Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | The Suffering of the Church | Acts 8:2 | dwilliamson | 217606 | ||
Searcher A marvellous story. See my personal profile. The suffering of those martyrs is the means which God used to cause me to desire to know Him more. The discipleship statements of the Lord Jesus promise a path of suffering for the believer in Him. See eg. Matthew 8v19-20. Here the "scribe" who came to the Lord promises to "follow...whithersoever Thou goest" - the Lord has to remind the scribe that "the foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head"! In other words, to follow the Lord Jesus is necessarily to walk a path of suffering in this world. Is this not the world that rejected Him from His birth, is it not the world that crucified the Lord? How then can His servants "reign as kings" in His absence (see 1 Corinthians Ch4v8-16.) Think of the sufferings of David the "sweet Psalmist of Israel" - if he had not experienced his suffering would we have had the Psalms which so eloquently express the truly pious heart? We would be the poorer without them! In Colossians 1v24 Paul records "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (NASB). Evidently Paul does not speak of the atoning sufferings of Christ - in which no person but Christ Himself had a part! He speaks rather of suffering as associated with Christ "on behalf of His body, which is the church". Now, having said all of this, it seems necessary to state that Satan does have a part often in suffering. Job is the prime example of this BUT it must be recognised that God was ever in control and Satan could not go beyond the limits God set! Thus Satan, with all his power and cruelty is unable to cause one particle of suffering to a Christian without the prior knowledge of God Himself. In Him David |
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2 | The Suffering of the Church | Acts 8:2 | dwilliamson | 217608 | ||
Hope I dont presume to go too far by adding the following verses which I found in an old magazine called "Things New and Old". No author details are given. Have Ye Counted the Cost? Have ye counted the cost! Have ye counted the cost! Ye warriors of the Cross? Are ye fixed in heart, for your Master's sake, To suffer all earthly loss? Can ye bear the scoff of the worldly-wise, As ye pass by pleasure's bower, To watch with your Lord, on the mountain top, Through the dreary midnight hour? In the power of His might! In the power of His might! Who was made thro' weakness strong, Ye shall overcome in the fearful fight! And sing His victory song! But count ye the cost; yea, count ye the cost -The forsaking all ye have! Then take up your cross and follow your Lord, Not thinking your life to save! By the " blood of the Lamb," - By the " blood of the Lamb,"' - By the faithful witness Word! Not loving your lives unto death for Him, Ye shall triumph with your Lord! So count ye the cost; yea, count ye the cost, Ye warriors of the cross! Yet in royal faith and in royal love, Count all selfish gain but loss.' O! the banner of love! O! the banner of love! It will cost you a pang to hold! But 'twill float in triumph the field above. Though your heart's blood stain its fold. Ye may count the cost! ye may count the cost Of all Egyptians treasure! But the riches of Christ ye cannot count - His love ye cannot measure! In Him David |
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3 | The Suffering of the Church | Acts 8:2 | stjohn | 217611 | ||
David, Amen. Not too far at all, Brother. Far to many, don't go far enough, and we end up with a, washed-out, weak tea of a gospel being taught from far too many a pulpit. And, the unfortunate end result is, we sadly end up with a bunch of washed-out weak tea Christians. John p.s. Many future blessings to you and your lovely (bride to be) Jennie. May you bare up well under the frustrations and tribulations of the world. May the sun always shine in your garden, may the wind be at your back, may the road home always be down hill, and may you be in Heaven, twenty minutes before the Devil even knows you are dead. |
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