The Suffering/Empowerment Cycle

Isaiah 43-45; 1 Peter 4

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

1 Peter 4:14

When we avoid giving witness to Christ, we miss the Spirit of glory and of God resting upon us. When we yield to fear rather than the Spirit of God, we not only miss the opportunity to point people to Christ, we also miss out on the blessing of the Spirit of glory resting on us. When the Spirit of glory rested on Jesus, he came as a dove. In gentleness and humility, God draws near to those who suffer for his name. In the west, where freedom of speech and religion are defended as hall marks of democracy, we are often less willing to share the gospel than in high cost gospel contexts.

Why is that so?

Interestingly, it is often through suffering that we cry out to God for his empowerment, courage, and the Spirit’s infilling which leads to bold witness, which can lead to more suffering. This suffering/ empowerment/suffering cycle was normal for the early Church, and is normal for the Church in high cost contexts today. If we in the west boldly share the gospel, we, too, will experience the same transforming process in our lives!

“Lord Jesus, you are worthy, for your glory.”