God allowed
Satan to destroy those comforts. That is something else we should take note
of. If we put too much emphasis in our physical things and material things,

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or in money, God may very well eventually take it all from you. And so it is
something to be considering, that we should always be thankful for what
God provides. And He provides so much— tremendously—so many things
during the course of the day, beginning with when we wake up and we take a
breath, and then it is all uphill from there with God's blessings.

In the end, Job got questions from God and little or no explanation for why
He allowed Satan to afflict him. Although Job learned a great deal in the
experience, the affliction of Job resulted in glorifying God.

Peter tells us in I Peter 4 that Christ's example must be followed and we must
suffer for God's glory.

I Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery

trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to
you. . .

So suffering is not something foreign to us, but rather a refining test. In I

Peter 1:6-7, Peter mentioned the necessity of faith being refined through
suffering and testing.

I Peter 4:13 . . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of

Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also
be glad with exceeding joy.

We are not only to have just a mediocre joy, it is to be exceeding—the

greatest of joy—and that is what will be provided for us once we make it
through those. In contrast to the usual response of sorrow and shock to
suffering and affliction, we are to rejoice because we are participating in
Christ's sufferings. We should be thankful, very thankful, ultimately thankful
for such a thing. Our rejoicing rests on the fact that, as Christians, we share
in Christ's suffering. Therefore, we will share in His glory with great joy.

I Peter 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed
are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rest upon you. On their
part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

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One of God's great characteristics is His glory, and in Jesus His glory is
revealed. And eventually, when we have been completed to God's
satisfaction perfected, we will also share in that glory.

I Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an

evildoer, or a busybody in other people's matters.

I find it curious every time I read this scripture, that a busybody is put in
there as equal to a murderer, thief, and evildoer. That really scares me, in one
sense, because it is so easy to become a busybody in other people's matters.
There was a someone I knew in the church years and years ago and she was
involved in everybody's business. And she was serving and serving, serving
everybody she could find, and people actually resented it because she was so
much in their business. She thought she was serving them, but she was just
interfering; and we can interfere with what God is working out with the
person too, if we are not careful. God may be working out something with
somebody, and we have to be careful that we are not getting in God's way in
working with them. So we have to use wisdom and discernment whenever
we help somebody, but we should be generous.

The promise of the blessing resting on believers is not universal. Not all who
suffer are sharing in Christ's suffering. Most humans of the world suffer the
punishment or the consequences of sin or other people's sins or the sins of
society in general, which sometimes we also suffer from: pollution, water,
air, food, whatever man can get his hands on. We suffer from the pollutions
and the alterations that they do to those things.

Our suffering is caused by our union with Jesus Christ, if we are in the
church as members of God's church, and shows that we have abandoned the
world's sinful way of life. We are in the world but not of the world.

I Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be

ashamed. but let him glorify God in this matter.

There is no shame in suffering as a Christian. But there are two ways that
shame may manifest itself, if we are not careful.

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1) to be ashamed of God's truth, Jesus Christ, and His church, so as

to refuse to suffer on account of them.

2) to be ashamed that we are despised and abused.

We must regard our true religious beliefs as honorable in every way and
never be embarrassed by them. We must not be ashamed to be called
Christian, a follower of Christ. We must not be ashamed of the doctrines
taught by Christ. We must not be ashamed of the Savior whom we profess to
love. We must not be ashamed of the fellowship of those who are true
Christians, poor and despised though we may be. And we must not be
ashamed to perform any of the duties demanded by God or expected by God.

We should be ashamed only of doing wrong and we should glory in doing

right, whatever may be the consequences to ourselves. And we should praise
God that He deems us worthy to suffer for promoting His way of life. We
should be honored by that.

It is a matter of thankfulness that we receive this evidence that we are true

Christians and that we want to receive the advantages that will result from
suffering as Christ did. And one of those main advantages is a life of joy—an
eternal life of joy.

Now, affliction is not a one way street. The Bible also presents a God who
suffers. He is in anguish when humans sin. In one sense, He is afflicted when
we sin. You do not have to turn there, but Genesis 6:5-7 says, "Then the
Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord
was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His
heart. So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the
face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for
I am sorry that I have made them."

That puts shivers up my spine because God relented of that and did not
destroy us all. Because if they were destroyed, we would not exist.

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Isaiah 63 is a song by Isaiah of communal weeping. Judah was passing
through a period of intense God-given awareness that her sin was going to
bring devastating judgment by way of the Babylonians. And in a sense, our
nation has approached that point today and the sin has become so great that it
would take a miracle to turn this nation around. That might happen; God is
powerful, but if they continue in the way it is going, this is going to be the
result of it as far as devastating judgment.

Isaiah 63:8-10 For He [that is, God] said, "Surely they are My
people [this is speaking of Judea at that time], children who will
not lie." So He became their Savior [Actually this was of all Israel
that He is talking about but this part of Scripture is directed at
Judah]. In all their affliction He was afflicted [Who was afflicted?
God was afflicted.], and the Angel of His presence saved them; in
His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and
carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved His
Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and
He fought against them.

