Are You Suffering For Christ Or Yourself?

Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well! I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #60!

I want to thank you for tuning in with us today, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment. It means everything to me to share the messages that God’s lays on my heart to share.

And, as always, I promise you another great show – But, more than anything, my HOPE for you today, and always, is that you have an actual encounter with the Lord, not just another podcast episode.

Quick ask – if you’ve found value in these episodes, would you take 30 seconds after the show to go to submit a quick review and star-rating in your app. This is what potential listeners look for when deciding whether to give a show a listen – which is confirmation from other listeners that it can bring value. Would you do that for me, IF and only IF you find value in these episodes? I can’t thank you enough.

So, without further delay, let’s get ready to invite God in with us, right here, right now and allow Him to speak directly to your heart and minds.

So, today’s topic is on “Are You Suffering for Christ Or Yourself?”

Today’s episode ties into the last Shaken Awake Episode, episode #59

Last episode, we discussed how Jesus suffered innumerably while He lived His short life here on Earth over 2,000 years ago.

Jesus was BETRAYED.

Jesus was FALSELY ACCUSED.

Jesus was REJECTED.

Jesus was ABUSED.

Jesus was HUMILIATED.

I’ve said it a thousand time and I’ll say it again and continue to say it – who are we to complain? Who are we to say we have it bad? Who are we to think Jesus doesn’t understand our problems, or that because God didn’t answer our prayers (yet), they’re not important to Him?

The difference between our suffering and His, is that He suffered for US, and to do the will of His Father. He took on that pain and suffering for us, not for Him.

The question I have for you today is how much of your betrayal; being falsely accused, rejection, abuse, and humiliation is for HIM, and NOT YOU?! His was for you. Why isn’t ours for Him? For He said in John 15:18 – ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Question is – does the world hate you or love you? And if it truly does hate you, is it for Christ’s sake, or your own?

We live our lives each day, typically for ourselves, do we not? Let me stop here. I’m not here to cast stones, imply, or point fingers. I’m here to put a rock in your shoe, as the Holy Spirit, figuratively speaking, does to me – through conviction in my heart. So, if you cannot identify with what I’m saying today, then you’re on the right path and this message is not for you today – and that’s okay. I’m speaking to those that if the shoe fits, they’ll consider kicking it off.

We live our lives each day typically for ourselves, do we not? I mean, with work, and family, and health, and finances, and the present, and the future, and the direction of our lives – we’re either being reactionary, or we’re being proactive. We suffer daily. In some way, we suffer daily; some, more than others. Our suffering does not compare to the suffering that Jesus endured. But we, just like Him, endure betrayal, false accusations, rejection, abuse, and humiliation. It’s part of the dark and distorted world we live in. Question is, if we’re suffering that for us, and keep pressing forward, why are we not as willing to suffer for Him? Is it because He is unworthy to suffer for? Is it because we don’t need to suffer for His name’s sake? Is it because we have a “Me first” attitude toward life? Is it because we just don’t know what to do or what is expected of us? Is it because we have formed a “comfort bubble” around our homes and selves that shield and protect us from the outside influences and the spiritual darkness and forces that we fight against, as the Bible states? WHAT IS IT? Here’s the answer: It’s all of it and more. Some hold true to many, some hold true to some, but there is a reason, whether or not its conscious or subconscious – regardless, it has the same outcome, which is, we are not willing to suffer for Christ as we our for our own selves. We’re placing ourselves and our needs and wants higher than the will of the Father. We’ve become our own idols. Yeah, it does sound harsh and mean, doesn’t it? Some of you are shaking your heads right now saying, “Nope! That’s not me – never was and never will be,” right? In response to those that are, answer me this question….better yet, answer this question to our Father in Heaven: “HOW are you suffering for Christ?”

What is it that YOU do to work for the will of the Father that you sacrifice your life and happiness, time, energy, resources, and self for? WHAT is it that shows your faith, other than praying, reading the Bible, and going to church? What is it that you do to adhere to Jesus’ calling for all his followers, known as the Great Commission – to spread the good news of the gospel and Him? WHAT DO YOU DO? To those of us who take action and place him higher than ourselves and our lives here on Earth, the actions we take are out of love for Him, out of our faith that produces works, and our need to help lead others to Christ – not simply out of love for Him, but love for our neighbors, as well….the two most important commandments of anyone that can be called a Christian, per Jesus Himself. These actions alone lead us to suffering. These works from faith and love produce endurance, but also produce an earthly amount of suffering.

Some of you right now are wondering, “What kind of suffering? Tell me!” Ok, I’m glad you asked.

· Betrayal – Those that said they’d be with us through thick and thin, and should be – they’re no longer. Once we converted from a lost soul to one that is alive in Christ, we’ve been betrayed once we started talking about Christ and how he saved us and allowed us to be reborn with the newness of Christ. Those that claimed to love us, turned their backs, and often their attention and ears left our presence as well. We were great to be around when we spoke of earthly things, but now that we speak of heavenly things, we are betrayed for our beliefs. What we now speak hurts the demons inside them; it irritates their demons to no end.

· False Accusations – How many of you have been accused of being holier than thou? Never thought in a million years you’d be called that, right? How many of you have people insinuate or down-right tell you – you think you’re better than me and the others now, right? How many accuse you of turning your backs on them to follow this so-called “new religion you’ve found”? Accusing you of doing things you would’ve never done before with them, and rejecting the things they do that you also once did – sound familiar?

· Rejection – We’re rejected by past friends, even family, and certainly strangers – both in-person and online, right? No one wants to be bothered by you and your new Jesus friend, right? We’re cast out, no longer part of the crowd or family, right? People don’t want to confront their sins or demons, they want to live their best life, right? YOLO it’s called – you only live once. They reject the Christ in you because it doesn’t align with satan in them. They reject the light because the light (that’s you) drives out the darkness (them).

