Bishop Yongdoo Kim’s Sermon Notes
Title: “Embrace Suffering the Right Way”
Scriptures: Romans 8:17–18/ Hebrews 5:7–9
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Translated by Pastor Cho in LA
1. God’s Blessings and Trials 하나님의 축복과 시험
As believers, there are things that come from God—some are blessings, but others come in the form of trials.
It’s easy to think that everything from God will be comfortable and joyful, but the truth is, sometimes what He gives us includes suffering. And whatever He gives, we need to receive with gratitude. (Amen!) That said, sometimes we say “Amen” too quickly without knowing what we’re really agreeing to, especially when it involves hardship.
When we’re full of the Holy Spirit, we can even face trials with joy. But when we’re not, or when we don’t understand what’s happening, trials can feel overwhelming.
Blessings are easy to accept, but it’s harder to embrace suffering—especially when we realize it’s something God allowed. Still, we have to trust that even in our hardest moments, God is working for His purpose.
There are two kinds of tests. The enemy brings temptation, which leads to sin. But God allows testing, not to harm us but to build us up. His tests are like training—they’re meant to prepare us, to raise us up, and to reward us as we grow in maturity, character, and calling.
Could we endure the kind of suffering Job went through? When someone in our family gets sick or when people we trust let us down, our hearts get discouraged quickly. It’s in these moments that we need spiritual maturity.
Sometimes God uses suffering to train us. It’s not punishment—it’s preparation. Trials are part of the journey toward glory. God doesn’t allow suffering to tear us down, but to lift us up. Through hardship, He makes us into people who are ready to be used by Him. So if we want to be used by God, we can’t be afraid of trials—we need to accept them by faith.
We love to receive blessings from God, but why do we resist when He sends trials? For believers, even suffering can be a gift. When we learn to rejoice and give thanks in the middle of it—just like Jesus did—our faith becomes deeper and stronger, and we are more ready to be used by God.
2) Purpose in Suffering 고난 속의 목적
Whenever God allows suffering in our lives, there is always a reason. God never gives us pain just for the sake of it. Trials are part of His process to shape us and lift us higher. When we pray things like, “Lord, I want to live for Your glory,” or “Use me for Your purpose,” God sometimes quietly places us on His potter’s wheel, just like in Jeremiah 18. There, like clay, we’re spun, shaped, and molded in His hands.
The key during this process is staying centered. If we lose our center—our faith—we get thrown off the wheel and miss out on what God wants to do. But if we hold on to our faith, trust Him through the trial, and stay grounded, God will use us. So instead of fearing the suffering, we need to look for the purpose inside it.
Those who are used by God are part of a spiritual legacy. It’s not just about their own lifetime—God is working through them to impact future generations. That’s why, when we pray, “God, I want to be used by You. I want Your power. I want to fulfill my calling,” He answers by leading us into a place of refining.
Through suffering, God creates His masterpiece.
Even Jesus, though He was the Son of God, learned obedience through suffering. And through that suffering, He was made perfect and became the source of eternal salvation for all who believe in Him. That same principle applies to us: suffering is the tool God uses to prepare His people.
So whatever you’re going through right now—sickness, emotional battles, financial stress—those things are not the end goal. They are simply the path God is using to shape your calling. Don’t just ask, “When will this be over?” or “When will I feel better again?” Ask instead, “Lord, what are You teaching me through this? What’s the purpose behind this pain?” That’s how we grow. That’s how we rise above the trial instead of staying stuck in it.
Just like a person who’s recovered from addiction can help others who are struggling, or a refugee who survived war and persecution can later help others rebuild, God wants to use your pain to help others too. If you’ve been healed, you can bring healing. If you’ve been restored, you can help others find restoration. Your suffering is never wasted. God gives you a mission through your pain, and He raises you up through that mission.
3. The Test of Suffering: Those Who Fail vs. Those Who Overcome 고난의 시험에서: 무너지는 자와 쓰임 받는 자의 갈림길
1) Failures in Trials: The Fall of Korah and His Company 고난에 실패한 자들: 고라와 그 무리의 몰락
Suffering comes to all of us. But how we respond to it determines whether we come out stronger or fall apart. The Bible shows us examples of both. One of the most sobering stories is in Numbers 16, where Korah, Dathan, Abiram, On, and 250 community leaders failed the test of suffering.
These men weren’t just ordinary people—they were respected leaders in their tribes. They had witnessed God’s miracles firsthand as they journeyed through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. In the beginning, they worshiped with joy and led others. But over time, when there was no water and all they had was manna every day, discontent started growing in their hearts.
People came to them complaining: “Why did you bring us out here to die? At least in Egypt we had meat!” Instead of standing firm in faith, Korah and the others gave in to the pressure. Eventually, they rebelled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “Why should you be the only ones to speak for God? Aren’t we holy too?”
On the surface, it sounded like they were arguing for fairness—but really, they were challenging God’s authority and leadership. At the root of it was pride and greed. They didn’t want to follow Moses; they wanted his position. Moses, in humility, fell on his face before God. And God responded clearly, “Step back.”
God is patient, but when His authority is openly challenged, He responds firmly. Moses told the men to bring their censers and offer incense before God. Then the earth opened and swallowed Korah and his followers alive.
Fire from heaven consumed the 250 leaders who had joined them. And instead of fearing God, the people started blaming Moses and Aaron for the deaths. Because of their continued rebellion, a plague broke out and 14,700 more people died—until Aaron stood between the living and the dead, praying for mercy, and the plague stopped.
