MAKING SENSE OUT OF SUFFERING
Acts 28:1-16 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live." 5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10 They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed. 11 At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15 And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
INTRODUCTION: AS WE HAVE WORKED OUR WAY THROUGH ACTS, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT GOD WAS DETERMINED TO SEE PAUL IN ROME. HERE WE ARE AT THE LAST CHAPTER AND PAUL IS GETTING TO DO JUST THAT – GET TO ROME. WHAT IS ALSO INTERESTING IS THAT AS PAUL IS GETTING TO ROME, WE ARE ALSO SEEING THE GREAT COMMISSION LAID OUT FOR US IN THE PAGES OF ACTS. CHAPTERS 1-7 WE HAVE THE GOSPEL IN JERUSALEM. CHAPTERS 8-12 WE HAVE THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL. CHAPTERS 13 TO THE END WE HAVE THE MISSIONARY EFFORT OF THE CHURCH TO SEE THE GOSPEL GET TO THE KNOWN WORLD (WITH PAUL AT ITS CORE – ROME).
FOR OUR STUDY THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT ONE PARTICULAR POINT – THE REASON FOR SUFFERING. WE SEE THIS COME UP IN THE LIFE OF PAUL AS HE IS BITTEN BY A SNAKE. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE. NOW, IT IS EASY TO SEE HOW ANYONE WOULD SUFFER IF HE WAS BITTEN BY A SNAKE. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HURT. WHAT INTERESTS ME IS WHAT THOSE AROUND ARE THINKING. THEY BELIEVE THAT IT IS SOME SORT OF RETRIBUTION FOR A PAST DEED.
NOW BEFORE WE GET UP ON OUR SPIRITUAL HIGH HORSE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ARE JUST AS VULNERABLE TO THIS LINE OF THINKING AS ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR
John 9:1-4 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
I BELIEVE THAT THE WORD OF GOD GIVES US 5 REASONS FOR SUFFERING, AND ALL OF THEM ARE POSITIVE IN NATURE!
PROPOSITION: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SUFFERING.
ILLUSTRATION: BRUCE WATKE TELLS A STORY OF ONE DAY WHEN HE AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE WALKING IN THE FOREST. THEY CAME UPON A RARELY SEEN SIGHT; IT WAS AN ALMOST BORN BUTTERFLY. THE LITTLE COCOON WAS SPINNING AND SPINNING AND ONE FABULOUS WING WAS ALREADY OUT. ALL THIS WAS OCCURRING RIGHT AT HIS DAUGHTER’S EYE LEVEL. SHE SAID, “OH DADDY, HE IS JUST STRUGGLING TO GET OUT.” BRUCE THOUGHT, “MAYBE I’LL JUST HELP.” AND HE SAID, “I REACHED DOWN EVER SO CAREFULLY AND GENTLY TOOK THE BOTTOM OF THAT COCOON AND SPLIT IT. AND IT ALL DROPPED IN A BLOB AND KILLED THE BUTTERFLY.” HE SAID, “I LEARNED A LESSON – THEY NEED THE STRUGGLE OF EMERGENCE TO SURVIVE.”
THE BUTTERFLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT BRUCE DID NOT – THE NEED FOR SUFFERING.
1. COMMON SUFFERING
a. THE BOOK OF JOB PROBABLY SAYS IT BEST
Job 5:6-7 "For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground, 7 For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward.
i. THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN AVOID TROUBLE – WE ARE ALL BORN TO IT
ii. TROUBLE IS A PART OF LIFE
1. DISTURBING NEWS
2. DEATH OF LOVED ONES
3. DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE
b. WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD
c. A FALLEN WORLD IS FILLED WITH THE RESULTS OF SIN
i. GENESIS 5 – DEATH
ii. GENESIS 3 – PAIN, TURMOIL, WEEDS
iii. 1 PETER 5 – SATAN AS A DEVOURING LION
d. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT AS YOU GET OLDER, YOUR BODY DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK LIKE IT USED TO?
i. EVEN WHEN WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF OURSELVES, WE FALL PRAY TO THE EFFECTS OF AGE.
ii. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BODIES IS THE EFFECT OF SIN
e. THIS TYPE OF SUFFERING IS UNIVERSAL – IT IS COMMON TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF US.
f. IN A FALLEN WORLD THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SUFFERING – THAT IS ONE REASON WHY WE WILL GET A NEW ONE!
