Don't Settle For a Pain Reliever (Santosh Poonen)

We are called to be careful followers of Christ in persecutions and sufferings along with all the aspects of godliness (II Timothy 3:11-12). This pathway leads us to eternal life (Mark 10:24-31). And this is what it means to truly know Jesus (John 17:3). Suffering will be difficult if you haven’t counted all things as loss compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). To truly know Jesus is: fellowship in His sufferings; being conformed to His death; experiencing power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11). God uses suffering to put to death every little bit of “righteousness of your own” (Philippians 3:9). In you trial if you seek for Christ you will find Him: in appearance as a man; obedient even to the point of death; highly exalted by the Father (Philippians 2:7-8). This is true evangelism: inviting others to “follow me as a follow Christ” in His sufferings. Suffering proves you are an heir with Christ. (Romans 8:14-15) God causes all things to work for good (Romans 8:28). If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35). In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer! (Romans 8:37) In the midst of your trial, hear the whisper of Jesus, “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)