The Doctrine/Benefits of Suffering
10/1/08
As I was laying my head down on the pillow, I began to get an impression about how unless we understand the personal suffering that is beyond losing THINGS, or losing relationships, people important to us, like Job, that we don’t really under -stand the benefits of carrying our cross deeply. We can take it for granted how much God has loved us & be ungracious towards others & ourselves.
In America we think we’re suffering if we are rejected . But I have so many prophetic friends who have suffered incredibly physically in their bodies, & not been delivered YET, & I know that a lot of what they have suffered is FOR something. It is not in vain. Otherwise I would have to believe that God is
cruel & not understanding. But I know the scripture in Hebrews, that says, we have a High Priest who is acquainted with our suffering. He is not apathetic.
See Col 1:24 Amp
It is incredible faith to persevere in physical suffering when all your friends, family & the church reject you, much like Job. Job is actually a book that is key to these end times. Madame Guyon wrote a commentary on Job, like she did on Songs of
Solomon. Madame Guyon is one who suffered in her body with frailty towards sickness, most of her life. She ended up in the Bastille prison for 20 years at the hands of her greedy brother, but came out with gifts of healing. If we suffer with Him, we share in His glory!
Remember how Satan taunted God, saying about Job, well yes, of course he can say, The Lord gives, & the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord, because You haven’t touched his person. You’ve kept a hedge about him, referring to Job. So
then God says, yes you can touch him, but not to death. He couldn’t take his life.
When I think of Job, I see such parallels to my own & many other’s lives, whom I know who are prophetic people, & even many more who are really apostolic. Teddy Desta wrote about this some time ago about suffering in apostolic ways, & I’ve written on it in Apostolic Intercession which is part of the book I have on my site on COMPASSION & TRAVAIL.
See article:
Suffering : Greek Pathetos Strong's Number:
G3805 - Greek Base Word: παθητός Usage: Suffer
Definition: Liable (i.e., doomed) to experience pain.
Detailed definition:
1. Passible, endued with the capacity of suffering, capable of feeling.
2.Subject to the necessity of suffering, destined to suffer.
Psalm 88:15 I am afflicted & ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer they terrors I am distracted.
H 5375 -1314 E in ancient hebrew suffer
to lift up a burden or load & carry it. KJV bear, take,
bare, carry,borne, armour-bearer, forgive, accept,
exalt regard, obtain, respect also for H4984 &
H5376
[nun, sin (samech), aleph – right to left]
nun – sprouting seed, continue (generation),
continue, perpetuation, heir or offspring
sin – thorn, pierce, sharp, shield, thorn bushes were
used to shield
aleph – head of an ox -strength, power, chief,
leader, power produced by work of an animal
It says in concordance to lift up a burden to carry it. Nun is continue, Oxen are used for carrying loads.Thorn bushes used to shield animals like sheep from wolves, to me, it gives the impression of suffering for another or self. Sometimes we
suffer carrying a burden also we should give to the Lord.
Affliction
H6041 in Ps 88:15 I am afflicted & ready to die from
my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am
distracted.
(a close watching – without the hey letter) or
Oppression or depression, a furrow can be what
you make with your eyes when watching intensely.
Which is one of the meanings in the ancient hebrew
affliction:
right to left...
Mem – waves of water (in the hebrew can mean good or bad water, overflowing) ie chaos from storms
Ayin – seeing, watching, knowledge, eye the window of knowledge
Nun – sprouting seed, continuation, perpetuation, heir or offspring
Hey – arms raised – means behold! As in revealing a
great sight, look, breathe, sigh, reveal or revelation
Affliction – continued watching, oppression of the enemy, depression, troubles
New testament:
NT:2347 thlipsis (thlip'-sis); from NT:2346;
pressure (literally or figuratively): KJV-afflicted (-
tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation,
trouble.
NT:2346 thlibo (thlee'-bo); akin to the base of
NT:5147; to crowd (literally or figuratively): KJV- afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble.
NT:5147 tribos (tree'-bos); from tribo (to "rub"; akin to teiro, truo, & the base of NT:5131, NT:5134); a rut or worn track: KJV-path.
