Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
Why God made us like He did. Reasons for personal suffering, Part 8.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
ROM 9:19, You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?”
Why God allows human suffering.
a. The most obvious reason why we suffer is because we have a free will and God allows us to make our own decisions as well as allowing the consequences of those decisions to prevail.
PSA 25:9, He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.
b. On the other hand, there is a category of suffering that does glorify God.
The one category of suffering that glorifies God is undeserved suffering or suffering for blessing.
Under undeserved suffering or suffering for blessing, the believer is challenged to use the problem solving devices, and the different forms of rationales.
The doctrinal rationales include: the essence of God rationale, the plan of God rationale, the policy of God rationale, the a fortiori rationale.
(a) There is what we call preventative suffering which is added to the first stage of spiritual adulthood, to strengthen it to the point of greater spiritual growth.
Preventative suffering is defined as short-termed suffering from the sovereignty of God for the benefit of the believer.
Often the purpose of preventative suffering is to learn obedience, self-discipline, and therefore enforced and genuine humility.
2CO 12:7, And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, [Paul’s tremendous insight into the mystery doctrine of the Church-age],
for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, [lest he should become arrogant because of the extraordinary quality of revelation, mainly the mystery doctrine of the Church-age],
The word given is
aor-pass-ind,
verb edothe the passive voice means that this was given for a blessing and benefit.
It may not feel good for you but it is good for you.
The thorn in the flesh was an angel from Satan who was assigned to torment the apostle Paul to keep him from becoming arrogant.
The thorn in the flesh was an angel from Satan who kept Paul in constant touch with his limitations.
The thorn in the flesh tormented Paul by using members of the human race to persecute and harass Paul.
When a believer has a lot of doctrine, he needs to keep himself from arrogance and therefore there are times when God allows the kingdom of darkness to torment one of God’s children for their own benefit.
Prin - Preventative suffering, like all suffering for blessing, is not designed to be removed by prayer.
2CO 12:9, And He has said to me
perf-act-ind,
the verb to say is eireken and it means that Paul remembered something that the Lord had taught him.
Many believers don’t understand that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.
A person who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
Only through experiences of trials and sufferings can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
2CO 12:9, And He had said to me -, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power [the power of God given to the believer in spiritual adulthood]
is perfected in weakness [or when you are unable to rely on your human strength or your human assets].”
This is a reference to our Lord’s attainment of spiritual maturity when He was on earth
Everything necessary to fulfill the spiritual life in PPOG was provided in eternity past by way of our assets in the Portfolio of Invisible Assets.
Suffering becomes a spotlight to the angels in the angelic conflict focusing on God’s power and our simultaneous weakness, weakness brought about by suffering for blessing.
Suffering for blessing focuses on God’s grace, and turns boasting away from self-glorification into worship, love, and appreciation for God.
This is boasting in a good sense, which looks away from Paul and toward the grace provision of God.
It is not boasting to glorify self, but the dynamic mental attitude of spiritual self-esteem facing preventative suffering.
2CO 12:10, Therefore I am well content with weaknesses [when I go through preventative suffering], with insults [a reference to slander and people testing],
with distresses [a reference to pressure and thought testing], with persecutions [a reference to system testing], with difficulties [a reference to stress and disaster testing],
Spiritual growth develops spiritual muscle from passing these four warm-up tests with the result of the believer becoming spiritually self-sustained.
1. Insults , a reference to slander and people testing.
2. Distresses, a reference to pressure and thought testing.
3. Persecutions , a reference to system testing.
4. Difficulties, a reference to stress and disaster testing.
(1) In personal love or admiration, the recipient of your love often controls your life or causes you unhappiness, unless you have attained some stage of spiritual adulthood.
(2) In personal hatred or animosity, the object of your antagonism or irritation often has control of your life or happiness, unless you have advanced to spiritual adulthood.
Under the PPOG, God designed His plan so that your happiness will always reside in you, and you do not depend on people or things for your happiness.
You are supposed to have personal control of your life, a personal sense of destiny, self-confidence from metabolized doctrine, and therefore, poise and command of self.
Therefore, you bring your happiness to others but do not lean on others or circumstances for your happiness.
ISA 32:6a, For a fool speaks nonsense,
PSA 119:63, “I am a companion of all those who respect Thee, And of those who keep Thy precepts.”
MAL 3:16, Then those who respected the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who respect the Lord and who esteem His name.