After You Have Suffered A While

After reading this Bible study, one might wonder, Do I really want to follow this Jesus? Do I Really want to be a Christian? You know the Ole saying, "If it was easy everyone would be doing it". That just may apply here. The deeper you get into God's Word, the more strange you'll become to the world and even to some Christians. But, the deeper you go, the better the feeling and more assurance you'll have. When you become a follower of Christ, don't expect all to be peaches and cream.

I've added very little comments and mainly just listed some verses in the Bible that contain the words suffer, suffering, affliction, afflicted, and tribulation.

1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Let's look at the verses just before this.

1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Here, Satan is trying to imitate Jesus, The True Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Satan will try to close your eyes so you can't understand the seals.

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree[1] which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

The word tree in Genesis 3:3 means, the closing of the eyes.

TREE 6086. 'ets, ates; from H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plur. sticks):-- + carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
6095. 'atsah, aw-tsaw'; a prim. root; prop. to fasten (or make firm), i.e. to close (the eyes):--shut.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

1 Pet 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal[1] glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1 "ETERNAL": 166. aionios, ahee-o'-nee-os; from G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):--eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Mat 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife, (Pilate's wife), sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Mark 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction[1] or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

1 "AFFLICTION": 2347. thlipsis, thlip'-sis; from G2346; pressure (lit. or fig.):--afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Mark 8:29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

Mark 8:30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction[1], such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

1 "AFFLICTION": 2347. thlipsis, thlip'-sis; from G2346; pressure (lit. or fig.):--afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Deu 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Here, Jesus plainly tell his disciples that He will die, but that He'll rise the third day.

Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Would you or I take up a cross, knowing we would die?

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire[1] I have desired[2] to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

1 "DESIRE": 1939. epithumia, ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah; from G1937; a longing (espec. for what is forbidden):--concupiscence, desire, lust (after).
2 "DESIRED": 1937. epithumeo, ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o; from G1909 and G2372; to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise):--covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

Luke 24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Acts 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Acts 7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Acts 7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction[1] of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

1 "AFFLICTION": 2561. kakosis, kak'-o-sis; from G2559; maltreatment:--affliction.

Acts 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Read 2 Co 11:16 thru 33.

Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Rom 8:18 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.

1 Cor 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

2 Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

2 Cor 1:6 And whether we be afflicted[1], it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

1 "AFFLICTED": 2346. thlibo, thlee'-bo; akin to the base of G5147; to crowd (lit. or fig.):--afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble.

2 Cor 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

2 Cor 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2 Cor 7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

2 Cor 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

2 Cor 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

Paul is going to tell of just some of his physical sufferings:

2 Cor 11:23 (Paul speaking). Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

2 Cor 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2 Cor 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

Beaten:
Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

Stripes:
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Stoned:
Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Acts 14:20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Shipwrecked:
Acts 27:41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Phil 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

Phil 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Phil 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

1 Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction[1], with joy of the Holy Ghost:

When you become a follower of Christ, don't expect all to be peaches and cream.

1 "AFFLICTION": 2347. thlipsis, thlip'-sis; from G2346; pressure (lit. or fig.):--afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

1 Th 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention[1].

Read Acts 16 and 17 to see how Paul and Silas were treated.

1 "CONTENTION": 73. agon, ag-one'; from G71; prop. a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by impl.) a contest (held there); fig. an effort or anxiety:--conflict, contention, fight, race.

1 Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

You can expect to suffer somewhat for serving God.

1 Th 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

1 Th 3:7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

2 Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

1 Tim 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach[1], because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 "REPROACH": 3679. oneidizo, on-i-did'-zo; from G3681; to defame, i.e. rail at, chide, taunt:--cast in teeth, (suffer) reproach, revile, upbraid.
3681. oneidos, on'-i-dos; prob. akin to the base of G3686; notoriety, i.e. a taunt (disgrace):--reproach.

2 Tim 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2 Tim 2:12 If we suffer[1], we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

1 "SUFFER": 5278. hupomeno, hoop-om-en'-o; from G5259 and G3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; fig. to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:--abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour[1] them that are tempted.

1 "SUCCOUR": 997. boetheo, bo-ay-theh'-o; from G998; to aid or relieve:--help, succour.

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world[1]: but now once in the end[2] of the world[3] hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

1 "WORLD": 2889. kosmos, kos'-mos; prob. from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by impl. the world (in a wide or narrow sense, includ. its inhab., lit. or fig. [mor.]):--adorning, world.
2 "END": 4930. sunteleia, soon-tel'-i-ah; from 4931; entire completion, i.e. consummation (of a dispensation):--end.
3 "WORLD": 165. aion, ahee-ohn'; from the same as G104; prop. an age; by extens. perpetuity (also past); by impl. the world; spec. (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):--age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Comp. G5550.

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer[1] affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

1 "SUFFER": 4778. sugkakoucheo, soong-kak-oo-kheh'-o; from G4862 and G2558; to maltreat in company with, i.e. (pass.) endure persecution together:--suffer affliction with.

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction[1], and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Deu 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

1 "AFFLICTION": 2347. thlipsis, thlip'-sis; from G2346; pressure (lit. or fig.):--afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction[1], and of patience[2].

1 "AFFLICTION": 2552. kakopatheia, kak-op-ath'-i-ah; from a comp. of G2556 and G3806; hardship:--suffering affliction.
2 "PATIENCE": 3115. makrothumia, mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah; from the same as G3116; longanimity, i.e. (obj.) forbearance or (subj.) fortitude:--longsuffering, patience.
3116. makrothumos, mak-roth-oo-moce'; adv. of a comp. of G3117 and G2372; with long (enduring) temper, i.e. leniently:--patiently.

1 Pet 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Pet 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

1 Pet 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

1 Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Pet 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

1 Pet 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Pet 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Pet 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Pet 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

1 Pet 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Pet 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Pet 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

2 Pet 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Don't think that God's people aren't going to have tribulation.

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Dan 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Another food that will be hard to find in this day is the Word of God.

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

After we've suffered a while? What then? Joint-heirs with Christ. Eternal life. Life indescribable, as the next four verses indicate.

Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Isa 64:4: 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer[1] with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1 "SUFFER": 4841. sumpascho, soom-pas'-kho; from G4862 and G3958 (includ. its alt.); to experience pain jointly or of the same kind (spec. persecution; to "sympathize"):--suffer with.

Rom 8:18 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.

Thanks, for allowing me, to share this with you. Remember, to always, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

In His Word,
Art Porter

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