Turn with me tonight, if you
will, once again to the letter of Romans chapter eight. Romans chapter eight. I know
that last Sunday evening I brought my message from verses 28 through
31. For whom he did foreknow, or
excuse me, and we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are called according to his
purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son. that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom
he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,
them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. But tonight, I want to back up. I want to back up to verse number
18. Verse number 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. There are two
words in that verse of scripture that I want to speak to us about
tonight. The first word is the word sufferings,
and the second word is the word glory. 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. The sufferings
of this present time. First of all, I want to remind
us of three things in regard to the Apostle Paul writing this
letter at this time, writing those words. First of all, Paul
wrote this letter from the city of Corinth, and he did so in
the year A.D. 57 or 58. And that means he wrote
this letter in the fourth year of the reign of the emperor Nero. And with the exception of one
other emperor of Rome, Nero's name is associated with the sufferings
of Christians probably more than any other. It would just be a
short time, from AD 57, it would just be a short time when Nero
would be bringing these believers, these children of God, into the
circus to feed them to the wild beast. And not only that, but
taking them and putting them somehow, holding them to a pole
in his gardens, their bodies, and burning them to light up
his gardens at night. He was a very cruel, very evil
person, Nero. The second thing I would remind
us of is that Paul knew something about suffering for Christ. He
knew something about suffering for Christ. Keep your places
here if you will, but let's go back to Acts chapter nine. In
Acts chapter nine, of course, we have related to us his conversion
experience when the Lord met him that day on the road to Damascus. And we know that he was there,
going there rather, to persecute and afflict God's people, the
children of God, when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him
that day. And then the Lord speaks to this
man, this believer, this child of God in Damascus by the name
of Ananias. And that's what I want us to
see, if you will, in verse 15 and 16. Remember Ananias, he
was afraid of Paul. Paul's reputation preceded him
to Damascus, and they knew why he was coming and what he would
affect, that is, to persecute, to cause God's children to suffer
affliction. And he was afraid when the Lord
told Ananias, you go. to this place where Paul was,
or Saul of Tarsus was at this time. But I want us to see what
the Lord told Ananias in verses 15 and 16. But the Lord said
unto him, go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me. Now when we Most often speak
about God's election, God choosing. We're thinking about God choosing
a person to salvation, as he said in 2 Thessalonians 2 and
verse 13. But brethren, we are bound to
give thanks unto God for you, for God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation. And Saul of Tarsus, yes, he was
chosen to salvation. But he was also chosen for these
other things that the Lord tells Ananias to tell Saul. He was
chosen to bear the Lord's name to the Gentiles. You know, Peter,
the apostle Peter, he was the first one of the apostles to
preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was taken there, led there
to the house of Cornelius, remember. And in that council in Acts chapter
15, when they met to discuss if it were necessary that the
Gentiles be circumcised and come under the law, Peter stands up
and he says, you know, brethren, that God chose by me to preach
the gospel first to the Gentiles. But Peter was an apostle to the
Jews primarily. It was Paul that God had chosen,
as he said here, to bear his name to the Gentiles. To the Gentiles. And that's what
Paul did. Remember in Acts chapter 13,
in that city by the name of Antioch, when the scripture says, and
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the Jews,
they didn't like it because the Gentiles believed. And the Gentiles
came the next Sabbath day to hear Paul. And Paul said, seeing
that you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we turn to the
Gentiles. And Paul's ministry from that
point on mainly, and blessed of God as it was to take the
gospel among the Gentiles. When we think of Gentiles, let
us remember we're talking about pagans. Pagans that believed
in a number of gods. Pagans who, they didn't have
any foundation of the Christian faith at all. And Paul was chosen
of God and blessed by God the Holy Spirit in preaching the
gospel and the Lord saving sinners and churches being raised up
all over that area of Galatia and Macedonia and Asia Minor. Yes, he was chosen for this particular
work. And then it says he was chosen
to take his name before kings. Now, how's he going to do that?
He's going to be arrested, right? He's going to be arrested in
Jerusalem, and then he's going to stand before several different
kings or governors until he is eventually taken to Rome and
will testify before the emperor. But that's not all. He's chosen
to take God's name to the Gentiles, chosen to preach the gospel before
kings and the children of Israel. You know, the book of Acts ends.
It's the only history book we have of the church, isn't it?
