THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT
PROGRAM AIR DATE: 4-29-18
LESSON TITLE: “WE HAVE BECOME PARTAKERS OF SUFFERINGS”
WELCOME
TODAY WE ARE BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD, THE BIBLE. THIS BOOK IS GOD'S LIVING WORD. IN ITS PAGES WE ARE TOLD “FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD.” IT IS IN THIS BOOK OF BOOKS THAT WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF MAN'S QUESTIONS AND NEEDS. THIS MORNING YOUR AREA CHURCHES OF CHRIST WELCOME YOU TO A PROGRAM COMMITTED TO THAT PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AS WE PRESENT THE LIVING WORD. NOW HERE IS YOUR HOST, RAY SULLINS.
GOOD MORNING! I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING. I ALSO HOPE YOU DIDN’T OVER EAT LIKE I DID. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD. OUR PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PROCLAIMING THE SIMPLE TRUTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST WHICH IS CONFIRMED FOR US IN THE BIBLE. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE YOUR BIBLE’S HANDY AND I HOPE YOU ARE READY TO WORSHIP GOD TOGETHER AS WE SING PRAISES TO HIS NAME AND STUDY FROM HIS WONDROUS WORD. NOW LET’S BEGIN BY TALKING TO OUR FATHER IN PRAYER!
PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE, THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. AND FATHER HELP US EVERY DAY IN THIS LIFE TO LIVE HIS LIFE THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU THROUGH US BUT ULTIMATELY HELP US TO LIVE, OURSELVES, IN SUCH A WAY THAT GIVES YOU GLORY AND HONOR AND HELPS THIS WORLD TO KNOW YOU IN ALL THAT WE DO AND ALL THAT WE SAY. AND BE WITH US IN THIS TIME THAT WE MIGHT GIVE YOU OUR BEST IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH AS WE WORSHIP YOUR HOLY NAME. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
IT’S NOW TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE AS WE TOGETHER SING THE FIRST HYMN OF THE MORNING. TODAY WE WILL BEGIN BY ASKING AN IMPORTANT QUESTION WHICH AFFECTS OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, “WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE?”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
WE LIVE IN A WORLD AND SOCIETY WHICH IS INUNDATED WITH SIN. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU LOOK OR WHICH WAY YOU TURN, THE DEVIL IS BUSY IN EVERY DIRECTION. WITH THESE THINGS IN MIND, ISN’T IT SAD TO KNOW THAT SO MANY IN LIFE ACT AS IF MANY SINS ARE NOT A BIG DEAL OR AS IF THEY ARE JUST A PART OF OUR CULTURE. THE REALITY IS, SIN HAS NEVER BEEN ACCEPTABLE TO GOD NO MATTER WHAT MAN THINKS, THEREFORE WE NEED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG AND BEHAVE ACCORDINGLY.
THE FACT IS, SIN IS SIN AND IT HAS ALWAYS SEPARATED US FROM OUR GOD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GREAT PROPHET ISAIAH SAID IN ISAIAH 59:2, THERE WE READ, “BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED YOU FROM YOUR GOD; AND YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU, SO THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.” WHAT IS SIN? JOHN SAID “ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN,” 1 JOHN 5:17. SO THE FACT IS NO MATTER WHO SAY’S SOMETHING IS OK, IF IT IS CONTRARY TO GOD IT IS THUS UNRIGHTEOUS. AS WE HAVE SEEN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN AND THAT SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD.
BUT LET ME REMIND YOU OF THE WORST PART OF SIN. READ WITH ME FROM ROMANS 6:23. THERE IT SAYS, “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.” I HOPE YOU NOW REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT SIN IS. FURTHERMORE I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT IF WE SIN WE CAN NOT BE OF GOD. THE GOOD NEWS IS, THAT GOD HAS EXTENDED HIS OWN SON’S BLOOD FOR US THAT BY HIS GRACE WE MIGHT BE SAVED. IN FACT, THE VERSE WE READ A MOMENT AGO IN ROMANS 6:23, GOES ON TO SAY, “BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” YES, AS FOLLOWERS OF GOD WE CAN ESCAPE THE SIN OF THIS WORLD AND THROUGH FAITH WE CAN RECEIVE THE WONDROUS SAVING GRACE OF OUR LORD. ARE YOU READY TO START DOING THINGS GOD’S WAYS? THEN STRIVE NOT TO SIN!
