Bravehearted Suffering: The Joy and Proof of a Christian

Philippians 1: 27-29 says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel,  28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which to them is a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For to you it has been granted on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

When I first read “striving together for the faith of the Gospel” in this passage, I thought that it meant simply that Christians should work together to further the Gospel around the world. However, that’s not primarily what this passage means. “Striving together” actually means to endure or suffer.

So, how is our conduct worthy of the Gospel of Christ?

When we endure suffering, trial, and tribulation well, to His glory. Enduring suffering well and counting it as the greatest privilege proves to the world around us that we truly have the greatest Comforter and the greatest joy. It also proves to the unsaved world the futileness of their temporary pleasures and ‘joys.’

Luke 6: 22-23 says, “Blessed (supremely happy) are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy.”

The word “terrified” in Philippians one comes from a word meaning, “to spit upon.” We, as Christians, are not to be moved by reproaches, sufferings, or afflictions for the sake of Christ. In fact, we find great joy and delight in the fact that we have the opportunity to suffer for Him! We leap for joy!

In verse 29, the word ‘granted,’ means to grant as a favor, in kindness, pardon, or rescue. How amazing is that! Suffering and trials are God’s gift to us. We can rejoice in the midst of them, knowing that they are His will for us (I Thessalonians 5: 18) and are ultimately bringing Him glory. We can also rejoice in them because sufferings and trials bring us closer to Christ, as chapter two goes on to say.

“Therefore, is there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy…”

The word ‘consolation’ means to draw near or to summon. It’s very close to the word in John 16: 7, 13. Suffering brings us deeper into Jesus and enables us to be guided deeper into His truth.

So how do we serve and spend ourselves for those around us, as the next section in the passage commands? By knowing what it means to suffer well for His glory.

Leslie Ludy said, “Even trials are exciting God-given opportunities to gain greater victory, patience, faith, strength, and dependence upon Him.”

Then the book Rees Howells: Intercessor says, “God always shows you all the difficulties before He will do anything through you.”

Let us, then, be known as leapers for joy! J

More of HIM, Less of me

      I was studying Psalm 34 tonight, and the second part of verse two says, “the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.” This cross – referenced me to Psalm 119: 74, which really struck me in a new way.

“They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in Thy Word.”

     This verse just blew me away. People aren't supposed to be attracted to my personality, my wit, my determination, my love, my affirmation, my encouragement, my strength, my vigor, or my anything.  I am supposed to point people to Him! It reminds me of John 3: 30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I am to be so completely and utterly consumed with Jesus, that He is all that is seen within me. 

The first part of verse two talks about making your boast in the Lord. That word ‘boast’ literally means ‘to make shine.’ Our goal as Christians is not to make ourselves shine or to make ourselves be noticed. It is to make HIM be noticed, to make HIM be exalted, to make HIM be high and lifted up.

     Therefore, if people are attracted to or drawn to us at all, it is supposed to be because they see Jesus in us. They want more of Jesus. We truly have nothing worthwhile to offer to people in our own strength. He alone is the true Solution. He alone is what they need. Therefore, we must allow ourselves to become His flow through channel of grace to those around us. This also means that if people are disgusted with us, hate us, or revile us, it is because they see Christ in us. Either way, we are to be so consumed with Jesus, that HE is all that is seen.

      How does this happen? How do we become so obsessed with Jesus that people see Him and Him alone in us, that we diminish so that His glory would be seen? The next part of the verse gives the answer. We hope in HIS Word. We don’t seek to do it in our own strength. We don’t seek to live the impossible Christian life by our own grit and determination. We yield ourselves to the Word (aka Jesus) and allow Him to do the impossible in us. We become completely and totally given to Him. We bow before it, heed its every utterance, and obey its every command. Thus, we bow before HIM, heed HIS every command, and obey HIS every utterance.

And this is my prayer: May I decrease that YOU might increase in and through this yielded, weak vessel! 

How I love Thee! How I’ve proved Thee over and over.

Promised Pictures

Well, here are some pictures that I promised. It's hard to believe I fly home on Monday!

Homemade breakfast at the Joy house. Yum!

We have quality sunsets here. :)

Roomies. 

This is what happens when you give girls root beer floats in the evening...

My team from Epic games!

Celebrating our victory

Somethin' Serious.

