Sufferings For Christ
We are learning about individual worship. This does not mean we should neglect corporate worship.
The practical ways of individual worship we have learnt so far is :
There are two kinds of suffering mentioned here.
In connection with personal worship, we are blessed when we suffer for Christ. This normally happens when only one person in the family accepts Jesus. Our family, neighbours, friends, religious people might insult us because of the name of Jesus. But the Word of God says we are blessed when that happens for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us.
Ephesians 4.30 says “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and no one can break it as God has given Him to us to be us forever. When the Holy Spirit dwells with us, we are sealed eternally. This seal says that each one of us who is sealed, is the property of Jesus as He shed His blood to redeem it. The seal testifies that we are ‘children of God” and it blesses us.
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
Christians are persecuted by family and others for the name of Jesus. But we can also suffer when we tend to meddle into other people’s lives. This can affect the church also. We are expected to be the salt of the earth and be those who encourage and build up others. But when problems arise between believers because of negative talk etc, it affects worship.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
This tends to become a worship to God. When Jesus became the sacrificial lamb on the cross instead of the animals that the Jews were sacrificing till then, He had to go through suffering for us. This was an act of worship glorifying God. It is the same when we suffer for the name of Christ.
When we misuse money and tend to suffer the consequences, it is not suffering for Christ. It is our mismanagement of funds that resulted in the loss. But when we suffer as a follower of Christ, we do not have to be ashamed.
In Acts 16, before Paul and Silas were imprisoned in jail in Philippi they had delivered a demon possessed girl. They suffered for Christ in jail but they turned worry into worship by praising God which broke the prison chains.
We too need to convert all our worries into worship.
Secondly, they turned the prison chamber into a praise/ worship chamber.
Thirdly, they turned the chains on their hands into cymbals to make music to the Lord.
When they did this, they and all other prisoners were set free.
The practical ways of individual worship we have learnt so far is :
- Whisper praises to God whenever possible
- Observe nature and glorify God.
- Play worship songs and sing along
- Offer our bodies as living sacrifices
- Lead a holy life and worship God
- Making extraordinary sacrifice to the Lord
- Sufferings for Christ
There are two kinds of suffering mentioned here.
- suffering because of the name of Christ
- suffering because of our own sin/ fault
In connection with personal worship, we are blessed when we suffer for Christ. This normally happens when only one person in the family accepts Jesus. Our family, neighbours, friends, religious people might insult us because of the name of Jesus. But the Word of God says we are blessed when that happens for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us.
Ephesians 4.30 says “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and no one can break it as God has given Him to us to be us forever. When the Holy Spirit dwells with us, we are sealed eternally. This seal says that each one of us who is sealed, is the property of Jesus as He shed His blood to redeem it. The seal testifies that we are ‘children of God” and it blesses us.
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
Christians are persecuted by family and others for the name of Jesus. But we can also suffer when we tend to meddle into other people’s lives. This can affect the church also. We are expected to be the salt of the earth and be those who encourage and build up others. But when problems arise between believers because of negative talk etc, it affects worship.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
This tends to become a worship to God. When Jesus became the sacrificial lamb on the cross instead of the animals that the Jews were sacrificing till then, He had to go through suffering for us. This was an act of worship glorifying God. It is the same when we suffer for the name of Christ.
When we misuse money and tend to suffer the consequences, it is not suffering for Christ. It is our mismanagement of funds that resulted in the loss. But when we suffer as a follower of Christ, we do not have to be ashamed.
In Acts 16, before Paul and Silas were imprisoned in jail in Philippi they had delivered a demon possessed girl. They suffered for Christ in jail but they turned worry into worship by praising God which broke the prison chains.
We too need to convert all our worries into worship.
Secondly, they turned the prison chamber into a praise/ worship chamber.
Thirdly, they turned the chains on their hands into cymbals to make music to the Lord.
When they did this, they and all other prisoners were set free.
Watch the full video here:
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