1. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults The Shack V – Chapters 13 to 15 Suffering and God 02.22.09

2. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults 2 Suffering and God “… just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes…Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.” How does God use suffering? Why is there suffering? What is grace?

3. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults 3 What is Suffering? Painful & Perplexing (1 Peter 1:6) Purposeful (Romans 8:28) Proving Process (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5) Purifying (Philippians 3:12-14) Un-Preventable (1 Peter 4:12) “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials” “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…” “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“ “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you…”

4. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults 4 What Causes Suffering? Consequence of Spiritual Investment (Gal. 6:8) Discipline (Hebrews 12:6) –How is discipline different than punishment? Purify/Test Faith (1 Peter 1:6-7) Need for Broken-ness Build Compassion for Others (Hebrews 4:15) Encourage Others (Philippians 1:12-14) Living in the Fallen World (John 16:33) Our Faith (2 Timothy 3:12) “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” “For those who the Lord loves He disciplines…” “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace in the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

5. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults 5 What is the Purpose of Suffering? To Testify –Glorification (1 Peter 4:16 a la "Pilgrims Progress") –Power (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) –Character (2 Corinthians 4:8-12) To Develop Sympathy for Others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) To Reduce Our Pride (2 Corinthians 12:7) To Train (Psalm 119:67, 2 Corinthians 11:24-32) To Refine Character (Hebrews 5:5, John 15:1-7, 2 Cor. 4:9-10) To Demonstrate Judgment (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16) To Broaden Us and Encourage Others (Philippians 1:12-14) “…but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” “… for when I am weak, then I am strong.” “… we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!” “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” “… always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins But wrath has come upon them to the utmost. “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

6. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults 6 (59) I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies...(65) You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word...(67) Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word...(71) It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes...(72) The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces...(97-102) O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. The Psalm 119 Suffering Roadmap (59) I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies...(65) You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word...(67) Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word...(71) It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes...(72) The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces...(97-102) O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. Before Affliction Straying and Ignoring (v67) During Affliction Learning and Turning (v59,71) After Affliction Knowing/Changing (v65,72) After Affliction Resting/Valuing (v97-102)

7. College Park Church of God | Sunday PM | Young Adults 7 Boil Down Evil is the absence of God’s presence Our choices sometimes remove God from situations, decisions, etc., creating evil There are multiple reasons and purposes for suffering/tribulation in our lives The perspective that for God to be good He must minimize our suffering is invalid The purpose of our lives is to glorify God and further His kingdom There are no guarantees about suffering or the ease of life this side of heaven