Suffering Times
God uses suffering to bring us closer to Him and to prepare us for eternal glory.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that during suffering times, particularly for righteousness and the gospel, God reveals His favor and grace to His people. He illustrates that while the world may inflict pain and persecution, God responds with blessings, joy, and a sense of His presence, transforming trials into opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper communion with Him. Brooks encourages believers to rejoice in their sufferings, as these moments often lead to divine rewards and a closer relationship with God, akin to the experiences of Paul and Silas in prison.
Text
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!" Matthew 5:11-12.
Suffering times are times wherein the Lord is pleased to give His people some sense of His favor. When they are in sufferings for righteousness' sake, for the gospel's sake--then usually God causes His face to shine upon them. Now they shall hear best news from heaven--when they hear worst from earth. God loves to smile most upon His people when the world frowns most. When the world puts their iron chains upon their legs, then God puts His golden chains about their necks. When the world puts a bitter cup into their hands, then God drops some of His honey, some of His goodness and sweetness into it. When the world is ready to stone them, then God gives them the white stone. When the world is a-tearing their good names, then He gives them a new name, that none knows but he who has it, a name that is better than that of sons and daughters. When the world cries out, "Crucify them, crucify them," then they hear that sweet voice from heaven, "These are My beloved ones, in whom I am well pleased." When the world clothes them with rags, then the Lord puts on His royal robes, and makes a secret proclamation to their spirits, "Thus shall it be done to the men whom the King is pleased to honor." When the world gives into one hand a cup of water, God gives into the other a cup of nectar, a cup of ambrosia. When the world gnashes upon them, and presents all tortures before them, then the Lord opens paradise to them, as He did to Stephen.
When Paul and Silas were in prison for the gospel's sake, then God fills them with such unspeakable joy, that they cannot but be singing when others were sleeping, Acts 16:23-24. God turns their prison into a palace, a paradise; and they turn His mercies into praises. Paul and Silas found more pleasure than pain, more joy than sorrow, more sweet than bitter, more day than night--in the prison.
Sermon Outline
- I. Suffering Times as a Sign of God's Favor
- A. When the world persecutes, God smiles
- B. When the world puts chains on, God gives freedom
- C. When the world gives bitter, God gives sweet
- II. The World's Rejection is God's Acceptance
- A. When the world cries 'Crucify', God says 'Beloved'
- B. When the world gives rags, God gives royal robes
- C. When the world gives water, God gives nectar
Key Quotes
“When the world puts their iron chains upon their legs, then God puts His golden chains about their necks.” — Thomas Brooks
“When the world is a-tearing their good names, then He gives them a new name, that none knows but he who has it, a name that is better than that of sons and daughters.” — Thomas Brooks
“When the world gives into one hand a cup of water, God gives into the other a cup of nectar, a cup of ambrosia.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We can find joy in suffering by trusting in God's goodness and remembering His promises.
- We should respond to suffering by rejoicing in our sufferings and trusting in God's sovereignty.
- God uses suffering to refine us and bring us closer to Him.