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HEBREWS 12: 2

"OUR PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD SUFFERING"

I. ALL MEN EXPERIENCE SUFFERING TO A GREATER OR LESSOR DEGREE IN THEIR LIFE.
        A. Physical suffering.
        B. Emotional suffering.
                1. Loss of loved one.
                2. Hurt or disappointed by friend.
                3. To see someone we love suffering.
        C. Spiritual suffering.
                1. Consciousness of sin.
                2. Feeling separated from God.
        D. Suffering is difficult to understand.
                1. Especially when Godly people suffer.
                        a. If a sinner suffers we say justice.
                        b. When a saint suffers we're mystified.
        E. Suffering is a curse.
                1. It is an evil by-product of man's sin.
                2. No pain or suffering in Kingdom Age.
        F. Suffering is to be avoided when possible.
                1. No particular virtue in suffering.
                        a. It often creates virtues.
                        b. It is a sick mind that desires to suffer.

II. HOW TO ENDURE SUFFERING.
        A. We must always look beyond to the results it produces. "Who for the joy
           that was set before Him..."
                1. The quickest way to go under is to concentrate on the trial itself.
                2. "For the present suffering is not worthy to be compared..."
                3. "For our light affliction..."
        B. Know that suffering is not forever.
                1. Within our minds pain has a way of seeming forever.
                        a. You begin to wonder if you'll ever feel normal again.

We must look beyond the suffering of this life to the glory of God's
eternal kingdom.