Little (t)ribulations & “persecution”

 

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• To draw people closer to God: Bad things can help people feel God's power, grace, and strength. 
• To help others: People who endure trials may be able to help others in the future. 
• For God's glory: Suffering can show that God is sent by God. 
• To help people grow: Accidents and misfortune can help people grow into Christ's likeness and live godly lives. 
• To teach people: God can use bad things to shape people and make them better people. 
• To equip believers: Bad things can equip believers for deeper ministry. 
• To develop compassion: Trials can help people develop compassion for others. 
• To rely on Jesus Christ: Tragedies and difficulties can help people rely on and see the power of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Romans 5:2-9

2   By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

3   And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

4   And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 

5   And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

6   For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

7   For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

8   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

9   Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

tribulations:

Thayer Lexicon: 

1. to press (as grapes), press hard upon

2. a compressed way

a. narrow straitened, contracted

3. metaphorically to trouble, afflict, distress

2 Corinthians 1:6-7

6   And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 

7   And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 

SUFFERINGS:

1. that which one suffers or has suffered

a. externally, a suffering, misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction

1. of the sufferings of Christ

2. also the afflictions which Christians must undergo in behalf of the same cause which Christ patiently endured

b. of an inward state, an affliction, passion

2. an enduring, undergoing, suffering

CONSOLATION:

1. a calling near, summons, (especially for help)

2. importation, supplication, entreaty

3. exhortation, admonition, encouragement

4. consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment

a. thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)

5. persuasive discourse, stirring address

a. instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse

Blessing THINE “enemies”… and everyone in fact. 

BLESS:

1. to praise, celebrate with praises

2. to invoke blessings

3. to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers

a. to ask God's blessing on a thing

b. pray God to bless it to one's use

c. pronounce a consecratory blessing on

4. of God

a. to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on

b. favoured of God, blessed

Sufferings, persecutions and little (t)tribulations are promised, warned and a blessing to be part of, knowing the consolation is on the other side and also given by the Holy Spirit. Praise the LORD. If you are suffering for the cross of Christ, count it as JOY my brethren!