June 8, 2024
Wednesday, 5.30-7.30 am
Message
Heb 2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Many ask “Why there is suffering in Christian life? Jesus has done everything on the cross. He defeated satan. Why all the blessings do not flow automatically in our lives?.
Sufferings have to occur in Christian life because it is the test to prove one’s worth. Just like a student appears for the examinations after undergoing a long term of studies, say six months or one year, before promotion, a believer has to appear for an examination. Sufferings are nothing but tests before a promotion.
Bible says Jesus had to undergo suffering before he was proved perfect. And also it was fitting for God to make Jesus perfect because He was destined to bring many sons to glory.
Each one of us has a destiny book. In that the names of all those who should be brought to salvation through you are written. It is the responsibility of heaven to bring you in contact with all those persons at some stage of your life.
Let’s understand it through an example. When you (A) come across person (B) who is under the influence of satan, the world or of flesh (The 3 enemies of a believer), even though you may not attach any importance to such a casual new contact, the light of Jesus Christ in a believer, will bring the dark side of that person to exposure .
Wheter it is flesh, satan or the world, these enemies will start fighting with you since the enemy is holding that person in captivity. A real warfare will take place between you two. (A & B) Both of you may not be aware of what is happening in the spiritual realm. You (A) will wonder why I am undergoing such troubles after this person entered into my life. Person B will be used as a puppet in the hands of the enemy to fight with you. This war will be monitored and directed by heaven, will take its course and you will come out as the winner. The only things you (A) have to do is
2Ch 20:17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”
- Stand firm. (Don’t run away from the battlefield)
- Hold your position (Don’t quit)
- Do not be afraid
- Do not be dismayed
- Go out against them ( the enemy). Sometimes it might be one, other times two. IN Jehoshaphat’s case there were three.
In Old Testament the battles were physically fought with physical weapons. In New Testament, we need not physically fight. Jesus has won victory for us. We have to stand along with Him claiming the victory He brought on the cross.
In this Jesus made us equal with Him. Just like the elder brother pays back a loan or debt for his younger brother, Jesus has paid back, all our debts, sanctified us and made us worthy to own the victory He secured on the cross. It is a victory over every ruler and Government on this earth and the above.
Heb 2:11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Php 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.
Here suffering is nothing but the test you undergo before a promotion.
2Co 13:5-7 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
After every test, the result will be published. Some tests will be sudden just like Peter’s.
Mat 16:15-17 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
It was a sudden unplanned oral test.
Why only Simon Peter answered the question?.
Out of the 12, only he replied. Heaven put the right words in his mouth. Since Peter’s destiny was to lead the Apostles, heaven was monitoring Peter to make the right confession which was needed for heaven to grant him the right title. In the previous verses just above this, (Mat 16:5-12) while Jesus warned them about the traditionalism of their religious leaders, they didn’t understand at all and were talking about their next meals. But all of a sudden Peter comes out with a high level revelation!
The enemy made a note of it and decided to turn Peter against Jesus. He even won in his scheme. He made Peter deny Jesus in front of the Jewish authorities and the public with the same mouth with which he confessed Jesus “Christ, Son of the living God”
God the Father had revealed this to Jesus earlier in a vision after which Jesus cautioned Peter about it. But the flesh in Peter was so indisciplined and powerful that he could not accept it.
But Jesus knew that Peter will repent and take up the leadership which heaven had granted to him in his destiny book.
Jesus did the 5 things in the face of this strong trial.
1. He stood firm in His decision to make Peter the head of Apostles. (John 21:15-19)
2. Held His position of being the Saviour of humanity and the founder of salvation. 3. He did not quit when Peter, the head of disciples denied him and when Judas betrayed him.
4. He was not afraid
5. He was not dismayed
Apostle Paul developed a passion in himself when he knew the value of suffering.
Php 3:8, 10-11 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ, ………. that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
The sum and substance of the above is
1Pe 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
2Ti 1:12 ….is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Sr. Angelica AJ