SUFFERING

1. Who causes
suffering?--God or the devil?

A. The devil causes
much of man's suffering:

(See
Acts 10:38; Mat.15:22; Lk.8:29b; 2Tim.2:26.)

B. But it is God
Who allows the devil to bring suffering:

Job
1:8-19              [God
allowed Satan to bring Job to ruin with fire, raiding bandits & a violent
storm]

Job
2:3-7                [God
allowed the devil to afflict Job with boils]

(See
also 1Cor.5:5; 1Tim.1:20.)

C. God is
ultimately responsible for allowing suffering:

Exo.4:11  Who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or blind?
Have not I?

1Sam.2:6,7              The
Lord killeth, maketh alive, maketh poor...rich

Isa.45:7   I make peace, & create evil; I
the Lord do all these

Amos
3:6b             Be
(calamity) in a city, & (hath not) the Lord done it?

(See
also Deut.32:39; 2Chr.15:2b,5,6; Job 12:14-25; Psa.66:10-12a; Mic.1:12b.)

2. Why does
God allow the righteous to suffer?

A. He has a loving
reason for everything He does:

Rom.8:28                All
things work together for good to...the called

Gen.45:4-8              Be
not grieved...that ye sold me [as a slave]: for God did send me before
you to preserve life

Gen.50:20               Ye
thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good

Psa.119:71              It
is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes

Jer.37:15,16;
38:28 [Jeremiah spent a long time in
prison, but was safe there when Jerusalem was destroyed--Jer.39:11-14]

Jon.2:1-7a              [Jonah
suffered in the fish's belly but it saved him from drowning & took him to
land--Jon.1:15,17; 2:10.]

B. Suffering is
often God's loving chastisement:

Pro.3:11,12             Whom
the Lord loveth He correcteth

Heb.12:5-12           Whom
the Lord loveth He chasteneth

Rev.3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten

(See
also Deut.8:5; Job 5:17; 1Cor.11:32.)

C. God's
chastisements are righteous:

Neh.9:33 Thou art just in all that is brought upon us

Psa.119:75              I
know that Thy judgments are right, & that Thou in faithfulness hast
afflicted me

Psa.19:9b               The
judgments of the Lord are true & righteous

Pro.26:2  The curse causeless shall not come

Jer.17:10 I the Lord search the heart...to give every
man...according to the fruit of his doings

(See
also Ezk.14:22,23; Heb.12:11.)

D. Our suffering is
less than we deserve:

Ezra
9:13 God hast punished us less than our
iniquities deserve

Psa.78:38,39           Full
of compassion...many a time turned He His anger

Psa.103:10-14        He
hath not dealt with us after our sins

E. Continue to
trust Him, even though you don't understand:

Pro.3:5    Trust in Lord...lean not unto
thine own understanding

Isa.55:8,9                Neither
are your ways My ways, saith the Lord

3. Some specific reasons
that God allows suffering:

A. Suffering has
been a fact of life since the fall of man:

Gen.3:16-19            [Suffering
brought into the world by the fall of man]

Job
5:6,7 Man is born unto trouble, as the
sparks fly upward

(See
also Job 14:1; Psa.90:10.)

B. We often bring
on suffering by sin & disobedience:

Gen.42:21               We
are guilty...therefore is distress come upon us

Job
4:8    They that plow
iniquity & sow wickedness reap the same

Psa.31:9,10             I
am in trouble...grief...because of mine iniquity

Psa.38:1-8              There
is no soundness in my flesh...because of my sin

Psa.107:17              Fools...because
of their iniquities, are afflicted

Isa.66:4   [Ignoring God & doing evil
brings on mental anguish, fears & delusions]

Jer.5:25   Your sins have withholden good
things from you

(See
also Jer.30:15; Lam.1:20.)

C. Because we're
disbelieving or disobeying God's Word:

Deut.11:28             A
curse, if ye will not obey the commandments

Psa.78:32,33           They
believed not...their years He consumed in trouble

Psa.89:30-32
If (they) forsake My law...visit transgression with rod

(See
also Psa.107:11,12)

4. Suffering
because of obedience & righteousness:

A. Sufferings &
privations while serving God:

Acts
20:19             Serving
the Lord with many tears & temptations

1Cor.4:11                We
hunger, thirst, are naked, buffeted

2Cor.1:8  [Paul's] trouble...pressed out of
measure, above strength, despaired even of life

2Cor.11:23-30        [Paul's
many sufferings & troubles]

Phi.2:27a,30           Sick
nigh unto death, to supply your lack of service

(See
also 2Cor.6:4-10)

B. Suffering caused
by persecution:

Phi.1:29  For unto you it is given...not
only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake

2Tim.3:12               All
that live godly in Jesus shall suffer persecution

2Tim.1:8 Be not ashamed, but partaker of afflictions of
gospel

Heb.11:25               Choosing
to suffer affliction with the people of God

Heb.11:35b-38       [Saints
tortured, cruelly mocked, scourged, imprisoned, slain, destitute, afflicted,
tormented]

(See
Rom.8:35-37; 1Pet.2:19-21; 3:16,17; Rev.2:10.)

