After a diving accident in 1967 left her a quadriplegic as a teen, Joni Eareckson Tada longed to be free from her suffering and walk again. After two years of intense rehab, she left the hospital in a wheelchair, still longing for a breakthrough. She eventually grew bitter and cried out for God to help her live this new normal.
While
reading the Gospel of Mark, Joni read where Jesus had been healing crowds of people,
but then He went off to be alone and pray. When His disciples found Him the next
morning, Jesus urged that they go elsewhere to preach—even though more people
needed healing. Joni noted, “That’s when it hit me . . . It’s not that Jesus
did not care about all those sick and diseased people, it’s just their problems
weren’t His main focus. The gospel was. . . . To me, physical healing had always
been the big deal, but to God, my soul was a much bigger deal. And that’s when
I began searching for a deeper healing, not just a physical healing.”1
Joni has joy in her walk with Christ. No matter how much suffering we face, God can use it to deepen our walk with Him.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
1 Peter 4:1-2
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves
also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with
sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil
human desires, but rather for the will of God.
A turning point for Joni Eareckson Tada came when, in the face of
suffering, she began to think like Christ. She cried out for help and admitted
her own weakness of unbelief, and she sought the Lord through the truth of His Word.
The Christian life is often portrayed in a positive light, to the exclusion of
any trials, difficulties, or sacrifices. But the reality is that living for
Christ can be hard. As His followers, we are to turn our backs on the former
way of life and embrace a new way of living in Christ. Our hope in Him not only
carries us through such circumstances, but gives us cause to rejoice and glory
in Christ.
Question
2:
What obstacles tend to
keep us from thinking like Christ?
The Christian life isn’t a stroll through a grassy meadow; it is a battle. This life is all-out war with our enemy, Satan, and when faced with suffering, we must use the correct weapon to fight these battles. We are to “arm” ourselves with Christ’s mindset. The weapon is our understanding—our mindset and recognition—that Jesus has already suffered in the flesh. That realization is a weapon that equips us to “live the rest of their earthly lives” (v. 2). Why do we fight with this mindset? Think back to other passages of Scripture that teach about the war we are fighting.
- “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
- “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Eph. 6:10-13).
We fight the battle first in the mind, not in the mere externals of our daily lives. Therefore, we must fight a battle of the mind with the proper mindset. God has equipped us with the mind of Christ. When we face suffering with the mind of Christ, we see it through the “wide-angle” lens of God’s will and not the shortsighted lens of our discomfort, pain, or fear. Jesus viewed His life and suffering on earth through the eyes of eternity; He knew more was at stake than the momentary pain and suffering of His death on a cross. The eternal salvation of humanity hung in the balance, so with His mind firmly fixed on the will of His Father, Jesus accomplished God’s purpose.
1 Peter 4:12-14
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has
come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that
you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because
of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God
rests on you.
Not only do we have a new mindset in Christ, but we also have cause to rejoice in our suffering. Peter knew his brothers and sisters in Christ would be tempted to respond in wonder and confusion when faced with adversity, just as we do today. So many times, we gasp or scratch our heads when we hear of another believer’s suffering, yet that response is quite contrary to what the apostle Peter outlined for us in his letter.
“So that you may be overjoyed” (v. 13). For those outside a relationship with Christ, rejoicing in suffering sounds ludicrous. The idea can be difficult for us even to comprehend because we live in a world that rails against suffering. Anything out of joint or uncomfortable must be changed immediately to ease all discomfort. But for these first century believers, the reality of suffering was a simple fact they accepted as part of the pattern for living out their faith in Christ.
FIERY ORDEALS
How would you respond to the following fiery ordeals? Choose one
and write your response.
Your
boss dislikes you because of your faith and chooses to bully and harass you in different
ways each day.
Your
relationship with a friend is in danger because the two of you have different spiritual
foundations.
Your
decision to follow Christ has caused significant strife and discord within your
extended family.
“Suffering provides the gym equipment on
which my faith can be exercised.”
JONI EARECKSON
TADA
Question
3:
When have you experienced joy
in the midst of suffering?
When we’re identified with Him and share in His sufferings, we
reveal His glory—and that’s definitely cause for celebration. Such suffering
also brings us great satisfaction. “You are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and
of God rests on you” (v. 14). The Greek language used the word for blessed to
note a state of happiness, but the New Testament writers gave it a far deeper
meaning. The circumstances of suffering are no cause for happiness, but the
believer can experience something far richer and permanent: the favor of God, a
sense of being fully satisfied.
Blessing and satisfaction come to us, not because of our
circumstances but because God is with us—and no circumstance can change that!
1 Peter 4:15-19
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Peter included a word of clarification, noting that suffering in this context is for righteousness’ sake. A person should not rejoice in the face of suffering that is a consequence of their disobedience or sinful lifestyle. Suffering for bad behavior is cause for shame, but we have no shame when we suffer for following Christ. The shame that might be associated with our suffering is overwhelmed by a life that glorifies God.
Suffering is part of our refining process. When our faith is tested and proven genuine, Jesus is praised and honored.
What aspects of your spiritual life have been refined through suffering?
Paul recognized that although they may have lost everything this world could give, they gained what this world could not take away. And that was cause for rejoicing.
No one wants to suffer, but when you do, let God be brilliantly glorified
through it. Don’t waste what God wants to do in and through the painful places
of your life. We certainly don’t have to go looking for suffering, but we do
not need to fear it when it comes. As you endure, let Him deepen your walk with
Him. Let God mold you more and more into Christ-likeness. It will lead you to
glorify God, and as others see Christ at work in you, it can be a cause for
them to also glorify God.
Question 5:
How can we bring glory to God
through our suffering?
