Thomas - From Doubt to Devotion

John 20:24-31

John 20:19-23 records Jesus’ 1st appearance to the Disciples, minus Thomas after the Resurrection.

Just as Jesus was resurrected to Life, we have a NEW LIFE in Him.

In and through Jesus, his disciples (and us) have His Peace, His Purpose & His Power!

We can live out that new life through Him!

Today, we’re looking at good ol Doubting Thomas...

How do we reconcile last weeks sermon where Jesus gave his disciples His Peace, His Purpose & His Power with this week, where Thomas is full of doubt, even after he had walked with Jesus for 3 years?

Maybe the first takeaway would be when you’re going through hard times, don’t isolate yourself.

Have you ever had doubts?

Where you were just not sure about your faith or something in the Bible? (We all have!)

Let me encourage you before we even get started.

Doubt is not the same thing as unbelief....

Doubt is not the absence of faith; doubt is the questioning of your faith.

You can only doubt what you already believe.

Doubt is a struggle faced by the believer.

Unbelief is a determined refusal to believe.

Unbelief is the condition of the unbeliever.

...Spiritually blind with a determined resistance to God.

Let’s see how Thomas (and us) get from Doubt to Devotion so we can live that new life we have in Jesus!

Or maybe, you need to go back to step one, and getting from unbelief to belief.

Jesus said in Matt 7 Not all who call Him Lord are really His.

John 20:24-31 niv~ 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Thomas begins this passage with the same doubting that he has struggled with before.

But what we see is the progression of faith!

John 11- Jesus is heading back to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead. Thomas said, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” Strong faith!

John 14 - Jesus is telling them to not let their hearts be troubled. That he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven. Thomas replies: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Weak faith!

Our walk of faith is a process of transformation into the image of Christ!

You really can’t have faith without questions.

It’s what you do with your questions that makes a difference!

Are you looking to the world for answers??

Or do you go to God’s Word? Pray? Seek Godly council?

When questions come, IF you do that, you can go from:

Doubt to Devotion!

Hesitation to Determination!

From making excuses for disobedience,

to being an example of obedience!

We have the Peace of Jesus, The Purpose of Jesus & The POWER of Jesus!

John 20:19-23 Jesus appears, gives His Disciples Peace, Purpose and Power.

 

Jeff Stultz, National Director Broken Chains JC

”From Dope Dealer to Hope Dealer!”

John 20:1-18 – The Resurrection of Jesus

 

Show Passion clip... https://youtu.be/KDlCFqy7KG4

 

Background...  Matthew 27:62-66 - 62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

 

 John 20:1-3 NLT - Early on Sunday morning, [Sabbath was the 7th day.  Sunday was the first day.] while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

 

They weren’t able to finish the embalming process so the women decided to come back on Sunday… Mary Magdalene finds the stone rolled away from the tomb…  She runs and finds Peter and John.

 

Meanwhile another group of women arrive… Matthew 28:1-7 - Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Sometime prior to Sunrise Jesus is raised from the dead and there’s an earthquake.  Angel’s arrive on the scene and roll back the stone.

Roman Guards who are stationed at the tomb are terrified and faint.

Mary Magdalene has already discovered the Empty Tomb and she’s gone… The other group of women, arrive and see the Angel and the Angel gives them the message…

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.

 

Meanwhile, the Roman Soldiers who were stationed at the

Tomb go report what happened.

 

Matthew 28:11-15 - 11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’  (The Religious Leaders know how to spin a lie…) 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

 

Notice they didn’t go tell their Roman commander.  They go to the Religious Leaders.  These are professional Soldiers.  They could be executed for letting something like this h...

4-7-19

Jesus is Buried John 19:38-42

Last week we looked at 19:28-37 where Jesus gave up His life...

The crucifixion began at 9am on Friday, darkness fell at Noon, and around3pm, He cried out Tetelestai ~ “It is finished” and He gave up his life.

In the Temple, the curtain that blocked access to The Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom.

The penalty had been paid in full for our sin... The only way to be restored to a Holy God was made through Jesus work on the cross!

Looking at the burial of Jesus today. ​

John 19:38-42 NLT

38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

 

Only 4 verses in John.

All 4 Gospels

Jesus burial fulfilled God’s plan...

His burial fulfilled prophecy.

His burial confirmed his death.  Only Jesus had raised someone from the dead after three days...