NT:5131 tragos (trag'-os); from the base of
NT:5176; a he-goat (as a gnawer): KJV-goat.
2 Tim 3:12 AMPC Indeed all who delight in piety & are determined to live a devoted & godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].
Persecution:
NT:1375 diogmos (dee-ogue-mos'); from NT:1377;
persecution: KJV-persecution.
NT:1377 dioko (dee-o'-ko); a prolonged (& causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of NT:1169 & NT:1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute: KJV-ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer)
persecute (-ion), press forward.
Lamentations 5:5 is OT scripture with persecution
in it. H 7291 radaph (raw-daf) which means to run after (usually with hostile intent): chase, put to flight, follow (after,on) hunt, (be under) persecution, pursued.
Below are scriptures on Suffering & affliction, & persecution ...etc.
Revelation 12:11 Amp
And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb & by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love & cling to life even when faced with death holding their lives cheap till they had to die [for their witnessing].
Rev. 20:4 NKJV And I saw thrones & they sat on them, & judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus & for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, & had not received the mark on their foreheads or their hands. And they lived & reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Rev. 6:9-11 NKJ
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God & for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long O Lord, holy & true, until You judge & avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And a white robe was given to each of them; & it was said to them that they should rest a while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants & their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was complete.
Lamentations 3:37-50 Ampc Who is he who spoke &
it came to pass, when the Lord has not authorized
& commanded it? Is it not out of the mouth of the
Most High that evil & good both proceed adversity &
prosperity, physical evil or misfortune & physical
good or happiness? Why does a living man sigh
[One who is still in this life's school of discipline] ?
Let us test & examine our ways, & return to the
Lord! Let us lift up our hearts to our hands [& then
with them mount up to prayer] to God in heaven;
We have transgressed & rebelled, & You have not
pardoned. You have covered Yourself with wrath, &
pursued & afflicted us; You have slain without pity.
You have covered Yourself with a cloud so that no
prayer can pass through. You have made us an
offscouring & refuse among the nations. All our
enemies gape at us & rail against us. Fear & pitfall
have come upon us, devastation & destruction. My
eyes overflow continually & will not cease until the
Lord looks down & beholds from heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:10 Amplified
So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased & take
pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships,
persecutions perplexities & distresses; for when I
am weak(in human strength), then I am [truly]
strong; able, powerful in divine strength.
Luke 21:12-19 Amp.
But previous to all this they will lay their hands on you & persecute you, turning you over to synagogues & prisons, & you will be led away before kings & governors for My name's sake. This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony.
Resolve & settle it in your minds, not to meditate & prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense & how you will answer. For I Myself will give you a mouth, & such utterance & wisdom as all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute. You will be delivered up & betrayed even by parents & brothers & relatives & friends, & [some] of you they will put to death. And you will be hated & despised by everyone because [you bear] My name for its sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish. [ 1 Samuel 14: 45 ] By your steadfastness & patient endurance, you shall win the true life of your souls.
Luke 6:22-24 NAS
Blessed are you when men hate you, & ostracize
you, & cast insults at you, & spurn your name as evil,
for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day,
& leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in
heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to
treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for
you are receiving your comfort in full.
Mark 8:35 Amp
For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual,
eternal] life, will lose [the lower, natural, temporal
life which is lived only on earth]; & whoever gives up
his life [which is lived only on earth] , for My sake &
the Gospel's, will save [his higher spiritual life in the
eternal kingdom of God].
Colossians 1:24 Amp
[Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my suffering
on your behalf, & in my own person I am making up
whatever is still lacking & remains to be completed
[on our part] of Christ's afflictions, for the sake of
His body, which is the church.
Romans 8:17, 35-37 Amp
And [if] we are His children, then we are His heirs
also: heirs of God & fellow heirs with Christ sharing
His inheritance with Him; only we must share His
suffering if we are to share His glory. Who shall
ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering
& affliction & tribulation? Or calamity & distress? Or
persecution, or hunger, or destitution, or peril, or
sword? Even as it is written, ' For Thy sake we are
put to death all the day long, we are regarded &
counted as sheep for the slaughter. (Psalm 44:22)
Yet amid all these things we are more than
conquerors & gain a surpassing victory through Him
Who loved us.