Inspired history book of the church. And it ends with Paul
there in Rome in an hired house, the scripture says, and the Jews
would come to him. and he preached the gospel to
them. But that's not all. Notice, notice. The Lord said
unto him, to Ananias, go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel
unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the
children of Israel, for I will show him not only chosen for
those glorious things, but I will show him How great things he
must suffer for my namesake. He was a chosen vessel of God
to suffer for Christ's name. Hmm. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians.
What I'm saying is when we read here where Paul says, 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 wrote this
letter just before Nero began to persecute the believers in
Rome. And second, Paul knew something
about suffering. He really did. He lists some
of the sufferings that he experienced there in 2 Corinthians chapter
11. beginning with verse 23. And
of course, he is comparing himself with these false teachers that
had come to Corinth. Are they ministers of Christ?
I speak as a fool. I am more. In labors more abundant,
in stripes above measure. in prisons more frequent, and
deaths off. Of the Jews, five times received
die, 40 stripes save one." I was reading over my notes just a
few minutes ago, and I read that verse of scripture, and I said,
well, how many stripes is that? 195 times Paul felt that whip
of whatever kind they used to land on his back. But that wasn't
the worst of the sufferings, because notice he mentions next,
thrice was I beaten with rods. From what I've read, most people who were beaten with
rods expired. Most never lived to write about
it like Paul did. It was such a severe beating
that most men, their bodies would not could not withstand that
type of treatment. Once was I stoned, stoned for
preaching the gospel. Stoned because he told those
pagans, they thought he was a god and they were gonna worship him
and sacrifice to him. And he said, oh no, no, we're
just like you are. And by telling them the truth,
that their god of, was it Apollos, or one of those false gods, were
nothing but fables, they took him out and stoned him. How fickle
are lost men and women. Wanting to sacrifice to him one
minute, and just a few minutes later, wanting to kill him, throwing
stones at him. Thrice, I suffered shipwreck. I spent a night and a day, I
have been in the deep, and journeys often. And he didn't get on a
jet airplane either, and fly from here to California to preach
and rescue. No, if he preached and rescued,
he'd have to walk all the way from here. Yeah, and journeys
often. And on those journeys, there
were many perils. There were robbers along the
way. And perils by his own countrymen,
that is the Jewish nation. And by the heathen, perils in
the city, and perils in the wilderness, and perils in the sea, and perils
among false brethren, and weariness, and painfulness, and watchings
often in hunger. and thirst, and fastings often,
and cold, and nakedness. And notice especially this last
verse. Besides those things that are
without, that which cometh upon me daily. He's talking about
things within now, right? Besides those things that came
upon him outwardly, his body, afflictions, but inwardly, the
care of all the churches. The third thing I want to mention,
first, Paul wrote this letter just before Nero began to persecute
the church, the believers, like he did. And second, Paul knew
something about suffering by experience, not just by book
learning. He knew something about suffering. And third, Paul taught. that suffering, sufferings I
should say, sufferings, tribulations, and afflictions are the lot of
God's children in this world. Look with me at a few verses
where this is brought out. Let's begin in Acts chapter 14. What I'm saying is Paul taught,
when he preached the gospel, he taught that sufferings, tribulations,
and afflictions would be the lot of all of those who believe
and trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ in this world. In
Acts chapter 14, and look in verse 21, Confirming the souls of the disciples,
they're revisiting some of the churches where the Lord had saved
and raised up a church, and they're confirming the souls of the disciples
and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must,
through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God. Much
tribulation. Then, if you will, I want you
to turn with me to Philippians chapter 1. That was Paul and Barnabas, I believe,
but here in Philippians chapter 1. And let's look at verse 29. To the believers in the church
at Philippi, for unto you, it is given in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him. Yes, faith is a gift. It's a
blessed gift, isn't it? For without faith, it is impossible
to please God. Grace through faith, we've been
saved. For unto you, it is given in
the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for his sake. Having the same conflict which
you saw in me, and now here to be in me. All right, let's go
on. Let's look in 2 Timothy, just
a few more verses. Saying is, Paul taught that sufferings
and afflictions and tribulations will be the lot of God's children
in this world. In 2 Timothy. Chapter three and verse 12. If we suffer, we shall also reign
with him. If we deny him, he also will
deny us. Now let's go to Hebrews chapter
12. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse
six. For whom the Lord loveth, he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If you
endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what
son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if you be without chastisement,
and this word chastisement Many people, many pastors and preachers
over the years have pointed out it could be discipline. Discipline. The Lord disciplines his children. We usually think of chastisement
in the sense that a person's done something wrong, so then
the Lord chastises them. Our children disobey us, so we
chastise them. Well, that is true, but that's
not all that these verses are saying. If you be without discipline,
whereof all are partakers, then are you illegitimate and not
sons. For whom the Lord loveth, he
chasteneth. Sometimes, I remember when we
lived in Mexico, one of my neighbors told me one time when he realized
that we used physical discipline with our children, and he didn't.