So Isaiah presented a picture of God as a disappointed Father facing the fact

that His sons have rebelled against Him. This does not deny His omniscience
or even the sovereignty of His purpose, but expresses for us that Israel's
rebellion should never have been and was enough offense against God's love
as well as His holiness. They were people He loved just as He loves
Israelites to this day. But He has had to let them go their own way and suffer
the consequences. His judgment will come, if it has not already begun, by
His taking away the blessings on this nation. God earlier declared Himself to
be His people's Father. He promised to save them in Egypt declaring that He
knew their afflictions.

Verse 9 is one of the most moving expressions of the compassionate love of

God in the Old Testament. This is a very comforting sentiment, meaning that
God sympathizes with us in all our trials and always desires to aid us.

Please turn over to Hebrews 4. We can approach Jesus confidently because

He knows our weaknesses. He prepares us for God's Kingdom through
suffering, identifying with our brokenness by Himself taking on the affliction.

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Hebrews 4:14-16 [The heading here in my Bible is Our
Compassionate High Priest] Seeing then that we have a great High
Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to
help in time of need.

So having this High Priest gives us confidence, it increases our faith. This
word "us" does away with the mediation of the earthly priest. In view of
what our High Priest has done there is no human barrier. We can approach
God through Christ—our Advocate, our Mediator.

The phrase "throne of grace" occurs only here in the New Testament. It
points both to the sovereignty of God and to God's love for human beings.
The writer of Hebrews goes on later to speak of receiving mercy. We need
mercy because we have failed so often, and we need grace because service
awaits us in which we need God's help. And help is what the writer says we
get—the help that is appropriate to the time.

I gave a similar sermon to this not too long ago, where I talked about
suffering and that type of thing, and some similarities to the principles I am
bringing up today. But I have been thinking a lot lately about all the
suffering that has been going on and the number of people that have died that
we know in the church for various reasons. And so I thought that we are
really getting hit—bang, bang, bang, one thing after another—and I wanted
to emphasize this at this time, because we are facing a time in this nation that
is going to not be going too well for everyone. And so I thought I would
emphasize this aspect because we have to keep this close to heart because we
are going to need these words so much coming in the future.

God may turn things around temporarily and there may be some good
coming out over the next few years or, if they continue the way they are
going, everyone is going to be affected. So that is why I am giving these so
close to when I have talked about this before because I am very concerned
about our mindset going through these things, that we lock these things into
our mind.

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While Jesus was in the garden with His disciples before His arrest, He
expressed how He felt at that moment.

Matthew 26:38-39 Then He said to them [that is, His disciples],

"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and
watch with Me." And He went a little farther and fell on His face,
and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Lock that into your mind. This is what we have to say in every single
suffering and affliction and trial that we have. "Not as I will, but as You
will." We want God's will to be done in our lives, whether healing or not,
whether financial outcomes or not, we have to want God's will because we
are going through what we are going through as God's people for a good
reason.

His reference to "this cup" often represents suffering. Jesus' approaching

trials would be bitter sufferings, the worst kind of afflictions. The sinless
Christ knows the full force of temptation in a way that those who sin do not.
Most people give in before the temptation has fully spent itself. Only those
who do not yield to temptation know its full force because you have
overcome it before it has taken its full force.

The Scriptures are full of words of consolation and exhortation adapted to

encourage the afflicted. The thought of the beneficent sovereignty of God is
encouraging and confidence-building, faith-building. And since the God of
love is on the throne of the universe, and there is no greater power that
exists, we may be confident that all things are meant for our good. You are
very familiar with this scripture—Romans 8:28, "And we know that all
things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose." You are the called and God is working His
purpose out in our lives.

The phrase "all things" includes all our afflictions and trials and all the
persecutions and difficulties to which we are exposed. And though they may
be numerous and long term, they are among the means appointed for our
behalf. All things according to God's will for us mutually contribute to our

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good, and they remove our desire for this world, and teach us the truth about
our temporary and deceived condition. They lead us to look to God for
support. They produce a meek and humble spirit. And this has been the
experience of all the saints throughout history, and at the end of life, we are
able to say it was good for us to be afflicted; looking back on our entire lives.
Some are shorter than others. Some are very long.

Those who love God manifest the characteristic of true devotion. To us,
afflictions are a blessing. To others, they often prove to be a curse. On
others, they are sent as punishment and they produce complaining instead of
peace; rebellion, instead of submission; anger, impatience, and hatred,
instead of calmness, patience, and love.

Please turn over to Psalm 30. We are made better by receiving afflictions in
the way they should be received. And we are blessed when we want them to
accomplish the purpose for which they are sent. In contrast, the sinner is
more hardened by resisting them and refusing to submit to their obvious
intention and design. The thought that trials are of brief duration in
comparison with the joy that will follow is encouraging in itself. And this
thought that trials are only temporary concludes in the hope of eternal life.

Psalm 30:4-5 Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give
thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but
for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning.

