The Christian & Hardship

Introduction. (Acts 14:19-22) When a person is obedient to the gospel they appeal to God in Christ for rescue from the power of darkness and sin. In Christ we find this deliverance. Sins are forgiven. A new relationship with God begins. The hope of heaven lies before us.
     In that path from the cradle of baptism to the liberation of our spirit from the body in death there is a dilemma: liberation from sin and darkness does not liberate one from trial and hardship. This creates questions...

     In the text we began with Paul and Barnabas are laboring in the noble task of teaching the gospel to others. For their efforts they face (i.e. Paul specifically) stoning, being dragged from the city and left for dead. Yet after this harsh treatment, rather than giving in to discouragement they press on. They go to Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (notice) “strengthening the souls of the disciples” (vs. 22). Shouldn't this have been the other way around? Shouldn't they have been the one's who needed strengthening? They exhorted them “to continue in the faith” (vs. 22). I would ask you to notice that rather than giving in to discouragement and hardships they seem to realize that the souls they had taught might be the ones who looked at their own hardships and turned from the faith (thinking something is wrong). Instead they tell them, nothing has gone wrong this is to be expected, because (Note) “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
     This morning I'd like for us to think about this statement for a few minutes considering what Paul is teaching by saying “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

I. “We Must”

  1. “Must” Gr. dei “it is necessary.” “Must” communicates necessity, obligation or certainty. Either in terms of a prerequisite - “I must study if I want to pass that test” a consequence “If I am a male citizen I must register for the draft at 18” or even an inevitability “If a child wants to walk, they must fall at some point.” Some Hardships are a “must.”
    1. Those who live Godly suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:10-12).
    2. In this world we will have tribulation (John 16:32,33).
    3. To follow Jesus we must deny ourselves (Matthew 16:24-26).
  2. “We” tells us this is not an isolated necessity. All Christians must go through this. In fact some trials all humans must go through. Being a Christian doesn't change the basic order of this world.
    1. All temptation is common (I Corinthians 10:1-13).
    2. The same suffering are also endured by others (I Peter 5:8-9).
    3. We suffer with one another (I Corinthians 12:18-26).

II. “Through Many Tribulations”

  1. “Tribulation” thlipsis “1. a pressing, pressing together, pressure; 2. metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits”
  2. There are many hardships that Christians face.
    1. Persecution (John 15:18-21).
    2. Infirmities (Philippians 2:25-28).
    3. Painful relationships (Luke 14:26,27).
    4. Misfortune of this world (Acts 18:1-3; 11:27-30).

III. “Enter the Kingdom of God.”

  1. The apostles spoke of God's kingdom in the present tense (Colossians 1:12-14; Revelation 1:9,10).
  2. Obedience to the gospel is our entrance into the kingdom (Acts 8:5,12; 28:30,31).
    1. This is not speaking of some kind of salvation through self-abuse or martyrdom.
    2. It is talking about an aspect of the gospel itself - enduring to the end (Matthew 24:9-13).

Conclusion. Christians should expect hardships. They do not come because of a lack of faith. Are hardships some kind of punishment from God? Some sins cause hardship (e.g. Romans ). Hardships can help make us better (e.g. Romans ). In this sense we are trained by hardships (e.g. Hebrews ) The danger in trying to educate ourselves about the will of God at the “school of hardship” is that sometimes the sinful are relatively free of hardship. Is that God's approval? How can God let us go through such things? Why even be a Christian if we have to face such things?
     God sees the big picture. God sees eternity. Just as a child may think that his (or her) life is miserable if they can't get a toy, eat some candy, clean their room or do homework but the parents see: 1) Such things are not as grave as they feel to the child, and 2) they need to develop some trait or discipline by enduring what feels like the end of the world, so it must surely be with God. The most difficult hardship of this life pales in comparison to eternity (Romans 8:18).
 

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