The Fellowship Of His Suffering - Part 2: Conclusion

FALSE SUFFERING

Many try to live under false humility just because they’re trying to do things by their own strength, but there’s no way they can become humble enough. I mentioned earlier, only God, the Spirit of holiness can bring us to that place of true suffering, and true weakness. When it is God, trust that He is in the midst of it. We can only take pleasure in our suffering and weakness and reproaches when it’s truly “for Christ’s sake.” This suffering is not self-inflicted, nor does it arise because of dumb decisions, or mistakes, or if we fall into grievous sin. This type of suffering is not the wilderness suffering and it won’t bring you to that place of resurrection and renewal. Biblical suffering is Christ’s suffering and a suffering in you that is birthed because of your conviction, your stand, and your work for Christ. It’s not a “woe is me, the world is doing me wrong,” type of suffering, but a suffering that renews and strengthens you.

Thank God for suffering! It’s working greater revelations and visions in us. It’s bringing us to resurrection power. It’s bringing us to the place of always carrying the load in our bodies of the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Christ may be manifest in our mortal flesh. The affliction of the Lord helps us understand His decrees (Ps. 119:71) so that we will not go astray. I thank God I was afflicted, weak, and totally dependant upon Him. For in that secret cleft of His tabernacle, an awesome anointing comes out of that place of dependence, trust, and weakness. Oh that we could live there in a constant state, in a supernatural state of weakness and trembling, so that the power of Christ may rest on our lives.

SUFFERING ISN’T LASTING

Believers all over the world, and throughout history, have endured the wilderness of suffering. Sometimes it seems as though it won’t ever end, but take heart. Despite the duration of your trial, believe that God will keep you safe, provide for you throughout, and accomplish a mighty victory in your life!

The Bible uses several words for “waiting” in the sense of waiting on the Lord. One of those words describes trusting hope and that word is yachal (Strong’s 3176) which is a hope that produces great endurance under extreme pressure. Consider its use in Job 13:15: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust [wait, hope, trust] Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” Job’s hope in the Lord enabled him to endure and stand firm, even under difficult conditions. He had hope that he would come forth as gold.

Another word often used in the Bible is qavah. This means “to bind together, look patiently, tarry or wait, and hope, expect, look eagerly.” This is the context used in Isaiah 40:31, “But those who trust [hope] in the Lord shall renew their strength . . .” This is a waiting, expectant hope! A certain and sure hope in the future gives us supernatural strength, “They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Mankind can live forty days without food, three without water, up to eight minutes without air, but zero seconds without hope.