Perfect Through Sufferings
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For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Two services after Labor Day, the Lord willing.
Introduction
Introduction
Lexham Theological Wordbook πάθημα
πάθημα (pathēma). n. suffering. This noun typically denotes something that has suffered.
The noun πάθημα (pathēma) occurs in the NT as a general term to denote either “passions” (Rom 7:5; Gal 5:24) or, more often, “sufferings.” Although the term can refer to suffering or affliction in a general sense, it almost always denotes Christian suffering in the NT. Paul sometimes expresses a desire to share in the sufferings (παθήματα; pathēmata) of the Messiah (Phil 3:10; Col 1:24). Experiences of πάθημα (pathēma) among the followers of Christ are typical (Rom 8:18; 1 Pet 5:9).
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Jesus was not made sinless by suffering. He was born sinless.
For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.
Perfect
Lexham Theological Wordbook τελειόω
τελειόω (teleioō). vb. to complete, fulfill, finish, make perfect, consecrate. The basic sense is “bring to completion”; this can refer to making something perfect, accomplishing a task, or fulfilling a scripture.
Perfect in Compassion.
Perfect in Compassion.
Bro. Branham taught us that Joseph in Egypt was a perfect type of Christ.
He came into Egypt as the lowest of the low. thrown into the pit.
Joseph was born for a purpose.
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Through his suffering he learned compassion for his brethren. If he had went straight to the throne, he would have never felt this way.
He had to intercede and judge righteously those who had treated him cruelly.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Why do we need to be complete or mature in compassion?
a. For one another.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
b. To Judge Righteously.
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
The Corinthians had a problem with empathy and compassion.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
The saints will stand in judgment.
Now, the only way people will see Jesus when they see Him in you. You are written epistles. If Christ’s Spirit dwells in you and brings your conduct into subjection to His Spirit, and makes you act like Him, and talk like Him, walk like Him, live like Him. See? People see Jesus in you. There, the old song: Let Others See Jesus In You.
And so, this woman had seen God in Elisha. And she said, “I think it’s nice, now, if we do something for this servant of God. God will respect it.” Why, she was just a few hundred years ahead of time. Jesus said, “If you give one of My disciples a cup of cold water, at the judgment it won’t be forgotten.”
We fail to see the power that God has placed in His people. God is in His people. You believe that? God was with His people one time when He walked on earth. But now, God is in His people. “A little while, and the world sees Me no more, yet you’ll see Me, for I (personal pronoun, now) will be with you and in you to the end of the world.”
God dwells, moves, works in mankind. Hallelujah! God doesn’t work through orders. He doesn’t work through organizations. He works through individuals. God works in man. God doesn’t do the work today. He energizes or projects His Spirit into men to do so. He said, “I am the Vine.” The vine don’t bear fruit. “Ye are the branches.”
56-1002E - Elisha The Prophet
Perfect in Obedience
Perfect in Obedience
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
He doesn’t stop you from learning the same lesson.
He tells the Smyrnaen church age, the ox age, “I Know”.
He may commit you to death as He did Paul. He may commit you to suffering as He did Job. That is His prerogative. He is sovereign. But it is all with a purpose. If He did not have a purpose, then He would be the author of frustration and not of peace.
His purpose is that after we have suffered awhile we would be made perfect, be established, strengthened and settled. As Job said, “He puts strength in us.” (Job 23:6b.)
You see He, Himself, suffered. He learned obedience by the things that He suffered. He was actually made perfect by the things that He suffered. Hebrews 5:8-9, “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.”
In plain language, the very character of Jesus was perfected by suffering. And according to Paul He has left His church a measure of suffering that they, too, by their faith in God while suffering for Him, would come to a place of perfection.
Why did He want this? James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Why does He stand by? The reason is in Romans 8:17-18, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Unless we suffer with Him we cannot reign with Him. You have to suffer to reign. The reason for this is that character simply is never made without suffering. Character is a VICTORY, not a gift. A man without character can’t reign because power apart from character is Satanic.
But power with character is fit to rule. And since He wants us to share even His throne on the same basis that He overcame and is set down in His Father’s throne, then we have to overcome to sit with Him.
And the little temporary suffering we go through now is not worthy to be compared to the tremendous glory that will be revealed in us when He comes. Oh, what treasures are laid up for those who are willing to enter into His kingdom through much tribulation.
“Think it not strange concerning the fiery trials that are to try you.” That is what Peter said. Is it strange that God wants us to develop a Christlike character that comes through suffering? No sir. And we all have trials. We are all tried and chastened as sons. Not one but goes through that.
The church that is not suffering, and is not being tried, hasn’t got it — it isn’t of God. Hebrews 12:6, 8, “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
Now this special condition in Smyrna must be applied to every age. There is no age free from it. There is no true believer free from it. This is of God. This is the will of God. It is needful. We need the Lord to teach us the truth that we are to suffer and be Christlike in doing it.
“Love suffereth long and is kind.” Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
The cloudy skies and storms of life are no signs of God’s disapproval. Neither are bright skies and still waters signs of His love and approval. His approval of any of us is only IN THE BELOVED. His love is elective which He had for us before the foundation of the world.
Does He love us? Ah yes. But how shall we know? We shall know because He SAID SO, and manifested that He did love us for He brought us to Himself and gave us of His Spirit, placing us as sons.
And how shall I prove my love to Him? By believing what He said, and by conducting myself with joy amidst the trials that He in His wisdom allows to come to pass.
CAB 04 - Smyrnaen
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jesus suffering in the garden drew Him into close communion with the Father.
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Trials, God’s Help In
In 1895, Andrew Murray was in England suffering from a terribly painful back, the result of an injury he had incurred years before. One morning while he was eating breakfast in his room, his hostess told him of a woman downstairs who was in great trouble and wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Andrew Murray handed her a paper he had been writing on and said, “Give her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.” This is what was written:
In time of trouble, say, “First, he brought me here. It is by his will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow.” And last, say, “In his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows.” Therefore, say “I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2)in his keeping, (3) under his training, (4) for his time.”1436
Covid at Bro. Donny’s
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Sister Karen Pruitt
Brother Robert and Sister Jean.
Family of Sister Sheila Stoner.