Eight Facts about Christian Suffering: 1. Suffering is not strange or unusual for Christians (1 Peter 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:12). 2. One should rejoice when a partaker of the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13; Matthew 5:10). 3. The greater the suffering the greater the joy and glory (1 Peter 4:13; Romans 8:17-18). 4. Besides the greater glory to come the Christian has the Holy Spirit upon him now to enable him to endure (1 Peter 4:14; Romans 8:26-27). 5. Christian sufferings glorify God (1 Peter 4:14; Romans 8:17-18). 6. It is an honor, not a shame, to suffer as a Christian (1 Peter 4:16). 7. Though sufferings begin with Christians, they end in an eternal weight of damnation to the ungodly (1 Peter 4:17-18). 8. Sufferings should be borne by Christians, in patience as in the will of God, realizing that God is always faithful to His own in their sufferings (1 Peter 4:19; 1 Cor. 10:13). Ten Rewards for Christian Suffering: 1. Greater glory in heaven (2 Cor. 4:17) 2. Eternal consolation (2 Cor. 1:7) 3. Making Jesus known (2 Cor. 4:11) 4. Life to others (2 Cor. 4:12) 5. Making grace manifest (2 Cor. 4:15) 6. Guarantee of judgment (2 Thes. 1:5) 7. Reign with Christ (2 Tim. 2:12) 8. Spirit upon us (1 Peter 4:14) 9. Glory to God (1 Peter 4:16) 10. Great joy (1 Peter 4:13-14) Christian Suffering Does Not Consist of: 1. Suffering for murder (1 Peter 4:15) 2. Suffering as a thief (1 Peter 4:15) 3. Suffering for being an evildoer 4. Suffering for being a busybody (1 Peter 4:15) 5. Suffering for any crime listed in Romans 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21 Christian Suffering Does Consist of: 1. Persecution for righteousness (Matthew 5:10; Matthew 13:21; Mark 10:30; John 15:20) 2. Revilings and slander (Matthew 5:11-12; Matthew 10:25; Acts 13:45; 1 Peter 4:4) 3. False accusations (Matthew 10:17-20) 4. Scourgings for Christ (Matthew 10:17) 5. Rejection by people (Matthew 10:14) 6. Hatred by the world (Matthew 10:22; John 15:18-21) 7. Hatred by relatives (Matthew 10:21-36) 8. Martyrdoms (Matthew 10:28; Acts 7:58) 9. Temptations (Luke 8:13; James 1:2-16) 10. Shame for His name (Acts 5:41) 11. Imprisonments (Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18; Acts 12:4) 12. Tribulations (Acts 14:22; 2 Thes. 1:4) 13. Stonings (Acts 14:19; 2 Cor. 11:25) 14. Beatings (Acts 16:23; 2 Cor. 11:24-25) 15. Being a spectacle to people (1 Cor. 4:9) 16. Misunderstanding, necessities, defamation, and despisings (1 Cor. 4:10-13) 17. Trouble, affliction, distresses, tumults, labors, watchings, fastings, and evil reports (2 Cor. 6:8-10; 2 Cor. 11:26-28) 18. Reproaches (Hebrews 13:13; 1 Peter 4:14) 19. Trials (1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:12) 20. Satanic opposition (Ephes. 4:27; Ephes. 6:12) 21. Groaning and travailing because of the curse (Romans 8:17-26) Dake Topical Index.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:44:07 +0000