Not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake

Luke 13:1-2 (UKJV)  There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose all of you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Jesus is explaining here the wrong interpretation of the reasons for sufferings in human beings' lives.

 In human society people give various interpretations to  sufferings.

One thing all may agree is that God wants people to live a happy life on this earth. And due to sin sufferings entered on this earth. 

We, Christians believe that Jesus Christ  cancelled sin & all its after effects on the cross.

Jesus Christ has given us the key of authority to remove all the curses from the earth.

But why still sufferings remain even in Christian's lives?

Let's see the logic of this.

God can not sin. Neither he accepts sin.

Those who accept Jesus are removed from curses. But what about those who have not accepted the Saviour. Even those who rebel against Jesus and  His disciples are there in this world. They will be there till the end.

Jesus’ disciples’ work is to liberate people from darkness & bring them to light. This is a fight and  only by entering into warfare we can deliver children from the custody of satan. Satan still inflicts pain upon God's children who are on earth. And he will do the same till the end of the world..It is the fulfilment of Gen 3:15.

 Genesis 3:15 (UKJV)  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

This enmity will ever be present in every generation and war will be fought  in all generations.

Then shall we conclude that  satan got authority over God's children. Certainly  no.

In the fight with satan, those who have joined with satan  will stand against us, betray us. Once we declare war with satan, the person whom he uses as his tool and  instrument will be fighting against you.

They, the very persons,  whom the Lord has  given you as the target to deliver, will look like fighting against you. (It is not he/she but satan fighting against you). This fight will continue till you overcome the enemy inside of him, defeat him, and  transform that person.

The price you will have to pay will be great or small depending upon the person's score and  plan for him in the Books of heaven.

Isaiah 53:3-5 (UKJV)  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

When we enter into this process of bringing people, families, nations Churches, into Salvation, all that is said in  the above verse may happen to you too.

One should not  get shocked at this. They should  realise that the victory is theirs and  continue to stand without complaining or withdrawing.

God also might seem to stand far away or turn His face away as He did in the case of Jesus, because when you are carrying the sins of others on you and  standing in the Court of Heaven on behalf of any particular individual, all that the culprit is carrying (the guilt, shame, rejection, et) will be translated unto you.

You will suffer rejection, accused guilty, put to shame etc.

This is the work of Evangelization and discipling.

In the midst of this, the true worker should rejoice because they have tremendous confidence and  it will grow steadily till the following verse is fulfilled in them. 

Hebrews 12:2-4 (UKJV)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest all of you be wearied and faint in your minds.All of you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Philippians 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Sr. Angelica AOJ

Be Formed and Form is a 5 day short term course.

As per Eph 4:11-13, it perfects the saints,  for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ………until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

The Lord wants the Church to be transformed according to Eph 5:26, 27 to make her holy, (cleansing her by the washing with water through the word), and to present her as a radiant Church. By BFF training, the Church awakes and arises to shine in the world. So far 600 batches have been conducted across India in various languages. The students were from almost all the States of India and abroad. For Further details:

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