HARDSHIP

InSpired

YOU  SHALL SUFFER  HARDSHIP!

Jesus Christ, our perfect example praised the Ephesians Church for enduring hardship and not going weary. Rev. 2

Sometimes, asking questions is one of the best ways to proffer accurate solutions to any problem. And we will ask series of questions on today's topic.

We are New Creature Believers. It means that you have access to all the blessings and goodness of your heavenly Father because of faith in Christ Jesus your substitute.

Let's  attempt to break down thie above statement.

1. The reason, your sins are forgiven you is because you believed in Christ Jesus. It does not matter if you got married as a virgin and that you never told a lie before

 You were born a sinner and needed the forgiveness of God, which the blood of Jesus provided.

2. The reason you are ordained to live a sickness free life is because you accepted Jesus Christ as your substitute.

3. The reason you will always have victory over all the works of darkness and sin is because Jesus Christ; our eternal king is your substitute.

Then the first question is ;

QUESTION 1

If Christ Jesus had paid the price for all l need in this world; why then do l need to face hardship as a Believer in Christ?

1. The first and most important reason is because Jesus Christ, our LORD and SAVIOUR was persecuted and He endured hardship as the Commander in Chief of  the Army of Heaven.

He said in John 15:19-20

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.

 As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

HOW DID 'THE WORLD: SHOWED THEIR HATRED OF CHRIST 'S MINISTRY

1. The Pharisees said Jesus Christ was demon- possessed and was casting out demons out of people by the power of Beelzebub (Satan in another word)

2. They made an attempt to end His life and His ministry on several occassion and eventually killed Him in an attempt to end His ministry.

3. The name of Joseph His 'foster ' father ( my own interpretation of Joseph's role in the life of our LORD) was not mentioned throughout His ministry and His siblings at first did not believed His claims about His calling. ( John 7:3-8)

4. Jesus Christ had His needs miraculously met by the Father. Someone helped in carrying His Cross; the people He ministered to provided for his financial needs; the angels of God were in charge of His protection.

5. Jesus Christ was God as well as Man yet one of His disciples ( His treasurer) to be precise betrayed Him.

Therefore, If Jesus Christ our Eternal Master suffered hardship, then certainly you as a believer must certainly go through the same.

Then the next obvious question is :

Did Paul, Peter, John faced hardship as benefactors of the New Covenant?

Some preachers believe that the reason Jesus Christ, our substitute faced hardship is because He had to suffer in our stead. Therefore we must not go through the same pains, Christ suffered.

The disciples were believers like us who accepted Jesus Christ as their  Lord and personal Saviour after His resurrection, so if they were persecuted and suffered hardship, YOU MUST LEARN TO ENDURE HARDSHIP, no matter what anybody else tells you.

'Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. 

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, 

I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else,

2 Cor 21:21-30

TO BE CONTINUED

A.L. Hephzibah