Ten Reasons Why We Suffer

from Crosswalk.com

I have heard many speak recently to what it is like to “suffer well”. I will be teaching more on this on Monday night, Jan. 16th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the church building for the Gospel Institute, but below are some thoughts for you to consider. This Monday is TRY IT NIGHT at the Gospel Institute, so please come join us with no strings attached. All are welcome to join us. 

Ten reasons why human beings suffer:

1. Satan – God has given Satan limited rulership of this world, limited in time and in his ability to wreak havoc. Satan can do nothing that God does not allow him to do. (see Job 1:10; 2:1; 1 Cor. 15)

2. The Fall has brought exhaustive entropy. The universe is running down. We live in a world of deterioration>decay>destruction>death.

3. The world system is ruled by Satan; a fallen system of ideals, beliefs, etc.

4. Personal Entropy – The effects of personal, physical deterioration create a myriad of hardship and struggles that tempt us to sin.

5. The flesh and the noetic effect on the human mind – flawed thinking, internal distress, emotions, sin-nature, passions; lust of the flesh/eyes/pride of life

6. The Law of Harvest – The consequences of our own sin can bring great suffering.

7. Punishment – God punishes the wicked, e.g. Pharaoh, Sodom, Gomorrah.

8. Evil – suffering as a result of being sinned against by others, e.g. Naboth at the hand of Jezebel and Ahab.

9. Discipline from God - to the believer; David suffered as a result of God's discipline for his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah.

10. Display God’s Glory – God orchestrates all suffering for his ultimate glory, however sometimes God chooses to use specific events of suffering to display His glory, e.g. the blind man (John 9:1-7), the crucifixion.

Suffering is also the topic of our 2nd annual counseling conference. For more info on the conference, go here.

Pastor Kent