I AM AFFLICTED

I AM AFFLICTED

EPHESIANS 3:1-131 For this reason I, Paul, a prisonerfor Christ Jesus on behalf of youGentiles-- 2 assuming that you haveheard of the stewardship of God'sgrace that was given to me for you, 3how the mystery was made known tome by revelation, as I have writtenbriefly.

EPHESIANS 3:1-134 When you read this, you canperceive my insight into the mysteryof Christ, 5 which was not madeknown to the sons of men in othergenerations as it has now beenrevealed to His holy apostles andprophets by the Spirit.

EPHESIANS 3:1-136 This mystery is that the Gentiles arefellow heirs, members of the samebody, and partakers of the promise inChrist Jesus through the gospel. 7 Ofthis gospel I was made a ministeraccording to the gift of God's grace,which was given me by the working ofHis power.

EPHESIANS 3:1-138 To me, though I am the very least ofall the saints, this grace was given, topreach to the Gentiles theunsearchable riches of Christ, 9 andto bring to light for everyone what isthe plan of the mystery hidden forages in God who created all things,

EPHESIANS 3:1-1310 so that through the church themanifold wisdom of God might now bemade known to the rulers andauthorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternalpurpose that He has realized in ChristJesus our Lord,

EPHESIANS 3:1-1312 in whom we have boldness andaccess with confidence through ourfaith in Him. 13 So I ask you not tolose heart over what I am suffering foryou, which is your glory.

WE ARE AFFLICTED.

TWO THINGS ARE TRUE OF YOU AND

ME:

1. We will cause other

people to be afflicted.

2. Other people will

cause us to be afflicted.

MGA HALIMBAWA NG MGA

RELIHIYON NA ANG KALIGTASAN AY

AYON SA GAWA:

EXAMPLE IS PAUL.

Paul caused affliction for others.

Paul was afflicted as a “prisoner”.

The Bible is filled with affliction. There are 150 Psalms; one-third of

them are laments.

All of the Old Testament prophets have laments in them, where

they’re just crying out to God and they’re hurting.

The Bible is very honest that suffering is real and it comes to

God’s people.

Contrast to some false teaching today:

“ If you really love Jesus, you won’t suffer.”

Jesus suffered the most. He suffered horrifically.

He suffered unjustly.He suffered righteously.

GOOD NEWS:

Jesus will bring all suffering

to an end.

FOURTEEN KINDS OF

SUFFERING:

1. ADAMIC

AFFLICTION

ROMANS 5:12

12 Therefore, just as sin came intothe world through one man, anddeath through sin, and so deathspread to all men because all sinned.

2. PUNISHMENT

AFFLICTION

MATTHEW 13:41-4241 The Son of Man will send Hisangels, and they will gather out of HisKingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into thefiery furnace. In that place there will beweeping and gnashing of teeth.

3. CONSEQUENTIAL

AFFLICTION

GALATIANS 6:7-87 Do not be deceived: God is notmocked, for whatever one sows, thatwill he also reap. 8 For the one whosows to his own flesh will from theflesh reap corruption, but the one whosows to the Spirit will from the Spiritreap eternal life.

4. DEMONIC

AFFLICTION

1 SAMUEL 16:14

14 Now the Spirit of the LORDdeparted from Saul, and an evil spiritfrom the LORD tormented him.

5. VICTIM

AFFLICTION

ZECHARIAH 7:9-109 Thus says the LORD of hosts,“Render true judgments, showkindness and mercy to one another, 10do not oppress the widow, thefatherless, the sojourner, or the poor,and let none of you devise evil againstanother in your heart."

6. COLLECTIVE

AFFLICTION

EXODUS 1:13-1413 So they ruthlessly made the peopleof Israel work as slaves 14 and madetheir lives bitter with hard service, inmortar and brick, and in all kinds ofwork in the field. In all their work theyruthlessly made them work as slaves.

7. DISCIPLINARY

AFFLICTION

HEBREWS 12:1111 For the moment all discipline seemspainful rather than pleasant, but later ityields the peaceful fruit ofrighteousness to those who have beentrained by it.

8. VICARIOUS

AFFLICTION

MATTHEW 5:10

10 Blessed are they who have beenpersecuted for righteousness sake!For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

9. EMPATHETIC

AFFLICTION

1 THESSALONIANS 3:7

7 For this reason, brothers, in all ourdistress and affliction we have beencomforted about you through yourfaith.

10. TESTIMONIAL

AFFLICTION

MARK 13:99 "But be on your guard. For they willdeliver you over to councils, and youwill be beaten in synagogues, and youwill stand before governors and kingsfor My sake, to bear witness beforethem.”

11. PROVIDENTIAL

AFFLICTION

ACTS 7:59

59 And as they were stoning Stephen,

he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my

spirit."

12. PREVENTATIVE

AFFLICTION

PSALM 119:71

71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

13. MYSTERIOUS

AFFLICTION

JOB 13:24

24 Why do you hide your face andcount me as your enemy?

14. APOCALYPTIC

AFFLICTION

REVELATION 16:1

1 Then I heard a loud voice from thetemple telling the seven angels, "Goand pour out on the earth the sevenbowls of the wrath of God."

“Know how to respond when you suffer and when people

suffer.”

Three things that Paul wants to teach us in our affliction

and suffering:

1. We are afflicted for

others’ good.

2 TIMOTHY 4:5

5 As for you, always be sober-minded,endure suffering, do the work of anevangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2. Afflicted for your

growth

ROMANS 5:3

3 More than that, we rejoice in oursufferings, knowing that sufferingproduces endurance.

3. Afflicted for God’s

glory

EPHESIANS 3:13

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over

what I am suffering for you, which is

your glory.