Willing to...Suffer (and find Joy in it)?

In my last post I looked at Willing to...Serve? pointing out that churches have many areas in which they need help and that we should do everything we do "as to the Lord". I also pointed out that when we serve, we follow Jesus example, learn humility and share God's love.

Following on from that post, this post is going to look at whether we are Willing to Suffer? This may seem a strange way to follow on but I believe it is a biblical principle. Here are a couple of scriptures to back up my point.

Jesus was a SUFFERING Servant

Isaiah prophesied before Jesus was born that he would be "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Isaiah 53:3.  The writer of Hebrews also says "so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood." The main purpose of Jesus walk on earth was to do the will of God, his father. For this to happen, Jesus had to suffer being rejected by men, betrayed by his disciple, having nails driven in his hand and thorns in his head as well as the incommunicable suffering of bring forsaken by his father. Jesus had immense suffering. If as Christians we believe that Christ is our perfect example then we cannot pick and choose what areas of Christ life are applicable to us. Christianity is not about "whatever suits me best and fits in with my life", but it is about saying "Jesus humbled himself to earth, suffered for me indescribable pain on the cross, for me. My only response can be to follow him and hand over to him every single area of my life". 

Very briefly, it is also worth looking at the suffering which the apostles and early christians went through in establishing the church. Many were crucified and imprisoned, stephen was stoned and some were exiled. Is it just coincidence that the people Jesus chose and commanded to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," - Matthew 28:19 also ended up suffering for that calling? Definitely not. We NEED to be prepared for this. Why?

We To are CALLED To Suffer

Paul in his letter to the Philippians says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" - Philippians 1:29. From this we can take that it is part of our calling that in following Christ, we follow him even in suffering. This doesn't mean that each of us will be crucified, the suffering may take many forms. You could suffer financially, spiritually, emotionally or even physically.

In Paul's letter to Timothy he calls him (and us) to "not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8. So there is a direct link that can be made here. If as a Christian we are ashamed of the gospel, slow to share our faith in Christ then we will have an easy life but also an ineffective one. However, if we accept the call to boldly proclaim the gospel which brought us to salvation then a bi-product of that is suffering. It will happen. So how are we to view this suffering...? 

Joy, Joy, JOY!

Let me start by saying this is so much easier said than done. To find joy in suffering requires a total dependence on God and a realisation of what awaits you at the end of this life. But yes, we are called to be joyful in our suffering.

In Colossians, Paul says "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you" -  Colossians 1:24. He also encourages us to "join with [him] in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8. Why should we be joyful in suffering? Because even in our suffering we are glorifying God and for those who glorify God, he will honour. We should also be joyful in our suffering because we know that, no matter how much people may persecute us, a greater day awaits us after this life. A day when Jesus will "wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain" - Revelation 21:4. If we can manage to look past our suffering and look to the glory that awaits us, we will be able to find joy in our trials.


Paul goes even further and tells us that we should consider the suffering we receive as a gift. In that Philippians 1:29 verse he says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him". When we receive a gift, we enjoy it and are thankful for it and we should even treasure it.


If we can get this mindset into our heads it will make suffering so much more bearable. Always ask yourself the question "Jesus gave his life for me and suffered so much for me, am I willing to suffer for him?"


Below is a video by John Piper on suffering. This video was sent to me a month or two ago and it has really stuck with me.

10 Reasons Why You Should Go To Church - Part 1

So this week, due to a car breaking down, I didn't make it to church...Gutted. It's got me thinking about the biblical reasons why we should go to church and the benefits that come from doing so. As a pre-requisite I would like to stress that obviously going to church alone does not make you a christian.


 The only way to become a christian is by accepting that you have sinned and are destined to an eternity facing the righteous judgement of God and there's nothing you can do about it in your own strength. Following this you need to realise that God sent his one son Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life on this earth, never thinking a wrong thought or doing a wrong action. Jesus was crucified like a criminal, like the lowest of the low being whipped beaten spat on and humiliated. On top of this he faced the punishment of his own Father turning away from him. Why? all because he died and took our sin on the cross. Then Jesus conquered death, defeated satan and now if you say sorry (truly) for your sin and ask for forgiveness (which results in you desiring to please God on this earth and follow his commands and instructions for life) then you will be accepted as a child of God and will have a citizenship in Heaven.


Thats a big pre-requisite but, its important. So I suppose the next 10 points are aimed at those who are already christians but even if you aren't a christian feel free to keep on reading :). Here are the first 4. The next 6 will appear in a couple of days. 


1. Corporate Public Worship.
    The Bible talks so much about people worshipping together. I believe that there is something special about worshipping together as many Christians gather with one sole purpose, to glorify God. The Psalms back this up. 


Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker - Psalm 95 v 6
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy. - Psalm 99 v 9
Let us go to His dwelling place, let us worship at His footstool - Psalm 132 v 7


It talks so much about us (plural) coming to worship God. So this is what God desires on top of our daily personal worship.


2. A Reminder of The Gospel.
     When we come to worship, it is such a visual description of the gospel at work. For we are all sinners, unworthy to approach the throne of God in worship but, because of the blood of Jesus we are cleansed and granted access to glorify and magnify our Maker!


Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. - Romans 5 v 1 & 2


3. Deeper Biblical Knowledge.
     One of the best reasons to come to church is that you get to hear the bible opened and explained by those who are blessed with better biblical insight than you. God has given wisdom to your pastors, elders and christians further on in their walk with God so that you can learn from them. The bible tells us that being instructed builds up the church which can never be a bad thing!


When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. - 1 Corinthians 14 v 26


4. Deeper Relationships
As christians we should love each other. The only way we increase our love for each other is getting to know each other more. Jesus said...


 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." -  John 15 v 9 -12


Notice how when we love others, it doesn't just benefit them but it also benefits us. Jesus tells us when we love our "Joy may be complete". When we give we also receive, thats how good God is.


Well I hope that's useful for you. I've definitely enjoyed thinking about it. Next 6 points will be up within the next two days. God bless you all.