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Sufferings of Christians

Sufferings of Christians! When we suffer and are persecuted and afflicted, remember that it has been the lot of Christians from the beginning. We walk a path that has been watered by the holy tears and blood of the saints. Jesus our Savior led the way. The Bible is full of the sufferings of Godly men and women in both the Old and New Testaments. This is not a popular subject today in many of the modern churches. For many suffering is to be avoided and is even viewed as evil by many. There are many types of suffering; physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Different, yes but who can say which is the most painful suffering. 

Some of my greatest suffering had nothing to do with physical pain. Yet physical pain has a way of pushing itself to the forefront in most peoples minds. Jesus sweat drops of Blood in indescribable suffering in the Garden before the cross and crucifixion. Jesus did not cry out in pain from the cross except when He cried out “My God why hast Thou forsaken Me.” With Jesus His suffering was in every form possible. As His followers what are we to expect. 

Jesus told us what to expect, as you read the following scriptures. Again our focus is on suffering. Please read slowly and carefully and even study the Greek words used. This will bring great comfort to those suffering and will also help open the eyes and attitude of people that are in touch with suffering people. Greater love, care and compassion is needed in our hearts. 

Often people feel under condemnation because of their suffering and that no one understands or cares. Instead of compassion often judgment is given and that only increases the suffering. We all have opinions but for a moment let God speak to you through His Holy Words in the Bible. This could change your life! As well as your eternity.  

“A disciple is not above the Teacher, nor a servant above his Master.” It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of His household.” Matt 10:24

“I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name.” Acts 9:16

“Except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and sufferings (afflictions) lie ahead. Acts 20:23

“Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” Acts 28:5

“If children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:17-18

“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:26-27

“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”                  2 Corinthians 1:5

“Did you suffer so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain? Galatians 3:4 

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” Philippians 3:10 

“For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.” 1 Thessalonians 2:14

“All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5 

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 

“My persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:11-12

“In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Hebrews 2:10

“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” 1 Peter 2:19-21

But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. “And you should not be afraid of their threats, neither should you be troubled.” 1 Peter 3:14

“For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”    1 Peter 3:17-18

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” 1 Peter 4:1 

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. 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.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

 If you are insulted because of the Name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”1 Peter 4:14-16

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10

“I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering (tribulation) and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:9

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

“Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Mark 8:34

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

“But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.” Matthew 10:17 

You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.    Matthew 10:22

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Matthew 24:9 

“And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution (suffering) arises on account of the Word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17 

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” John 15:18

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well.” John 15:18-19;20 

“But they will treat you like this on account of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me.”           John 15:21 

“They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.” John 16:2

“In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often,” 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 and 2 Timothy 3:10-12. 

“When they had called for the apostles and beaten (flogged) them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they went on their way from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Acts 5: 40-42 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” Acts 4:20.

“Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations (sufferings, troubles, hardships, persecutions, afflictions) we must enter the kingdom of God.”           Acts 14:22 

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.” 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 

“I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with intense concernIf I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my suffering (infirmity, sickness, weaknesses). The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-33

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak (sick, feeble, suffer), then I am strong.” 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 

I want to offer you the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus knows and understands what you have suffered or are suffering right now. God welcomes you with open arms. Come with tears, pains and fears to Jesus who can bring you peace and healing and salvation. God offers you hope here but a totally new life and body in heaven with no pain or suffering in the New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem. 

“Thank you God that you love me and sent Jesus to die on the cross and shed His Holy Blood for my sins. I turn to Jesus and put my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Forgive my sins and save my soul. I confess Jesus as my Savior. I believe you were buried in the tomb and arose on the third day, alive and living forever more. I am not ashamed of Jesus. Help me Lord to share you with others. In Jesus Name I pray.” 

Now rejoice in you new life! You have been born again and you will see life in a new and glorious way. Jesus IS with you now in all you face. Jesus is Present in you life from now on.  

 We will discuss and give some healing scriptures in the next teaching. God can heal your hurting and suffering. More on that soon.

All of the teaching on Suffering are on our website at www.blessitt.com You can read them and even print them off so you can study and read them again and again. Even share them with someone suffering. 

We love you and care and pray that these are a help and blessing to you. 

Pilgrim followers of Jesus, Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1 

All these teaching on suffering are to be found on “Life Lessons from A-Z” at:                   https://blessitt.com/life-lessons-a-z/

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