Introduction:

A.     Suffering, Faith and the Will of God.

       Many would be followers of Jesus come to Him with dreams of greatness, which are good in their places.  Jesus put down the disciples for arguing about which of them would be the greatest (Mark 9:34).

1.       Real Greatness Centers in Being of Service to Others. 

a)        The Desire For Being Great?

Jesus said, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:33-35)

But Jesus also encouraged their aspirations- (a desire for achievement)-for greatness with such statements as;  “You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:28-29)

In God’s will, greatness follows along behind suffering, often far behind.  Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Philippians (Phil.2:6-11).

b)        Jesus Wanted Would-Be Followers to Know That the Will of God Involves Suffering.

1)        One man came to Jesus claiming he wanted to do the will of God

               “Lord, I will follow you wherever You go”, Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head” (Luke 9:57-58)

2.       Having Great Faith Does not mean that Life Will be a Bed of Roses.

a)        In Acts 12, Peter was Delivered by Angelic Intervention, but James was Beheaded.

b)        The Apostle’s Paul Wrote:

        But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Peter 5:10 NKJV)

        Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19 NKJV)

        For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17)

        Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.   If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.   But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.   Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter (1 Peter 4:12-16 NKJV)

        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. (Romans 8:18 NKJV)

        Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.   "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV)

c)        It Is a Promise that Christian’s Will Suffer Persecution!

        Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)

        For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (Philippians 1:29 NKJV)

(a)      If we were suffering for ourselves, it would be no privilege; but because we are suffering for and with Christ, it is a high and holy honor. 

(1)      Remember, when we suffer, Christ takes it personally (Acts 9:4 “Saul, Saul”). 

(2)      After all He suffered for us, and a willingness to suffer for Him is the very least we can do to show our love & gratitude.

(b)      J.Vernon McGee Puts It This Way: When you get to the place where He let’s you suffer for Him, you have arrived—that’s the high calling of Christ Jesus.

(c)      Paul calls this “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil.3:10)

(d)      Paul and Silas had many stripes laid upon them and thrown into prison for casting out a spirit of divination in a girl.  What was the outcome?  A Philippians Jailer & his household was saved.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NKJV)

        I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, (Colossians 1:24 NKJV)

        From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Galatians 6:17 NKJV)

        From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.   Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been 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 in the 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, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28 NKJV)

        "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NKJV)

        Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19 NKJV) 

(e)      Read Hebrews 11:35-40

B.      The Strategy of Satan.

Satan’s Target—Your Body

If Satan cannot deceive you by deceiving your mind, he will then try to destroy your body.  As the serpent, he deceives (Revelation 12:9); as the lion he devours (1Peter 1:8). 

If we believe his lies then we will destroy ourselves!  But if we resist his deceit, then he will attack our bodies.

Why Does He Want To Do This?

1.       Your Body is God’s Temple – 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

a)        It is Our Conduct In the Body that Glorifies and Exalts the Lord – Philippians 1:20

This is why our Lord said to, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

1)        God Wants to Use Your Body as a Vehicle for Revealing Him to a Lost World. 

The unsaved are unlikely to read the Bible, but you can be sure that they will read you & me, by the way that we live!

You are writing a Gospel a chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do and the words that you say,

Men read what you write, whether faithful or true,

Just what is the Gospel according to you

2.       Your Body is God’s Tool – Romans 6:12,13

a)        Different People God Has Used

1)        God used Noah to build the Ark

2)        Jesus used the hands of His disciples for the distributing of the bread & fish

3)        Jesus used their lips & tongues for the preaching of the Gospel

4)        God wants to use the various members of our bodies, empowered by the Spirit of God

5)        Satan will try to hinder God’s work by attacking God’s workers & putting their “tools” out of service.

(a)      Never underestimate the importance & care for our bodies.  The Christian who is careless about his or her health or safety is playing right into the hands of the destroyer.

3.       Your Body is God’s Treasure – 2 Corinthians 4:7

a)        When God saved you, He put the treasure of eternal life within your body.  God gave you the treasure that he might invest it through you in the lives of others.

1)        The Apostle Paul

(a)      God deposited this spiritual wealth in the Apostle Paul (1Tim.1:11); Paul invested this treasure to Timothy (1Tim.6:20; 2Tim.2:14); Timothy in turn was to invest this treasure in the lives of others (2Tim.2:2).

2)        Your Body Is Important To God!

(a)      We must care for our bodies & use them for the glory of God!