· Abuse – Many of you are verbally and emotionally and financially and some physically abused because of your faith and following and obedience to Christ, are you not? Mockery, withholding of love or other, simply because you are incredibly in love with God. Their hatred for Christ in you comes out in anger and resentment and retaliation and abuse of all types, does it not?

· Humiliation – ever get mocked or put on front street because of your beliefs? Ever get weird looks or distasteful comments about dwelling in the Word of God in public? How about those that seem to be attracted to wanting to put your faith down, and somehow attempt at all angles to prove why God and His Word are a bunch of lies? Does your family and/or friends now talk badly about you in front of you or when they’re around themselves, gossiping and crushing the one they use to like?

If you’ve suffered and are suffering any one, or all of these, count it a blessing my brothers and sisters in Christ. There is no better suffering you will ever endure than the suffering for the one that died and bled for you? Philippians 1:21 is being played out right in front of your life, daily - “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

One of the best-known sufferers for Christ if THE best-known sufferer for Christ was the Apostle Paul. I don’t believe anyone had or has ever suffered more for the Kingdom than Paul, of course, aside from Jesus Himself. And not only suffered, but with thanksgiving!

The Sufferings of Paul the Apostle

I can't think of anyone in the entire Bible apart from Christ who lived a life of gratitude more than Paul the Apostle. This is significant considering the terrible trials and sufferings he went through. Here is a list that still falls short of all he suffered. It comes from 2 Corinthians 11:23-33:

in labors more abundant
in stripes above measure
in prisons more frequently
faced death often
from the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one
three times I was beaten with rods
once I was stoned
three times I was shipwrecked
a night and a day I have been in the deep
in journeys often
in perils of waters
in perils of robbers
in perils of my own countrymen
in perils of the Gentiles
in perils in the city
in perils in the wilderness
in perils in the sea
in perils among false brethren
in weariness and toil
in sleeplessness often
in hunger and thirst
in often fasting’s
in cold and nakedness
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily my deep concern for all the churches

There is more where that came from.

Given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Abandoned by all his friends while imprisoned (2 Timothy 1:15).
Despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8).
No kindred spirit who would be concerned for the welfare of the Philippian church.

I think we all get the picture; we all should!

He was willing to not only endure, but embrace, constant suffering for the Lord, not Himself. For if it were for himself, I believe he would have never done any of it. He wouldn’t have been able.

whipped with 39 lashes (5 different times)
beaten with rods (3 different times)
pummeled with stones (1 time)
shipwrecked (3 times)
adrift at sea (one night, one day)
journeys (frequent)
danger from rivers
danger from robbers
danger from his own people
danger from Gentiles
danger in the city
danger in the wilderness
danger at sea
danger from false brothers
toil and hardship
sleepless nights (many)
hungry and thirsty (often)
cold and exposed
the pressure of anxiety for all the churches (daily)

And yet given his radically God-centered worldview, Paul calls such suffering “light” and “momentary”!

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

Paul knew that no matter how much it hurt in the here-and-now, it was as nothing compared to the hope and healing that he would experience for eternity in the presence of his Savior. We “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), knowing that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). So, from Paul’s perspective, the comparison and contrast of now and then—here and there—looks like this:

May God give all of us grace to suffer well, as living advertisements for the death of Christ and the life of Christ, as we live in light of eternity.

Before we wrap up, I want to give you the very Word of God that will give some of you great comfort in your suffering, as well as motivation and conviction to those of you who do not yet suffer for the Kingdom – by the way, there are 180 verses in the Bible that speak to this subject by my count; here are but a few:

1 Peter 5:10

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 5:3-5

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

2 Timothy 3:12

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Philippians 1:29

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

2 Corinthians 4:17

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond

1 Peter 4:1

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Peter 3:14

But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

1 Peter 4:12-19

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ...

Matthew 10:39

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

And I’ll leave you all with this last verse, one of the most popular and well-known verses in all the Bible, to give you peace and joy during your suffering for Christ and the Kingdom:

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Guys, there are SO MANY MORE verses in the Bible that speak to this subject. It’s called living a life for Him – for we no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who saved us.

------------------------------

So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by today’s message and scripture. If you’d like to reach out to me, please call me directly at 4074933208, email me at ben@shaken-awake.com, or check out the show at shaken-awake.com.

In the next Shaken Awake episode, I will put this information out again with links, but for now and if you’re still listening – here are the names of my new podcasts starting to air on all podcast channels and on YouTube (the websites are not up yet, but they will be in the next few days, as will the first episodes begin airing).

“Your Daily Bread” – A Daily podcast (5 minutes or less) that takes a word from His Word and breaks it down into a meaningful translation and how we can apply it to our lives.

“You’re Chosen” – A Weekly podcast for the lost. Using every tactic, the enemy uses to give us the perceived “good life” – I’m going after with this Podcast. I will speak to the groups that are living in sin, directly, to insert how God sees the sin and what He can do to offer a life that is abundantly and exceedingly more than they could’ve ever dreamt of. I’m targeting those that are living in sin – alcoholism, drugs, porn, anger, hatred, disbelief in Jesus (paganism, witchcraft, satanism, Muslim, Hindu, and any other manmade religion that puts themselves above Jesus or outright denies Him), the rich, the living your best life crowd, those that don’t think they need a Jesus, the list is endless and they all come from and are fueled by the enemy. Well, I’m bring the Living Water to put out that fire that’s been fueled by the enemy and ushering in the light to their darkness with the Holy Spirit and God to guide and help me. These will be useful for Christians to put into the hands of those that need to hear them, personally, as well.

These are all starting the week of May 1st and Shaken Awake will still be awake and alive as ever!!!!

Until next time, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You ALL.