Speaker: Sis. Techie Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flcok Catholic Charismatic Community

“ Why Christians Suffer ”

“T hey disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness. At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10-11).

W hy do we, Christians, experience trials and sufferings even though we have been in the charismatic renewal for a long time?

W e like to share in Christ's glory. Should not we equally share in his sufferings? “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” (Romans 8:17-18).

“B eloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

W e often think that we suffer because circumstances around us are not good. We believe that if these circumstances change, we can act differently and rightly. These are not correct. God wants us to act rightly even if circumstances around us are not good.

Reasons Why Christians Suffer

1. LACK OF WORD KNOWLEDGE – Many Christians suffer because of their lack of knowledge of the Word of God. They are too busy seeking worldly and carnal knowledge instead of God's Word.

? “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.'…Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?” (1 Corinthians 1:19-20).

? “My people perish for want of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6).

S t. Paul was an educated man with a wealth of carnal knowledge. Then he realized the importance of spiritual knowledge. “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

L ike St. Paul , let us realize the value of learning about the spirit. “…because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.” (Galatians 6:8).

T he Holy Bible is the Word of God. Some of us can quote scriptures but we do not apply them in our lives. Let us not only read and quote the Word of God. Let us observe and follow them. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Luke 11:28).

2. DISOBEDIENCE – Christians also suffer because of their disobedience. Once we know the word of God, we have the responsibility to observe it and be obedient. If we obey God, we shall receive blessings.

? “If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19).

? “If they obey and serve him, they spend their days in prosperity, their years in happiness.” (Job 36:11).

? “If you continue to heed the voice of the Lord, your God, and are careful to observe all his commandments which I enjoin on you today, the Lord, your God, will raise you high above all the nations of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1).

W e should always be obedient to God. He will reprove us if we are disobedient. He rejected King Saul as ruler because of his disobedience and despite his sacrifice and good intention (1 Samuel 15:11 -23). “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (verse 22).

L et us obey God without delaying our action. Procrastination is disobedience.

L et us also follow what God says even when we think it is hard to do.

3. TO PURIFY AND TEST OUR FAITH – Trials and sufferings come to people even if they have been faithful in learning and obeying the Word of God. These trials come to all of us in order that our faith will be tested and purified. “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

W hen we are undergoing trials, let us have complete faith that we shall be victorious. Let us reject doubt that Satan can put in our mind. “But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the mind.” (James 1:6). With God's grace, our faith shall be purified by our sufferings.

4. A NEED FOR BROKENNESS – We suffer because of our need to be broken by God. Brokenness may strike fear to some people. It should not. It does not mean breaking our spirit by God. It actually means breaking our outer shell – the flesh. God wants to break and remove our pride, rebellion, selfishness and independence.

G od wants us to be dependent on him. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

W hen God breaks us, He puts down walls, barriers, and mistaken ideas and gives us new perspectives. We realize God's good plans for us. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe!” (Jeremiah 29:11). Our will comes into one accord with God's will.

J esus is a model of brokenness; with his bruised and battered body high on the cross, He redeemed man and took away the sins of the world. He obeyed his Father and fulfilled his mission. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:24).

B rokenness brings maturity to our lives. It is not God's way of showing who the “boss” is but of telling whom we need above everybody else.

B rokenness actually translates into wholeness. Wholeness in the Lord follows when we adopt God's plans for us. Brokenness also frees our spirit so we can love God more deeply. It breaks and gets rid of everything in our life until there is nothing left but God within us. It prepares our heart for total surrender to the Lord. Brokenness breaks us, yet it makes us whole for God.

W hat is the promise for brokenness? Victory! During times of brokenness of St. Paul , he knew he was becoming the person God wanted him to be.

5. TO BUILD COMPASSION – Suffering builds our compassion. Compassion is the feeling of sympathy for other person's misfortune. It is born out of experiencing problems. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus himself suffered and has compassion for all of us.

W hen we suffer and go through trials, we become better equipped to minister to others. Our pains are never wasted; they bring about compassion. We reach out to other hurting people and say “I have been there; God brought me through it and He will do the same for you.” We share our experience and console others.

6. TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS – Our suffering can encourage others. St. Paul proclaimed “There were many things that God allowed him to go through simply as object lesson for other people.” He added “I want you to know, brothers, that my situation has turned out rather to advance the gospel, and so that the majority of the brothers, having taken encouragement in the Lord from my imprisonment, dare more than ever to proclaim the word fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:12, 14). Even if St. Paul was in a prison, he encouraged the Christians at Philippi “Rejoice in the Lord always.” (Philippians 4:4). If we suffer ourselves, let us remain trusting in the Lord and rejoicing in order to encourage others.

7. THE WORD OF GOD – We sometimes suffer attacks from the enemy because of our involvement with the Word of God.

W hen we receive the word of God, it strengthens us and helps us keep a victorious life. Satan comes and tries to steal the Word from us. Let us not allow him to succeed. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). Let us not be afraid to be persecuted by Satan after receiving the Word of God.

8. LIVING IN THE WORLD – We live in a world full of sins . “For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16).

S t. Paul warns us “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15).

L et us not despair when we suffer. Let us take courage. “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33).