Transcript: Blessings in Suffering for Believers in Jesus Christ: Finding Hope and Strength

Music Music Today our title is, There are blessings of suffering for believers in Jesus Christ. In Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6, the word declares, But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek him out. Our rewarder has conditions placed upon being rewarded, dear church. And these conditions are not simply a matter of outward behavior or observance of the letter of the law. The Bible emphasizes inner qualities including wisdom in living, humility, faithfulness, generosity, and goodness. All of these seem to grow by leaps and bounds as we go through trials and hardships if we are doing things God's way. When we speak of Christian suffering, we always want to look at it as related in the Bible perspective. We must know firsthand that Jesus Christ, our Savior, suffered incomprehensible pain and death upon the cross for all those who would love him with all of their hearts and hold fast to him until the end. Suffering for the believer in Jesus Christ is related in the Bible to sanctification and growth in Christian character. In Romans chapter 5, beginning in verse 1, the word tells us, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Verse 3, not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given to us. Hallelujah! We see this passage in Romans, how Paul catalogs the virtues that suffering produces if we do not lose heart in our personal maturing process in Jesus Christ. Suffering in these scriptures is pictured as a story of increase for the believer in Christ. An example would be Job, who lost all of his family, all of his livestock, only to find all that he lost was restored again, giving twice as much as he had before. Scripture also shows that the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. Other scriptures that are parallel with Romans 5, verse 1 portray suffering as a process of refinement that God brings for our good in that we may share in his holiness. 1 Peter 4, beginning in verse 1, clearly defines how we share in his holiness. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. Verse 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lewdness, lust, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. Verse 4. In regards to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dispensation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Summed up in a nutshell, sharing in God's holiness and being clothed in his righteousness is truly a process of refinement and happens only to those who have been trained by it. Whoever has suffered in the flesh for Christ's sake will have or has ceased from willfully sinning. In reading further down in 1 Peter 4, verse 12, we see that Peter is warning the believer not to be surprised that they are suffering as believers in Jesus Christ. Let's read that, 1 Peter 4, beginning in 12. Suffering for God's glory. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery ordeal which is about to try you as though some strange thing has happened to you. Verse 13. or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Many Christians feel very surprised when other people misunderstand, insult them, or dislike them, or treat them harshly when they seek to carry out God's will in living like a Christian. So Peter reminds them and us that this reaction is not a strange thing, but a normal Christian experience. Their persecutions were fiery, burning ordeals in the sense that they were part of God's refining process, and these, dear listener, were very uncomfortable to say the least. but we come to understand that this was for their own testing improving their faith because God allowed these sufferings James chapter 1 beginning in verse 2 declares my brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing Dear listener, take heart and know that through your trials, God is doing a perfecting work in your heart and soul. We need to understand as we grow and mature in our Lord Jesus Christ, we can rejoice in these sufferings because when we experience them, we share in Christ's sufferings. We reflect back on what Jesus experienced in his suffering in his time on earth before he went to the cross and hung naked and died upon that cross for the sins of mankind. He continued in faithfulness to his Father's will. God will glorify us one day just as he glorified our dear Savior. There's an analogy of our present experience as we suffer for Christ's sake. It is similar to a pregnant woman who feels discomfort and pain as she anticipates her due date delivery. And when she gives birth, the joy at the delivery of her child replaces that pain she felt, especially on the onset and the birthing of that child. So this is why we look beyond the moment of suffering, this momentary suffering that we experience at different times in our Christian journey. I like the scripture. In 2 Corinthians 4, verses 17 and 18, which describes this so well. Verse 17. For our light affliction, but which is for a moment, is working for us far more exceeding an eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. We may have our moments, dear one, but the hope of our future joy should encourage us to hang on tight to our precious Savior, Jesus Christ. If we are insulted and hated or rejected for being followers of Jesus, they may curse us, but their curses have no effect if we are obedient to Christ's commands. Their curses and insults are really blessings from God. Matthew 5, verse 11 declares, Dear believer, people who curse us actually become a blessing because the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of glory, already lives within us and shields us from the effects of all of these things. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. God, our loving Father, has provided everything we need for our home going if we remain faithful to him and his commands of holy living. The Israelites enjoyed the presence of God in the fiery pillar, even during the wilderness testing. But rejoice, dear one, we enjoy the presence of God in us as we are journeying through our wilderness experiences. Suffering Christians do not have to wait for heaven in order to experience the glory of God. It is through precious Holy Spirit within them that they can enjoy total peace and comfort of God glory as they journey through this wilderness of life Can we know please that this explains how the martyrs could sing praises to God while bound in the midst of blazing fire? It also explains how persecuted Christians can go to prison and to death without complaining or resisting their captors. This was for the glory of God, dear ones. 1 Peter 4, verse 12 again. are you for the spirit of glory and for God rests upon you on their part he is blasphemed but on your part he is glorified but let none of you suffer as a murderer as a thief an evildoer or as a busybody in other people's matters yet if anyone suffers as a Christian let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Yes, even though we repeat the scriptures several times, how many know that repetition is good? Amen. Apostle Paul gives us his personal experience on the blessing of suffering for Christ's sake in Philippians chapter 3, beginning in verse 7. He begins by saying, But whatever former things I had that might have been gained to me, I have come to consider as one combined loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as a loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege, the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, the supreme advantage of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord, of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, of perceiving and recognizing and understanding him more fully and clearly. For his sake, I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish, refuge, dregs, in order that I may win, gain Christ the Anointed One, and that I may actually be found and known as in him, not having any self-achieved righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the law's demands, ritualistic uprightness, and supposed right standing with God that's acquired, but possessing that genuine righteousness which comes through faith in Christ the Anointed One, the truly right standing with God which comes from God by saving faith. Verse 10. For my determined purpose is that I may know him, and I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of his person more strongly and more clearly. and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from his resurrection, which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share his sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into his likeness, even to his death in the hope. Verse 11, that if possible, I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead, even while in the body, not that I have now attained this ideal or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold and grasp and make it my own for that which Christ Jesus the Messiah has laid hold of me and made me his own. Verse 13. I do not consider, brethren that I have captured and made it my own yet but one thing I do it is my one aspiration forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead I press on towards the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Jesus Christ is calling us upward hallelujah Praise the Lord. We see in these scriptures the parallel that while Christ did not consider God likeness to grow or increase to his own advantage, but rather he made nothing of himself. So Paul now tells us that he considers his former gain as a loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. As Jesus Christ was found in human likeness, Paul describes that he is now found in Christ, knowing what it means to be conformed like a slave to his death. These scriptures also show us that Christ's humiliation was followed by God's glorious vindication of him. So present suffering for Christ's sake will be followed by the glory of God in the form of our resurrection. this is what it means to know Christ and it's to be found in him to know Christ is to be found in him you see by means of conformity to his righteousness as he was raised up and exalted to the highest place and was seated next to his heavenly father on a throne all those who remain faithful to the end will also be raised up and be given the opportunity to sit beside our Christ on his throne for the eternity of eternities. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6 declares, He raised us up together with him and made us sit down together, giving us joint seating with him in the heavenly sphere by virtue of our being in Christ. Hear that please, in Christ. in Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One. Also in Revelation chapter 3, verses 20 through 22, the word declares, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears and listens and heeds my voice and opens the door, I will come to him. I will eat with him and he will eat with me. Verse 21, He who overcomes is victorious, and I will grant him to sit beside me on my throne, as I myself overcame and was victorious and sat down beside my Father on his throne. Verse 22. