Sometimes we suffer
because of our mistakes - Samson suffered for his mistakes and
disobedience. Israel went into captivity and suffered because they
turned from the Lord. However, not all sufferings are as a result of
disobedience or mistakes. God allows suffering to mould us into obedient
children (Hebrews 5:8).
Know that if you desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus, you shall be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Persecution
is unpleasant, it can cause painful suffering, and this suffering is
one of the prices we pay for desiring a Godly life in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:13 urges us - Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
everything, to stand.
As a Christian
you must realise you are in a battle, and on the battlefield at all
times. Wear the full armour of Christ, which is :
Ephesians 6 :14 - 18
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
When you are wearing the full armour of God, you are consistently in prayer, standing in truth and
righteousness, walking in faith, and in the consciousness of your
salvation, and of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and of the Word of
God. After doing all these, if you happen to suffer, be joyful and wait on the Lord - the Bible says, when that day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
To be asked to continue to stand, after standing your ground sounds like tautology,
but it is not. Sometimes, we feel as though we have suffered for too
long, Job felt that way, he was not privy to the meeting between God and
Satan, and was not aware his suffering was pleasing to the Lord, for
the Lord saw his faithfulness to Him even in suffering. This delighted
God and shamed the devil. We must learn to stand, and stand, and stand,
and stand, and keep standing ,even in suffering. The Lord will never
give us more than we can bear. He shall also give us the strength to bear what we suffer, and after He has tried us, we shall come forth as gold. Always remember that gold goes through fire to be refined. Job said “But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." JOB 23:10
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." JOB 23:10
Keep in mind these words of Jesus - Matthew 5:10 -12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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