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Bible Study: Why Do Christians 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.

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We encourage you download or listen online to the supplemental audio teaching on this subject.
Part 1: Why Christians Fail To Receive God's Best [Mp3 Format - 52 mg]
Part 2: How To Always Get Your Answer [Mp3 Format - 53 mg]

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]
     

Why Do Christians Suffer?
The Bible makes it very clear why so many Christians fail to live the blessed, prosperous, healthy life of victory that is promised in the Word of God. It describes how Christians can separate themselves from the protection, prosperity, divine health and healing (the promises) that are their inherited rights in Christ.

Most Christians are reluctant to meditate on this subject because it shines a bright light on their REAL life instead of the life that they want to BELIEVE they are living.

Deceiving Ourselves:
Notice how the scripture above contains a reference to living "in the vanity of their minds".

[James 1: 22] states in very simple terms. If you just 'hear the word' but fail to 'do it' - then you are deceiving yourself into thinking that you are something other that what you REALLY are. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

I know - very often people will say: "But I do believe in the Word of God!" - BUT READ James 1:22 again - It's NOT talking about believing - it's talking about DOING.

As James says in verse 25 that it is the 'doer' of the word that is blessed - not the one who only hears it: "But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it - not a forgetting what he hears - but DOING it - this man shall be blessed...."

But I'm Trying!
I realize that you probably ARE trying to do some of the Word of God - but how about ALL of it - and how consistent are you?? Can you honestly say that you are doing ALL of it - ALL the time? 

If you are like most Christians, you are probably doing one of the following:
• Some of the Word some of the time
• Some of the Word all of the time
• All of the Word some of time

But - if you are experiencing problems that NEVER go away - and especially if they just get worse and worse - then either God is a liar (which we know is NOT the case) - or you are not doing ALL of the Word - ALL of the time - and that is what the problem is!

There are many references to this subject: 
[Psalm 1:1-3] states that ONLY the person who does ALL of the Word - ALL of the time will be blessed in EVERYTHING he/she does.

It is not the one who hears it that is blessed - neither is it the one who 'knows' it - it is the one who hears - and knows - and DOES it!

Can you answer honestly?
Think carefully about this question: When you compare what the life of a Christian should be - as described in the Bible - with the life of those Christians you know (including yourself) - how does it stack up?

-- Are they or you walking in divine health?
-- Are they  or you walking in divine prosperity (debt free, no car payment, mortgage etc...)?
-- Is their  or your spouse saved and following the Lord? 
-- What about their  or your children, and relatives?
-- Is their or your home a peaceful refuge, filled with love? 
-- Are their  or your children obedient - honoring their parents? 
-- Are the PARENTS honoring THEIR parents?
-- Is their  or your marriage one that is filled with love, and honor?
-- Do they or you have the respect of their employers? 
-- Do they  or you receive the best promotions, highest paying positions, best jobs, extra bonuses etc?

All of these, and more, are PROMISES of God for the Christian - providing they are 'doers of the Word'. [Read: Deut. 28; 1-14]

The simple truth is this:
The majority of Christians are NOT living the blessed life that is described in the Bible. Sad, but very true! 

They may very well be experiencing some great blessing in some areas of their life - but at the same time are having great problems and difficulties in other areas!

Why is this so?
The reason is because the areas where they are having problems - are the same areas where the word of God is NOT being properly applied. 

In other words, even though they might be tithing, giving, attending church regularly, serving in ministry, etc - they are still failing to do what the Word of God says in other areas such as: • their marriage
• their business
• their job
• other areas

And because of this - even though they might be blessed in some areas where they are DOING the Word - they are experiencing problems in the other areas where they are not.

Are You Saying That Christians Can be Separated From the Promises of God?
I'm not saying anything! But the Bible is very clear on the subject even though many Christians believe otherwise!

READ the Scriptures: 
"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]

"Be therefore followers of God, as dear children.... And walk in love, ..... But as saints do not let any sexual impurity, or uncleanness, be named among you even once ..... Neither should you allow any filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, or envy, or bitterness, unforgiveness, or gossip, or resentment, or fighting and arguing which are not convenient ... but rather giving of thanks. 

For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, will share in any of the inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

And, be careful that you let no man deceive you with vain words: for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. - - Therefore do NOT be partakers with them." [Eph 5: 1-7]

Did You See it?
Did you notice that it is possible to be 'self-banished' - or - 'separated' from the blessings of God simply by improper words or conduct!

The people described in Eph 4:17 are 'self-banished' - they did it themselves - and they are separated from the blessings and life of God with no share in it; this is because of their ignorance and 'willful' blindness due to their hardness of heart."