5. The benefits
& good fruits of suffering:

A. Suffering causes
you to seek His Word:

Deut.8:2,3              That
He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by (the) Word

Psa.94:12                Blessed
is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, & teachest him out of Thy law

Psa.119:71              I
have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes

B. Suffering
refines & purifies you:

Job
23:10                When
He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold

Psa.66:10                Thou,
O God, hast proved us...tried us, as silver

Isa.48:10 I have refined thee...in the furnace of
affliction

Zech.13:9               And
I will...refine them as silver is refined

Heb.12:9-11           Chastened...that
we be partakers of His holiness

(See
also Pro.17:3; Isa.1:25.)

C. It teaches you
obedience:

Psa.119:67              Before
I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word

Heb.5:8   Yet learned He obedience by things
which He suffered

(See
also 2Cor.7:10a,11)

D. It causes you to
bring forth more fruit:

Jn.15:2    He (prunes) it, that it may
bring forth more fruit

E. It humbles you:

Deut.8:2,16            The
Lord led thee in the wilderness, to humble thee

2Chr.33:12              When
he was in affliction, he humbled himself greatly Lam.3:1,17-20 Remembering mine
affliction...my soul...is humbled

F. It teaches you
patience:

Rom.5:3b                Tribulation
worketh (teaches us) patience

G. It makes you
wiser:

Eccl.7:2,3                Sorrow
is better...the living will lay it to heart

H. It gives you
compassion & mercy on others:

2Cor.1:4  That we may be able to comfort them which
are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we are comforted

Heb.2:17 [As with Jesus, it teaches you to be merciful]

Heb.2:18 He Himself hath suffered...He is able to
succour them

Heb.4:15 Be touched with the feeling of [others']
infirmities

I. It draws you
close to & makes you appreciate loved ones:

2Cor.7:4-7              We
were troubled on every side...nevertheless, God... comforted us by the coming
of Titus

6. Rewards in
Heaven for earthly suffering:

Lk.16:19-25            [Lazarus
the beggar rewarded & comforted]

Rom.8:18                Sufferings
of present time not worthy to be compared

2Cor.1:7  As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so
shall ye be also of the consolation

2Cor.4:17                Our
light affliction...worketh for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of
glory

2Tim.2:12a             If
we suffer, we shall also reign with Him

Rev.21:4 Shall be no more death...sorrow...crying...pain

7. Remember, Jesus
also suffered:

Heb.4:15 [He] was in all points tempted (tested) like as
we are

Heb.12:3 Consider Him that endured such contradiction of
sinners ...lest ye be wearied & faint in your minds

A. The reasons that
Jesus suffered:

Isa.53:3   He hath borne our griefs, &
carried our sorrows

Isa.53:4,5                He
was wounded for our transgressions...& with His stripes we are healed (See
also 1Pet.2:24)

Heb.2:9,10              Captain
of their salvation perfect through sufferings

1Pet.3:18                Suffered
for sins, that He might bring us to God

(See
also Heb.2:17,18; 4:15; 5:7,8.)

B. Follow His
example of enduring suffering:

Rom.8:17b              If
we suffer with Him...be glorified together

Phi.3:10  That I may know the fellowship of His
sufferings

1Pet.2:21                Christ
suffered for us, leaving us an example

1Pet.4:1  As Christ hath suffered for us, arm
yourselves

8. The right
attitude toward suffering:

Job
13:15a              Though
He slay me, yet will I trust in Him

Phi.3:8    I suffered loss of all
things, that I may win Christ

A. Endure suffering
patiently:

Jer.10:19 Truly this is a grief, & I must bear it

Lam.3:24-26           Lord
is my portion...hope & quietly wait in Him

Rom.12:12a            Rejoicing
in hope; patient in tribulation

2Tim.4:5 Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions

Heb.12:7 If ye endure...God dealeth with you as with
sons

1Pet.4:19                Let
them that suffer...commit the keeping of their souls to Him (God) in well doing

B. Pray for
strength to endure suffering:

Lk.18:1    Men ought always to pray,
& not to faint

Jam.5:13 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray

C. We should expect
afflictions & trials:

Psa.34:19                Many
are the afflictions of the righteous

Acts
14:22             Must
through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom

1Thes.3:3,4            No
man should be moved by these afflictions: for...we are appointed thereunto

1Pet.4:12                Think
it not strange concerning the fiery trial

(See
also 1Cor.10:13; 1Pet.5:9.)

