In this world, Christ's followers experience persecution and trials. Jesus explained to His disciples why they should respond to mistreatment with love, kindness and good works. Understanding God's purpose for us is crucial in facing life's difficulties.

Joagbaje:
     
Trials are our opportunities to prove our love for God. It is a suffering of joy. not of sorrow.

Joagbaje:
Ac 5:41
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Jas 1:2
¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

when persecutions rise up against a christian, its is a proof that you are making an impact. Persecution and attacks comes in different forms : verbally or physically.

Lu 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! ,

Joagbaje:
It is christians that are not making any impact the devil leaves alone because hes got them already.

Joagbaje:

It is christians that are not making any impact the devil leaves alone because hes got them already.

matoyeh:

In this world, Christ's followers experience persecution and trials. Jesus explained to His disciples why they should respond to mistreatment with love, kindness and good works. Understanding God's purpose for us is crucial in facing life's difficulties.

MyJoe:

What about "trials" experienced by non-Christians? I sincerely want to know what you think of those.

the trial experienced by non Christians are not the same with a beleiver because they are not in the faith. A Christian trial is a spiritual one . That is why it is called "the trial of faith"

1 Peter 1:7
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

A Christian may experience persecution because:
-  People don't like his religious activities and want to stop him
-  He broke the law like anyone, for example, he stole a goat
-  Wicked people who think evil all the time decide to fight him, either because of his ethnicity, family or something similar.

A human rights activist who is an Ogun devotee may suffer persecution because:
-  The dictator du jour don't don't like his peaceful protest activities and want to stop him
-  He broke the law like anyone, for example, he stole a goat
-  Wicked people who think evil all the time decide to fight him, either because of his ethnicity, family or something similar.

Given the above, how true is your submission above?
Are we to take it that those Christians who go through life, just like some non-Christians, with relative ease - started primary school at five or six, entered university at eighteen, graduated at 23, got a job with Mobil at 24, married at 28, got two kids, travels the world, like his food and generally enjoys life. No major health palavar, no family hassles, no robbery attack. Retires at 70 to a mansion in his country home. Lives happily for the remainder of his days - do so because the devil is happy with them for being on his side already?

The trial of a non christian has no blessing or any spiritual impact .The Christian trial is an act of benevolence from God. It is for two reasons:
1. An opportunity To prove his faith and love to God.
2. An opportunity to be blessed by God and promoted .

MyJoe:

What about "trials" experienced by non-Christians? I sincerely want to know what you think of those.

A Christian may experience persecution because:
-  People don't like his religious activities and want to stop him
-  He broke the law like anyone, for example, he stole a goat
-  Wicked people who think evil all the time decide to fight him, either because of his ethnicity, family or something similar.

A human rights activist who is an Ogun devotee may suffer persecution because:
-  The dictator du jour don't don't like his peaceful protest activities and want to stop him
-  He broke the law like anyone, for example, he stole a goat
-  Wicked people who think evil all the time decide to fight him, either because of his ethnicity, family or something similar.

Given the above, how true is your submission above?
Are we to take it that those Christians who go through life, just like some non-Christians, with relative ease - started primary school at five or six, entered university at eighteen, graduated at 23, got a job with Mobil at 24, married at 28, got two kids, travels the world, like his food and generally enjoys life. No major health palavar, no family hassles, no robbery attack. Retires at 70 to a mansion in his country home. Lives happily for the remainder of his days - do so because the devil is happy with them for being on his side already?

Quote from: Joagbaje on August 10, 2010, 09:47 AM
It is christians that are not making any impact the devil leaves alone because he's got them already.

Zikkyy:

If they are hanging with the devil, then they are no longer Christians. Are you saying all Christians must suffer?

Quote from: Zikkyy on August 10, 2010, 02:59 PM
. Are you saying all Christians must suffer?

Joagbaje:

The answer is yes. A Christian that is not experiencing persecution is merely existing, and not yet living. He towing carefully not to rock the boat of life.

Joagbaje:

Persecution must rise against you From family , friends , media and NL

Zikkyy:

If you say all Christians must suffer, then the group of people you describe above does not qualify to be called Christians. Dats the point am trying to pass across here. Or are now saying there are exceptions?

Interesting    I guess you must be referring to Joagbaje here

Joagbaje:

God didnt  call us into "suffer head" There is difference between suffering persecution and trials and suffering poverty and sickness. If a man is experiencing suffer head, it is due to his ignorance because Jesus has paid the price for such .

Joagbaje:

No o, all the names of churches and ministers of the gospel  ever attacked on NL , is a form of persecution, that's what I mean.

Joagbaje:

but my own point is that being born again is not an end, it's only a beginning. Every man is born for a purpose.  He ought to live for that purpose.

Joagbaje:

You need to start reading rhapsody .

