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Suffering with Christ is the second part of a five-part series on Omissions — Things we don’t like to talk about.

fear - suffering - holiness and zeal - judging - jealousy

Suffering with Christ

suffering

We won’t be spiritually prepared for suffering when it comes if we’re not taught about it in a Biblical, holistic way. As we become mature believers, we are invited into a place of suffering with Christ that we may be glorified with him. “let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me

Romans 8:16b-17a

...we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him...

Two Extreme Views on Suffering

We ought to be careful not to get sucked into a false paradigm about Christians’ suffering.
Here are two major extreme views that are false and dangerous:

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Dystopian Fatalism

This paradigm presents a message which emphasizes the terrible things that are happening, and how things will only get worse. An example of this would be someone focusing solely on the end-times tribulation, while neglecting the great hope to be found in a number of prophetic promises in The Scriptures, such as the last-days harvest.

With this mindset, we run the risk of hindering ourselves and those we influence from entering into the fullness of what God intends for these last days. This is similar to when complaining kept the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, and held them back from the “Promised Land”.

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"God is in a Good Mood!"

This paradigm presents a message which teaches that God is always only in a good mood, and only wants to bless us, and therefore any suffering we encounter is due to our lack of faith. This teaching is presented with an utter disregard for the Biblical perspective on suffering.

With this mindset, we run the risk of being deceived into thinking that God’s chastening is not a blessing, and also into denying the concept of suffering with Christ, along with the rewards that come with it, leaving us totally unprepared for trials when they come.

The Biblical Suffering Paradigm

In this life, you will have troubles. John 16:33

If we choose to suffer with Christ, there is great reward!
Rather than going in depth about this, I’ll just list some Scriptures.

There are conditions for crowns we can receive as beleivers.

There are a few different reasons why we suffer

1 Peter 3:17
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Suffering because of Sin

Suffering for the Wrong Reasons:
Suffering because of Sin

  • Sin brings suffering. 1 Peter 4:15
  • You reap what you sow. Galatians 6:7
  • The story of Achan’s sin in Joshua 7:10-26 demonstrates how our secret sin can affect the body of Christ.
  • The story of David’s Census in 2 Samuel 24 demonstrates that our sin can affect others.
  • Sin hurts the church. 1 Corinthians 5:6-13
    • Sin unchecked will spread like leaven.
    • “Cleanse out the old leaven”
    • “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Suffering with Christ

Suffering for the Right Reasons:
Suffering with Christ

  • It’s a privilege to suffer with Christ! There’s a special blessing in it!
  • The one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13
  • All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12
  • Sometimes God allows us to suffer for our own sake. Hebrews 12:11
    • It proves that He loves us as His sons.
    • It builds character.
  • We also suffer for the sake of others Galatians 6:1-5
    • Paul seems to have done this a lot. Colossians 1:24, 2 Corinthians 4:12

There are different ways we can suffer

God’s ways are higher than our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9

The kingdom of heaven is the opposite of the way we might naturally think it should be.

the world

The Wrong Way:
The Way of The World

  • Numb pain with the things of the world.
  • Do what feels right.
  • Try to be first, or at least not to be last.
  • Look inward, to yourself. “Know thyself.”
  • Despise, ignore, or run away from difficulty or correction.
  • Do whatever it takes to survive.
  • Feed your flesh and carnal desires.
  • You’re a slaves of sin, but you’re free in regard to righteousness.
  • Try to get rich on earth.
  • Complain when things “don’t go right”.
  • Be selfish. Look out for number one.
  • Feel a sense of accomplishment - you earned everything with your hard work.
  • Arrogance is okay, Pride is a virtue.
  • Be lazy.
  • Make excuses.
  • Love your friends. Retaliate. Help yourself. Share a little, if you feel like it.
  • Give to whoever you feel like; lend and expect interest in return.
  • If you Pray, Fast, or Give, make sure to do it publicly, so people see it, and credit can be rewarded.

the kingdom

The Right Way:
The Way of The Kingdom

  • Seek first the kingdom of God.
  • Seek His righteousness.
  • The first shall be last, and the last first.
  • Deny yourself.
  • Take up your Cross daily, and follow Jesus.
  • Lose your life for His sake to find it.
  • Die to your flesh and Live in the Spirit.
  • You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
  • Store up treasures in heaven.
  • Endure.
  • Be selfless. Put others first.
  • Be grateful. Every good thing comes from God, even your skills.
  • Be humble and meek.
  • Serve.
  • Accept correction.
  • Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, give your other coat
  • Give to whoever asks, do not refuse the one who would borrow from you; lend without expecting anything in return.
  • Pray, Fast, and Give — in secret.

The Way of The Cross


cross


Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” and “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

The Way of The Cross is the greatest mystery of our Faith. It’s the opposite of the way the world thinks. It’s offensive — even crazy! The Way of the Cross is in direct opposition to The Spirit of This Age — because of this, we all will suffer with Christ.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This is what Romans 12:2 could look like:
pattern

A "Crossless" Expression

Americachurch

The current culture of the American Church is by and large a "crossless" expression. We’ve had the appearance of godliness, but we’re denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:5

We can remedy this by preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:14-17

Leaders of “seeker-friendly” congregations commonly feel that preaching Biblically on the Crucifixion, dying to self, and suffering with Christ might scare the congregation away, but Jesus told us plainly that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. (John 10:3-5,27) A stranger they will not follow — such a congregation will be full of people with “itching ears”! Even if people were to be offended by such things, it’s better not to offend God Almighty.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The power of God moves through us best when we feel weak, and suffer with Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:6
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

We need to die to our flesh, and live in the Spirit so that we can obey God. Galatians 5:16-26

Hebrews 4:10-11
For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

We need to strive to enter His rest until we come to the end of ourselves and “walk with a limp”, just as Jacob wrestled with God until He blessed him. Only then can we begin to submit to the mind of Christ, and truly obey Him — even when called to suffer with Him!

If we suffer, we will also reign with Him! 2 Timothy 2:12

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Appendix - Bible Verses!

click here to expand the appendix.

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