Wheaton Lectures on Suffering for Christ
John Piper - Wheaton Lectures on Suffering for Christ - September 9, 2007
John Piper completed a week of lectures on Christians and the call to suffer at Wheaton in early September. You need to hear his four part series, then listen to the questions students are asking today about suffering, American Christianity, and the pure call of Christ.
Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer, Part 1 - If you are a Christian, it is not a question of whether you will suffer, but when. And natural suffering like disease or disasters can be as much for Christ as persecution is.
Displaying Christ in Christian Suffering–Part 2 - Whether God is delivering us from suffering or prolonging it, one thing is most important to him—displaying the worth of Christ.
Displaying the Substance of Sin in Suffering–Part 3 God wants the suffering in the world to show us how awful sin is.
Displaying Joy through Suffering–Part 4 - How can we have joy amid so much suffering? See a few notes on this lecture.
Joy in the bible is the means by which we are sustained in suffering and joy is that for which suffering is preparing us..... Piper
Joy Verses
Romans 5:3-5 - 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
James 1:2-4 - 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1 Peter 4:13-19 - 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Acts 5:41-42 - 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Phil 2:17-18 - 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Colossians 1:24 - 24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 - 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
2 Corinthians 8:1-7 - And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Salt and Light
Matt 5:11 - 14 - 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
This repsonse in the midst of suffering - - - to "Rejoice and be glad" - - - the world cannot do this - - - they can never do this - - - - because they can only return evil for evil.
One day, the world will say it's from God when they see you make great sacrifices - - -- why? because they know they cannot praise God in the midst of suffering - - - - they cant' do it !!!!! And, one day, when they realize its God working in our lives as we go thru suffering and still prasie God - - - one day, they will PRAISE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN also..... Piper reprimands men for seeking support from their wives in their "tough days" - - seeking sympathy for their good works - - Piper says - 'grow up men"....we are expected to do these things and not to seek pity for ourselves but to PRAISE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.....................
Piper referenced the Radicals in this world when he said - - - We dont kill to extend our cause - - - but we die to extend our cause..... (Piper was encouraging the students to live differently in the midst of suffering - - and show the world the power of Christ in suffering)
An Example:
Heb 10:32 - 40
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Psalm 16:11 - (the highlight in purple above reminds Piper of Psalm 16:11) - 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Heb 11:24 -28 - 24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
Heb 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 13:12 - 14 - 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Piper Q & A - John Piper answers questions from Wheaton students.
