Abiding
Suffering Saints and the Savior
Remember how both Job and Paul were allowed to suffer at the hands of Satan? (Job 1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). God’s grace was sufficient and soared when Job and Paul were made weak, in self! What an amazing God we serve!
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
The LORD did not remove Paul’s thorn in this season of suffering but rather gave him abundant grace in that trial.
God is circumcising our hearts so that we see that He’s not into our temporal comfort so much as our Christlike character (Romans 8:29).
The LORD promised we’d suffer and He also promised that those who love Him supremely “shall also reign with him … glorified together” (2 Timothy 2:12).
Jesus makes it clear that suffering for His holy name’s sake, only proves we are His and is an inescapable component of our lives in Him while on this earth.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“It would seem strange that God, who professes to love the children of Israel, would lead them into a desert without food and water. But love led them there that they might learn the desperate unbelief of their own hearts and the unfailing faithfulness of God’s Heart. Only in a desert could God reveal what He can be to those who trust Him (Exodus 17). Do you trust Him in your desert?” Jeff Thomas
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:17
“IF we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” 2 Timothy 2:12
In the kingdom of Christ, everything that is good is good and everything that is bad is good – because God is working all things together for his glory and your ultimate good, conforming you to the image of jesus (Romans 8:28-29).
Here’s how we know that to be true:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29
All things are not good and yet all things are working for our good – to conform us to the image of the Son of God.
Here’s why we can “count (consider) it all joy” when we “fall into” various trials:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
When you read this verse below, think of it in terms of the LORD being a jealous God (Exodus 34:14).
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14
This life will never be without trouble (Job 14:1). God loves us so very much that He wants us to love Him back and He allows the difficulties of this life to help us see that He’s all we have! See John 6:67-69. Isn’t this part of why we are to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”? (James 1:2-4)
“Be Not Weary in Well Doing”
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
SATAN tempting you to give up? Who wins if you do? Where shall you turn? Turning away from God means we are without Him in our life and trials, right? The LORD, who is your Potter, has a plan. He will absolutely bring you through the floods of water and fire! See Isaiah 43:1-2; Jeremiah 18:1-6.
After saving us, God has to bring us to an end of ourselves and that happens through “much tribulation” (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4; 12:7-12, etc.). Read 2 Corinthians 4.
When Jesus had fed the flesh of the multitudes, they turned and walked away from the Savior. But …
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68
What are the 4 things God Blesses His People with as they are Blessed to Suffer?
God brings PSSS through the things we suffer!
Our LORD has a plan to settle us, to mature, to establish, to bring His strength into our lives.
The apostle Peter penned these fabulous words under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit 1 Peter 5:10
It’s a little known divine secret forming the natural acronym PSSS = Perfect, Stablish, Strengthen, Settle you!!
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
As children of the LORD, as we suffer various trials in this brief life on earth, He is using this to keep His roots in us by:
- Perfecting us,
- Stablishing us,
- Strengthening us,
- Settling us!!
“The pressure in your life right now has a purpose. It’s not crushing you, it’s pushing what’s on the inside of you out. It shows you who you are.” unknown
SUFFERING and TRIBULATION WORK FOR US!
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Regarding the above passage William MacDonald states in the Believer’s Bible Commentary:
“After reading the terrible afflictions which the Apostle Paul endured, it may seem hard for us to understand how he could speak of them as light affliction. In one sense, they were not at all light. They were bitter and cruel.
But the explanation lies in the comparison which Paul makes. The afflictions viewed by themselves might be ever so heavy, but when compared with the eternal weight of glory that lies ahead, then they are light. Also the light affliction is but for a moment, whereas the glory is eternal. The lessons we learn through afflictions in this world will yield the richest fruit for us in the world to come.”
There is a pyramid in this verse which, as F. E. Marsh has pointed out, does not tire the weary climber but brings unspeakable rest and comfort to his soul.
Glory
Weight of glory
Eternal weight of glory
Exceeding and eternal weight of glory
More exceeding and eternal weight of glory
Far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3-5
“Adversity is the companion to every Christian on his way to paradise. The more difficult the path, the more joy for him who follows the LORD.” AW Tozer
The Reality of this Present Fallen World – And God’s Love, Comfort and Eternal Plan for His People
“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:1
“Full of trouble.” …. Can anyone relate?
According to God’s Word, in this sin-cursed earth, there will be troubles, trials, and tribulations for all – the righteous and the unrighteous (Psalms 37, 73, etc.).
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
“The afflictions of the gospel”
“The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surfer the super joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstances, these very things—tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. The saint never knows the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. “I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” says Paul.
Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Oswald Chambers
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:8
Are you a partaker of “the afflictions of the gospel”? Are you suffering for Christ? Are those around you suffering for their testimony of Jesus’ saving grace?
If we aren’t suffering afflictions for being one with Christ in this dark world, should this not be reason for great concern?
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
Jesus promised that those who truly knew Him and were enduring to the end, would be hated:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
Paul was in jail several times and wrote at least several of his letters from his jail cell. If you were alive then, would you have persecuted him? Are you disdaining those who suffer the most atrocious of afflictions for the Gospel of Jesus?
The apostle Paul, this apostle of our LORD Jesus, was a convicted felon for Christ. Let us never be ashamed of the brethren of Christ, our brethren, who suffer unjust persecutions, “the afflictions of the gospel” in this world. Didn’t Jesus foretell that some of His people will be put in prison?
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
Visions of Heavenly Rest
“They shall rest in their beds”
“He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Isaiah 57:2
Do you want to be there? Here’s Christ’s promise and conditions:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:4-8
Are you ready to meet your Maker? Ready to make peace with God? Go here.
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