John K. Jenkins Sr - The Significance of Suffering

When I was a young Christian developing my walk with Christ, I got into the habit of memorizing Scriptures after being challenged to do so. By the way, that’s a good way to grow in Christ-memorizing Scriptures. Not just a verse or two; I would memorize chapters. I know we don’t get any amens on that point right there. This is one of the first chapters that I memorized: 1 Peter chapter 4. You may hear me slip up and use King James verbiage while I’m talking about this passage today because I memorized it in the King James translation. Here are the first four verses of this fourth chapter of 1 Peter: «Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.» I want to talk this morning about the significance of suffering. Somebody say, «The significance of suffering.» Yeah, I didn’t feel any reverberation kick back at me from that very exciting topic, but I wanted to follow up because last Sunday we talked about the last days. Last Sunday, we looked at that passage in 2 Timothy that dealt with the appearance of what the last days would look like. I briefly talked about suffering; I didn’t spend a lot of time on it, but I just touched on it for a few moments because ultimately, here’s what people have to understand: in the Christian life, there are going to be seasons and periods of suffering. Yeah, I know-y’all don’t like that. Matter of fact, I think I said it at 11:00, but I’m not sure. I mean at 8:00, I’m not sure if I said it at 8 or not, but you don’t see people signing up to go to the «Suffering Conference.» Did I say that last week? Yeah. You don’t hear anybody with a badge on saying, «I’m favored and suffering " or «I’m highly blessed and suffering.» No, people don’t celebrate that, and I wanted to talk about it for a season this morning, for a period today. I want to go ahead and leap off on that point because we are entering a season where the church is going to have to suffer. I want to talk to the seasoned saints, but I also want to talk to the new saints to understand that you don’t get saved so you can get a new car. Yeah, no, that’s not the gospel that we preach here. We don 't preach a gospel where you accept Jesus and get a new job or a new house. No, save your house-that’s not why we accept Jesus. We accept Jesus because we are sinners on our way to hell. If we don’t accept the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, we will spend an eternity in hell. That 's why we accept Jesus. Along with that situation is understanding the fact that there are going to be seasons of suffering. I wanted to talk about this today because I want the saints to be encouraged, and I want some of the new saints- last Sunday, 141 decisions were made in our four services. Look at your neighbor and say, «That 's a lot of people!» 141 people decided they want to be ready when Jesus comes. 141 people said, «I’m not quite right where I’m supposed to be, and I want to get to the place I need to be .» 141 people from all of our services last Sunday made a decision to say, «I want to be in God’s perfect will for my life.» What all of us need to understand is that when we make a decision for the Lord, we’re going to have to suffer. Now, here’s the deal-walk with me for just a few moments. I promise I’ll get you out of here before 10:00. It 's important for us to realize and come to grips with the reality that we are living in a culture and a society where the lines are being clearly drawn as to which side you’re going to be on. You are either a follower of Jesus or you are not. The time is over for you to be an undercover Christian. You can’t be an undercover Christian anymore; those days are done. You are either for Jesus or against Him, for His ways or against His ways. You are either committed to His lordship or you are not committed to His lordship. We are getting to the day and age where you will have to decide this day who the God is that you’re going to serve. Here 's the fact: if you make a decision to follow Jesus, you’re going to be talked about, laughed at, rejected, and ridiculed. You 're going to lose some friends. Yeah, you’re going to lose some friends, and it’s becoming more and more rampant. Matter of fact, sin is rampant and bold, and sin is coming out of the closet! Oh yeah, I mean they are coming out-all the sin is coming out of the closet. If they had to go back in the closet, I don’t think they could.