Suffering Is Part Of The Plan (Part 2)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Philippians 1:29

Paul writes to the church of Philippi encouraging them in there time of despair and need! The church is going and has gone through some rough spots and many have turned to idol worship… Paul reminds them today that Christ’s death is a privilege for us to partake of, to suffer for His name sake is also to be considered a (n) honor… The church was under heavy persecutions; many had become weary and begin to lose hope in the future and precious promises of God… Paul is reminding them that the same Christ that gave Himself up for you is the same Christ that will lead you through times of despair! Paul wants us to understand today that we will indeed be tested, we will indeed have weary days, we will indeed feel the pains of life, but we must overcome, we must hold to His unchanging hand, we must remember that Christ suffered and said that we would suffer for his name! 

We can take joy in our suffering because we are carrying out the will and word of God, we can smile in adversity because we know that Christ died and now lives for all eternity! Paul is informing the church that we have two things in this world that we can hold onto that will be certain as a child of God! The first thing we are guaranteed of is that we have something to believe in… Paul says we have been given something to believe in. A lot of times in life we are let down, we get our hopes up and things don’t go the way we planned! People don’t hold there word or oath and trust goes out of the proverbial window. Paul is saying to us that in times of uncertainty we have something that we can be certain about, in times of hardship we have a (n) anchor whose name is Jesus. The bible says that, “we don’t mourn as a people without hope!” The bible says, “behold, I show you a mystery!” The bible says, “All who come unto me will find rest!” Take courage in knowing that Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! The second guarantee is that we will suffer… 

Paul was stoned and imprisoned, but he told Timothy he had fought the good fight! John the Baptist was beheaded, but paved the way for the coming Messiah! Peter left the courtyard weeping, but ended up preaching a sermon that brought 3,000 souls to Christ! We will suffer in this life, but know that when you suffer for the Lord, you reap heavenly rewards! Know that every time you suffer for His name sake, you have earned that much more in the form of your eternal rest! Christ said,“I’ve gone to prepare a place for you, that where I am ye may be there also!” Go on and suffer through some hardships and trials, Christ is building your mansion and working every trial out for your benefit! We are called to believe on Him; however, it is the suffering part which we often times neglect… We believe in Christ and will even stand for Him if it is convenient, but we must stand for Christ and be willing to suffer for His name sake if we want to receive and achieve all that God has in store for us… This is why Paul told the Church of Philippi, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

ALL FOR  HIS GLORY!