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Bible Study: Why Do Christians Suffer? Choosing the Blessing

 

Ever wonder why distress, calamity, & tribulations, seem to find some Christians so easily? Whose Fault Is It Anyway? Learn how over-come suffering and Choose the Blessing in this summary of the Audio CD "Choosing the Blessing"


• Why Do Christians suffer?
• Why Does God Allow Suffering? 
• Why Do Bad Things Happen to Christians?  
• Why Do Christians Experience Suffering?
• Why Doesn't God Stop Disasters? 
• Why Do Christians Die Early
• Why is There Christian Suffering? 
• Why Hasn't God Healed Me?
• How Come I'm Not Prospering?
• Why Doesn't God Answer Me or My Prayers?

  

These are the questions that so many people are asking? And the answer to all of these is found in Scripture. Find out why so many Christians fail to live the blessed life promised them in the Bible.

The following is a brief summary of the complete teaching Choosing the Blessing
taken from from the Series: "Why Christians Suffer".
 
Listen to the complete message on CD and discover the secrets of Why Christians Suffer. Learn how to stop the cycle of lack, sickness and suffering in your life! Discover how to begin to access the blessings of God on a consistent basis. 
Click here for details

Scripture Study:
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.......and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." [Ps:34:19] [2Tm:3:12]

"...but to those who are self-willed and disobedient to the truth (the Word of God) and enter into strife, and respond to (improperly) to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath.... [And] there will be tribulation, distress, anguish, trouble and calamity for every man who (habitually) practice evil. [Romans 2:8-9 AMP]   
 
   


An Important Question:
Have you ever wondered why trouble, distress, calamity, anguish, trials, tribulations, seem to find some Christians so easily? If so, here are some great insights into the Word of God that may explain why these things happen.

Read carefully and find out which category YOU fit into. And, if you are really honest with yourself - you may find that the reason may be completely different than what you have believed.


Who is Really to Blame? 
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.......and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." [Ps:34:19] [2Tm:3:12]

I cannot tell you how often I hear people who are undergoing vicious attacks by the enemy - who blame it all on the devil! And, in some cases this is actually the truth. In other words, it really is through no fault of their own that they have fallen under attack.

The Word of God clearly says that: ALL who will live godly in Christ Jesus will come under attack through affliction and persecution.

But notice something important about [Ps:34:19] [2Tm:3:12]
--
This applies only to those who are living godly lives: They are doing the word of God.
-- God delivers them out of all the persecutions and afflictions - They are Victorious!

I can tell you truthfully that once in a while, I actually meet a Christian who fits into this category. Unfortunately, most folks whom I meet that are under attack usually fall into a second category.

"...but to those who are self-willed and disobedient to the truth (the Word of God) and enter into strife, and respond to (improperly) to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath.... [And] there will be tribulation, distress, anguish, trouble and calamity for every man who (habitually) practice evil. [Romans 2:8-9 AMP]


Notice the two different types of attack:

  1. Persecution & Afflictions
  2. Distress - tribulation - anguish - trouble - calamity

So What's the difference?
According to the Word of God - there is a difference! 

Many Christians refuse to acknowledge this - and that's why it never - ever - gets better for them. It's just the same old wheel going round-and-round, over and over and over again.


The Difference:
"So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going may be rough for a while....The purpose of these struggles is to test your faith to see whether or not it is genuine (or fake) - but after your faith is tested as if by fire, it will last....[And] When Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will be praise, glory, and honor" [1 Peter 1:6-7 LBT]

There are three important signals here that indicate whether or not YOU fit into the category of being persecuted and afflicted because you are living godly.

  1. There is Joy:
    Did you notice that the person whose faith is being tested - is joyful?

    The person who is in faith - understands that the attack is because they are DOING the Word of God - and the enemy is attempting to get them to stop DOING the Word of God. 

    The person who is living a godly lifestyle understands this - and they are joyful because they know and understand that whatever they are in faith about - will be manifested - and so they have every reason to be joyful!

    But, the person who is not in faith will not be joyful. Instead, they are always discouraged, despondent, confused and bewildered as to why God is allowing this to happen. And why are they not full of joy - Simple - they have nothing to be joyful about!

    They are not being obedient to the Word of God. 
    They are in sin! Somehow - in some manner, they are not responding properly when the enemy comes against them. Maybe it's an attack thru a family member, or a spouse. Maybe it comes thru an employer or co-worker. It could be that the attack or testing comes thru a neighbor or a fellow church member.

    But, instead of doing what the Word of God says to do regarding how to respond properly by walking in love and staying in faith - they enter into doubt, worry, anxiousness, unbelief, and strife - and BAM - the enemy has them! Now - they fall into the second category as described in Romans chapter 2.
      
  2. There is Faith:
    The reason for the persecution and affliction is because their faith is being tested. That's why the enemy is coming against them. They have read the Word of God on something - they believe it - and now they are doing it. So, there is faith at work - and that faith is under trial.
       
