Trials and Errors: Our Suffering Serves Others
Feb. 28th
There are many reasons why trials come
God is trustable
You don’t need to know
Now and Not Yet
The foretaste will become face to face
Ask for the now/ Praise Him in the not yet
Rejoicing in troubles
Hold His hand through it
Our suffering serves others
2 Cor. 1:3-5 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
Mourn, Offer, Share
We have a life message
Isaiah 61:3 to bestow on them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Let your life message serve others
1 Peter 3:13-16 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life… Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
Go through trials well as a witness
Acts 16:22-23 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them
Others are listening to you!
Suffer well is a witness
Some Christians are called to endure a disproportionate amount of suffering. Such Christians are a spectacle of grace to the church, like flaming bushes unconsumed, and cause us to ask, like Moses: “Why is this bush not burned up?” The strength and stability of these believers can be explained only by the miracle of God’s sustaining grace.
Don’t pray that these Christians be released from jail — they would gladly give their lives for the gospel. Pray that their jailers would be converted.
Let your suffering serve others
