“ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings ” (1 Peter 4:13)
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His work, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others, so that we can witness the word of God with compassion of understanding.
Because of this process, you should not be surprised by what comes your way. We often say, “Oh, this is too much to bare, I can’t deal with this.” Why can’t you? God gave us sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about each problem; because there is not a problem we face today that he has not himself been through.
"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:18. But we often turn away, not heeding the lesson, because it seems foolish and irrelevant to compare old biblical days with modern day problems. Friends, the bible says in verse 10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:18. But we often turn away, not heeding the lesson, because it seems foolish and irrelevant to compare old biblical days with modern day problems. Friends, the bible says in verse 10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus became all things and experienced all things, old and new, so He can be "the captain of our salvation, made perfect through his sufferings"
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary folks. He suffered “according to the will of God” 1Peter 4:19, having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand why God's Son had to suffer on our behalf.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary folks. He suffered “according to the will of God” 1Peter 4:19, having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand why God's Son had to suffer on our behalf.
But when it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. We want to know so we can be ready when bad things happen in our lives.
In the history of the Christian church, the tendency of people has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Through the ages, people have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own.
We must come to a realization that God’s way is always the way of suffering—the way of the “long road home.” "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience" James 5:10
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Philippians 1:29
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to put aside our personal and emotional ambitions? Are we prepared for God to take away our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them to His will?
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to put aside our personal and emotional ambitions? Are we prepared for God to take away our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them to His will?
My friends, it will mean not knowing why God puts us through trials, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through—we go through trials more or less without knowing or even understanding why?. As Christians, our attitude should be "...Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Matthew 6:10
Then in faith, suddenly we come to a place of soothing enlightenment, and we realize—“God has strengthened me through my trials, and I didn’t even know it!”
Ia manuia,
www.failaugaministry.org
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