No Pain, No gain!
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So then death is working in us, but life in you. … 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:7-12,16-18)
We live in a world of throwaway products, we want it all—and we want it now! It has invaded even our morality!
People don't have time for God & are materialistic!
Abortion : In the western world, every 5 seconds the life of an unborn child is killed through abortion.
Divorce : Divorce rate has been more than 50% in most western countries.
Today we have substituted “the way” with a religion of good vibes and trouble-free living. It promises us the services of a god who exists to solve all our problems—making us happy, healthy, popular, successful and rich. That is just a caricature of a “genie in a bottle” than the Almighty God!
The reason is simple: Convenience is the king!
Just the thought of some temporary discomfort is enough to keep people from the spiritual adventure of a lifetime.
Christ’s Call to Suffering:
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. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Mt 16:24-25)
Jesus calls us to accept suffering, sacrifice and self-denial as routine and normal. Where are believers who will make a deliberate calculation to accept sacrifice and suffering for the sake of following Christ?
Casualties, discomfort and injury are part of the program for victory the Lord has promised.
57Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go. 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. 59Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." 61And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." 62But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luk 9:57-62)
21"Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. … 24"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25"It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! (Mt 10:21-25)
34"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35"For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36"and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Mt 10:34-39)
Jesus promised
homelessness (v58)
broken relationships (v60)
separation and loneliness.(v62)
persecutions (Mt 10:21)
worse treatment than what He got! (Mt 10:25)
lose life for His sake to find it! (Mt 16:25)
last being the first → to be a servant (Mt 20:16)
Those who are not willing to accept inconvenience, sufferings and uncertainty have no place with Him.
Jesus is telling: “I offer you what I have— hardship, hunger, labor, loneliness, rejection, sweat, tears and death. It is either “give up everything and follow Me” or “don’t come at all.”
Deu 20:8 → The Lord asks the fearful & faint hearted to return home from battle-field!
What is the reason why believers fail to influence the world?
The main reason why we are not impacting our generation for Christ is our refusal to be honest about Christianity.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Tim 3:12
Yet He has said that we've been given the authority to overcome the world!
What do you think the reason for the struggles?
This is not about asceticism (abstinence from various pleasures) or self-inflicted pain. It is never something we desire for its own sake, but something that we choose because it is necessary for the sake of the Gospel. Salvation is free, but real faith doesn’t come cheap!
How is one Trained for professions of the world?
Soldiers : we're in a spiritual battle! (Eph 6: 12/ 2 Tim 2:3-4)
Dedication of Olympic athletes, diet / exercise! : we're running the race! (1COR 9:25)
Many police officers & fire-fighters die in their service rescuing others: we deliver others from eternal damnation! (Jas 5:19-20)
Astronauts – even risk their lives to travel to space! : we may have to go to unknown places! (Mk 16:15)
Which examples comes into our mind from the scriptures? All → look at the hall of fame in Heb 11!
Abraham, the father of faith—didn’t even know where he was going. He gave up his rights to the best pasture land when he let Lot choose the well-watered plains of Sodom. Abraham held nothing back, not even his son who was born at old-age!
Moses: refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose instead to suffer affliction with the people of God. (Heb 11:24-26)
Paul: 22“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:22-24)
When Paul’s apostleship was challenged, he uses his suffering and sacrifice as the basis of his defense. Paul says “as a fool” that trials and tribulations authenticate, verify and vindicate his ministry. (2 Cor 11:23-28)
But, even devout Christian parents will oppose Christian service when their own son or daughter is about to give up all for Christ.
We need to confess our adulterous love affair with this present world? We cannot go on with God into the promised land like the Israel on way because we’re still looking back at the fleshpots of Egypt. (Exo 16:2-3)
Critical questions about Christian service by people who are worldly minded. If they went into missions, how would they live? Would they have a home? Would they have a retirement plan? What about the education of their children? What about insurance? They may never obey that call.
We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. (2 cor 4:18)
How can we share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings?
There are many practical ways that you can enter into this fellowship of suffering without leaving the shores of your nation.
Sacrifice and suffering for Christ all depend on how we choose to give our time and finances and to pray for others—situations, countries, peoples, tribes and the missionaries who are reaching out to them.
If we permit the Lord to lead us, He will allow us to share in the fellowship of His sufferings wherever we are.
For example, there are quiet men and women working behind the scenes at secular jobs—but living to help support missions. people who willingly sacrifice to save whatever money they can for the work of the Lord.
The problem is much more often in the little things. If we can only start to make sacrifices in the small things, then it will be much easier to say no to the world and the flesh when we have to make big decisions. → the way to condition our mind!
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)
In case of lack of money:
Expensive Brands vs necessities!
Pack food rather than eat out in a restaurant
And even skip a meal a week and use for the fund!
Lack of time:
reduce tv or other recreation activities
Sacrificial involvement is to become an advocate of world evangelisation in your home, church and community.
Distribute literature, inviting others to fellowship-meetings.
Giving up prestige. you will be misunderstood, deserted, hated or persecuted by others when you speak out for Christ.
Don’t be surprised if your voluntary service for missions meets opposition.
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Gideon (Jud 7:16-21) asked his 300 men to be equipped with empty pitchers & broke them to confuse the Midianities.
We must be willing to let our lives be broken and smashed in order for this light to break out.
There is no experience of the Christ-life without the cross, no power released unless we risk suffering and sacrifice. None of us is too old or too young to learn the power of voluntary self-denial for Christ.
Meditation:
- Ask the Lord How He wants us to serve Him
- How can we influence people around us who've not heard the gospel
- How can we free more of the given resources for Him?
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