Doctrine of Suffering

Among the many doctrines of the Bible, the doctrine of suffering is the most unaccepted, although it is the most ubiquitous (ever-present) one of them all. To suffer means to experience painful feelings, sensations, vexations or impressions; inflamed emotions or passion. It was Jesus who first made mention of suffering being ordained as a requirement of the citizens in the Kingdom of God.

St. Luke 14:26-27

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

To hate here means that the person has to love God's purpose above the desires of those who are close to them; even those desires of his own life. The cross is the symbol of suffering and passion. But Jesus insists that without exposure to suffering experiences we cannot be His disciples. He was quite clear on this. If we take suffering out of the gospel then you cease to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He suffered at the hands of men and declares we will go through the same. Many say that He suffered so that we would not have to do so. As religious as that sounds, it is not the inference of the scriptures. However, it is the will of the Father for the Sons of God to manifest the presence of the Spirit through the denial of the flesh.

Acts 9:16

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

In the calling of Paul to the ministry, Jesus explains to Ananias (Acts 9:12), the inevitable reality that Paul will suffer many things during the course of his ministry. In fact, all the disciples suffered terrible things at the hands of men for the gospel’s sake. This gospel was established with the blood of Jesus and that of the early church.

Let us look at a few of the writings the apostles left us on this subject.

Romans 8:17-23

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The implication is that if we refuse to walk the path of a suffering servant, then we will not be glorified with Christ in the end.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Paul clears up the time of our suffering. It is in this world, during the present age, which is to be interpreted the Church Age or the dispensation of grace; for it is the grace of God that makes suffering in the flesh plausible for the saints.

19 For the earnest expectation (intense anticipation) of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

It is clear here that Paul’s creature is the born again believer. The unsaved have no such earnest expectation.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

In this passage the manifestation of the Sons of God is the return of Christ when the Sons take off their immortality and put on their spiritual bodies.

SUFFERING SICKNESS

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth (to take hold of, support) our infirmities: (feebleness of mind or body, malady or illness, problem, difficulty, trouble, or woe, frailty, disease, sickness or weakness), for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

In many schools of thought it is suggested that the sons of God will never or should never experience sickness. However, that is not what the Word implies. From the above passage Paul makes mention of physical infirmity. Furthermore, Jesus also makes mention of this in His prophesying about the Day of Judgment.

St. Matthew 25:37-40

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

It is clear from the above that the brethren the Lord speaks of are those who are members of the Body of Christ. Therefore, it is also clear that there will be many in the Body who will experience sickness and disease. As to whether all will be healed is another issue. However, it is certain that all of the saints who have departed this world did not simply lie down and sleep away. Some died from infirmities in the form of sickness and disease. Even Elisha, one of the most anointed prophets of old, died from sickness.

2 Kings 13:14

Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died.

Note too, that many in the Body will experience hunger, thirst, homelessness and nakedness. Jesus said this will be the state of some who are His brethren. Paul and James take us even further into this issue.

Philippians 2:25-27 & 30

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

2 Timothy 4:20

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

James 5:14-15

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

It is obvious from the passages above there will be sick folk in the Body of Christ. Nevertheless, some schools of thought teach that it is unseemly for the saints to embrace or even admit the fact that they are sick. But if we take note, it was Paul the chief apostle who proclaimed the sickness of the brethren to the entire league of churches under his umbrella. Denial is not an operation of faith. How can you deny that you are sick and call for the Elders of the Church to pray for you at the same time?

Once again the question of suffering for the sons of God is a very important issue. This is the pivotal point, as our walk in Christ will either be representative of the indwelling of the Spirit or will bring dishonor to the cross. It is indeed important that the church accept the doctrine of suffering for Christ's sake. If this is not accepted by those who minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, then the Body of Christ is robbed of any living example of the attitude that the sons must take on to endure the life that is associated with the gospel of Christ. If suffering is ministered from the position of the flesh, it will bring disillusionment to the body. There will be no joyful expectation in the “enduring of hardness as a good solider.” This is why our teachings must be set in their proper perspective so that the power of salvation might be revealed. We must teach the reason for a trial, and how God will allow adversity to prove us in the Faith.

PURPOSE OF SUFFERING

Philippians 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Most Christians ask the question, “Why do we have to suffer, seeing as how Christ has already suffered? There seems to be no purpose for saints to suffer.” This is the typical mind of those who are not taught in the knowledge of God. It is easier to follow the popular doctrines in the Body today that say that “we are the head and not the tail. Everywhere our feet shall trod, we shall be victorious….” It sounds good and appeals to the flesh. But we are surrounded by saints who are suffering everyday! They are not the head! In fact their lives are full of (what could be labeled as) worldly defeat, a lot of empty promises and a disappointment in their salvation. As ministers in the Body, we must be able to bring the knowledge of the truth that will set the Word in its proper perspective and bring hope to those who have fallen short of attaining that life that is delivered to the sons of God. We must teach the Body of Christ that suffering is part and parcel of the salvation package and allow them to come into an understanding of its purpose in manifesting.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer?

Suffering is the righteous judgment of God. Saints do not understand that suffering is the test that reveals the true commitment of the saints to the Word of God. Suffering is designed to force the manifestation or rejection of the principles of godliness. It is righteous judgment in that it is the way that was established by God. He alone determines the criteria for entering the Kingdom of God. The Lord determined that enduring persecutions and afflictions is a manifest token of our worthiness to live in His Kingdom. We must remember that suffering establishes us in the call of God.

MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING

Suffering is designed to perfect the sons of God. Let us consider these scriptures:

1 Peter 5:10

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Hebrews 2:10-11

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Suffering is simply the route the Father chose for redemption. “It became Him . . .” is just another way of saying; it was the will of the Father to present to us a perfect Savior through suffering. We are made perfect and one with Christ through the fellowship of His suffering.

Hebrews 5:8-9

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

1 Peter 4:1-2

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Philippians 3:8

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Philippians 3:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The Body of Christ has not been taught that they can stop sinning. In fact, it is common to say and believe that we will always sin. But the scripture rebukes such teaching. We must teach and demonstrate through our lives that self denial is the only way that will reveal the power of this life that we live. This is the devil’s greatest fear of the church. He desires to keep us ignorant of a life that has turned away from the cares of this life. He knows that the Kingdom of God will be manifested in such a life. He knows he has no power over a Son of God who is walking in agreement with the Father. He has seen it in the lives of Christ, the Apostles and the early church. He fears the rise of that church again. Suffering is the will of God for the church. We must be adamant about challenging doctrines that say otherwise. In suffering will be revealed the power of the Kingdom of God! Everyone who teaches the doctrines of Jesus Christ must become the doctrine. Jesus became the Word of God (St.John 1:14).

The disciples became the Word of God. Paul said His testimony proves Christ was crucified. It is not enough to simply teach or preach the Word; you must become the evidence of its message. The whole world is in sin and perverse in its ways. People are forgetting God. They do not want anything to remind them of Him. There is a move of God unlike anything this world has ever known. This move is greater than that of the early church, because sin has abounded. In it we will see real disciples come to the forefront. We will see the Apostles’ ministry set in place and the church set in order. We will entertain people who have denied themselves and applied the Word to their lives. The power of God will rest upon us and others will recognize and know that it is God. They will see the fullness of the stature of Christ.