Sermon Central
-
Our Suffering Will End
Contributed by John Ong on Oct 10, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: According to Acts 14:22, all Christians suffer; either you have, you are, or you will — but through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
According to Acts 14:22, all Christians suffer; either you have, you are, or you will — but through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
This reality is an austere reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. The New Jerusalem of no tears and no pain, of no mourning and no death, hasn’t arrived yet, as written in Revelation 21:1. But just because we experience suffering as we await the deliverance of our bodies, it doesn’t mean that our suffering is without purpose. And neither does it mean that Scripture doesn’t tell us how to think about our suffering now.
God gives us an assurance in 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV),
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Suffering is inevitable in our lives because we sin. We are imperfect people living in a fallen world.
AND BEWARE: Satan is our Enemy!
Temptation is Satan’s tool to lead us to commit sin and push away from God and eventually destroy us. Suffering is the consequence of sin, which leads us to:
· Sadness
· Failure
· Injustice
· Inhumanity
· Deception
Therefore, before making any decisions, PRAY.
God promises us that suffering will end for those who have faith in Christ. Believers will be restored from all the harm done to us
Our God is a God of all grace.
This is attested by 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God says, find rest.
In Mathew 11:28-30 it is written,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Suffering is inevitable, but through our faith, we will become new creations. The old will be gone, and the new will come.
