Sufferings
Sufferings
Bible Mnemonics ›› S - Bible Mnemonics ››
Sufferings
SUFFERINGS
HOW ADVERSITY EQUIPS YOU FOR YOUR DESTINY
MNEMONIC “SUFFERINGS”
STRENGTHENS
UNLOCKS HIDDEN GIFTS
FRUITBEARING
FOCUSES YOUR THOUGHTS
EXPOSES PRIORITIES AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
REALIZATION OF SIN AND INACCURACY
INCULCATES DIVINE DEPENDANCE
NURTURES INTIMACY
GLORIFIES GOD
SHAPES THE INDIVIDUAL
AMPLIFICATION
S - STRENGTHENS
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJ)
Rom 4:20
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith,
giving glory to God, (NKJ)
Heb 11:33-34
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped
the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
(NKJ)
David's interaction with the lion and the bear strengthened him to deal with Goliath. His trials
strengthened him to rule as king.
Adversity develops your adversity quotient. Review “ADVERSE”.
In times of drought the root goes deeper.
U - UNLOCKS HIDDEN GIFTS
Gideon’s valour exposed by Medianite oppression.
Jephthah’s valour exposed by rejection.
Joseph the dreamer becomes the economist in Egypt in adversity.
F - FRUITBEARING
John 12:24
24. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it
remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (NKJ)
John 15:2
2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears
fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (NKJ)
EXAMPLES :1
FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Heb 12:10-11
10. For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit,
that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to
those who have been trained by it. (NKJ)
2
FRUIT OF PATIENCE
James 1:2-3
2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience. (NKJ)
3
PERSEVERANCE, CHARACTER AND HOPE
Rom 5:3-4
3. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces
perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (NKJ)
F - FOCUSSES YOUR THOUHGTS
JESUS IN ADVERSITY FOCUSES ON THE WILL OF GOD.
Luke 22:41-42
41And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will,
but Yours, be done."(NKJ)
DANIEL IN ADVERSITY FOCUSES ON GOD
Dan 6:10-11
10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper
room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that
day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his
God.(NKJ)
PAUL AND SILAS PRAISE GOD IN PRISON
ESTHER – NATION FOCUSSES ON GOD IN FASTING
JEHOSHAPHAT – NATION POSITIONS ITSELF IN PRAISE
E - EXPOSES PRIORITIES /ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
EXPOSES PRIORITIES
Ps 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.(NKJ)
EXPOSES THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
James 5:10-11
10. My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of
suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the
perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-- that the Lord is very
compassionate and merciful. (NKJ)
Job suffered immensely. In the end he experienced the compassion and mercy of God when
God restored him.
Job 42:12
12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen
thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female
donkeys. (NKJ)
EXPOSES GENUINESS
1 Pet 1:6-7
6. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved
by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold
that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ, (NKJ)
Trials test the genuineness of one's faith.
Deut 8:2
2. "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in
the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you
would keep His commandments or not. (NKJ)
Gen 22:1-2
1. Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him,
"Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son
Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering
on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (NKJ)
David faced a multitude of trials and tribulations. This drew him closer to God. When Ziglag
was burned down, his family kidnapped and his men took stones to stone him, he
strengthened himself in God
1 Sam 30:6
6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of
all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened
himself in the LORD his God. (NKJ)
By contrast, Saul went further away from God: 1.
When Samuel delayed, Saul violated his call.
1 Sam 13:8-14
8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come
to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and
peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon
as he had finished offering the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet
him, that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said,
"When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the
days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 "then I said, 'The
Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the
LORD.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to
Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your
God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom
over Israel forever. 14 "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for
Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander
over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." (NKJ)
2.
The progress and success of David was a challenge that Saul could not handle. Instead
of nurturing David as a son he hounded him - even to the extent of killing 85 innocent priests
for providing refuge for David.
1 Sam 22:18
18 And the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned
and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. (NKJ)
3.
When God did not answer Saul, he consulted a familiar spirit. (1Sam.28:6-12)
1 Sam 28:6-7
6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or
by Urim or by the prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a
medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "In fact, there
is a woman who is a medium at En Dor."
4.