D. Stand strong,
endure hardness:

Acts
20:23,24        None
of these things move me...that I might finish

2Tim.2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good
soldier

Heb.11:25-27         Choosing
rather to suffer affliction...he endured

Jam.5:10,11            Take
the prophets, for an example of suffering affliction ...we count them happy
which endure

E. Be happy despite
sufferings:

Jn.16:33b                Ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer

Rom.5:3  We glory in tribulations...worketh
patience

2Cor.7:4b               I
am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation

1Pet.4:13,16           Rejoice..ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings

F. Don't murmur
against God:

Job
1:20-22            Job
sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (Also 2:9,10)

Psa.17:3  I am purposed that my mouth shall not
transgress

1Thes.5:18             In
everything give thanks: for this is the will of God

G. Remain faithful:

Psa.119:143            Trouble
& anguish...yet Thy commandments my delights

9. Wrong attitudes
towards suffering:

Exo.6:9    [Despair:] They (Israelites)
hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, & for cruel bondage

Ruth
1:20,21          [Complaint:]
for Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me

Job
2:7-9                [Bitterness:]
Then said (Job's wife), Curse God, & die

Pro.24:10                [Giving
up:] If thou faint in the day of adversity

Jer.15:18 [Questioning:] Wilt Thou be unto me as a liar?

(See
also Pro.18:14; Lam.3:39.)

10. God comforts
& strengthens us when we suffer:

Exo.3:7    I
have seen the affliction of My people...heard their cry... I know their sorrows

Mat.5:4   Blessed are they that mourn...they
shall be comforted

Jn.14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will
come to you

Rom.8:26                The
Spirit helpeth our infirmities

1Pet.5:10                But
God...after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you

(See
also Psa.23:4; 37:24; 145:14.)

11. Deliverance
from suffering:

A. The Lord
promises to deliver us from our suffering:

Psa.30:5  Weeping may endure a night, joy cometh in
the morning

Psa.34:19                Many
are the afflictions...but the Lord delivereth

Psa.103:9-14          He
will not always chide...He knoweth our frame

Lam.3:31,32            Lord
will not cast off for ever: though He cause grief

Isa.54:7,8                For
a small moment have I forsaken thee; but...mercy

(See
also Exo.3:7,9,10; Deut.26:6-8; Psa.66:11,12; 94:12-14; 107:11-14; 118:17,18.)

B. Pray for
deliverance:

Psa.34:6  Lord heard him, & saved him out of
all his troubles

Psa.34:17                The
righteous cry, & the Lord...delivereth them out

Psa.50:15                Call
upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee

(See
specific examples in Ezra 9:5-15; Isa.38:1-3.)

C. God's
conditions:

2Chr.6:27-30          [Release
from suffering if men repent & seek the Lord]

2Chr.7:13,14           If
My people...shall humble themselves, & pray, & turn from wicked ways; I
will hear...forgive...heal

Job
33:27-29          If
any say, I have sinned...He will deliver his soul

Job
36:8-11            If
they obey & serve Him, they shall (have) prosperity

Jon.2:1-10              [Jonah
praised God in his trouble, & was delivered]

12. Your duty
toward the suffering & afflicted:

Job
6:14  To him that is afflicted pity
should be showed

Job
16:5  I would strengthen
you...asswage your grief

Isa.50:4   Speak a word in season to him that
is weary

Lk.10:30-37            [The
good Samaritan] Go, & do thou likewise

Rom.12:15b            Weep
with them that weep

1Cor.12:25,26         Whether
one member suffer, all...suffer with it

Gal.6:2    Bear ye one another's burdens

Heb.13:3 Remember them which suffer adversity

Jam.1:27 Visit the fatherless & widows in their
affliction

(See
also Job 19:21; Mat.25:34-45; 1Tim.5:10.)

13. The suffering
of the worldly wicked:

--Or even of
backslidden, disobedient Christians:

Deut.28:20             The
Lord shall send upon thee cursing...because of the wickedness of thy doings

Deut.28:15-67        If
thou wilt not hearken...these curses shall come...

