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Prayer & Suffering
Cost of Discipleship
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Cost of Discipleship
“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God…” Acts 14:22 Our calling comes at a cost…
- Blessed are you when men hate you
when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.” Matt. 6:22-23 Jesus called His disciples to count the cost…
- “If anyone comes to me and does not
hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters —yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26- 27 Cost of discipleship involves sharing the sufferings of Christ…
- Reasons for suffering can include:
– Our own sinfulness, foolishness or ignorance – The effect of sin in the world – Includes spiritual and physical opposition
The cross of Christ is an offense to the world. Suffering can be…
- Correction and/or discipline of the Lord
(Heb. 12:7-12)
- Hallmark of an apostolic call in our lives
(2 Cor. 4:12)
- Development of godly character
(Jas. 1:2-4)
- Opportunity to experience deep
fellowship with Jesus through the suffering (Phil. 3:7-11) Results of suffering can be…
- Creating greater unity in the Body of
Christ
- Stimulus to greater prayer & pressing
into God’s presence
- Demonstration of the reality of our
faith to the world
- Greater purity in the Church
- Greater conformity to the image of
God by believers who experience suffering Recommendations regarding suffering…
- Be wise; don’t suffer because of
foolishness, rebellion, or obnoxiousness!
- Obey God and obey those who have
authority over you unless to obey means to directly disobey God. (Acts 5:29; Dan. 3:17,18)
- Choose obedience to God and be
prepared to accept suffering if necessary. Response to suffering…
- Prayerful and trust the Holy Spirit to
guide and give us grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16)
- Rejoice in suffering (1 Pet. 4:13-14
Jas. 1:2-3; Acts 5:41)
- Endure in faith, trusting God
forgiving & praying for those who persecute (Heb. 12:1-3; 1 Pet. 4:17- 19) Suffering is an integral part of practicing the presence of the kingdom.
- Believers elsewhere can choose to
share in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters around the globe by… – Relationship
- Loving them enough to know them
- Be with them, eat, sleep, spend time together
- Come to know their world
– Responding because of genuine relationships
- Assist them with their felt needs
Weep with those who weep; rejoice with those who rejoice.