Posted on 01/09/2015 8:58:53 AM PST by redleghunter
We are focusing in this message on the need to prepare for suffering. The reason for this is not just my sense that the days are evil and the path of righteousness costly, but the promise of the Bible that God's people will suffer.
For example, Acts 14:22 says that Paul told all his young churches, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom." And Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" (John 15:20). And Peter said, "Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12). In other words it is not strange; it is to be expected. And Paul said (in 2 Timothy 3:12), "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
So I take it to be a biblical truth that the more earnest we become about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and reaching the unreached peoples of the world, and exposing the works of darkness, and loosing the bonds of sin and Satan, the more we will suffer. That's why we should prepare. And that's why I am preaching in these weeks from texts that will help us prepare.
(Excerpt) Read more at desiringgod.org ...
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
God helps us prepare for suffering by teaching us and showing us that through suffering we are meant to go deeper in our relationship with Christ. You get to know him better when you share his pain. The people who write most deeply and sweetly about the preciousness of Christ are people who have suffered with him deeply.
I accept, And Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20).
But I don’t welcome it and I know we are not to look for opportunities to experience it.
But when suffering is too severe and lasts too long, even life loses its worth.
PING:
Mark7: mention in the sermon of the testimony of a Navigator. Thought you would be interested.
Tired of Taxes: For the cancer warrior ping group as many are Christians going through rough times.
I pray this is a blessing to all.
For God’s Glory!
Indeed. Did you get that sense from the sermon?
Which life? This one or the next?
Interesting concept to ponder. One wonders I suppose what constitutes “suffering”.
These words from Jesus are so at odds with prosperity gospel teaching.
They are promoting that people become the Laodicean church.
Revelation 3:17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Are we to LOOK for suffering, as we have been accused of doing? Of course not. But we are to expect it as it is part of living in this corrupt and fallen world.
And we can let God do His work in us as He intended.
Even Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered.
If Jesus needed to suffer, who do we think we are to expect that we're exempt.
It's not time for that. That day WILL come, but not here and not now.
Hebrews 5:7-9 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
When I read the sermon this came up as the most clarifying point (which you inquire above):
Now what does that mean practically? I think it means four things:
1.It means that whenever I am called upon to choose between anything in this world and Christ, I choose Christ.
2.It means that I will deal with the things of this world in ways that draw me nearer to Christ so that I gain more of Christ and enjoy more of him by the way I use the world.
3.It means that I will always deal with the things of this world in ways that show that they are not my treasure, but rather show that Christ is my treasure.
4.It means that if I lose any or all the things this world can offer, I will not lose my joy or my treasure or my life, because Christ is all.
Spot on comment. Great scripture references.
That's a good question.
Of course the obvious one that I think everyone immediately thinks of is physical suffering.
But of course, the suffering involved in saying no to the world is another one.
It's hard sometimes to tell the flesh no to something it really wants, especially when there is nothing wrong in and of itself with the thing desired.
Maybe someone else could come up with other things.
I think Piper sums it up nicely. I posted his summary in post #10
“After months of suffering, Job finally says to God, ‘I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee’ (Job 42:5). Job had been a godly and upright man, pleasing to God, but the difference between what he knew of God in prosperity and what he knew of him through adversity was the difference between hearing about and seeing.”
A powerful message. Thank you for posting.
Indeed. A detail of Job 42 I previously missed.
Message from redleghunter: For the cancer warrior ping group as many are Christians going through rough times. I pray this is a blessing to all.
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Comparing church leaders from bible to leaders today.
1 Cor 4 ... Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
1 Cor 4 ... What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
this is a fine and loving thread. so important to understand that in suffering we learn obedience, and in striving to obey, we are brought closer Him. we lost a dear childhood friend a few days ago and this thread is definitely a word in season. thanks redleg.
My condolences on your loss.
God Bless.
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