His Inheritance Ministries

PHIL 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

I feel so very unqualified to teach on this as the extent of my suffering is so minimal compared to many saints who are living daily in the fellowship of His suffering, the persecuted church, the church represented by the church of Smyrna in the Book of Revelation. This Church received no condemnation from the LORD. Would the LORD find fault with one who is dying for love of Him?

BAD CHOICES

I’ve had my share of suffering. Who hasn’t suffered? Perhaps, most of our suffering has been the results of our own misguided, un-anointed choices but maybe, on some minuscule scale we have also suffered for the cause of Christ.

The fellowship of His sufferings is not suffering because of your bad choices.

1PET 2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

This is not about religious self-mutilation and penance. There are those who walk up steps to shrines on their knees because they think this type of suffering pleases the LORD. Or they beat themselves with cords as penance for their sins. We need not do penance to make ourselves acceptable to God. Christ, being in Christ, alone makes us acceptable to God!

Not that the LORD doesn’t have compassion for all suffering, but all suffering is not equal. Some of it, maybe most of it, one brings upon oneself. But God can make it right! If you end up suffering because you sinned and disobeyed God, it is not the fellowship of His suffering. Christ did not sin. His suffering was because of the consequence of our sin!! He suffered because of us!

The Fellowship of His Suffering

Christ welcomes us into the fellowship of His suffering, suffering for God’s purposes. The Apostle Peter, “a witness of the sufferings of Christ” (1 Peter 5:1), talked about suffering for Christ – it is one of those topics not discussed much in today’s user-friendly churches. You’re not truly a “full gospel” church, if you’re not addressing suffering! And it’s a disservice to the sheep to just teach fluff and good times. If the Church is to be equipped, enduring suffering for the cause of Christ must be addressed. Are we ready to suffer for Christ?

1PET 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

Christians are called to suffering but not just human suffering… suffering for the cause of Christ!

The Apostle Paul knew this:

PHIL 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

And James, the half-brother of Yeshua, knew it, and counted it all joy:

JAM 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

And Peter knew it:

1PET 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter … 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

1PET 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

THE MAN OF SORROWS

If we are to enter the fellowship of His suffering, then just how did Christ suffer? Isaiah prophesied with detail and very accurately of the coming Messiah, portraying Him as a “Man of Sorrows”:

ISA 53:3 (ESV)
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Read the whole of Isaiah 53 for more.

Our Redeemer endured physical torture. He was arrested & bound, scourged, and crown of thorns was placed on His holy head. He was mocked, struck on the head, spat on, crucified, blasphemed and reviled. All for us. (See Mark 15)

Surely, “while we were still sinners, Christ [suffered and] died for us.” (Romans 5:8) We should be filled with such gratitude! Glory to God!

I hope to write more on this subject. Please pray for the persecuted church.

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