2. CORRECTIVE SUFFERING
a. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS PUTS THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR US
Hebrews 12:5-11 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
b. WE WILL AT TIMES GO ASTRAY
i. IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
ii. IN OUR REBELLION TOWARDS GOD – SLOW OR INADEQUATE RESPONSE
iii. IN OUR SPIRITUAL DISOBEDIENCE – NOT DOING AS OR WHAT WE SHOULD
iv. HAVING A DISCONTENT SPIRIT – NOT SATISFIED
v. DEPRAVITY – LIVE AN UNGODLY LIFE AND TROUBLE IS SURE TO COME!
c. GOD THEN BRINGS ISSUES INTO OUR LIVES TO BRING US BACK TO OUR SENSES – GETTING US OFF THE PATH WE ARE ON AND ONTO THE PATH WE SHOULD BE ON
3. CONSTRUCTIVE SUFFERING
a. PAUL SAYS IT THIS WAY IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS
Romans 5:3-4 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
i. NOTICE THE PROGRESSION
ii. TRIBULATION (SUFFERING) BRINGS PERSEVERANCE WHICH BRINGS CHARACTER AND FINALLY HOPE (CONFIDENCE)
iii. IT IS POSSIBLE TO REJOICE WHEN WE SUFFER BECAUSE THE RESULT IS WORTH SUFFERING FOR
iv. STRUGGLES BRING US THE BENEFIT OF STEADFASTNESS – THE ABILITY TO REMAIN EVEN UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
v. THE WORD TRIBULATION COMES FROM A LATIN WORD FOR A PIECE OF WOOD COVERED WITH SPIKES THAT WAS USED ON WHEAT TO SEPARATE THE CHAFF FROM THE WHEAT – TO SEPARATE WHAT WAS USEFUL FROM WHAT WAS NOT!
b. AND AS ALWAYS TAKE HEART – FOR EVEN SUFFERING WORKS TOGETHER FOR GOOD – ROMANS 8:28
4. CHRIST GLORIFYING SUFFERING
a. AGAIN WE GO BACK TO THE DISCIPLES AND THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE BLIND MAN OF JOHN 9
John 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
b. THE PURPOSE FOR SUFFERING HERE WAS SO THAT THE ACTIONS OF GOD COULD BE DISPLAYED
c. WE REND TO HAVE A NARROW FOCUS REGARDING SUFFERING – THE HERE AND NOW
d. GOD HAS AN ETERNAL FOCUS IN MIND FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS – NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT GOD’S KNOWLEDGE AND HIS PLANS ARE PERFECT
e. IN THE REALM OF ETERNITY, OUR LIVES IN YEARS ARE INSIGNIFICANT TO THE SPAN OF ETERNINTY.
5. COSMIC SUFFERING
a. THE WHOLE STORY BEHIND JOB BRINGS THIS THOUGHT INTO FOCUS
b. KEY ISSUE – WOULD MAN ONLY SERVE GOD BECAUSE GOD IS BLESSING HIM
c. JOB REVEALED THAT, IN SPITE OF HIS SHORTSIGHTEDNESS, HE SERVED GOD WITHOUT OR WITH AFFLICTION
i. JOB SUFFERED
ii. PAUL SUFFERED
THINGS YOU AND I CAN LEARN FROM SUFFERING:
IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIND THE ROOT REASON FOR SUFFERING
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND SUFFERING WE CAN HAVE PEACE WHILE WE GO THROUGH IT
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND SUFFERING WE CAN REMAIN CONSISTENT
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND SUFFERING WE CAN STILL BE FAITHFUL
