The Fellowship of His Sufferings
by John F. Moreland
© JAN 2004
(Phil 3:10-11 NASB) "…that I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His
death; {11} in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
This is one of the most thought provoking and challenging
passages of Scripture in the New Testament. I was arrested by it as a young man
just starting out in ministry. I remember sharing it with a group of young
people while leading the music for a protracted meeting in Homer, Louisiana in
the early 1950’s. I remember how impressed I was by it, and yet almost helpless
in trying to really define it. I am still in the process of defining and
redefining it. What I now understand and see far surpasses anything I saw as a
young man. And yet, even now it grows more awesome, astounding and marvelous to
me.
To actually know the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is in a
realm all its own. It is unthinkable to the carnal mind while a precious reality
to the spiritual. The truth that amazes me most is that we have the privilege of
participating in the life of our Lord. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:4 that Christ
is our life. It is so much more than simply rejoicing in the spiritual
truth of salvation, it is the walking out of His life as our very own.
I am seeing something more clearly in the phrase
fellowship of His sufferings than I have seen before. It is an entering into
His purpose in our daily walk. The Greek word for suffering includes the
idea of passion as well as the physical suffering with which we associate it.
One cannot truly enter into His life apart from entering into His passion. His
passion was to completely fulfill the will of the Father resulting in the
reconciliation of mankind to the Father.
One also cannot understand this nor enter into His passion
apart from the cross. The cross is not a popular subject. We prefer to think in
terms of prosperity, success, victory and the overcoming life. To be sure, they
are part of the gospel, but hear the Word concerning the cross:
(Mat 10:38 NASB) "And he who does not take his cross and follow after
Me is not worthy of Me."
And another.
(Mat 16:24 NASB) "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes
to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
Me."
It is terribly disturbing to me that my spiritual worth to
the Lord Himself is joined to my entering into His passion by taking up my own
cross and following Him. It is also significant to realize that one cannot
follow Him without bearing his cross. A revealing word from Revelation declares:
(Rev 12:11 NASB) "And they overcame him because of the
blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did
not love their life even to death."
In a word, redemption may be free, but it is not cheap. The
cross is an instrument of death. The inference is that I must put my will to
death and accept His will as my passion and my life.
No, this is not morbid. If you think this you do not truly
know Him, nor fellowship with Him. The fruit of this is entering into His
Kingdom, which results in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Its
not a peace which comes from this world, but it is His peace which He gives. And
dear saints, it cannot get any better than this!
Most astounding, we receive the gift of His joy. Again, hear
the Word.
(John 15:11 NASB) "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may
be in you, and that your joy may be made full."
Can you imagine the wonder of His Joy? And to realize He makes our joy
full ! I like it!!!!!!
Dear Lord, make your grace known to us that we may truly
enter into the fellowship of your passion, your sufferings. Amen.
