1. 1 Benefits Of Suffering

2. 2 Introduction  There are many reasons Why men suffer:  Their own sins  The sins of others  As a faithful Christian standing for the truth – standing with God because we love Him

3. 3 Introduction  Suffering may be either beneficial or destructive – it depends upon how the one suffering reacts to it  Suffering can be the source of wonderful blessings if we react in the right way!

4. 4 1. Suffering Helps The Suffer To Know Himself  One of the greatest needs of man is to know himself

5. Ps. 139:23-24 5

6. 6 1. Suffering Helps The Suffer To Know Himself  Mt. 26:21 ff  Before he was severely tested (which he failed) – Peter thought he was a tower of strength  However, the actual testing “introduced Peter to himself”

7. 7 1. Suffering Helps The Suffer To Know Himself  We may not really know ourselves until we have been put into “the crucible of suffering”

8. 8 2. It Helps Us See What Is Really Important  In the midst of great suffering we come to see what is really important  Wealth, power, popularity and such like have little appeal to a dying man

9. 9 3. It Helps Us To Be Thankful For Our Blessings  We often take our blessings for granted  Let us remember that all good gifts come from God  Be thankful for the privilege of prayer, for salvation, the privilege of worship etc.

10. 10 4. Suffering Helps Us See The Value Of Prayer  2 Ch. 33:9-13

11. 11 5. Suffering Helps Us Better Understand The Fatherhood Of God  Mt. 6:9

12. Mt. 7:7-11 12

13. 13 6. Helps Us To Better Understand Our Love For Others  When we see others suffer even to the point of dying, it helps us to better understand how much they mean to us – how much we truly love them  1 Cor. 13

14. 14 7. It Helps Us To See That The Darkest Hours May Come Before The Brightest  How many give up too soon?

15. 2 Cor. 5:7-8 15

16. Gal. 6:9 16

17. Rev. 2:10 17

18. 8. Some Spiritual Heights Are Only reached By Going Through The Valley Of Affliction & Tears 18

19. 2 Cor. 4:17-19 19

20. Deut. 4:40 20

21. Deut. 4:30-31 21

22. Ps. 119:71 22

23. Conclusion  “Suffering provides the suffering an opportunity to ‘begin anew’ the monumental task of building the kind of life God would have him build” 23

24. Conclusion  Instead of reacting bitterly against God each suffer should realize that he and his family may be richly blessed 24

25. Job 13:15 25

26. References  Spiritual Sword, Blessed Are Those Who Suffer---Faithfully (Mt. 5:10-12), Vol. 4 #3 26