 

Jesus death brought life to us.

Our dying to ourselves and our sin brings His life into us.

 

It’s where we get the picture of Baptism....

Here Easter Sunday...

Romans 6:4

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

What God did then is what God does now!  

He raises up the most unlikely heroes to do extraordinary things!

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus changed everything…

It did then, and it does now!

 

That’s why it’s a big deal... It’s central to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Gospel = Good News

 

Paul wrote in 1 Cor 15:2-4

2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

(False teachers are not a new thing)

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

Walk through…

19:38 ~ “Afterwards” (Jesus death)

John explains it’s the ‘Day of Preparation’. Day before Sabbath ~ Sabbath during Passover.

 

The Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging on the crosses…

 

Romans typically left the bodies on the crosses to be eaten by the birds of prey and wild animals.

If they took them down, they would leave them on the ground to be carried off and eaten.

If family or close friends wanted to take the body, they might be given permission.

So Joseph asks...

 

John 19:38

38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body.

John 19:28-37 – Jesus Gives His Life

(Again, this is shared in all 4 Gospels:  Matt. 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49)

Look at Matthew 27:45-56 before we go to John…  Jesus was crucified at 9 AM on Friday.  (Mark 15)  

 

Matthew 27:45-46– 45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.   Darkness =  a sign of sin, of judgement…  Jesus taking on the sin of the world…  Jesus became sin (darkness, judgement) for us!

 

46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”  (“Elowee, Elowee, Lama Sa-bach-than-i) which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Psalm 22:1)

 

Why does Jesus feel as if God has forsaken/abandoned Him?

* Jesus voluntarily steps down from the throne of Heaven (John 6:38, Phil. 2:1-11) to be the Sacrifice for God, to pay the price (shed His blood) for sin, ALL sin and fulfill the promise of God from 3:15.

* Jesus was God, had never experienced sin, never experienced separation (broken relationship) with God the Father. (Sin does that.)

* 2 Corinthians 5:21 - “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

* Sin breaks the relationship with God! A Holy God can’t look upon sin.  Habakkuk 1:13 –  Your eyes (God’s) are too pure to look on evil, you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.  

Jesus did that for God and us…  so we can be restored to the right relationship with God!  LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MINUTE!!!

 

 

Matthew 27:47 - 47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah… 49 Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him. 50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

They were mocking him…  He’s calling for Elijah!

 

The book of Malachi 4:5-6, prophecies Elijah’s return before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord… the Jewish people still believe that Elijah will come before the Messiah comes back.

Jesus revealed that in Matt. 11:13-14, that John the Baptist, was the fulfilment of Malachi 4:5-6.  Matt. 11: 13-14 - 13 All the prophets and the law of Moses told about what would happen until the time John came. 14 And if you will believe what they said, you will believe that John is Elijah, whom they said would come.

 

John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah…  fulfilling the same role in the New Test. that Elijah did in the Old Test.

 

Now to John 19:28-37 NLT - 28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” (Psalm 22:15; 69:21) 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.

* Thirst was due to the physical abuse He had taken and His physical condition. It was a sign that his body was shutting down and close to death.

* Jesus thirst also fulfilled the Prophecy of Psalm 22:15.

 

* I also believe He was thirsty to be restored to His rightful place on the Throne, with God the Father!

 

WHAT ARE WE THIRSTY FOR?! 

* Are we Thirsty for GOD?! For that “Restored relationship with Him!”  The one that HE WANTS us to have?!

* Are we tired of drinking from the cesspool the world gives us to drink? In Jesus we never thirst again!

* Are thirsty for THAT day when we’re with God or are we satisfied with our earthly kingdom.

* Unless you’re drinking, filling up on JESUS… YOU’RE THIRSTY! The sad thing is that some of us don’t know we’re thirsty.

 

 

John 19:1-16 – Jesus Flogged

Pick it up in John 18:39-40 - 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” 40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

John 19:1-16 NLT - Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

 

I really believe Pilate thought he was helping Jesus…  to save Him from the death penalty.

 

Roman Flogging/Scourging:

* Used as a form of punishment for a crime.

* A method of torture to get a confession.

* Used to weaken the individuals who were to be crucified so they would die more quickly on the cross.

* Whipped up to 40 lashes (Jewish Law), but unlimited with the Romans.