When surrounded by Philistines, Saul attempted suicide.(1Sam.31:1-4)
1 Sam 31:1-4
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the
Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul
and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. 3
The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by
the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through
with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his
armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
(NKJ)
R - REALIZATION OF SIN AND INACCURACY
Provokes self-examination.
1
PRODIGAL CAME TO HIS SENSES IN THE PIG-STY.
Luke 15:16-18
16 "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one
gave him anything. 17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's
hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 'I will arise and
go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
(NKJ)
2
DANIEL IN BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.
Dan 9:5
"we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by
departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. (NKJ)
3
NEHEMIAH
Neh 9:31-33
31 Nevertheless in Your great mercy you did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; for
You are God, gracious and merciful. 32 "Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and
awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy: do not let all the trouble seem small before
You that has come upon us, our kings and our princes, our priests and our prophets, our
fathers and on all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33
However You are just in all that has befallen us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have
done wickedly. (NKJ)
4
JONAH
Jonah 2:1-4
1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly. 2 And he said: "I cried out to
the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and You heard my voice. 3 For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the
floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, 'I
have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' (NKJ)
5
JOB
Job 42:1
1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes." (NKJ)
I - INCULCATES DIVINE DEPENDANCE
True believers draw close to God when facing a trial / tribulation in recognition of His power
to deliver.
Hosea 5:15
15 I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My
face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me." (NKJ)
Hosea 6:1
1 Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; he has stricken,
but He will bind us up. (NKJ)
Ps 142:4-5
4. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has
failed me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my
refuge, my portion in the land of the living. (NKJ)
2 Chr 20:12
12. "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude
that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." (NKJ)
2 Cor 12:9-10
9. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJ)
Ps 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (NKJ)
When everything failed - his hometown burned, his family kidnapped and his own men
turned to stone him, David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
1 Sam 30:6
6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of
all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened
himself in the LORD his God. (NKJ)
N - NURTURES INTIMACY
DAVID
David fasted and prayed for his sick child for 7 days.
2 Sam 12:18-20
18Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were
afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we
spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead?
He may do some harm!"
19When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was
dead. Therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead."
20So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes;
and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and
when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.(NKJ)
David worshipped in the midst of adversity.
PAUL AND SILAS
They prayed whilst in prison.
Acts 16:25
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners
were listening to them. (NKJ)
KING HEZEKIAH
King Hezekiah interceded following Sennacherib's threat to capture Jerusalem.
2 Chr 32:20
Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and
cried out to heaven. (NKJ)
KING JEHOSHAPHAT
They praised God in the light of an earlier confession that they had no might against the
invading army
2 Chr 20:12
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that
is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." (NKJ)
2 Chr 20:21-22
21. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the
LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and
were saying: "Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever." 22Now when they began to
sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount
Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. (NKJ)
JOB
Job praised God after hearing of the death of His children.
Job 1:20-22
20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and
worshiped.
21And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The
LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
22In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.(NKJ)
G - GLORIFIES GOD
1.
LAZARUS
John 11:4
When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (NKJ)
Lazarus' sickness and death was designed to bring glory to God through the miracle of the
resurrection.
2.
CHRIST
John 13:31
So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified
in Him. (NKJ)
Christ was glorified by His suffering and crucifixion. Through death He destroyed him who
had power over death.
Heb.2:14
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared
in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the
devil, (NKJ)
3.
ABRAHAM
God is glorified through His enabling grace during the trial and by His power in effecting
deliverance from the trial / temptation.
Rom 4:20
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith,
giving glory to God, (NKJ)
Abraham's faith was tried as he waited upon God for the promised son. He did not waiver in
faith but through the trial gave glory to God.
1 Pet 4:13-14
13. but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of
Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is
blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (NKJ)
Persecutions allow us to be partakers of Christ's suffering and bring glory to God.
S - SHAPES THE INDIVIDUAL (REFINES)
Mal 3:3
3. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, and purge
them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. (NKJ)
Zech 13:9
9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them
as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My
people'; and each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" (NKJ)
Ps 66:10
10. For You, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. (NKJ)
Job 23:10
10. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
(NKJ)
1 Pet 4:1
1. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (NKJ)
Prov 25:4
4 Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. (NKJ)
The dross is removed until the image of the Maker is seen.
2 Tim 2:21
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified
and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (NKJ)