Do you have to suffer some times as a Christian?

Absolutely yes! But not all sufferings are to be suffered by the child of God.

In fact and in truth, sufferings are a part of being a Christian:

“Yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12.

(Persecution is anything you “suffer for righteousness’ sake”, 1 Peter 3:14; 4:14; Matthew 5:10-12).

But, my beloved brethren, there are also sufferings so many Christians are suffering which they shouldn’t be suffering.

This Word has been brewing cumulatively for some years now, waiting for when to release it. And now, I have the marching orders of The LORD Jesus to write and publish it.

It all happened in a most unexpected way.

In response to my post “Please, Don’t Be Offended At Jesus” on HKP, a very dear brother emailed me a sobering testimony. (The LORD gave him and his wife a very important ministry for the equipping of the saints worldwide for years now — and so crucial for this time).

With his permission, I reproduce the testimony below:

“In reference to your last Word from The LORD, when I read your single word “causation” I felt led to pass along this short version of a personal testimony in which I heard His audible voice from just outside my left ear only.

About three years ago The LORD revealed to me after 18 years or so, why my only son died in 1997 as a new-born.

The LORD said that if he had not died — I would not be where I am today, and so not doing what I am doing today.

I guess it took 18+ years from the event for me to be mature enough to be able to understand His actions and praise Him in it for Who He is and all He does.

Let me share with you what happened. It only took seconds. I was sitting working at my desk as I am now, and there was no one else in the house.

Suddenly I heard a clear and audible man’s voice, just outside my left ear say, “If he had not died, you would not be where you are now.”

As I quickly turned around to look who had said it — but already knowing there was no one standing next to me — it took me about three seconds to work out whose voice this was, who had died, and that indeed, it was a true statement.

As I sat in bewilderment, for this is something which does not come to mind often, I realized The LORD was actually confirming to me that I was here where I was meant to be, and doing the job I was meant to be doing [the aforementioned ministry].

When [my wife] came home a few hours later, I met her with the revelation that The LORD had confirmed to me that I am where I need to be, doing what I need to do. (And by definition her also.)”

Hmm…..

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of The LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” Romans 11:33-35.

As happened to Job, The LORD allows some things to happen to us, and then bless us to become greater than before.

As written, “…Indeed The LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Now The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” (Job 42:10,12).

It is immeasurably crucial that we discern if our sufferings are Godly, or otherwise, and pray accordingly by The Utterance of The Holy Spirit.

This is because some afflictions are God-approved/ allowed. Others are not; they are legalistic claims by the accuser of the brethren (the devil), owing to personal, parental and ancestral (and other) sins and demonic covenants — knowingly and unknowingly.

Such must be swiftly established (from The LORD), repented of, renounced and destroyed by The Blood of Jesus.

Then there are also some God-approved afflictions that overstay the time frame predetermined by God. Such must also be diligently established and resolved by prayers of repentance and supplications to God for His swift intervention and resolution, as Daniel did, (Daniel 9:1-19).

This was also the case with the children of Israel in Egypt. They overstayed in their Godly affliction. But when they cried to God eventually, He delivered them mightily.

Godly Sufferings

Oh yes, it CAN be The Will of God for us to suffer some things, some times according to His purpose:

“Therefore let those who suffer according to The Will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:19.

Godly afflictions are purely used by God for purposes such as testing, perfecting, learning obedience, and promotion of His children in this life and in the life to come, (James 1:2-4; 5:10, 11,13; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18; Hebrews 2:10).

Such sufferings, besides being intended by The LORD for our testing, learning obedience, perfection and promotion, can even be for GRAND purposes far beyond us. Remember Joseph?

“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life……..
……. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt,” Genesis 45:5,7-8.

Godly afflictions are for a moment (the exact time frame predetermined by God); they are not for a lifetime, (2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 5:10). They are not to be endlessly endured, as so many brethren do, passively saying, “God is in control.”

For, surely there is an end, the expected end, the end intended by The LORD (Jeremiah 29:11; James 5:11).

For lack of knowledge My people perish

The problem with too many Christians is that, they may be suffering Satanic afflictions, but mistake it as being from God, and then relentlessly complaining (which thing God hates vehemently!), instead of praying with knowledge by The Holy Spirit.

Again, even Godly afflictions must not be countenanced beyond their time frame. We must go boldly to God in prayer like Daniel and David:

“O LORD, hear! O LORD, forgive! O LORD, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your Name.”

“But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.” (Daniel 9:19; Psalms 40:17; 70:5).

Whatever we are going through we must pray about it for God’s intervention SPEEDILY as Jesus commanded in Luke 18:1-8.

It must not be endured passively. As written, “in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…” (Philippians 4:6).

That said, His Sovereignty MUST NOT be questioned (only humbly submitted to). But His sympathy must be zealously sought always.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to The Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16.

Indeed,

“He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

In all things, Jesus must have THE preeminence, (Colossians 1:18).

Why, LORD, Why? Why Me?

When going through trials, it is important not to be distracted and trapped by ‘why, LORD, why; why me‘ whining. It is a weakening and an ensnaring device of Satan. Don’t fall into it.

Furthermore, as the brother noted in another email in our discussing on this subject,

“I just find that in bad times people are often fixated on “why?”, while yet in good times, there are no thoughts as to why….”

We can ask, and The LORD may reveal as needed. But we must not be all worked up and mired in asking ‘why, why…’ endlessly.

As The LORD did with Job, He does eventually speak with us about our situation. The LORD does eventually reveal to us the ‘why’ of SOME things, and also when we ask Him and He chooses to tell us.

For example Joseph eventually got to know why he was sold into Egypt. When he revealed himself to his brothers and reconciled with them, he said:

“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life…….
…… And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 45:5,7- 8.

Joseph understood “the end intended by The LORD”, (James 5:11).

We CAN ask The LORD the ‘why’ of SOME things, and He may choose to tell us:

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” John 9:1-3.

The LORD does also reveal the ‘why’ of some things to us for the glory of God:

“Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “LORD, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:3-4.

So then, we may eventually understand; we may ask God; The LORD may volunteer the insight. But it is all WHEN He chooses, IF chooses.

It is also worth noting that, seeking to know ‘why?’ should not be to satisfy esoteric curiosity and inquiry.

It should be for the high call of knowledge/ understanding, prayer and action as led by The Holy Spirit.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…” James 5:13.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3.

 

“The LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22.
“Farewell” Acts 15:29.
~ Jacob Awagah

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Jacob, an apostle of Jesus Christ by The Will of God, according to The Promise of Life which is in Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:1).  As John was, Jacob is the disciple whom JESUS loves, (John 13:23;19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20).  And like Paul, Jacob is “the prisoner of CHRIST JESUS” (Ephesians 3:1) for His Purpose forever: to obey Him always.

“And having been perfected, He became The Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:9.

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