* Used Cane pole, short leather whip (Flagrum, Scourge), Cat of nine tails, etc… Anything they could dream up to make the scourging as painful as possible.

 

 IF you want an Illustration of the Flogging of Jesus – Search: The Flogging of Jesus – The Passion of the Christ. 

 

How it was performed:

* The individual was taken to a large pillar/block, hands bound to it.

* The upper half of the body was exposed, and sometimes the person would be stripped naked.

* Roman soldiers (Lictors) would whip the individual.

* The person being Flogged would usually collapse from shock.

* Soldiers went beyond their usual orders to whip Jesus. They were teaching this Jew, this “king” a lesson. (Keep in mind the Romans had been involved since Jesus arrest in the Garden.)

* In between strikes, they would ‘mocked’ Him as a King, humiliate him.

* They would slap him, punch him in the face, spit on him.

* They put a royal robe (cloth) across His shoulders to mock Him as king, and twisted a crown of thorns and put on his head.

* Some historians state there were 4 – 6 “Lictors” Romans soldiers who whipped Jesus because it was so brutal.

* Keep this in mind, Jesus, when he was praying in the garden was sweating drops of blood… Hematidrosis, which caused the skin to be extremely sensitive.

* And by the end of the flogging Jesus would hardly be recognized, face and body bruised, bloodied and ripped to pieces.

 

* 4 -7 - 4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”   In other words: Look at him… Is this enough!  Is this enough for you?!

6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”

This is the 2nd time Pilate has given them permission to execute Jesus.  They aren’t going take that responsibility for fear of the People.

7 The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”

 

NOW, the Truth finally comes out as to why Jesus is brought before Pilate.  “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”

 

In other words Jesus has Blasphemed God.

John 18: 28-40 - Jesus before Pilate…  Truth on Trial.

John 18:28-40 NLT - 28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas (High Priest) ended in the early hours of the morning.  (We’ve already had two illegal trials Annas House, Caiaphas House and this one before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin was the 3rd.) Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.  (Now the 3 Roman Trials begin.) His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover.  (Passover was part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which took place over 7 days.  The main meal usually came on the last 2 days, so there’s no contradiction about the Passover being over.)

By the way, there was no such law about going into a Gentiles quarters and being “defiled.”  This was a rule established by the Religious leaders to push the Gentiles further and further away.   (NOTE: They don’t want to be defiled by going into Gentile territory but they’re absolutely fine with murdering an innocent man, the Messiah!!   HYPOCRISY! )

29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” 30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

They never answer Pilate and share what crime Jesus committed.   They just want the death penalty.  Notice their pride…   If we brought Him to you then He’s guilty.   

 

There was a great deal of hatred between Pilate and the Jewish people and the Jewish people and Pilate.

Pilate: Governor of the Judea from 26 – 36 AD. 

Other Roman Governors were tolerant of the Jews and their Religious customs but Pilate didn’t care.

* Because of the Jews hatred for “idols” the Romans leaders would remove images of the Emperor from flags, horses, chariots, etc… But when Pilate first came to Jerusalem he didn’t remove the images.

Religious leaders protested for a week, hounding Pilate.  He eventually met them in the Amphitheater with his soldiers and he threatened them…  “Go home or be executed.”   They bared their necks and laid down at the Soldiers feet and called his bluff…  Pilate was forced to remove the images.

* Pilate constructed aqueducts to transport water from near Bethlehem to Jerusalem. A good thing… everyone wanted/needed water.  However, Pilate funded the project from the Temple Treasury!  The Religious leaders and people were furious and once again started a riot. Romans had to get involved to put down the riot and many Jewish people were killed.

* In honor the Emperor… Pilate set up several golden shields at his headquarters in Jerusalem inscribed with “Dedication to the Divine Tiberius.” (Tiberius Caesar) The shields were tolerated in other cities with no problem, but this was Jerusalem. The Religious leaders and people once again went nuts, formed a riot, as they wanted the “idols” removed.  Pilate refused.

This time King Herod Antipas and his brothers backed the Jewish people and eventually they sent a letter of protest to the Emperor.

The Emperor ordered Pilate to take down the shields and warned Pilate about offending the Jews and their customs.

Pilate didn’t need any more riots or trouble with the Religious Leaders and the Jews or his career would be over.  He would be banished to exile or worse could be crucified himself.

