The Lost Message of The Gospel

[Rico]

Ro 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

2co 1:5-7 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 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. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

Php 1:29-30 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

2ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

2ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

1pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;




Can someone please explain to me why stuff like this isn't preached much? I can count on one hand the number of times I have heard preaching on suffering. It seems that an emphasis was placed on the fact that anyone who really wants to know Jesus would have to get to know Him through the process of suffering.

Suffering what, persecution? Can any of us really say we know what it means to be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel? (Speaking to us from the USA and Canada)

Suffering what, the trial of our faith? When is the last time something came along that really tried to steal your faith?

Suffering what, the struggle against sin? We're under grace. What struggle against sin?

I'm not criticizing. I am merely asking the question, "What happened to the lost message of the Gospel?? When I read scriptures like the ones I just posted, I have to ask myself, "Where has the suffering gone?"

I understand there needs to be balance, and am not advocating that we should be miserable, constantly going through this test or that trial. It just seems that, in the overwhelming task of helping people to feel good about themselves, this aspect of living for God has gotten lost.

I have to be honest, I don't know Jesus in the fellowship of His suffering. I can't say the sufferings of Christ abound in me. I can't say I partake in His sufferings. I can't say I even know what these things mean. I want to know God. I really want to know Him.