AFFLICTION – WHAT & WHY
By W. G. Guy
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Is it possible that affliction could be a good thing? We need to understand what affliction is, why it occurs, and is there a purpose for it. Affliction simply means: a period of struggle, trouble, trying times and misery; an experience that none us want to go through, yet almost all of us have.
Affliction has various causes or sources. There is self-affliction by what we do or fail to do; which is a consequence of our own actions. There is also a willful affliction such as fasting, a denial of the needs of the physical body. Affliction can be caused by personal opposition of an enemy force. Satan, the lying thief, murderer and destroyer, along with and his wicked forces, can also cause affliction as we fall into his tempting traps of enticements. It is also possible that we can cause affliction to others by our attitude or treatment of them.
The following are some scriptures that speak to the issue of self-discipline and fasting; which is self-affliction:
Leviticus 23:27, 32 – Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. …. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Ezra 8:21 – Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Personal enemies can be a source of physical and emotional affliction:
Psalm 143:12 – And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
I have heard preachers declare that God does not afflict; but is this really true?
Job 37:23 – Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
Yet God does allow affliction: He gives Satan the ability to afflict just as He gave Satan permission to seriously afflict Job:
Job 1:12 – And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
Why did God allow this? Job had an issue that God wanted to expose and cure him of. This shows, that as an end result, all things do work together for good; (more on this as you read on.)
God will afflict His people in the form of corrective punishment known as chastisement which is to turn them from sin.
2 Chronicles 6:26-27 – When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants
Jeremiah 30:15 – Why criest thou for thine affliction? Thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
God can use affliction (corrective punishment) to purify His people:
Psalm 66:10-12 – For thou, O God, hast proved us; thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laist affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughest us out into a wealthy place.
Notice the end result was to bless and prosper them in a “wealthy place”.
Isaiah 30:20-21 – And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Note the course of correction, to walk in the proper path.
Isaiah 48:10 – Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Refinement being the end result of God allowing affliction to purge and correct His people. So we see that such affliction that God allows is actually for our own good. This fulfills what the apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What happens to us when we endure affliction? Such hardship experiences strengthen our character. God allows this because He wants His character and nature to be formed in us – just as it was in Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29 – For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
This shows us that God has a plan and a purpose for all those who have come to be His children through faith in Jesus Christ. God wants all of His kids to be like Jesus; this is going to take a lot of work to change things in our lives, but He is patient and willing to do this in and for us.
1 John 3:1-3 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
What is that character and nature that is to be in us that was in Christ? It is referred to as “fruit”. It can only be produced as we abide in Christ; it is His life in us!
John 15:1-5 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
That fruit is actually the same glory that Adam and Eve lost in the Garden when sin entered. It is also known as the Glory of God. It was that glory that clothed and covered them; and when it was gone they knew they were naked.
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
That “glory” refers to the character and nature of God that He placed in man when He created him. That “glory”, or character and nature, was lost when man sinned; and since then, man falls short of the “glory” of God. That “glory” is actually the “Fruit of the Spirit” which is the character and nature of God.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Adam possessed that “glory” before sin entered; Jesus has that “glory” and came to restore it to mankind. Only two men actually came direct from God: Adam and Jesus, (the last Adam). God’s character and nature was placed in both of them, but Adam lost his, so Jesus had to come to restore what was lost.
Luke 19:10 – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The apostle Peter addresses the need for these same character qualities to be formed in the saints. It’s known as being “fruitful”, or full of His “fruit”.
2 Peter 1:5-7 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Notice the similarity, but listed in reverse order. Now look at the next verse to see how important these spiritual qualities (fruits) are:
2 Peter 1:8-9 - For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Please meditate on each of these “fruits”, God’s character traits, and consider how various afflictions can strengthen and help to build these Godly qualities in you. It all depends on how you respond to your afflictions!
LOVE (Charity)
JOY
PEACE
LONGSUFFERING (Patience)
GENTLENESS
GOODNESS
FAITH
MEEKNESS
TEMPERANCE
Colossians 1:26-27 – even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of GLORY:
Thus: “….. all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Affliction can work to your good depending on how you handle it.
(The following is suitable for framing.)
