Suffering for the Gospel
Suffering • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Throughout our series, we’ve spent a number of weeks looking at suffering in general. Suffering that comes from living in a fallen world; suffering that comes from God’s loving discipline; suffering that comes from our own folly.
We’ve considered the fact that suffering tempts us to think wrongly about who God is. When our view God is skewed, our trust often falls on things other than Him whether that be in ourselves, other people, an escape, or technology. Knowing that, the struggle we have in suffering is essentially a fight for faith – a fight we cannot win without the Spirit of God, the word of God and the people of God. But it’s also a fight that, by God’s grace, can be one of the most profound platforms we have to glorify God.
Today, we need to narrow our focus a bit though and consider a specific type of suffering – a type of suffering that is unique to being a follower of Jesus: persecution.
When you think of persecution for the gospel what kinds of things do you think of? *ASK*
[Being killed should come up—refer to Jim Elliot]
In 1955, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming and Nate Saint set out to reach Ecuador’s Waodani Indians with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Compelled by Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations, these men and their families had uprooted their lives from the United States with a passion to see those who’d never heard of Christ, come to worship Him and find forgiveness in Him. The Waodani Indians lived in the middle of the jungle – so the move would involve transitioning from air conditioned homes to huts built in the treetops, fighting insects, disease, and a host of other challenges. Most of all would be the challenge of finding out how to contact and communicate with an Indian tribe with a reputation for being violent toward outsiders[1].
Eventually, the men built a base a short distance from the Indian village and made friendly contact with one of the Waodani Indians. What the missionaries didn’t know, however, was that the ‘friendly’ contact was a scout who would inform 10 Waodani warriors to meet them at their base and kill all 5 of the missionaries with spears.
Over the years, there has been a lot discussion over whether or not these missionaries were foolish; whether or not their lives were wasted unnecessarily. They had families to care for and they reached out to these Indians knowing their reputation for violence. But aside from that – what is clear is that these men were motivated by Jesus’ command to go and make disciples. Their tragic death came as a result of being followers of Jesus.
But what do we do with a testimony like this? Is this type of suffering something reserved for radical Christians, or is it something that is intrinsic to being Christian? To do that, let’s begin with a definition.
What is persecution?
What is persecution?
To begin, let’s look at how the Bible speaks about it:
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Persecution we are considering is that which comes because of our connection to Jesus.
So what does it look like?
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Persecution can include hatred
3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
Persecution can include being mocked or slandered (‘malign[2]’ is used this way).
12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
o Persecution can include being betrayed and delivered over to officials for punishment by the state
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,
Persecution can include being killed.
As we scan the Scriptures, we can define Christian persecution this way: Opposition or harassment that comes because we are Christians. And the shape such opposition or harassment takes when we see that it can include things like being hated, mocked, slandered, betrayed, or even killed.
So when we talk about persecution this evening we mean to talk about a specific type of suffering. One reason Christian persecution is unique is because it comes with a choice. If we renounced Christ, we wouldn’t have it – it comes because we are seeking to follow Christ; it comes because of certain decisions we make based on conviction:
Loss of promotion because refusal to lie to customer like boss asked; family disowns you for becoming a Christian; peers ridicule your decision to trust in Christ as an intellectual weakness; loss of friendships because you refuse to indulge in what your non-Christian peers do; you’re kicked out of the country you gave up everything in order to plant your life there and share the gospel; you’re targeted by others opposed to Christianity and lose your life for it.
Why is it important to persevere under persecution?
Why is it important to persevere under persecution?
· Because of God’s purposes in persecution. Quick review of various purposes:
o To grow us in holiness (Ps. 119:67 )
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
o To build perseverance (Rom. 5:3 )
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
o To grow us in maturity (James 1:2-4)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
o To teach us His word (Ps. 119:71
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
o To help us encourage others (2 Cor. 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
o To wean us off self-reliance (2 Cor. 1:8-9
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
These purposes are all important, but let’s focus in on two ideas in particular:
[First Idea:]
1. It’s important to persevere under persecution because it is a normal part of being a Christian – (not just for radical Christians).
o 2 Timothy 3:12
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
§ Who will be persecuted? Everyone!
§ Why? Because following Christ is counter-cultural[3]. When Jesus came on the scene, it was like the light was turned on after a long period of darkness. How do you feel when some flips on a bright light early in the morning[4]?
o Galatians 5:11
11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
§ As long we tell others the gospel—that they (1) fundamentally are not good, (2) they need to change to save themselves from an eternity of suffering, and (3) they are impotent to do anything to save themselves—as long as we tell others the truth, there will always be an offense.
o Question for class: Okay then, if I am not facing persecution currently, does that mean I’m not being a faithful Christian? *ASK THIS SINCERELY*
§ Not necessarily; but worth examining.
