TITLE: I Pray This Benediction Upon You: Suffering

TEXT: I PETER 5:10, 11

INTRODUCTION
A. Why do we suffer? Even more, why do good people suffer? ​​

B. Jesus (John 16:2-4) ​​​​​​

C. Paul (Romans 8:18) ​​​​​​

D. Peter (I Peter 2:21; 4:12, 13) ​​​​​

E. Dr. King, “Unearned suffering is redemptive.” ​​​

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD
A. God of all grace ​​​​​​​

B. Who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus ​​​
1. Called from the foundation of the world

2. God knows what I will suffer, AND, what He will do after it

APPEAL TO GOD
A. After we have suffered a while (He may permit us suffer a while) ​

B. Note: ​​​​​​​​
1. Indicative Future Tense – converts the prayer into an assurance

2. Autos – Himself

C. Perfect ​​​​​​​​
1. Perfect = Restore / To mend / To put in its appropriate position

2. Suffering Destroys – God Restores

D. Establish ​​​​​​​​
1. Establish = Support (make stable, place firmly)

2. Suffering Disorients – God Stabilizes

E. Strengthen ​​​​​​​
1. Strengthen = To make strong

2. Suffering Weakens – God Strengthens

F. Settle ​​​​​​​​
1. Settle = To lay the foundation of / To Ground Securely

2. Suffering Washes Away – God Securely Grounds

ASSIGN GLORY TO GOD
A. Be glory – doxa ​​​​​​​

B. Be dominion – force, strength, might, more especially “manifested
power” is derived from a root kra--, “to perfect, to complete” ​​

AFFIRM THE GLORY’S DURATION
A. Forever ​​​​​​​​

B. And ever ​​​​​​​​

AMEN
A. “So be it” ​​​​​​​

B. To confirm the words spoken and to invoke the fulfillment of them ​

CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: THAT I WILL BLESS OTHERS TO KNOW THAT SUFFERING CAN LEAD TO THE LIBERATION OF OTHERS