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assembly churches. When we talk about the believer in Jesus Christ and the suffering they are assured of in their journey through this life, Well, they must know that all suffering of mankind is a consequence of man's original sin in the Garden of Eden. In Romans 5, chapter 12, the word tells us, Therefore a sin came into the world through one man, and death as a result of sin. So death spread to all men, no one being able to stop it or to escape its power, because all men sinned. So God in his word tells us that there are general blessings for all people, believers and unbelievers alike. Matthew chapter 5 verse 45, the Lord said, To show that you are children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall on the upright and on the wrongdoers. So we see that there are general sufferings shared by believers and unbelievers as well. But we have to make note here that suffering for unbelievers is something that they have to bear by themselves as they journey through this life. Because God Almighty does not share in their sufferings. They stand alone in this place. But God tells us as faithful followers of Jesus that he shares in our sufferings. Hallelujah. How very comforting, dear listener. And we need to understand as well that God may not directly ordain suffering for anyone, but he will use it to turn it into a blessing just as when Christ's suffering became a blessing to mankind. Apostle Paul explains this so well. In Philippians chapter 1, verses 19 through 23. For I am well assured and indeed know that through your prayers and bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my preservation for the spiritual health and welfare of my own soul and avail towards the saving work of the gospel. This is in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything, but with that utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always hitherto, Christ the Messiah will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through by life or through by death. Verse 20. This is in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything. For me to live is Christ. His life in me and I is gain. The gain of glory of eternity. If however is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me. So I can say nothing as to my personal preference. I cannot choose. Verse 23. But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart, to be free of this world and be with Christ, for that is far, far better. I believe that Apostle Paul and his writings show us two things which comprise God's gift to us as Christians. These things would be to truly believe in Jesus Christ and secondly, to willingly suffer for him. to believe in Christ and to willingly suffer for him Dear listener out of these come salvation which is a gift of our Lord precious grace Salvation leads to eternal life, and this is forever and ever. Think about this. Paul's desire, in which he shared in Philippians 3.10, was to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death. Among all other things that Paul wanted to learn in his relationship with Christ, he mentioned first the power of Christ's resurrection. And it is likely he meant that he wanted to experience his resurrection supernaturally as Jesus Christ had done. He knew that if he died, he would experience such a resurrection. He knew he needed the same power of the Holy Spirit who resurrected his Savior. And he knew that at the same time power resided within himself because of his union with Christ. In Romans chapter 6, beginning in verse 4, Paul speaks. We were buried therefore with him by the baptism into death. So just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we too might habitually live and behave in the newness of this life. For if we have become one with him by sharing a death like his, we shall also be one with him in sharing his resurrection by a new life lived for God. Verse 6, we know that our old unrenewed self was nailed to the cross with him in order that our body, which is the instrument of sin, might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be slaves of sin. and also in Colossians chapter 3 beginning in verse 1 and if then you have been raised with Christ to a new life thus sharing his resurrection from the dead aim at and seek the rich eternal treasures that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God and set your minds and keep them set on what is above the higher things not on the things that are on the earth For as far as this world is concerned, you've died, and your renewed real life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in the splendor of his glory. Dear believer, we see that by what our Lord shares with us regarding his resurrection power, then it involves the fullness of the Holy Spirit's life within us. God wants yours and my life to be a demonstration of the very same power of the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. For us to know and experience the same power of his resurrection life, then we will show our self-denial from the things of the world as a first priority. When we intimately seek Jesus Christ in the book of life and through prayer and meditation, the Holy Spirit is sure to be available to enrich our hungry and thirsty souls with his resurrection power to see to it as we grow in his wisdom and the supernatural revelation of his godliness. we must be willing however to share in his sufferings and to be transformed daily into his likeness dying to sin and the desires and the poles of the world in doing these things you can know that your daily life will be a demonstration of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in your life Romans chapter 8 verse 11 declares and if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you then he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal short-lived perishable bodies through his spirit who dwells in you. You see, suffering cannot be a blessing unless one has first partaken of the power of Christ's resurrection. And that means that professing believers must grow in becoming a new creature in Jesus Christ. If anyone thinks that suffering is a curse from God, then they need to truly repent of their sins and turn to God and ask him to forgive them in order to experience his wonderful supernatural resurrection life within their own spirit and soul. before Jesus went to the cross he promised his disciples that they were going to experience tribulation but they would have inner peace as they went through these trials and hardships dear one this is the resurrection power of our savior working within your soul do not be afraid but rather be confident that our savior has surrounded you and the evil forces of the devil cannot harm you because he has conquered the arrows of the devil when he died on the cross and was resurrected and seated next to his heavenly father on his throne. We see in John chapter 16, verse 33, the word declares, I have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer, take courage, and be confident, certain undaunted. For I have overcome the world, I have deprived it of power to harm you, and have conquered it for you. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Jesus told his disciples that they would have trials and tribulation because he wanted them and every believer afterwards afterwards to know that they would not be exempt from suffering because of their union and fellowship with him. Apostle Paul suffered greatly and was mistreated at Philippi. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 1 through 4, the word declares, for you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming among you was not useless and fruitless. But though we had already suffered and had been outrageously treated at Philippi? You know, yet in the strength of our God, we summon courage to proclaim to you unfaltering the good news, the gospel, with earnest contention and much conflict and great opposition. For our appealing in preaching does not originate from delusion or error, or impure purpose or motive, nor fraud or deceit. But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with glad tidings the gospel so we speak not to please men but to please God who tests our hearts expecting them to be approved and in first corinthians chapter 9 beginning in verse 1 we read where paul was suffering an uprising in the church with some of the people paul was not exhorting the people who were challenging his rights as an apostle for their material support but rather he was setting the record straight according to the law Paul in chapter 9 did not start out by justifying his outright rejection or renouncing his apostolic rights, but by vigorously establishing the fact that he had these rights to their support. Let's read to get the flow of his suffering by those who rose up to challenge and put Paul on trial and cross-examine him like he was a thief in their midst. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 beginning in verse 1. Am I not an apostle, a special messenger? Am I not free and unrestrained? Am I not free and exempt from any obligation? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not the product and the proof of my workmanship in the Lord? Even if I am not considered an apostle, a special messenger by others, at least I am one to you. For you are the seal, the certificate, the living evidence of my apostleship in the Lord. Verse 3. This is my real ground of defense, my vindication of myself. To those who would put me on trial and cross-examine me, have we not the right to our food and drink at the expense of the churches? Have we not the right also to take along with us a Christian sister as wife, as do not other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from doing manual labor for a livelihood in order to go about the work of the ministry? so we see that in 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verses 1 through 20 where Apostle Paul we can read of the flow of his sufferings by those who rose up to challenge and put Paul on trial and cross-examine him like he was a thief in their midst and we can learn as well how Paul in through these verses which I will leave for you as homework to do your reading and studying of them, but how Paul handled it. Not only did our chief apostle suffer the insults and condemnation of the people in the churches that he had established, but he also endured beatings and imprisonment for Christ's sake. Scripture is full of the suffering that the New Testament churches went through and endured for Christ's sake. Apostle Peter told also those who are called to God's eternal kingdom in Jesus Christ that they would suffer just as Paul told Timothy when he said all who live godly lives in Jesus Christ would suffer persecution. We read that in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 12 through 14. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Verse 13 While evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived, but as far as you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you have learned it. The heroes of faith suffered greatly for their faithfulness Moses prepared to suffer affliction with the people of God as he led them out of Egypt The prophets also gave supreme examples of suffering because of their allegiance to their great God Jehovah Dear ones, our concern as believers in Christ Jesus should be to suffer according to the will of God, and that is for well-doing in our journey towards our heavenly home. The fruit of suffering for all believers is to mimic and follow the example of our Master Jesus Christ. Through Christ's suffering, he became perfect. That is, he reached the goal for which he came to this earth to accomplish. We read in Hebrews 2.10, Bringing many sons to glory, for it was fitting for him, for whom all things and by whom all things in bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through their suffering. And also Hebrews chapter 5 verse 8. