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Whenever I see someone doing something fun or exciting, or I myself am doing something exciting, I think about the phrase “suffering for Jesus”

I’ve been blessed enough to be able to see and do and experience some phenomenal stuff since I’ve been a Christian. But the truth is- I’m called- you’re called to suffer for Jesus

Sure, sometimes its not that much of a suffer- but the truth remains- its part of who we are

Phil 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Title- The Suffer is Real

• Grace

• 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ
• “been granted”- now some of you Calvinist people will rejoice at me saying this- our faith is granted to us- it is given to us by God based on this verse-
• God gave us belief on behalf of Christ, and it was not of our own doing- it was given to us
• I think some people don’t understand grace- but its central to our faith
• The best grace verse is Eph 2:8-9For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast
• Grace is God’s unmerited favor- it’s the gift he gives us that we don’t earn- we didn’t do anything to earn this gift- it was given to us by God- our belief in him- praise God that he has given this to us
• The belief in Christ isn’t a ‘not only’ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
• This is why when I preach, I preach an all or nothing consuming exsistence- if I didn’t tell you about the difficult parts of being a Christian and just the good I feel like I’d be lying
• when Christ saved you, and set you free, he chose you- not just to be saved, but also to suffer for him- part of being a Christian is that you are going to experience some suffering
• Did you catch that? Christ chose you to save you, not just so you would believe in him, but so you could suffer for his sake

• Praise the Lord! (some of you just asked what you signed up for)
• If you’re not 100% youll fail
• Equally- this belief in Christ, and the sharing in sufferings is given to us- we didn’t earn it
• But is on ‘behalf of Christ’

• This is an charge that I am constantly drilling down on- the full submission to the will of God in our lives If you’re not in 100% you’re going to fail
• Clarke- it is no small privilege that God has so far honored you as to permit you to suffer on Christ’s account. It is only his most faithful servants that he thus honors. Be not therefore terrified by your enemies; they can do nothing to you which God will not turn to your eternal advantage
• Suffering is part of the plan

• Many a christian is concerned with trying to insulate their lives from every last bit of pain or misery
• Tithe to rebuke the devourer, serve to earn jewels in our crown, be good so we wont go to Hell
• There’s still this idea deep down in your mind that somehow if you just live your life right you wont ever have anything bad happen to you
• Jonathan Wilder taught me something- Not why do bad things happen to good people. Why doesn’t anything good happen when we’re all bad?
• The bible says in Rom 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short
• We all need a savior- we all need someone to save us from ourselves- we can’t do it
• Its like this- I got stuck on big thunder mountain one time at D land- the dude had to come by with the special key to get us off the ride
• I could have stayed there a really long time- but I couldn’t free myself- I needed the dude with the key
• I couldn’t save myself
• So now- I’m saved, I’m sanctified, I’m filled with the Holy Ghost. I’m the head. I’m not the tail.
• But still- Christ says- “suffer”
• The God of the Universe allows suffering upon his children as they live on this earth
• This is why I preach what I preach the way that I preach it- There is no getting around a Christian suffering
• I am not going to try to sign you up to come follow Jesus and tell you its all going to be roses
• Here’s a good thing though- you’re going to suffer in this life either way- I’d take it with Jesus

• Why does God allow suffering?
• I don’t know- I really don’t know why he allows what he can stop. God could make this a utopia if he wanted to- totally and completely perfect- the truth is- he did- and then we messed it up
• The truth is he has found it well to allow it in our lives
• 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

• We shouldn’t be surprised when horrible stuff happens to us- Talk to anyone who’s been to war- the commander says- We will lose people- people die in war- that’s what happens
• People go through stuff- that’s what makes life life. Sitting at home in your insulated house doesn’t produce much of a life
• I know someone who never leaves the house- never goes anywhere- has no friends. No hobbies no life. When you talk to them- there’s nothing there- life is found in our suffering

• Identify with Christ suffering to pay for our sin
• Luke 24:46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day
• Christ suffered for our sins to be paid- when we suffer we are reminded of that fact-
• Prepare me for eternity
• 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
• When I’m refined in the fire of suffering, God prepares me for the future of his Glory and things that are to come
• Learn more about God’s word

• Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
• When you’re going through things- you are very attuned to what the HS and God’s word has for you-
• I’ve learned more about the word through my affliction than through my victories
• Share with Christ in suffering
• Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

• Grow spiritually Learn to endure Empowered to help others
• Enjoy life more- People in Hawaii still have problems

• What do we do when we are suffering?
• Realize it isn’t going to destroy you

• 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
• I have seen people go through divorce, death, destruction, job loss, money loss, cancer, sickness and come out on the other side
• I saw a guy when he found out he lost 100k.
• Count it all joy

• James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience
• Friend who had the cave in- “its awesome” when we were down 100k “its only 100K”
• Rejoice in growth

• Rom 5:3-4And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
• Watching Kathryn live with Cancer and kids- she’s a woman of Character- you can see it
• Lean on Jesus

• Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
• People often marvel at my wife’s passion for Jesus- Its because she’s been through it and leaned on him! We’re not the complaining type- but my wife knows Jesus because She’s leaned on him<

• Rejoice that you’re with Christ!

• 1 Peter 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
• Pauls says that we should be honored that we partake in Christs sufferings. What a honor that God chooses us to be a part of his plan
• You’re like- no thanks- well=- that’s not the way that God sees it- he sees it as a you are a living example to the world when you’re suffering
• The world is watching you go through your conflict folks- They are taking notes-
• Decide to be a person that wont be broken by calamity but rejoices that you’re in Christ!
• Live in the conflict

• 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
• My wife and I constantly talk about the Bible and the things of God- the other day we were talking and realized- the reason we struggle so much on this earth is because we know the truth
• If we didn’t know the truth- it would be a whole lot easier to live here- there would be no conflict
• See pauls conflict was clear- Phil 1:23 23 For[c]I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
• This conflict of wanting to die and be with Jesus but having a desire to be in the world to do work for the father
• Its never going to go away

• Self induced sufferings

• There’s a part of suffering that I want to include here- and it’s the self induced type
• Its difficult to be an outspoken Christian in this day and age-
• The funny part is that the people I get the most push back from about being outspoken is other Christians
• I don’t hide or deny the fact that I am follower of Jesus Christ- I share that with as many people as possible
• I think in this day it is more important than ever to speak the words of the Gospel to dying world
• I heard an interesting statistic this week- since 1955 90% of Christians never tell a single person their testimony. Are you in that group?
• I think people don’t share their life in Christ because they don’t want the scorn of their friends.
• There is a story of some apostles in Acts 5 where they are told by some rulers to cease from speaking the Gospel- That they should quit preaching the name of Jesus
• The apostles refused- it says in

• Acts 5:40-42And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His[d] name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
• County worthy to suffer shame for His name
• IF you suffer because of what you say or do and its in the name of Christ- don’t give up
• Please don’t give up- the world needs you- it needs your message
• Suffering for Jesus is the only way to go!