2. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – –9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

3. World's Way...... God's Way..... Live for today.............................Live for the Great Day Follow your heart.......................Obey the Word Put yourself first.........................First will be last Seek to be served......................Live to serve others Be Happy!..................................Be Holy ! Career first.................................Live for the glory of God Love your own…………………..Love your enemies Seek material things……………Seek first the kingdom

4. Hope for Those Who Suffer www.suffering.net

5. 1.The Gospel and Suffering 2. A Biblical Response to Suffering

6. 1. God did not create suffering, evil and death 2.Even though suffering is never good, God can and does use it to accomplish good 3. We decide whether suffering in this life will harden us or soften us 4. Any suffering we experience in this life will pale in comparison to what God has in store for His followers 5. The day is coming when suffering will be ceased and evil will be judged Lee Strobel The Gospel and Suffering ….5 Points….

7. 1. God did not create suffering, evil and death

8. The source of evil is not God’s power but mankind’s freedom to choose sin! You can’t have a world where there’s real choice, while at the same time no possibility for man to choose evil.

9. God is sovereign over evil… Acts 2:23 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. Acts 4:27-28 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

10. Sovereignty of God Child of God, never forget this….. All that you are suffering of any sort or kind, comes to you from the Divine hand. Charles Spurgeon

11. Nothing happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen; He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself. Augustine Sovereignty of God

12. The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God. Margaret Clarkson Sovereignty of God

13. 2. God can and does use suffering to accomplish good

14. The very triumphs of His foes he used for their defeat. He compelled their dark achievements to sub serve His ends, not theirs. They nailed Him to a tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to His feet. They gave Him a cross, not guessing that He would make it a throne. James Stewart, Scottish Theologian The Cross

15. When NT writers speak of hard times, they express none of the indignation that characterized Job, the prophets and many of the psalmists. They offer no real explanation for suffering, but keep pointing to 2 events - the death and resurrection of Jesus..... Yancey The Cross

16. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28

17. The most important message is that God has a tremendous purpose for the suffering that you are going through right now; –If you don’t see the purpose now – that’s ok – you’re not God God deserves our trust………….

18. TRUST A Biblical Response to Suffering……Step A

19. 3. We decide whether pain in this life is going to harden or soften us

20. In our lives – will suffering be a stepping stone or a stumbling block to our faith? We decide…….

21. In times of trouble say : First - He brought me here; it is by His will that I am in this difficult place; in that I will rest. Next - He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child Then - He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow Last - In His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows.

22. Can you see ANY WAY God can take that pain in your life and make something good out of it ?

23. Suffering, with dignity, may enable you to mark more lives for Christ than anything else you say or do for Christ. Bill Hybels Suffering, with dignity, may enable you to mark more lives for Christ than anything else you say or do for Christ. Bill Hybels

24. The cross gives us ultimate meaning to our suffering because it means we don't have to suffer alone. Jesus suffers along with us. He offers to walk us through the pain

25. 4. Any suffering we experience in this life will pale in comparison to what God has in store for His followers

26. God is preparing us to live forever - - We must realize that He probably won't do this through a peaceful and comfortable life here on earth.

27. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (II Cor 4:17) For our citizenship is in heaven…. (Phil 3:20) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8:18)

28. ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE TRUST A Biblical Response to Suffering……Step B

29. When God calls us into suffering, He is not calling us away from joy but into joy

30. Our Source of Joy !  We have the creator of the universe as our Lord and friend !  We have the written and inerrant Word of God  We have the Lord Jesus Christ praying for us in the heavenlies !  We have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God !  We have the riches of glory stored up for us in the heavenlies !

31. We have the Holy Spirit overflowing! –Signifies a new birth and life in Christ (John 3:8) –He will be with us forever! (John 14:16-17) –Convicts us of sin and righteousness (John 16:7-8) –Controlled by the HS; not our sinful nature (Rom 8:9) –Intercedes for us in prayer and weakness (Rom 8:26) –Deposit; guarantor of our inheritance (2 Cor 1:21-22) –Transforming us to his likeness with ever increasing glory (2 Cor 3:18) –Varying gifts !!! (2 Cor 12:4-11) –Incredible fruits !!!! (Gal 5:22) Our Source of Joy !

32. “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven!” Jesus to his disciples (Luke 10:20) JOY ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE TRUST A Biblical Response to Suffering……Step C

33. 5. The day is coming when suffering will be ceased and evil will be judged

34. The day…. If God has the power to eradicate evil and suffering why doesn't he do it? - - - - - - - - - He will !!! He's holding back the curtain of the close of history so that some might be touched by His love, that some may put their trust in Him, that some may come to a relationship with Him and spend eternity in heaven with Him.

35. What Love ! The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

36. DAILY PERSPECTIVE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE JOY TRUST C B D A A Biblical Response to Suffering……Final Step

37. 1.The Gospel and Suffering 2. A Biblical Response to Suffering The Goal

38. 1. God did not create suffering, evil and death 2.Even though suffering is never good, God can and does use it to accomplish good 3. We decide whether suffering in this life will harden us or soften us 4. Any suffering we experience in this life will pale in comparison to what God has in store for His followers 5. The day is coming when suffering will be ceased and evil will be judged Lee Strobel The Gospel and Suffering ….5 Points….

39. DAILY PERSPECTIVE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE JOY TRUST C B D A A Biblical Response

40. Christian ! Look! –The power of God and the life of his Son are manifested in your weakness. Look! –The life of Jesus is flowing through your suffering into the lives of other people. Look! – God sustains you in your afflictions and will not let you be destroyed. Look! –Your afflictions will not have the last word; you will rise from the dead with Jesus and with the church of God and live in joy for ever and ever.

41. Look! – Your afflictions are momentary. They are only for now, not for the age to come. Look! –Your afflictions are light. Compared to the pleasures of what is coming they are as nothing. Look! –These afflictions are producing for you an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.... John Piper Christian !

42. Hope for Those Who Suffer www.suffering.net