Why Do Saints Suffer?

I think one of the greatest controversies in the Body of Christ is the issue of suffering. There are many doctrines that forbid even the thought of the suffering of saints being the will of God. But there are so many scriptures that seem to be advocates of suffering for the people of God in this dispensation. I truly thought I understood them all. But the Lord who is faithful to give wisdom to those who seek Him for it; has opened my eyes to see suffering of the sons like I never saw it before. If I am successful in relaying this revelation to you, then you will never be resentful of the things you must face in this life for Christ’s sake.

Luke 14:26-28

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

The implication here is that if you are to be saved or become a disciple of Jesus Christ, there is a criteria. You must hate, father, mother, sister, brother, etc. This means you must not allow humanity to have a greater influence in your life. You must hate your own life. You must be willing to deny yourself. You must bear your cross… You must be willing to suffer. You should count up the cost before choosing Christ If you are not able to finish your course you will be lost.

In all the many years that I have been a member of the Body of Christ, I have never heard any one preach these facts as conditions for getting to heaven. If we should fail in any of these we will forfeit the prize. Many of us made the commitment to serve the Lord without even considering we would be required to suffer. Yes beloved, suffering is a requirement. It is a necessary element of salvation. First of all, let me just cite some scriptures that validate my position on this matter.

Philippians 1:29

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;

2 Timothy 3:12

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2 Timothy 2:12

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

We are not going to wrestle with the truth. We are going to accept it as fact and move on to see the intent of the Father in mandating the suffering of His people.

The apostle Paul sheds quite a bit of light on this subject.

Philippians 3:10

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Here we have the mystery of suffering revealed. Not only are we to walk in the power of His resurrection that puts His righteousness on display to the world, but we are also required to enter into the fellowship of His suffering. This is not an option. It is a commandment. Jesus said, without the willingness to bear our cross, we could in no wise be His disciples. Yes, my friend, suffering is a part of the salvation package.

The Christ who walked this earth was a persecuted, suffering servant. Yet He finished the work God gave Him to do. But you must embrace the fact that this is the will of God for each of us as well. I want you to examine each of these scriptures.

Isaiah 53:4-10

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 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.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

1 Peter 2:20-25

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but com- mitted himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now re- turned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. The Church is the generation of Christ.

Those who walk in his footsteps will declare him. It is through our suffering in the flesh that we show forth the power of Christ. Learning Obedience Jesus came to the earth the Son of the Living God. He had power over all the power of Satan. He could heal the sick, raise the dead and walk on water. No matter what men thought of Him, they were unable to do Him any harm before the time. Satan even testified that God had given His angels charge over Him so that He couldn’t even stump His toe. But this was all about to change. The hour had come for Him to submit to evil and cruel mocking.

Hebrews 5:7-9

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

We too must learn obedience by the things we suffer. This proves our commitment to God.

1 Peter 5:10

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Saints, let us not fall short of all that the gospel expects and offers us. We can obtain the greater works ministry that Jesus promised; not for our glory but for His. Paul had to come to a revelation of this truth while in the midst of His ministry.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

When we are weak in the flesh, we are strong in the Spirit. It is the humiliation of the flesh that reveals Christ in us. When the flesh is weakened the power of Christ will rest upon it. Is not this what we all say we want; the anointing of Christ. Well, it comes with a willing heart to suffer in the flesh for Christ’s sake. Do you have the courage to allow the fellowship of His sufferings in your flesh? Beloved this is not an option it is a commandment.

Acts 14:22

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must, through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

This is the encouragement Paul gives to us. We will suffer tribulation and all who will live godly will suffer persecution. But in doing so, we will have entered into the fellowship of His sufferings. Jesus made this very clear to all who receive Him.

John 15:18-21

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

On the road to Damascus, Jesus said to Paul, “Why persecuteth thou me?” It is Christ in the flesh now. The Church is the bone of His bones and the flesh of His flesh. This is further reiterated in His testimony at the judgment.

Matthew 25:34-40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Jesus is in our bodies. He is the same today as He was two thousand years ago. He is glorified when we walk in humility and obedience to the commandments of the Father. If we do not rebel against Christ by becoming resentful of the things He must again suffer in us, we will reap eternal life. I could go on and on writing on this subject, but I will simply provide you with a list of a few scriptures that further establish these truths.