TODAY WE WILL BE CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF STUDY WHICH IS ENTITLED, “WE HAVE BECOME PARTAKERS OF…” OUR SPECIFIC LESSON THIS MORNING WILL FOCUS ON “SUFFERINGS!” SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE WILL RETURN WITH THIS IMPORTANT STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. AS FAR AS OUR SPEAKER TODAY, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE BROTHER TREY SULLINS WITH US AGAIN. BROTHER TREY IS THE MINISTER FOR THE OMAHA CHURCH OF CHRIST IN OMAHA, ARKANSAS. WE THANK HIM FOR BEING WITH US AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING OUR THOUGHTS FROM GOD’S WORD. SO, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, BROTHER SULLINS WILL RETURN WITH OUR STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. THE NAME OF OUR NEXT HYMN IS, “THERE IS A HABITATION!”
LESSON
BY TREY SULLINS
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING WITH US IN OUR SERIES OF BEING PARTAKERS. IF YOU'LL BE LOOKING OVER THERE TO SECOND CORINTHIANS IN CHAPTER 1 AND IN VERSE SEVEN WILL BE LOOKING THERE IN JUST A MOMENT AT OUR TOPIC AND OUR MAIN TEXT FOR THE MORNING. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SORE NECK OR A SORE BACK WHEN YOU WOKE UP? MAYBE YOU REALIZE EVERY DAY YOU'RE JUST GONNA WAKE UP AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR NEW PAINS GOING TO BE. YOU JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE ALL HAVE SUFFERINGS LIKE THIS AT TIMES WE ALL HAVE THINGS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE ON THAT GIVEN DAY NOT IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT AS YOU GO THROUGH THESE THINGS AND YOU ENDURE THEM ALL DAY LONG AND MAYBE YOU TAKE THE PILLS TO HELP YOU SUFFER THROUGH IT OR YOU GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PROCESSES OR THERAPIES OR DIFFERENT THINGS TO HELP YOU ENDURE THESE DIFFERENT PAINS OF LIFE. YOU REALIZE AT THE END THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY IT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BACK PAIN ALL DAY LONG AT THE END OF THE DAY NOTHING WAS REALLY ACCOMPLISHED BY THAT BACK PAIN EXCEPT FOR YOU SURVIVING THE DAY.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUFFERING THAT WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE FROM SECOND CORINTHIANS THAT HAS A REAL PURPOSE TO IT. THAT IS A REAL MEANING TO IT AND WHEN YOU SUFFER THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS IT HAS A GOAL THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED IN AN ULTIMATE GOAL AS WILL COME TO LOOK AT HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. THAT TEXT AGAIN IN SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1 AND IN VERSE SEVEN. WE'LL BE READING THAT TEXT AT THIS TIME. IT SAYS, “AND OUR HOPE FOR YOU IS STEADFAST, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AS YOU ARE PARTAKERS OF THE SUFFERINGS, SO ALSO YOU WILL PARTAKE OF THE CONSOLATION.” THE FIRST THING THAT WE NOTICED HERE IS THAT PAUL MENTIONS THESE BRETHREN AT CORINTH WERE ENDURING SUFFERINGS. NOW THIS WAS MOST DEFINITELY DUE TO THE FACT OF THE CITY OF CORINTH WAS A VERY WICKED CITY AND THERE'S LOTS OF RESEARCH AND PLACES THAT YOU CAN LOOK UP THESE DIFFERENT THINGS IN BOOKS OR ON THE INTERNET BUT WE WON'T SPEND THE TIME THERE THIS MORNING. BUT FOR THE IDEAS OF THIS CONTEXT, UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A WICKED PLACE. LOTS OF DIFFERENT IDOLS AND RELIGIONS WERE THERE. YOU CAN ALSO IMAGINE ALL THE WICKEDNESS THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH THOSE THINGS AS WELL AS THE WICKEDNESS OF JUST BEING OUTSIDE OF ANY SORT OF MORALITY OR ANY SORT OF GUIDING LINES OF TRUTH OR MORAL VALUES. SO WITH ALL OF THAT IN THE BACKGROUND THESE PEOPLE AT CORINTH WERE TRYING TO LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN. TRYING TO LIVE ACCORDING WAY THAT GOD WANTED THEM TO. YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WOULD POSE A PROBLEM FOR THEM AS PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND TRY TO AFFLICT THEM WITH VARIOUS THINGS. WOULD TRY TO PUT THEM OUT OR TRY TO DO WRONG TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THIS LIFESTYLE THAT THEY WERE LIVING. YOU CAN IMAGINE SOME WAYS THIS MIGHT LOOK AS THEY MAY LOSE SOME FRIENDS, THEY MAY BE PERSECUTED, THEY MAY EVEN LOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THEM, WE DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND THEM ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIVE THE SAME WAY AS THOSE EVIL PEOPLE DO. BUT THESE CHRISTIANS NONETHELESS WERE ENDURING THESE THINGS, WERE SUFFERING, AND WERE IN THIS CITY DOING THESE THINGS.
WE MIGHT ALSO LOOK THERE TO THE SECOND CORINTHIANS IN CHAPTER 11, TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SOME OF THESE THINGS MIGHT LOOK LIKE. THERE, PAUL RECORDS AN ENTIRE LIST OF THINGS THAT HE WENT THROUGH BEGINNING IN VERSE 23 OF SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11. WE'LL QUICKLY READ THROUGH THESE AND, AS WE DO UNDERSTAND, THAT MOST LIKELY ALL THESE BROTHERS AT CORINTH WERE GOING THROUGH MOST OR EVEN ALL OF THESE THINGS AS PAUL, OF COURSE, WITH THROUGH A MAJORITY OR A VERY HARSH PORTION OF SUFFERINGS. BUT HERE IN THIS TEXT BEGINNING IN VERSE 23, OF AGAIN SECOND CORINTHIANS, IT SAYS, “ARE THEY MINISTERS OF CHRIST? - I SPEAK AS A FOOL - I AM MORE: IN LABORS MORE ABUNDANT, IN STRIPES ABOVE MEASURE, IN PRISONS MORE FREQNTLY, IN DEATHS OFTEN. FROM THE JEWS FIVE TIMES I RECEIVED FORTY STRIPES MINUS ONE.” VERSE 25 SAYS:
“THREE TIMES I WAS BEATEN WITH RODS; ONCE I WAS STONED; THREE TIMES I WAS SHIPWRECKED; A NIGHT AND A DAY I SPENT IN THE DEEP; IN JOURNEYS OFTEN, IN PERILS OF WATERS, IN PERILS OF ROBBERS, IN PERILS OF MY OWN COUNTRYMEN, IN PERILS OF THE GENTILES, IN PERILS IN THE CITY, IN PERILS OF WILDERNESS, IN PERILS IN THE SEA, IN PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN; IN WEARINESS AND TOIL, IN SLEEPLESSNESS OFTEN, IN HUNGER AND THIRST, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, IN COLD AND NAKEDNESS - BESIDES THE OTHER THINGS WOULD COME UPON ME DAILY: MY DEEP CONCERN FOR ALL THE CHURCHES.”
NOW YOU SEE THAT LIST OF ALL THESE THINGS PAUL MENTIONED IT WAS PRETTY BAD. HE WENT THROUGH SOME AWFUL THINGS. BEATINGS, SHIPWRECKS, IMPRISONMENTS, ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YET AMONG THAT LIST, YOU KNOW HE STILL LISTS? IS HIS CONCERN FOR HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. YOU CAN SEE WHERE PAUL'S MIND WAS. HE WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING AROUND BUT HE HAD HIS THOUGHTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
NOW, OF COURSE AS WE MENTIONED, THESE BRETHREN AT CORINTH THERE ARE BACK IN OUR MAIN TEXT OF SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1 VERSE SEVEN, MOST LIKELY WEREN'T ENDURING TO THE FULLEST OF WHAT PAUL EXPERIENCED BECAUSE PAUL WENT OUT TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND WAS VERY MIXING UP OF THE PEOPLE AND TRYING TO TEACH AND TRYING TO TRAVEL ALL OVER TO SHOW PEOPLE THE WAY OF GOD AND OF JESUS CHRIST. AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HIM GETTING A MUCH HARSHER PUNISHMENT, A MUCH HARSHER PORTION OF THE SUFFERINGS. YET, THE PEOPLE AT CORINTH STILL SUFFERED AND STILL ENDURED A LOT FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST. BUT AS WE LOOK THERE WE CAN SEE IN THAT MAIN TEXT THAT IT'S NOT ALL BAD. READ WITH ME AGAIN HOW PAUL WRITES. THIS HE SAYS, “AND OUR HOPE FOR YOU IS STEADFAST.” NOW, AT FIRST YOU MIGHT THINK, ‘WOW THAT'S KIND OF STRANGE. USUALLY YOU DON'T PUT HOPE WITH SUFFERINGS.’ WHEN YOU'RE SUFFERING IN LIFE, YOUR FIRST THOUGHT ISN'T USUALLY, ‘WELL I'M HOPEFUL.’ WELL IT MAY BE AND IF SO THAT'S GREAT. BUT HOWEVER THAT'S WHAT PAUL DOES. HE PAIRS HOPE WITH SUFFERINGS. WERE TO LOOK AT SOME REASONS WHY NOW.
THE FIRST IDEA TO UNDERSTAND OF COURSE IS THAT IT WAS A STEADFAST HOPE. MEETING IT WAS STRONG. IT WAS SOLID. IT'S NOT A HOPE THAT YOU KNOW IT'S JUST VERY FAR IN THE BACK RECESSES OF HIS MIND. IT'S NOT JUST A FAR-FETCHED IDEA BUT IT WAS A STRONG HOPE. HE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD COME TO HAPPEN. HE BELIEVED THAT HIS HOPE WAS A GOOD THING FOR THEM AND THAT IT WAS SOLID AND THAT THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND WHATSOEVER. WELL, WHY IS THIS? BECAUSE THE VERY FACT THAT THEY WERE SUFFERING IS WHAT GAVE HIM HOPE. NOW YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE AS THEY'RE ENDURING THE SUFFERINGS WHAT ARE THEY ENDURING THE SUFFERINGS FOR? FOR GOD. YOU SEE THAT GIVES THAT SUFFERING PURPOSE. THAT GIVES THAT SUFFERING MEANING. AND UNLIKE WHEN YOU HAVE THE FINANCIAL TROUBLE SOMETIMES IN LIFE OR UNLIKE WHEN YOU WAKE UP WITH THAT SORE NECK OR BACK, THESE SUFFERINGS MEAN SOMETHING. THESE SUFFERINGS GET YOU TO DO SOMETHING AND GET YOU TO A BETTER GOAL IN A BETTER PLACE EVEN IN LIFE AND A BETTER PLACE OF COURSE IN THE AFTERLIFE, AS WE'LL HEAR IN A LITTLE BIT. BUT OF COURSE THAT'S A FIRST IDEA IS. THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY: IF THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T LOVE GOD WOULD THEY BE SUFFERING ALL THIS STUFF? WILL THEY BE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE HARDSHIPS AND ALL THESE PERSECUTIONS? WELL OF COURSE NOT. THEY WOULD BE OUT THE DOOR AND RUNNING AWAY AS FAST AS THEY COULD AS SOON AS THE PERSECUTIONS CAME. SO THESE PERSECUTIONS THAT THEY ENDURED FOR CHRIST WERE PROOF THAT THEY LOVE GOD. THAT THEY WANTED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
BUT ANOTHER IDEA THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT IS THAT FOUND THERE WITHIN THE END OF THAT VERSE OF OUR MAIN TEXT, SECOND CORINTHANS CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE SEVEN, IT SAYS THERE, “SO ALSO YOU WILL PARTAKE OF THE CONSOLATION.” YOU SEE THEIR SUFFERINGS WEREN'T ALL BAD BECAUSE WHO WAS STILL ON THEIR SIDE? WELL GOD HIMSELF AND OF COURSE JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD WAS WITH THESE PEOPLE AND WITH THESE BRETHREN AND HELPING THEM TO CONTINUE ON THROUGH THESE THINGS.
NOW NOTICE THERE ARE OF COURSE A FEW VERSES EARLIER IN A SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1 AND IN VERSE THREE, READ WITH ME WHAT PAUL WRITES THERE. “BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF MERCIES AND GOD OF ALL COMFORT.” WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TRIBULATION THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT WHICH WE HAVE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED BY? GOD. DID YOU NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS THERE AT THE END OF VERSE THREE? HE SAYS, “THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT.” NOW THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MINUTE. HERE YOU HAVE THE BRETHREN AT CORINTH. YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL ON THIS SIDE. YOU HAVE THOSE WHO ARE WRONG, THOSE WHO ARE LIVING EVIL, THOSE WERE WICKED, THOSE WHO WERE TRYING TO BRING THESE PEOPLE DOWN. THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU HAVE THOSE WHO ARE A, RATHER YOU HAVE GOD HIMSELF THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT. NOW WHO IS GOING TO HELP THESE BROTHER MORE? WHO'S GOING TO WIN THAT BATTLE? THESE EVIL ON THIS SIDE OR THESE WHO ARE GOOD AND GOD HIMSELF COMFORTING ON THE OTHER SIDE? WELL OF COURSE GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS THE ALL-POWERFUL IS THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO RULE. AS ONE IS GOING TO HELP MORE IN THE END IS LONG AS THOSE BRETHREN AT CORINTH STAYED IN THE RIGHT PATH AND THEY WANTED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. GOD OF COURSE WOULD BE FOR THEM ALL THE WAY THERE.
SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO US? HOW DOES HIS HELP US IN LIFE? WELL, IMAGINE THAT WE GO THROUGH THE SAME THINGS. IMAGINE, THAT AS YOU SUFFER, AS YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR GOD, YOU WILL SUFFER. WHAT IS THIS MEAN TO US? LOOK OVER THERE IN SECOND TIMOTHY AND CHAPTER 3 AND SECONDLY CHAPTER 3, PAUL NOW WRITING TO TIMOTHY EXPLAINS TO US WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND. WHY WE NEED TO SEE THAT GOD IS ON THE SIDE OF THOSE WHO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S AGAIN SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3 AND IN VERSE 12. THE BIBLE THERE SAYS, “YES, AND ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.” DID YOU CATCH THAT? ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS. THAT MEANS EVERY PERSON THAT DOES WHAT GOD WANTS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION. NOW, HOPEFULLY FOR US TODAY THAT WON'T MEAN IMPRISONMENTS, THAT WON’T MEAN BEATINGS, IT WON’T MEAN SHIPWRECKS, LIKE WHAT PAUL WENT THROUGH. AND LORD WILLING I HOPE IT NEVER HAS TO COME TO US IN OUR DAY AND TIME. BUT IT DOES MEAN SUFFERINGS OF DIFFERENT KINDS. SUFFERINGS OF LOSING YOUR FRIEND, SUFFERINGS OF NO LONGER BEING ABLE TO TALK TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU. SUFFERINGS OF OTHER KINDS OF MAYBE LOSING JOBS EVEN BECAUSE YOU WON'T ACT IN SUCH A WAY OR YOU WILL LIE FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS. WE WILL BE SUFFERING IF YOU'RE LIVING RIGHT. AND, IN FACT, AS SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 12 WOULD IMPLY THERE, IF YOU'RE NOT SUFFERING, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND OF COURSE THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE LIVING FOR GOD IN THE CORRECT WAY.
KEEP WITH ME AND SEE HOW THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY PAN OUT. HOW THIS MIGHT LOOK AT OUR LIVES. JAMES CHAPTER 1 BEGINNING IN VERSE TWO. THE BIBLE THERE EXPLAINS TO US A WAY THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. JAMES CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE TWO, JAMES WRITES, “MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK, THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING.” NOW WHAT JAMES THERE WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THESE BRETHREN WAS THAT WHEN YOU ARE SUFFERING, DON'T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN. DON'T LET IT KNOCK YOU OVER THE OFF YOUR FEET. BUT KEEP GOING STAND UP AND KEEP DOING WHAT'S RIGHT. WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU BETTER. YOU NOTICE THERE IT SAYS IT BUILDS PATIENCE. IT PRODUCES PATIENCE IN THOSE WHO ENDURE. AND THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT PAUL KNEW THERE THAT THE SAME THING THAT PAUL WAS TELLING TIMOTHY THAT HE NEEDED TO CONTINUE ON UNDERSTANDING HE WOULD BE PERSECUTED AND THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US IF WE’RE LIVING ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN THAT GOD WANTS US TO. WE WILL BE PERSECUTED. WE WILL ENDURE SUFFERINGS. BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP ON AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE WE'LL BE BETTER FOR IT IN THE END.
NOW KEEP WITH ME HERE AS WE FINISH UP FOR THE MORNING AND WE LOOK OVER OR RATHER THINK ABOUT RATHER THE BOOK OF HEBREWS AND CHAPTER 11. ANOTHER CONCEPT OF WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO US IS THAT WHEN WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST AND WHEN WE ENDURE IT WE ENTER OUR NAME AMONG THE LIST OF THOSE WHO ALSO HAVE DONE THE SAME. IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11, WE FIND A LIST OF ALL THESE GREAT PEOPLE SOME CALLED THE HALL OF FAITH THERE BECAUSE IT LISTS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE OF GREAT FAITH. YOU HAVE ABRAHAM, SARAH, JOSEPH, OTHERS EVEN THINK ABOUT PETER AND PAUL WHO SUFFERED FOR CHRIST IN ALL THESE PEOPLE DID WHAT'S RIGHT AND STILL ENDURE THOSE PERSECUTIONS. AND WHEN WE DO THOSE THINGS, GUESS WHAT? WE, TOO, ARE JUST LIKE THEM, LIVING RIGHT AND LIVING ACCORDING TO GOD'S PATTERN WHILE BEING PERSECUTED AND ENDURING THOSE PERSECUTIONS.
OVER THERE WE FIND THE FINAL REASON FOR US IN ROMANS AND CHAPTER 8. WE'LL BEGIN TO LOOK OVER THE ROMANS IN CHAPTER 8. WE SEE THAT WHEN WE SUFFER FOR GOD WE HAVE A GLORIOUS OPPORTUNITY TO HEAVEN. ROMANS AND CHAPTER 8 VERSES 16 TO 18 EXPLAINS TO US THIS IDEA. THAT'S ROMANS CHAPTER 8 VERSES 16 THROUGH 18. THE BIBLE SAYS, “THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS - HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, IF INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM, THAT WE MAY ALSO BE GLORIFIED TOGETHER”. DID YOU CATCH THAT? IF INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM. NOW NOTICE WITH ME WHAT VERSE 18 SAYS, “FOR I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED WITH THE GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED IN US.” DID YOU SEE THAT ONE THERE? THAT EVEN IF WE ARE THE ABSOLUTE MOST PERSECUTED PERSON IN THIS LIFE, GUESS WHAT? IS NOT EVEN GOING TO COME CLOSE TO THE GLORY THAT WE WILL SHARE SOMEDAY. ALL OF THESE PERSECUTIONS IS WHAT PAUL SAYING IS THAT THEY ARE WELL WORTH IT. SUFFERING FOR GOD IN THIS LIFE IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE GLORY SOMEDAY. AND OF COURSE THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE, TO GET US TO THINK ABOUT THE HEAVENLY THINGS AND MOVE OURSELVES AWAY FROM THE UNHOLY THINGS AND THE EVIL THINGS.
NOW THINK WITH THE AUTHOR BACK IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 6. IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 6 AND VERSE 30 THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IF GOD SO CLOTHES THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE NOT CARE FOR US? NOW YOU MIGHT LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW AT TIMES AND SEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS EVEN MILLIONS OF BLADES OF GRASS. I CHALLENGE YOU TO GO OUT THERE AND COUNT THEM ALL. CARE FOR EACH ONE OF THEM UP AS IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD OR SOMETHING. YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT AND YET GOD CARES FOR EVERY SINGLE BLADE OF GRASS OUT THERE. EVERY TREE, EVERY BIRD. HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE CARE FOR US AS HIS CHILDREN? HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE HELP US TO ENDURE THESE PERSECUTIONS THAT WE GO THROUGH? HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE BE THERE FOR US WHEN WE NEED HIM? NOW REMEMBERING THEIR ROMANS CHAPTER 8, WE JUST READ VERSES 16 TO 18 WE HAVE A CHALLENGE BY GOD. WE HAVE A GOAL BY GOD, TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS PATTERN TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. WILL YOU ACCEPT THAT CHALLENGE? WILL YOU ENDURE THE SUFFERINGS FOR CHRIST AND LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WAY?
CLOSING COMMENTS
WHAT A WONDROUS TIME WE HAVE HAD TOGETHER IN PARTICIPATING IN THE THINGS OF GOD. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR TIME SPENT TOGETHER. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD.
NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON? MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A FREE CD OR DVD OF THIS PROGRAM? POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
The Living Word
2540 N. Kansas Expressway
Springfield, Mo. 65803
Many of these materials are also available on our website:
That address is: www.thelivingwordprogram.com
Or if you prefer, you may call us at:
(417) 869-2284
AS CHRISTIANS MAY WE ALL REALIZE THAT A PART OF LIFE AND FAITH ARE SUFFERINGS. FOR WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THINGS HAPPEN AND MANY OF THESE AFFECT US. HOWEVER WE ALSO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN REJECTS GOD, SO AS THE WORLD REJECTS GOD THEY WILL REJECT US TOO. PRAISE BE TO GOD THAT WE ARE COUNTED WORTHY TO STAND FOR HIM IN ALL THINGS!