6. Bad Things Happen As A Litmus Test To Know If We Have Lived For Christ.
Bad Things in the WorldIf we live godly lives in Christ, we will be persecuted as a result of living for Him, as a result of service in His kingdom.
Bad Things in the WorldIf we live godly lives in Christ, we will be persecuted as a result of living for Him, as a result of service in His kingdom.
Acts 5:40-42 “Apostles were flogged and ordered not to speak about Jesus. Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. They continued everyday teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”
公 会 的 人 听 从 了 他 ， 便 叫 使 徒 来 ， 把 他 们 打 了 ， 又 吩 咐 他 们 不 可 奉 耶 稣 的 名 讲 道 ， 就 把 他 们 释 放 了 。他 们 离 开 公 会 ， 心 里 欢 喜 ， 因 被 算 是 配 为 这 名 受 辱 。他 们 就 每 日 在 殿 里 、 在 家 里 、 不 住 的 教 训 人 ， 传 耶 稣 是 基 督 。
2 Tim 3:12 “In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
"不 但 如 此 ， 凡 立 志 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 敬 虔 度 日 的 也 都 要 受 逼 迫 。"
John 16:33 " 在 世 上 ， 你 们 有 苦 难 ； 但 你 们 可 以 放 心 ， 我 已 经 胜 了 世 界 。"
People will question why you put so much energy, time, money into vanity. People will be frustrated with your non-compromising stand on salvation. When we speak about Christ absolute authority and Lordship in this age, we are ridiculed with relativism and unrespectfulness.
Bad Things Happen To You In The Church When You Serve
In fact, persecution starts from within the church. When you want to serve, there will be bad things that will happen to discourage you. There might be jealously. Another wants to out perform another. When you teach with biblical authority, people do not want to listen. When you rebuke, people rebut you. Labeled believers stood up to Paul, did not regard him as an apostle, created 'groups', did not want to support him financially, held him in contempt. These kinds of persecution are the most painful. In fact, as you notice majority of the epistles, Paul faced such internal persecutions. Yet, imagine how he remained hopeful and joyful.
If i am chased by a dog or scolded by a flat owner when I give tracts, I can still sleep soundly at night. But if a believer stood up to me, tries to misinterpret me, maligned me in my faith, stirs up falsehood in the truth, I cannot sleep. These are real problems our church leaders are facing. These are what Jesus faced too. The betraying disciple following him. The quarrels within his disciple. The maligned of him by Pharisees, teachers and Jews.
These are things that will happen when we serve in the church becaus the church is a set of sinners coming together. These are what may happen when we serve in church. It is not just rosy Sunday mornings with church bells ringing. Hence what should be our response? Be angry? Be petty? Leave the church? Don't commit to it? Be a mature Christian, not a petty Christian. Submit to one another.
1 Cor 16:13 "要 作 大 丈 夫 ， 要 刚 强 。"
7. Bad Things Happen to Make Us Mature. Don't Be Petty
Pettiness in the Church
Serve diligently in the church. Overlook criticisms. Continue to do good. A pen design looks ugly? Learn from the lesson. Chairman chair badly? Take feedback and improve. Camp programme has some issues? Builds up camp organizing experience.
箴 言 19:11
人 有 见 识 就 不 轻 易 发 怒 ； 宽 恕 人 的 过 失 便 是 自 己 的 荣 耀 。
Don't give up and leave in a huff. Continue to serve. You are a slave of the Lord, serving Him. Not just men. Do His will above your will. Build up the church. A church has problems, the more we need to stay there and help build it up, not leave and find an already stable church (if there is one).
1 Cor 15:58 所 以 ， 我 亲 爱 的 弟 兄 们 ， 你 们 务 要 坚 固 ， 不 可 摇 动 ， 常 常 竭 力 多 做 主 工 ； 因 为 知 道 ， 你 们 的 劳 苦 在 主 里 面 不 是 徒 然 的 。
Pettiness at Home
Romans 5:2-5 “We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
" 我 们 又 藉 着 他 ， 因 信 得 进 入 现 在 所 站 的 这 恩 典 中 ， 并 且 欢 欢 喜 喜 盼 望 神 的 荣 耀 。不 但 如 此 ， 就 是 在 患 难 中 也 是 欢 欢 喜 喜 的 ； 因 为 知 道 患 难 生 忍 耐 ，忍 耐 生 老 练 ， 老 练 生 盼 望 ；盼 望 不 至 於 羞 耻 ， 因 为 所 赐 给 我 们 的 圣 灵 将 神 的 爱 浇 灌 在 我 们 心 里 。"
Pettiness at Home
Similarly at home, we should aim to be mature and not a petty christian. Be a care giver without bitterness and excessive grumbling. Love is ... The fruit of the spirit is...
James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy when you experience various trials, knowing that the tesing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature, and complete, lacking nothing,”
James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy when you experience various trials, knowing that the tesing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature, and complete, lacking nothing,”
2 我 的 弟 兄 们 ， 你 们 落 在 百 般 试 炼 中 ， 都 要 以 为 大 喜 乐 ；因 为 知 道 你 们 的 信 心 经 过 试 验 ， 就 生 忍 耐 。但 忍 耐 也 当 成 功 ， 使 你 们 成 全 、 完 备 ， 毫 无 缺 欠 。
Romans 5:2-5 “We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
" 我 们 又 藉 着 他 ， 因 信 得 进 入 现 在 所 站 的 这 恩 典 中 ， 并 且 欢 欢 喜 喜 盼 望 神 的 荣 耀 。不 但 如 此 ， 就 是 在 患 难 中 也 是 欢 欢 喜 喜 的 ； 因 为 知 道 患 难 生 忍 耐 ，忍 耐 生 老 练 ， 老 练 生 盼 望 ；盼 望 不 至 於 羞 耻 ， 因 为 所 赐 给 我 们 的 圣 灵 将 神 的 爱 浇 灌 在 我 们 心 里 。"
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