The Fellowship of His Sufferings 3

The Glory Of Suffering

“For our light affliction, which is but a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17). Suffering is the only access into the glory that we have and until a man suffer with Christ, he cannot reign with him (1Tim2:12). This is one of the faithful sayings in the bible and is undisputable. If we must reign with Christ and enjoy glory our attitude to the sufferings and afflictions we go through daily must change, glory is what secure the well-being, health and blessings of God’s children.

“Though he were a son, yet leaned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb 5:8). No man can be obedient who has not learned to be obedient in affliction. Ease has the greatest tendency to breed rebellion, but a man properly tutored under affliction will also learn to obey even in abundance. Jesus himself had to learnt obedience through suffering; Joseph had to learn obedience in slavery; Jacob had to learn obedience in 20yrs of servitude; Abraham had to learn obedience through 25yrs of barrenness; Moses, through 40years of shepherdhood humiliation at the back of the desert in contrast to his earlier 40years of affluence in Egypt. Space will not permit to tell of children of Israel in Babylon, Nebuchadnezar in the forest, and Paul’s 14years in the desert of Arabia.

As sons, that are expected to manifest, there is also no better condition for training than that of affliction, it toughens us, and makes lords and overlords over life. It instills in us an overcoming spirit; it helps us stand for our right and helps to heighten the hope of God’s children. However, this aim is achieved if the believer sees it in the right perspective.

Getting The Best Out Of Affliction. “In the day of adversity consider”( Eccl 7:14) “ “ Is any of you afflicted, let him pray” (James 5:13).

The first response to every affliction is to consider and understand the purpose for the affliction. This is the first antidote and not complaining or grumbling. Ignorance of what is going on around us is our main reason for confusion.

The second is Fellowship. Fellowship as an avenue for intimacy with God. Through difficult times, intimacy is enhanced. The greatest problem God has is getting the attention of his people. His people are too busy doing their own things. So in order to get their attention, he uses affliction. Afflictions drive a man to God.

“If when evil cometh upon us as the sword, judgment, or pestilence or famine, we stand before the house, and in thy presence, for thy name is in this house, and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou will hear and help” –(2 Chr 20:9).

Seeking God in times of testing causes us to develop the kind of character and ability, and dependency God requires of us in order to be able to fulfill his will in our lives. In terms of character we become established and perfected, As a matter of fact no perfection result except in the place of trials. Majority of God’s people also lack patience today, the preachers not exempted, but trials build in us the ability to endure hardship called patience. Above all the end of a “Tested” is always better than the beginning. Mark this; the end of a righteous man, well tested, is peace and good.

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” – (1Pet 5:10)

“But he knoweth the way that I take, when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” – (Job 23:10).

“ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations, also knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”( Rom 5:3-5, Job 42:12-17).

“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.” (Job 42:12-17 AV)

Forgiveness is a key factor in getting out of trials. In most cases men are agents used to vex us or aggravate the trials just as was the case of Job with his friends. Despite the fact that they were his friends, yet they became agents for more soul affliction to Job. There is no one that could not be used, Paul said, he went through pains from false brethren, at a time he said none of the apostles believed and received him just after his conversation, but for Barnabas. These treatments were strong enough to lead to bitterness. To successfully get out of affliction, Job needed to forgive and prayed for his friends only then could God turned around his captivity. “ And the Lord turned away the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends, also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before – (Job 42:10).

It is important to know that after we have suffered for a while, we become matured and perfected in our knowledge of God, established in life, settled in all things wanting nothing. Only at this point can we fully manifest the divinity and the life of Christ we have.