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS THE
CHARACTER AND NATURE OF GOD
LOVE
JOY
PEACE
LONGSUFFERING
GENTLENESS
GOODNESS
FAITH
MEEKNESS
TEMPERANCE
Galatians 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
By W. G. Guy
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Is it possible that affliction could be a good thing? We need to understand what affliction is, why it occurs, and is there a purpose for it. Affliction simply means: a period of struggle, trouble, trying times and misery; an experience that none us want to go through, yet almost all of us have.
Affliction has various causes or sources. There is self-affliction by what we do or fail to do; which is a consequence of our own actions. There is also a willful affliction such as fasting, a denial of the needs of the physical body. Affliction can be caused by personal opposition of an enemy force. Satan, the lying thief, murderer and destroyer, along with and his wicked forces, can also cause affliction as we fall into his tempting traps of enticements. It is also possible that we can cause affliction to others by our attitude or treatment of them.
The following are some scriptures that speak to the issue of self-discipline and fasting; which is self-affliction:
Leviticus 23:27, 32 – Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. …. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Ezra 8:21 – Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Personal enemies can be a source of physical and emotional affliction:
Psalm 143:12 – And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
I have heard preachers declare that God does not afflict; but is this really true?
Job 37:23 – Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
Yet God does allow affliction: He gives Satan the ability to afflict just as He gave Satan permission to seriously afflict Job:
Job 1:12 – And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
Why did God allow this? Job had an issue that God wanted to expose and cure him of. This shows, that as an end result, all things do work together for good; (more on this as you read on.)
God will afflict His people in the form of corrective punishment known as chastisement which is to turn them from sin.
2 Chronicles 6:26-27 – When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants
Jeremiah 30:15 – Why criest thou for thine affliction? Thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
God can use affliction (corrective punishment) to purify His people:
Psalm 66:10-12 – For thou, O God, hast proved us; thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laist affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughest us out into a wealthy place.
Notice the end result was to bless and prosper them in a “wealthy place”.
Isaiah 30:20-21 – And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Note the course of correction, to walk in the proper path.
Isaiah 48:10 – Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Refinement being the end result of God allowing affliction to purge and correct His people. So we see that such affliction that God allows is actually for our own good. This fulfills what the apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What happens to us when we endure affliction? Such hardship experiences strengthen our character. God allows this because He wants His character and nature to be formed in us – just as it was in Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29 – For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
This shows us that God has a plan and a purpose for all those who have come to be His children through faith in Jesus Christ. God wants all of His kids to be like Jesus; this is going to take a lot of work to change things in our lives, but He is patient and willing to do this in and for us.
1 John 3:1-3 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
What is that character and nature that is to be in us that was in Christ? It is referred to as “fruit”. It can only be produced as we abide in Christ; it is His life in us!
John 15:1-5 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
That fruit is actually the same glory that Adam and Eve lost in the Garden when sin entered. It is also known as the Glory of God. It was that glory that clothed and covered them; and when it was gone they knew they were naked.
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
That “glory” refers to the character and nature of God that He placed in man when He created him. That “glory”, or character and nature, was lost when man sinned; and since then, man falls short of the “glory” of God. That “glory” is actually the “Fruit of the Spirit” which is the character and nature of God.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Adam possessed that “glory” before sin entered; Jesus has that “glory” and came to restore it to mankind. Only two men actually came direct from God: Adam and Jesus, (the last Adam). God’s character and nature was placed in both of them, but Adam lost his, so Jesus had to come to restore what was lost.
Luke 19:10 – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The apostle Peter addresses the need for these same character qualities to be formed in the saints. It’s known as being “fruitful”, or full of His “fruit”.
2 Peter 1:5-7 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Notice the similarity, but listed in reverse order. Now look at the next verse to see how important these spiritual qualities (fruits) are:
2 Peter 1:8-9 - For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Please meditate on each of these “fruits”, God’s character traits, and consider how various afflictions can strengthen and help to build these Godly qualities in you. It all depends on how you respond to your afflictions!
LOVE (Charity)
JOY
PEACE
LONGSUFFERING (Patience)
GENTLENESS
GOODNESS
FAITH
MEEKNESS
TEMPERANCE
Colossians 1:26-27 – even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of GLORY:
Thus: “….. all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Affliction can work to your good depending on how you handle it.
(The following is suitable for framing.)
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS THE
CHARACTER AND NATURE OF GOD
LOVE
JOY
PEACE
LONGSUFFERING
GENTLENESS
GOODNESS
FAITH
MEEKNESS
TEMPERANCE
Galatians 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
