Sharing in the Sufferings of Christ - by Pastor Doug Riggs

This was originally recorded June  8, 2016.

My notes:

"There's a certain quota of sufferings that must be realized in the body of Christ corporate before the end can come." (see Colossians 1:24; Philippians 3:10.) This connects us, not with Jesus dying for our sins, but with Jesus Christ as the last Adam. This is an opportunity in addition to what Peter refers to as a means of hastening the coming day of God (2 Peter 3:12). Quoting F.F. Bruce's Commentary, "Suffering on behalf of the people of Christ, he (Paul) was entering into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings... Christ continues to suffer in His members." The Apostle Paul first discovered this on the road to Damascus when Jesus confronted him with, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?" This concept should go deep with survivors of horrific abuse who called out to God for help and didn't get it. Where was God? He was right there, suffering along with you (Isaiah 63:9). Quoting another scholar, "The head suffers in all His members... All those that were persecuted (i.e.: the saints at Damascus), it was directed against the Lord Jesus."

"We really don't understand our sufferings until we understand this" - what Doug is teaching from the word along with various commentators explaining the Greek language used. "We complain and murmur - and 'where's God in all this?' - He's in the suffering!" Throughout this message, Doug cites the Apostle Paul as our example of what this suffering is all about - why we as Christians are called to suffer. And we need to remember the silver lining to this cloud: the eternal heavy weight of glory for those who endure, along with the appointment to rule and reign with Christ in the age to come.

We are also given the ministry of consolation to help others who are suffering. "If somebody is suffering, you can only comfort them in the measure in which you have shared in their sufferings, or been one with them in their sufferings. You cannot impart anything else. You can quote all kinds of verses, and God can use them; but you yourself can only be an instrument and release of the parakl?tos, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to the degree that you've shared in the sufferings of that individual."

"God has called us as an assembly to go in to those places where Jesus is suffering most."

Link to Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/6-8-16%2Bwednesday.mp3

Maranatha!

John Mark

...hereby committing this unto the providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!