THE SUFFERINGS OF THE SONS OF GOD

     The subject on sufferings deeply stems from the idea of an abundant life here on earth which everyone is seeking!  A German philosopher named Nietzche reflected on sufferings so much that he said human sufferings are an enabling factor for a man to overcome and transcend into a better or higher being and something to be endured, borne or accepted in contradiction to the Judeo-Christian value of suffering for morality.   Many ideas emerge in an attempt to understand suffering from several other philosophers.

     In search of the good which is associated with abundant life people abhor sufferings and pain which do not define or resemble as a part of an abundant life.  The whole world measure abundance in material gains and in pleasures and in well-being and some in spirit.  

     Sad to say, unwittingly, there are many spirits that abound on this earth like the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, the holy spirit and the profane spirit that actually dwell in men according to their cleanness (a dwelling for the holy spirit), or else, their uncleanness (a dwelling for the profane spirit).  

     Now, there is a spirit of a man that is part of his being which gains or is being formed in the image of God to have the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. There is a fruit of the spirit of a man because of his knowledge as he read and hear it from men teaching about righteousness of the law or, simply put, righteousness.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

     The anti-thesis to the mind of the spirit of man is the Mind Of God concerning the promise on an abundant in life which he said, 

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

    

     This abundant life is in the way of the Spirit and not in the way of man's own spirit because the way of man is described as a way which seems right to him but its ends are the ways of death! The abundant life is a prosperous life in body, soul, and spirit.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

     

     Now it is to be understood that to walk in the way of the spirit means that the flesh will not profit from it like gaining material things because the spirit is against the flesh and the flesh is against the spirit.  The Spirit or spirits are the ones living and the ones giving life to the flesh and soul of a man.  The soul of a man is the seat of his emotion built and formed from his olfactory senses.  The soul is to become a quickening spirit and is the gatekeeper which need to be trained and exercised in the Spirit of Truth. 

     Now, this God prescribed that life is in his son and to find that life is to lose one's life for his sake.  Simply put, man will have to deny himself, and carry your cross, and follow Him! This path is a path of surrender and submission to the Will of God and we are advised to arm ourselves with the same mind as the saints of old. We are to mortify our flesh lust or cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit.  This way is what is meant by losing one's own life! It is suffering in well-doing. 

     Going back,  the command is not to commit sin or we will be separated from God.  Living a life of sinfulness will bring something more worse than what happened to us before! 

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

   

     Now, many will disagree with me saying they are already forgiven for they will claim verses like, quoting, My father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand! or say, only believe and you shall be saved!  There many other verses that will support such claim as God is a God of love and mercy and kindness unmindful of the fact that man in his sinful nature is separated from God.

      God himself said that he has no pleasure that a wicked man should die but that he should turn away from his sins and live. The very first Book of the Holy Bible which is the Book of Genesis explicitly tells man that He drowned the whole world during the time of Noah because their minds were only continually evil.  Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden because of SIN.  Angels in heaven were expelled and thrown into the earth because of SIN.  The last book of the Holy Bible also stipulated that no sinner can enter into heaven but shall be in danger of hell fire!  

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

     For lack of knowledge one can should be reminded of the words of Jesus Christ himself in John Chapter 17.  The ones given by the father to Jesus were to keep his words and to sin more!

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 17:6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

     

     No one man will ever be able to save himself because salvation is an act of God!  This act is by sending the Spirit which God will give to us, that is, for the Spirit to dwell in us when we are cleansed and become the temple of God.

John 2:21     But he spake of the temple of his body. 

1 Corinthians 3:16     Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 3:17     If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

     

     Now, this is salvation that the the spirit is renewed in us and we are washed.  Now, this is salvation in that it is not by our might nor by power but by the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).  Now this is salvation that the Spirit of Grace is come to us to work the work of God that we may believe on him whom He has sent! (Zechariah 12:10).  Therefore, the gift is the Spirit and the work it does in us and is never our own work so that we can never boast!  This is clear suffering.  

     This is the reason why  sufferings come into the fore on the sons of God for the sons of God are led by the Spirit: and the Spirit is against the flesh! 

     This the reason why believing in the name of Jesus is not just the whole picture of salvation but also in suffering for his sake!  The reason behind suffering is because of the operation of the Spirit once it stays in us! It is at enmity against our flesh, hence the Spiritual battle which is a form of suffering for there is confusion, trouble, reproach, confusion, and shame in it!  The process towards holiness and perfection is in the Spirit by walking in the spirit.

     Now, there is no magic or miracle to the process of becoming holy and perfect.  This stage is achieved by obeying the voice of God who is come in the flesh.  Ironically, the whole world today is trying to witness for a God in his name which they were or are never witnesses being born only yesterday nor have seen him.      

     The people we read from the Holy Bible are the very witnesses of Him in those times but not for this time.  The present day man  can never become God's witness to witness for the things which God did in those times:  any man who would attempt to witness the works of God of old the same becomes the false witness of God.  This is the reason why angels are so eager to see what will happen or what will be done in these present days and times we live in.

1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

     

     Remember, God is a Spirit and in that BEING He can  change in form and substance, and in purpose, in will, in intent, in time, in judgment, in counsel and in pleasure. God can make the straight crooked and the crooked thing straight! God declares things that are right. No man can boast that he knows God of which, today, we can hear many false witnesses claiming they know God when they are not sent by God.

Jeremiah 23:21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

    All of the witnesses of God from the ancient times to the New Testament times suffered in the name of God and in the Spirit.  Any man who has not the Spirit of God in him is never a witness of God.  Any man who is not able to keep the words of God or obey do not actually love God for the love of God is  to keeping His commandments and to keep his commandments is to suffer in the flesh!  

     The sufferings of the sons of God is in denying himself which is to have no fellowship with the world, meaning, he will have to keep himself from the vanities, cares and pleasures of the world. The sufferings of the sons of God is in carrying the cross which is the burden of the Lord in the work of the ministry and the edifying of the church.  The sufferings of the sons of God is in following God to be perfect which means his ways must only be along the path of His commandments.  In short, the sufferings of the sons of God is being in the spirit and not in the flesh.