Matthew 19: 23-24, 27-30 NKJV
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to
you, that it is hard for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you , it is
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Then Peter answered & said to Him, " See, we have
left all & followed You, Therefore what shall we
have ?"
So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to
you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man
sits on the throne of His glory, you who have
followed Me will sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left
houses, or brothers or sisters or father or mother,
or wife, or children or lands, for My name's sake,
shall receive a hundredfold, & inherit everlasting life.
But many who are first will be last & the last first.
James 2:2-4 Amp
You are jealous, & covet what others have & your
desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers.
[to hate is to murder as far as your hearts are
concerned.] You burn with envy & anger & are not
able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment &
the happiness that you seek], so you fight & war.
You do not have because you do not ask. [Or] you
do ask [God for them] & yet fail to receive,
because you ask with wrong purpose & evil selfish
motives. Your intention is, [when you get what you
desire to spend it in sensual pleasures. You are like
unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the
world] & breaking your marriage vow to God! Do you
not know that being the world's friend is being
God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend
of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
1 Corinthians 4: 9-13 Amp
For it seems to me that God has made an exhibit of
us apostles, exposing us to view last [of all, like men
in a triumphal procession who are] sentenced to
death & displayed at the end of the line. For we
have become a spectacle to the world a show in the
world's amphitheater with both men & angels as
spectators. We are looked upon as fools on
account of Christ and for His sake, but you are
[supposedly] so amazingly wise & prudent in Christ
~ We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! You
are highly esteemed but we are in disrepute &
contempt.
To this hour we have gone both hungry & thirsty;
we habitually wear but one undergarment [& shiver
in the cold]: we are roughly knocked about &
wander around homeless. And we still toil unto
weariness [for our living], working hard with our
own hands. When men revile us - that is, wound us
with & accursed sting we bless them. When we are
persecuted, we take it patiently & endure it. When
we are slandered & defamed, we [try to] answer
softly & bring comfort. We have been made & are
now the rubbish & filth of the world - the off-
scouring of all things, the scum of the earth.
1 Corinthians 13:3 Amp
Even if I dole out all that I have to the poor in
providing food, & if I surrender my body to be
burned [or in order that I may glory], but have not
love [God's love in me], I gain nothing.
2 Corinthians 4:6-18 Amp
6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of
darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam
forth] the Light for the illumination of the
knowledge of the majesty
& glory of God [as it is
manifest in the Person & is revealed] in the face ofJesus Christ (the Messiah).
7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the
divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels
of earth, that the grandeur
& exceeding greatness
of the power may be shown to be from God & not
from ourselves.
8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side-
troubled & oppressed in every way; but not cramped
or crushed; we suffer embarrassments & are
perplexed & unable to find a way out, but not
driven to despair; 9 We are persecuted & hard-
driven, pursued, but not deserted-to stand alone;
we are struck down to the ground, but never struck
out & destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the
body the liability & exposure to the same putting to
death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the
[resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown
forth by & in our bodies.
11. For we who live are constantly [experiencing]
being handed over to death for Christ's sake, that
the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be
evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.
12 Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in
order that our] life [may be actively at work] in you.
13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had
who wrote, I have believed, & therefore I have
spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak.
(Psalm 116:10) 14 Assured that He who raised up the
Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus & bring
us along with you into His presence. 15 For all those
things are taking place for your sake, so that, the
more the grace (God's empowering presence)
extends to more & more people, & multiplies through
the many, the more the thanksgiving may increase
[ and rebound] to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not become discouraged, utterly
spiritless, exhausted, & wearied out through fear.
Though our outer man is progressively decaying &
wasting away, yet our inner self is being
progressively renewed day after day.
17 For our light momentary affliction (this slight
distress of the passing hour) is ever more & more
abundantly preparing & producing & achieving for
us an everlasting weight of glory beyond all
measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons &
all calculations, a vast & transcendent glory &
blessedness never to cease!
18 Since we consider and look not to the things
that are seen but to things that are unseen; for the
things that are visible are temporal (brief and
fleeting), but the things that are invisible are
deathless & everlasting. AMEN!
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 Amp But we commend
ourselves in every way as [true] servants or God:
through great endurance, in tribulation & suffering,
in hardships & privations, in sore straits &
calamities, 5 in beatings & imprisonments, riots,
labors, sleepless watching, hunger; by innocence &
purity, knowledge & spiritual insight, long-suffering
& patience, kindness in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned
love; 6 by speaking the word of truth in the power
of God with the weapons of righteousness for the
right hand [to attack] & for the left hand [to
defend]; mid honor & dishonor, in defaming & evil
report & in praise and good report. [We are
branded] as deceivers (imposters), and yet
vindicated as truthful & honest.
7 We are treated as unknown & ignored [by the
world], & [yet we are] well-known & recognized [by
God & His people]; as dying, and yet here we are
alive; as chastened by suffering & [yet] not killed;
as grieved & mourning, yet [we are] always
rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches
on many; as having nothing, & [yet in reality]
possessing all things.
2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Amp
23 Are they ministering servants of Christ, the
Messiah? I am talking like one beside himself
( insane), but I am more, with far more extensive &
abundant labors, with far more imprisonments,
beaten with countless stripes, & frequently at the
point of death. 24 Five times I received from the
hands of the Jews 40 lashes all but one;
[Deuteronomy 25:3] 25 Three times I have been
beaten with rods; Once I was stoned, & three times I
have been aboard a ship wrecked at sea; a [whole]
night & day I have spent adrift on the deep;
26 Many times on journeys , exposed to perils from
rivers, perils from bandits, perils from my own
nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city,
perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils
from those posing as believers but destitute of
Christian knowledge & piety; 27 In toil & hardship,
watching often through sleepless nights, in hunger
& thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in
cold & exposure & lack of clothing.
28 And besides those things that are without, there
is the daily inescapable pressure of my care &
anxiety for all the churches! 29 Who is weak, & I do
not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to stumble &
fall, & have his faith hurt, & I am not on fire with
sorrow or indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast
of the things that show my infirmity of things by
which I am made weak & contemptible in the eyes of
my opponents.
James 5:10 Amp [As] an example of suffering & ill-
treatment together with patience, brethren, take
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as
His messengers.
1 Thess 1:6 NIV You became imitators of us & of the
Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed
the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thess 2:2, 14-15 Ampc But though we had already
suffered & been outrageously treated at Philippi, as
you know, yet in the strength of our God we
summoned courage to proclaim to you unfalteringly
the good news (the Gospel) with earnest
contention, much conflict & great opposition.
3 For our appeal [in preaching] does not [originate]
from delusion or error or impure purpose or motive,
nor in fraud or deceit. 4 But just as we have been
approved by God to be entrusted with the glad
tidings (the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who tests our hearts [expecting them to be approved]....
14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the
assemblies of God in Christ Jesus which are in
Judea, for you too have suffered the same
treatment from your own fellow countrymen as
they did [who were persecuted at the hands] of the
Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus & the
prophets, & harassed & drove us out; & continue to
make themselves hateful & offensive to God & to
show themselves foes of all men
1 Thess 3:1-4 Amp Therefore, when [the suspense of separation & our yearning for some personal communication from you] became intolerable, we consented to being left behind alone at Athens.
2 And we sent Timothy, our brother & God’s servant in [spreading] the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, to strengthen & establish & to exhort & comfort & encourage you in your faith,
3 That no one of your should be disturbed & beguiled & led astray by these afflictions & difficulties [to which I have referred] For you yourselves know that this is [unavoidable in our position, & must be recognized as] our appointed
lot.
4 For even when we were with you [you know] we warned you plainly beforehand that we were to be pressed with difficulties & made to suffer affliction, just as to your own knowledge has [since happened].
2 Timothy 3:2-3,11,13 NAS
An overseer, then , must be above reproach, the husband of one wife , temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious , free from the love of money. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing & great confidence in
the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:16-17 Amp
At my first trial no one acted in my defense (as my
advocate) or took my part or even stood with me,
but all forsook me. May it not be charged against
them! But the Lord stood by me & strengthened me,
so that through me the (Gospel) message might be
fully proclaimed & all of the Gentiles might hear it.