  3. There is VICTORY:
    The persecution and afflictions of the godly will ALWAYS result in VICTORY for the afflicted and persecuted - and God will always be able to receive the glory, the honor and the praise!

Where do you fit in!
Although some Christians can truthfully place themselves into the above category - it is unfortunate that the majority of Christians do not!

How can I say that?
Simple: When I get the report on the final outcome of whatever they were going through - it is usually one that ended in failure and defeat. They lost the battle - They Ran Away - They Gave up. 

  • They did NOT gain the victory
  • They did NOT receive deliverance that was available thru faith had they not given up
  • God was NOT glorified

Why?
Because the truth is - they were not living godly - therefore they did not meet the qualifications required for receiving the promise of Psalm 34:19 and 2 Timothy 3:12.


The Second Category:
"...but to those who are self-willed and disobedient to the truth (the Word of God) and enter into strife, and respond to (improperly) to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath.... [And] there will be tribulation, distress, anguish, trouble and calamity for every man who (habitually) practice evil....for there is no respect of persons with God" [Romans 2:8-9,11 AMP]

This is Important: 
First - and most important - notice that this applies to EVERY man - not just the unbeliever. There is no respect of persons with God - even if you are His Child!

I cannot stress this strongly enough. You are not exempt just because you are a born-again Christian. If you have any doubts about this read: [1Pt:4:17] [Heb:12:25] [Rom:11:19-22] [Rom 2:8-9] [Luke 12:47] [Rom:2:11] [2 Cor 5:10]

Odds are that those who fall into this second category will not agree with this - nor will they read the above scripture references because they know that they will find themselves to be in error.


Notice the Consequences for Disobedience:
Tribulation, distress, anguish, trouble and calamity of those acting ungodly will ALWAYS result in defeat and failure to the shame and dishonor of the individual [Rom 2: 5-11]

When we refuse to obey the Word of God, and choose instead to enter into strife, doubt, unbelief, instead of walking in love - there are consequences! When we become 'self-willed' and disobedient to the truth (the Word of God) - there are consequences

The worst consequence is that God is not glorified. He is not given praise, honor or glory. This is the most accurate indication of the fact that the individual is not being afflicted because of his/her righteousness, but are instead undergoing tribulation, distress, anguish, trouble and calamity due to his/her disobedience to the Word of God.

Results:
The results are always the same: Regardless if it is a problem at work - in the home - at church - whatever or where ever it may be. The result is always the same when it is a result of disobedience to the Word.

  • They give up before before they obtain the victory
  • They run away before before they obtain the victory
  • They lose or quit their job before they obtain the victory
  • They move before they obtain the victory
  • They change churches before they obtain the victory
  • Etc.

Don't Blame the devil:
It's not his fault! He isn't to blame! It's you - and me.

How can I say that:
"We know that whoever is born of God does not practice sin, for he that is born of God keeps watch over himself to make sure he doesn't sin, that way the wicked one can't even touch him!." [1Jn:5:18]

The above scripture states clearly that as long as we do not practice sin -the devil can't touch us! So if he is touching you - or me - it's we that are to blame - not him!

That's not to say that He won't TRY to attack you - but his attack can ONLY succeed if you are in disobedience by NOT practicing the Word of God. Otherwise God will deliver you to the praise, glory, and honor of God! You can count on a victorious outcome!


Summary:
We are told in the word to: "Examine ourselves to see whether or not we truly are 'in the faith'. [2Cor:13:5]

We are also promised that if "we judge ourselves, we will not be judged." [1Cor:11:31]

If you are undergoing constant tribulation, distress, trouble, anguish and calamity - that never ends in the kind of victory that brings praise, honor and glory to God - it's time to repent. Regardless of the fact that you may be a born-again child of God - the problem is that you are not living godly.

On the other hand - if you know that you are in faith - and living a godly lifestyle, walking in love, forgiving those who offend you, forbearing everybody in love - then you also know that the trying of your faith will result in the praise, honor and glory to God - and you will rejoice.

The time is drawing near brothers and sisters when every one of us "will appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." [2 Cor 5:10]

Therefore I encourage you:
If you are one of those who although you are born-again have not yet learned to obey the truth - and instead still retain the attitude that the Bible calls "self-willed" - it's time to repent. 

Purpose to study and begin to do the Word of God - All of it! You will be amazed at how quickly those constant troubles disappear - and you will then be able to shout as the Bible promises: "Praise God!"


Read Part 1
Read part 2
Read part 3
Things That Kill Christians


RECEIVE A CD OF THIS TEACHING

When you help us to continue to provide these FREE teachings to the body of Christ by donating $12 to BibleCities Christian Fellowship we
will send you free of charge this complete teaching of Choosing the Blessing on Audio CD! You can even make copies of it and pass it to your friends! To donate online and receive your FREE CD click either button below.  Top


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
 
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In addition to his contributions to this website Reverend W. C. Slyde Moran also has a weekly television show • Online Audio Studies • and an ever-increasing outreach ministry providing free Audio teachings on CD to enable the growth and maturing of the body of Christ.

   

 

 

 

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