Christian Living
The Power of Suffering! Peggy Kannaday
Hebrews 5:8 KJV [8] “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered;” Jesus Christ is the greatest example and model of the power of suffering. He is the King of kings and Lord of lord, but yet He learned obedience through the things that He suffered. In short, suffering produces obedience to God. Obedience to God and His commandments signifies our love for almighty God. We have all heard the true life stories and testimonies of wonderfully strong and very courageous people who had tremendous suffering in their lives. However, they did not allow these adversities to deter them, but they by the grace of God; overcame all of their afflictions. Through this process; they became more faith-filled, more patient, stronger and stronger, wiser and wiser, and they learned to trust in The Lord Jesus Christ as never before. Count It All Joy: 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed “ (James 1:2-9). Those that try to live a godly life; will be persecuted. We are forewarned by The Word of God and so we are forearmed. When people try to criticize you for going through persecution. Remember, the Word of God, and do not receive their accusations. 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus “shall” suffer persecution.” Job’s friends were worried about “why” these things were happening to Job? However, the real question was why weren’t Job’s friends suffering any persecution? When you love the Lord with all of your heart and put Him first; you will be hated by the world and the anti-Christ system. They will lie about you, harass you, and they will try to destroy your good name, and if it is possible; they will kill you. However, they cannot kill a child of God until the Lord Jesus gives satan His permission and if it is the proper time for that child of God to go home. Remember to live is Christ and to die is gain or a promotion. Glory to God! “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” —John 15:18-20 Many Christians suffer because of their disobedience to God or because they are not seeking The Lord first in their lives. They will suffer the consequences of their own wrong choices. God allows this to happen in order to discipline His beloved children and to teach them right from wrong. God disciplines those He loves just like good parents discipline the children that they love. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you “ (Matthew 5:10-12). To suffer because you are obeying the Word of God is a privilege, and it is an honor to suffer for Christ’s sake. When we suffer for obeying The Lord; we are to rejoice and be glad. We know that we will receive our reward in heaven. When we suffer for obeying God, then He will in turn defend us, bring us through the afflictions, heal us, work it all together for our good, and He will cause our weak areas to become our strengths. When we are weak; He is strong in and through us.
Suffering produces a dying to one's self and our own selfishness. Dying to self produces the fruit of The Holy Spirit. When we die to ourselves; we live to Christ, and we gain His resurrection power to defeat the enemy and to be an overcomer in our lives.
You are counted among the great Christians in history who suffered for righteousness’ sake, i.e. Joseph, Job, Daniel, the Disciples and the list is endless. Jesus Christ endured the suffering and the cross for the joy that was set before Him. We have a wonderful eternal life with Jesus Christ that is set before us. We cannot imagine the glorious blessings that The Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for those who love Him and obey His Word. My prayer for you: Dear Father, We love You, and we desire to obey You and Your Word with all of our hearts. We know that we will be persecuted because of this, but we know that You are working it all together for our good and for Your glorious purposes (Ro. 8:28). We thank You and praise You for allowing us to suffer a tiny bit of what You suffered on this earth. You suffered, betrayal, harassment, torture, slander, and finally a horrible death and You were perfect. You were without sin, and the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins. We praise Your holy Name, and we worship You with all of our hearts. You are The one and only Living God, all-powerful, all-knowing and Omani-present. You alone proved Your love for each and every human being. We will be worshiping Your forever and ever amen. May Your Name be lifted up and glorified, and You will draw all people to Yourself. In Jesus Name we pray, amen, amen and amen.
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