Preparing for Suffering
There have been more and more "natural disasters" lately then ever before and we're always seeing warnings on TV that we should "be prepared" just in case. The same thing is true in our spiritual lives. We need to prepare ahead of time for unexpected suffering. Jesus explained how we can do that.
Matthew 7:24–27, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
I could say this next part myself as I have many other times but thought it might have more impact if I simply quoted what MacArthur says.
The key to preparedness in the Christian life is the foundation of truth upon which we build our lives—in other words, discipleship. If we are disobedient and refuse to walk loyally the narrow path of discipleship, sufferings, and trials will surprise and defeat us. So it is crucial for us to firmly grasp the role of the disciple. In that way we can guarantee our strength, endurance, and joy in suffering.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. The Power of Suffering
Notice that we are talking about preparing for suffering, NOT preventing it. As long as we live on this earth, we will have times of suffering. There simply is no way around that. In fact as disciples of Christ we will most likely suffer more then others will because the more like Him we become the more the world will hate us. Therefore on top of suffering things such as sickness or natural disasters or other trials like that, we will also suffer persecution because we follow Christ. I want to again quote MacArthur here as he is once again saying something I've said many times and often say to myself:
The more like Christ we become, the more the world will treat us as it treated Him. If we are not suffering much for His sake, then perhaps it’s time to examine our lives (2 Cor. 13:5). If we want to be Christ’s followers in every way, we need to be prepared to pay the price. In fact, Matthew 10:25 says, “It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher.” That means we ought to be pursuing the goal of being like Jesus (cf. Phil. 3:14–17). We do not overstep our bounds in an effort to have greater privileges than Jesus had, nor do we look for ways to escape the demands and adversities He faced. When conformity to Him is as it should be, it becomes possible to triumph in suffering.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. The Power of Suffering
Unlike those who are unsaved, we don't need to be afraid of suffering or fear anything that happens to us. Fear weakens and discourages people so it's something we want to take captive whenever our flesh, Satan or the world tries to throw it at us. Instead we need to replace any fear that tries to creep in with God's Truth.
John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Matthew 10:29–31, Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
One of the things my mother used to say all the time to me was, "Never say never". Do you remember when Peter told the Lord that he would never let Him suffer and the Lord rebuked him for not accepting God's Will? We need to remember that if something happens to us, that God is with us, He knows about it and wasn't surprised by it. The more we face these unexpected trials the more we learn to follow the Lord faithfully without fear of the consequences. Jesus even warned us that these trials can come from our own families and loved ones.
Matthew 10:34–39, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
If we have a firm foundation and are accustomed to keeping our thoughts focused on God, then even when the trials come unexpectedly we can still be filled with His peace.
Isaiah 26:3, You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Many people don't realize that there is a cost involved in following Jesus. The Christian life isn't a Sunday picnic. Instead it's more like being recruited into the army in the middle of a raging war. This is why Jesus quite plainly told people to "count the cost" of following Him. You can have an easier life in this world (maybe) and go to hell and suffer there for eternity, or you can choose to accept His gift of salvation and then not do anything with it, in which case you will go through many trials because the Lord will be disciplining you to get you to do His Will; or you can accept His gift of salvation and be a disciple, prepared and willing to follow Him even to your own death. If you choose the later, you will still go through many trials, but you will also be blessed beyond anything you can ever imagine, both in this life and especially in the next.
1 Peter 5:6–7, Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
The basics of discipleship
Just as people do preventive maintenance to keep their cars running etc. so we need to do preventive spiritual maintenance so that we can be prepared for the unexpected. This basically means that once we've built that firm foundation in Christ that we need to maintain it through continued daily study and prayer. One of the basic things God requires of us is self discipline. If we won't discipline ourselves then He will do it for us. He expects us to use self discipline to make sure we are ready to face what may come every day through daily study, prayer and worship.
Disciples React with Grateful Prayer
Philippians 4:6–7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Thankfulness is one of the strongest antidotes for worry, fear and anxiety. A mature disciple will show thankfulness no matter what the situation is. I'm not saying that they won't cry out to God for help when there's a problem, they will, but it's their attitude behind their cry for help that will be different. They won't be doubting, blaming or questioning God because the problem came. Instead they'll simply accept that the problem has occurred and that God is in control. When we do other then that then we're being like the Israelites were in the wilderness--showing discontent and dissatisfaction with His plans for us and that's never a good thing to do. Instead a disciple knows God's promises from building on that strong foundation so they know that God won't give them more then they can bear and that He will supply us with all we need to get through it. They know that God's ultimate goal for each of us to make us perfect like Jesus and that we're becoming more and more like Him every day. Unlike the unsaved or those who have chosen not to be disciples, we can be thankful even in the midst of problems because we know God has a plan for us and is in control and that He will supply all our needs to get through this time. In fact we know that it's not His will that we "barely get through these hard times" but rather it's His will that we come through them with shining colors triumphant in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14, But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Notice too that the last part of the verse we started with:
Philippians 4:6–7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This verse is telling us that when we are thankful and not doubting God, but simply keeping our focus on Him instead of on "the problem" that the peace of God will actually guard our hearts and minds! It reminds me of the hymn "Trust and pray" because the peace of God will come to those disciples who trust and pray.
The word translated "guard" actually means to guard like a troop of soldiers surrounding a house would guard a house. So when we trust God and keep our focus on Him, He will literally guard our hearts and minds with His peace! What an awesome promise!!!!
