Suffering is not for me week 1, 2011

“Me I no go suffer! I will not beg for bread. God of miracles – He’s my Daddy.” How can you be singing that song? “Why shouldn’t I brother? Why shouldn’t I? God has not designed us to suffer any more.” For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich 2Co 8:9(ISV). I am afraid for you, it seems someone might keep you from a full reward. You are rejecting what God has ordained for your profit.
“Look Jesus has suffered for us on the cross, we do not need to suffer any longer by faith we enjoy the riches of His grace.” But what of Paul: Now I am rejoicing in my sufferings for you and completing in my flesh whatever remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church Col 1:24(ISV). Would you say he did not enjoy the grace of God? “Some of Paul’s sufferings were self imposed. I won’t join you in doing penance. “Was it so? Did the Lord Jesus not say: For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name Act 9:16(ISV). “Well I heard that people suffer based on the measure of opposition they gave the gospel before repentance. If they had been pretty sinful like Paul they would suffer a lot; but if not like Barnabas they would not need to go through suffering.” Now that is a strange view, and it sounds much more like the penance you are speaking against. That opinion is unbiblical.
“You have me confused. I know it is supposed to be unbiblical. Even though the passage you quote appears to support it. What then is the bible stand on Christians and suffering?” There is a great difference between sufferings because of ignorance of the provisions of Jesus (My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Hos 4:6(MKJV)), sufferings because of willful sin (What credit is it if, when you have done evil, you take your punishment quietly? but if you are given punishment for doing right, and take it quietly, this is pleasing to God1Pe 2:20(BBE)), and suffering as a Christian. Scripture clearly teaches For you have been given the privilege for Christ's sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him Phil 1:29(ISV). It is the first 2 that we should abhor. Don’t ever sing that song again; rather say, “Even though I suffer, I’ll never beg for bread…” that is scriptural.
They left the Council, rejoicing to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name Act 5:41(ISV).