TAKE NOTES - August 16, 2020

August 16, 2020

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2020

"The Fruit of Suffering" sermon by Pastor Daniel Mills


“Christianity teaches that, contra fatalism, suffering is overwhelming; contra Buddhism, suffering is real; contra karma, suffering is often unfair; but contra secularism, suffering is meaningful. There is a purpose to it, and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.”

–       Tim Keller in Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering

Acts 5:41 – The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

The fruit of suffering is seen in:

  • A deep desire to do the will of God
  • A deep love for one another
  • A deep joy in the midst of sufferings

1. A DEEP DESIRE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD

1 Peter 4:1-2 – For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

2. A DEEP LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER

1 Peter 4:8 – Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

3. A DEEP JOY IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERINGS

1 Peter 4:12-13 – Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

“In the secular view, suffering is never seen as a meaningful part of life but only as an interruption.”

– Tim Keller in Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering

“While other worldviews lead us to sit in the midst of life’s joys, foreseeing the coming sorrows, Christianity empowers its people to sit in the midst of this world’s sorrows, tasting the coming joy.” 

– Tim Keller in Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering

The modern secular view of suffering is that if God exists, he exists to make us happy. And this is why people try to avoid suffering and pain. But the Christian perspective and worldview actually answers the idea of sufferings because of the sovereignty and suffering of God himself. The Christian worldview is the only one that gives meaning to suffering. It gives hope!

1 Peter 1:6 – So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

1 Peter 4:19 – So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.