Class 3 from this series was used for GCT Episode 228.
00:00:01,200 –> 00:00:03,300
Thanks, brother.
James we now look forward to
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brother Nathan’s.
Final study to the theme.
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The fellowship of his
sufferings.
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Thanks brother.
Nathan.
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Well, thanks for the grant and
good morning.
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My dear brothers and sisters in
our Lord.
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Jesus Christ.
Well, we have come to the end of
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our foray into the book of
Lamentations.
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And hopefully it has enlarged
your understanding and maybe
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even your enjoyment of the book.
But now that we’ve finished the
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book itself, I thought we might
slow down a little bit this
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morning because I know we’ve
been moving it, a bit of pace
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and Just try and spend a few
minutes this morning just
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considering the subject of
suffering itself as the main
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theme that emerges from
Lamentations finding meaning
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looking for meaning in the
misery.
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And you remember that we lift
Lamentations yesterday with this
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thought or question in our
minds.
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If Lamentations chapter 3 is
going to be the picture of
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Christ in the middle of two.
Thieves the man who has seen
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Affliction despite his innocence
but who would offer meaning and
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Hope.
Then we have a choice before us.
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Do we want to be part of an
unrepentant Community?
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That’s Afflicted because of
sinfulness, but we end up just
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going through life, enduring,
grief, without meaning.
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That’s The Afflicted, Daughter
of Zion or are we determined to
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be affected by this man in the
middle and be the repentant
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thief?
The faithful Community inspired
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by this man’s example and his
perspective to Why on God and to
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patiently wait for him to join
ourselves to the precious sons
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of Zion because the nation
before Lamentations 3, and after
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are totally different, in their
perspectives in the choice is
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ours, when it comes to
suffering, do we want to be
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bitter?
Beta.
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Do we want to be resentful or
renewed?
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Do we want to wallow in an
enlightened self pity as the
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people of Lamentations 1 and 2
did or do?
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We identify with this man who
has seen affliction?
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Do we recognize and him?
Our fellow, our representative,
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our example are we willing to
let him drastically alter, our
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thinking, are we ready to side
with him and share his Hope and
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unshakable Faith?
Are we ready to investigate?
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What it means to Fellowship?
His sufferings I mean, if Lem,
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if Isaiah 53 in the first
instance, has the suffering
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servant as Hezekiah.
And he was able to inspire the
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nation in the times of
sennacherib invasion.
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And if in Lamentations 3 in the
first instance, the man who has
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seen Affliction was actually
Jeremiah and he was able to turn
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the nation from self-absorbed,
disbelief, to repentance and
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Contrition, then how much more
can Messiah change and touch us
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heal us.
I’d like to start our story this
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morning in Mark chapter 5.
This is a story that we we
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mentioned in an earlier class,
but I want to just look at
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briefly this morning, Because
it’s relevant to the healing.
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That comes from our Lord Jesus
Christ.
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Mark chapter 5 and verse 24.
And Jesus went with him that is
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with gyrus and much people.
Followed him and thronged him in
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a certain woman, which had an
issue of blood twelve years, and
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had suffered many things of many
Physicians, and had spent all
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that she had and was nothing
bettered, but rather grew worse.
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This woman is a graphic picture,
a type of ourselves, all of us.
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Without Christ without his
healing.
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This is where we all start
suffering.
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Suffering, many things.
And it’s not just from the
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incurable bruise of sin, But
it’s from our own attempts to
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cure ourselves.
We want to turn to anything.
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Anyone other than the true
source of life?
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No other physician can heal the
hurt of our souls and she is
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broken and lost.
In worse.
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She is deteriorating.
She instinctively knew that all
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she needed to do, was to touch
him, to align herself with him
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to identify with him.
And by his stripes, by his
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experience of suffering himself.
She knew that she could be
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healed.
Now, we know the story, but Mark
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chapter 5 records for us.
A couple of things that Luke
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chapter 8 does not, it tells us
that she touches the border of
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blue of His Garment in verse 30
tells us that virtue.
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Literally, it should be power
had gone out of him.
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She felt the healing come into
her body, verse 29, and he felt
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The Virtue.
Leave his body verse 30, both of
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them were affected.
They were both affected by the
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same interchange of power.
LinkedIn Fellowship by the
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removal of the plague of
suffering verse 34.
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She was made whole again, and
this is a type of us, our lives.
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This is a type of a healing, and
our healing is with him virtue,
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goes out of his body and into
her body.
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It’s by him, it’s with him, it’s
through him.
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He beers our iniquities Isaiah
53 and verse 11 weird joined to
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him in the experience of
suffering and the bearing of it
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away.
We have it in common And it’s
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not just suffering as it, it’s
suffering for a higher purpose
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suffering with a goal in view
suffering for an ultimate goal,
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we are inseparable e linked to
him by this experience.
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And did you note that after 12
years of slowly growing worse?
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They could be no mistake when
she came in contact with Jesus
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Christ immediately healed slowly
deteriorating for 12 years
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immediately healed.
There could be no mistake this
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man can totally and drastically
change our lives.
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Now we know that we are linked
to Christ in suffering because
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of how the scriptures talk about
the necessity for Christ and
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ourselves to suffer.
Look at these references, we
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know them pretty well but you
might like to take a note of
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them somewhere.
It’s about how Christ had to
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suffer the inevitability of his
suffering.
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Ought not Christ to have
suffered these things look Four
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verse 26, in verse 46.
And thus, it behoved Christ to
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suffer.
It was appropriate, it was
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right.
That even a sinless man had to
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go through suffering.
But those things which God had
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showed by the mouth of All His
prophets that Christ should
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suffer.
X 3:18 X chapter 17 opening and
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alleging that Christ must needs.
Have suffered and risen again
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from the dead and Acts 26 verse
22 to 23.
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I continue unto this day.
Witnessing that Christ should
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suffer and be the first that
should rise.
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It was prophesied by all the
prophets.
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It was inevitable.
And the same is true of us.
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We are linked to him, we
Fellowship him in the fact that
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we are all suffering for a
greater good and that that’s
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God’s will just as he suffered
for a greater good, just as it
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behoved Christ to suffer, it,
behoves us to suffer X-14, we
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must through much, tribulation
enter into the kingdom of God.
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Philippians 1 For unto you, it
is given not only to believe on
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him but also to suffer.
For his sake, first
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Thessalonians, 34 verily, when
we were with you we told you
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before that we should suffer
tribulation second.
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Timothy 3.
Ye all that will live Godly in
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Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
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And first of Peter for beloved,
think it not strange concerning
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the fiery trial which is to try
you as though some strange thing
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happened unto you it’s
appropriate.
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It’s right that you suffer
because In this way, you are
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inseparably linked.
To the man who can bear that
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suffering away.
We Fellowship our Lord, Jesus
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Christ and his suffering.
Would God exempt us from what it
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was necessary that even Christ
experienced.
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Suffering is our father’s way of
touching teaching, our heart,
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rather than just a head.
Suffering encourages intimate,
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moments and experiences.
We know this to be true brothers
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and sisters when we feel alone
and desperate and lost and
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Abandoned.
And in despair, we turn to God
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in a very real and authentic
way.
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It doesn’t just happen by books,
does it?
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It doesn’t just happen by
reading the Scriptures.
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It happens by the experiences of
life that our hearts are turn to
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God.
There’s no energy for
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superficiality or pretense when
times of suffering and
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difficulty come upon us.
We’re brought down to the
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essence of who we are and what
is important and we turn to
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what’s important in those
difficult moments.
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Do you know brother Grant
mentioned in his prayer?
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A couple of Beatitudes from
Matthew chapter 5?
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You remember, what the
Beatitudes sound like?
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But listen to how General, they
are until a point.
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Matthew Chapter 5 says this, you
don’t have to turn it up.
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Just listen.
Blessed are the poor in spirit
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for theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven.
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Blessed, are they that mourn for
they shall be?
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Comforted blessed, are the meek
for they shall inherit the
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earth.
Blessed.
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Are they which do hunger and
thirst after righteousness, for
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they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful for
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they shall obtain Mercy.
The pure in heart for they shall
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see God.
The peacemakers for they shall
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inherit it be called the
children of God, but when it
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comes to persecution, When it
comes to suffering blessed, you.
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When men will revile you and
persecute you and say, all
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manner of evil, against you
falsely for my sake rejoice and
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be exceeding, glad there’s
something about suffering, that
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makes the truth intensely,
personal it takes it from a
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generalization down to our
lives.
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In that moment, it brings us to
know God, we learn things that
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we could not learn in any other
way.
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Joseph in jail.
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
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Jeremiah and a pit pull in a
shipwreck, we have something in
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common with Christ something
that we fellowship with him, a
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heavenly father, who’s
interested enough to shape Our
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Lives by suffering.
Should we be surprised to find
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that trials and pressure are
inevitable.
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Look what Peter says.
Why do you think it a strange
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thing that these things are
happening to us?
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It’s God’s way of linking us to
Christ.
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It’s God’s way of yoking us to
him. and when Paul was stopped
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in his tracks on the road to
Damascus by that, by that
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blinding light, which was able
to Blind his eyes, even through
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his tightly squeezed eyelids,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Told him you will be Christ to
the Gentiles and the way in
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which you will be Inseparable, e
linked.
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To me is that I will show you
how great things you must suffer
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for my sake X chapter, 9, and
verse 16.
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This is what links us gives us
fellowship with Christ.
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The experience of suffering.
It’s not the only thing but it’s
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one of those things.
So why is the fellowship of
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suffering?
Such an important part of
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discipleship?
Well because we know that
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difficulties and suffering and
in trouble and Calamity builds
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character.
Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 11
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now, no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous,
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but Grievous, nevertheless,
afterward it yieldeth.
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The Peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them, which
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are exercised, their by James
chapter 1, count it all joy.
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When you fall into divers
Temptations, knowing that the
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trying of your faith worketh
patience.
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But let patience have her
perfect work that ye Maybe
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perfect.
Or first of Peter, that the
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trial of your faith that would
be tried with fire might be
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found unto praise and honor, if
we are exercised by chastening
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Then it builds and gives us
Peaceable fruit.
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If we are have their minds
energized and worked by our
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Temptations.
We are made perfect.
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If we discovered to find what is
behind our trials, we realize
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praise and honor.
Suffering is all about
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character.
It’s all about character
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suffering, is not just about
losing things in suffering loss.
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It’s not about exact
retribution, it’s not about
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having things taken away.
I mean, you look at the
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experience of job who James puts
forward as the great patient,
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man, of the Old Testament, who
suffered enormous things from
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Job, chapter 12, chapter 42.
He had everything taken away his
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wealth, his family, the
security, his sense of purpose,
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00:16:54,400 –> 00:16:59,000
but the listen Was really all
about with a job and his three
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00:16:59,000 –> 00:17:03,000
friends could still see that God
was in control.
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00:17:04,599 –> 00:17:10,000
And when they learned that God,
gave everything back everything
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00:17:10,000 –> 00:17:12,400
back to Joe because it was not
about the things, which he took
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00:17:12,400 –> 00:17:14,900
away.
It was not really about the
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00:17:14,900 –> 00:17:17,500
deprivation.
It wasn’t really about the
227
00:17:17,508 –> 00:17:19,900
suffering.
It was really to build
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00:17:19,900 –> 00:17:25,099
character, and when he received
the character of job, greatly
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00:17:25,099 –> 00:17:28,200
improved through that
experience, all those things
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00:17:28,200 –> 00:17:31,700
came back to job because it was
all about character.
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00:17:32,800 –> 00:17:36,500
So, we asked the question,
Suffering in our lives.
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Our calamities building
character.
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00:17:42,700 –> 00:17:47,600
How we actually just suffering?
without thinking about meaning,
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00:17:48,600 –> 00:17:52,100
are we suffering the same things
over and over again and not
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00:17:52,100 –> 00:17:54,900
learning?
Is that why sufferings
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00:17:54,900 –> 00:17:57,300
continuing?
Because we’re just not getting
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00:17:57,300 –> 00:18:01,200
it because we’re not attempting
to understand how our characters
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00:18:01,200 –> 00:18:05,700
might be changed.
Are we progressing in our
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00:18:05,700 –> 00:18:10,100
understanding through suffering,
and what I’d like to propose for
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00:18:10,100 –> 00:18:15,200
most of this morning, is that
actually within the construct of
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00:18:15,200 –> 00:18:18,000
suffering, there is a definite
progression.
242
00:18:18,600 –> 00:18:23,000
There is a process of
development that enables Us in
243
00:18:23,000 –> 00:18:26,800
suffering.
To be more like Christ that we
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00:18:26,800 –> 00:18:31,700
might Fellowship his suffering
and I’ve called it the hierarchy
245
00:18:31,700 –> 00:18:33,800
of suffering.
You might have a much better
246
00:18:33,800 –> 00:18:38,800
word than that but it’s the
reason the reasons why we are
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00:18:38,800 –> 00:18:43,400
prepared to suffer.
And those reasons I think you’ll
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00:18:43,400 –> 00:18:47,600
see can be quite different.
Quite different from each other.
