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@ LibertyGal
2024-07-22 14:15:48My Inspiration
Last night, I was reading in 2 Timothy and read this passage.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (2 Timothy 1:7-9) {emphasis mine}
Paul, in his introduction of his letter to his adored friend, states, “ join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” Can you imagine being called to “join with me in suffering?” This is our calling.
So often people are told, “come to Jesus and everything in life will go well.” This is a nice sounding lie, but we need to tell the uncomfortable truth. Jesus never promised His followers wealth and an easy life. In fact He promised the opposite. All of His disciples, except one who died in exile, died horrific deaths at the hands of those who persecuted them.
Persecution
Sometimes this suffering will come from persecution. Jesus promises that we will be persecuted as He was persecuted. Should we expect any less?
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
You could make the argument that, if you have been a Christian for years, but have not ever suffered or been persecuted, you need to evaluate whether you truly are a born again Christian.
Patience with a Purpose
We also suffer because of sin in the world and are strengthened by suffering. Instead of trying to avoid all suffering, we should look to see where God is leading and what we can learn from suffering. For a born again Christian, suffering is never a random happening and rarely is it a judgment from God. Usually it is used for our good.
"I know why all these things are happening to me." He said, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV).
In the physical world, heat can cause three responses. In objects like wood, heat causes it to burn away. In objects like ice, heat causes it to melt into a liquid or evaporate into a gas. In objects like iron, heat causes it to get harder and stronger. In the same way suffering can do the same thing. To those who have no faith in God, suffering can cause them to give up entirely. In someone with a little faith, it may cause them to melt. They don’t go away; they aren’t destroyed; but they are made ineffective. In someone with proper faith in Jesus, suffering strengthens their faith and causes them to stand firm in all circumstances.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
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. 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 4:12-14)
Yes, for a true believer, suffering should lead to JOY. It should lead to greater faith. It should lead to praising Jesus. It should lead to being so close to Jesus and working so hard for His will that we can say like Paul did to Timothy, “ join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.”
God’s Way
Christianity isn’t like any other religion because it isn’t a religion made up by man (but there are counterfeits of Christianity with the same name that are made up by men). Nobody would make up a religion where you are promised hardship. Nobody would make up a religion with such difficult things to understand as a trinitarian God (3 persons in 1 God). Nobody would make up a religion that told you to “… love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) You can tell Christianity is real (by studying the Bible, not by looking at everyone who labels themselves Christians) because of how different it is than what a person would want to make it, and many of its precepts are beyond what a man could make up or even comprehend.
Calling
Are you actively trying to avoid any suffering, hardship, or persecution? Are you running away from God’s plan for you? Are you putting your comfort above God’s commands and will? Are you blaming God for hardship instead of seeking what He is teaching you and/or what He is doing in the lives of people? If any of these are true, you are missing the joy and grace and peace that come from resting in God’s will.
Look around you. What is God doing around you or through you? Seek His will even if it is uncomfortable. Moses obeyed God’s call even though he didn’t feel capable (God had to remind him “who made your mouth”). John the Baptist obeyed God’s call even though it meant living in the wilderness, eating locust and honey, and being beheaded. Hosea married a prostitute, who was unfaithful and bore children out of wedlock, in order to be an object lesson to Israel of her unfaithfulness and His love and faithfulness. All of these cases and more, people sacrificed to obey God’s will and amazing things were done. Although all suffered, none said it wasn’t worth it. Utter agony with God is better than prosperity without Him. There is also an amazing feeling of accomplishment when we live life according to God’s will and when we see His plan unfolding, knowing that He used us, in a little way, to accomplish His plan. There is no greater joy than accomplishing what God created us to accomplish.
Additional Bible Verses
I don’t have more to say on the topic right now, but I’ve included some additional verses on the subject to help you dig deeper into God’s plan as it relates to suffering and persecution.
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:10)
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,.
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“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;.
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”.
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But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. (Mark 4:16-17)
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
FYI: It may seem like I have posted a lot of persecution and hardship. I believe there is a twofold reason for my feeling called to write on this subject.
There are so many “Christians” selling Christianity as a prosperity gospel. They tell you “follow your heart” and encourage people to feel good about their sins. They focus on you gaining wealth, success, and comfort. They treat the God of the Bible as a magic genie that will give you everything you desire. This message isn’t from God. It is the same promises made by the Devil from Adam to Jesus.
I also see the West turning from their Christian heritage and moving towards persecution of the true Church. I believe those who follow Jesus are likely going to see hard times coming and persecution coming from places they never expected. I have little doubt we will experience some before the Rapture, but those who are saved after the Rapture will experience this persecution to the extreme.
Trust Jesus.
Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated
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