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"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1 Peter 4:16) "So, if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right and trust yourself to the God who made you, for He will never fail you" (1 Peter 4:19).
The Lord said "…there will be a time of special persecution…..for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony (But as a result, the Messiah will be widely known and honoured" (Luke 21:12-13).
Paul described his afflictions as expressing the glorious power of God in them (apostles) (2Cor. 4:7) or as "excellency of the power of God". In 2Cor. 6:4 and 11:23, he described his afflictions (sufferings) as evidences of a true minister of God. Then he concluded
"If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities" (2 Cor. 11:30).
The list of his afflictions in 2 Cor 4 are quoted here "We are pressed on every side by troubles but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies, of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did. Yes we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal body, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us". (2 Cor. 4:7-11).
Paul, wrote the Roman Church "For His sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day, we are like sheep awaiting slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Rom 8:36-37).
Paul was quoting from Psalms 44:22 and it will serve our purpose to actually visit the Psalms and see in details what the writer, wrote
"I am constantly despised, mocked taunted and cursed by my vengeful enemies. And all this has happened, Lord, despite our loyalty to you. We have not violated your covenant. Our hearts have not deserted you! We have not left your path by a single step. If we had, we could understand your punishing us in the barren wilderness and sending us into darkness and death. If we had turned away from worshiping our God and we were worshiping idols, would God not know it? Yes, He knows the secrets of every heart. But that is not our case. For we are facing death threats constantly because of serving you! We are like sheep awaiting slaughter" (Psalms 44:15-22).
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Rom 5:3).