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00:18:48,000 –> 00:18:51,600
And we want to see this morning
a progression in our
250
00:18:51,600 –> 00:18:56,600
understanding of why we might
suffer in Fellowship.
251
00:18:56,600 –> 00:19:00,300
The sufferings of Christ.
We’re going to start down the
252
00:19:00,300 –> 00:19:06,400
bottom with the first step on
the hierarchy suffering, without
253
00:19:06,400 –> 00:19:10,200
meaning this is where the
really, the majority of the
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00:19:10,200 –> 00:19:14,300
world. 99% of the world is in
category.
255
00:19:14,300 –> 00:19:17,900
Number one, suffering without
meaning bad things.
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00:19:17,900 –> 00:19:21,300
Happen, people get cancer,
people died, early people lose
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00:19:21,300 –> 00:19:25,200
money.
People break up terrible things
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00:19:25,200 –> 00:19:28,800
happen, terrible suffering,
people die, and War atrocities,
259
00:19:29,200 –> 00:19:35,200
All of this is happening without
any ability to find meaning as
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00:19:35,200 –> 00:19:38,700
we have said, because meaning
only comes from God.
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00:19:38,700 –> 00:19:43,600
The rest of the world is stuck
here, largely in this bottom
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00:19:43,700 –> 00:19:46,500
section suffering.
Without meaning suffering is
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00:19:46,500 –> 00:19:51,900
endured as a universal
experience, irrespective of sin
264
00:19:51,900 –> 00:19:56,900
or Merit and come to Luke
Chapter 13 because here’s an
265
00:19:56,900 –> 00:19:58,500
example of that.
We’re going to look up one
266
00:19:58,500 –> 00:20:02,100
example.
For each of these, Luke Chapter
267
00:20:02,100 –> 00:20:05,600
13 and verse 1.
They were present at that
268
00:20:05,600 –> 00:20:07,400
season.
Some that told him of the
269
00:20:07,400 –> 00:20:12,500
galileans whose blood pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices.
270
00:20:12,800 –> 00:20:16,400
That’s a nice sort of
euphemistic way to saying they
271
00:20:16,400 –> 00:20:21,700
were slaughtered And Jesus
answering said unto them,
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00:20:22,100 –> 00:20:28,700
suppose ye that, these galileans
were Sinners above all the
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00:20:28,700 –> 00:20:31,500
galileans because they suffered
these things.
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00:20:32,900 –> 00:20:40,100
Suffering happens as a universal
experience, irrespective of sin
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00:20:40,100 –> 00:20:44,000
or Merit.
We just read, Mark chapter, 5
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00:20:44,200 –> 00:20:47,000
and verse 26.
The woman with the issue of
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00:20:47,000 –> 00:20:52,600
blood suffered, many things, and
actually was slowly growing
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00:20:52,600 –> 00:20:55,000
worse.
This is the experience of our
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00:20:55,000 –> 00:21:00,300
lives really without Christ
suffering without meaning.
280
00:21:01,700 –> 00:21:08,400
But then, we come to a point
where we we are able to endure
281
00:21:08,400 –> 00:21:11,700
some suffering and we’re
prepared to suffer some things
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00:21:12,000 –> 00:21:15,000
because we accept that this can
build character.
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00:21:16,500 –> 00:21:19,800
There’s suffering with
acceptance and you might even
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00:21:19,800 –> 00:21:23,500
argue that some people in the
world are prepared to go through
285
00:21:23,600 –> 00:21:26,600
suffering because they feel that
there will be some intrinsic
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00:21:26,600 –> 00:21:29,300
good.
Even without God in their lives.
287
00:21:30,300 –> 00:21:33,500
That this this will build
character and make us a better
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00:21:33,500 –> 00:21:36,600
person.
Obviously, in Christ, we
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00:21:36,600 –> 00:21:39,900
understand it to mean that we
will build a spiritual character
290
00:21:39,900 –> 00:21:42,300
in our lives.
So, come to First of Peter in
291
00:21:42,300 –> 00:21:47,400
chapter 4, And see how this is
no longer suffering without
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00:21:47,400 –> 00:21:52,600
meaning, this is suffering with
acceptance that it might bring
293
00:21:52,600 –> 00:21:56,000
forth good in our lives, it
might build character.
294
00:21:57,800 –> 00:22:02,400
Verse 19 of first of Peter for
wherefore, let them that suffer
295
00:22:02,900 –> 00:22:07,200
according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their
296
00:22:07,200 –> 00:22:13,100
souls to him in well-doing as
unto a faithful Creator.
297
00:22:14,100 –> 00:22:18,900
Now it doesn’t say as unto a
faithful Heavenly Father it says
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00:22:18,900 –> 00:22:25,200
unto a faithful Creator because
when we suffer God is creating
299
00:22:25,200 –> 00:22:30,700
something in us and that That
thing is character the character
300
00:22:30,700 –> 00:22:35,200
of Jesus Christ and so we are
prepared to suffer some things
301
00:22:35,400 –> 00:22:39,100
because we accept that it will
build our character.
302
00:22:39,100 –> 00:22:45,000
First of Timothy 4 says we
suffer reproach because we trust
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00:22:45,000 –> 00:22:47,900
in the Living God we acknowledge
that there will be some good
304
00:22:47,900 –> 00:22:51,200
things that come out of our
suffering.
305
00:22:52,900 –> 00:22:57,400
But then we come to a point
where we are prepared to go even
306
00:22:57,400 –> 00:23:02,100
further.
We’re prepared to suffer more
307
00:23:02,100 –> 00:23:08,000
things because we identify with
Jesus Christ.
308
00:23:08,000 –> 00:23:11,400
This is suffering with
identification, we’re prepared
309
00:23:11,400 –> 00:23:15,900
to suffer more things because
it’s for his sake.
310
00:23:16,700 –> 00:23:24,200
So Philippians chapter 1 And
look what it says in verse 29 of
311
00:23:24,200 –> 00:23:28,200
Philippians chapter 1.
For unto you.
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00:23:28,200 –> 00:23:33,400
It is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on
313
00:23:33,400 –> 00:23:39,900
him but also to suffer for his
sake.
314
00:23:41,300 –> 00:23:45,900
To suffer because of him.
For his name, Acts chapter 5 and
315
00:23:45,900 –> 00:23:53,900
verse 41, says they counted it
in honor Nothing of Worth to
316
00:23:53,900 –> 00:23:58,200
suffer shame for his sake and
for his name.
317
00:23:58,400 –> 00:24:02,500
So we’re prepared to suffer more
things because we identify with
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00:24:02,500 –> 00:24:05,900
Christ, we’re no longer
suffering just abstractly
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00:24:05,900 –> 00:24:08,700
because it might be good for us.