So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.
v 18 [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver &
draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will
preserve & bring [me] safe unto His heavenly
kingdom. To Him be the glory forever & ever. Amen.
Hebrews 11:25-27, 33-38 Amp
(of Moses) Because he preferred rather to share
the oppression (suffer the hardships) & bear the
shame of the people of God than to have the
fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. 26 He
considered the contempt & abuse & shame [borne
for] the Christ the Messiah [Who was to come], to
be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt,
for he looked forward & away to the reward
(recompense). 27 Motivated by FAITH he left Egypt
behind him, being unawed & undismayed by the
wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held
staunchly to his purpose & endured steadfastly as
one who gazed on Him Who is invisible. [Ex. 2:15]
(speaking of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
David and Samuel & other prophets)....
33 Who by the help of faith subdued kingdoms,
administered justice, obtained promised blessing,
closed the mouth of lions, [Dan 6] 34 Extinguished
the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings
of the sword, out of frailty & weakness won
strength & became stalwart even mighty & resistless
in battle, routing alien hosts. [Dan 3].
35 [Some] women received again their dead by a
resurrection. Others were tortured to death with
clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on terms
of denying their faith], that they might be
resurrected to a better life.
36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking &
scourging, & even chains & imprisonment.
37 They were stoned to death; they were lured with
tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they
were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the
sword; [while they were yet alive] they had to go
about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats,
utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated, 38 men
of whom the world was not worthy, roaming over
the desolate places & the mountains, & living in
caves & caverns & holes of the earth.
Hebrews 10:32-34 Amp
But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great & painful struggle, 33 Sometimes being yourselves a gazing stock, publicly exposed to insults & abuse & distress, & sometimes claiming
fellowship & making common cause with others who were so treated.
34 For you did sympathize & suffer along with those who were, & you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings & the
confiscation of your property, in the knowledge &
consciousness that you yourselves had a better & lasting possession.
Hebrews 12:1-6 AMPC
1 Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off & throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) & that sin which so readily (deftly & cleverly) clings to& entangles us, & let us run with patient endurance& steady
& active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader & the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] & is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity & perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising & ignoring the shame, & is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition & bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up & consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart & relaxing & fainting in your minds.
4 You have not yet struggled & fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted & withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood. 5 And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal & encouragement in which you are reasoned with, & addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction & discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage & give up & faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him;
6 For the Lord corrects & disciplines everyone whom He loves, & He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts
& welcomes to His heart & cherishes.
7 You must submit to & endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train & correct & discipline?
8 Now if you are exempt from correction & left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring & not true sons [at all].
AMOS 5:10 AMP
They hate him who reproves in the [city] gate-
holding him as an abomination & rejecting his
rebuke & they abhor him who speaks rightly.
Habakkuk 1:13 NAS
Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, (speaking
of God). And Thou canst not look on wickedness
with favor. Why dost Thou look with favor on those
who deal treacherously? Why art Thou silent when
the wicked swallow up those more righteous than
they?
Jeremiah 11:19 AMPC
19 But I was like a tame lamb that is brought to the
slaughter; I did not know that they had devised
inventions & schemes against me, saying, Let us
destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off
from the land of the living, that his name may be no
more remembered.
Jer. 15:18-19 Amp
Why is my pain perpetual, & my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a
deceitful brook, like waters that fail & are
uncertain? Therefore thus says the Lord [to
Jeremiah], if you return (give up this mistaken tone
of distrust and despair), then I will give you again a
settled place of quiet & safety, & you shall be My
minister; & if you separate the precious from the
vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy
suspicions concerning God's faithfulness], you
shall be as My mouthpiece. [But do not yield to
them.] Let them return to you, not you to the
people.
2 Thess 1:4-7 Amp
And this is a cause of our mentioning you with pride
among the churches (assemblies) of God for your
steadfastness, your unflinching endurance, &
patience, & your firm faith in the midst of all the
persecutions & crushing distresses & afflictions
under which you are holding up. This is positive
proof of the judgment of God to the end that your
may be deemed deserving of His kingdom; a plain
token of His fair verdict [which designs] that you
should be made & counted worthy of the kingdom
of God for the sake of which you are also
suffering.
