Title: Suffering is the Pathway to Blessing
Contents
Suffering is the path to blessing
Acts 4 1-4
Where there is glory, there is always suffering. There is no glory without suffering.
That's right. Everyone
The same is true in our spiritual life. The most essential process in our spiritual life is the tunnel of suffering.
Our suffering becomes a blessing when we relate to Christ. However, if trials and sufferings are not related to Christ, they are a curse if they are not related to God.
Look at the early church. The churches at that time were not just churches that grew up. In the midst of hardship and adversity, trials and persecution, and even the sacrifice of martyrdom, the Early Church was born.
Through Acts 1-3, we have seen how the Holy Spirit worked, how the Early Church was born,
We looked at what abilities and miracles they displayed.
And until the last hour, I have heard the words of Jesus Christ introduced and testified through Peter.
Turns out, not everyone liked and welcomed the sermon.
Look at verses 1-2.
For the first time, the forces that oppose and reject the Gospel appeared. Even when the Holy Spirit event on the day of Pentecost occurred, the Jews who witnessed it could not understand it.
So those people are a new drunken incident. It was a surprising event, but he said it was unacceptable.
An interesting truth emerges from the book of Acts. The power that persecutes the church is not from outside, but from within. It is not the persecution and suffering that comes from outside that hinders the growth and blessing of the church, but the internal criticism, division, lies and hypocrisy.
dear saints
The same is true. What is opposed to today's church growth is the church itself. It is not the people who oppose the growth of the church today or people of other religions, but rather we Christians ourselves.
Another surprising truth is discovered. The truth is that not everyone likes it.
Those who do not demand the truth are cumbersome and burdensome to those who have the truth.
So, at that time, did they reject the gospel? Why do you have such a negative dislike about things you should be happy about?
(1) If Esu was resurrected and if Jesus was the Son of God who caused the foundation, it is because all the beliefs they have claimed so far are proven to be fiction. Why do people reject the truth?
It's because they're afraid of being told that they're hypocrites. Because they think that Esu is dead and cannot be resurrected.
But unfortunately, Esu was resurrected. Not only was he resurrected, but he also performed miracles.
So, what does Jesus' resurrection and miracles mean? It proves that their actions are all wrong. Here was their anxiety and anguish.
Anyone can make mistakes. What is important is true repentance when we humbly admit our mistakes and confess it to God. God is pleased with this. Repentance is a blessing, not a judgment