DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER
Tuesday – Aug 15, 2017
Greetings and welcome back to our Bible Study of the Book of Hebrews. God is so good to give us His Holy Word, His instructions in righteousness, instructions for an abundant life. When God shows us how to get wealth there is no sorrow in the mix. The picture above is of the State Capitol of Alaska located in Juneau. This is presented by way of a reminder to pray for our governments across America at every level including the Federal government. Understand that we, the Church, have been given stewardship in the earth and as the Church goes so goes the people and thus the government. Brother and sister, we have seriously dropped the ball!
Listen to the words of a former President and Gospel Minister. When giving his centennial address to Congress in 1876, President James Garfield issued the following warning: “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…If the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
We have a President and Vice-President who say they want to make America great again, a nation of righteousness again, will we stand with them. The reality is that we, the Church, must lead the nation and all current and potential leaders into righteousness.
Proverbs 14:34 (KJV)
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
The Church must fully awaken, repent of aiding and abetting the enemy, arise and tear down all the wrong ideas that have crowded Truth out of the Church, and walk in the triumph we were created for in Christ Jesus.
Let’s turn our attention once again to our primary text in the Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (KJV)
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Today I want to return to our discussion of Hebrews 2:18 and the ideas of suffering, temptation, and succoring. There is a common teaching that we Christians must suffer for Christ. Just what does that mean, what is our suffering? Does this mean we are to have poverty, sickness, and all kinds of mayhem in our lives and in some fashion, this shows the goodness of our God? From our text, Hebrews 2:18 the Greek work (Strong’s Greek #3958) translated to English as ‘suffered’ means ‘to experience’. In this case the author of Hebrews is talking about Jesus experiencing temptation as do all of us. The following verse is the first use of this word (suffer) in the New Testament, plus two other verses.
Matthew 16:21 (KJV)
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Here we have Jesus talking to His disciples (and us) telling them what was to come in the next few days. He had been ‘suffering’ many things at the hands of the organized Church. Now, He is referring to more of that but more specifically to the main purpose of His coming which was to confirm the New Blood Covenant. Is any Christian called or required to die for Christ? Does the death of a Christian at the hands of the world, an organized religion, or even sickness and disease bring honor to God and show the goodness of our God? Jesus died for all, the shedding of our blood for Him is meaningless in the redemptive story, it brings zero glory to God, and is a demonstration of the devil getting the upper hand. The devil is come to steal, kill, and destroy in our lives and his greatest satisfaction is to kill us for it takes us off the battlefield and reduces a potential sphere of far superior opposition to his work. Well what about the next verse?
Matthew 17:15 (KJV)
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Hopefully you all know this story. The father of this boy with what sounds like seizures had brought him to the disciples and he was not healed. Jesus shows up and the father brings the boy to Jesus and after a brief conversation and a repentance by the father the boy is healed. Seizures or epilepsy is a part of the curse. The curse entered the earth, mankind, with sin. This happens today where the children of sinner and saint alike are born with various manifestations of the curse. The question always comes up about bad things happening to good people. The will of God is for all of us to have healthy babies, children however the will of God does not just magically take place. The will of God is accomplished upon the earth and specifically in our individual lives by prayer, by decreeing a thing in faith with nothing wavering. If we fail to apply preventive medicine, the medicine of our authority and power in the earth the curse will be manifest. This sickness was never the will of God, God does not make us sick or allow sickness to show His goodness. This is not suffering for Christ. However, when we have in one way or another allowed sickness or other manifestations of the curse to take root the Goodness of God can make it right.
Matthew 17:18 (KJV)
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Okay, let’s look at one more verse before we move on.
Matthew 27:19 (KJV)
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Here we find Jesus before Pilate on the day that he will pay the price of sin for us all. We find that Pilate’s wife has seen in dreams that Jesus is a righteous man (Jesus) and they should leave Him alone. God always provides warnings even when He knows that the die is set so to speak. We don’t know if Pilate’s wife was a believer or not however this was a warning like God did with Pharaoh and Abimelech. This was the mercy of God extended, Pilate’s wife suffered (experienced) many things in the form of a dream, but was unheeded by Pilate. Now let’s look at a couple of other examples concerning this word suffering and what it has to do with us.
James 5:10 (KJV)
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
This is the only time this particular form of the word translated here as ‘suffering’ is used in the New Testament and means hardship or experiencing evil. Who is James talking too? If you go back to look for context you will find that he is talking to believers and he is talking about sin among believers. And we know that the key of sin is necessary to open the door for the curse to enter. If any of us have opened that door and not closed it (by repentance) the curse will have reign to some extent perhaps even to the level of killing us. Let’s move to one final example today.
Romans 7:5 (KJV)
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
The Greek word translated to English here as ‘motions’ (Strong’s Greek #3804) is translated 15 times as suffering or affliction and one time as motion. If you look at the word and its root you find the transliterated Greek word ‘pathos’ from which we get pathology. Notice in our text that this affliction is the fruit of sin and can include death. Unrepented sin always hastens death.
So, can we conclude that sin invites the curse with its attendant physical and mental sufferings? Have we seen evidence that sickness and disease, suffering of any type is the result of just being born in the earth and something to be put up with and allow it to refine and perfect us to give God glory? Hopefully, you can see that this is a ridiculous argument on its surface. If true what would it say about God, our Heavenly Father? God is good and He is nothing but good. Sin however always results in a judgment and the curse has license in our lives. So, the answer to the title of this teaching is, yes, Christians do suffer (experience) temptations and if not overcome the result of those wrong choices, the turning aside to other gods.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
MAILING ADDRESS: 3 Rosswood Green Lane, Unit Two, Oakland, Maine 04963
