This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of God’s purpose of a Christians’ suffering with part 2 of last weeks study.

In honor of all the fallen American service members on this Memorial Day holiday I will put this study in the context of their suffering and ultimate sacrifice for us.

Last week we learned there is a Biblical pattern throughout the Bible that shows us that suffering can always be followed by glory, reward, blessings, exaltation and spiritual growth if we approach suffering and go through it in obedience to God.  We learn that sometimes it’s the will of God that we suffer so that He can use that suffering process to grow, purify, refine and solidify our faith. Notice in 1Pet.3:17 “if the will of God be so” and 1Pet.1:6 “if need be”, there are some things that God can only teach us thru our sufferings.

On this Memorial Day weekend, as we take time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices our fallen soldiers have offered for us, let us as a Christian nation ask God to help us grow spiritually, draw closer to Him and grow in our dependence and obedience to Him so that He can purify, refine and solidify our faith.

We see in Isa.48:9-12 that suffering is a process that God uses to refine us.  Suffering helps us learn things of God (Psa. 119:71, 67, 75).

Sometimes our natural reaction to our suffering as well as others sufferings is to reject or ask that the sufferings be removed, but sometimes enduring the sufferings are the only way God can teach us what He needs us to learn (Matt.16:21-23,  2Cor.12:8, 7, 9).

I can not think of a better way to honor all our fallen soldiers than by acknowledging they sacrificed their lives not only for our freedom, but also to draw us closer to God.

Scriptures used in today’s message:

1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Isa 48:9 For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of God’s purpose of a Christians’ suffering.

Last week we learned there is a Biblical pattern throughout the Bible that shows us that suffering can always be followed by glory, reward, blessings, exaltation and spiritual growth if we approach suffering and go through it in obedience to God.

This week we learn that sometimes it’s the will of God that we suffer so that He can use that suffering process to grow, purify, refine and solidify our faith.  Notice in 1Pet.3:17 “if the will of God be so” and 1Pet.1:6 “if need be”, there are some things that God can only teach us thru our sufferings.

In Rom.5:4 the word “patience” is translated from the Greek word “hupomonē” which means endurance, perseverance, steadfastness, solidity of faith and character.  The word “experience” is translated from the Greek word “dokimē” which means approving, trying, testing.

Psa.26 is a reflection of what David had learned from all his sufferings.  God uses suffering to grow us spiritually.

God blesses us thru our sufferings.  Jesus entered into glory after He suffered and Job was blessed two fold after his suffering (Job 42:10-12).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Isa 48:9 For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

2Co 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
2Co 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Psa 26:1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
Psa 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psa 26:3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
Psa 26:5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
Psa 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
Psa 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
Psa 26:8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Psa 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
Psa 26:12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Heb 13:5 ………..for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

This week Bro. Leo leads us on a study of God’s purpose of a Christians’ suffering.

The first thing we need to consider is the comparison of our sufferings here on earth to the glory we will have in Heaven (Rom.8:18).  There is a Biblical pattern throughout the Bible that shows us that suffering can always be followed by glory, reward, blessings, exaltation and spiritual growth if we approach suffering and go through it in obedience to God.

Suffering produces strength, endurance and spiritual growth (Rom.5:3-4).

As in all other circumstances of our lives, we can look at Jesus as our perfect example.  In Heb.2:9-10 we see that the suffering that Jesus went through is what made Him perfect and in turn a blessing to all who will believe in Him.  Our salvation is found through the sufferings of Jesus.

One of the things God uses to grow us is suffering (Mark 8:31-33).   In vs. 31 the word “must” is translated from the Greek word “dei” which means totally necessary, unavoidable, compulsory to achieve  something.  It is the suffering that has made us what we are today.  It is the suffering that allows us to accomplish something in the Lord.

Sometimes we have to suffer in order to be a blessing to someone else (1Peter 3:17-18).

Next week Bro. Leo will lead us in a deeper study of suffering.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Mar 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mar 8:32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
Mar 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Luk 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it means to the future of every Christian.

Last week we learned these three points of significance proven as a result of the Resurrection of Jesus, 1) everything Jesus claimed is true ( He is the Son of God, He and the Father are one, etc.), 2) we are justified in believing what He did on the Cross, 3) God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as sufficient for the cost of our sin debt.  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is what makes Christianity different from any other religion in the world. Jesus was raised from the dead, He lives today in each Christian via the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in every believer. We as Christians can and do experience the presence of God with us here on earth through a personal relationship with Him.

This week we learn that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a physical bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36-43).

All believers will be physically resurrected (1Cor.15:20-23).

It is Jesus who will physically change our bodies into glorified bodies like He has (Phil.3:20-21).

Only with our glorified bodies will we be able to see and know everything about Jesus (1John 1:5-7, 1John 3:2-3, 1Cor.13:9-12).

We will realize the totality of the perfect love of God (Rom.5:5, 1John 4:16-17).

God’s glory will be revealed in us when we are delivered from the bondage of sin with the redemption of our bodies (Rom.8:18-19, 21, 23-25).  In our glorified bodily form all evil results of the “curse” will be removed from us, no more pain, illness, sinful nature (Rev.21:2-4, Rev.22:1-3).

After our bodily resurrection we will not get tired or weak (Isa.40:29-31).

In our glorified bodies we will have the ability to see and walk in the light of God (Rev.21:22-23, Rev. 22:5).

The city of New Jerusalem that we will be living in measures 1500 miles by 1500 miles square and 1500 miles high with a 75 yard tall wall around it, lighted by the glory of God”s beauty (Rev.21:10-12, 14-18).

The historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the future fact of every believer in Christ!

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luk 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luk 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: ……..

Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isa 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.