[It is a fair decision] since it is a righteous thing
with God to repay with distress & affliction those
who distress & afflict you, & to [recompense] you
who are so distressed & afflicted [by granting you]
relief & rest along with us, your fellow sufferers,
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with
His mighty angels in a flame of fire;
2 Tim 1:8,12 NAS
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of
our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in
suffering for the gospel according to the power of
God. For this reason I also suffer these things but I
am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed & I
am convinced that He is able to guard what I have
entrusted to Him until that day.
2 Tim 2:9-12 Amp
For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction & even
wearing chains, like a criminal. But the Word of God
is not chained or imprisoned! Therefore I am ready
to persevere & stand my ground with patience &
endure everything for the sake of the elect [God's
Chosen], so that they too may obtain [the]
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with [the reward
of] eternal glory. The saying is worthy of
confidence & sure: If we have died with Him, we shall
also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign
with Him. If we deny & disown & reject him, He will
also deny & disown & reject us.
John 10:11,15 Amp
I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd risks
& lays down his [own] life for the sheep [Ps 23]
Even as [truly as] the Father has known Me I also
know the Father; & I am giving My [very own] life &
laying it down in behalf of the sheep.
John 15:13 Amp No one has greater love, no one has shown stronger affection, than to lay down [give up] his own life for his friends.
John 16: 1-3,33 Amp
I have told you all these things so that you should
not be offended, taken unawares & falter, or be
caused to stumble & fall away, & to keep you from
being scandalized & repelled. They will put you out
of the synagogues; expel you. But an hour is coming
when whoever kills you will thing & claim that he has
offered service to God. And they will do this
because they have not known the Father nor Me.
I have told you these things so that you may have
perfect peace & confidence. In the world you have
tribulation trials & distress & frustration; but be of
good cheer, take courage, be confident, certain,
undaunted, for I have overcome the world. I have
deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it
[for you].
I have given & delivered to them Your Word
(message); & the world has hated them, because
they are not of the world do not belong to the
world [just] as I am not of the world. I do not ask
that You will take them out of the world, but that
You will keep & protect them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them, purify, consecrate, separate
them for yourself, make them holy by the Truth.
Your Word is Truth.
1 Peter 4:12-14 Amp For the eyes of the Lord are
upon the righteous those who are upright & in right
standing with God & His ears are attentive to their
prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those
who practice evil, to oppose them, to frustrate &
defeat them. (Ps 34:12-16). Now who is there to hurt
you if you are zealous followers of that which is
good? But even in case you should suffer for the
sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed, happy, to
be envied. Do not dread or be afraid of their
threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].
1 Peter 5:10 NAS And after you have suffered for a
little while, the God of all grace who called you to His
eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm,
strengthen & establish you.
Ephesians 5:2,25 Amp And walk in love, esteeming
& delighting in one another, as Christ loved us &
gave Himself up for us, a slain offering & sacrifice
to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet
fragrance. (Ezek 24:1). Husbands, love your wives,
as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her.
Hebrews 5:8-9 NAS
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from
the things which He suffered. And having been
made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him
the source of eternal salvation.
Hebrews 2:8-10, 14, 18 Amp
For You have put everything in subjection under His
feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to
man, He left nothing outside of man's control. But
at present we do not yet see all things subjected to
him [man]. But we are able to see Jesus, Who was
ranked lower than the angels for a little while,
crowned with glory & honor because of His having
suffered death, in order that by the grace of God
He was guilty of no sin; neither was deceit (guile)
ever found on His lips. [Is 53:9]. When He was
reviled & insulted, he did not revile or offer insult in
return; [when] He was abused & suffered, He made
no threats of vengeance; but He trusted [Himself &
everything] to Him who judges fairly. He personally
bore our sins in His own body to the tree [as to an
altar & offered Himself on it], that we might die
(cease to exist) to sin & live to righteousness. By His
wounds you have healed.
1 Peter 3:16-18 Amp [And see to it that] your
conscience is entirely clear, so that, when you are
falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten
you abusively & revile our right behavior in Christ
may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good
lives]. For it is better to suffer unjustly for doing
right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer
justly for doing wrong. For Christ, the Messiah,
[Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous
for the unrighteous, the Just for the unjust, the
Innocent for the guilty that He might bring us to
God. In His human body He was put to death, but He
was made alive in the spirit.
