Introduction:
In our world today the Christian circle is suffering. Christians suffer because of who that are in Jesus Christ. Pastors are under attack because of who they are in Jesus the Christ. Suffer, just what does that mean?
Webster’s dictionary says that suffer is to feel pain: to feel pain or great discomfort in the body or mind. To undergo something unpleasant: to experience or undergo something unpleasant or undesirable. To endure something: to put up with something painful or unpleasant. To have an illness: or to have a disease or a physical or psychological condition. I will revisit suffering in this sermon.
In the Bible the root word suffers, gives us the words suffered, suffering, sufferings, sufferest, and suffereth. It is found in the book of:
• Genesis 3 times
• Exodus 2 times
• Leviticus 3 times
• Numbers 1 time
• Deuteronomy 2 times
• Joshua 1 time
• Judges 4 times
• 1 Samuel 1 time
• 2 Samuel 2 times
• 1 Kings 1 time
• 1 Chronicles 1 time
• Ester 1 time
• Job 5 times
• Psalm 11 times
• Proverbs 3 times
• Ecclesiastes 2 times
• Jeremiah 1 time
• Ezekiel 1 time
• Matthew 13 times
• Mark 11 times
• Luke 15 times
• Acts 16 times
• Romans 2 times
• 1 Corinthians 8 times
• 2 Corinthians 8 times
• Galatians 3 times
• Philippians 4 times
• Colossians 1 time
• 1 Thessalonians 3 times
• 2 Thessalonians 1 time
• 1 Timothy 2 times
• 2 Timothy 4 times
• Hebrews 10 times
• James 1 time
• 1 Peter 16 times
• Jude 1 time
• Revelation 3 times
The words suffer and its other companions are found in the Bible 167 times. For the Christian, we are living in a “dog eats dog society.”
Everybody wants to get over on somebody at whatever the cost. If it means that I have to step on you to move up on the job, so be it. If it means sleeping with my boss to get a pay raise so be it. Even if it means telling lies on someone to cause them a demise and to make themselves look good so be it.
I’ll even take it a step further; I’ll do whatever I can to make the Pastor look bad so that I can have his seat. I know we don’t have that here, but I have to keep this thing real. It’s happening in churches and Pastors are catching hell. God himself is not pleased with this type of behavior among the saints. This brings me to my first point. This point if for the members of this church and any other person that has a pastor.
Development:
Point #1: Obey and Submit to The Watchman
In Hebrews 13:17 it says “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls.” It is ever so important to be obedient and submit yourselves to the person who watches over your soul. For a pastor, that is a lot of responsibility and accountability.
Your pastor is responsible for the welfare of every parishioner’s soul that is under his watch. Well preacher what are you saying?
There are three reasons given in the scriptures for obeying him. Now don’t misunderstand these are not my reasons but the reasons that were handed down by God himself. The reasons are:
Reason #1: God Called Leaders to Watch Over Our Souls.
They are concerned about our welfare.
They are concerned about our spiritual growth.
They are concerned about our holiness.
They are concerned about our purity.
They are concerned about our knowledge.
They are concerned about our faith.
They are concerned about our love.
They are concerned about our trials.
They are concerned about our temptations.
They are concerned about our sicknesses and diseases.
They are concerned about our suffering.
Therefore, we should listen to them and obey their counsel and exhortation.
Reason #2: God Called Leaders to Know Their Accountability.
This keeps the leader from abusing us because the leader knows that he is accountable to God and will stand before God to give an account as to how he led. Therefore, we can rest assured that if a leader is God-called, he will not mislead us. He is accountable to God and he knows it.
Jeremiah 2:3 speaks on pastors who are listening and become inspired by the words of lying spirits. It says, “The priests did not ask, `Where is the LORD?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.”
Reason #3: God Called Leaders Can Be Grieved and Hurt.
If we follow our leaders, they are filled with joy because the work of Christ goes forth. The world is being reached for Christ and people are being ministered to.
However, when we fail to follow our leaders, they are hurt and grieved, for the work of Christ is hampered and we are not growing in Christ like we should.
When we oppose our leaders, we stymie or stunt our growth. We stop growing and begin to cause hurt and pain and division in the body of Christ. We become tools of destruction instead of Christians of love, care, and a nurturing spirit for others.