This wasn’t just disobedience—it was a wrong response to suffering. These leaders had real potential. They could’ve been heroes of faith like Joshua and Caleb. But instead of trusting God, they gave in to complaining and disbelief. That choice led to their downfall.
2) Proper Response to Trials 고난에 대한 바른 태도
The same principle applies to us. Trials come in every part of life—at home, in the church, and in leadership. What matters is how we respond. Whether you’re a parent, a pastor, or a believer, if you lose your spiritual footing in hard times, everything around you can fall apart too.
When things get tough, don’t join in the complaining or get swept up in negativity. Instead, we need to ask, “What is God’s will in this?” In your family, when someone starts grumbling, don’t just agree with them. As a person of faith, you need to filter everything through God’s truth. Parents need to set the tone in their homes, leading their kids with wisdom and faith. In church, if someone starts spreading frustration during hard times, we shouldn’t be shaken—we should help everyone refocus on God.
To overcome trials, we need to fight not with complaints, but with worship, prayer, praise, and the Word. And yes, we need to find joy even in the suffering. That might sound strange, but when we recognize that our suffering is part of God’s bigger purpose, it changes how we walk through it.
The pain you’re facing isn’t pointless. If God allowed it, He has a reason. And when you walk through it with faith and endurance, you will come out refined like gold. Don’t be like Korah—don’t throw away your calling because of a bitter heart. When we choose to see suffering through the lens of faith and seek God’s will in it, that’s when we truly overcome. That’s when we live victorious lives—even in the middle of trials.
4. Restoration and No Condemnation 회복과 정죄하지 않으시는 하나님
1) Peter’s Restoration 베드로의 회복
In John 21, after Jesus rose from the dead, He asked Peter three times in front of the other disciples, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Each time Peter answered, “Lord, You know that I love You,” and each time Jesus responded, “Feed My sheep” or “Take care of My sheep.”
Why did Jesus ask Peter the same question three times, especially in front of everyone? It was because Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus wasn’t trying to embarrass Peter—He was restoring him. Peter had failed publicly, so Jesus restored him publicly.
This shows us something powerful: even if we fail while serving the Lord—even if we walk away—we can still come back. The problem is, many people never come back because they feel overwhelmed by guilt. That’s exactly what Satan wants. He whispers, “You’re done. You’re a traitor. You’re not worthy anymore.” That kind of condemnation keeps people from repenting and coming back to God.
That’s what happened to Judas. He was filled with guilt, but instead of turning back to Jesus, he gave up completely. Peter, on the other hand, wept bitterly and came back—and God used him powerfully.
Jesus doesn’t condemn. The Holy Spirit doesn’t condemn either. When someone truly walks with God, they don’t go around judging and condemning others. That’s not the heart of Jesus.
2) Condemnation vs. Conviction 정죄와 찔림의 차이
There’s a big difference between condemnation and conviction. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, it feels like a piercing in the heart—it makes us aware of our sin, but it draws us to repentance and restoration. It gives us hope. But condemnation doesn’t do that. Condemnation is what the enemy uses to trap us in shame. It tells us we’re too far gone, that God won’t take us back, that we might as well give up.
Satan keeps whispering things like, “You’re going to hell. God can’t use someone like you.” That kind of thinking breaks people’s spirit and steals their will to keep going. But conviction is different—it may hurt at first, but it leads us back into God’s arms.
That’s why we need to respond with humility when we feel conviction from the Holy Spirit—but when condemnation comes from the enemy, we need to boldly reject it. Jesus is always ready to restore. And when we return, we can be used again for His glory.
5. Discerning and Defeating Satan’s Tactics 사단의 전략을 분별하고 무너뜨리는 비결
1) Satan’s Strategies 사단의 전략
Satan has a few tricks he really doesn’t want us to catch on to.
First, he tries to hide who he really is and what his limits are. He’s not God—he never was and never will be. Ezekiel 28 tells us he was once an anointed angel, just a messenger, but pride caused him to fall. His power and his time are limited.
Second, even though demons can try to influence us, they cannot stay in someone who is full of the Holy Spirit. Demons might try to lie, saying, “I’m not leaving,” but when God’s fire, His Word, and the power of prayer come, they have no choice but to go. That’s their limit. Don’t be discouraged if you feel attacked—keep standing in the Word and in prayer. The devil may pretend he’s not moving, but the power of God will always drive him out. Amen!
Third, Satan tries to keep believers from realizing how precious their time is. Every day God gives us is full of purpose and grace. But Satan works to distract us so we don’t value it. Meanwhile, he and his demons are working overtime because they know their time is almost up. But their power isn’t forever. That’s why we have to be spiritually alert and make the most of each day God gives us.
2) Joy as a Weapon 기쁨은 무기입니다
Satan wants us down—discouraged, tired, and defeated. But when we choose joy, he loses power. That’s why even choosing to smile, praise, and laugh in faith is a spiritual weapon. When we praise God with joy, Satan doesn’t know what to do. He expects us to break, but instead we lift our hands, sing, and worship—and that drives him out. That’s how we fight back in the Spirit.
3) Spiritual Endurance 믿음의 인내와 승부 근성
To win the battle—both in our trials and against the enemy—we need endurance. As we keep praying, staying in the Word, worshiping, praising, rejoicing, and obeying, we become stronger and purer. Sometimes, demons don’t leave right away. But if we don’t give up, they will go. That’s a promise. So even in suffering, choose joy. When you feel conviction, repent. When condemnation comes, stand in faith. That’s how believers win. That’s how you overcome. (Hallelujah!)
(Amen.)