We continue the series, "Endure," with another sermon titled "Unashamed." Apostle Paul explains to Timothy to not feel distressed or ashamed when we are suffering for the sake of the gospel and to be a witness of Christ. This week, Pastor Mark explains to us what suffering in Christian life looks like, what its purpose is, and how we can overcome it.
It’s one thing to say we believe the gospel but something else entirely to be willing to suffer for it. If we’re faithful to follow Jesus in this present world, we will experience some degree of opposition. People around us and the culture around us will have different perspectives on our beliefs, but we must not be shaken by those. We must guard ourselves on the truth of the Gospel. Jesus teaches us that anything we give up will be restored to us a hundred times over in the form of sweet fellowship with God in the present and eternal rewards in the future.
We all struggle with shame and suffering to varying degrees, but we do not have to be controlled by it. We will find the courage to endure it not by ourselves, but it comes from the power of God. He will help us. Therefore, the prayer that we need to make while we go through suffering is not for God to take away the sufferings from our lives but to ask for help to overcome sufferings with joy and rejoicing.
Suffering may kill our physical body, but it can never destroy the hope within us that has been entrusted to us because God himself and God alone is the one that guards our heart. Which is why we need to have total dependence on God's sovereignty and plan. Being prayerful at all times, asking God to guard and protect our soul. In times of suffering, our dependence should be on God’s ability and not ours.