We’re doing it because we’re
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00:24:08,700 –> 00:24:15,600
doing it with him for him, for
his sake, because we identify
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00:24:15,900 –> 00:24:25,400
with Jesus Christ. and then I
think we progress from this to
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00:24:25,600 –> 00:24:31,000
suffering with love, we’re
prepared to suffer most things
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00:24:31,900 –> 00:24:38,400
because we can see that it might
lead to the Salvation of others
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00:24:38,500 –> 00:24:41,800
rather than just having an
inward Focus, where suffering
325
00:24:41,800 –> 00:24:46,300
might give us good or because we
identify with Christ now we’re
326
00:24:46,300 –> 00:24:50,200
prepared to suffer most things
because we can see that it might
327
00:24:50,200 –> 00:24:53,600
help other people who are
motivated for something outside
328
00:24:53,600 –> 00:24:58,700
of ourselves for the Salvation
of others, come across the
329
00:24:58,700 –> 00:25:03,400
second of Corinthians and
chapter 1 in verse 6.
330
00:25:05,500 –> 00:25:12,300
Perhaps we read from verse five.
For as the sufferings of Christ
331
00:25:12,300 –> 00:25:18,000
abound in us.
So our consolation also
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00:25:18,300 –> 00:25:24,600
aboundeth by Christ and with it.
We be afflicted.
333
00:25:25,500 –> 00:25:30,300
It is for your consolation and
salvation, which is effectual in
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00:25:30,300 –> 00:25:33,800
the enduring of the same
sufferings, which we also
335
00:25:33,800 –> 00:25:37,600
suffer, or whether we be
comforted, it is for your
336
00:25:37,600 –> 00:25:43,100
consolation and salvation and
our hope of you is steadfast
337
00:25:43,100 –> 00:25:46,400
knowing that as ye are partakers
of the sufferings.
338
00:25:46,800 –> 00:25:50,800
So shall ye also be of the
consolation we’re prepared to
339
00:25:50,800 –> 00:25:55,100
suffer verse six because we can
see that it might be helping.
340
00:25:55,200 –> 00:25:59,600
Somebody else we do this out of
love for our brothers and
341
00:25:59,600 –> 00:26:04,200
sisters.
Second Timothy 2 in verses 9 and
342
00:26:04,200 –> 00:26:10,700
10 says that we endure, all
things for the elects sake,
343
00:26:10,800 –> 00:26:14,400
we’re prepared to put up with
immense suffering for each
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00:26:14,400 –> 00:26:17,300
other.
Well, that’s a another level.
345
00:26:17,300 –> 00:26:22,300
Isn’t it of our willingness to
engage in the sufferings of
346
00:26:22,300 –> 00:26:25,600
Christ?
And we do this because this is
347
00:26:25,600 –> 00:26:30,600
Christ’s example, look at
Hebrews 13 and verse 12,
348
00:26:31,300 –> 00:26:35,900
Wherefore Jesus.
Also that he might sanctify the
349
00:26:35,900 –> 00:26:40,600
people with his own blood
suffered, without the gate.
350
00:26:40,600 –> 00:26:45,900
He’s a man who was prepared to
suffer so that he could sanctify
351
00:26:46,700 –> 00:26:50,500
his Brethren.
He’s suffering out of love, he’s
352
00:26:50,500 –> 00:26:55,200
suffering because it might help
and save others.
353
00:26:56,600 –> 00:27:02,000
This is the next stage in our
understanding and progression of
354
00:27:02,000 –> 00:27:05,900
why we suffer.
So we’re prepared to suffer some
355
00:27:05,900 –> 00:27:08,800
things.
We’re prepared to suffer more
356
00:27:08,800 –> 00:27:12,400
things, we’re prepared to suffer
most things.
357
00:27:13,900 –> 00:27:18,900
What about suffering with faith?
I don’t know about you brother
358
00:27:18,900 –> 00:27:23,200
and sisters, but here’s where it
gets tough for me suffering
359
00:27:23,600 –> 00:27:31,800
wrong things because this is
Christ’s example, we appreciate
360
00:27:31,800 –> 00:27:34,600
that.
This is the ultimate example of
361
00:27:34,600 –> 00:27:38,400
Christ.
Now, I don’t know about you.
362
00:27:39,600 –> 00:27:44,500
But I’m, I’m kind of prepared to
undergo some degree of suffering
363
00:27:44,500 –> 00:27:50,300
because I can see greater good.
I’m prepared to do that for
364
00:27:50,300 –> 00:27:54,100
Christ.
I am prepared to even do some of
365
00:27:54,100 –> 00:28:00,900
those things for you. but man,
when I have to suffer something
366
00:28:00,900 –> 00:28:08,000
wrong for Christ’s sake, that’s
where it gets really tough for
367
00:28:08,000 –> 00:28:13,100
me.
When Sue’s comes and says, we
368
00:28:13,100 –> 00:28:19,200
need to talk.
And that talking really means
369
00:28:19,700 –> 00:28:23,800
you need to listen.
And that listening really means.
370
00:28:24,000 –> 00:28:27,800
He is how you’re wrong, and I
don’t agree, and I don’t think
371
00:28:27,800 –> 00:28:31,400
it’s fear.
It is extremely difficult to
372
00:28:31,400 –> 00:28:36,700
remain silent and to not justify
myself suffering.
373
00:28:36,700 –> 00:28:42,200
Wrong for Christ’s sake, is
enormously difficult and here’s
374
00:28:42,200 –> 00:28:47,500
our next level.
Are we prepared to suffer wrong?
375
00:28:47,800 –> 00:28:51,000
Because we appreciate that.
This is the ultimate example of
376
00:28:51,000 –> 00:28:55,400
Christ First Corinthians 6 is,
are you prepared to suffer
377
00:28:55,400 –> 00:29:00,300
yourself, to be defrauded?
Come to First of Peter and
378
00:29:00,300 –> 00:29:04,300
chapter 2, because we should
really read these words because
379
00:29:04,800 –> 00:29:09,800
these words are well known to
us, but bring home this message
380
00:29:09,800 –> 00:29:15,800
better than I could first of
Peter chapter. 2 and verse 19.
381
00:29:18,500 –> 00:29:24,800
For this is think worthy if a
man for conscience toward God in
382
00:29:24,800 –> 00:29:29,500
Jeweler grief.
Suffering wrongfully.
383
00:29:31,100 –> 00:29:33,900
For what glory is it?
If when you be buffered for you,
384
00:29:33,900 –> 00:29:38,100
folks, for your faults, you take
it patiently.
385
00:29:38,300 –> 00:29:44,100
But if when ye do well, And
suffer for it.