Now that doesn't mean they aren't "saved" - it simply means that the blessings that come along with their salvation are not available to them because they have separated themselves from them."

Examine yourself:
If the average Christian were to examine himself/herself carefully - instead of looking at everybody else - they would find that in some areas - (if not many) - their time is spent 'living' like the just like the unbelievers - the ungodly - with little time at all actually concerned with the plan of God for their life.

True, they go to church, they pray (when a crisis arises), they put something in the offering plate; they try to live a 'good' life.

But let's be honest here: For the most part, the average Christian is living THEIR life - not the one that God pre-ordained for them - and they have little interest or concern about what God might have to say about it.

Yes, they acknowledge that that God does have a plan for them. But let's face it - the average Christian makes little or no effort at all to find out exactly WHAT that plan is. Consequently they just go along living their life, doing what they please, making their own plans, etc.

"For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." [Phil: 2:21]

Does This Describe You?
As a Rule: The Average Christian:
• Chooses their own career - and changes it if they don't like it
• Takes the job they want, and quits when they feel like it
• Lives where they want, and moves when and where they feel like it
• Dates who they want (even if the other person is NOT a believer)
• Marries whom they want (even if the other person is NOT a believer)
• Buys what they want - when they want it
• Sells as they please
• Attends the church that they want
• Schedules their life according to their wants, needs and whims
• Votes for whomever they want - despite the party platforms and philosophies

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!

Your Plans Versus God's plans:
"For I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD, a plan of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future, and to bring you to an expected end". [Jer:29:11 - NIV]

• The reason why so many people have troubles at their job, or with their career is because instead of seeking out God and asking Him -  they decided where to work - or what their career is. This is also one reason why they never seem to make enough money.

• The reason why so many people are unhappy with where they live - or the quality of their home is because instead of seeking out God and asking Him - they choose where they were going to live - what house they were going to buy - etc.

• The reason why so many people are unhappy in their marriage is because instead of seeking out God and asking Him whom to marry - they choose their spouse instead of allowing God to show them whom He had chosen for them.

• The reason why so many Christians don't grow or mature spiritually in their church is because instead of seeking out God and asking Him where the church is that He had ordained for them - or what Pastor God had prepared for them - they choose their church with no regard at all for what God's plan was for them.

• The reason why so many people are unhappy with their life is because instead of seeking out God and asking Him what His plans were for their life - they made all the decisions and consequently God had very little if anything to do with it - and so they are simply living the results of their failure to consult with God.

The Truth Of The Matter
No matter what we might want to believe - and no matter how much we might want to blame our problems on our, spouse, our children, our in-laws, our boss, our neighbors, our co-workers, the congress, the president, or anybody else we can think of:

• We are the ones who are NOT doing the word
• We are the ones who have 'self-banished' ourselves from the blessings of God. 
• We are the ones who have 'deceived ourselves' 
• We are the ones who continue to 'walk in the vanity of our mind'.

Growing up in Him:
Brothers and Sisters, it is time to grow up and acknowledge that WE are the cause of most of the troubles that we face.

What could be worse that deceiving ourselves? It is the worst possible kind of lie - because we are lying to ourselves!

The Word states clearly that if we DO the Word, then (and only then) we will be blessed - If we don't do the Word - then we will suffer the consequences for our unwillingness to do so!

• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because someone else fails to do the Word. 
• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because of the devil.
• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because of our spouse.
• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because of our children.
• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because of our boss.
• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because of our job.
• The word does NOT say that the curse comes because of anything else I could name!

The Word of God says simply:
The curse comes to us when we fail to LEARN - and DO the Word of God - period! Too often we put the blame - on someone else. We blame them for our troubles - not ourselves.

We need to recognize the REAL problem and stop blaming the devil, our spouse, our children, our boss, our neighbors, our family, the mechanic, the cashier at the store, the bank, the credit card company, the town, the President, the congress or anybody or anything else. 

Once we do this we begin to realize that just like Esau, many of us have traded our inheritance for a bowl of soup! [Heb: 12:16-17] - and that we need to repent and start afresh, trusting the Lord for wisdom and guidance.

WE are the ones who are to blame for the lack of blessing in our life - therefore WE need to change. We need to apply ourselves to the WHOLE word, not just the portions of it we like. And, we need to do it - all of it.

Once we begin to do the Word, then we will also begin to walk in the blessings and promises contained in it. 

• Read Part 2
• Read part 3
• Read part 4
• Things That Kill Christians

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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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