Dealing With Suffering

Transcript

Dealing with Suffering Carrie Smith November 1, 2016
“Attitude Adjustment”
I Peter 4:12-19
Attitude

#1 Do not be surprised I Peter 4:12
Persecution kind of trials:
II Tim. 3:12 “will be persecuted”
I John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.”
John 16:33 “…In the world you have tribulation...”

Noah Heb. 11:7; I Peter 2:5
Lot II Peter 2:7,8

Various kinds of trials
I Cor. 10:13 “common to man”
James 1:2 “when you encounter various trials”
II Cor. 4:16 “but though our outer man is decaying”

#2 Keep on rejoicing I Peter 4:13
Persecution Matt. 5:11-12 “Rejoice and be glad”
Various Trials James 1:2 “Consider it joy”

Romans 8:28-29 “And we know”

We do rejoice in the ramifications of the suffering.
Opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ. Acts 5:40-41 “they went on their way
… rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”
Suffering will produce in us a burst of exaltation at Christ’s second coming.
I Peter 4:13 “you may rejoice with exultation.”

Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult
you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that
day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven…”
Suffering is proof that the Holy Spirit rests on you!
I Peter 4:14 “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because
the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

#3 Evaluate the suffering I Peter 4:15 “Make sure”
When the trials come, it is a good idea to do a little self-check. I want to be sure I am right with the Lord.
Four reasons for which we should never suffer:
Murder, Theft, Evildoing, Troublesome meddler
(#3 Evaluate the suffering…)
Two reasons for which we should suffer:
We are part of the church I Peter 2:20

God deals with us as sons John 1:12; Hebrews 12:7

#4 Trusting God in Suffering I Peter 4:19
Why should I entrust my soul to God? Because he is the Faithful Creator.
He created me (the earth, our galaxy and the universe!)
He is capable of caring for me. “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” Gen. 18:14
He is trustworthy to care for me. “Trust in the Lord…He will make your paths straight.”
Prov. 3:5-6
He is sovereign over all things and has a plan and purpose. Is. 46:10
He is good. His goodness gives us confidence in His decisions/provisions.
Psalm 119:68 “You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.”

Psalm 121:1 “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Adjustment
Gil: Keeping the proper perspective requires constant adjustment. We continually must reconcile what we see and feel to the truth of God’s Word.

To have the benefit of God’s Word in our life, we must take it in continually. Through our own reading and through the teaching of the gifted men the Lord has given to our church. This is our main spiritual diet.

What might the “adjustment process” look like?

C Circumstance:________________ (persecution, various trials)
Note my feelings/attitude: scared, worried, mad, bitter, defensive, stubborn, trying to
ignore it, basket case; I’m losing it, etc.

R Remember applicable scripture: Main verse; Supportive verses

A Ask for God’s help to live right. Heb. 4:16

M Meditate on your verses.
Aim or contain my thoughts to the truth of those verses. Repeat the truths as often as
necessary. Crowd out wrong thinking with right thinking according to God’s Word.
(Phil. 4:8) In some instances, you really have to work at it. Meaning, you must
actively recite the Word in your mind to keep the wrong thoughts/feelings out.
Repeat until you have the peace of the Lord. Phil. 4:7