Friday, February 24, 2017

Sufferings In Purification (LG37)

                 'Last Generation'

Mat 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
    Our Lord Jesus Christ demands that everyone of us to be perfect.

Jam 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
    All Christians will have their faith tested until perfection.

Rom 2:10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
    During our trials, the peace of God will always be there comforting us.

1Pet 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
    Though these fiery trials are very painful (whipping, crown of thorns and crucifixion suffered by our Lord), we must rejoice (the joy of the Lord is our strength) for we are counted worthy to be partakers in His sufferings.

Some of the trials:-
Mat 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Mat 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,"  (Put to practice Mat 5-7)

Our Lord during His sufferings
1Pet 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed.

Paul during Sufferings
2Cor 6.4-10 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and [yet] not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
    The sign that we have passed these fiery trials is rejoicing during our sufferings, for we accept to be partakers in His sufferings. This is the expression of our love for Him.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Brethren, our Lord will reward us in accordance to our obedience (works) to His words, "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."  (Mat 16:27)