1 Peter 4: 1,3-4,16,19 Amp
So since Christ suffered in the flesh [for us, for
you], arm yourselves with the same thought &
purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to
please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh
[having the mind of Christ] has done with
intentional sin has stopped pleasing himself & the
world, & pleases God. For the time that is past
already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to
do, living as you have done, in shameless, insolent,
wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness,
reveling, drinking bouts & abominable, lawless
idolatries.
They are astonished & think it very queer that you
do not now run hand in hand with them in the same
excesses of dissipation, & they abuse [you] But if
one is ill-treated & suffers as a Christian [which he
is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed,
but give glory to God that he is deemed worthy to
suffer in this name. Therefore, those who are ill-
treated & suffer in accordance with God's will must
do right, & commit their souls (in charge as a
deposit) to the One Who created them & will never
fail [them].
1 Peter 5:6-11 AMPC
6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower
yourselves in your own estimation] under the
mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt
you,
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once & for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately & cares about you watchfully.
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be
vigilant & cautious at all times; for that enemy of
yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in
fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon & devour.
9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset
—rooted, established, strong, immovable, &
determined], knowing that the same (identical)
sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the
whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the
God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing & favor],
Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in
Christ Jesus, will Himself complete & make you what
you ought to be, establish & ground you securely, &
strengthen, & settle you. 11 To Him be the dominion
(power, authority, rule) forever & ever. Amen (so be
it).
Galatians 6:17 Amp
From now on let no person trouble me [by making it
necessary for me to vindicate my apostolic
authority & the divine truth of my Gospel]; for I
bear on my body the brand marks of the Lord
Jesus, [the wounds, scars, & other outward
evidence of persecutions]. These testify to His
ownership of me.
1 John 3:1, 13, 16 NAS
See how great a love the Father has bestowed
upon us, that we should be called children of God &
such we are. For this reason the world does not
know us, because it did not know Him. Do not marvel
brethren if the world hates you. We know love by
this, that He laid down His life for us; & we ought to
lay down our lives for the brethren.
Rev. 2:3, 10, 13 NKJV
"and you have persevered & have patience, & have
labored for My name's sake & have not become
weary. Do not fear any of those things which you
are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to
throw some of you in prison, that you may be
tested, & you will have tribulation ten days. Be
faithful unto death, & I will give you the crown of
life."..."I know you works & where you dwell, where
Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, &
did not deny My faith even in the days in which
Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed
among you where Satan dwells."
Here we have a scripture that most ministers of
healing seem to forget...
Philippians 2:27-30 AMPC
27 He certainly was ill [too], near to death. But God
had compassion on him, & not only on him but also
on me, lest I should have sorrow [over him] coming
upon sorrow. 28 So I have sent him the more
willingly & eagerly, that you may be gladdened at
seeing him again, & that I may be the less disquieted.
29 Welcome him [home] then in the Lord with all
joy, & honor & highly appreciate men like him, 30 For
it was through working for Christ that he came so
near death, risking his [very] life to complete the
deficiencies in your service to me [which distance
prevented you yourselves from rendering].
PERSECUTIONS
Matthew 10:16-18,21-23,28 Amp
Lo, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of
wolves; be wary & wise as serpents, & be innocent,
harmless, guileless, & without falsity as doves. [Gen
3:1] Be on guard against the men [whose way or
nature is to act in opposition to God]; for they will
deliver you up to councils & flog you in their
synagogues, & you will be brought before governors
& kings for My sake, for a witness to bear
testimony before them & to the Gentiles (the
nations).
Brother will deliver up brother to death, & the father
his child, & children will take a stand against their
parents, & will have them put to death; And you will
be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who
perseveres & endures to the end will be saved
[from spiritual disease & death in the world to
come]. When they persecute you in one town [that
is pursue you in a manner to injure you & cause you
to suffer because of your belief], flee to another
town; for truly, I tell you, you will not have gone
through all the town of Israel before the Son of
man comes.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul, but rather be afraid of him who
can destroy both body & soul in hell (Gehenna).
