"You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more He will shower us with His comfort and encouragement." - 2 Corinthians 1:5
These sufferings are not sickness and poverty as some religious teaching suggest. These afflictions are described as the "fellowship of sufferings" that the believer will encounter for doing the will of God, or the sufferings brought on by one's allegiance to Jesus.
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." - Philippians 3:10
The apostles received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, and went out on fire to set the world on fire. They didn't stay in the Upper Room enjoying their experience and trying to prolong it. Nor did they keep coming back for more of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not given for self-indulgence. They went out full of His power and proclaimed the truth of what they had received.
"God was pleased to reveal His Son IN ME so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles." - Galatians 1:15,16
God reveals Christ IN US so that we might preach Him among the nations -- evangelizing -- DISCIPLING and equipping others for Christian service. Once we meet Christ, then others can see Christ IN US. The life we live, we live by Christ IN US.
These sufferings are not sickness and poverty as some religious teaching suggest. These afflictions are described as the "fellowship of sufferings" that the believer will encounter for doing the will of God, or the sufferings brought on by one's allegiance to Jesus.
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." - Philippians 3:10
The apostles received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, and went out on fire to set the world on fire. They didn't stay in the Upper Room enjoying their experience and trying to prolong it. Nor did they keep coming back for more of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not given for self-indulgence. They went out full of His power and proclaimed the truth of what they had received.
"God was pleased to reveal His Son IN ME so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles." - Galatians 1:15,16
God reveals Christ IN US so that we might preach Him among the nations -- evangelizing -- DISCIPLING and equipping others for Christian service. Once we meet Christ, then others can see Christ IN US. The life we live, we live by Christ IN US.
