Everyone experiences affliction in their lives. The Bible relates how people and nations experience suffering in various ways for a variety of reasons. Evil is everywhere in this fallen and sinful world, and because of this, suffering is bound to follow. Scriptures present multiple perspectives on the cause of suffering. It can be brought upon as a form of punishment for sins against the divine moral order. The wicked would surely suffer for their evil ways (Ps. 7:15-16), even though they might prosper for a time (Job 21:28-33). Also, affliction can be caused by straying away from the God’s Word (Mal. 3:7-15).

   When we see the righteous suffering, we must consider God, who sent His only Son into an evil world. The writers of the New Testament incorporated the trials of Christ into their owns lives. The purposefulness and necessity of suffering in the life of the Son of God (Matt. 16:21) helped them in coping with their own. Early Christians recognized the inevitability of their suffering. As Christ suffered, so would they (Acts 14:22; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Continuing in the mission of Christ, they would incur tribulation (Mk 13:12-13) because the world hates the disciples as much as it did their Lord (John 15:18). Suffering for His sake is counted as a privilege by those who love Jesus (Acts 5:41)

   The New Testament also teaches of other types of suffering than that incurred by Christian living. These kinds of trials are meant to develop maturity in  faith (James 1:2-4). We ought to endure patiently the trials we face because God is working His purpose out in His children’s lives (Rom. 8:28-29). We grow stronger spiritually through trials (Heb. 12:11). Therefore, be patient in your affliction (Rom. 12:12), for no present suffering compares with the rewards that await the faithful follower of Christ (Rom 8:17,18). Let God’s perfect power work through you in all trials! Amen!

Key Text:                   1 Peter 1:6-7

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Theme:

Christianity has never promised a trouble-free life on Earth. We must all undergo various trials during our lives in this world. But keep this in mind: Our trials are not designed to destroy us, but to strengthen us. They are designed for the testing of our faith. Tried faith is much more value than tried gold. Gold will eventually perish in the flames, but faith that is refined will never fail! Allow your faith to be the kind of faith than endures and results in praise, honor and glory after it as been refined! For Christ will come soon to bring us to eternal peace! In this, we greatly rejoice and eagerly await His coming! AMEN!

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Pray at all times! Be faithful in prayer

   when faced with various trials! Pray that the

    Lord may have the victory in your situation!

2. Fellowship! It is important to seek

    encouragement from the saints. Let God

    use His people to help you through your

    trials!

3. Give thanks to the Lord! Give God the

    praise in all circumstances.

4. Trust in God! He cares for you! Put all

    your circumstances in His hands!

May the Lord richly bless you!

Rising Above The Affliction!

I. Job, The Faithful Servant

 A. The Setting

   1. Chapter 1:1-5

       a. He was an upright man

           --He feared God and shunned evil

            (see Prov. 16:6)

       b. He was prosperous

           --He had a great family

           --He had a great wealth

           --Family of merriment

 B. The Test

   1. Chapter 1:6-12

      a. Enters The Accuser

            --Satan accuses Jöb of being motivated

              by material gain

            --Satan accuses Job a hypocrite

      b. God allows Satan to try Jöb’s faith

   2. Chapter 1:13-20--Test 1: Take possessions

       a. Enemies kill servants and steal livestock

       b. Other servants and livestock killed

           by fire

       c. Other enemies kill servants and steal

           livestock

      d. His oldest son’s home broken by a desert

          storm, killing all his children

      e. Job upset but remains true to God

   3. Chapter 2:1-10--Test 2: Take health

       a. Boils from head to toe: OUCH!

       b. Wife tells him to curse God and die

       c. Job understood he must take the good

           with the bad

  4. Chapter 42:12f

      a. Job rewarded for his faith: proven to be

          pure and refined

II. Conclusion

James 5:10-11

   --Stand firm and wait for the Lord!

   --Look unto Job’s attitude and the result

      of his faith in trials

Warm-up:

Have you ever lost a relative, job, or anything else that has turned your life upside down? Explain what happened and how you felt.

See To It                                  Job 1-2; 42:12f

1. Read chapter 1. What kind of man was Job?

    Describe his person, life and family.

2. What did Satan accuse Job of?

3. Why did God allow Satan to torment Job?

    What was the purpose?

4. How did Job respond to the taking away of

    his sons, daughters, servants and livestock?

5. How was his relationship with God?

6. Read chapter 2:1-10 What did Satan accuse

    of now?

7. How did Job reason out his plight?

Seeing It Closer:

1. Read chapter 42:12-17 What did Job gain from

    this terrible experience?

2. How does this relate to the Christian today?

3. How are we to approach trials and tribulations?

4. What does Satan want to you to do when you go

    through various trials? God?

Getting To It:

Pray for each other that our faith, when tested, will be proven to be genuine. Pray that each of us can praise the Lord in all circumstances, trusting in Him to see us through all of our afflictions!