Job
15:20a              The
wicked man travaileth with pain all his days

Psa.32:10a              Many
sorrows shall be to the wicked

Isa.42:24,25a          Neither
were they obedient unto His law. Therefore He hath poured upon him the fury of
His anger

Isa.57:20,21            Wicked
are like troubled sea...no peace to the wicked

Heb.2:15 Who through fear of death were...subject to
bondage

1Jn.4:18  Fear hath torment

(See
also Job 20:all; Eccl.2:22,23; Lam.3:42-47.)

14. Much of the
world's suffering is often self-inflicted:

A. Drug abuse,
alcoholism etc.:

1Cor.3:17                If
any man defile (his body), him shall God destroy

Pro.23:29-35           [Alcoholism
brings on woe, sorrow, wounds]

(See
also Pro.23:21; 31:4,5; Isa.5:11; 28:7.)

B. Overeating:

Num.11:19,20,        [Hebrews
gluttonously overate quails & as a result, the fattest of them"
died--See Psa.78:26-31]

31-34

Phi.3:19a                Whose
end is destruction, whose God is their belly

(See
also Pro.23:1-3,21a)

C. Overdoing
physically gets body's resistance down:

Eccl.12:12b            Much
study is a weariness of the flesh

Phi.2:27a,30           He
was (sick) nigh unto death, not regarding his life

D. Suffering
because of sexual sins:

Rom.1:27                [Sodomites]...receiving
in themselves that recompense of their error [disease & infection]

E. Pollution by
factories, pesticides, chemicals etc.:

Isa.24:5   The earth is defiled under the
inhabitants thereof

Jer.2:7     Ye defiled My land,
& made (it) an abomination

Amos
7:17b           Thou
shalt die in a polluted land

Mic.2:10b               Because
it is polluted, it shall destroy you

Zeph.3:1 Woe to her that is filthy & polluted, to
the oppressing city

Rom.1:30,32a         Inventors
of evil things...worthy of death

Rev.11:18b             [God
will] destroy them which destroy the earth

(See
also Gen.4:8,16,17; Isa.5:8; 14:21 re: unnatural cities &
industrialisation)

F. Greed &
oppression cause wars, suffering & misery:

Josh.7:1-26            [Achan's
covetousness caused many Israelites to die]

Pro.15:27                He
that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house

Nah.3:1   Woe to the bloody city! it is full
of lies & robbery

1Tim.6:9,10            They
that will be rich...drown in destruction...sorrows

Jam.4:1,2                From
whence come wars?...even of your lusts...ye kill

Jam.5:1-6                Rich
men...ye have condemned & killed the just

(See
also Psa.73:3-20; Mic.6:12-15 . )

15. What suffering
does for the unsaved or disobedient:

A. Some do not
repent despite suffering & affliction:

Isa.1:5     Why should ye be
stricken any more? Ye will revolt

Isa.42:25 Yet he knew not...yet he laid it not to heart

Isa.57:17 I smote him...he went on in the way of his
heart

Jer.2:30a In vain have I smitten...they received no
correction

Jer.5:3     Thou hast stricken
them, but they...refused to return

Dan.9:13 All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not
our prayer

(See
also Neh.9:26-29; Isa.9:13; Amos 4:6.)

B. Suffering causes
the truly wicked to curse God even more:

2Chr.28:22              In
time of his distress did he trespass yet more

Pro.29:1  He, that being often reproved hardeneth
his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, & that without remedy

Isa.8:21   When they shall be hungry, shall
curse...their God

Rev.16:9-11            Men
scorched with heat, blasphemed God, repented not

(See
also Lev.26:23,24)

C. It causes some
to repent & seek God:

Deut.31:17             Many
evils & troubles shall befall them [to make them realise they've forsaken
God]

2Chr.15:4                When
they in their trouble...sought Him, He was found

Psa.78:34                When
He slew them, then they sought Him: & returned

Isa.26:16 Poured out prayer when Thy chastening was upon
them

Jer.2:27b They have turned the back...but in the time of
trouble

D. It even turns
some unsaved or disobedient to God:

2Chr.33:9-13          [Manasseh's
suffering in prison turned him to God]

Job
34:31,32           I
have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more

Dan.4:30-37           [King
Nebuchadnezzar's abasement & salvation]

Lk.15:16-20            [Suffering
caused the prodigal son to repent]

Rev.11:13               Earthquake
(killed) 7,000...remnant gave glory to God

(See
also Hos.2:6,7)