Proclamations
of Faith 
by David A. DePra
Proclamations
of Faith by David A. DePra |
| On Suffering: |
| According to the Bible, if we are going to reign with |
| Christ, we must suffer with Him. That means that instead |
| of indicating that something is wrong, suffering may |
| indicate that everything is right. |
| Suffering is not a "maybe" for a Christian. Peter says |
| we are "called" to suffer. |
| Suffering is the result of two worlds clashing within me. |
| I cannot prevent the clashing. But I can choose between |
| the worlds: God or the flesh. |
| If I use my suffering as a means to exalt myself as |
| highly spiritual, then I am manifesting the exact |
| opposite of why God allowed it in the first place. |
| The purpose of suffering is to conform us to Christ. But |
| this means reduction, depletion, and the loss of |
| self-ownership. |
| Overcoming never means to overcome suffering by |
| escaping it. Overcoming means to overcome suffering |
| by standing by faith in it. |
| If I stand by faith, I will suffer for it. |