Yesterday was a wonderful day. Tim and Savannah were married in my back yard surrounding by some of their family and friends. We have been preparing for this wedding for several months. There was so much work to do to cut the grass, trim the weeds. Throw out things. Put up lights. Order food, pay for the food. Set up tables, chairs….take down tables and chairs.
Today I am very sore in my back and arms, legs. All over I am sore but I am full of Joy for Tim and Savannah.
It was sometime around 6am this morning as I was waking up the Lord put this familiar scripture in my heart and mind:
Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
It was several year ago that I recall the Lord had me share on this scripture but I do not recall any of the points of the message. But on the face you can read this passage of scripture and clearly see that Paul is writing the modern principle on delayed gratification. But it is actually so much more than that.
You see the definition of delayed gratification is the act of resisting an impulse to take an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future. The ability to delay gratification is essential to self-regulation, or self-control.
But Paul is not just taking about self-control even though you need to have self-control (which is a fruit of the spirit) in order to keep walking in faith through whatever situation you find yourself in today that requires you to keep on keeping on.
Paul is talking about finding yourself in a position of suffering from some outside force. And not just suffering for no reason at all, but to do it for the cause of Christ.
***The 1st point of the message today: It is scriptural for believers to suffer at some point in their life.
**It may come as a surprise to many of you who are a new believer in Christ but it is scriptural to suffer for the cause of Christ. It is also an honor to suffer for the cause of Christ.
In 1991 English guitarist, singer, and songwriter Eric Clapton and Will Jennings, wrote a song about the tragic death of Clapton's four-year-old son, Conor. It appeared on the 1991 Rush film soundtrack. The Song was called Tears in Heaven. It is a touching and moving song but not a new concept as the bible tells us in both the old and new testament that there will be crying, there will be tears but that God is going to wipe every tear away from our eyes.
Revelation 21:4
4 hHe will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and ideath shall be no more, jneither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Isaiah 25:8
8 vHe will swallow up death forever;
and wthe Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,
and xthe reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
yfor the LORD has spoken.
****In John 16 Jesus is speaking to his disciples before his betrayal by Judas and arrest. He is giving them a last minute pep talk before he goes through a period of separation from them when he will show them an example of what it looks like to suffer and die with dignity and self-control for the father God and the Joy that was set before him.
John 16:32-33
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
***The 1st point of the message today: It is scriptural for believers to suffer at some point in their life.
***The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus taught us to Reject the shame but Endure the present suffering, and Embrace the future joy.
*** Do not want you to miss this point. You see sometimes we fall into the trap of embracing the shame of suffering, when in reality Jesus taught us to do the opposite. We reject and despise any shame that may try to come as a result of our suffering but we endure present suffering while embracing the future Joy.
Let’s look at the what Peter had to say about this topic:
1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Paul in his 2nd letter to Timothy describes the reality of suffering in our Christian walk but quickly moves to embrace the promise of future reunion with Jesus for eternity.
2 Timothy 2:9-13
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
***The 1st point of the message today: It is scriptural for believers to suffer at some point in their life.
***The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus taught us to Reject the shame but Endure the present suffering, and Embrace the future joy.
I want to go back to Romans 8 and look at what other truths are in this passage of scripture. We want to make sure we understand how Paul gets to the statement of fact in Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
***We need to pause here for the minute to recognize that there are two different ways that you can live your life:
1st way and most popular is to think carnally or earthly about everything and every situation.
2nd way is what God calls us as believers to do and that is think Spiritually.
Paul is now going to show us the difference between these two ways of thinking and help us to see the future outcome of each way.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
***Point #3 of the Message today: You will never be able to Embrace future Joy with a current, earthly mindset.
You see in order to follow Christ Example we learned in point #2 Reject the shame but Endure the present suffering, and Embrace the future joy. In order to do that you have to see beyond the present life, You have to see beyond the current situation. You have to be able to look at your present situation as temporary and a brief moment compared to your eternal life with Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:19-20
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
** You may say today. Pastor Jon that is hard. I cannot just think like that because I live here. I live now. I hurt here, I hurt now.
**In just a few more paragraphs, Paul is going to explain to us what we have to do in order to think spiritually and not earthly….You are going to have to lay down your body as a continual offering to God:
Romans 12:1-3
King James Version
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
In 2009 Release Artist: William McDowell
Here I am
Here I am
Here I stand
Lord, my life is in your hands
Lord, I'm longing to see
Your desires revealed in me
I give myself away
I give myself away (I want to be use by you)
So You can use me
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
Take my heart
Take my life
As a living sacrifice
All my dreams all my plans
Lord I place them in your hands
I give myself away (I give myself away)
I belong to you I give myself away
(I give myself away)
So You can use me
Lord I give myself away I give myself away (my mind doesn't belong to me) I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
Oh oh my life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you
My life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you
***The 1st point of the message today: It is scriptural for believers to suffer at some point in their life.
***The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus taught us to Reject the shame but Endure the present suffering, and Embrace the future joy.
***Point #3 of the Message today: You will never be able to Embrace future Joy with a current, earthly mindset.
***Let’s go back to Romans 8:9
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
***Point #4 of the Message: When we live our lives for God, full of the Holy Spirit, God brings life to our mortal bodies.
*** This is the balance to Suffering for Christ in this life and enduring and embracing future Joy and the whole time that is going on the Holy Spirit can be quickening our mortal body and bringing us life every day.
God does not want us to be laid up somewhere waiting for Physical Death to come in order for us to start living for Him. God wants the Power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to get up everyday and do what he has called us to do for the Kingdom of God!
Romans 8:14
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
***You see how Paul bring that balance back in here. Yes the Holy Spirit is quickening us! Yes the Holy Spirit it giving us power and strength every day to do what God has called us to do but we have to remember ***The 1st point of the message today: It is scriptural for believers to suffer at some point in their life.
Then Paul says in verse 18 I reckon
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
This greek word for Reckon is actually a word from which we get the word for a accounting ledger. It means: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
- to take into account, to make an account of.
Paul says I have done the math. I have counted this thing over. I have taking account of this life principle and reconciled everything. He says the suffering right now for Christ, the physical pain and anguish, The bonds and imprisonment. It does not even compare in any way to the Glory that God is going to reveal in us. It does not compare. It is not even close.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
***The 1st point of the message today: It is scriptural for believers to suffer at some point in their life.
***The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus taught us to Reject the shame but Endure the present suffering, and Embrace the future joy.
***Point #3 of the Message today: You will never be able to Embrace future Joy with a current, earthly mindset.
***Point #4 of the Message: When we live our lives for God, full of the Holy Spirit, God brings life to our mortal bodies.
***Point #5 and Closing point of the Message today: The suffering you may be experiencing today does not Compare to the Glory God has planned for you.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.