Suffering with Christ

The early church saw such wonderful miracles taking place - handkerchiefs being prayed over by the apostles and sent to the sick, who were healed.

Acts 19:11-12 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

Acts 5:15-16 ... to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

And yet the early Christians equally witnessed such great persecution. James was murdered. Stephen was stoned to death. The Book of Hebrews chapter 11 tells us some were sawn into two. However the earlier church was steadfast in their faith, they knew who they had believed in, and knew that suffering with Christ was a part of their calling.

We are called to reign with Christ, but also to partake in His suffering. Let us embrace the entirety of our calling with joy.

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.












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