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Sufferings

The Christian and Sufferings

by Pastor John Khng

Why God allows sufferings to happen? Reasons for Sufferings:
  1. Because of sin or wrong doings – own sin, other people’s sin – Gen. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:15 
  2. Because of wanting to cease from sinning – 1 Pet. 4:1-4 
  3. Because of being godly – 2 Tim. 3:12 
  4. Because of being a Christian - 1 Pet 4:14,16; Jn 15:18; Ph. 1:29 
  5. Because it is God’s will – 1 Pet. 4:19 
  6. Because it is for the manifestations of God’s Work – Jn 9:1-7 
  7. Because of the chastisements of God – Heb. 12:10-11 
  8. Because it is a test of our Christian faith - 1 Pet. 4:12 
  9. Because there is a higher purpose – that we may be a comforter to others – 2 Cor. 1:1-12 
  10. Because we choose to suffer out of love, faith and obedience to God – Heb. 11:25; Acts 9:16; 1 Cor. 9:12 
  11. Because of reasons known only to God - eg. Job – to prove that a man can trust God completely without any string attached – Job 1:21; 2:10; 13;15; Paul’s infirmities – to keep him humble – 2 Cor. 12:7-10 

Why does God allow Christians to suffer? 
  1. To draw us to Himself – 1 Pet. 5:6-11 
  2. To prove our faith – 1 Pet. 4:12;13; Ja. 1:1-8; Heb. 11:25 
  3. To point us to heaven – 2 Cor. 4:17; 
  4. To enable us to comfort others – 2 Cor. 1:1-12 
  5. To train us in obedience – Heb. 5:8. 
  6. To develop our Christian character – Rom. 5:3-5 
  7. To keep us humble – 2 Cor. 12:7-10 

Why Christians should be thankful in the midst of sufferings? 
  1. God is merciful, compassionate and faithful – Lam. 3:22,23 
  2. God does not afflict the human race willingly – Lam. 3:32,33. 
  3. There is a reason for our suffering – see the above 11 reasons – can be any one of them or a combination of some of the reasons 
  4. Suffering is temporary but glory is everlasting - 1Pe 5:10 
  5. God is able to help us, comfort us and bless us in our sufferings – 2 Cor. 1:1-12. – Eg. of Job, Paul, Barnabas and Peter 
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