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The Gold of Suffering

 



The Church is under a sifting around the world. The houses of worship are being closed due to Covid and many are facing trials that are consuming their time such as illness, financial loss, and even persecution. The days of when our Lord Jesus let us sail with ease on the Sea of Galilee have now turned into a storm. We are being thrown out of the boat of safety, and now must walk on the stormy seas to our Savior as Peter did without sinking. 


There is a progression to Our Lord Jesus ministry on earth. It begins with miracles and acclaim from the world, everyone likes a healer and who can multiply fishes and loaves, but then Christ abandons this and tells the crowds, “you must now eat my flesh and drink my blood.” (John 6:53, Paraphrased). Jesus was not urging people to become cannibals, He would explain this at the Last Supper, but it contains a fundamental message in addition to the New Covenant message, “disciples the free bread and easy fishing is over, the time of shedding ones own blood in suffering and persecution has come.” The next part was Calvary, and this should be gold to us, a time when we share in Christ’s sufferings, “Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:13). Unfortunately, the Prosperity doctrine has convinced masses of Christians that following Jesus will be all miracle loaves and fishes and none of that Gethsemane and Crucifixion stuff. And yet Jesus said, “You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved,” (Matthew 10:22) and “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers” (Matthew 24:9). Our Lord warns us that the tables will turn from favor to disfavor, that persecution is certain for all Christians, bot just those in other countries. 


We are entering a new period in church history, one of lack, of sifting, and torment. The age of favor is over, ahead is a cross. Christ our Lord said, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Now we don’t suffer or endure persecution to achieve salvation, Christ has saved us through faith in him (Philippians 3:9, John 3:16-18, 1 John 4:15), but we do follow in His footsteps, “Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also” (John 15:20). The garments of suffering are gold, for the apostle Peter said, “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:4). At this moment of cross bearing in the church we need to look to Jesus on the cross to give us courage. Yes He is Risen, Jesus rose from death after dying on the cross for all our sins, what I am sating is right now meditate on the Passion of Christ, let our Lord’s suffering five you the strength to suffer for His Name, and that you see the Crown of Thrones as gold, humiliation as gold, that the enmity of the world is reward in heaven, but love from world is enmity with God, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). 


Stand firm brothers and sisters in Christ. The crushing (Revelation 13:7) has only begun. Hold firm in your faith in Jesus Christ, and build your relationship with Him so that you may weather the storm and walk on water pt Him. Amen. 

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