Christians Are Not Free From Suffering
The Christian Life Is Not Free From Suffering
In this day which we live we are always looking for a better way of life. Rightly so, there is always something going on. That makes life very difficult to live. Un fair taxes, low paying jobs, high rent, not being able to adequately provide for our families. Criminal activity, dishonest government officials, systemic racism, sexism, unfair justice system and the like. So, we look for someone perhaps a politician who promise us prosperity, good health, easy living, good jobs, nice homes. I am saying this because people have been looking for a someone, a politician that is going to come and make everything right, no more suffering, no more being impoverished. The problem is He did come, and He was not a politician. when it was time for Him to depart from this Earth, “He said” In the world you shall have tribulations. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)
Prayer:
18“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, then it would love you as it loves its own. But I have chosen you out of the world. So, you don’t belong to it. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If people did wrong to me, they would do wrong to you, too. And if they obeyed my teaching, they would obey yours, too. 21They will do all this to you because of me. They do not know the One who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them; they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates me also hates my Father. 24I did works among them that no one else has ever done. If I had not done those works, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen what I did, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25But this happened so that what is written in their law would be true: ‘They hated me for no reason.’£
26“I will send you the Helper£ from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will talk about me. 27And you also must tell people about me because you have been with me from the beginning (John 15:18-27).
Suffering is Inescapable in the life of a believer.
This suffering is not going to be conditional. It is not going to be based on certain conditions to be met or made to determine whether you are going to suffer. The Lord did not say if you do not live totally in the presence of God or if you disobey any of God’s commandments, you will have tribulation. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.
A Christian will experience tribulations. Your whole life will not be full of tribulation, but there will be times that are inevitable occasions of tribulation. You are able to control circumstances in your life but you will not be able to control all of them. There is tribulation that is a direct result of disobedience of both the physical and spiritual laws.
These things I have spoken to you.
Twice Jesus said, once in John 16:1 and once in John 16:33 “these things I have spoken to you. So that you will not fall away, and so you will have peace. 18“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, then it would love you as it loves its own. But I have chosen you out of the world. So, you don’t belong to it. That is why the world hates you. Do not fool yourself. Do not waste your time trying to get the world to love you. Do not try to please the world. You know that the world is enmity to God. The way of the world leads to destruction and you know this. After the world gets through with you it will chew you up and spit you out. The world hates you.
The world persecuted Jesus
20Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If people did wrong to me, they will do wrong to you, too. And if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours, too. To be hated and persecuted is not pleasant. The only way to have averted that would have been for Jesus to impose His salvation upon all, but salvation is for whosoever believe.
21They will do all this to you because of me. They do not know the One who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them; they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates me also hates my Father. 24I did works among them that no one else has ever done. If I had not done those works, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen what I did, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25But this happened so that what is written in their law would be true: ‘They hated me for no reason.’£
God did not charge those with sin who sinned before the law was given. With out the law there can be know sin. But once the law was given and you disobey the law you commit sin. Once Christ has spoken to them, they are responsible for their what they here. Same thing once they have seen the evidence through Christ works , they are responsible to respond appropriately. Instead they respond with hate. This is a fulfillment of prophecy, they hated me for no reason.
The day will come when the world will no longer be allowed to persecute Christians, When God will impose His Kingdom. Then the end will come. Christ will destroy all rulers, authorities, and powers. And he will give the kingdom to God the Father. Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under Christ’s control. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. The Scripture says, “God put all things under his control.”£ When it says that “all things” are put under him, this does not include God himself. God is the one putting everything under Christ’s control. After everything has been put under Christ, then the Son himself will be put under God. God is the One who put all things under Christ. And Christ will be put under God, so that God will be the complete ruler over everything. (1 Cor 15:24-28).
For those who choose to stay without the kingdom shall fight those who have elected to believe and receive Jesus as savior and Lord. While in this body there is no escape from death and bodily deterioration that leads to it. This body that will ruin must clothe itself with something that will never ruin. And this body that dies must clothe itself with something that will never die. So this body that ruins will clothe itself with that which never ruins. And this body that dies will clothe itself with that which never dies. When this happens, then this Scripture will be made true:1Cor 15:53,54).
“Death is destroyed forever in victory.”
“Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your power to hurt?”
Tribulation and Physical Deterioration Are Part of God’s plan for this Age.
The Implication of what God is saying to us is, It should not take you by surprise. Do not be offended by the tribulation. Therefore, I am telling you this. You will have tribulation. Do not be surprised as if you didn’t know. It may not make sense to you but that is part of God’s wisdom. His Omnipotence is regulated by His Omniscience. God’s power is regulated by His wisdom.
Suffering sickness, persecution. And death you are incapable of understanding and because of that, Jesus is unable to explain it to you. The easiest thing for you to do is be offended when suffering and tribulation overtake you. But Christ knows what He is doing, and He told you to expect it. Sin is the trigger in the trap on which, when it is touched by the animal, causes it to close. Be prepared. Do not let suffering take you by surprise, making you doubt God’s benevolent providence26“I will send you the Helper£ from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. 27And you also must tell people about me because you have been with me from the beginning (John 15:18-27).
Christ Gives inner peace. Which no favorable circumstance can yield. Jesus Said peace I leave you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). With His peace within you can face suffering, with His peace you can face sickness, with His peace you can face death, or any circumstance you find yourself under. Get from under there. What are you doing under there? You have no business under there. Jesus is coming back. We must be ready when he gets here. It is going to be a wonderful day. A Glorious day like non ever before.
31“The Son of Man will come again in his great glory. All his angels will come with him. He will be King and sit on his great throne. 32All the people of the world will be gathered before him. Then he will separate them into two groups as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33The Son of Man will put the sheep, the good people, on his right and the goats, the bad people, on his left.
34“Then the King will say to the good people on his right, ‘Come. My Father has given you his blessing. Come and receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made (Matt 25:31-34).
God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that who ever believe on Him shall have ever lasting life (John 3:16). Do you believe? Amen. The choice is Yours.
