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The Holy Spirit is your preparation for persecution training for bringing the life and ministry of Jesus into your life and ministry. Suffering Is A Normal Part Of
Ministry For Jesus Acts 9:15-16 (NIV) But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man [Paul] is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” Verbal and physical abuse are typical for the followers of Jesus. Paul’s call to Jesus starts off with the information that he is going to suffer for Jesus’ name. It is up to us to start praying that we will have the courage, commitment, and power to stick with Jesus regardless of what He decides to expose us to. Phil 1:29 (NIV) For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him. Suffering Is Our Proof
Of Genuine Ministry 1 Pet 1:3-7 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come SO THAT your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. None of us enjoy pain or rejection; but, if we are persecuted and rejected by those who are rejecting Jesus, then we are on the right side. We have joined the ranks of those who are accepted by Jesus. We are taking up our cross and following His leadership. 1 Pet 2:21 (NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. Suffering Is A Part
Of Our Spiritual Growth Suffering for the cause of Jesus is a progressive part of our spiritual growth. As we keep studying, praying, believing, and taking faith-action by rejoicing in our sufferings, God develops a perseverance in us. We become very stable in our commitment to God. People’s opinions and actions don’t have any power over us. We are committed to God and His work even in the face of great persecution. Rom 5:3-5 (NIV) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us.
Perseverance produces the character of Jesus in us (Galatians 5:22-23). Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are all stabilized by perseverance. We yield to Jesus’ character and allow it to flow through us even those we are having to go through (persevere) many types of suffering and persecution because of our relationship with Jesus. |
Jesus’ character produces hope in us. Hope is the spiritual quality that directs our faith toward eternity. We suffer, persevere, and respond to persecution with the character of Jesus because of all the rewards that are coming our way in eternity. Our hope for eternity is empowered by the love of God that is poured into our heart by the Holy Spirit. This love makes it possible for us to love God and others so much that we are willing to go through whatever it takes to help them spend eternity with God. Suffering Is A Part Of
Our Inheritance Rom 8:15-18 (NIV) For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Just like training and getting an education are vital to our future profession, so is suffering a part of our eternal inheritance. Just like a manual laborer has to toil and sweat to produce a special product, so do we have to suffer so as to produce the kind of ministry that will bring many people to Jesus. Sports people understand that they have to beat their bodies into shape so they can be great athletes. They understand that without pain there is no gain. It takes a lot of sacrifice to produce great things in this world; and many of these things we produce will all pass away. Strict Training
Helps Us Be Willing To Suffer 1 Cor 9:24-27 (NIV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. Once we get our eternal goal in front of us, we open our heart to God’s power to be able to go into strict training for Him. We learn how to make sacrifices and put our body in situations that are painful, sacrificial, and difficult. We learn how to not listen to our body; rather, we do whatever it takes to be the best we can be in Christ Jesus. This kind of training teaches us how to make sacrifices and experience uncomfortable situations. Rather than running from pain and rejection, we become ministers who are willing to do whatever is needed so as to bring as many as possible into the family of God. Jesus’ Life And Ministry Becomes
Our Life And Ministry John 10:11-15 (NIV) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me--just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father--and I lay down My life for the sheep. |
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