Suffering, by Sis. Stephanie Part 2

Part 2!

From the last post we stopped at how Israel didn't appreciate God's love on them, and this caused God to suffer because they sinned and He grieved.

God also suffered like us. He suffered when He sent His son Jesus down to earth and became human. Jesus lived among us and suffered temptation, hurts, and pain.

Jesus was the Suffering Servant.

Christ being the Suffering Servant was a Messianic title that could only be held by Jesus, and this can be read from Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:1-3 - A plant

Isaiah 53 talks about the servant that suffers and that servant was Jesus.

Jesus was like a plant then grew in a desert, waste land. Meaning, being the mighty and powerful God He is, He became human and lived among us.

Isaiah 54:4-6 - A lamb

Verse 4-6 shows us how Jesus was the lamb that is the perfect sacrifice and took our punishment. Why did He take our punishment? Because of our sins, God has to judge it, and because the punishment that is due is too much, Jesus as the servant took our place.

But because of Christ obedience to God, God is exalted.

Isaiah 53:12 Thus being a king.

Why do we suffer? Knowing what suffer is, and that even God suffers, why do we have to go through it?

What is the purpose of suffering?

• For sanctification and growth
• Character - Romans 5:3-5 : ....rejoice in our sufferings.... produce perseverance.... character... hope.
• Refining - Hebrews 12:10-11 : ... holiness... righteousness, peace.
• A New Nature (Transformed) - 1 Peter 4:1 : .... whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin...

So what are we to do when we Suffer?

• We should follow Jesus when we suffer
• We should endure - go through it patiently
• We should trust God to pull us through, to deliver us.

Romans 5:3-5 (The Message)

³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Sidenote*

Finally! I am finished with this topic!!! All thanks goes to Sis. Stephanie for sharing it and glory to God for teaching it to us. This really explains in detail why we suffer, what is suffering, how we suffer, and how to get through it. It's really informative :P

Next up is last weeks message by Pastor Caleb! About how we go through hard times or storms in our lives! This is a great follow-up to this topic that is why I planned to post this first before Pastor's message so that we can have a better understanding of it.

I should be done with it by tomorrow after I get back home and all.

Cyaz