25 Reasons Why Christians Suffer:

1. To produce the fruit of patience. Rom 5:3; James 1:3-4; Heb 10:36

2. To produce the fruit of joy. Ps 30:5; Ps 126:5-6

3. To produce the fruit of maturity. Eccles 7:3; 1Pet 5:10

4. To produce the fruit of righteousness. Heb 12:11

5. To silence the devil. Job 1:9, 10, 20-22

6. To teach us. Ps 119:67, 71

7. To purify our lives. Job 23:10; Ps 66:10-12; Isa 1:25; Isa 48:10; Prov 17:3; 1Pet 1:7

8. To make us like Christ. Heb 12:9, 10; 1Pet 4:12-13; Phil 3:10; 2 Cor 4:7-10

9. To glorify God. Ps 50:15; John 9:1-3; John 11:1-4; John 21:18-19; Phil 1:19-20

10. To prevent us from sinning. 2Cor 12:7, 9-10

11. To make us confess when we do sin. Judg 10:6-7, 15-16; Ps 32:3-5; Hos 5:15; Hos 6:1; 2 Chron 15:3-4

12. To chasten us for our sin. 1Pet 4:17

13. To prove our sonship. Heb 12:5-6

14. To reveal ourselves to ourselves. Job 42:6; Luke 15:18

15. To help our prayer life. Isa 26:16

16. To become an example to others. 2Cor 6:4-5; 1Thess 1:6-7

17. To qualify us as counselors. Rom 12:15; Gal 6:2; 2Cor 1:3-5

18. To further the gospel witness. Acts 8:1-5; Acts 16:25-34; Phil 1:12-13; 2Tim 4:6-8, 16-17

19. To make us more than conquerors. 2Cor 2:14; Rom 8:35, 37

20. To give us insight into God’s nature. Job 42:5; Rom 8:14-15, 18

21. To drive us closer to God. 1Pet 4:14; 2Cor 12:10

22. To prepare us for a greater ministry. 1 Kings 17-18; John 12:24

23. To provide us a reward. Matt 5:10-12; Matt 19:27-29; Rom 8:16-17; 2Cor 4:17

24. To prepare us for the kingdom. 2Thess 1:5; 2 Tim 2:12

25. To show God’s sovereignty. Rom 8:28; 1Cor 10:13; Ps 66:10-12; Gen 45:5-8; Gen 50:20

Proper Reactions to Suffering:

1. Expect suffering. John 15:19-20; John 16:2, 20, 33; Heb 12:9-10; 2Tim 3:12

2. Commit your soul to God at the very beginning Ps 3:5-6; Ps 37;3; Ps 31:5; Dan 3:14-18; Heb 6:17-20; 1Pet 4:19
of your suffering.

3. Don’t try to understand all the reasons for your suffering. Rom 8:28

4. Realize others suffer. 1Cor 10:13; 1Pet 5:8-9

5. Pray while in your suffering. Ps 50:15; Job 42:10; James 5:14; Mark 9:20-24

6. Don’t despise your suffering. Heb 12:5

7. Don’t faint because you’re suffering. Prov 24:10; Heb 12:5

8. Patiently endure your suffering in a steadfast way. Rom 12:12; 2Tim 2:3; James 5:10; 1Pet 2:20

9. Thank God for your sufferings. Ps 42:5; 1Thess 5:18

10. Rejoice because of your sufferings. Acts 5:40-41; Acts 16:25; Phil 4:4; James 1:2; James 5:11

11. Don’t become a self-made martyr because Heb 12:12-13 of your sufferings.

12. Don’t suffer needlessly. 1Pet 2:20; 1Pet 3:17; 1Pet 4:15-17

13. Weigh your current suffering against the coming joy. John 16:20-21; Rom 8:18

5 Sources of Suffering:

1. Suffering may be caused by satanic activity. Job 1-2; Luke 13:15-16; Acts 10:38

2. Suffering may be caused by ungodly men. 2Tim 4:14

3. Suffering may be caused by this world’s system. 2Pet 2:8

4. Suffering may be caused by the believer’s Rom 7:14-23 own fallen nature.

5. Suffering may be caused by carnal Christians. Phil 1:15-16; 2Tim 4:10.

Works Cited: Willimington, H.L. Book of Bible Lists. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 1987:318-321..." Full text: [URL="http://www.calvarycsd.org/sermons/ecclesiastes-61-6-riches-without-enjoyment/"]Ecclesiastes 6:1-6, Riches Without Enjoyment[/URL] by Gino Geraci