IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST AND TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE! (PART 3).
TEXT:
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” (Philippians 1 verse 29, King James Version).
In the last part of this series, we discussed how our being believers in Christ and our suffering for Him is for the Lord's glory. But there's yet another aspect of this Scripture reading for today, which we should consider. With the knowledge of what we are about to discuss, we remain calm, resilient and unmovable knowing that our suffering for the Lord is not for our destruction, but for our spiritual advancement.
Most times, what looks to us as adversities in life are actually ways through which God catapults us into higher dimensions of spiritual prowess (see Isaiah 48 verse 10 and Romans 8 verse 28). No matter what we face in life as believers in Christ, we are assured of victory because not only does God cause all things to work together for our good, He also gives us victory and causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. (see 1st Corinthians 15 verse 57; 1st John 5 verse 4; Romans 8 verse 37 and 2nd Corinthians 2 verse 14). Let's never forget that the Christian life is one of victory assured. The reason is that we are believers in Christ (see John 16 verse 33 and 1st John 5 verse 4). What's more, Christ overcame the world for us.
Very few understand that our spiritual conflicts are among our choicest blessings, and satan, our adversary, is often used to train us for his ultimate defeat. The account of the ancient Phrygians is illustrative in this regard. The Phrygians had a legend that every time they conquered an enemy the physical strength of the victim was absorbed and added to their own strength and valor. In relation to our state as Christians therefore, suffering , trials and temptations victoriously met through the grace of Christ unto us as believers in Him serves to double our spiritual strength and equipment with which to further serve the Lord and to adequately meet with the challenges of the enemy.
The prophet Isaiah in chapter 11 verse 14 speaks of Israel flying on the shoulders of the Philistines. These Philistines were their deadly foes, but the figure suggested that they would be enabled not only to conquer the Philistines, but to use them to carry the Israeli victors on their shoulders for further triumphant exploits. In other words, it is possible through the victorious grace of God in Christ Jesus to not only defeat our enemy, but to capture him and make him fight for us. So therefore, as believers in Christ, we are graced to turn around the most unfriendly and unfavorable circumstances of life to our spiritual advantage (see Philippians 1 verse 12).
This is especially the case with us as believers because according to our Scripture reading for today,
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” Ultimately, we come to discover that because we are believers, the suffering for His sake is turned around for our spiritual advancement and not for our defeat as they appear to be. This is one of the numerous reasons we call our suffering for Christ a blessing, although it is one in disguise. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
I'm grateful Father because You have given to me to believe in Christ and to suffer for His sake. Notwithstanding my suffering for the Lord, I am divinely programmed to be victorious, in Jesus name.