Let us
begin this web page with some good news, considering the topic, which does
not seem digestible, at first glance. There seem to be several
phases to the concept of suffering. To start with, Matthew chapter 3
explains how Jesus went to John the Baptist, and was baptized to
suffering, at the Jordan.
Now I
have not received a telephone call, letter, fax, or e-mail on this one, so
we can not consider it gospel, so to speak. But John did give Jesus the
water
baptism. Our opinion is that the water baptism is information about
eternal life, given as a hope, kinda like a carrot, for those dogs out
there running the race. Wonder if they were rabbits, and I just did
not even notice, or pay enough attention. Maybe a cute chick went
by, while I was supposed to be looking in the other direction.
Anyway,
we can look at things negatively, or positively. This world is made
up of optimists, and pessimists. That is a fact. So, the way
that you perceive things is up to you, and no one else.
The good
news is that along this path, there have to be spiritual joys and
blessings, that make the trip worthwhile and bearable. Jesus, it is written, will bless us with some of the joy that he has, which
probably comes from his father. The main
concept that we have spiritually believed, for decades, is based on the following
scripture, found in the sermon on the mount:
"Those
who mourn are fortunate, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew
5:4 TLB)
Surely,
there are various forms of mourning, but for anyone to change directions,
on a life long habit that is really a fatal malady, each will definitely
experience mourning, during the process of replacing the loss of their
best friend with a constructive replacement; it was so with us. Now
let us
jump forward, a bunch, to the following scripture, in the gospel of John:
"If
you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Comforter, and he will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit who leads into all truth. ..." (John
14:15-17 TLB)
The key
word here is, another Comforter. So, even as dumb as I am, it
can be understood that there is more than one comforter, along the path,
on the journey to God. Yall still with us? The really good
news is that along with suffering, there are comforters. To us, the
first comforter is the water baptism, and then the second is the Holy
Spirit, which shall never leave us, and lead us into all truth. Let
us not be concerned about the word Holy. We are not Holy, God is,
and we are simply dedicated to God - meaning holy, as he sees
fit. Holy to us, does not have any religious connotation, at all.
On page
sixty eight, in the original anonymous text book we find:
We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn't it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn't go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse.
Perhaps there is a better way
- we think so. For we are now on a different basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.
We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.
We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear.
Now let
us take a look at what a real explanation of suffering is:
1 Peter 4
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning. And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy--their immorality and lust, their feasting and
drunkenness
and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things about you. But just remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached even to those who have died--so that although their bodies were punished with death, they could still live in the spirit as God does.
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.
Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad--because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.
Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs.
But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his wonderful name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin first among God's own children. And if even we Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who have never believed God's Good News? And
"If the righteous are barely saved,
what chance will the godless and sinners have?"
So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.
(1 Peter 4:1-19 NLT)
Remember
reading that we will be baptized with water and fire, concerning the fiery
trials:
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
(Matthew 3:11 NIV)
The book
"His Father's Temple," published by Fulfilled Mansions,
addresses the baptism of fire topic, in detail. Now let us close
this web page with this perfect truth:
They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
(Acts 14:21-22 NIV)