Isaiah 26:3, You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Psalm 119:165, Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Isaiah 32:17, The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
There have been more and more "natural disasters" lately then ever before and we're always seeing warnings on TV that we should "be prepared" just in case. The same thing is true in our spiritual lives. We need to prepare ahead of time for unexpected suffering. Jesus explained how we can do that.
Matthew 7:24–27, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
I could say this next part myself as I have many other times but thought it might have more impact if I simply quoted what MacArthur says.
The key to preparedness in the Christian life is the foundation of truth upon which we build our lives—in other words, discipleship. If we are disobedient and refuse to walk loyally the narrow path of discipleship, sufferings, and trials will surprise and defeat us. So it is crucial for us to firmly grasp the role of the disciple. In that way we can guarantee our strength, endurance, and joy in suffering.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. The Power of Suffering
Notice that we are talking about preparing for suffering, NOT preventing it. As long as we live on this earth, we will have times of suffering. There simply is no way around that. In fact as disciples of Christ we will most likely suffer more then others will because the more like Him we become the more the world will hate us. Therefore on top of suffering things such as sickness or natural disasters or other trials like that, we will also suffer persecution because we follow Christ. I want to again quote MacArthur here as he is once again saying something I've said many times and often say to myself:
The more like Christ we become, the more the world will treat us as it treated Him. If we are not suffering much for His sake, then perhaps it’s time to examine our lives (2 Cor. 13:5). If we want to be Christ’s followers in every way, we need to be prepared to pay the price. In fact, Matthew 10:25 says, “It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher.” That means we ought to be pursuing the goal of being like Jesus (cf. Phil. 3:14–17). We do not overstep our bounds in an effort to have greater privileges than Jesus had, nor do we look for ways to escape the demands and adversities He faced. When conformity to Him is as it should be, it becomes possible to triumph in suffering.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. The Power of Suffering
Unlike those who are unsaved, we don't need to be afraid of suffering or fear anything that happens to us. Fear weakens and discourages people so it's something we want to take captive whenever our flesh, Satan or the world tries to throw it at us. Instead we need to replace any fear that tries to creep in with God's Truth.
John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Matthew 10:29–31, Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
One of the things my mother used to say all the time to me was, "Never say never". Do you remember when Peter told the Lord that he would never let Him suffer and the Lord rebuked him for not accepting God's Will? We need to remember that if something happens to us, that God is with us, He knows about it and wasn't surprised by it. The more we face these unexpected trials the more we learn to follow the Lord faithfully without fear of the consequences. Jesus even warned us that these trials can come from our own families and loved ones.
Matthew 10:34–39, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
If we have a firm foundation and are accustomed to keeping our thoughts focused on God, then even when the trials come unexpectedly we can still be filled with His peace.
Isaiah 26:3, You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Many people don't realize that there is a cost involved in following Jesus. The Christian life isn't a Sunday picnic. Instead it's more like being recruited into the army in the middle of a raging war. This is why Jesus quite plainly told people to "count the cost" of following Him. You can have an easier life in this world (maybe) and go to hell and suffer there for eternity, or you can choose to accept His gift of salvation and then not do anything with it, in which case you will go through many trials because the Lord will be disciplining you to get you to do His Will; or you can accept His gift of salvation and be a disciple, prepared and willing to follow Him even to your own death. If you choose the later, you will still go through many trials, but you will also be blessed beyond anything you can ever imagine, both in this life and especially in the next.
1 Peter 5:6–7, Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
The basics of discipleship
Just as people do preventive maintenance to keep their cars running etc. so we need to do preventive spiritual maintenance so that we can be prepared for the unexpected. This basically means that once we've built that firm foundation in Christ that we need to maintain it through continued daily study and prayer. One of the basic things God requires of us is self discipline. If we won't discipline ourselves then He will do it for us. He expects us to use self discipline to make sure we are ready to face what may come every day through daily study, prayer and worship.
Disciples React with Grateful Prayer
Philippians 4:6–7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Thankfulness is one of the strongest antidotes for worry, fear and anxiety. A mature disciple will show thankfulness no matter what the situation is. I'm not saying that they won't cry out to God for help when there's a problem, they will, but it's their attitude behind their cry for help that will be different. They won't be doubting, blaming or questioning God because the problem came. Instead they'll simply accept that the problem has occurred and that God is in control. When we do other then that then we're being like the Israelites were in the wilderness--showing discontent and dissatisfaction with His plans for us and that's never a good thing to do. Instead a disciple knows God's promises from building on that strong foundation so they know that God won't give them more then they can bear and that He will supply us with all we need to get through it. They know that God's ultimate goal for each of us to make us perfect like Jesus and that we're becoming more and more like Him every day. Unlike the unsaved or those who have chosen not to be disciples, we can be thankful even in the midst of problems because we know God has a plan for us and is in control and that He will supply all our needs to get through this time. In fact we know that it's not His will that we "barely get through these hard times" but rather it's His will that we come through them with shining colors triumphant in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14, But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Notice too that the last part of the verse we started with:
Philippians 4:6–7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This verse is telling us that when we are thankful and not doubting God, but simply keeping our focus on Him instead of on "the problem" that the peace of God will actually guard our hearts and minds! It reminds me of the hymn "Trust and pray" because the peace of God will come to those disciples who trust and pray.
The word translated "guard" actually means to guard like a troop of soldiers surrounding a house would guard a house. So when we trust God and keep our focus on Him, He will literally guard our hearts and minds with His peace! What an awesome promise!!!!
Isaiah 26:3, You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Psalm 119:165, Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Isaiah 32:17, The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
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