"I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

We must suffer for the name of Christ. There's no way around it, except compromise. If we suffer, then it will be well with us. If not, God will spew us out of his mouth. It shows we have no faith.

I go places and pastors know that I'm preaching the truth, but they will not, because they are unconvinced. Therefore, church boards, elders, and the loss of salary keeps them from preaching the gospel. They fear man instead of God. They love the praises of men.

This is common in our day of compromise, where convenience seems to be everything. God is, however, raising up people who will suffer for him. We alone see Christ in the text. We alone do his will.

First, the Lord Jesus says, "I will show him." He's our tour guide through suffering. He shows it to us, because he's in control. Nothing happens, unless he esteems it best [2 Cor 12:7-10].

He uses sufferings to increase our faith - to beat back self reliance, so he can work in us. This is good, because we become fruitful as we become dependent [2 Cor 4:7-18].

Secondly, he says, "how much." We must suffer many things! It's not one or two, here or there, but there's constant sufferings to preach Christ faithfully.

When men realize that you'll be faithful to him, honoring them no more, then persecution comes. When the gospel exalts Christ, then it destroys the pride of man. Preaching a spiritual kingdom bores those who seek signs and wonders. If you don't promise them health and wealth, then they walk away [John 6:26-66].

Preaching the gospel is glorifying Christ in the text in every sermon. It is ALWAYS pointing to him, and the flesh, can't take it!

If we preached morality, then they'd welcome us. (It's easy enough for man.) Preaching holiness by the gospel of Christ's finished work, however, is too spiritual. People want you to talk about them, instead of constantly exalting Christ. If we were willing to compromise, instead of obeying the text, then men would befriend us. Following Christ, however, has a cost!

Thirdly, we "must suffer." It must hurt!

If the Holy Spirit didn't allow us to feel the pain, we could never learn compassion. If it was all joy, then we couldn't show the sincerity of our love - that we don't serve God for things that can be seen, but for things that can't be seen, giving up our all for him [Job 1-2]. If it didn't hurt, how could people see the BEAUTY OF CHRIST shining through our tears, as we surrender to his glory and show his utter worthiness?

Ah, suffering is good! Let it lead you to prayer and faith!

Fourthly, we have the word, "for." We are suffering "for" something, and it is not unrighteousness!

Matthew 5:11, “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me."

We're not suffering because we are hard to deal with, arrogant, and proud. It's not because we're self serving and don't love people.

We're suffering for being meek, kind, and gracious… for preaching the truth in love. We're suffering for doing good unto people and behaving like Jesus Christ. We're sharing in his sufferings for righteousness' sake [Phil 3:10]!

Fifthly, we suffer for the name of Christ. He says, "For the sake of my name."

We're suffering for the adorable Lord, who redeemed us from sin. We're suffering because he loved us, and now we love him back. We suffer because he's the ONLY ONE who can cleanse the conscience. There's no, hope without his blood. Therefore, his mediation is preached in every sermon, because there's always peace with God through him. We suffer because we preach him in the fullness of his glory, holding back nothing: we pour out our hearts, as he's revealed in the text.

Suffer for him, dear saints, and it will make your sufferings sweet. You owe the Lord Jesus your life, soul, and eternity! You owe him everything!