He said, I just love my children too much. That's not true. If you love your children, you
will train them. You will discipline them. You
will chasten them. You will teach them. And the
Lord loves his children. So suffering and affliction is
part of the life of a believer. And the Lord Jesus remembered
the night before he was crucified. He told his disciples, in the
world you shall have tribulation. But he didn't stop there, did
he? But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. One of the old writers said,
and I quote, not to know afflictions and tribulations is not to know
Christ. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief. And if so, to have no sorrow,
to have no acquaintance with grief, and to know nothing of
tribulation is to proclaim to all with a loud voice that we
have no union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's
think about this for a few minutes. What is included in sufferings,
afflictions, and tribulations? There's three areas. First of
all, there's suffering in this body, this tabernacle of clay,
health issues. How many times have we heard,
and maybe for myself at least, said that health is the greatest
of temporal blessings? You know, if you lose your house,
you lose your job, but if you have your health, and I agree,
that's a great temporal blessing. And saying that it is, that means
that to lose your health is one of the greatest temporal miseries. that a person may experience
in this world. So that's one area, suffering
of body. Also, secondly, there's suffering
with family afflictions. You know, it is from family relations
that we have much of the sweetness in our lives. We love our wives
and our children Our friends and our church family, those
who are near to us, they're part of us. And as they bring us joy,
they may bring us sorrow also. And I've known believers, God's
children, faithful who have suffered because of their children, affliction,
tribulation. David is a prime example of this. He was a man after God's own
heart, wasn't he? But you know he had a son by
the name of Absalom. And Absalom was a rebel. Tried
to depose his father from being king. Think about Jacob. He was a man chosen of God. Jacob
have I loved. Esau have I hated. Jacob had his family problems,
didn't he? Remember when Joseph was taken
away and for many, many years he lived thinking that his beloved
son Joseph was dead. Yeah. But third, there's suffering
in spiritual matters. health-wise, family-wise, and
spiritual matters. And that's the reason I pointed
out when I read that list that the Apostle Paul wrote that he
didn't only mention the things that he suffered from without,
but things from within. Now, in his case, he said the
care of all the churches that came upon him daily. Spiritual
suffering is peculiar. to believers. Now, health suffering,
suffering in body and suffering with family relationships, that's
not peculiar to believers. Unbelievers experience that also. In fact, as the scripture says,
sparks fly upwards, so man is born for adversity. But now spiritual sufferings
This has to do only with God's children. It's peculiar. These
sufferings are peculiar to a child of God. One of the old preachers,
J.C. Philpott, said, what is loss
of health, of family, of friends, of property, to the hidings of
God's face, to guilt of conscience, to distressing fears as to the
reality of the work of grace upon the soul, to anticipations
of that tremendous wrath of God which is revealed in a broken
law. And yes, some of God's children
struggle all through their life until, I believe this is so,
until near the very end, that assurance that they have longed
for, that their sins, yes, have been forgiven. Yes, they are.
Really, a child of God comes many times in the last hours
of their lives. All their lives they've struggled
because they are alive, right? A lost person doesn't struggle.
A dead person doesn't struggle with these things. But a child
of God does if he has life many times. Am I truly a child of
God? Is my faith real? There's many of God's children. I may be looking at some right
now. I don't know your heart. You don't know my heart. But
I know that these are cares that God's children experience. Their sufferings, their afflictions,
their tribulations that God's children know in this world. What does Paul in our text say
about comfort concerning these afflictions? Well, these three
words, this present time. This present time. This is not
all the time. There's time to come, there's
eternity to come, but this present time. For I reckon, as our text
says, 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. Look at that word reckon. That's the same word that is
translated counted, isn't it? Abraham believed God and it was
counted unto him for righteousness. Reckon, count something to be
so. Here are three things. Every
child of God, if you're suffering and when you're suffering, these
three things are very important to learn. Number one, your suffering
is limited. It's limited to this present
time. It is. And number two, your suffering
is controlled. It's controlled. Now when I wrote
those words the other day preparing this message, the thought came
to me when I wrote the word controlled. Our sufferings are controlled.
