Ephesians Week 8 - I Am Afflicted

3. I AM AFFLICTED

4. EPHESIANS 3:1-13
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner
for Christ Jesus on behalf of you
Gentiles-- 2 assuming that you have
heard of the stewardship of God's
grace that was given to me for you, 3
how the mystery was made known to
me by revelation, as I have written
briefly.

5. EPHESIANS 3:1-13
4 When you read this, you can
perceive my insight into the mystery
of Christ, 5 which was not made
known to the sons of men in other
generations as it has now been
revealed to His holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit.

6. EPHESIANS 3:1-13
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are
fellow heirs, members of the same
body, and partakers of the promise in
Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of
this gospel I was made a minister
according to the gift of God's grace,
which was given me by the working of
His power.

7. EPHESIANS 3:1-13
8 To me, though I am the very least of
all the saints, this grace was given, to
preach to the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and
to bring to light for everyone what is
the plan of the mystery hidden for
ages in God who created all things,

8. EPHESIANS 3:1-13
10 so that through the church the
manifold wisdom of God might now be
made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly places. 11
This was according to the eternal
purpose that He has realized in Christ
Jesus our Lord,

9. EPHESIANS 3:1-13
12 in whom we have boldness and
access with confidence through our
faith in Him. 13 So I ask you not to
lose heart over what I am suffering for
you, which is your glory.

10. The Bible is very honest that
SUFFERING is real and it
comes to God’s people.

11. Two things are TRUE
of you and me, and
were true of Paul:

12. 1. We will cause
other people to be
afflicted.

13. 2. Other people will
cause us to be
afflicted.

14. Paul was afflicted, not just in
clinical way but in a very practical
and pastoral way.

15. Jesus Himself suffered most.
He suffered unjustly and
righteously. He experienced it and
so He identifies with us in the
midst of it.

16. We don’t have a God that’s
immune from it and separated
from it.

17. KINDS OF
AFFLICTION:

18. It is the general result of sin:
death, aging, illness
1. ADAMIC

19. Eternal hell; it is for people who
have sinned against God and don’t
turn from sin and trust in Jesus.
2. PUNISHMENT

20. It is reaping what we sow.
3. CONSEQUENTIAL

21. Satan’s harming God’s people:
sickness, torment, night terrors,
hearing voices, demonic accusations.
4. DEMONIC

22. It is where you didn’t do anything
wrong; people just harmed you and you
are sinned against: attacked, abused,
mistreated.
5. VICTIM

23. It is where you are a part of a
people, a community or a nation
who are suffering, and so you are
also suffering with them.
6. COLLECTIVE

24. It is the Lord’s correcting and
maturing the believers (pruning).
7. DISCIPLINARY

25. It is where people are attacking the
believers because of their
relationship with Jesus: hated for
being a Christian.
8. VICARIOUS

26. It’s about when you are loving
someone and when they’re hurting,
you are hurting too: mourn with
those who mourn.
9. EMPATHETIC

27. You are not sinning or doing anything
wrong and yet you are afflicted-
primarily an opportunity to show
others who Jesus is and what He has
done.
10.TESTIMONIAL

28. This increases the worship of God.
(Joseph’s being thrown, sold, jailed---
and rising up in power to glorify God.)
11. PROVIDENTIAL

29. This is where God allows hardship to
warn and spare us from greater
hardship. (feeling pained and so you
will need to go for a check-up)
12. PREVENTATIVE

30. We don’t know why we are suffering
or what’s going on: we know in part,
we see in part.
13. MYSTERIOUS

31. ROMANS 11:34
34 “Who has known the mind of the
Lord?”

32. It is the intense opposition, affliction
towards God’s people; things getting
harder, difficult and worse --- due to the
nearing judgment, returning of Jesus.
14. APOCALYPTIC

33. We’ve got to know the affliction to
provide certain diagnosis.
(Job’s affliction)

34. During suffering, don’t ask the
“why” but the “who”---
Who Jesus is and who you are in
Him.

35. Three things we are
taught about
affliction:

36. 1. We are afflicted for other’s good.
Our suffering can be the beginning
of our ministry.

37. 2. We are afflicted for our growth.
Our self-awareness is increasing:
who we are, what we have become,
and for whom; pointing back to
God’s grace and power.

38. 3. We are afflicted for God’s glory.
God could use the worst things to do
wonderful things ---
so we are not to lose heart.

39. Practical
Application

40. 1. Be honest with God and His people.
2. Talk about it; it helps.
3. Know when comfort is better than
an answer.

41. CONCLUSION

42. AFFLICTIONS ARE FOR
A PURPOSE.
-To display the manifold wisdom of
GOD