Also keep in mind that when we grieve our leaders we also grieve the Holy Spirit! The scripture says in Ephesians 4:30 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” When you grieve the Holy Spirit you also grieve God!
And note: our disobedience and rebellion affects us. It does not profit us. We lose out on the contribution and growth the leader could have contributed to our lives.
Point #2: “He’ll Give You Double For Your Trouble”
The scripture says in Romans 8:18 – “For I reckon (There’s a sermon just in that word reckon) that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared. Let me try to make it plain.
The New Living Translation says – “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.” The Let’s talk about that word suffer.
As I said previously I want to revisit the word suffer. Webster’s dictionary says that to suffer is to feel pain: to feel pain or great discomfort in the body or mind. To undergo something unpleasant: to experience or undergo something unpleasant or undesirable. To endure something: to put up with something painful or unpleasant. To have an illness: or to have a disease or a physical or psychological condition.
But to the persons in Jesus the Christ, Suffering simply means the struggle waged by our spirits to overcome all that is experienced in life.
Pastor, no pain, no gain. No pain, no gain. Suffering doesn’t feel good, but it’s good. You have to suffer with Jesus Christ so that you can be glorified with him.
Suffering prepared you to participate in the glory of Christ. Suffering and struggling is a refining process that gets us ready for the King of King and the Lord of Lords. (Explain About Refining Pure Gold)
Suffering expands, enlarges, and purifies the believer. Our knowledge of God is more defined.
Preacher what are you talking about? When we suffer, we depend more and more on God.
Pastor, I could hardly wait to get to my second point. Every time I think about the theme of this sermon, He’ll give You Double For Your Trouble,” it sends chills up and down my spine. Every time I think about it, the Spirit of the Living God begins to burn inside of me. Every time I think about it, it’s just like what Jeremiah said, “It’s like fire, shut up in my bones.”
When I read it, it’s like what Ezekiel said, “It’s Like A Wheel In The Middle Of A Wheel.”
Conclusion:
But just before I take my seat, I just want to say something about The Future Glory.
The future glory is an eternal weight of glory. Just imagine, such a weight.
• A weight beyond all measure.
• A weight surpassing all measurement.
• A Weight beyond all calculations.
How do I know this is true? It’s true because:
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
The future glory shall far exceed anything that we have seen or heard.
How do I know this is true? It’s true because:
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
1 Peter 5:4 says, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
The hope of Glory is what sustains your Pastor.
I said the hope of Glory is what sustains your Pastor.
• One: His afflictions are minor when compared to the glory he shall receive in heaven.
• Two: His eyes are not focused on what is physical or temporal, but on the spiritual and eternal. The Hebrew word for “look” is skopeo. Which means to focus one’s eyes and attention on a set goal or end.
The ultimate goal of your pastor is to spend eternity with God and to receive his crowns.
What are his crowns? His crowns are: (Some Crowns You too Can Acquire)
A Crown of Incorruption: 1 Corinthians 9:25:
The Pastor runs to obtain an incorruptible crown. The runners in an athletic contest run to obtain a passing fame and a corruptible crown or trophy. The athletes in Paul’s day ran for a crown or wreath of olive or pine leaves. Their fame and crown were the same as with our athletes today: they all have or will pass away. However, the crown and fame of the genuine Christian runner will never pass away. His crown and fame are incorruptible. He shall live and be rewarded with an eternal fame and with the most real and valued crowns imaginable.
A Crown of Righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8
This is the person who loves and looks for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is the person who shall receive the crown of righteousness. The person who has committed his life...
•to be a soldier for Christ and His mission.
• to be an athlete for Christ and His course (race and life).
• to be a steward or manager for Christ and His faith.
A Crown of Life: James 1:12
The believer who endures the temptations of life shall be crowned with life itself, eternal life—life that will go on and on, never ending. The eternal life that will be given the believer will shine more brightly than all the earthly crowns that have ever been worn by the rulers of this world.
A Crown of Glory: 1 Peter 5:4
This reward is only for elders, pastors, or ministers. It is glorious. It is a crown of glory that never fades away. (Shepherds Only)
CONCLUSION:
I know this is all true because of that man. That man named Jesus the Christ, who went to calvalry to die on that old ruged cross. They put him in that old marred tomb. He laid there for three days, but early Sunday morning, He got up with all power in His hands.
Praise God!!!
