1. Why Christianity is Rejected Today…

2. Only innocent suffer – Exodus 7-12; Genesis 19:24-25 Only wicked prosper – Genesis 41:39-41 God shows no partiality Matthew 5:45; James 1:16-17

3. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

4. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

5. Suffering is a product of sin. Genesis 3:17-19, 22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Personal sin or action… Sin – Proverbs 11:17-19; 24:30-34 Action – Acts 20:7-12 Another’s sin… Lot – 2 Peter 2:7-8 John – Matthew 14:3-11 Uriah – 2 Samuel 11

6. Suffering is inflicted. By Satan. Job 1:6-12 1 Peter 5:8-9

7. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

8. Suffering is inflicted. By Satan. Job 1:6-12 1 Peter 5:8-9 By God. Amos 4:6-12

9. God gives us free will. Man has a choice – Ecclesiastes 12:13; 7:29 God’s desire – 2 Peter 3:9

10. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

11. God gives us free will. Man has a choice – Ecclesiastes 12:13; 7:29 God’s desire – 2 Peter 3:9 Man’s desire – Matthew 7:13-14

12. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

13. God gives us free will. Man has a choice – Ecclesiastes 12:13; 7:29 God’s desire – 2 Peter 3:9 Man’s desire – Matthew 7:13-14 Joshua 24:14-15; Deuteronomy 30:19-20 We have a choice now. Later we won’t. Revelation 5:13

14. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

15. Suffering results in growth. Gives us strength – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Produces endurance – James 1:2-4 Allows us to prove ourselves – Job 1:11, 22 Yields Fruit – Hebrews 12:7-11

16. Suffering gives us perspective.

17. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

18. Suffering gives us perspective. Paul – 2 Corinthians 11:24-27; Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Lazarus/Rich man – Luke 16:19-31 Our reward is spiritual! 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10