386
00:29:44,600 –> 00:29:49,500
You take it patiently.
This is acceptable with God.
387
00:29:50,000 –> 00:29:51,200
This is a higher level, isn’t
it?
388
00:29:51,208 –> 00:29:56,600
This is a harder thing to do
chapter 3 in verse 17.
389
00:29:57,900 –> 00:30:04,500
For it is better, if the will of
God be so that ye suffer for
390
00:30:04,700 –> 00:30:11,100
well.
Doing then for evil doing people
391
00:30:11,100 –> 00:30:15,200
accuse us of doing or saying
something wrong and we haven’t
392
00:30:15,200 –> 00:30:20,000
actually done that.
We are suffering for well doing,
393
00:30:20,700 –> 00:30:23,200
it’s all very well to suffer
because of our sins.
394
00:30:23,200 –> 00:30:25,400
That’s kind of like stick number
one.
395
00:30:26,200 –> 00:30:29,900
That’s what everybody does.
We all sin, we all experienced
396
00:30:29,900 –> 00:30:33,300
suffering.
It’s a universal law of
397
00:30:33,300 –> 00:30:37,900
consequences that came in in
Genesis chapter 3, But
398
00:30:37,900 –> 00:30:43,700
suffering, wrongfully.
Willingly for Christ’s sake.
399
00:30:44,200 –> 00:30:46,800
Oh, this is a lot harder.
This is a much harder cool,
400
00:30:46,800 –> 00:30:50,600
isn’t it?
That we’ve been called to Well,
401
00:30:50,600 –> 00:30:55,400
how about then?
The next step we are prepared to
402
00:30:55,400 –> 00:31:03,100
suffer the loss of all things
that we might win Christ.
403
00:31:04,200 –> 00:31:07,600
Philippians chapter 3 and our
reading tonight.
404
00:31:07,600 –> 00:31:15,100
We know these words so well.
We know the The qualifications
405
00:31:15,400 –> 00:31:20,200
of Paul has experience.
How many years?
406
00:31:20,500 –> 00:31:23,400
Did he put into University
brothers and sisters?
407
00:31:24,700 –> 00:31:29,000
How many hours did he put in
late at night?
408
00:31:29,000 –> 00:31:35,500
Studying the Scrolls How many
deprivations did Paul put up
409
00:31:35,500 –> 00:31:38,400
with to sit at the feet of
Gamaliel?
410
00:31:38,600 –> 00:31:42,200
And he’s going to tell us I’m
prepared to suffer the loss of
411
00:31:42,300 –> 00:31:45,200
all things, because that’s what
Christ did.
412
00:31:47,200 –> 00:31:48,800
This is not just suffering.
Wrongfully.
413
00:31:48,800 –> 00:31:52,400
This is suffering.
The loss of all things that we
414
00:31:52,400 –> 00:31:55,500
might win Christ, this is
suffering with hope.
415
00:31:56,300 –> 00:31:59,900
We believe that we will be likin
if we emulate him.
416
00:32:01,900 –> 00:32:07,000
And lastly we come to the last
step.
417
00:32:08,100 –> 00:32:16,000
We Rejoice to Suffolk anything
that might allow us to fill up
418
00:32:16,000 –> 00:32:18,800
our fellowship with the
sufferings of Christ.
419
00:32:19,000 –> 00:32:26,000
This is now suffering with joy
suffering with joy.
420
00:32:26,200 –> 00:32:29,600
The Fellowship of his suffering
come across if you’re in
421
00:32:29,600 –> 00:32:33,900
Philippians One page to
Colossians chapter 1 in verse
422
00:32:33,900 –> 00:32:40,100
24.
We’re of, I Paul and made a
423
00:32:40,100 –> 00:32:48,300
minister who now rejoice in my
sufferings for you and fill up
424
00:32:48,700 –> 00:32:52,300
that, which is behind of the
afflictions of Christ.
425
00:32:52,300 –> 00:32:57,900
In my flesh for his body’s sake,
which is the Ecclesia we’re of.
426
00:32:57,900 –> 00:33:01,600
I am made a minister according
to the dispensation of God,
427
00:33:01,600 –> 00:33:05,900
which is given to me for you to
fulfill the word of God.
428
00:33:06,500 –> 00:33:11,000
And the Apostle Paul.
Knew what it was like to
429
00:33:11,000 –> 00:33:16,600
rejoice.
In suffering, anything that
430
00:33:16,600 –> 00:33:21,000
might bring him closer to the
sufferings of Christ.
431
00:33:21,000 –> 00:33:24,400
That’s what he did.
Denis in Acts chapter 16 with
432
00:33:24,400 –> 00:33:31,000
Silas by his side, his feet in
the stocks beaten, nothing to be
433
00:33:31,000 –> 00:33:35,600
thankful for in this life and
they sang Praises of joy that
434
00:33:35,600 –> 00:33:39,900
rang through the prison.
His his, the objective of
435
00:33:39,900 –> 00:33:44,200
suffering to get to this point
where we’re prepared, Hard to
436
00:33:44,200 –> 00:33:50,200
reduce to Suffolk anything that
might allow us to associate and
437
00:33:50,200 –> 00:33:54,000
fill up that, which is behind of
the sufferings of Christ.
438
00:33:54,200 –> 00:33:59,000
First of Peter, 3 and verse 14
says, if ye suffer for
439
00:33:59,000 –> 00:34:04,600
righteousness sake, Happy are ye
that’s a difficult place to get
440
00:34:04,600 –> 00:34:06,100
to as an IT brothers and
sisters.
441
00:34:06,600 –> 00:34:09,600
A very difficult place to get
to, but Paul got there.
442
00:34:11,199 –> 00:34:16,000
And presumably Silas got there.
And presumably, some of the
443
00:34:16,000 –> 00:34:20,600
other Apostles got there.
And I would dare to say that
444
00:34:20,600 –> 00:34:24,100
there’s people who gave their
lives in the Inquisition
445
00:34:24,600 –> 00:34:26,500
Faithfully for Christ who got
there.
446
00:34:27,500 –> 00:34:30,100
And I would dare to say there’s
probably older brothers and
447
00:34:30,100 –> 00:34:33,500
sisters in our knowledge and
experience.
448
00:34:33,500 –> 00:34:37,100
Maybe even sitting here who have
got to that point, it’s not
449
00:34:37,100 –> 00:34:39,699
going to happen.
Probably win, we’re 17 years
450
00:34:39,699 –> 00:34:40,699
old.
Is it?
451
00:34:42,000 –> 00:34:46,900
But this is the Journey of a
lifetime up this hierarchy of
452
00:34:46,900 –> 00:34:50,199
suffering.