LIVE IT OUT
How will you allow God to deepen your walk with Him through
suffering? Choose one of the following applications:
Rejoice. Choose gratitude instead of complaint. Voice a prayer of thanks to the Lord no matter what you are currently facing. Make a list of ten things that have brought you joy today, and allow that practice to set the tone for a lifestyle of rejoicing in Christ.
Memorize. To remind yourself to think with the mind of Christ, memorize 1 Peter 4:1-2: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
Listen. Talk with other believers about their trials and suffering. Listen for the ways God has deepened their walk with Him because of what they have experienced. Offer prayer and encouragement as needed.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Suffering . . . is the badge of true discipleship.
The disciple is not above his master.”2 Like Joni Eareckson-Tada and Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, we are all called to some level of suffering. How we bear that
suffering makes all the difference in our walk with Christ.
Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday evening on Zoom.
God Bless!!
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Now I don’t have to look far to find things that
bring me joy!
But “Suffering” is not one of them…
Video:
Joni Eareckson Tada – “I Can’t Do This”
Last
week in chapter 3 Peter told us that we could endure
suffering for Christ because of the hope we have in Him. He went on to say that
we should give ourselves over to it (suffering) knowing
that God’s purpose would be accomplished through it.
Last
week we saw how Andy in Shawshank Redemption had gotten to a point in his
suffering that he had to make a choice: Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying
We
talked about the parallel between enduring and surrendering.
This week Peter says we can actually experience joy in the midst of our suffering because of our hope. How could this possibly be?
1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also
with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a
result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human
desires, but rather for the will of God.
The first point Peter makes tonight is that when we suffer, we
have to begin to think like Christ. We must …
1. Have the mindset of Christ.
What do you think Peter means when he says to think like Christ
when we suffer?
· The
method we use to respond to circumstances begins in our
minds. When facing a situation, we make a decision about how to handle
it. Right then is when we have our first choice to make. He is also our example in how to deal with suffering. He is our model for enduring suffering and not giving in to
sin. Christ is the attitude we should have.
· We
should desire that God’s will be done, just as Christ did. Yielding to God’s
will enables us to resist yielding to sin. As
believers, our lives on earth are to be shaped by a desire to do God’s will,
not satisfy our personal cravings.
A Christian mindset goes beyond thinking. It's surrendering the mind over to God and
finding Christ's wisdom.
·
A turning point for Joni Eareckson
Tada came when, in the face of suffering, she began to think like Christ. She
cried out for help and admitted her own weakness of unbelief, and she sought
the Lord through the truth of His Word.
1 Peter 4:12-14
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has
come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But
rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that
you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of
the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
on you.
Peter says
here don’t be surprised by the suffering you face rejoice and …
2. Share
in the suffering of Christ.
If you
face suffering with the mind of Christ, you could come to know unsurpassed joy
and discover amazing opportunities to bring glory to God.
What’s
the difference between expecting suffering and being resigned to its
inevitability?
How
does suffering help us grow in Christlikeness?
· Christians
can expect trials will come to test the character of their faith.
· Christians
are able to rejoice in the midst of their suffering because they are in
fellowship with Christ who Himself suffered on their behalf.
· Those
who stand strong in the face of reproach are happy and blessed in the Lord.
· The
Lord blesses those who stand for Him with the power of His glory and the
refreshing presence of His Spirit.
“Suffering provides the gym equipment on
which my faith can be exercised.”
JONI EARECKSON
TADA
1 Peter 4:15-19
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any
other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a
Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time
for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will
the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard
for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to
their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
So, Peter concludes saying if you suffer as a Christian – give all
glory to God because you…
3. Identify yourself with Christ.
What makes suffering a joyful opportunity?
How does suffering reveal glory?
· Suffering as a Christian is not an occasion for shame but an
opportunity to bring glory to God.
· Suffering for Christ’s sake proves and purifies the quality of our
faith.
· The ungodly and the sinner stand hopeless before God.
· By entrusting their lives to God’s keeping, those who suffer for
Christ can stand with confidence, knowing He does all things well.
It is
an honor to be associated with His name. Being
considered worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41) is a reason to give God
glory and praise. Knowing that we are being purified like gold should
cause us to trust ourselves to God’s refining process while we continue to do
what is right.
Suffering is part of our refining process. When our faith is tested and proven genuine, Jesus is praised
and honored.
Suffering can quickly turn our focus inward. We can become absorbed in our own issues, and the object of our
affection becomes self. This is a form of pride that robs us of the joy and contentment
Jesus offers, even in the midst of difficulty. But when we take on the mindset
of Christ and rejoice that we get to share in His sufferings, the glory is
immeasurable because it’s the work of God alone. Because we are frail human beings,
who are we to face hardship head-on apart from Him?
No one wants to suffer, but when you do, let God be brilliantly glorified
through it. Don’t waste what God wants to do in and through the painful places
of your life. We certainly don’t have to go looking for suffering, but we do
not need to fear it when it comes. As you endure, let
Him deepen your walk with Him. Let God mold you more and more into Christlikeness. It will lead you to glorify God, and as others see Christ at
work in you, it can be a cause for them to also glorify God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Suffering . . . is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not
above his master.”2 Like Joni Eareckson-Tada and Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, we are all called to some level of suffering. How we bear that suffering makes all the difference in our walk
with Christ.
Conclusion:
Periods
of suffering will arise in our lives. We have our own experience and the
example of Christ to demonstrate this fact.
However,
we also have the knowledge that God is with us during our suffering. Trials
enable us to know and experience Christ more deeply. This deepens our
relationship.
·
This joy does not come from the world
·
It comes from our relationship to God
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