Enduring Suffering Col. 1:21-24 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Enduring suffering can be a hard thing to do – perhaps it would help us if we could see from the Bible some benefits of enduring suffering.

We endure suffering to:

Preach the gospel effectually – Col 1:21-24; 2 Tim 2:10-12 – Paul didn’t suffer as a punishment for his past persecution of the church; he suffered because he wouldn’t compromise the preaching of the gospel [Acts 9:16; 1 Thes 2:2] – suffering goes with the territory [Phil 1:27-30] – yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution [2 Tim 3:12] – there’s no way around it unless you compromise your preaching to make it palatable [Gal 5:11; 6:12].

Know the power of Christ’s resurrection – Phil 3:10-12 – suffering conforms us to Christ’s death through which we realize the power of his resurrection – a corn of wheat doesn’t bring forth fruit until it falls into the ground and dies [Jn 12:24] – we have to reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin to be alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord [Rom 6:11] – according to the resurrection of Christ we can walk in newness of life [Rom 6:4].

Please God – 1 Pet 2:17-24 – Dr. Jim Binney said, “We are called to suffer under spiritual authorities who are unfair and imperfect and God finds this acceptable – that’s what Jesus did and we are to follow in his steps – as God was well pleased with Jesus so he will be pleased with us.

Glorify God – 1 Pet 3:17-18, 4:12-16, 5:10-11 – Jesus glorified God in his suffering and death – Peter glorified God in his suffering and death – we are to glorify God in our suffering – we are to rejoice when we suffer reproach for Christ [Acts 5:41].

Console others – 2 Cor 1:5-7 – you have to suffer in order to be able to comfort others when they suffer – we’ll have more to say about this during the morning preaching.

Attain our future glory – Rom 8:16-18 – our future reign with Christ is conditional – Paul says, “IF so be that we suffer with him” – Christ suffered and then entered into his glory [Lk 24:26] – if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him [2 Tim 2:12] – we know that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God [Acts 14:22].

Patiently wait for the Lord – Jas 5:7-11; 2 Thes 1:4-10 – Jesus is going to return at the time the Father has decided – in the meantime we will endure affliction and suffer reproach – rather than give into the pressure to conform to the world we need to endure this suffering knowing that Jesus will surely return in his time.