SUFFERING AND REIGNING WITH CHRIST
The Bible informs us that many people have faithfully suffered many things for the Lord and are looking forward to his promised resurrection to reign with him (Hebrews 11). And it assures us that whoever are born-again followers of the Lord that “If we suffer [with Christ], we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
PAST SUFFERING LEADING TO REIGNING
There were many “who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were …destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:35-40).
STEPHEN. This man was recognized as a Spirit-filled deacon of the Early Church (Acts 6:5-6). And he is considered to be the first Martyr of the Church, for his faithful suffering for the Lord. He was stoned for arguing with prominent Jewish leaders for their part in the death of Jesus: Stephen said, “You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet you ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and Murdered him: (Acts 7:51-52).
When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they gnashed on him with their teeth. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Upon hearing this they dragged him out of the city and began stoning him. Acts 7:54-58).
As they were stoning him, Stephen asked the Lord to receive his spirit. And he said to the Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Then he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59-60)
PAUL. Jesus made Paul an apostle, and chose him an be an example of suffering for those who believed in the (Acts 9:16). Paul said, “I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal life” (2 Timothy 2:10).
Paul humbly listed some of the things that the Lord helped him to endure: in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 :
As an example of one whom the Lord enabled by the Holy Spirit to suffer for Christ, Paul said: I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again..Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked…. “
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8).
PRESENT SUFFERING LEADING TO REIGNING
We may not suffer all the things that some did who trusted the Lord in the past. But Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24). Paul commented, “All who desires to live godly will suffer” (2 Timothy 3:12). However, the Lord encourages us saying, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Some of us who now believe in the Lord may be suffering from “unbearable” problems which may or may not be pandemic-related. These may be problems with health, family, employment, finance and a number of other troubles. We may be wondering when we will overcome our immediate problems. But our all-wise and all powerful God counsels us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
TRUSTING THE WORD OF GOD:
- CORINTHIANS 10:13. God will not allow you to suffer “beyond what you can bear”
- JOHN 14:15-17. Jesus said, If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.
- ROMANS 8:28. All things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
- ROMANS 8:29. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
- ROMANS 8:18-21. The sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared to the glory which will be revealed in us when Jesus Christ appears in his glory
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:1617)
