Biblical Concept: Suffer Well
Introduction: This subject does not seem attractive,
but suffering well is so spiritually
important. The avoidance of suffering is
a usual and reasonable course of human action.
But, a statement of the obvious is that, suffering is unavoidable in an
angel conflict, a cursed 4du, and living in the midst of a world of sin
natures. Add to these things, the
spiritual truth that God requires Christians to suffer well. For example: “1 Peter 4:12-13 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among
you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were
happening to you; 13 but to
the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that
also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.” Suffering is a normal part of your life as a
Christian. The following Bible verses
encourage us to suffer well.
(End parentheses are mine.)
NAS 1 Peter 4:12-14 12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon
you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you
share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the
revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name
of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you. (Church mission
suffering.) (Suffering reward.)
NAS Colossians 1:24 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings
for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is
the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions. (Suffer for Christ. He had only one lifetime to suffer. God requires more.)
NAS 2 Corinthians 1:5 5 For just as the sufferings of
Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. (Christ: Sufficiency in suffering. See: Hebrews 2:18 For
since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come
to the aid of those who are tempted.)
NAS Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus Christ began to show
His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the
third day. (Jesus suffered well. See the impressive Christ and the Cup.)
NAS Romans 8:17 and if
children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
(Suffering reward.)
NAS 1 Corinthians 12:26
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member
is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (Suffering in the Body of Christ:
not alone.)
NAS Galatians 3:4 Did
you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain? (Wasted
suffering.) (Turning legitimate spiritual suffering to nothing.)
NAS Philippians 1:29 For
to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but
also to suffer for His sake, (Suffering reward.)
NAS 1 Thessalonians 3:4
For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we
were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. (Be
prepared for suffering.) (Suffering reward.)
NAS 2 Timothy 1:12 For
this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I
have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted
to Him until that day. (Suffer not ashamed.) (Suffering reward.)
NAS 2 Timothy 2:3 Suffer
hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (Suffering reward.)
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the
word of God is not imprisoned. (Suffering reward.)
NAS 1 Peter 2:20 For
what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it
with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you
patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. (Self-induced suffering
versus suffering reward.)
NAS 1 Peter 3:14 But
even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.
And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, (Suffering reward.)
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing
what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. (Self-induced suffering
versus suffering reward.)
NAS 1 Peter 4:15-19 15 By
no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a
troublesome meddler; 16 but
if anyone suffers as a Christian, let
him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not
obey the gospel of God? 18
And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of
the godless man and the sinner? 19
Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their
souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (Self-induced suffering versus suffering
reward.) (“Suffer according to the will of God.”)
NAS Revelation 2:10 'Do
not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some
of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten
days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
(Suffering reward.) (Fear of suffering—do not.)
NAS John 11:4 But when
Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it." (Suffering glorifies God.)
NAS Philippians 3:8 More
than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, (Suffering reward.)
NAS Hebrews 5:8 Although
He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (God
takes on suffering.) (The Creator
suffers.) (Angels are watching.)
NAS 1 Peter 2:21 For you
have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example for you to follow in His steps, (Suffering glorifies God.) (Suffering
reward.)
NAS 1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the
same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (Suffering
glorifies God.) (Suffering reward.)
NAS 1 Peter 5:10 And
after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called
you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and
establish you. (Suffering reward.) (Little suffering versus eternal glory.)
(Suffering glorifies God.)
NAS 2 Thessalonians 1:5 This
is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may be
considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
(Suffering reward.) (Suffer worthy.) (Suffering glorifies God.)
NAS 2 Timothy 1:8
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His
prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the
power of God, (Suffering reward.) (Suffering glorifies God.)
NAS 1 Peter 2:19 For
this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears
up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. (Suffering reward.) (Suffering
glorifies God.)
NAS 1 Peter 5:9 But
resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of
suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
(Suffering reward.) (Suffering because of angels.) (Suffering glorifies God.)
NAS Romans 8:18 For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Suffering reward, future glory.)
(The best is yet to come.)
NAS 2 Corinthians 1:5
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort
is abundant through Christ. (Suffering reward.) (Suffering solution = through Christ.) (Suffering solution = your
personal relationship with God.) (See Philippians 3:10 below.)
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we
are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient
enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; (Patient suffering.)
(Suffering balanced with comfort.)
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are
sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. (Suffering
balanced with comfort.)
NAS Philippians 3:10
that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed to His death; (Suffering solution = your
personal relationship with God.)
NAS 1 Thessalonians 2:14
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that
are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own
countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, (Church mission suffering.)
NAS 2 Timothy 3:11
persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;
what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me!
(Apostolic mission and suffering.) (To whom much is spiritually given , much
suffering is required.) (Patient suffering.)
NAS Hebrews 2:10 For it
was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things,
in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation
through sufferings. (God takes on
suffering.) (The Creator suffers.) (Compare Son of Man.) (Suffering because of angels.)
NAS Hebrews 10:32 But
remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great
conflict of sufferings, (Church mission enlightened
suffering.)
NAS Romans 8:22 For we
know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth
together until now. (Adam’s fall = a cursed 4du.) (Freewill is an amazing
thing.) Romans
8:18-23 18 For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the
creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected
to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in
hope 21 that the creation
itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of
the glory of the children of God. 22
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth
together until now. 23 And
not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
body. (The best is yet to come.) (Suffering because of angels.)
NAS 1 Peter 4:16 but if anyone
suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him
glorify God. (Suffering reward.)
NAS Acts 14:22 22 strengthening the
souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations
we must enter the kingdom of God." (Church mission suffering.)