Empowered Part 8

Introduction

Illustration: "Dirty Jobs" -- bitting worm farmer--Inexplicable how someone would live and work like this man. But what Mike revealed was that this man, owned 3 homes that were paid for in cash. He had made a fortune by living in a way that most people thought was absurd.

Here in Acts chapter 5, we see the early church disciples living and responding in a way that the would way say is down right crazy. To the world, it is inexplicable.

We see the disciples here, arrested and miraculously released. Yet knowing that they would place themselves back in harms way, they continue to preach Jesus publicly. ( You kind of want to say, "Guys, be quiet. Keep your head low. Just talk with people personally. Go to another town where there isn't people trying to kill you."

But then, when they are beaten and humiliated they leave rejoicing! What’s going on here? Are these guys just crazy or stupid?

The Inexplicable Life of Joy in Suffering

The Inexplicable Life of Joy in Suffering

1. Accepting the Call to Suffering

Suffering is going to happen.

If you are a human being living in a broken world marred by sin; you will suffer. It may be cancer, it may be ridicule. Regardless, everyone faces some level of suffering in this life.

Good news is that there is not a millisecond of your suffering that God is not using for your ultimate good. ()

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

• But what we're dealing with here in isn't "general" suffering--I don't mean to minimize this type of suffering. God does not dismiss this and in fact there are many passages throughout the Bible that deal with this kind of suffering.

But what we're dealing with here in isn't "general" suffering

I don't mean to minimize this type of suffering. God does not dismiss this and in fact there are many passages throughout the Bible that deal with this kind of suffering.

Suffering for Christ's Sake

But if you are a Christian, if you respond to the call to following Jesus in this life; you will face other types of suffering--rejection, dishonor, and opposition.

--Because it is our calling as -"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake”

Philippians 1:29 ESV

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

I think we all can agree that suffering and opposition are a reality.

There is a universal call to every Christian to suffer for the sake of Jesus.

This message doesn’t fill a lot of seats in churches but it’s what the Bible teaches… period

2. Rejoicing the Call to Suffering

○ But when we come to verse 41, "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."

But when we come to verse 41, "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."

What??!! They left rejoicing? They just got beaten, humiliated.

This is not masochism ... they didn't find some sick pleasure in pain

§ This is not masacism ... they didn't find some sick

These early Christians were rejoicing because they were “counted worthy to suffer for the name’s sake” (v. 41)

In other words they were ecstatic that God would give them the honor to suffer on behalf of Jesus and his mission.

Jesus was so precious to them and so glorious to them for what he had done (suffered on our behalf), that being allowed the honor of suffering for his name was considered the greatest joy.

I don’t know about your guys but I normally think just the opposite—I rejoice when God “blesses” me with what I want. When good things happen.

3. Enjoying the Fellowship of Christ’s Suffering

There are many reasons these early Christians would rejoice in the opportunity to suffer for Christ's sake.

God uses suffering to make us more like Jesus—sanctification

God can use suffering to reach others--If you care about what God’s cares about you will be willing to do whatever it takes to bring the love of Jesus to others

.

But here the Apostles are rejoicing because they are suffering for the sake of Jesus, they are connected to Jesus in a special way.

Paul refers to t his in

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Philippians 3:7–10 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

You see Paul and these Apostles realized that there is a great reward in suffering for Jesus’ sake. Jesus—being connected with him in his suffering and death so that we can be connected with him in his righteousness and ultimately his resurrection. But bottom line … we get Jesus!

○ Another way to put this point is, "how do we get to the point of being able to rejoice in our sufferings, especially when it is because we are suffering for Christ's sake?"

○ --momentary

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

--Because God considers it a blessing and will reward greatly

○ --in order to

Matthew 5:17–18 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

○ --Because God considers it a blessing and will reward greatly

Conclusion

Illustration: Helen Roseveare

“When I was being driven down the corridor of my home by those rebels, panic nearly seized my heart,” she acknowledges. “But God stepped in. I did not see a vision or hear a voice, but I just knew He was there, and in charge, and I had nothing to fear. God seemed to whisper to me: ‘Can you thank Me?’ And I was ready to almost shout ‘No This has gone too far,’ when I realized that the Lord was saying: ‘Can you thank Me for trusting you with this situation?’ Amazing. Me trusting God, yes. But God trusting me? It was as though He said: ‘Yes, I could have prevented this. I could have taken you out. But I have a purpose. You cannot understand now, but are you willing to be part of My purpose?’ ‘Yes, God,’ I tried to whisper back. ‘If you have a purpose in all this, thank you for trusting me to be part of it’ and immediately I was flooded by His peace and a huge sense of privilege.”

Conclusion

Application:

Unbeliever: Have you received Jesus’ suffering for your joy & salvation?

Believer: Have you embraced the call to suffer for the sake of Jesus? Whether it is rejection, opposition, or even outright persecution? Maybe it might start more simply: just coming up hear early on Sunday and sweating it out with us doing setup.

What would it look like it we as a church considered it a great joy to suffer and sacrifice for the sake of Jesus?