Matt. 20:20-23 Amp
Then the mother of Zebedee's children came up
to Him with her sons, & kneeling, worshiped Him &
asked a favor of Him. And he asked her, What do
you wish? She answered Him, Give orders that
these two sons of mine may sit, one at Your right
hand, & one at Your left in Your kingdom. But Jesus
replied, You do not realize what you are asking. Are
you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink &
to be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized? They answered, We are able. He said to
them, you will drink My cup, but seats at My right
hand & My left are not Mine to give, but they are for
those for whom they have been ordained &
prepared by My Father.
Matthew 24:8-10 Amp And then many will be
offended & repelled & begin to distrust & desert
Him Whom they ought to trust & obey, & will stumble
& fall away, & betray one another & pursue one
another with hatred.
Luke 6:26-28 AMPC
26 Woe to (alas for) you when everyone speaks
fairly & handsomely of you & praises you, for even
so their forefathers did to the false prophets.
27 But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in
order to heed, make it a practice to] love your
enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward)
those who detest you & pursue you with hatred,
28 Invoke blessings upon & pray for the happiness
of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing
(favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile,
reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].
Acts 5:17-19 NAS
But the high priest rose up with his associates (that
is the sect of the Sadducees), & they were filled
with JEALOUSY; & they laid hands on the apostles,
& put them in a public jail. But an angel of the Lord
during the night opened the gates of the prison, &
taking them out he said, "Go your way, stand &
speak to the people in the temple the whole
message of this Life."
Acts 5:29, 40-42 Amp
Then Peter & the apostles replied, We must obey
GOD rather than men. So convinced by him they
took his advice, & summoning the apostles they
flogged them & sternly forbade them to speak in or
about the name of Jesus, & allowed them to go. So
they went out from the presence of the council
(Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted
worth-dignified by the indignity to suffer shame &
be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
Yet [in spite of threats] they never ceased for a
single day both in the temple area & at home to
teach & proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus
[as] the Christ, the Messiah.
Acts 7:52 Ampc Which of the prophets did your
forefathers not persecute? And they slew those
who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the
Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed &
murdered.
Acts 8:3-4 NAS
But Saul shamefully treated & laid waste the
church continuously, - with cruelty & violence; &
entering house after house, he dragged out men &
women & committed them to prison. Now those who
were scattered abroad went about through the land
from place to place preaching the glad tidings, the
Word [that is the doctrine concerning the attain-
ment through Christ of salvation in the Kingdom of
God.]
Acts 14:22 AMPC
Establishing & strengthening the souls & the hearts
of the disciples, urging `& warning & encouraging
them to stand firm in the faith, & telling them that it
is through many hardships & tribulations we must
enter the Kingdom of God.
Philippians 1:12-214, 28-29 Amp
Now I want you to know & continue to rest assured,
brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this
imprisonment] has actually only served to advance &
fact that throughout the whole imperial guard & to
all the rest here, my imprisonment has become
generally to be give a renewed impetus to the
[spreading of the] good news of the gospel. So
much is this a known to be in Christ in that I am a
prisoner in His service & for Him. And also most of
the brethren have derived fresh confidence in the
Lord because of my chains, & are much more bold to
speak & publish fearlessly the Word of God acting
with more freedom & indifference to the
consequences.
And do not for a moment be frightened or
intimidated in anything by your opponents &
adversaries, for such [constancy & fearlessness]
will be a clear sign (proof & seal) to them of their
impending destruction; but [a sure token &
evidence of] your deliverance & salvation, & that
from God. For you have been granted [the
privilege] for Christ's sake not only to believe
adhere to, rely on, & in Him, but also to suffer on
His behalf.
Philippians 3 : 10-11 Amp
For my determined purpose is that I may know Him
that I may progressively become more deeply &
intimately acquainted with him, perceiving &
recognizing & understanding [the wonders of His
Person] more strongly & more clearly. And that I may
in the same way come to know the power out-
flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over
believers]; & that I may share in his sufferings as to
be continually transformed [ in spirit into His
likeness even] to His death, {in the hope], that if
possible I may attain to the [spiritual & moral]
resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the
dead [even while in the body.]