(b)      The same way a mechanic takes care of his “tools”, or a chef keeps his knifes sharp, or a pilot in the Air Force takes care of his body, so the believer must take care of his or her body to use for God’s glory!

(c)      Application

(1)      Give Your Body As A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1,2)      

(2)      Be a Sanctified Vessel (2Tim2:20-21)

C.     Satan’s Weapon—Suffering.

1.       Different Kinds of Suffering.

a)        Natural Suffering (Romans 8:18-32)

1)        This is because we are human.  Our body is gradually breaking down, as we grow old.  This cannot be blame on the Devil.  Even all of creation is groaning because of the bondage of sin (Romans 8:18-32)

b)        Disciplinary Suffering (Hebrews 12:5-6)

1)        God Sometimes Permits His Children to Suffer that He Might Discipline Them

(a)      God’s purpose is not to persecute us, but to perfect us.

(b)      Chastening is not the work of an angry judge as he punishes a criminal, but the work of a loving Father as He perfects a child.

c)        Obedient Suffering (Matthew 14:22-33)

1)        They Were not in the Storm Because of Disobedience, but because of obedience to Him

2.       God asks Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?”

a)        “Considered” is a Military Term (Job 1:8).

1)        Its Used of a General of An Army, Who is Studying a City, Preparing for an Attack.

(a)      He would develop his strategy by finding out the weakest part of the cities defenses. Thus he would be developing his strategy to destroy the city.

(a)       Satan had been studying Job. He had been developing a plan of attack. Looking for the weak points.  Satan offered to God his evaluation, having studied Job carefully.

(b)      Satan studies us & knows our weakness.

b)        Believers are “hedged about” By the Lord (v.9-12)

1)        Satan Cannot Touch Believers Without God’s Permission (Luke 22:31-34).

One thing that God will not control is how we respond to this suffering.  This is where Satan can gain his purpose.

3.       Job’s Response was a “Worship of Submission”

a)        Job Accepted His Place in Life (1:20-22)

1)        God was not chastening him for sin like David—He was allowing Satan to test Job, yet Job said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."   In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. (Job 1:21-22).

b)        Many people are not able to worship God because: they do not accept their places in life; they do not accept their jobs, their careers, or other circumstances; their response is bitterness, & they cannot worship.

Do you get bitter and angry with God for negative circumstance in your life?

c)        When God Brings Negative Circumstances in Our Lives, He Always Has a Positive Purpose.

1)        Jacob Thought All Things Were Against Him, but they did Work For God’s Good.

(a)      Genesis 42:36 cf. 50:15-21

(b)      Your Problem is not Your Problem, Your Problem is How You View Your Problem.

(1)      Jobs Battle was not on earth (Eph.6:12); neither is ours!

(2)      Job was able to look beyond his present circumstances & see God’s good plan.

But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

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. (Romans 8:18)

d)        If We Do Not Have Problems We Will Not Grow!

Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed (Jeremiah 48:11).

The people of Moab had had it so easy and so smooth that they had become rotten.  The analogy Jeremiah uses is from winemaking.  Winemakers in Jeremiah’s day put crushed grapes in a container and let them sit.  Eventually the bitterness and the sediment—called dregs, or lees—would settle into the bottom.  The winemaker would pour the wine off the top into another vessel, and the remaining bitterness would settle into the bottom of the second container in more sediment.  The he would pour that wine into another container, and another, and another—and over a period of time, all the sediment and its bitterness would be removed (they used to make vinegar), and the wine would have the aroma of sweetness that the winemaker wanted it to have.  Moab had never lost its bitterness, because the people had never been poured from difficult situation to difficult situation, where the bitterness could be purged out.

     We are better off in life if God pours us from trial to trial to trial, because each time we’re poured into a different trial, each time we’re confined in a different undesirable circumstance, a little of the bitterness if removed. 

                           John MacArthur, Jr.  The Ultimate Priority p.152

a)         Put yourself for a moment in Job’s shoes.

(1)        What would your response be to this kind of a situation if you were totally wiped out?

(a)         Would it be that of worshiping God, or would we be charging God foolishly?

(b)        Would we be saying, “Well God doesn’t love me. God doesn’t care about me.

(c)         I don’t know why God is against me”.

(d)        I’m afraid that we would be making foolish charges against God if things like that should happen to us. We see the integrity of this man, Job. He is a total man.

D.     Turning Your Trials Into Triumphs (James 1:2-8)