I thought about Controlled burnings. Controlled burnings. You know,
the firemen and the people that work in the forest, sometimes
they will have what they call a controlled burning. And however
they do it, they have a perimeter around which the fire is controlled
within it. Whether they build a big ditch
around it, or sometimes they'll actually set fires, won't they?
Controlled burnings. But you know what? Sometimes
that fire jumps the fire line. It jumps the fire line. Well,
that's something that ain't going to happen with your sufferings. Who controls your sufferings? God does. God does. And he doesn't make any mistakes. My wife has me put eye drops
in her eyes usually at night. Sometimes she asks Winner to
do it. But you know what? I take that
little old thing, it's about that big, and sometimes I turn
it and put it up to her eye and two or three drops will come
out. Only one, one drop. But it happened so fast I can't
even see the drops. It ain't like that with God.
Into your cup of affliction, into your cup of suffering, He
controls that drop exactly. No more and no less than what
He has predetermined for your good, for your welfare. A third thing, our suffering.
Reckon this, our suffering must be compared to what our sins
deserve. I can't speak for anyone else
here, but I can speak for myself. If God were to give me what I
deserve, I would be in hell. Now, I know that. I believe that. There's no doubt in my mind about
that. Now I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time, I count them to be so less, whatever,
than what my sins deserve. And a fourth thing, our suffering,
if we take a scale, think of it like this, if we take a scale
and we put all of our sufferings over here, But then we put the
sufferings of Christ over here. Our sufferings are not worthy
to be compared with what he suffered. We've never had nails driven
through our hands and feet. We've never been crowned with
the crown of thorns. We've never had the weight of
God's wrath poured out upon us for the sins that he had not
committed. but for the sins of his people." No wonder Paul said, for our
light affliction, and another text, worketh for us a more weighty
purpose. Well, I've said enough about
suffering. Let me say just a few words about glory. This is wonderful
here. Look at the text. 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. What is this
glory? What is this glory? You know,
in our Lord's prayer in John 17, he willed this. He said, Father, I will. that
they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that
they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou
lovest me before the foundation of the world. The Lord Jesus
will have his people. He said, I will. He will have
his people see the glory which the Father has given him as the
God-man. As God, He's always had all glory. But as a God man, He was given
glory by His Father. And this is the glory of God
that's revealed in and shining through that human nature. Remember
when He was transfigured? That day on the mount before
his disciples, the scripture says that his face was like the
sun shining in his brightness. This is what that beatitude that
he spoke means when he said, blessed are the poor in heart,
for they shall see God. We shall see God when we see
Christ in all his glory, because he is God. But you know, that is the glory
of Christ. That is the glory of Christ.
But the Apostle Paul, in our text, he speaks of the glory
that shall be revealed in us. Not to us, but in us. What is this glory? Well, it
consists of probably a whole lot more than I would ever be
able to bring out. but it is the glory of perfect
knowledge. For now we see through a glass
darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then
shall I know even as also I am known. In Hebrews chapter two,
the writer speaks about our minds and he likens them to a leaking
vessel, a leaking vessel. And as truth just slipped through
us, I've seen my wife prepare spaghetti,
and she boils those noodles in a big old pot full of water,
boiling water, and she takes that pot and pours it over into
this utensil in the in the sink there, and you know what happens?
All the water runs through. Nothing's left but the noodles.
That's a comparison. Truth runs through it. It runs
through it. Don't you wish sometimes when
you're here in the service and you hear the gospel and you're
like those two disciples on the road to Emmaus when they said,
did not our hearts burn within us? But you know, you're not out
of here long before that's gone. That's gone. And truths that
you've heard over and over and over again, and what a blessing
they are to you. But we forget these things. They slip through our minds.
But then, this glory, we will know even as we are known. Number two. It is the glory of perfect holiness. It does not yet appear what we
shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be
like him. Perfect holiness. That's glory,
isn't it? Man, that almost makes me shout.
That's glory. We sing of him. That shall be
glory for me. Amen. Perfect holiness. just like the Savior. Never again
a jealous thought, an envious thought, or selfish word, or
unkind word, or holiness, holiness. That's glory. And lastly, perfect
happiness. It doth not yet appear what he
has prepared for those who love him. But we know it will be perfect
happiness. Not for a day, not for an hour,
not for a month, but forever and ever and ever. May the Lord
bless his word to all of us.