The Benefits of Trials for Christians

Michael Kotch

• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781098020682
• eBook ISBN: 9781098020699
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

As a Christian counselor, I am often asked why people go through suffering. The Bible actually gives several answers to this question. This book highlights these answers and it is divided into two sections. The first section takes an in-depth look at the question "Can Christians share in the suffering Jesus went through on the cross?" A Bible passage written by the apostle Paul may suggest this. This Bible passage is closely examined in the book, and the implications of this are explored. The second part of this book highlights what the Bible says are the benefits of suffering for Christians. These include following Jesus's example in his suffering; using personal suffering combined with faith as a powerful evangelization tool; suffering develops useful godly traits in Christians; and the Bible tells us that Christians may suffer in this world because of demonic attacks. Additionally, the Bible tells us that Christians are from God and not from this world; therefore, the world may be against us because of it.

Chapter 7

The Bible States That Christians Will Suffer At Times Because of Their Faith in Jesus

The New Testament informs us that, as Christians, we will suffer and we will face persecutions. The next few Bible passages highlight this reality. In the last few passages that are listed, the word of God lets us know specific reasons why Christians may experience suffering and hardships in their lives.

“But the Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:19–22).

Paul told the Thessalonians, “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know” (1 Thessalonians 3:1–4).

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions you are enduring” (1 Thessalonians 1:4).

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:5–8).

The apostle Paul said, “My persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:11–13).

“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast” (James 5:10–11).

The above passages inform Christians that they will possibly, if not likely, endure suffering because they are Christians. The next few passages explain one reason why this may be so. The following Bible passages talk about Christians being in a spiritual warfare. People who are engaged in battle long enough will acquire battle wounds. People who are not in a battle will not attain battle wounds. Battle wounds are only attained by people in battle. Suffering in the life of a Christian may be evidence that they are engaged in a spiritual battle, fighting for God against Satanic forces. If one does not fight, one does not get hurt in a fight. If one fights heavily for the sake of God, there will be some battle wounds in the form of suffering caused by the enemy, which is the devil and his demonic forces. If you never suffer for being a Christian, it may be evidence that you are not in the battle, fighting on behalf of God. Here are some Bible verses to support this:

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophesies made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:18–19).

The apostle Paul said, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:3–7).

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4).

In the following passage, an angel tells Daniel that he was on his way to help Daniel out. But he was intercepted by demonic forces and held back for twenty-one days until the angel Michael came to help him.

“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come” (Daniel 10:12–14).

Who is it with that Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle? The following passages informs us that it is the devil and his forces:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:6–11).

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:10–13).

The Bible tells us we are in an unseen spiritual battle with the devil and with evil heavenly forces. What exactly can the devil and/or his evil forces do to us in this battle? The following is an excerpt from my book Lessons for Christians from the Trials of Job. It clearly shows you the kind of actual physical suffering the devil can cause a person:

“Chapters 1 and 2 from the Book of Job are reprinted word for word from the Bible, English Standard Version (ESV):

“Book of Job Chapter 1 and 2: ‘There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.’

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the Lord and said ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?’

“Then Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

“Now there was a day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone escaped to tell you.’ While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone escaped to tell you.’ While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his ...

Table of contents

• Can Christians Share in Jesus’s Suffering on the Cross?
• Christians Are Members of the Body of Christ and God Is in Us
• Additional Biblical Statements about Suffering for Jesus’s Sake
• Following Jesus’s Example in Suffering
• Open Faith While Suffering Is a Powerful Evangelization Tool
• Why Faithful Suffering Is Good for Christians
• The Bible States That Christians Will Suffer At Times Because of Their Faith in Jesus
• The World Is Also against Us Because We Are Not From the World
• Conclusion