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.

The Bible is very honest that

SUFFERING is real and it

comes to God’s people.

Two things are TRUE

of you and me, and

were true of Paul:

1. We will cause

other people to be

afflicted.

2. Other people will

cause us to be

afflicted.

Paul was afflicted, not just in

clinical way but in a very practical

and pastoral way.

Jesus Himself suffered most.

He suffered unjustly and

righteously. He experienced it and

so He identifies with us in the

midst of it.

We don’t have a God that’s

immune from it and separated

from it.

KINDS OF

AFFLICTION:

It is the general result of sin:

death, aging, illness

1. ADAMIC

Eternal hell; it is for people who have sinned against God and don’t

turn from sin and trust in Jesus.

2. PUNISHMENT

It is reaping what we sow.

3. CONSEQUENTIAL

Satan’s harming God’s people: sickness, torment, night terrors,

hearing voices, demonic accusations.

4. DEMONIC

It is where you didn’t do anything wrong; people just harmed you and you

are sinned against: attacked, abused, mistreated.

5. VICTIM

It is where you are a part of a people, a community or a nation

who are suffering, and so you are also suffering with them.

6. COLLECTIVE

It is the Lord’s correcting and maturing the believers (pruning).

7. DISCIPLINARY

It is where people are attacking the believers because of their

relationship with Jesus: hated for being a Christian.

8. VICARIOUS

It’s about when you are loving someone and when they’re hurting,

you are hurting too: mourn with those who mourn.

9. EMPATHETIC

You are not sinning or doing anything wrong and yet you are afflicted-primarily an opportunity to show

others who Jesus is and what He has done.

10.TESTIMONIAL

This increases the worship of God.(Joseph’s being thrown, sold, jailed---and rising up in power to glorify God.)

11. PROVIDENTIAL

This is where God allows hardship to warn and spare us from greater

hardship. (feeling pained and so you will need to go for a check-up)

12. PREVENTATIVE

We don’t know why we are suffering or what’s going on: we know in part,

we see in part.

13. MYSTERIOUS

ROMANS 11:3434 “Who has known the mind of the

Lord?”

It is the intense opposition, affliction towards God’s people; things getting

harder, difficult and worse --- due to the nearing judgment, returning of Jesus.

14. APOCALYPTIC

We’ve got to know the affliction to provide certain diagnosis.

(Job’s affliction)

During suffering, don’t ask the “why” but the “who”---

Who Jesus is and who you are in Him.

Three things we are

taught about

affliction:

1. We are afflicted for other’s good.

Our suffering can be the beginning of our ministry.

2. We are afflicted for our growth.

Our self-awareness is increasing: who we are, what we have become,

and for whom; pointing back to God’s grace and power.

3. We are afflicted for God’s glory.

God could use the worst things to do wonderful things ---

so we are not to lose heart.

Practical

Application

1. Be honest with God and His people.

2. Talk about it; it helps.

3. Know when comfort is better than

an answer.

CONCLUSION

AFFLICTIONS ARE FOR

A PURPOSE.

-To display the manifold wisdom of

GOD