God's anger only lasts a relatively short time. This brief period is referring to
the troubles and sorrows through which the psalmist had passed as compared
with his subsequent happiness. Though at the time they might have seemed
long compared with the many mercies of God, the joy that succeeded them
and the hopes he now cherished, in hindsight they seem to have been only
for a moment.

According to the view of the psalmist, God is not a being who takes pleasure
in anger. He is not one who dwells on it. He is not one who is unwilling to
show kindness. He is a being whose character is merciful, right to the heart
from his heart.

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In verse 5, the phrase "endure for a night" in Hebrew is "in the evening."
Endure means "to lodge" or "to sojourn," as one does for a short time. The
idea is that weeping is like a stranger, a wayfaring person, a sojourner who
lodges for only one night. In other words, sorrow will soon pass away to be
succeeded by joy.

The phrase "joy comes in the morning" in the original, is "singing comes in
the morning." And so the idea here is that there will be singing and shouting
for joy when the trial is over; and when we receive eternal life in the ultimate
sense.

So if we have a friendship with God, sorrow will always be temporary and

will always be followed by joy. In Isaiah, the Lord views His discipline of
Judah as very short in the progression of His plans.

Isaiah 54:7-8 "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with
great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face
from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness, I will have
mercy on you," says the Lord, your Redeemer.

Isaiah 54 probably refers historically to the captivity at Babylon when God

seemingly forsook Judah. Though to them it appeared long, yet compared
with their latter prosperity, it seemed like only a short time. Though this was
probably a primary reference to the captivity of Judah, it is a spiritual
principle that can be applied to our lives today. It is important because,
though God appears to forsake us, it will be only for a moment. The Lord
will remember His covenant, and however long our trials may seem
compared with the future mercies that will result from our afflictions, they
will seem to be only short-lived sorrows.

We know this is true of trials and of injuries and things like that because we
can think back and think how terrible it was in the midst of the trial or the
injury or the sickness, and how, in one sense, it kind of fades somewhat, the
severity of it, compared to what we were realizing while we were going
through it.

The contrast in verse 7 is not that of duration but of magnitude. The

forsaking was little; the mercies would be great, and the mercy that would be

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bestowed in the increase of their numbers would be innumerably great there
for Judah.

Isaiah 54:9-12 "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I
have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the
earth, so I have sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor
rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be
removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My
covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has mercy on
you. "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your
foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
and your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones."

So the Lord is speaking both literally and metaphorically here.

Metaphorically of the glorified state God's covenant people will enjoy. It will
be glorious, something that we can really look forward to.

In John 16, Jesus told His disciples that they would not only rejoice at His
resurrection, but even at His death, even though it was initially the object of
so much grief for them. He also told them that it would be a source of
unspeakable eternal joy for them. It would procure for them peace and
pardon in this life and eternal joy in the world to come.

John 16:19-21 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and
He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I
said, 'A little while and you will not see Me; and again a little
while, and you will see Me'? Most assuredly, I say to you that you
will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be
sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when
she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come, but as soon
as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the
anguish for joy that a human being has been born to the world.
Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again and your
heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."

So Jesus promises eternal joy. That is a quality of life. We do not know how
long it would be because you cannot measure it in eternity.

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In our afflictions, if we could see the whole situation and have all the truth,
we would rejoice. As it is, when our afflictions appear dark and unclear, we
can trust in the promise of God that they will be for our benefit.

Let us wrap this up. For final scripture, please turn to II Corinthians 4. The
apparent triumphs of the wicked, though they may produce grief at present in
our minds, will be eventually overruled for good. Their joy will be turned
into mourning, and our mourning into joy. And this hope is a claim of faith.
By it, we are able to strengthen ourselves in affliction, remembering that our
affliction is light and momentary compared with the far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory that is to issue out of it. We may be cast down at
times, but we are not conquered or defeated.

II Corinthians 4:7-11 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We
are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but
not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the
Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our
body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus'
sake, that the life of Jesus always may be manifested in our mortal
flesh.

II Corinthians 4:15-18 For all things are for your sakes, that
grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even
though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Verse 17 contains the whole philosophy of the Christian view of affliction. It

does not deny the reality of earthly sorrow or underrate its power. After
allowing affliction in all its force, Paul said that affliction dwindles into
insignificance when compared with the exceeding and eternal glory to which

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it leads. But this applies only to true members of the church of God.
Afflictions have a productive operation provided we look at the things that
are eternal.

Related to this is the comfort derived from the thought of the near approach
of Christ's second coming. We have to keep our mind on that as well, or
especially so. The Word of God encourages us to be positive, showing the
spirit of patience and joy in affliction. Affliction of the saints is designed to
perfect us, prepare us for the greater service in the Kingdom of God.

Despite that we suffer affliction, we do not lose heart because the same
power of God that raised Jesus from the dead enables us to endure difficulty.
It provides a sure sign that we, as the firstfruits of God's Kingdom, will
experience our own resurrection at the appointed time. And when we
contrast the experience of our frail humanity with the evidence of God's
power, we are reminded that our focus must be on the eternal.

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