Tag Archive | suffering

Exult

Mar6

Exult: to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; Romans 5:3 NASB

We show triumphant joy in our tribulations?!

We rejoice exceedingly in our tribulations?!

We are highly elated, jubilant in our tribulations?!

Do we, really? It is so easy to take the path of “O woe is me” when tribulation, suffering, or persecution comes. But 

. . .You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 2:21‭-‬23 NASB

Jesus is our example and

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 NASB

That is how we rejoice in tribulations!

Personally I have found that during times of tribulation and suffering God is the closest. I am more aware of His presence and I grow tremendously as I trust that He is doing a good work in me. And this is why I rejoice in tribulation:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB

🌹God, help us to exult in tribulation.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

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Obedience from Suffering

Mar2

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Hebrews 5:8‭-‬9 NASB

The Son of God suffered. The Son of God!!! And yet we expect a perfect, smooth ride through life when we are merely adopted children of God.

He learned obedience from the things He suffered.
This really jumped off the page as I read it. Obedience brings suffering?! That isn’t what we expect, is it? Looking over my life as a child of God I have experienced much suffering. And it was at those times that I was close to God. I cried out to Him in fervent prayer. I grew in my walk. I learned. I was obedient. Thank You, Jesus for Your example. Through suffering You showed us what humble obedience to the will of God looks like.
We need affliction to teach us submission. (1)

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
Colossians 1:24 NASB

The Christian life is not an easy road. It is not enough to make a profession of faith but not have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. We must heed His Word and obey Him. If Jesus is our Savior, He must also be the Ruler, Prince, of your lives. We must be willing, submissive, to let Jesus reign over us. If Jesus isn’t our Ruler, He isn’t our Savior.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Luke 9:23 NASB

🌹Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon


(1) Matthew Henry’s Commentary; BibleGateway.com, passage Hebrews 5:8-9

Persuaded

May4

So, having obtained help from God, I (Paul) stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26:22‭-‬23‭ NASB

Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts 26:28‭-‬29 NASB

🌹God, You announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that Jesus Christ would suffer. Jesus, You are the fulfillment of this and the resurrection promise. All the prophets proclaimed that through Your name, — Jesus, the name above all names — everyone who believes receives forgiveness of sins. God, I pray for the unbelieving in whose case the god of this world has blinded their minds. I pray that they will see the light of the gospel of Your glory — Jesus — in whom is the image of God. God I pray for souls to be won for Your glory. I pray that neither they nor I take lightly this gift of grace as King Agrippa did. I pray for all who I have opportunity to share with that they will be persuaded to become a Christian when they know You personally as Savior and Lord. Amen.
Acts 3:18/Acts 10:43/2 Corinthians 4:4 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Gethsemane

Apr11

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:31 NASB

Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
Matthew 26:36‭-‬38 NASB

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:27 NASB


🌹Jesus. Perfect example. When troubled and deeply grieved You went to Your Father. You did not go seeking Your own way or asking to be taken out of what was coming. You went to the Father to connect, be strengthened, not forsaken. You confirmed Your calling, the purpose of Your life on earth with the Father. Before facing rejection and suffering You went to the Father. Jesus, may I be found kneeling at Your feet seeking Your strength when faced with suffering and persecution for Your name sake. Thank You for being my perfect example of what to do when facing trials, hard times, persecution, etc. In Jesus name and for Your glory. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Suffering Christian

Dec9

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
1 Peter 4:14, 16 NASB

But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:21 NASB

Expect it. For the sake of His name, the name Jesus, you will suffer. Rejoice that you have been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Matthew 5:11; Luke 6:22; Acts 5:41)

🌹 The glory of God is Jesus and His glory rests on us in His Holy Spirit. Because we know the One who sent Jesus, let us glorify God in the name of Jesus through our suffering!

Continually Seeking Him, 


Sharon 

Rejoice in Your Testing

Dec8

Beloved, 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; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
1 Peter 4:12‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God for testing in our lives…

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10‭-‬11 NASB

God may we…

always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10 NASB

🌹 Succumb to testing that we may rejoice with exultation, attain the resurrection from the dead and that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies. 

Continually Seeking Him,


Sharon 

Persecution “Granted”

Jun21

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
Philippians 1:29 NASB

Christianity. I’m saved! Jesus is my Savior!! I’m going to heaven!!!

We tend to stop there. We are content to believe that all we need is to profess Jesus as Savior and feel secure that we are heaven bound.

Christianity is so much more. One of those “more” is “we have been GRANTED” “to suffer for His sake”. For Christ’s sake.

Persecution, suffering, insults are a blessing. What?! A blessing? We are to rejoice and be glad giving glory to God? That is what the Bible says.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Matthew 5:11 NASB
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 NASB

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:14 NASBB
but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
1 Peter 4:16 NASB

🌹As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
James 5:10 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Obedient Hope in Jesus

Dec17

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8 NASB

Suffering, trials, tribulation is part of living in this world of sin. But God, the Father, sent His perfect Son as an example and hope for us. Did Christ suffer? Did not Satan tempt Him? Was He not ridiculed and treated horrendously? Yet, He did not sin. He was our example of obedience to the Father.

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,     Hebrews 5:9 NASB

Jesus, the perfect obedient Son, is the hope of eternal salvation to those who are obedient to Him.

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 NASB

Jesus was obedient to the death. How far are you willing to go for eternal salvation?

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.    James 1:2‭, ‬12 NASB

🌹 Will you look at suffering in your life as opportunity to grow in Christ to a faithful, obedient child of God? Or grumble, complain and be disobedient?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Big “If”

Feb15

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. — Romans 8:14-17

Lots of blessings and assurance in these verses, but what about the “if”? “If indeed we suffer with Him”?

Lately my heart has been so burdened for the”lost”. I have shed tears for family, friends, neighbors, people living in the USA and around the world. As I watch the news, read posts on Facebook and interact with the world around me I see such a great need. There is only one answer — Jesus Christ. Are you seeking peace? Jesus is the Prince of peace. I could go on and on about all the answers to questions that can be answered in the Word of God but they ultimately all lead to Jesus.

The real issue here is are you suffering with Christ in your daily walk? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone to share the gospel with a neighbor, co-worker etc.? Are you willing to pray for your government leaders instead of posting their dirty laundry? Are you willing to stand up and be heard for the sake of Christ and His purpose in the world — to be glorified and bring salvation to all mankind? Does the Way, the Truth and the Life flow from your mouth with life saving scripture despite the ridicule that may come?

I am convicted as I write these words. Am I suffering with Him for His glory and the hope of mankind? What “if” I did?

My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart!
My heart is pounding in me;
I cannot be silent,
Because you have heard, O my soul,
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20 Disaster on disaster is proclaimed,
For the whole land is devastated;
Suddenly my tents are devastated,
My curtains in an instant.
21 How long must I see the standard
And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 “For My people are foolish,
They know Me not;
They are stupid children
And have no understanding.
They are shrewd to do evil,
But to do good they do not know.” — Jeremiah 4:19-22

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Worthy To Suffer

Nov20

They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. — Acts 5:40-41

Wow. . . Rejoice? . . Really? After a whip beating? Here are apostles rejoicing over being beaten because they suffered shame for the name above all names, the name of Jesus. They rejoiced over being considered worthy to suffer? How real was their faith? So real they were willing to suffer for it.

I wonder. . . How real is my faith? Am I willing to suffer shame for the sake of my families salvation, my neighbors, my co-workers, etc.? Am I willing to suffer for the glory of the Lord? He was willing to suffer for me.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon