READ: HEBREWS 12:1-3
Many people read about Apostle Paul and they envy him. They covet the anointing on him. If you want to perform great miracles like Paul did, you must be ready to pay the price Paul paid. You can read about his sufferings in Acts 19:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Nothing goes for nothing. One of my pastors said the General Overseer of a church in his state met him sometime ago. The G.O. told him he had been seeking God’s face for a while so that God would give him the level of anointing on Pastor Adeboye. Nothing more. Then the Lord asked him if he was ready to pay the price Pastor Adeboye paid to get to that level. And he replied that he was okay the way he was. Can you pay the price for the anointing you are asking for?
“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Corinthians 11:29). Some believers mourn the sufferings they go through as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ as if something terrible has happened to them. But Paul differs. Paul conforms to the Lord’s teaching that we should rather celebrate such because of the glory ahead (Matthew 5:10-12). In 2 Corinthians 11:30, Paul says if there is anything he should celebrate, it is every opportunity he has to suffer for Jesus. How many of such sufferings, denials, marginalization, rejection, demotion, retrenchment, losses, etc. encountered for your faith in Christ have you celebrated? If you find it difficult to celebrate suffering for Christ but rather to grieve, complain and engage in self-pity, it shows you are not seeing what they saw. You are viewing it from a different perspective.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Paul considered all the terrible experiences in suffering as light afflictions when he compared them with the reward that awaited him for each of them. He saw beyond the suffering. He looked forward to the glory ahead. Women go through so much pain, vomiting, inconveniences, etc. during pregnancy. Yet for nine months, they carry the burden with no hard feelings because they are looking forward to the glorious day the baby will arrive. Jesus Christ is coming with rewards. If you can look beyond all you are suffering and focus on the great rewards that you will receive, it will release so much grace and energy into you that you will be able to run with patience.
“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Corinthians 11:29). Some believers mourn the sufferings they go through as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ as if something terrible has happened to them. But Paul differs. Paul conforms to the Lord’s teaching that we should rather celebrate such because of the glory ahead (Matthew 5:10-12). In 2 Corinthians 11:30, Paul says if there is anything he should celebrate, it is every opportunity he has to suffer for Jesus. How many of such sufferings, denials, marginalization, rejection, demotion, retrenchment, losses, etc. encountered for your faith in Christ have you celebrated? If you find it difficult to celebrate suffering for Christ but rather to grieve, complain and engage in self-pity, it shows you are not seeing what they saw. You are viewing it from a different perspective.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Paul considered all the terrible experiences in suffering as light afflictions when he compared them with the reward that awaited him for each of them. He saw beyond the suffering. He looked forward to the glory ahead. Women go through so much pain, vomiting, inconveniences, etc. during pregnancy. Yet for nine months, they carry the burden with no hard feelings because they are looking forward to the glorious day the baby will arrive. Jesus Christ is coming with rewards. If you can look beyond all you are suffering and focus on the great rewards that you will receive, it will release so much grace and energy into you that you will be able to run with patience.
MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 12:2 –Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
