From suffering, beatings, and being disfigured to beauty and glory
Prayers:
1. Sing songs of praise and worship to bless God.
2. My sufferings will not be in vain, Father, let my rewards, beauty, and glory appear now in the name of Jesus.
3. I reject sufferings, beating, and being disfigured by the power in the blood of Jesus.
Text: Isaiah 52:14
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men;
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—
But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Note:
· The form and appearance of Jesus was marred (ruined, tainted, distorted, damaged) by the suffering and beatings He had gone through.
· However, that was not the end of the story.
· He was subsequently beautified and glorified, so much so that many seek to behold His face, touch Him or encounter Him.
· He is widely sought after.
Similarly, your current trials, troubles, and afflictions will give way to an incomparable glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
You will not die in your problems; your problems will not overcome you.
The afflictions of the present will give way to an exceeding eternal weight of glory in your life in the name of Jesus.
Ø Storms of life may have given you a beating; you may be struggling, and it seems as if there is no end in sight.
Ø These challenges may have disfigured you - emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes, even physically.
Ø Suffering may sometimes seem unending or moving from one phase to the other, such that it is not a matter of the kind of problem but the degree or level of the problem.
· I have good news for you: Your sorrow will be turned to joy and that joy will last because no one will be able to take it from you. In John 16:20 the Bible says
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, that you will weep and grieve [in great mourning], but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
· Your past sufferings are working for you, working in you and around you to bring forth exceeding glory and beauty.
· 2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
Note that:
· Without an enemy who wants to destroy, oppress, beat you, and make you suffer you have no reward.
· Joseph had enemies from his household, their actions against him contributed to his advancement.
· Daniel's suffering, undeserved accusation, condemnation, and suffering in the hands of, and based on the wicked works of his enemies contributed to his promotion.
· David was promoted because he defeated his enemy - Goliath.
· It is God's will that you suffer in some cases because it brings forth great rewards.
1. Jesus suffered, and the Bible encourages us to have the same attitude to suffering: Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world], (1 Peter 4:1)
For just as Christ’s sufferings are ours in abundance [as they overflow to His followers], so also our comfort [our reassurance, our encouragement, our consolation] is abundant through Christ [it is truly more than enough to endure what we must]. (2 Corinthians 1:5)
2. Don’t be surprised or shocked when you go through suffering. Rejoice and be glad while suffering.
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”c
19Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4)
1 Peter 4:12-13:
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (v12)
Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire.(v12)
But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.
3. Rejoice not only in your sufferings but also when you have to suffer for others.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24)
4. Don't be afraid to die, especially for the cause of Christ, something glorious is ahead. Remain faithful to God, no matter what is happening or not happening.
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
5. The suffering of Christians is part of His will for their lives. Nothing is permitted to make the Christian suffer outside of God's will except if the Christian is out of God's will or it is an affliction brought by the enemy which must be stopped in its tracks.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17)
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (1 Peter 2: 19).
6. Do not be ashamed when suffering for Christ
This is why I suffer as I do. Still, I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day [when I stand before Him]. (2 Timothy 1:2)
7. Jesus suffered that he may bring light to those in darkness. Your Christian suffering is to bring light to others and strengthen their faith (personal example of going through a situation that some brethren approached me and said they don’t know how I could have borne going through that situation, that God knows I could bear it that was why He allowed it, that they don’t think they could have gone through it).
that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26: 23)
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” (Luke 9:22)
You could be going through your situation to strengthen other people’s faith similar to how Paul’s imprisonment strengthened the faith of others. Paul was going through suffering, but it brought out God’s faithfulness, strength and grace to other people and the spreading of the gospel.
8. Your suffering will benefit you and other people
Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctify and set apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood. (Hebrews 13:12)
9. Suffering brings an entrance into glory: Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and [only then to] enter His glory?” (Luke 24:46)
10. Jesus. God’s Son, the Saviour of the world was not exempted from suffering, neither would believers. It benefitted Jesus and others. What you are going through will benefit you and others.
Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)
11. There are great rewards when you overcome your enemy, go through Christian suffering, and emerge a victor.
Romans 1:20 - Example: Rumble in the jungle.
“George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Rumble in the Jungle, was a heavyweight championship boxing match on October 30, 1974, at the 20th of May Stadium (now the Stade Tata Raphaël) in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), between undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. The event had an attendance of 60,000 people with nearly 28% of U.S population watching at one time. Ali won by knockout in the eighth round.
Ali and Foreman were paid $5 million each
In June 1997, Tyson made $30 million, while Holyfield collected $33 million as the champion. This applies in other areas as well including Sports - wrestling, boxing, soccer, etc.
There are great rewards in defeating your opposition.
How should you move from suffering to beauty and glory?
1. Be born again.
2. Understand that it may be God’s will for you to go through that situation.
Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)
3. Avoid suffering for the wrong reasons
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. (1 Peter 4:15)
4. Hold onto God in faith, knowing that the problem is for a limited time and will pass away to reveal God’s overwhelming glory that is far greater than the problem you are passing through.
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. (Romans 8:18)
Prayer
Father, let the grace to move from sufferings, beatings, and being disfigured to beauty and glory, come upon my life in the name of Jesus.
Prayers
1. Give thanks
2. Are you born again?
3. Agents of suppression working against my life, expire by fire in the name of Jesus.
4. Situations bringing suffering and shame into my life, expire in the name of Jesus.
5. I will move forward and shine by the power in the blood of Jesus.
6. By the favor and mercy of God, I will be a winner in all aspects of life, family, career, ministry, and destiny in the name of Jesus.
7. Personal prayer points
8. Give thanks
Your problems will not see your end, you will see the end of your problems in Jesus’ name.
You will move from pain and discomfort to ease and comfort in the name of Jesus.
Your victory that had been caged will be released to you in the name of Jesus.
Grace to shine as a star, with your needs met will come upon your life in the name of Jesus.
Move into flourishing and abundance by the power in the blood of Jesus.
