THE POSITIVE SIDE OF SUFFERING FOR THE BELIEVER

Message from Revelation 2:8-11

Calvary Chapel - St Petersburg, FL

October 1, 2006

Danny Hodges

SUFFERING FOR STANDING FOR CHRIST PROVES YOU ARE GENUINE

I Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

SUFFERING PROVES YOUR FAITH IS REAL AND YOU WON'T BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

SUFFERING WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END BECAUSE OF THE FUTURE GLORY

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

SUFFERING PRODUCES A CHRIST LIKE CHARACTER

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Hebrew 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

SUFFERING PRODUCES FELLOWSHIP TO CHRIST

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

SUFFERING PRODUCES A JOY IN THE MIDST OF IT THAT THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

SUFFERING WILL SPARK COURAGE IN OTHER BELIEVERS

Philippians 1:12-14 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

SUFFERING WILL ADVANCE THE GOSPEL

Philippians 1:12-13 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Galatians 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

SUFFERING MAKES US TOTALLY DEPEND ON GOD

II Corinthians 1:8-9 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

SUFFERING PRODUCES HUMILITY

II Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

SUFFERING IS USED AS AN AID TO KEEP GOD'S POWER RESTING ON YOU

II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

SUFFERING CAUSES YOU TO BE DONE WITH SIN. IT KEEPS YOU ON THE NARROW PATH

I Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

SUFFERING WILL GET YOU BACK IN THE WILL OF GOD

I Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Psalms 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.