Sermon Central
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Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People ? : Why Do The Righteous Suffer ?
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Nov 18, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: THIS SERMON IS ABOUT WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE ? AND WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER ?AND HIGHLIGHTS THE FOLLOWING 1. SUFFERING 2. SURRENDER 3. SANCTIFICATION 4. SECURITY 5. SECRETS 6. SILENCE 7. STRENGTH
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE ? : WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER ?
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OUTLINE
1. SUFFERING
2. SURRENDER
3. SANCTIFICATION
4. SECURITY
5. SECRETS
6. SILENCE
7. STRENGTH
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE ? : WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER ?
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1. SUFFERING
The Lord is working in our lives to fulfill his purpose . The purpose of God in our lives is not only that we should beleive
on Him but we should also suffer for Him. Our love for God should be strong and deep rooted and no experience in life should
be allowed to seperate us from the love of God. By faith we not only accomplish great victories we also endure great trials.
The Hebrew children declared that they would serve God even if He did not deliver them from the fiery furnace. Job promised
to trust in the Lord even if the Lord slew him. The scriptures reveal that the last days would be days of great evil and
wickedness and all those who live godly lives would suffer persecution. Therefore we must be strong in our faith and
commitment to endure till the end.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your
right hand you save me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or
sword?
As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became
powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might
gain a better resurrection.
Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.
They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,
destitute, persecuted and mistreated-
the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
DANIEL 3: 14-18
and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the
image of gold I have set up?
Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall
down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing
furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this
matter.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand,
O king.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have
set up."
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
2 TIMOTHY 3: 1-13
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful,
