Why Suffering Is GOOD For Every Believer

I would imagine that suffering is not a very popular topic amongst most churches today but suffering is a vital and important part of every believer's life and It should not and cannot be a topic that is left out of our Biblical thinking. Suffering comes in many forms and our heart today is to discuss the biblical view of suffering and how it is a powerful mindset and tool in our lives.
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Topic NOTESI have bee systematically teaching through 1st peter and last week we got to chapter 4:1-
Devotional - what are we learning from the Word
Romans 8 "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry."
Suffering as a believer
Cease from sin
Depriving my flesh is suffering
Being in human nature and submitting to God is telling your flesh no
Choosing to walk in the Spirit
Universal doctrine suffering
Romans 8 to explain whoever suffers … putting away of flesh is causing our flesh to suffer
“want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
We have been freed from the “want to do” God gives us new desires new cravings. As we walk in our new selves it grows
Define:
Sensuality - Not just sexual
THE WORLDLY DEFINITION IS PURELY SEXUAL.
THE BIBLICAL USE is: unbridled lust
Living for pleasure of every sense - pleasing the 5 senses rather than pleasing God
FROM WIKIPEDIA: Hedonism is a school of thought that argues pleasure and suffering are the only components of well-being. Ethical hedonism is the view that combines hedonism with welfarist ethics, which claim that what we should do depends exclusively on what affects the well-being individuals have. Ethical hedonists would defend either increasing pleasure and reducing suffering for all beings capable of experiencing them, or just reducing suffering in the case
Passions - Not just what are you passionate about in life
Being controlled by our emotions and serving our emotions vs pleasing God - affected by sensuality in that when we are not feeling good or something not pleasing instead of suffering we let our emotional response dictate our actions - flesh isn't getting what it wants so our choice is to suffer in the flesh and choose to walk in the spirit or suffer in the spirit and walk in flesh they are opposed
Drunkenness - Not just being drunk from intoxication
Overtaken by a substance or something out side your body
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise."
Ephesians 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,"
Removal of natural function - (Inhibition) Conscience
Orgies - Not just a sexual experience
Overindulgence
Giving into your flesh never satiated never enough
Ecclesiastes 1:8 "All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing."
HISTORICAL "secret rites used in the worship of Bacchus, Dionysus, and other Greek and Roman deities, celebrated with dancing, drunkenness, and singing."
Drinking parties - Not just drinking at a party or hosting one intentionally
It is inviting others to partake with you in all of the above
No one likes to feel the weight of shame or guilt alone so if they
Misery loves company
Approval so you can keep doing it
Why godly fellowship is so important
Lawless Idolatry - All of this ends with self-worship
How I feel what I want what I pursue
Opposite of dying to self or taking up cross
Each one shows the progress of worshipping self vs the Creator
PrayerDear Lord,
Thank you for your word and how it cuts us to the heart. Thank you for teaching us through your word. We pray your word would continue to transform us as we learn it and choose to walk out all that you command us to. We pray we would be people who recognize parts of our hearts that need to change, sin that needs to be repented of, motivations that are not pure, and actions that do not reflect your ways for the purpose of repentance and reconciliation and growth. May your will be done in us and through us. May your light shine brightly through our marriages as we encourage one another to draw closer to you.
In Jesus’ name, amen!