Doctrine: Suffering/Testing


  1. INTRODUCTION: Suffering/testing is pain, pressure, circumstances,
ideas, or people that challenge the believer to live the daily plan of
God.
  There are two main categories of suffering/testing. They are
undeserved and deserved. Undeserved suffering/testing is the most
prominent category for the believer.


  2. UNDESERVED SUFFERING/TESTING:

   2.1.  The  CONCEPT:  Undeserved suffering/testing is part of the
normal Christian way of life. It glorifies God. It is not a result of
personal sin, spiritual immaturity, or failure to apply Bible doctrine
(Gal 4.29; Phil 1.29-30; 1 Pet 2.19-21; 3.17; 4.15-16).

   2.2.  ILLUSTRATIONS of undeserved suffering/testing:

    2.2.1. The lives of Joseph (Gen 37-50), Ruth (Ruth), Mordecai and
Esther (Esther), Christ (Mtt 2.13-15; Lk 23), and Paul (Acts 14.19;
16.19-40).

    2.2.2. General persecution that tries to stop the spread of the
faith (1 Thes 1.6).

    2.2.3. Unjust imprisonment (Acts 16.19-40; 20.23; Jer 32.1-5).

    2.2.4. Personal attacks upon the believer (2 Tim 4.14).

    2.2.5. Slander, which is to say something that damages another
(Rev 2.9).

    2.2.6. Attacks by religious people or groups. Religious legalists
persecute grace believers (Acts 9.1-2; Gal 4.29; 6.12; Col 2.16).

    2.2.7. Association with emotion controlled people (Rom 16.17-18).

    2.2.8. Forced change of residence (Acts 8.1; Dan 1.1-6).

    2.2.9. Poverty (Rev 2.9).

     2.2.10. Mental pressures caused by circumstances beyond your
control (Phil 1.17; 2.26).

    2.2.11. Illness (Gal 6.11; Phil 2.27).

    2.2.12. Pain associated with death (Acts 7.54-60; Rev 2.13).

    2.2.13. Interference by another in your life (Rom 14; 1 Cor
4.1-5).

   2.3.  GENERAL  TRUTHS  about undeserved suffering/testing:

    2.3.1. Part of the normal CWL (Acts 8.1; 14.22; Phil 1.29; Heb
10.32-39).

    2.3.2. Source of happiness and blessing (1 Pet 4.13-14).

    2.3.3. Prepares you to help others when they suffer (2 Cor 1.4).

    2.3.4. Very short time period compared to eternity (2 Cor
4.16-18).

    2.3.5. The greatest pain is very much less than the blessings we
will have in heaven (Rom 8.18).

    2.3.6. Does not separate us from Christ (Rom 8.35).

    2.3.7. Undeserved suffering/testing of the believer is an
extension of Christ's suffering/testing. The believer participates in
Christ's suffering/testing since Christ is absent and the believer is
the present representative of Christ (Phil 3.10; Col 1.24; 1 Pet
4.13).

    2.3.8. The severity of undeserved suffering/testing stays within
the endurance capacity of each individual believer (1 Cor 10.13; 2
Pet 2.9).

    2.3.9. Jesus Christ is the pattern to follow when in undeserved
suffering/testing. He gave us an example. He was strong, maintained
His momentum, did not take revenge, and did not worry (Phil 2.1-8; Heb
12.1-3; 1 Pet 4.1-2).

   2.4.  PURPOSES  for  undeserved suffering/testing.

    2.4.1. To let the believer participate in the angelic conflict
(Job 1.8-12; Matt 4.1-11; Jn 17.14-18; Eph 3.10; 6.10-13; Rev 2.10)).

    2.4.2. To promote spiritual growth (Rom 5.3-5; 2 Cor 4.11, 17;
12.9-10; Jms 1.2-4; 1 Pet 1.6-9; 4.1-2; 5.10).

    2.4.3. To test spiritual growth or learning, certainty, and
control in all circumstances (1 Pet 1.6-9; 4.12; Rev 2.9-10).

    2.4.4. To demonstrate God's grace, power, and life in the
believers's day to day life (2 Cor 12.9-10; Phil 3.10).

    2.4.5. To keep the believer's perspective of himself correct (2
Cor 12.7).

    2.4.6. To let the believer who is now present on earth and God's
representative participate  more  fully  in  Christ's
suffering/testings while He is absent (Phil 3.10; Col 1.24; 1 Pet
4.13).

   2.5. POTENTIALS to exploit during undeserved suffering/testing:

    2.5.1. Live in the Daily Plan of God or the normal Christian way
of life (Phil 4.11-13).

    2.5.2. Learn the Word of God (1 Thes 1.6).

    2.5.3. Witness for God (Acts 8.1; 11.19; 2 Cor 4.7-18; Phil
1.12-18).

    2.5.4. Continue spiritual growth and momentum (2 Thes 1.4; 2 Tim
3.11).

    2.5.5. Trust God and His provisions through the use of faith rest
(1 Pet 5.7-9).

    2.5.6. Demonstrate God's greatness, make Him visible (glorify God)
(1 Pet 4.16).

    2.5.7. Inner happiness (Jn 16.33; Rom 5.3; 2 Cor 7.4; Phil
4.11-12; Col 1.24; Jms 1.2).

    2.5.8.  Avoid depression and unhappiness (Lam 3.21-24; Eph 3.13;
Phil 4.11-13).

    2.5.9. Continue your active ministry (2 Cor 6.3-13).

    2.5.10. Grace giving (2 Cor 8.2; Phil 4.14).

    2.5.11. Gain rewards from God (2 Cor 4.17).


  3. DESERVED SUFFERING/TESTING:

   3.1. CONCEPT: Deserved suffering/testing is self caused. Man brings
it upon himself. God then intervenes and puts man under
suffering/testing or man starts events that take their natural course
under God's Master Plan and result in suffering/testing (1 Pet 2.20;
4.15).

