One of the community groups at Elevate is Chase the Lion and this week’s reading includes Philippians 1.29: For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him but also suffer for Him.

In my spiritual heritage, let’s just say the end part of this Scripture wouldn’t get much run, however, the “believe in Him” part was a favorite. I found myself woefully equipped to suffer well for Him (in fact I thought that I shouldn’t have to). I have also seen theologies that glorify suffering so much that if at any given time you weren’t getting kicked in the teeth, then you were somehow less spiritual.

Truth is that the Enemy of our Soul will try to destroy us and that there are times we need to stand in faith against Him. It’s also true that Jesus bore some things on the cross that we shouldn’t have to and can access promises of God that bring victory in certain areas of our life.

It’s equally clear in the Bible that to follow Jesus there will be suffering in areas of our life and that it is a divine gift to do so. It’s not that God does these things to us, it’s that in a broken world where sin & death exist, there is suffering that God brilliantly uses to mature us and show His goodness & glory. Here are some areas where it’s clear suffering will occur (& some examples in ( ):
The battle with our desire to think & behave in ways that come from & produce sin & death in our lives
Persecution from people, systems, & institutions for following Christ (if they “hated” Him they will us)
Difficulties in getting the Gospel into people’s hearts (Paul’s travel problems)
The fight to do God’s will when it conflicts with your own (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane)
The spiritual pressure from concern over others as they follow Jesus (those you pastor or disciple)
The burden for those that are making choices to walk in darkness (people lost or straying)
Unjust mistreatment & misunderstanding from others for the cause of Jesus (2 Peter says much on this)

In all of these we have been given the power to overcome – sometimes by standing in power against the enemy resisting & at other times by learning to suffer well through surrender. With maturity we learn to know when to do what & when actually both are needed (post for another time).? Just like in Christ’s suffering we saw the love of God, when we suffer unjustly God’s love can be displayed for others to see.

In what ways have you embraced “faulty” theology in this area? How have you been effected by suffering well? What was the effect on others? Tell us a time when you stood abgainst the enemy & were victorious.