Untitled Sermon
I want to know the fellowship of his suffering. Somebody says, “That doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t you say I want to be like him in his death and then I can be raised up?” Why does he say, “I want to know the power of his resurrection,” and then it says, “and to share in his sufferings and be conformable to his death”? What does he mean? Maybe afterwards when we have our Question and Answer time in the East Lounge today, like we always do after the service, you can ask me more about that.
I think it’s perfectly logical. If you go out into the world resembling Jesus (that’s what power of the resurrection means), by his supernatural power within you resembling Jesus: Turn the other cheek. Always tell the truth. Love people who are hard to love. If you do all that, what’s going to happen? You’re going to find his sufferings reenacted in your life. You’re going to be taken advantage of sometimes. People are going to be unhappy with you. People are going to be offended by you. They were at Jesus. Why would you be any different?