 

* 31-32 – Pilate says, 31 “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

Pilate is giving them what they want.  Judge him by your own law… in other words take care of it yourself.  Why are you bothering me… this has nothing to do with me…  If he’s worthy of death, then you go and kill him.   (They would have stoned him to death.)

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone...

John 18:15-18, 25-27 Peter’s Denial

John 18:11-24 Jesus Arrest and Trials

John 18:11 - Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”   Shall I not fulfill my purpose?

Just before Jesus prayed in John 17 the last thing He shares is John 16:33 - 33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

People struggle with that!! WHY!!!

Part of the reason is that preachers are teaching that God is here to make us rich and heal us from every disease and every difficulty….  That it’sGod’s job to make us happy!  

THAT’S JUST NOT BIBLICAL!!  

God’s purpose for us is to make us HOLY!

Jesus suffered for us…. We should not expect that we will not have to suffer for Him…

Biblically, we don’t HAVE to, we GET to!!

We suffer because:

• Fallen world

• Disobedience

• God’s Discipline (not punishment – Jesus endured my punishment for my sins)

• We follow Christ

• Helps us grow & mature in Christ

• Equips us for ministry

• Strengthens our faith & hope in Jesus

• God’s primary method for pruning, purging sin, and purifying us…. Making us HOLY.

• Reveals true followers of Jesus.

Jesus went through 6 trials….

3 Jewish (Guilty), 3 Roman (not guilty)

JD looked at the first 3.

Jewish leaders were still more interested in preserving their position than seeking their Messiah.

Jesus clearly identifies himself as the Messiah by referencing OT prophecy.  

Intentional Ignorance still at play. They didn’t want to believe!

After a while, they’ve become blind to the truth.

Jesus clearly is God…. He just wasn’t THEIR GOD!

This week we’re looking at Peter denying Jesus 3 times.

John 18:15-18, 25-27

While Jesus was tried & suffered, Peter was tempted & sinned.

18:15-18 ~ 15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”  “No,” he said, “I am not.”

18 Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

(19-24 Jesus trial with Annas, Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin covered last week)

25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”

26 But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

We’ll be bouncing around the gospels again this week to get a clearer picture of the events around Peter denying Jesus.

Reminder: Jesus had told Peter that this time was going to come (John 13:38, Matt 26:34, Luke 22:34).

Luke 22:31-34 ~ 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”

34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Don’t miss that Satan asked to sift all of them… It’s why they ran… Satan tempted – they took their e...

John 18:11-24  – Jesus Arrested and Tried

 

John 18:11 - Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”   Shall I not fulfill my purpose?

 

Just before Jesus prayed in John 17 the last thing He shares is John 16:33 - 33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

* How often do we try and avoid suffering? (Nobody is looking to suffer… We’ll I think I’ll go find a way to “Suffer” today!)

* Also, how often do we try and help others AVOID THEIR suffering? We think we shouldn’t Suffer… especially followers of Jesus shouldn’t have to suffer.

 

Why does God allow all this suffering anyway?! ( Need to address this…)

IF God loved us He wouldn’t allow us to Suffer…  Or why does God allow the “innocent” to suffer.  

 

Suffering is a “MAJOR” issue or reason a lot of people won’t, or don’t’ Surrender to Jesus Christ.

* We suffer because we live in a fallen world. Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience we’re all subject to the consequences of sin. It wasn’t God’s plan!  God gave them free will to choose!

* We suffer because of our disobedience and the disobedience of others. It’s a consequence of our choices and our behavior.  (Failure to admit that show just how full of pride we are!)  6:7-9 - 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

* There are no “innocent” people. Romans 3:23 - For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  (Those who have reached the age of accountability and those who haven’t.)

* Suffering is part of God’s Discipline. 12:9 - 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? (And really live.)

* We Suffer for being a Follower of Christ! 2 Tim. 3:12 -  … All who want to live a Godly life in Jesus Christ will be persecuted.   Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

* Suffering helps us grow, develop and mature in Christ. It’s not random, or without purpose.   Romans 5:3-5 … we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

* In the Body of Christ, we help each other through the suffering NOT to avoid it! It’s the way we express our love for each other!    6:2 - “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

* It “equips us” for Ministry and provides a way to minister to others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 – God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

* It strengthens our Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ! 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits (inner being) are being renewed every day.17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.