Title: Revelation 12:13-17 The Suffering Church
Contents
the suffering church
Revelation 12:13-17
1. Believers in Jesus Christ also suffer in the world.
(Main lesson of the text - the sufferings of the church and the saints in the last days, and God's help and protection) Many people have doubts and doubts about the sufferings of God's people who serve the living and reigning God (Isaiah 40) :27-31 (Psalm 73; 37; the prosperity of the wicked and the sufferings of the righteous. Job, Esther, and the Prophets). The Old Testament prophesied of the suffering of the Messiah (Isaiah 53;) and the New Testament recorded the atoning death of Jesus Christ. From the fact that Christ also suffered (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 3:18), we teach the saints attitudes in suffering (Hebrews 13:11-14; Phil 1:29). For those who live in this sinful world, suffering is like a shadow (Hymns 290). We must keep in mind that there are many hardships for those who want to live righteously according to God's word and live according to God's mission (Psalm 34:19; Matthew 10:14, 22-23). It is said that there is a blessing in suffering for the sake of righteousness, but rather rejoice and rejoice (Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 4:13).
2. The church, the body of Jesus Christ, also grows through suffering.
(Text verse 14) Suffering is a tool and method by which God grows and refines God's people and children (Ex 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11-12). It is said that young children grow up sick (about monthly intervals of 29-32 days). Suffering keeps people from falling into laziness, negligence, pride, and various sins (Psalm 119:67, 71; 1 Peter 4:1). Those who are afflicted will come to know the situation of those who are afflicted and help them (Hebrews 13:2; 2 Corinthians 1:4). They will depend more on God and hope for the kingdom of heaven (1 Peter 5:10-11). God has mercy on those who suffer (Isaiah 49:13; Jeremiah 31:13; 1 Peter 4:14). A church that has overcome hardships is amazingly growing and revived by God's power (a 5% growth rate higher than the Korean church, the Chinese church during the Cultural Revolution and Taiwan).
3. We must pray for and help the suffering church.
(At the time of the apostle John in the text) There are many suffering churches on the earth. Today, the three major suffering churches - ① Communist bloc (North Korea, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia too-) ② Islamic (Semitic) bloc (Middle East, Africa, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Uzbekistan, etc.) ③ 250 million believers and their churches in Latin America, etc. We must pray for the suffering church (1 John 3:16; Acts 12:5; Galatians 5:2). Communism fell through prayers for the suffering church (the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the former Soviet Union in 1990).
Conclusion: Today is also celebrated as the Sunday of the suffering church by missions agencies. God, who is rich in grace and love, is pleased to show mercy and mercy to those who suffer (Psalm 68:5. Fathers of orphans and widows) judge). And God, who repays according to what he has done, is merciful to the merciful (Psalm 18:25). I pray that you will become a helper to the suffering church, glorify God, and live a life full of blessings.