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NASB | Acts 8:2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 8:2 ¶ Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss]. |
Subject: The Suffering of the Church |
Bible Note: Hello Mike, I don't follow you in your comment about "...interesting theology, I don't know that I buy it". No one is asking that you to buy anything. Scripture either supports it (suffering) or it doesn't. We therefore either believe it- based on scripture- or we don't! Further, your statement that "Suffering in ALL forms is EVIL and SATANIC. It is the opposite of the Kingdom of Heaven" is completely at odds with scripture. Might I ask then, 'who's buying what'? Have you done any word studies on "suffer", "suffered", or "suffering"? Let's look at several examples from scripture: 1. In 1 Peter 3, we find addressed in 13-22 our conduct in suffering and Christ's example. Verse 14: "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED," (NASB); You say, "can't seem to find any scripture where God uses suffering to lead us:? How about Verse 18, "For Christ also died ('suffered'- NKJV) for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 2. In the context of apostasy, Paul exhorts us in 2 Timothy 3:2, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ('suffer persecution'- NKJV)."; 3. Finally, in his letter to the Phillipians, Paul exhorts believers to know Christ, that(we) "...may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (NASB) 4. Why does James plead in 5:13, "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises." (NASB) I must take strong issue with you as you are in error! Are you gaining your teaching from WOF circles? Because, if you're serious that you can't find any scripture where God uses suffering to lead us, you haven't read too far! Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |