Suffering persecution

While working on one of Derrick's posts for Swordstudy, getting it ready for a 5/26/11 publication date, I read a noteworthy paragraph I thought particularly well-phrased and want to remember for myself (and any who read it) as an encouragement to keep on keeping on in the things of the Spirit.

When we read, If we suffer, we shall also reign with him, immediately we think of 2nd Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  When we think of suffering persecution, we naturally think of physical harm, but persecution takes many more different forms than just physical and the adversary is very aware of this.  The purpose of persecution is to try and prevent our living godly in Christ Jesus and communicating God's grace and Christ's finished work to others.  When we yield to God, and Christ is living His life through us, we can count on the fact that we will encounter persecution in whatever form that it takes, and it can also come from many different places such as the home, neighborhood, work, or (may it not be) church as well.  Just as one example, think about how much easier it is to raise our children in the ways of the world, as opposed to raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and the opposition we encounter when we endeavor to do so.  When we suffer with Christ, we reign with Him, because it is when we are walking in the Spirit, that we realize our heavenly position in Him seated at the right hand of God, blessed with all spiritual blessings, and the peace and love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.  [emphasis, mine]

With the above paragraph in mind, now read the following verse, and consider how it aligns with God's perspective...

Romans 8 ¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  ¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  ¹⁸For I reckon [a mental decision/conclusion] that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

What an encouragement to, when having done all, to stand,  stand fast [don't succumb to the pressures of life]     Why?  Well, because God has a purpose and reason for us to do so...

2 Corinthians 4 ¹⁶For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  ¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

And, where is it we stand?   Well, in the hidden gospel the Lord Jesus Christ, gave to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascas--revealing it to him first of all to take to us gentiles.  Thus we have the Apostle Paul sent out by Christ with the greater Commission, supersceding the one He gave to the 12 to take to Israel. 

Romans 1  ¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Romans 16  ²⁵Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,  ²⁶But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations [aka gentiles] for the obedience of faith:

1 Corinthians 15 ¹Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

What an encouragement to keep on keeping on with Him in The Gospel, today...and every day. 

Have a blessed day In Him!

;j an

P.S.   What a joy to have His Word on it!   It is a sure Word--one that we can take to the proverbial bank! 

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."

P. P.S.   Ever ask yourself why mainline christianity doesn't preach the mystery?   It's there...right there in the Authorized Version, in the majority of manuscript evidence.  Could it be because of the father of lies?

2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

For further consideration on the topic of suffering from a Grace perspective visit Twincitiesgracefellowship.blogspot.com.