Now, this hierarchy is not
453
00:34:50,199 –> 00:34:53,699
perfect, you might want to
change it, you might want to
454
00:34:53,699 –> 00:34:57,200
adapt it, you might be sitting
there and thinking, I’d like to
455
00:34:57,200 –> 00:35:01,400
see one, two, and three.
And then I’d like to see faith,
456
00:35:01,400 –> 00:35:03,800
hope and love all kind of on the
same level.
457
00:35:03,800 –> 00:35:06,200
And then finally Joy at the top.
That’s okay.
458
00:35:06,500 –> 00:35:10,100
It’s really the idea.
The idea that we are growing
459
00:35:10,100 –> 00:35:13,000
upwards.
It’s the spiritual framework?
460
00:35:13,000 –> 00:35:15,800
That’s important.
It’s not a strict schedule.
461
00:35:16,700 –> 00:35:20,500
Where we graduate to the next
level, but it’s a gradual
462
00:35:20,500 –> 00:35:23,400
progression.
A gradual Improvement of thought
463
00:35:23,700 –> 00:35:28,200
of motivation in our lives.
A gentle transformation upward
464
00:35:28,600 –> 00:35:33,600
as we grow spiritually, as our
characters are molded to be more
465
00:35:33,600 –> 00:35:37,200
receptive.
To his gentle hand, we mature,
466
00:35:38,000 –> 00:35:41,500
maybe we endure suffering for
different reasons.
467
00:35:41,900 –> 00:35:46,400
As we mature, we make progress
upwards through.
468
00:35:46,500 –> 00:35:49,400
This hierarchy, maybe we’re at
different places for different
469
00:35:49,400 –> 00:35:54,300
things in our lives.
But the most important thing is
470
00:35:54,300 –> 00:35:56,400
that we are climbing towards
him.
471
00:35:57,100 –> 00:36:01,800
We Are Climbing towards the top,
we go from a miserable and
472
00:36:01,800 –> 00:36:07,100
reluctant acceptance.
That maybe there might be some
473
00:36:07,100 –> 00:36:12,000
character development possible,
and trial to a joyous Freedom,
474
00:36:12,300 –> 00:36:17,500
that enables us to suffer.
What either our heavenly father
475
00:36:17,500 –> 00:36:22,300
and his wisdom thinks is
necessary that we can Fellowship
476
00:36:22,300 –> 00:36:26,600
Shear in the experiences of
Christ and be like him, the man
477
00:36:26,600 –> 00:36:28,700
intimately acquainted with
suffering.
478
00:36:28,700 –> 00:36:31,300
You think what a privilege it
is, brother and sisters.
479
00:36:32,300 –> 00:36:35,600
That we’ve been called to be
like him.
480
00:36:38,800 –> 00:36:43,300
To be like him.
How are we going to go from
481
00:36:43,300 –> 00:36:48,000
being like a selves?
And I won’t describe myself
482
00:36:48,000 –> 00:36:52,100
because you know all too well
what I’m like to that.
483
00:36:52,500 –> 00:36:54,500
How are we going to go from here
to there?
484
00:36:55,100 –> 00:37:00,400
There’s only one way by pressure
by suffering by conforming us to
485
00:37:00,400 –> 00:37:04,400
His Image.
So again, this is not a perfect
486
00:37:04,400 –> 00:37:07,900
diagram but hopefully it’s a
helpful one as we sort of try
487
00:37:07,900 –> 00:37:12,400
and appreciate our journey and
look where it ends what an end
488
00:37:12,400 –> 00:37:15,400
point for suffering.
Who would have put Joy?
489
00:37:16,600 –> 00:37:20,900
As the in point for suffering,
that’s what James chapter, 1 and
490
00:37:20,900 –> 00:37:26,900
verse 2 says count it all joy
when you fall into divers
491
00:37:27,100 –> 00:37:31,400
Temptations.
It’s an incredible point to get
492
00:37:31,400 –> 00:37:35,200
to in our lives and as we’ve
said absolutely impossible
493
00:37:36,000 –> 00:37:40,500
without God but this is where
our Lord got to.
494
00:37:41,500 –> 00:37:49,000
Remember these words for the joy
set before him and when we are
495
00:37:49,000 –> 00:37:54,200
able to endure suffering or we
might say chastening which would
496
00:37:54,200 –> 00:37:58,400
probably be a better word and
when we’re able to endure it for
497
00:37:58,400 –> 00:38:04,500
more and more mature reasons,
this is what Paul calls sharing
498
00:38:04,500 –> 00:38:08,900
the fellowship of his suffering.
It’s suffering for the right
499
00:38:08,900 –> 00:38:14,400
reasons, it’s suffering for his
reasons with him.
500
00:38:16,300 –> 00:38:20,200
The aim is gettin to Joy in
suffering.
501
00:38:20,300 –> 00:38:24,600
Do you know?
This is what Moses said, Way Way
502
00:38:24,600 –> 00:38:28,700
Back In.
Psalm 90 verse 15.
503
00:38:29,300 –> 00:38:34,600
Make us glad according to the
days, wherein thou Hast
504
00:38:34,600 –> 00:38:40,100
Afflicted Us in the Years, we’re
in, we have seen evil, make us
505
00:38:40,100 –> 00:38:42,500
glad.
There’s the incredible
506
00:38:42,500 –> 00:38:46,500
perspective of a man who
understood this word, and You
507
00:38:46,500 –> 00:38:50,500
know, we say, Jeremiah suffered
anti did and many of the
508
00:38:50,500 –> 00:38:54,900
prophets suffered that can you
imagine leading 2 million, 2
509
00:38:54,900 –> 00:38:58,700
million miserable whinging,
Israelites through the
510
00:38:58,700 –> 00:39:03,500
Wilderness for 40 years in this
man, suffered enormous things as
511
00:39:03,500 –> 00:39:06,200
well.
And he said, make us glad
512
00:39:06,800 –> 00:39:11,000
according to the days, wherein
thou Hast Afflicted us.
513
00:39:11,800 –> 00:39:16,400
What an incredible perspective.
We’re aiming for joy in our
514
00:39:16,400 –> 00:39:20,600
sufferings So how can we reach
Joy?
515
00:39:21,300 –> 00:39:26,000
Well, as we conclude our study
of Lamentations in the meaning
516
00:39:26,600 –> 00:39:31,900
of suffering, it’s really for
three reasons in the first one
517
00:39:31,900 –> 00:39:35,900
is that suffering is for our
ultimate good.
518
00:39:38,000 –> 00:39:40,700
Now we all know that suffering
doesn’t feel good.
519
00:39:41,800 –> 00:39:49,300
Suffering never feels good.
