Pain as the Pavement to Paradise.
January 2, 2011
Slightly Edited after Delivery


Introduction
We went to Fazoli’s. DQ was next door. We felt called to get an ice cream Sundae and suffer for Jesus.

We joke about it because we know that there is real suffering that we experience for Christ. When you look at the promises in Scripture of God’s blessing and then you experience suffering, perhaps you’ve asked: Did I get off of God’s path at some point? Did I make a detour and wind up in the middle of nowhere?

My brother David was eating salad swatting a fly and driving when he suddenly looked up and found himself in the middle of an alfalfa field. Have you ever been there in your life?

Joseph probably felt that way. He was on God’s path. But he experienced suffering. But that suffering was just the pavement in the road to the throne. The same is true for us: If we are on God’s path, our suffering is just the pavement on the road to paradise.

GENESIS
While Joseph was on God’s path for his life, he suffered.
Joseph was on God’s path for his life.
Joseph seems to have earned the trust of his father (see Genesis 37:12-14 in light of his service in other leadership positions).
Genesis 37:12-14 12Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near(A) Shechem. 13And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." And he said to him, "Here I am." 14So he said to him, "Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word." So he sent him from the Valley of(B) Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
God planned to honor Joseph (Genesis 37:5-11).
On this path, Joseph encountered trials. Joseph lost everything. Joseph became a slave.
Jacob’s other sons hated and were jealous of Joseph (Genesis 37:4,8,11),
They threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:18-28).
Jacob wept.
Genesis 37:34-35.
34Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35All his sons and all his daughters(A) rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "No,(B) I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father wept for him.
These trials paved the road to God’s blessing (Genesis 38-41).

JESUS
While Jesus was on God’s path for His life, Jesus suffered.
Jesus was on God’s path for His life.
Jesus was obedient to His heavenly Father.
Jesus only said what the Father said.
John 12:49 49For(A) I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father(B) who sent me has himself given me(C) a commandment—what to say and what to speak.
John 14:10 10Do you not believe that(A) I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you(B) I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Jesus only did what He saw the Father do.
John 5:19. 19So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you,(A) the Son(B) can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[a] does, that the Son does likewise.”
God planned glory for Jesus (John 7:39).
On this path, Jesus suffered.
In obedience, Jesus chose to give up everything.
Philippians 2:5-7 5(A) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6(B) who, though he was in(C) the form of God, did not count equality with God(D) a thing [to be used to His own advantage], 7but(E) made himself nothing, taking the form of a(F) servant,[b](G) being born in the likeness of men.
In obedience, Jesus chose to die on a cross for us and rose from the dead.
Philippians 2:8; 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by(A) becoming obedient to the point of death,(B) even death on a cross.
John 10:1111(A) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd(B) lays down his life for the sheep.
The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus (Mark 3:6).
The Jewish leaders had Jesus crucified (1 Corinthians 2:8).
Mary Magdalene wept (John 20:11).
This suffering paved the road to eternal glory (Philippians 2:11; Hebrews 12:2).
Philippians 2:9-11 9(A) Therefore(B) God has(C) highly exalted him and bestowed on him(D) the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus(E) every knee should bow,(F) in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and(G) every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is(H) Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 12:2
2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,(A) who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising(B) the shame, and(C) is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

APPLICATION
Be ready to suffer for the sake of the prize.
Because the road to Paradise is paved with suffering.
Lose everything.
Luke 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who(AF) does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Matthew 10:37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Mark 10:29-30 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”


Endure persecutions.
2 Timothy 3:12 12Indeed, all who desire to(A) live a godly life in Christ Jesus(B) will be persecuted, Romans 8:17 17and if children, then(A) heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,(B) provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. John 16:33 33…In the world you will have(C) tribulation. But(D) take heart;(E) I have overcome the world." 1 Thessalonians 3:3 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that(A) we are destined for this. Philippians 1:28-30 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 2 Timothy 2:12 12(A) if we endure, we will also reign with him;(B) if we deny him, he also will deny us; Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.


Because the reward is far greater than the suffering.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 7(C) I have fought the good fight,(D) I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Henceforth there is(E) laid up for me(F) the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,(G) the righteous judge, will award to me on(H) that Day, and not only to me but also to all(I) who have loved his appearing. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 17For(A) this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18(B) as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and(B) death shall be no more,(C) neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Conclusion:
If you’re on God’s path, don’t give up. Your suffering is a beeline to eternal reward.
If the suffering on this path has jarred your faith and made you turn aside to a different path, come back to God’s path – no matter the cost. The reward is worth the cost.
If you’ve never entered God’s path before, I invite you start the journey today. There will be times when it’s like being at Fazoli’s right next to Dairy Queen. And there will be other times when it’s painful. But the end result will be an eternal reward beyond comparison.