"Outside of the doctrine of the wrath of God, this is perhaps the most neglected truth of Scripture: that God calls his people to suffer. We live in an affluent culture in America where comfort and abundance are our idols. This has given rise to the false prosperity gospel preached by a majority of the preachers on TV who say it's God's will for us to be healthy and wealthy, but that can't be squared with what Paul says to the church at Philippi in these verses. The word 'granted' in verse 29 comes from the same root word as 'grace,' and Paul is saying that suffering is just as much a gift of grace as faith - it has been granted to you that you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake. Suffering is a gracious gift from God because it identifies us with the sufferings of Christ and makes us more like Him. But we resist and reject it don't we? Yet some of the most beautiful testimonies come from saints whose suffering has spotlighted the grace of God upon their lives."
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Philippians: Joy In The Gospel Sunday Service Bethel Church
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