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Bible Study: Why Do Christians Suffer? Why Some Suffer.

Why so many Christians suffer and fail to live the blessed, prosperous, healthy life of victory that is promised in the Word of God. Learn why so many Christians suffer needlessly in this summary of the Audio CD "Why Some Suffer"

Scripture Study:
"As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like the godless people live: in the vanity of their mind. They are SELF-BANISHED and SEPARATED from the life of God with no share in it; this is because of their ignorance and willful blindness due to their hardness of heart"  [Ephesians 4:17 - CEV & AMP]
     

Question:
If you were to ask the average Christian what they thought was the cause of the majority of their problems and troubles - what do you think their answer would be? Depending on whom you asked, you will probably hear a variety of answers:

-- Lack of finances (Not enough money)
-- Problems with their spouse (infidelity, lack of communication etc)
-- Problems with their children
-- Problems at work (a co-worker, an employee, their boss etc)
-- Health Problems
-- Substance abuse (by you, your spouse - kids or relatives)
-- Etc.

Some might even get real spiritual and say that the devil is the cause of all their troubles...and quote  well-known scriptures like: 'he goes about like a roaring lion seeking to devour who he will'. [1Pt:5:8]

The truth is that not one of these reasons is correct.
The Bible states clearly what the REAL problem is and the answer is found in Hosea 4:6:
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because they have rejected knowledge."
  
Notice that according to the Bible: the cause of EVERY problem that you are currently facing is one of two things:
-- A lack of knowledge or
-- A rejection of knowledge

Contrary to what so many Christians say every day:
-- It's not your spouse
-- It's not your children
-- It's not your job
-- It's not a co-worker - employer - supervisor or employee
-- It's not that you don't make enough money
-- It's not your health
-- It's not the devil
-- Etc.

Yes, all these are common woes that Christians experience - but these are symptoms not the cause. They are the result of the problem - not the cause of it.

How can you say that Brother?
I don't - it's what God says:

God is the one who has said that "My people are DESTROYED for LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: because they have REJECTED KNOWLEDGE." [Hosea 4:6]

Notice that he didn't say that his people are destroyed because they "don't make enough money" - or because their spouse has been unfaithful - or their children are uncontrollable - or they have cancer - or they can't find a decent job - the devil has hold of them...etc.

NO! He said that the reason His people are DESTROYED is because they either have NO knowledge, or they have REJECTED the knowledge that has been given.

That doesn't mean that Christians don't experience problems. 
As long as you are on earth in your body as it is, you will experience problems - but those problems should not destroy you! "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all." [Ps:34:19] 

According to the Word of God... nothing can destroy your finances, health, marriage, children, career etc - EXCEPT the lack of knowledge - or - your rejection of knowledge. 

Common Problems:
Believe it or not - any problem that you may be currently dealing with is a COMMON one! And it is similar to those faced every day, by every other Christian since Christ went to the cross.

"There is no trial that has come on you that is nothing but that which is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tried beyond your ability (in Him) to bear; but will with the trial also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. " [1Cor: 10:13]

We love to think of our situation as: 'Special'. But the truth is that our situation is common (not special) - and the answer lies in our understanding of God and how He says we should deal with it (escape) - and NOT reject the knowledge offered.

THE REAL PROBLEM
Today's Christian, as a rule, does NOT esteem the Word of God, as he/she should. They treat the Word like it is negotiable: A suggestion - rather than the source of LIFE. Something that can be interpreted many ways all of which are acceptable.

Not so brothers and sisters! The Word of God is not open to private interpretation [2Pt:1:20]- nor is it negotiable! It is the source of life [John 6:63] - and victory to everyone who will believe it and do it! [James 1:22-23]

Blessings and Curses:
The Word of God contains numerous promises of blessing for the doer of the word - But the Word of God also promises that refusal to DO the Word (all of it) will result in: hunger, thirst, sickness, poverty, nakedness, lack of all things and finally: destruction. [Deut: 28:48]

Rejecting knowledge:
I have seen Christian after Christian in dire need of help...but they simply REFUSE to be helped. They refuse to accept the truth and to act on the Word of God and/or the prompting 
of the Holy Spirit.

They will use every reason (excuse) in the book NOT to OBTAIN the information they need - or worse - they REJECT the Word of God that is the key to delivering them from their situation....and they suffer the consequences: Every Time!.

WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER - AND KEEP ON SUFFERING:
The Bible says that Christians are alienated (self-banished) from the life and the blessings (promises) of God because of their ignorance (lack of knowledge) and/or because of the blindness of their heart (rejection of knowledge). [Eph 4:17-18]

They do this in any number of ways - but the final result is always the same. 

1. If a Christian fails to OBTAIN the knowledge needed to deal with a situation...then the result will be destruction.
2. If a Christian REJECTS the knowledge provided that is meant to deal with a situation...then the result will be destruction.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE:
So often, the problem is that the average Christian has no clue WHAT is needed to help them in their time of Crisis.

That is because they usually blame the source of the problem on something other than what it actually is: Their own lack of knowledge - or the rejection of knowledge.

God always endeavors to help them. Unfortunately they often do not realize that it is God speaking. So they REJECT the very thing that can help them.

GOD HELPS US:
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers...For the perfecting (maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." [Eph: 4:11-12]

God has provided different ministries to assist the believer in OBTAINING the knowledge that they need in order to live a VICTORIOUS life.

Yet time and time again Christians fail to act. 
-- They NEED help
-- They NEED knowledge
-- They NEED to be taught

But they find every reason they can think of NOT to go and GET it!

What's So Bad About That?
Because there are consequences for decision we make - and everything we do!

Yet, even though the Word clearly teaches that we are to 'Acknowledge and consult the Lord in EVERYTHING we do' [Prov: 3:6] - for the most part the average Christian fails to do this - and then they wonder why they face the problems they do.
 
They are confused, and bewildered as to why things are NOT like the Bible says they should be - and more often then not - they blame it on the devil - instead of placing the blame where it lies - with them!

Listening to the Spirit:
Most Christians don't realize when it is GOD speaking to them in an effort to help them. For example:

• How many times have you missed the special services at your church?
• How many times have you been invited to a prayer meeting but didn't go?
• How many times have you been invited to hear a guest minister and didn't act on it?
• How many times have you been given a tape or a book by a friend for you to read - but you didn't bother?
• How many times have you been invited to a certain Bible Study - but you just never seem to make it?

GOD SPEAKS:
The average Christian doesn't associate these invitations with the fact that it is God speaking - trying to get them to a place where they can obtain the knowledge that they need to deal with the situation that they are facing? 

• It isn't just some church trying to 'fill their pews"
• It isn't just some well-meaning friend that has a book or tape that just happens to contain exactly what you need.
• It isn't just some traveling minister who just happens to be in the area
• It isn't just some teacher trying to have more people attend their Bible study

It is GOD, who knows the situation, and is trying to get an answer to them through these various opportunities - but they keep refusing to listen.

REJECTING KNOWLEDGE
"See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven" [Heb: 12:25]

The worst possible thing that a Christian can do is REJECT the Word of God - whether it is the written word, or that which is spoken by the Spirit of God directly to us as individuals. As we have already seen in the Word, the result of rejecting knowledge is destruction.

Develop a Sensitivity to the Written Word. 
Don't make the mistake of treating the Word lightly. As James says: "Be a DOER of the Word and not just a hearer.... and you will be blessed in all that you do". [James 1:19-25]

By doing the Word, all of it, you will be blessed in everything you do. 

Develop a Sensitivity to the Voice of the Spirit. 
I also encourage you to develop sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit. His voice is no less important than the written Word - it is still the WORD OF GOD - and there are consequences for NOT listening. When He speaks: listen. And you can be sure that blessings will follow your obedience.
 
A Final thought:
Doing some of the Word some of the time - results in some of the blessing some of the time. 
Doing ALL of the Word ALL of the Time - results is ALL of the blessings ALL of the time. 

• Read Part 1
• Read part 3
• Read part 4
• Things That Kill Christians

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Limited Time Only: With Your $49 donation we will send you the complete series of 7 CD's that uses the Holy scriptures to teach why Christians suffer and how by using the promises of God's Word you can overcome anything that brings pain and suffering into your life!
 
Why Christians Suffer Series: Includes All 7 Messages on Audio CD:
• Pt 1: What We Don't Know Can Hurt us!
• Pt 2: Why Some Suffer
• Pt 3: What it Means to Esteem The Word
• Pt 4: What it Means to Discern The Body
• Pt 5: How to Choose the Blessing
• Pt 6: The Trying of Your Faith: Pt1
• Pt 7: The Trying of Your Faith: Pt2

Receive this 7 CD set (a $84.00 value!) absolutely FREE as our way of saying thank you for your support! This offer is for a limited time only so send your love offering of $49 today!
 

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