Roots and Suffering

I received the following from Priscilla Van Sutphin the other day....Now, if you read Friday's post, you will understand why I just get so thrilled with the Lord when He sends His confirmation - especially when I'm feeling a bit worn out from my own journey the Lord has me on! Please note that the italicized, bold and red type are my edits, because I cannot highlight them in this blog.
Are you suffering for Christ's sake...the Body of Christ?....Then I say to you, you've got roots, baby!
And when your breakthrough comes...He is THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS THE GLORY!
Be encouraged today!
Love and blessings always,
Crista

Rev 22:2-5 NKJV2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Understanding Suffering
Elvis Iverson
http://www.elvisiverson.com/

Many are saying why me Lord? Understanding suffering will help us see our own purpose in order to have endurance during those times. Most suffering is not from God. God does no evil. God is a father and a father cares and loves his children. At the same there are some who are not teaching Christians in how to deal with suffering. In this article I will try to help you understand suffering. Besides, there is more than one form of suffering that Christians will go through. You must say why do you go through this kind of suffering, then think about what you're doing for the Kingdom and this will tell you why.
The Word says; “Jesus Christ learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” –Heb.. 5:8. When we are going to live a life of obedience we will suffer at certain times. Suffering comes to see if we will stand in our obedience to the Lord. The Word say; “Yes, and all who desire to live in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” –2 Tim. 3:12. When you desire to follow the ways of the Lord and to be lead by the Holy Spirit there will be attacks of suffering that come against you.
Don’t listen to them and don’t be moved by them, and don’t count your life dear to yourself. The Word says; “There is a blessing upon those that are persecuted for righteousness sake.” –Matt. 5:10. God will bless those in this life and the next that willingly go through suffering for the Gospel sake. The Word says we suffer for righteousness sake. The Word says; “That we should rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. “ –1 Pet. 4:13. We are to rejoice and believe God for exceeding joy to come from God. The Word says we are to partake in Christ’s suffering. There are rewards that come through partaking in His suffering.
In addition, we are to fellowship in his sufferings with the saints. What we suffer we gain with Christ. When we are conformed to His death we will partake with the power of His resurrection. We are to know Him in His sufferings and in His power. –Phil. 3:10-11. The Word says; “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God will rest upon you.” –1 Pet. 4:14.
When we go through suffering we are blessed and the Spirit of glory and of God will rest upon you. Apart from that, the Word says; “about Apostle Paul that he rejoice in his suffering for the church of Colossians, he said he was fill up in his flesh what was lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the Church.” –Col. 1:24.
This shows us that apostles will go through suffering on the behalf of the churches that they care for, and if they suffer shall not other Christians suffer with them. Christians will suffer for the church to come forth in victory.
Nevertheless, the Word says; “about those who don’t have any root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” – Mk. 4:17. Not every one can go through such suffering for Christ. Some Christians don’t have good roots in Christ yet. The Word says that tribulation and persecution arise for the Word’s sake. Suffering comes For the Word sake. This is why Christians must be grounded in the Word and in Love before suffering comes.
Furthermore, the Word says; “ in Acts eight that great persecution arose against the church and what do we see when we read this that the Word spread everywhere. In Acts eleven that after persecution arose that church of Antioch was birthed. Wow! This tells us that no matter what happens, the Church will move forth.
It says that through many tribulations we enter into the Kingdom of God. –Acts 14:22.
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