Why must we suffer?

Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered 9 And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him,

Since all of God's people are pretty much stiffed necked and stubbron, we only learn obedience through suffering as Jesus did. Of course, Jesus was not stiffed necked nor stubborn but being the Son of Man, HE set the path for us through His example and death to make it possible for all men to be saved. HE showed us through the Grace of God, it was possible to make the choice to die and live a resurrected life. Verse 9 states His completed experience made HIM perfectly equipped.

Many people suffer but they do not know God's ways. They think suffering is an attack from the devil. Yes, the devil is being used but we must discern why we are suffering. God is using financial, physical, spiritual, and mental sufferings to bring His people to obedience. How many of us know the methods God employs to discipline His children? Many Christians are praying for the wrong thing and thus receive no breakthrough because they are actually resisting the Holy Spirit's work.

Your sufferings have purpose. God allowed you to suffer to break, humble, and teach you obedience. The only way out from such a situation is making thankfulness your sacrifice to God and fulfilling our vows to God. But many Christians in their suffering are complaining, murmuring, and even arguing with God.

Isaiah 45:9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’

Psalm 50:14-15 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

There are two conditions for Christians to be rescued as verse 15 states. We must make thankfulness our sacrifice to God and keep our vows. But this is not just about personal vows. It is keeping our vows of the bible. It is to keep our part of the covenant. If we do not know the Word from Genesis to Revelation, how will we know His Will? How will we know our vows? Our basic vows are the 10 commandments of God and to break one is to break them all.

We are not being rescued to give HIM glory because many of us are still in Egypt. But when the Holy Spirit leads us into our wilderness, we must stay and pass our tests. We must wait until the appointed time.

Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. 3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we pray you, three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword. 4 The king of Egypt said to Moses and Aaron, Why do you take the people from their jobs? Get to your burdens!

Our religious families, friends, and the world wants to know why we spend so much time in church or on Godly things and not concentrate on our careers, jobs, keeping up with the Kardashians, keeping up with sports, or other worldly things. This is what Pharaoh asked of Moses. "Why do you take the people from their jobs?" In today's term, the modern day Pharaoh is asking, why go to a prayer meeting when we can go have fun or make money.

But if we do not make the choice to allow God to lead us into the wilderness and sacrifice our lives unto to HIM, HE will punish us with disease and war/chaos (verse 3) as we continue to be friends with the world and be worldly. If we are a friend to the world, we are but enemies to God and thus the plagues of Egypt will be upon us. Do you really know the God of the bible or are we serving a golden calf?

Many people are suffering and many are confused. God said to make sacrifices of Thanksgiving onto HIM and fulfill your vows to be rescued and then give HIM glory. Do not complain or grumble in your situations but Thank God in everything and in all your circumstances.

1 Thess 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

If you are a child of God, HE is in FULL CONTROL and you must learn to trust HIM by thanking HIM in all circumstances good or bad. You must ask for wisdom to discern your situation. You must return to HIM in full obedience by fulfilling your vows of the bible. You must follow HIS commandments. You must stop robbing HIM in tithes and offering. You must stop breaking His Sabbath (Sundays) and keep it HOLY. You must spend time with HIM. You must repent and humble yourselves. You must stop your SINS.

Jesus is the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give HEED AND OBEY HIM (Heb 5:9). Will grace save you if you do not obey? Then to believe is to continually obey.

Pastor Steve Yong Kim