Does Christianity promise Does Christianity promise this?this?

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The following is NOT a promise that IF you become a Christian you’ll receive a Rolls Royce, fancy Rolls Royce, fancy mansion, diamond rings, never-mansion, diamond rings, never-ending youth, wealth, riches, ending youth, wealth, riches, painlessness, lots of trustworthy painlessness, lots of trustworthy friends, a spouse, kids, straight As, friends, a spouse, kids, straight As, wonderful vacations, and/or wonderful vacations, and/or excellent health. excellent health. In fact, living for Christ could mean…In fact, living for Christ could mean…

1 Thessalonians 3:4 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

Mark 8:34-36 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

These CHRISTIANS have lost their homes but are still giving God what’s His.

This CHRISTIAN woman was beat, flogged and raped for her refusal to deny Jesus Christ as Lord.

Matthew 10:34-36 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw— 36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

Is God number one (numero uno) in your life?

Physical torture may come…

Acts 5:40-41 40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

This CHRISTIAN woman’s breast was removed for her refusal to deny Jesus Christ as Lord.

Luke 6:22-23

22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

Philemon 1:13 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.

Revelation 2:10 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

This Christian child fears for her life as her family members were slaughtered…

John 15:18 18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

This Christian child was burned for her faith in Jesus Christ…

Romans 8:16-1816The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Loneliness may come…

1 Peter 4:12 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

Financial stress may not go away…

Matthew 11:28-30 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

2 Thessalonians 1:5 5All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

You may lose everything…

James 5:10-11 10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Hebrews 13:12-1312And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.

Suffering is biblical…

Depression may come…

1 Peter 2:19-2119For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Despair may come…

John 14:1 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

You may lose your marriage…

Matthew 10:37-3837"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

2 Timothy 2:33Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Your children may die…

Ephesians 6:1111Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

1 John 3:16-18 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ

laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has

material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love

of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and

in truth.

1 Corinthians 15:30-32

30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Persecution may come…

1 John 3:1313Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

This Christian child’s face was severely sliced for her faith in Jesus Christ…

2 Corinthians 1:5-7 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Don’t advance this slide so fast, take another look at this girl’s scar.

Philippians 1:29-3029For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Wars may come…

Your student debt may not go away…

2 Timothy 4:55But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

1 Timothy 1:18-19 18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

You may lose your job…

Suffering is throughout the bible, but why is it that we do not hear a whole lot about it…Suffering is throughout the bible, but why is it that we do not hear a whole lot about it…

2 Timothy 1:88So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

2 Timothy 3:1212In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

This Christian woman’s head was chopped for her faith in Jesus Christ…

Your house may still foreclose…

You may lose your home…

Your children may still cry…

You may still grieve…

You may lose your spouse…

Just because you may be a Christian, doesn’t mean your circumstances will disappear or change…

BUT…

Matthew 24:10-14 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Don't spend your life fighting for what YOU want. Your life is not your own…

Just because you may be a Christian, you're not exempt from pain, suffering, loss, depression, foreclosure, divorce, sickness, disease, catastrophe, betrayal and death.

So, while you're at McDonald's or enjoying the comfort of your nice big home, and comfortable living take some time to lift up actual brothers and sisters in the faith that are being violently persecuted for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In fact, living for Christ could mean things could get worse…

Matthew 16:25-27 25For whoever wants to save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Colossians 1:24 24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Jesus did nothing wrong, yet suffered the most of all...