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. And once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who would obey him. Interesting. for all who would obey him. That is again parallel to living in Christ. Hallelujah. Through our suffering and trials, we grow in maturity by our obedience and also our faithfulness to do the will of God. Suffering for righteousness' sake will bring many blessings in the end. In 1 Peter 3, beginning in verse 14, The word says, Verse 16, and see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed of slandering your good lives. Verse 17, for it is better to suffer unjustly for doing right, that it should be God's will, than to suffer justly for doing wrong. Peter said, if we suffer for the sake of righteousness, we are blessed. So, if we are blessed, dear church, that means we will have the fruit of our suffering. Jesus told his followers in Matthew 5, verse 10, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He reminded his disciples in John 15, verse 18, if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. So you may ask, what does this really mean for me? What is the fruit of our suffering? Bottom line here is that all who are called to God's eternal glory in Jesus Christ will suffer a while in this earth life, will be perfected enough according to the Lord's will to reach their God-intended goal. and they will be established and strengthened by God. Remember the goal of a Christian is to inherit eternal life. There is no greater goal or gift than this, dear believer. This is forever. Compared to our earth life, which is but for a breath of time, eternity has no end. What a Savior we have. What a Savior, a precious Savior. has given eternal life to us. So one who suffers as a Christian has reason to glorify God by doing so. Scripture tells us that we are worthy to suffer in his name. Please know that when we suffer in his name, our eyes should be fixed upon our suffering Lord and Savior and remember what he did for us personally. 1 Peter 15 says, But let none of you who suffer as a murderer or thief or any sort of criminal or mischief maker, a meddler in the affairs of others, infringing on their rights. But if anyone is ill-treated and suffers as a Christian, which he is contemptuously called, let him not be ashamed. But give glory to God that he is deemed worthy to suffer in his name. For the time has arrived for the judgment to begin with the household of God. and if it begins with us what will be the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news of the gospel of God verse 18 and if the righteous are barely saved what will become of the godless and the wicked therefore those who are ill treated and suffer in accordance with God's will must do right commit their souls in charge as a deposit to the one who created them and will never fail them let me tell you in addition Judgment is upon the house of the Lord today. The church in this year of 2023 is being exposed for what she is. The visible church is showing herself as the great harvest, and she is being identified and recognized for what great atrocities they are causing to humankind, and the world is guilty as well. There are many so-called leaders who are wolves in sheep's clothing, and are leading great numbers of weak people down a wrong path because they lack in God-given discernment and lack the knowledge of what the precious book of life declares in the tried and true path that a Christian must follow. This is truly a time in history where we must arm ourselves with the same mind of Christ and Paul said it, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Jesus wept because of the presence of sin in people's lives. For their sins and ours, he went willingly to the cross. This was Christ's unique work, and this is why he came to the earth. We cannot redemptively suffer for others in this way because Jesus is the only Savior of the world. but we can have pity for the presence of sin in their lives. We can witness to those who are in error and do not know Christ as their Savior and we can pray for them. Remember, even though Jesus died on the cross for the sins of others he did not choose to enforce his salvation upon them. All people have a choice. They can choose Christ's offer of salvation or they can reject it. Our part as a suffering Christian is to remember our Savior's words when he said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. They know not what they do, dear listener. In the fact that they are bringing torment and suffering upon those who belong to Almighty God, they as well bring the greatest and most horrendous judgment upon themselves as they are thrown into hell forever. And this is why we must forgive those who cause trouble for God's people. And remember, even the worst and most horrible king, whose name was Manasseh, had a good ending. He was captured by the enemy and blinded and put into prison. He deeply repented for his evil doing to God's people. And consequently, his life was spared and he returned to his homeland and was buried among his people. Remember for those who are faithful to the end and endure the trials and the hardships that come up on their path, there are many wonderful blessings. Remember, please, the greatest of these blessings is the promise of eternal life. And I finish with a true testimony that describes the finishing work in our hearts and souls as we go through each and every trial in our lives. The testimony goes like this. When in Amsterdam, Holland last summer, says a traveler, I was much interested in a visit we made to a place that was famous for polishing diamonds. We saw men busy about their work. You see, when a diamond is found, it is in the rough and it's dark like a common pebble. It takes a long time to polish it and it is very hard work. It is held by a means of a piece of metal close to the surface of a large wheel, which is kept going around and around. Fine diamond dust is put on the wheel, nothing else being hard enough to polish the diamond. And this work can take months, and sometimes several years before it is finished. And if a diamond is intended for a king, the greater time the trouble is spent upon it. Jesus Christ calls his people his jewels he is our king now and forevermore to fit his people for beautifying his crown they must be polished like diamonds and be assured Jesus makes use of all the trouble he sends to each and every one to polish jewels of his crown be strong dear one through every trial and hardship that comes your way Remember as you are in the midst of each one, give praise and honor to your king and thank him that he's bringing you through and that there is an end to it. Eternity awaits you. Our great God promises that he will never leave us or forsake us. What mercy, what love and grace our great God and Father has for all of his people. Hallelujah. Thank you.