Our Light Affliction
Writer Author Sylvia Huffnagle
Christian Article
:
Bible Teaching
- Fiction No
Our Light Affliction
In today’s America there are many Christians who have not used the Word to train their thinking to fear not man, to endure tests and trials, and to be longsuffering.
Believers must do these things to overcome--especially in these end times when persecution against Christians can break out anywhere. In fact in most of the world there is more persecution of Christians today than ever before. BE READY!
With compiled scriptures I will endeavor to show believers when to stand against the enemy, how to stand against the enemy, and why they must stand against the enemy. And to show them what endurance is, where it is called for and what longsuffering is, and where it is necessary?
MINDSET:
Cor: 4:17-18: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Notice that the affliction works for you. How? Every time we choose to do things God’s way and not our own, we gain ground in the battle to be conformed into Jesus’ image. And every time we choose to take a lesser way, we lose ground and are weakened for the battle.
PERSECUTION:
Mt: 5:10-16: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Why must Christians stand for the truth?
They are the salt of the earth.
They are to let their light shine.
Mt: 10:16-21: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17: But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18: And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19: But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20: For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21: And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22-25: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23: But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24: The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25: It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Their master (Jesus) did not fear man. He always did as His Father bid Him. Christians will get the same treatment Jesus gets.
26-31: Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27: What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30: But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31: Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32-39: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33: But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35: For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36: And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39: He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Jn: 14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
First emphasis: Fear not man. This is necessary in an evil and adulterous generation or in a country where Jesus is not welcome. For many there is a real threat of being beaten up, thrown in jail or even killed. Jesus told us to stand for what He has taught us in the face of persecution.
To stand means the truth is upheld. The truth is proclaimed and emphasized. The benefits are that some people will give heed and even eventually receive the Lord. Others will ponder it and be fore-warned.
To stand also means we are pleasing the Father and the Son.
It means you are doing your part for the cause of Christ, which is to proclaim truth in order to set men free and to save souls. Jesus paid a high price to make these things available. The least believers can do is be His body down here as He represents them as their High Priest up there.
How do you gain the courage and determination to stand?
Develop a close personal love relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Remember that you are salt and light in a dark, tasteless world.
Know that God cares for you and even the hairs of your head are important to Him.
Remind yourself that man can only kill your body. God has power over all of you.
Know that all of God’s children confess Him.
Let not your heart be afraid, put your trust in Him.
How to handle persecution:
Mt: 5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Who will be persecuted in these last days:
2Tim: 3:12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
PATIENCE:
Mt: 18:26: The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Christians need patience in order to show mercy.
Lk: 8:15: But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Lk: 21:19: In your patience possess ye your souls.
Rom: 5:3-4: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Christians need patience to go through their tests and trials successfully. As they exercise patience during trials they become more skilled at being patient, thus it says here tribulation worketh patience.
Rom: 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
2Cor: 12:12: Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Patience is listed as a sign of true Christianity.
Col: 1:11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
2Thess: 1:4: So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
1Tim: 6:11: But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2Tim: 3:10: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Titus: 2:2: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Heb: 6:12: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Heb: 10:36: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Christians need to practice patience to receive the promises.
Heb: 12:1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Jas: 1:3-4: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas: 5:10-11: Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Rev: 2:2: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev: 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev: 13:10: He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
ENDURANCE:
Mt: 10:22: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mt: 24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mk: 4:17: And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mk: 13:13: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mt: 13:21: Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
1Cor: 13:4-8: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8: Charity never faileth:
2Thes: 1:4: So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Jms: 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Heb:1 2:7: If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Jas: 5:11: Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
1Pet: 2:19: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pet: 4:12-14: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 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. 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.
LONGSUFFERING:
Gal: 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Eph: 4:2: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Col: 1:11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col: 3:12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
1Tim: 1:16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
2Pet: 3:15: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Longsuffering is the state of enduring as one patiently waits for the desired result.
SUFFERING:
1Pet: 3:14: But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
2Cor: 4:11-18: For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 Cor:4:12-18: 12: So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14: Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15: For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This must be the believer’s attitude in order to practice patience, endurance, longsuffering, and fearlessness.
Sylvia Huffnagle
Editor's Comment:
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