The Fellowship of His Sufferings

John Farley
Pastor Teacher
Sunday,
August 11, 2024

The fellowship of His sufferings

(1) the destination of the journey.
(2) the gift we receive along the way.

(3) the great power that propels us forward.

ROM 8:29

The destination is conformity to the image and likeness of Christ.

PHI 1:21

It becomes a life of absolute simplicity.

Second, God has given us a gracious gift to enable us to attain the goal.

PHI 1:29-30

The NOT I BUT CHRIST life includes the gift of suffering for His sake.

PHI 3:3-11

What a 180-degree change in attitude!

The things he was most proud of. The advantages that gave him confidence.

He lists them in verses 5-6:

your religious credentials.
your nation.
your ethnicity.

your standing in your community.
your education and training.

your passions for the “right” things.
the works that make you a good person.

Make that 180-degree change in your attitude toward those things.

Yes, this does involve suffering.
But it’s worth it!

But suffering also simplifies our lives.

Paul learned that coming to know Christ includes participating in His sufferings.

Christ received hostility from sinners, from His own people, from religious leaders.

He lost friends, family, His dignity, and finally, His life.

These will be the most intimate and precious moments of fellowship with Him.

1PE 4:13-14

We are being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

That includes being conformed to His death.

The power to live the NOT I BUT CHRIST life does not come from us.

The power comes from Christ.

Our suffering will reveal this: the power can only be of God and not of ourselves.

2CO 1:8-9

We learn the lesson that we should not trust in ourselves.

We need to trust in God who raises the dead.

2Co4:7-12