“God doesn’t ever want you to suffer.” 

What do you think about that statement? 

It is a tough one – be assured of that.  Tough because to answer it we have to have some knowledge of the Word of God and our theology has to be in tact.  It is tough because in order to answer we are going to have to let our understanding of the God we love and worship “hang out.”

“God doesn’t ever want you to suffer.”

Don’t try to act like this statement does not affect you.  Unless you are a Martian or just arrived here from Venus, Jupiter, or Saturn you have suffered here on this sin cursed earth.  And I am sure that you have asked yourself some serious questions about this suffering.

Have you noticed that everyone suffers?  From the littlest to the biggest; from the youngest to the oldest. 

I have kissed more boo-boos in my lifetime than I care to think about.  Where did the children ever come up with that idea from?  I guess it is an honor to be asked to kiss their little scabs – but have you ever thought that to be a little bit strange?  A little blonde haired girl with the last name Dignan had me kissing one of her toes a couple of months back.  And I did it!

There is immeasurable suffering taking place in this room right now.  Immeasurable to me, but not to our Lord.  He knows everything that has happened.

Do you believe that He cares?

Do you question why He didn’t stop it?

Have you searched the Word of God to find out what He has said about this deep subject?

Suffering is an important theological item.  This is not just an obviously important physical and emotional dilemma.  How we view suffering – shows how we view God.

The good news is that He has spoken.

D.A. Carson says, “We have a talking God.”

The seemingly bad news is that we may not like what He has said.  That doesn’t give us the right to add to it or subtract from it.

If we will believe and submit to this one we call our Heavenly Father some important things will happen.

    JN 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

LK 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

It was the Lord’s will that Christ would suffer and then be raised from the dead.

It is the Lord’s will that the disciples of Christ would also suffer and they too will be raised from the dead (the ultimate crushing blow to the serpents head or Romans 16:20).

Why do I have to make such a point of this?

Because you have heard it said:  “God doesn’t ever want you to suffer.”

As good as that sounds, it is not true according to God’s plan as revealed in His Word.

It is the Lord’s will that we are not afraid when we suffer. 

It is the Lord’s will that we trust Him and grow in faith when we suffer.

It is the Lord’s will that we do not fear the one who can destroy the body; but rather the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

God doesn’t ever want you to suffer? They were dieing for no other reason than their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Pet 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

II.                 Know what is right (I Peter 2:18-25).

  1PE 2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

III.               Know it is God’s Will (I Peter 3:13-17).

  1PE 3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

IV.              Know what it takes for my flesh to die (I Peter 4:1-2).

1PE 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

V.                 Know the God has a plan (I Peter 4:12-19). 

1PE 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

  "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

    1PE 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

VI.              Know when to resist (I Peter 5:8-9).

1PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

VII.            Know what God is doing (I Peter 5:10-11).

1PE 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is what the great apostle Peter had to say about suffering.

Oswald Chamber (April 26):  “Don’t ask God to test you.  Never declare as Peter did – I will do anything, I will go to death with Thee.”

We don’t need to say that; we do, however, have to be willing to do it.

When will all this suffering end?

The one who recorded the infamous discussion between Jesus and Peter – has told us.

REV 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

REV 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

    REV 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

    REV 21:6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Revelation 21:0 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Do you know when all the suffering will end?

At the final ultimate crushing of the serpent’s head.

He deceived us and we plunged ourselves into sin, death, and suffering. 

I wonder what it was like for Adam and Eve to experience the first wave of our suffering?  The reality of what they had just done.

They will be there with all of us who have believed in the powerful shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to witness the ending of what they had begun.

Messiah (“last Adam”) will finally crush the serpent’s head.

Church of Jesus Christ will finally crush the serpent’s head. 

At the time of ultimate fulfilling of all this that has been spoken – all this suffering will end.

In the mean time – Be strong and courageous.

Preach the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scripture.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  And then teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have told you said Jesus.

“And lo I am with you always, even unto the end of this world”.

When you sit around the campfire this year, let these things sink deep into your soul.