Let's Suffer For The King!
God’s word, the Bible, tells us in Romans 8:17 that we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him. It is through suffering that we are granted our adoption into the family of God. However this could almost sound likes a works based righteousness if we are not careful. So I would like to explain the scriptures as I understand them, and why this is not a works based righteousness, but rather faith based. So that we can understand what this requirement of suffering really means. First let us hear what the apostle Paul has to say of this suffering.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:18-27
Paul says this suffering is nothing compared to the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Even if we hope for a glory we can not see or yet comprehend. We hope and wait in patience for the revealing of this glory. The Spirit helping us in our weakness as we wait for it. We struggle hoping for this, and longing for it, even though we are not sure exactly what it means or how it is to be revealed. That is why the Spirit intercedes for us with these deep groanings, because we don’t even know how or what to pray. We were saved in this hope, and we long for it, crying out for it. All of creation cries out for it.
This crying out for the glory to be revealed, all the while denying ourselves and fleshly desires, and this seeking after the promise of God to know him more fully, this is the suffering we must partake of. Repentance from our sin and the desire to sin is suffering. Repentance means even though it feels good to my flesh I will suffer my flesh to die, in hopes of the glory yet to come. This suffering is not a work that gains us righteousness, but it is because of repentance. Repentance is not easy, it is hard, and you and I will “suffer” as we walk in repentance. Repentance might mean we lose old friends as they choose to continue in a path of sin that we can not join them in. And losing those old friends might hurt, but I consider losing them as nothing compared with the glory that is to be revealed.
Maybe for you this suffering means letting go of old habits or activities such as drinking, or sexual promiscuity. Maybe it means you have to quit reading your horoscope, and calling the psychic hotline. Maybe it means that you have to go fishing (or some other hobby) a little less, and spend a little more time reading the bible, or praying, or ministering at your church. In our modern western culture we want to say that we can do all things and bring glory to God through all things, but isn’t this really just a way to satisfy the desires of our flesh all the while pretending that it is Godly.
Let’s be honest with ourselves and God right here and right now. Do you read your Bible every single day with out fail? Do you pray for your church, your pastor, your family, missionaries, etc. every single day without fail? Do you actively minister in your church by teaching Sunday School or Children’s Church, do you attend the prayer meetings, do you attend the worship services, do you tithe, do you go beyond tithing and make offerings? Are you really suffering by leading a life of self denial and repentance, or are you and I just saying we are suffering, and yet really just living our lives and “playing” church? The Christian life is not an easy life, and it involves suffering. David Aderholt recently wrote the following: “Stop Christianizing the American dream! This is not about you. You are called out and separated to do the will of God! Not your will, God’s will. I hear testimonies all the time and they are almost invariably about how God gave them some part of the American dream. It is all too often about their wants and their desires . . . all to seldom about God’s wishes and desires. This is about the King, the Kingdom, the wants of Heaven, the Pleasures of the King, and my small role in the whole affair.” I would like to add, let’s suffer for the King!
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:18-27
Paul says this suffering is nothing compared to the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Even if we hope for a glory we can not see or yet comprehend. We hope and wait in patience for the revealing of this glory. The Spirit helping us in our weakness as we wait for it. We struggle hoping for this, and longing for it, even though we are not sure exactly what it means or how it is to be revealed. That is why the Spirit intercedes for us with these deep groanings, because we don’t even know how or what to pray. We were saved in this hope, and we long for it, crying out for it. All of creation cries out for it.
This crying out for the glory to be revealed, all the while denying ourselves and fleshly desires, and this seeking after the promise of God to know him more fully, this is the suffering we must partake of. Repentance from our sin and the desire to sin is suffering. Repentance means even though it feels good to my flesh I will suffer my flesh to die, in hopes of the glory yet to come. This suffering is not a work that gains us righteousness, but it is because of repentance. Repentance is not easy, it is hard, and you and I will “suffer” as we walk in repentance. Repentance might mean we lose old friends as they choose to continue in a path of sin that we can not join them in. And losing those old friends might hurt, but I consider losing them as nothing compared with the glory that is to be revealed.
Maybe for you this suffering means letting go of old habits or activities such as drinking, or sexual promiscuity. Maybe it means you have to quit reading your horoscope, and calling the psychic hotline. Maybe it means that you have to go fishing (or some other hobby) a little less, and spend a little more time reading the bible, or praying, or ministering at your church. In our modern western culture we want to say that we can do all things and bring glory to God through all things, but isn’t this really just a way to satisfy the desires of our flesh all the while pretending that it is Godly.
Let’s be honest with ourselves and God right here and right now. Do you read your Bible every single day with out fail? Do you pray for your church, your pastor, your family, missionaries, etc. every single day without fail? Do you actively minister in your church by teaching Sunday School or Children’s Church, do you attend the prayer meetings, do you attend the worship services, do you tithe, do you go beyond tithing and make offerings? Are you really suffering by leading a life of self denial and repentance, or are you and I just saying we are suffering, and yet really just living our lives and “playing” church? The Christian life is not an easy life, and it involves suffering. David Aderholt recently wrote the following: “Stop Christianizing the American dream! This is not about you. You are called out and separated to do the will of God! Not your will, God’s will. I hear testimonies all the time and they are almost invariably about how God gave them some part of the American dream. It is all too often about their wants and their desires . . . all to seldom about God’s wishes and desires. This is about the King, the Kingdom, the wants of Heaven, the Pleasures of the King, and my small role in the whole affair.” I would like to add, let’s suffer for the King!
posted by Pastor Jerry at
7:56 AM
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