Suffering

Suffering

Grace Church

Mike Goolsbay

January 16, 2008

God does not always answer our prayers. Sometimes He does better.

You have one job in your life, don't quit. The moment that you do you are being held hostage by the enemy. If you don't quit, you win.

Life is not about you. There is a word that you can learn about, most people do not, is to learn about suffering. Most people will not because it is not the most pleasant thing to read and learn about.

Psalms 119:50 KJV

(50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Quicken could be preserved. Preserved does not mean just getting by, it means to continue and
flourish. You are the condition that is saving this earth. Live for something bigger in your life. Not just for yourself.

There are four basic types of suffering.

1. Suffering from stupidity (most common).

2. Suffering that does not belong to you (sickness was taken at the cross, why do you still have it?)

3. Suffering from living in an imperfect world.

4. Suffering that is a precursor to promotion.

My obstacles become my opportunities with the forth one. This where we will focus. Look at the obstacles in life and do not let them hijack your hopes and dreams.

Acts 5:40-41 KJV

(40) And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

(41) And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Suffering here is atimazō, despise, dishonor, suffer shame, entreat shamefully. They thought a joy to suffer shame for the Gospel. This is not something that we want on a day to day basis. Do we suffer from the opinions of others more than we suffer from the opinion of God? We want to be the center of every solution to every problem. That moves God out of the center.

The greatest leaders in the Bible all had three things in common. They are pain, conflict, and loneliness. These are things that you will go through on the way to promotion. The enemy, Satan, will try to attack us at this point and make us question our anointing.

2 Timothy 1:11-12 KJV

(11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

(12) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Where is your confidence (your persuasion)? If you can get where God is calling you on your own abilities, you are dreaming too small. God's call should always just be outside your reach. Many people will not like what you do. You have to make decisions. God offers clarity in those. Follow those, peace, do not follow those, you compromise and will not get where you need to be. Do not be afraid to be embarrassed in what you do. God can use it to move you forward in things. Even though it can be humiliating, it can be God ordained. It can be something better than what you wanted. Suffering can build confidence, reputation but most importantly character. God wants to build you from the inside out.

Romans 5:1 KJV

(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

We are not justified by anything but by our faith.

Romans 5:2-5 KJV

(2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

(4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

(5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We want in the end to find hope. We can live through the day when we focus on God. If we focus on the man in the mirror, we fail. Suffering for promotion God uses for preparation in our life. Confidence, character and reputation cannot be based on you, it has to be based on Christ in you. People fall great of the greatest blessing because they quit when they are just about to win. The obstacle that gets in the way for our success is most likely ourselves.

Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are King James version. The notes are based on what I heard. They may or may not reflect what the speaker said.