Sing With Holy Spirit

For all who choose to live godly as worshipers of Jesus, the Anointed One, will also experience persecution.  2 Timothy 3:12 TPT

According to what Jesus said, not only are we to expect persecution to be our lot as we follow Christ: we are to rejoice in those persecutions! Paul echoed that divine instruction when he wrote to the Philippians who were suffering for their faith, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4). 

We are to rejoice not only when the going was good, but always! Circumstances are not to color our reactions to challenges, suffering, loss. 

When Christians encounter trial and testing, we are to rejoice again and again, That’s praise! And - a beautiful part of this life is our brothers and sisters in Christ- His church - because I truly believe  church - the body of Christ is meant to be a refuge for those suffering. When a member is hurting, the church applies the bandages; when a member is down, the church encourages; when a member is in need, the church comes alongside to help.

Mysterious as it appears to be, true faith and suffering go hand in hand. You can’t have the one without the other. 

Again, it is difficult to understand that suffering is with God’s permission. We may sometimes forget that we can bring suffering upon ourselves. It is wrong to believe, for instance, that if we are sick it is because Satan has inflicted it upon you and if you have enough faith, it will go away. 

Sometimes God delivers, but not always; and when He permits suffering, His grace is sufficient for us to endure it. He gives added strength. He walks hand in hand with us through our suffering, but He does not necessarily deliver us out of it. 

To be sure, some seem to suffer for their faith far more than others. Some of us have never known what it means to be physically persecuted for our faith, holding secret underground church services for fear of death but all true Christians are subject to subtle suffering and insidious persecution. 

It may lie in the ridicule of our faith by those in the world around us. It could also exist in the discreet discrimination often practiced against Christian principles in the sophisticated arena of economics, politics and society. For example, there are often discriminatory practices against the business owner, school teacher, or political figure trying to practice biblical, ethical, and moral standards. 

Subtle persecution may happen to you in your workplace, school, or social gathering; an outcast and not considered “one of the crowd.” 

At the heart of our universe is a God who suffers in redemptive love. We experience more of His love when we suffer within an evil world. 

Do not yield to fear in the face of the suffering to come but be aware of this: the devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison to test your faith. For ten days you will have distress but remain faithful to the day you die, and I will give you the victor’s crown of life.  Revelation 2:10 TPT 

No suffering we endure for Christ is ever in vain. Living for Christ, walking in His way, is not an easy path—but it is a path to peace and power. The way of the cross is a hard one, but it offers eternal rewards.