   3.2.  CAUSES  for  deserved suffering/testing:

     3.2.1. Sin (Matt 7.1-2; 1 Pet 2.20; 4.15; Heb 12.4-11).

     3.2.2. Spiritual immaturity (1 Cor 3.1-3; Eph 4.14).

    3.2.3. Failure to apply doctrine or wrong application of doctrine
(Gal 5.15; 6.7-8; 2 Thes 3.10-11).

    3.2.4. Emotion controls the believer (2 Cor 6:11-12).

    3.2.5. God has cursed creation because sin entered the world at
the fall (Gen 3.14-19; Rom 8.19-22).

   3.3.  ILLUSTRATIONS  of  deserved suffering/testing:

    3.3.1. Individual divine discipline (Matt 7.1-2; Heb 12.5-13).
Cain (Gen 4.4-14), Saul (1 Sam 28.18-19), and Jonah (Jonah 1.1-3,12)
are illustrations.

    3.3.2. National divine discipline such as on Judah (Lamentations,
Ezek 5.12; 15; Matt 23.37-24.2).

    3.3.3. Punishment under establishment law. This is legal
punishment associated with rejection of authority (Rom 13.1-7).

    3.3.4. Eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Rev 20.14-15).

   3.4. GENERAL TRUTHS for deserved suffering/testing are the same as
for undeserved suffering/testing, except that it is not an extension
of Christ's suffering/testing (Jn 18.38-19.6; Heb 2.9-10, 14, 18;
4.15; 5.7-9; 7.26) and Jesus  Christ  never underwent  deserved
suffering/testing (Jn 19.4; Heb 4.15; 7.26).

   3.5.  PURPOSES  for  deserved suffering/testing:

    3.5.1. To warn the believer about his spiritual failure (Rev
3.19-20).

    3.5.2. To correct the believer (Matt 7.1-2; 1 Cor 5.5; 11.27-32;
Heb 12.5-13; Rev 3.19).

    3.5.3. To remove the believer by the sin unto death (1 Cor
11.27-30; 1 Jn 5.16).

    3.5.4. To protect and maintain authority and freedom (Rom 13.1-7).

    3.5.5.  To demonstrate God's sovereignty (Ezek 35.10-15; Dan
4.28-37; Acts 12.21-23).


  4. SOURCES OF HELP for the person undergoing suffering/testing:

   4.1. GOD (Psalm 3; 9; 13; 33-34; 40; 42-43; 62; Jn 16.33; 2 Cor
1.4; 12.9-11; 2 Pet 2.9; 2 Tim 3.11).

   4.2. BIBLE DOCTRINE (Ps 119.23-32,49-51; Prov 1.20-33; Matt 4.1-11;
2 Tim 3.16-17; 2 Pet 3).

   4.3. SPIRITUAL PREPARATION which begins with salvation, then
continues with growth to maturity (Jn 8.32, 36; Acts 16.31; Rom 8.1;
Eph 4.13-14; Phil 1.27-30; 4.11-13).

   4.4. Other PREPARED BELIEVERS (2 Cor 1.4; Jms 1.27).

   4.5. A GOOD WORD from other believers (2 Cor 7.6-7; 1 Thes 3.6-7).
This good word is about the Christian way of life, not a word of
personal praise.


  5. The METHOD, PRACTICE, or how to deal with suffering/testing:

   5.1. The PRINCIPLE: BE PREPARED by learning, applying, and growing.
Live in the daily plan of God. Practice God's divine operating system,
not Satan's world system (Eph 4.11-14; Phil 1.27-30; Heb 5.11-14; 6.1;
1 Pet 3.15; 2 Pet 1.2-4; 3.17-18; 1 Jn 2.15-16; Jude 17-23).

   5.2. The SPECIFIC THINGS to remember:

    5.2.1. If you are under deserved suffering/testing, first CONFESS
any personal sin that has kept you out of fellowship. This allows
deserved suffering/testing to be appreciated and turned for good. This
positions you so that you can participate in God's purposes and
resources. Then APPLY the appropriate doctrine that will enable
spiritual recovery, growth, and momentum (Rom 12.1-2; 1 Cor 11.31; Heb
6.1-12; 12.10-13; 1 Jn 1.9; Rev 3.19-20).

    5.2.2. DO NOT BE AFRAID. This means do not be occupied with the
suffering/testing or it will control you. If you become fearful you
will neutralize yourself, bring more suffering/testing on yourself,
and fail to fulfill the purposes for suffering/testing. (Phil 1.28;
Jms 1.2; 1 Pet 3.14; Rev 2.10).

    5.2.3. BE FAITHFUL to God. This means apply Bible doctrine from
the potential doctrine that is now in you. Claim your wealth, your
aristocracy, your Father's support (Ps 62; Rom 8.28-39; 2 Cor 8.9; 2
Thes 1.4; Heb 6.12; 10.32-39: 1 Pet 2.9; 5.7; Rev 2.9-10).

     5.2.4. KEEP HOLDING TO THE WORD. This means maintain the positive
posture or stance that the Word of God teaches you to have (Ps
119.23-24, 49-50; 2 Thes 2.15).

     5.2.5. APPLY THE PURPOSES for suffering/testing to yourself (see
2.4 and 3.4).

    5.2.6. EXPLOIT THE POTENTIALS that believers have during suffering
(see 2.5).


Copyright 1989 by Tod M. Kennedy
You are allowed to reproduce this article only in its entirety and
without additions or deletions.