(6) Strength in Suffering Series
God used the first century Roman government to spread the gospel. Even those Roman officers guarding Paul in his chains saw his faith. Paul wasn’t the guards’ everyday sort of prisoner. What motivated him to praise and glorify Jehovah? His life was about spreading hope in the people around him. He wasn’t acting for his own personal gain—that was obvious. The Roman guards would not have had any interest in Paul’s teachings if Paul had not come to Rome, preached the gospel, and sincerely lived God’s love for them. They watched his behavior as they guarded him daily. God had a purpose for Paul’s imprisonment, and Paul tells that to his brothers and sisters in Philippi.
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” – Philippians 1:12
Paul message to the Philippian Christians is not to worry about him. He says everything that’s happening to him—his imprisonment and the hardships going on in Rome—is working out beautifully. Paul now sees the purpose for his suffering. He didn’t know it when he was first imprisoned. It took a while for Paul to perceive God’s plan: to use the Roman palace to spread the gospel. As the gospel spread, the Christians in Rome gained courage. This gathering momentum had Roman Christians speaking out for the sake of Christ. The power of God’s word was affecting this powerful city. Did Paul want to suffer in prison and in chains? Of course not. But when the gospel is spreading like a wildfire, and more souls are able to hear the truth and accept the gift of Christ, it’s worth it. The spread of the gospel is worth suffering for. Paul shows his Philippian brothers and sisters that he is willing to pay that price so the gospel can bring life and hope to those who are lost in sin.
“15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.”
God uses enemies of the gospel to help spread the testament of Christ through Paul’s imprisonment. This is the power of God’s Word; it pierces the heart whether the one spreading it is against Jesus or for Him. Paul’s enemies triumphed in his suffering, thinking they had won a battle, but Satan lost the war as salvation progressed through the telling of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
Think about your own suffering and the impact it can have. 
Chances are, you aren’t going to know the purpose for your suffering until much later. There may be someone watching who is learning from your situation. It could be a nonbeliever. There may be souls in the church who are being strengthened by your resolve to continue in your walk with God. The people who are happy that you’re suffering, those who are twisting things as the Adversary wants them to do, are not going to prosper when you continue faithful to God. Yes, their meanness can bring addition pain, but there can be a greater, better purpose. Think on what the power of God and His truth can do and leave the cruel folks in God’s hands.
Job didn’t know the purpose for his suffering. He had no idea why he was so tortured and grieved. He cried out,
“Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, that the Almighty would answer me,
That my Prosecutor had written a book!” Job 31:35 (NKJV)
Like Job, we suffer because we live in a sin-filled world. The consequences of sin—ours and others’ sins—are not going to overlook us. Satan saw Job’s position with God and tried to exploit it. Job’s story is proof to us that suffering is not the ending; it’s the fire that causes the pure golden character to shine bright. God knew Job’s strength of faith already. God had a plan all along to save him, not just at the end of the book, but at the end of the world. Job’s story of suffering needed to be written to show us how God uses our suffering state to teach us and teach others what evil really is, how it works, and how there is an eternal, greater rescue coming. As God’s children, we know that suffering has a purpose; He has a plan to save you and me. If Job had understood the reason for his suffering, would he have agreed to pay the price? Job’s experience lives on to encourage us to endure just for a little longer.
Next time we will explore the future of suffering in Christ.