§ Could be if I’m avoiding following Jesus (e.g. evangelism) because of the cost.
§ But there are a number of examples in Scripture where faithful Christians were in a season (note season) of peace. Paul had times when he knew plenty (Phi. 4:12) and times of need (Phi. 4:12).
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
· We need to have a willingness/readiness to suffer
· We need to not be surprised when it happens[5]
[Second Idea:]
2. It’s important to persevere because it glorifies God
2. It’s important to persevere because it glorifies God
o Colossians 1:24
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
o What does it mean to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?
§ Not adding to atonement.
· John 19:30 – It is finished
· Hebrews 10:14 “because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
What is lacking in the afflictions of Christ is not that they are deficient in worth, as though they could not sufficiently cover the sins of all who believe.
What is lacking is that the infinite value of Christ’s afflictions is not known and trusted in the world. When we suffer for Christ and suffer well, it leaves a watching world asking how can you have hope in those circumstances?
· 1 Peter 3:15
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
How can I be faithful under persecution? Or how do I respond?
How can I be faithful under persecution? Or how do I respond?
Review the framework we’ve been using in the series:
1. How does this suffering challenge my view of who God is?
2. What am I tempted to trust in other than God?
3. How can I fight for faith? How do I need to rely on others in this fight?
4. How can I conduct myself so that God is glorified in my life through this difficult time?
Did you notice that Paul ‘rejoiced’ in his suffering (Colossians 1:24)? How is that possible? Consider these three truths:
1. Rejoice knowing your reward is great – the great reversal.
1. Rejoice knowing your reward is great – the great reversal.
a. John 13:3-4
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
i. Notice the three things Jesus knew: (1) the Father had put all things under His power, (2) where He’d come from, and (3) where He was going. Then v4 ‘so’. One reason He was able to serve the disciples like this then in a little while on the cross was because He knew/rested in this. The same is true for us:
1. What we’ve been given: the earth (Matthew 5:5 “5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” ); the kingdom (Luke 12:31–32 “31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” )[6]. If we’ve been given this, why would we be stingy or try to make a name for ourselves? It’s already ours.
2. Where we’ve come from: we were dead in our sin, made alive (Ephesians 2:1 “1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins” ). Remembering that is humbling (2:11).
3. Where we’re going: to be with God.
b. Or consider where this idea shows up in another place: Philippians 2:12 “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”
i. We are called to work out our salvation; i.e. give evidence of our salvation through our obedience. Obedience can be costly. Why the ‘therefore’? It points us back to 2:1-11. The ‘therefore’ in v12 means that similar to the way Jesus was exalted after humbling himself in obedience, so will you, at the proper time, be exalted after you humble yourself, trust God and step out in obedience. You won’t be put to shame for trusting God.
2. Rejoice in a greater assurance
2. Rejoice in a greater assurance
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Notice the reason why Peter says trials have come? To prove the genuineness of your faith. We grow the most not through comfort but through suffering.
3. Rejoice in an unchanging God
3. Rejoice in an unchanging God
As we’ve talked about in the series, there are times when we can’t see or understand the reason why God allows a specific instance of suffering, but one thing we can know, one thing that never changes is the character of the God who is sovereign over all things, including our suffering. There is no clearer place to look to see the heart of God then the cross – it’s there we gain the assurance of who He is and why we can be sure we can trust Him.
Listen to Romans 8:31-32
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Think back to the story of those 5 missionaries. So was it a waste? Jim Elliot, one of the missionaries who was killed by the Waodani Indians is the one who wrote “He is not fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” He lived that way and died that way. Several of the wives who lost their husbands traveled back to the village to share the gospel with them and by God’s grace, men like Mincaye as well as other Indians would soon hear the gospel – see it lived out in the love of these women and soon be converted.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Death at work in us...but life at work in you.
Persecution is an example of the suffering we choose– not because we are masochists who like suffering but because we are committed to following Christ more than our comfort. It’s a suffering we choose because it is worth it – worth the glory God receives; worth the life God works in others because of it.
[1]“Auca”, or the Waodani Indians, is a Quichua word for ‘savage’.
[2] Βλασφημέω [blasphémeó] - slander, revile, defame, speak irreverently/impiously/disrespectfully of or about (BDAG)
[3]See 1 Pet. 4:3-4
[4]“The light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19-20).
[5]1 Peter 4:12
[6]Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” He then goes on to tell them to sell their possessions and be generous knowing this.