I hate the gospel that says those who have the first fruits of the spirit don't have to groan inwardly, waiting, waiting, for their adoption, the redemption of their bodies.

I believe in suffering.

I believe it's our destiny.

I believe it's our gift.

I believe it's our missionary strategy.

And I believe God rules over it and uses it for our good only.

One of the things Piper says here is that suffering isn't just something God permits.

It's something he rules over, uses, and even gives. I'm Dan Krover. In this episode of Light and Truth,

John Piper presses into the surprising and sometimes unsettling strategy

of suffering in God's global mission.

This message was originally delivered in Wheaton, Illinois

at the Act 3 Reformation Conference on October 30, 1999.

I want to talk about suffering, and I talk about suffering, and I think about suffering a lot these days.

As a demonstration of the excellency of these things, this love and this power,

and getting the Great Commission done, which is also about the excellency of God among the nations where it's not esteemed.

It's not going to get done without suffering.

You won't magnify the power of God, you won't magnify the love of God,

and you won't get the Great Commission done without suffering.

It won't happen. Great Commission done without suffering. It won't happen.

Suffering is appointed as our normal lot in this age and as the specific strategy for finishing the Great Commission.

Let me just give the tip of the iceberg. Psalm 3419, many are the afflictions of the

righteous. The Lord delivers him out of them all. Luke 10.3, behold, I send you out as lambs in the

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