[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] FW: [CWWC] TO THE GARDEN AND THE CROSS

[mmoore11 at kent.edu]

From: committed-walk-with-Christ at groups.io
<committed-walk-with-Christ at groups.io> On Behalf Of Mr. Ed via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 9:00 AM
To: Mr. Ed <pinky14 at abe.midco.net>
Subject: EXT: [CWWC] TO THE GARDEN AND THE CROSS

 


TO THE GARDEN AND THE CROSS


When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the
Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his
disciples went into it.
<https://link.biblegateway.com/click/23308130.3342/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlibGVnY
XRld2F5LmNvbS9wYXNzYWdlLz9zZWFyY2g9Sm9obi4xOC4x/5ef562bd10222374f46b6174B721
f9ea0> John 18:1

Today's devotional comes from a Chinese house church pastor who was arrested
and held for three weeks just prior to this talk. He says:

When we suffer for Christ, what actually happens? I mean, what really goes
on spiritually within us when we are going through suffering?

I ask the question because a young sister was listening to me recently
recount my experience of being in jail for three weeks last year. She said,
"You talked of having constant diarrhea, of being kicked and punched
painfully, and you even feared that God was punishing you.yet you talked
also of feeling joy and experiencing peace." She said to me, "I don't
understand how these things go together."

My reply to her, and I give it also as an instruction to you all (for you
will all suffer at some point for His Name), is that when we suffer, three
spiritual experiences happen to us all at once: angelic strengthening,
superhuman forgiveness, and human incomprehension. These three things appear
contradictory, but if you suffer, you will find they come together as they
did in the life of Christ.

An old Christian used to say to me, "When they lead you away to jail, tell
yourself you are merely going with Christ to the Garden of Gethsemane, and
to the Cross." To the Garden, and to the Cross. I liked that. I tested it.
It's true.

So that is why suffering Christians appear to speak out of "both sides of
their mouth." On the one hand we talk of joy and endurance. On the other
hand, there is anger at God, pain and a feeling of spiritual desertion. They
sit together, because there is always a war of different feelings and
emotions.

Although we are angelically strengthened and the recipients of superhuman
forgiveness, we also experience a sense of spiritual abandonment as a result
of our human incomprehension.

But the greatest thing of all is to walk the way of Christ. That is the
privilege of suffering: to suffer a little as our Lord Jesus suffered. As He
identified with us by suffering pain, so some are called to identify even
more closely with Him by going into the Garden, and onto the Cross.

Never fear, my friends, when you are arrested. You will receive strength.
You will also be bewildered. Think of Christ, and follow him into the
Garden, and onto the Cross.

For the next three days we will listen to his contrasting explanation of the
Garden and the Cross: angelic strengthening; superhuman forgiveness; and
human incomprehension.

RESPONSE: Today I will walk with Jesus whether into the Garden or onto the
Cross.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that You strengthen Your people in preparation for
suffering and even during it.

Provided by Bible Gateway:

_._,_._,_

  _____  

Groups.io Links: 

You receive all messages sent to this group. 

View/Reply Online (#7327)
<https://groups.io/g/committed-walk-with-Christ/message/7327>  | Reply To
Group
<mailto:committed-walk-with-Christ at groups.io?subject=Re:%20%5BCWWC%5D%20TO%2
0THE%20GARDEN%20AND%20THE%20CROSS>  | Reply To Sender
<mailto:pinky14 at abe.midco.net?subject=Private:%20Re:%20%5BCWWC%5D%20TO%20THE
%20GARDEN%20AND%20THE%20CROSS>  | Mute This Topic
<https://groups.io/mt/81575715/21951>  | New Topic
<https://groups.io/g/committed-walk-with-Christ/post> 

  _____  

Questions, concerns, suggestions? Contact us
Group owner
Email: committed-walk-with-Christ+owner at groups.io
<mailto:committed-walk-with-Christ+owner at groups.io>  

  _____  

Your Subscription
<https://groups.io/g/committed-walk-with-Christ/editsub/21951>  | Contact
Group Owner <mailto:committed-walk-with-Christ+owner at groups.io>  |
Unsubscribe
<https://groups.io/g/committed-walk-with-Christ/leave/9118772/21951/54263907
8/xyzzy>  [mmoore11 at kent.edu]

_._,_._,_

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER Do not click any links, open any attachments, or
REPLY to the message unless you trust the sender and know the content is
safe. 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-communities-of-faith_nfbnet.org/attachments/20210324/d63cfc65/attachment.html>