What does it mean to suffer as a follower of Jesus? Were Jesus’ sufferings not enough? Bill Johnson explores what New Testament scripture means when it talks about suffering. Our “yes” to Jesus will attract opposition, but be encouraged that we ultimately have the victory in Christ.

the Redemptive suffering of Jesus

there was nothing lacking

the only thing lacking in the sufferings

of Christ is the sufferings that only

you and I can carry

it’s not that his was deficient it’s

that our yes subjects us to difficulty

[Music]

how many of you have remember the verse

in Colossians I think it’s chapter one

where he’s where where Paul’s writing to

the

church and he he says

I’m suffering to make up for what is

lacking in the sufferings of Christ

that verse has bothered me

forever

Paul says he’s going to suffer because

he’s going to make up for what was

lacking

so let’s make something clear

the Redemptive suffering of Jesus

there was nothing lacking

the only thing lacking in the sufferings

of Christ is the sufferings that only

you and I can carry

it’s not that his was deficient it’s

that our yes requires dif excuse me are

yes subjects us to difficulty

all right

I can tell some of you haven’t read

first Peter in a while

First Peter chapter 4 verse 1 therefore

since Christ suffered for us in the

flesh arm yourself

with the same mind

for he who has suffered In the Flesh has

ceased from sin

pretty cool outcome

he has suffered In the Flesh see ceases

a lifestyle of sin

see many people still struggle with

certain sin parts of their life because

they’ve never said a bold enough Yes to

God to re that would attract conflict

and difficulty

it’s the conflict and difficulty that

refines the focus where sin becomes

unappealing

a bold yes that attracts opposition it’s

not the attempt to attract opposition

it’s not you know it’s not uh

um

it’s not at all being obnoxious so the

people don’t like you it’s not that it’s

just being bold enough in your yes to

follow Jesus

the people pick it up and they oppose

you

and that Journey

is a part of what helps us if we can say

with Paul makes up for what was lacking

the part that was lacking was Jesus

couldn’t do what I needed to do

and suddenly refines Focus to where

things that were once appealing no

longer have appeal why

because I’ve I’ve walked through fire

I’ve walked through the water

I walked through the the war I’ve walked

through the battle

and the things that that may have been

mildly attractive a year ago are no

longer attractive at all why because

there’s

there’s been a fire

and it’s nothing to glorify it’s just

it’s the it’s a fact of life arm

yourself with this mentality that says

my yes will bring opposition

and I’m okay

as I’ve told you many many many times

through the years

if I don’t live by the Praises of men I

won’t die by their criticisms

arm yourself

with the realization that a absolute Yes

to Jesus

brings breakthrough

creates

Eternal friendships Partnerships

and occasion for opposition

and you don’t get to pick and choose

they all come in one glorious package

that was pretty cool huh why don’t you

stand

foreign

prayer and then I’m going to turn it

over to these people because they’re

smart

they’re they’re in charge

Jesus said in John 16 it’s it’s a

portion of scripture that has stood out

to me for quite a few years and I’ve

actually taught on it several times too

so this will be room perhaps reminder

for many of you

Jesus said

whatever you ask for in John 16 will be

given to you

that your joy may be full

I know this sounds strange

but in some ways you and I have to take

responsibility

to get answered prayers

oftentimes we pray carelessly and blame

the lack of breakthrough on him it just

wasn’t his will

when in fact he was inviting us into a

place with a refined Focus

where we’re unwilling to settle for

anything but the will of God

and strangely he describes this as as

one of the several times in scripture

where he says this is this is your

access point to fullness of joy

see I’m either going to have joy

from the discipline of Prayer or the

breakthroughs that prayer brings

and the fullness of joy only comes from

breakthrough in other words you were

born to get answers you were designed we

were designed to see things happen to

have the ache of God work in us where we

where we relentlessly pray lift up our

voices to see things happen

I want you to take a moment just to

put a hand on someone next to you

grab their hand do something

and I want you just to ask the Lord to

release over them a real Spirit of

prayer a real anointing for prayer

the John 16 would be fulfilled in them

and uh and Lord keep us from just the

token tokenism that often happens in

prayer but move us into

the kind of prayers of that Aaron did

with that incense where he stood between

the living and the dead and the plague

stopped God we want the plague to stop

because we stand between the living and

the dead

We Stand between in that place

pray for that mantle of prayer to come

upon those around you

I want to hear you pray

I want to hear you pray out loud

breakthroughs Lord God

breakthroughs

yeah I’m so glad that you watched this

video I do pray that it’s a great great

strength and encouragement to you and

I’ve got a verse that it really is My

Cry for all of us and it’s Psalms 20

it’s verse 4. may he grant you your

heart’s desire and fulfill all your

plans

that’s my prayer that’s my prayers that

this would be the season of rich rich

fulfillment

thanks for joining us