That feelings are not facts and
520
00:39:49,300 –> 00:39:53,900
the facts are that actually
suffering is for our good.
521
00:39:54,600 –> 00:39:57,000
Look what Joseph says in Genesis
50.
522
00:39:57,000 –> 00:40:02,800
But as for you ye thought evil
against me but God meant it unto
523
00:40:03,000 –> 00:40:08,900
good to bring to pass as it is
this day to save much people
524
00:40:08,900 –> 00:40:13,300
alive couldn’t almost get a
better description of the
525
00:40:13,300 –> 00:40:17,100
atonement in the Book of
Genesis, then that little phrase
526
00:40:19,100 –> 00:40:24,400
This whole thing is meant for
our good to save us alive and
527
00:40:24,400 –> 00:40:29,300
everything that looked evil was
actually for a good order on me,
528
00:40:29,300 –> 00:40:32,100
eight, who fed them with Manna
in the wilderness that he might
529
00:40:32,100 –> 00:40:36,600
humble thee improve the and do
the good in thy latter, end?
530
00:40:37,100 –> 00:40:40,700
Some 119.
It is good for me that I’ve been
531
00:40:40,700 –> 00:40:43,500
Afflicted.
Good for me, that I have been
532
00:40:43,500 –> 00:40:47,800
Afflicted that I might learn thy
statutes or Romans 8, we know
533
00:40:47,800 –> 00:40:51,800
that all things work.
Give it for good, for those that
534
00:40:51,800 –> 00:40:54,800
love God.
And the greatest example of this
535
00:40:54,800 –> 00:40:56,500
has to be the crucifixion, does
it?
536
00:40:56,500 –> 00:41:01,700
Not I mean, when we look at the
crucifixion it’s so wrong.
537
00:41:02,100 –> 00:41:06,800
And so evil that that happened
to a perfect lovely man, but out
538
00:41:06,800 –> 00:41:15,000
of the greatest evil, And the
cruelest suffering Kane, the
539
00:41:15,000 –> 00:41:19,800
greatest good.
Suffering is for our good.
540
00:41:20,300 –> 00:41:25,600
There is more cause for joy in
our suffering Beyond just
541
00:41:25,600 –> 00:41:29,400
goodness though.
And that’s because suffering,
542
00:41:29,400 –> 00:41:32,000
ultimately will bring us to
perfection.
543
00:41:33,200 –> 00:41:38,000
Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 10
for it, became him for whom are
544
00:41:38,000 –> 00:41:41,000
all things and by whom are all
things in bringing many sons to
545
00:41:41,000 –> 00:41:43,700
glory to make the captain of
their salvation.
546
00:41:44,200 –> 00:41:49,700
Perfect through sufferings.
And it’s not just Christ, it’s
547
00:41:49,700 –> 00:41:54,100
ourselves sees Peter, but the
God of all Grace who is cooled
548
00:41:54,100 –> 00:41:56,200
us unto his Heavenly Glory by
Christ?
549
00:41:56,200 –> 00:41:58,400
Jesus.
After that, you have suffered a
550
00:41:58,400 –> 00:42:04,700
while make you perfect stablish.
Drinks and see to you.
551
00:42:04,800 –> 00:42:10,300
This is our hope suffering is
not just to ultimately realize
552
00:42:10,300 –> 00:42:14,400
good.
But to ultimately realize
553
00:42:14,400 –> 00:42:22,400
perfection.
In Christ, and in US.
554
00:42:23,800 –> 00:42:30,800
And yet, I think you would agree
that even this has a tinge of
555
00:42:30,800 –> 00:42:33,500
selfishness.
It’s our good.
556
00:42:34,900 –> 00:42:41,600
It could be we us seeking after
our Perfection that the ultimate
557
00:42:41,600 –> 00:42:46,400
purpose of suffering is for our
changed lives to Bear, testimony
558
00:42:46,400 –> 00:42:51,900
to something, not of ourselves,
but of God and the clue as to
559
00:42:51,900 –> 00:42:57,300
what that is is right here.
And these two quotations on
560
00:42:57,600 –> 00:43:04,700
suffering, perfecting us.
Because the ultimate good is
561
00:43:04,700 –> 00:43:10,700
really hidden in those two
verses, its the glory of
562
00:43:10,700 –> 00:43:16,700
suffering suffering is to bring
us to a point where we reflect
563
00:43:16,700 –> 00:43:22,600
God’s glory and his character as
we saw last night with a brother
564
00:43:22,600 –> 00:43:27,900
Ben.
Actually, the true in point of
565
00:43:27,900 –> 00:43:33,000
suffering is the Declaration of
God’s glory in US.
566
00:43:34,500 –> 00:43:37,300
This is the purpose in our
lives.
567
00:43:38,400 –> 00:43:40,800
I’d like you to come back to
Luke chapter 15.
568
00:43:42,100 –> 00:43:46,500
Because as we close this morning
with just a couple of
569
00:43:46,500 –> 00:43:50,300
references, I’d like to draw
your attention to the story of
570
00:43:50,300 –> 00:43:54,400
the prodigal son because
epitomized in the story of the
571
00:43:54,400 –> 00:43:57,900
prodigal.
Son, is the lesson of suffering.
572
00:43:57,900 –> 00:44:01,500
The change, the change from
Lamentations 1 and 2 to
573
00:44:01,500 –> 00:44:07,700
Lamentations 4 & 5.
Now, we know we know the story
574
00:44:07,700 –> 00:44:11,500
but embedded in, this story is a
key for our lives and it’s the
575
00:44:11,500 –> 00:44:15,000
proof that suffering makes a
difference.
576
00:44:16,000 –> 00:44:22,100
Suffering, makes a difference,
Luke chapter, 15, and verse 12.
577
00:44:27,900 –> 00:44:32,500
Reading from verse 11, he said a
certain man had two sons and the
578
00:44:32,500 –> 00:44:34,500
younger of them said unto his
father.
579
00:44:34,500 –> 00:44:38,400
Father, you might want to put a
circle around these words.
580
00:44:38,800 –> 00:44:45,300
Give me give me the portion of
goods that falleth to me and he
581
00:44:45,308 –> 00:44:47,300
divided unto him as living and
he went out.
582
00:44:47,300 –> 00:44:53,200
And he spent everything rapidly
and foolishly on himself when he
583
00:44:53,207 –> 00:44:57,500
had spent all there arose, a
mighty foe.
584
00:44:57,700 –> 00:45:02,300
Famine in the land and he began
to be in want and he went and
585
00:45:02,300 –> 00:45:05,500
joined himself to a citizen of
that country and he sends him
586
00:45:05,500 –> 00:45:08,100
into the fields to feed swine
and he would have eaten has
587
00:45:08,400 –> 00:45:12,100
eaten his fill with the with the
husks that the swine did eat and
588
00:45:12,100 –> 00:45:18,900
no man gave unto him verse 17.