We got to hear their love story. :)

Dwelling in HIM

As I sit here and ponder the last few weeks, I recall a similar theme in each of them: Jesus’ Presence and faithfulness. I am continually amazed as I conclude each day how He woos me more and more, how He refuses to let me go, how He ceaselessly deepens my love for Him. He has really been teaching me in these last few weeks to not rely on the people around me or look to them for examples of how this life should be lived. He wants me to look to Himself, for He truly is all that I need.

I have been soaking in my time here. It has been a beautiful six weeks (I can’t believe it’s been six weeks already!). It was such an incredible privilege to be able to spend my birthday here. The girls started a prayer watch (we sign up for an hour during the night, once a week or more if we wish, to spend in prayer, interceding for the expressed needs on campus and within our range). I didn't realize it at the time, but I had signed up for the first hour of my birthday, which was such an incredible opportunity. I got to spend the first hour with Jesus! :) And He made it so special. Eric gave a very unique message in church titled, Who is this Jesus? It should be online soon, but it basically outlines all the facets and names of Jesus. We took communion afterward, which is always special because it’s not a regular occurrence here. That afternoon a few girls and I went out to Panera for dinner, then to Spooners (a delicious frozen yogurt place), then went shopping a bit at Charming Charlie (I must admit: I bought an adorable pair of wedges ;) ). That evening we had Persecuted Church night, in which we all gathered together in a building that was lit only by candles, without any belongings, and interceded for the persecuted church around the world. It was such a beautiful time!

This Saturday we enjoyed the official Ellerslie Epic Games! There were many unique games, of which I will post pictures sometime soon. However, my yellow team, won! We got to go out to eat, on Ellerslie, with the interns and staff. It was a remarkable time.

My bulletin board in my room :)

Watching the stream of Ben and Elsje's beautiful wedding.

My roommate and I.

Family group

The girls made dinner for the guys one Saturday to thank them for being men and treating us honorably. These are some of the decorations. This is a Tozer quote.

The letter we wrote them. 

We made spaghetti, alfredo sauce, homemade bread, vegetables, meat

And LOTS of cake and desserts

Us waiting for the guys to go in

My thoughtful roommates decorated my little corner on my birthday :)

I am so excited for what Jesus has in store for these next couple of weeks! Blessings!

A Week of Awakening, Reckoning, and Revival.

Last week here at Ellerslie was THE week. By THE week, I mean the week that usually occurs during the third week each semester in which revival among the student body basically takes place. On Monday the Spirit of God really descended and convicted many students. Eric had given a sermon titled “The Power to Forgive” that Sunday, which convicted many people of their unforgiveness and bitterness. We spent around 5 hours in confession. On Tuesday, the whole morning was again spent in confession of sin. Then, in the afternoon the dean of women here, lovely Sandi, gave the girls the Gospel. While most of us grew up in the church, we had never really heard the fullness of the Gospel. The aspect of the Gospel that is typically left out is that Jesus came to deliver us from the power of sin, not just the penalty. Many people had gotten to the point of the “dark night of the soul,” meaning they finally recognized that they could not live the Christian life in their own strength, were utterly helpless, and needed power.  The Gospel is what got many people through. Then, on Wednesday, Eric gave the message “Canon,” which basically showed how every prophecy in the Old Testament about Jesus lines up perfectly with what He fulfilled in the New Testament, proving that He is the Word of God and can be absolutely trusted. There is a notion in the Emergent church today that the Bible isn’t completely true, that it’s just a narrative. Canon proves this false. The Bible is the final word on the matter. It is absolutely perfect. On Thursday, Eric took the guys through Reckoning with Truth (Romans 6 says, “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin.), while the girls spent time in specific confession together. Finally, on Friday everyone had broken through. Therefore, we spent the morning sharing testimonies of His faithfulness and victory. It was such an incredible week! Jesus greatly moved upon the student body.

One amazing thing happened during confession on Monday. A guy in the body got up to confess unforgiveness toward his parents, who had abandoned him when he was young and who grew up in the foster care system. He started sobbing and could not forgive them. It was really sad to see all the hurt people had to forgive as a result of parents and especially fathers. However, Eric walked up to him, wiped his nose, and spoke truth into his life. All the men got up out of their seats, laid hands on him, and prayed. All the girls prayed from our seats until he had a break through and allowed Jesus to forgive through him. It was an amazing time, and it was even more amazing to see Eric’s father heart.

I am so expectant for this week and know that God will continue to move mightily in our midst! We have truly become unified as a body. It’s amazing to see us all working together, fixed upon Jesus. 

The men praying for one guy's break through.