Tag Archive | suffering

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

Sin Loses It’s Power

Feb24

Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power, — 1 Peter 4:1 (TLB)

What was Jesus’ attitude when He suffered and died for us? “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a singlecharge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Christ suffered and yet did not open His mouth. He did not complain, grumble or lose His focus — to fulfill God’s purpose. Do we have the same attitude or are we saying, “that’s not fair” or “woe is me” or even “I don’t deserve this”? When we are in the midst of suffering are people amazed at our attitude? They should be if we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. We have been called for this purpose.

“Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; for when you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure and its power over you.” Jesus suffered and died enabling us to have power over sin by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. The power of God eliminates the power of sin in our lives.

Are you suffering? Praise God for when the body suffers, sin loses its power. The more we focus on God and His purpose the less power sin has over us. Seek Him in every aspect of your life. Seek Him continually.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. — Isaiah 53:7

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a singlecharge, so the governor was quite amazed. — Matthew 27:12-14

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, — 1 Peter 2:21

Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; 7 for when you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure and its power over you. — Romans 6:6-7