But when he came to himself, He
589
00:45:18,900 –> 00:45:22,100
said.
How many hired Servants of my
590
00:45:22,100 –> 00:45:25,600
father’s have bread enough, and
to spare, and I perish with
591
00:45:25,600 –> 00:45:27,900
Hunger.
I will arise and go to my father
592
00:45:27,900 –> 00:45:31,300
and said to him, father, I have
sinned against heaven and before
593
00:45:31,300 –> 00:45:34,600
thee, and am no more worthy to
be called thy son.
594
00:45:36,400 –> 00:45:41,800
Make me as one of the hired
servants and you might like to
595
00:45:41,800 –> 00:45:48,300
put a circle around those words
make me, this is the story of
596
00:45:48,300 –> 00:45:51,500
The Prodigal Son.
The purpose of suffering is to
597
00:45:51,500 –> 00:45:56,000
make us come to ourselves to
realize the wonderful character
598
00:45:56,000 –> 00:45:59,200
of our father and to throw
ourselves on his mercy.
599
00:45:59,400 –> 00:46:09,700
And we go from, give me to make
me and suffering is the
600
00:46:09,700 –> 00:46:12,200
difference.
It takes us from focusing on our
601
00:46:12,200 –> 00:46:22,300
self to focusing on God.
And we see in our prayers that
602
00:46:22,300 –> 00:46:28,200
our prayers go from Comfort, be.
Two.
603
00:46:29,500 –> 00:46:34,100
Conform me.
It’s no longer give me.
604
00:46:34,700 –> 00:46:37,900
It’s make me.
This is spiritual maturity.
605
00:46:37,900 –> 00:46:41,400
This is the difference between
Lamentations one and
606
00:46:41,400 –> 00:46:45,600
Lamentations five.
God’s glory can be seen brothers
607
00:46:45,600 –> 00:46:48,800
and sisters in transformed
lives.
608
00:46:50,600 –> 00:46:54,400
It’s not just seen in people who
suffer button, people who suffer
609
00:46:54,400 –> 00:46:58,800
with the right attitude for the
right reasons, people who
610
00:46:58,800 –> 00:47:02,900
understand the purpose of
suffering, and the ultimate end
611
00:47:03,000 –> 00:47:09,200
immortality.
And more more than just that a
612
00:47:09,200 –> 00:47:14,900
fellowship with Christ Family
likeness with him, We’re All
613
00:47:14,900 –> 00:47:19,000
God’s Children.
He and US conformed to His
614
00:47:19,000 –> 00:47:21,300
Image.
Come a few will to Romans
615
00:47:21,300 –> 00:47:25,000
chapter 8 in conclusion of our
studies together this week.
616
00:47:27,600 –> 00:47:33,200
These well-known words.
Verse 17.
617
00:47:34,800 –> 00:47:39,000
Or reading from verse 16, the
spirit itself, beareth witness,
618
00:47:39,000 –> 00:47:47,700
with our spirit that we are the
children of God. and if
619
00:47:47,700 –> 00:47:56,700
children, Then ears is of God
and Joint heirs with Christ.
620
00:47:56,900 –> 00:48:00,400
Why are we joint is with him?
Because we have been joined
621
00:48:00,400 –> 00:48:04,600
together in fellowship with him
by our sufferings.
622
00:48:06,100 –> 00:48:08,900
Joint is with Christ.
If so be that.
623
00:48:08,900 –> 00:48:16,000
We suffer with him, that we may
also be glorified together for.
624
00:48:16,000 –> 00:48:20,100
I reckon that the sufferings of,
this present time are not worthy
625
00:48:20,800 –> 00:48:27,200
to be compared with the glory,
which shall be revealed in US.
626
00:48:29,500 –> 00:48:32,000
This is all about developing a
family likeness.
627
00:48:32,200 –> 00:48:35,200
We are children.
We are Sons.
628
00:48:35,300 –> 00:48:42,600
We are joint ears but only if we
suffer with him, our sufferings
629
00:48:42,600 –> 00:48:46,100
are not worthy to be compared
with what God has promised to
630
00:48:46,100 –> 00:48:48,400
give Christ.
And if we are prepared to
631
00:48:48,400 –> 00:48:51,700
Fellowship, his sufferings, and
fill up the sufferings of his
632
00:48:51,700 –> 00:48:56,500
body behind, then we are in him,
and we will inherit all things
633
00:48:56,700 –> 00:49:03,600
and her brother, Harry tenant
said, The Best Is Yet To Come.
634
00:49:04,700 –> 00:49:06,900
It’s all going to be worth it.
Brothers and sisters.
635
00:49:07,600 –> 00:49:14,200
It is all going to be worth it.
Some of you may have had The
636
00:49:14,200 –> 00:49:18,500
experience of watching your
wife, give birth.
637
00:49:20,500 –> 00:49:26,600
And all of the pain disappears
in just minutes.
638
00:49:27,600 –> 00:49:31,800
And I asked her after, the last
time, ten minutes after she gave
639
00:49:31,800 –> 00:49:34,500
birth, we’re ten minutes
earlier.
640
00:49:34,500 –> 00:49:36,600
She was saying something quite
different.
641
00:49:37,600 –> 00:49:43,000
Would you do it again?
And she said in a heartbeat, In
642
00:49:43,000 –> 00:49:47,200
a heartbeat, all the pain and
the suffering dissolves in a
643
00:49:47,200 –> 00:49:50,600
moment of time with the joy of
that child.
644
00:49:51,400 –> 00:49:53,200
This is what it’s going to be
like, brothers and sisters,
645
00:49:53,200 –> 00:49:58,100
which of us having experienced,
only 10 minutes of immortality,
646
00:49:58,900 –> 00:50:02,500
10 minutes of immortality will
not say, I’d do it all again.
647
00:50:03,400 –> 00:50:05,800
In fact, I’d put up with a lot
more.
648
00:50:07,300 –> 00:50:11,300
To be here right now. 10 minutes
into eternal life.
649
00:50:11,300 –> 00:50:13,300
This is our hope brothers and
sisters.
650
00:50:13,800 –> 00:50:18,600
This is our goal.
This book can be at inspiration.
651
00:50:20,100 –> 00:50:26,400
Let’s pray that his glory might
be seen in all of us revealed in
652
00:50:26,400 –> 00:50:30,900
US perfected by suffering.
And that the Timeless message of
653
00:50:30,908 –> 00:50:34,400
Lamentations for us, might not
have been in vain.
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