Two kinds of suffering!  (Pt. 2)   By James Lantz

        In part one we looked at the substitutionary suffering that Christ suffered on our behalf and the part that all who live a godly life will have to suffer because of association with Jesus in the kingdom of God. God does not want a single person to suffer for their sins because he accepted Jesus suffering as payment in full for man’s sin. Our good God includes healing along with the remission from sin so that we do not have to suffer with sickness. We do not have to be depressed, worried, or fearful because Jesus has redeemed us from all of the curse that came as the result of sin.  1 Pet. 2:21-24  For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  Jesus also took the curse of poverty upon himself so that we can experience abundance.  2 Cor. 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.  I know religion has brainwashed many people, saying that this means only spiritually rich but it does not. Paul was using this very scripture in teaching people how their giving will cause increase to come into their lives. Jesus became poor at the same time he bore all the sins and sicknesses of mankind, as he hung naked on that cross. We have not been ordained to suffer unnecessarily or for ignoble causes. The word of God says that if we put the kingdom of God and his righteousness first, all these things (food, clothes, and homes) shall be added unto us. The False Religion Bible says, the Lord is my shepherd, I am full of want, surely sadness and poverty shall follow me all the days of my life. You never can tell what God will do! The word tells us exactly what God will do. The scriptures teach that if you will do certain things you will live long on the earth and if you do certain other things you will live a short time on the earth. I do not know why some people want to take the seventy or eighty years that God said would be a maximum life span for those who refused to obey him as their standard. Why not choose to believe and enter into the good things God has for you and use the model lifespan of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. Sometimes we suffer because we don’t know what belongs to us and sometimes we suffer because we are not willing to do what is required. The elder son missed out on some good times because he lost sight of what was his through inheritance. The apostle Paul knew his rights as a Roman citizen, and spoke up. Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned. This put the fear of Caesar into the centurion and the chief captain. Jesus would have used his authority and spoke up for his innocence and been released, except he was on a mission to die for you and me. God does not want us to worry or be afraid of anything. Worry is meditating on thoughts of bad things coming to pass in your life before they happen. Worry brings stress and makes us vulnerable to sickness, disease, strife, and accidents. We are to cast all of our cares on the Lord because he is watching out for our good. We have been given supernatural weapons to use against the strongholds (wrong thought patterns) of the enemy.  2 Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  Every christian who is submitted to God’s will for their life can do this. In the twenty eighth chapter of Deuteronomy you will find the blessings of God and the curses listed. The scripture says we have been redeemed from the curse of the law through Jesus Christ.  Gal. 3:13&14  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  Many false prophets today, say, we don’t get any of Abrahams blessing until we get to heaven. Christ has already redeemed us from the curse of the law, and beside this, we have a better covenant than Abraham had. Better meaning it includes the benefits they had plus more. Being defeated by our enemies is a curse. Not having our prayers heard and not getting rain for our crops is a curse. All sicknesses, madness, confusion is a curse. Having your wife in the arms of another man is a curse. Losing your crops, your job, your baby, or your house is a curse. It is the plan and will of God that no part of the curse is on us at any time.  Deut. 28:45  Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee.  I hope you realize I am not trying to bring condemnation but to bring the light of God’s word so you can see your way to get back under the blessing. I have learned some lessons the hard way. It is much better to believe and obey God’s word than to have to experience the curse. Everything God say’s is for our good!  Pro. 13:15  Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.  If you listen to some people talk, they do everything right, and they don’t understand why the curse is on them.  Pro. 26:2  As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.  Job didn’t know what opened the door to the curse either but we can see it looking back on what he said.  Job 3:25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.  We have been commanded not to fear. When we look at how the children of Israel suffered it usually could be traced back to where they began to complain or to worship other gods. They complained against God and against Moses, saying, why have you brought us out from Egypt to die in this wilderness. The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many died. They repented, and God sent the cure and healed those who set their gaze on the brazen serpent on the pole. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram challenged Moses leadership, accusing him of trying to make himself great and bringing them into the wilderness to kill them. God opened the earth according to Moses words and swallowed them. Num. 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.  It seems that health and money problems are at the top of the list among the needs of God’s people. God has said that he wants us to prosper and be in health above everything else! Our souls (mind, will, and emotions) must prosper in order for our healing and prosperity to appear.  Pro. 4:22  For they (God’s words) are life unto those that find them, and health (medicine) to all their flesh.  Ps. 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Feed on God’s word until faith comes. Your faith will make you whole! Many of God’s people have suffered needlessly by walking after the lust of their flesh and not following the Spirit. A soft answer, acts of kindness, forgiving those who sin against us, and preferring others above ourselves go a long way towards averting needless suffering.  1 Pet. 4:15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  The apostle Paul list numerous things in which he suffered for the cause of Christ. Paul was beaten with rods three times, was given thirty nine stripes five times, in prison often, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep, much hardship from traveling, perils of robbers, perils by false brethren, hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness. When Paul lists all the things that he suffered for the cause of Christ, notice that sickness and poverty are not mentioned. Many times our problem is right under our nose, it is our mouth, the words that we bring forth bring life or death.  Pro. 15:1&2  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.  Jesus said, he shall have whatsoever he sayeth. The words we speak are brought forth from the storehouse in our heart. If we want different results than what we have been getting, we need different deposits made into the storehouse of our heart.  Luke 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.  Purpose with me to abandon needless suffering and fulfill the great commission with joy!