Joagbaje:

God didn't call any Christian into poverty and sickness. 

nuclearboy:

@Zikky my Bro:

Long time. How now?

nuclearboy:

Jonah, who lived in a fish? David, who wanted to give all to God and was TOLD not to? Malachi, who rebuked the priests? Jesus HIMSELF, who had no place to lay His Head? Peter, the poor fisherman? Stephen, stoned to death for his testimony? Paul, who boasted in his infirmity and poverty? James, who said its not just mouth (as you do) but actions (which you run from)? John, banished to solitude on an island because of Christ

nuclearboy:

Sad that the Apostle Paul (whom you follow) suffered a thorn in his flesh. I imagine that if he'd waited till now to come to earth, you'd have taught him how to avoid that thorn. Baby-teeth Apostle Paul who didn't know such a thorn was rubbish that he could have cancelled as easy as saying "I claim it in Jesus Name". Yet the funny Paul thought he was a servant of God even though he was poor and sick.

Sad also that Jesus didn't have a place to lay His Head and promised same to His followers. If God had just remembered to create "Joagbaje" just prior to that time, you'd have taught the Lord that all He had to do was name and claim mansions for everybody -

Zikkyy:

After eliminating poverty and sickness from the equation, I guess your own interpretation of suffering would amount to someone who is unjustly accused, beaten and thrown in jail.

But you do know ministers and churches are rarely persecuted for being Christians or preaching the gospel. On the contrary, the attack on ministers here in NL and elsewhere is usually for their un-Christ-like behaviors, sermons e.t.c

Christians are more likely to suffer the kind of persecution you talk about in a region new to Christianity. Secondly, such attack are usually directed at the ministers and not the congregation, so I will say I was a bit bothered when you noted in your post that it’s compulsory for all Christians to go through such experience.

Okay, but do we have to go through the process of being unjustly attacked, beaten up or jailed to achieve that purpose. A good number of Christians live a society where freedom of expression is allowed (and Christianity is very much accepted), so a lot of people are not likely to get that unjust treatment. What do you advise they do in such situation?

Seriously Jo, if you say all Christians are meant to be rich (material wealth), why are most Christians poor? You are yet to provide an answer Jo.  Maybe you can also provide the standard for measuring this prosperity (material wealth) you talk about. 

nuclearboy:


"Morever, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work -this is a gift of God" Eccl 5:19

It is a gift not a right! Does everyone get the same gifts? Before you answer, think!

"I have seen something else under the sun: the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or wealth to the brilliant, or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all" Eccl 9:11

Time and Chance (luck) not "name and claim"

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven" a time to be born and a time to die, a , , , . ., a time to weep and a time to laugh, , " Eccl 3:1

"Moreover, no man knows when his time will come" Eccl 9:12(a)

Combine Eccl 3:1 and Eccl 9:12 together and what do you get? There is apparently also a time to be rich and a time to be poor (since all things have a time) AND no man knows his OWN time. Confess and claim all you want - its rubbish. Time and chance are determined by God, not by you and the combination of time and chance are what is called "luck".

"sufferhead" as you call it is what Christians better than you faced that made the Apostles of Christ gather offerings for them. If you feel they were wrong, fine. The Apostles obviously didn't know as much as you, to your thinking, which is why they didn't shout at them to claim and become rich. And why do you have poor people in your church anyway since all are called into wealth? why are your members stealing society blind so chris embassy can pay for satellite coverage and chris can fry his hair? Or is he broiling it now? Why did the bank staff take 60 million? Was it because they were so rich they had NO money?

I am rich Joagbaje. SPIRITUALLY. In the flesh, I can give you what chris gives you but won't knowing I would only be supporting the laziness and sloth that made you his lackey in the first place. But I am not rich physically. All I have is held in trust for Christ and while I drive a nice vehicle, it belongs to me because He gave it to me. Thus it is not me that is rich but HIM in me. That is the wealth the Scripture talks of - what is truly available for God not what you siphon off innocent people in the name of God and use for yourself. Think - if you had a life, would you need the trappings of wealth, position and power to make yourself look good? No, because you would know you have real life. But because you're empty, decaying, stinking, you need to cover up with protestations and allusions to "blessings". A white-washed sepulchre, Christ called you!

But resembling who, slowpoke? Moses, the wealthy "god" of his people? Enoch who walked with God? Elijah, the fiery prophet? Isaiah, who saw visions that scared him? Jonah, who lived in a fish? David, who wanted to give all to God and was TOLD not to? Malachi, who rebuked the priests? Jesus HIMSELF, who had no place to lay His Head? Peter, the poor fisherman? Stephen, stoned to death for his testimony? Paul, who boasted in his infirmity and poverty? James, who said its not just mouth (as you do) but actions (which you run from)? John, banished to solitude on an island because of Christ yet gave a WEALTH (do you see what wealth can mean now?) of prophecy because of that?

OR

the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, who had the high places, the adulation of men and "togetherness" against the truth as long as it brought them money, position, fame and the ears of Pilate thought they were slaves?

Dude, thats all you are - a slave to chris! Do you dare to say he's wrong about anything? ANYTHING? Hunger will kill you if you do cos you sold yourself out! Or you wish to say he's perfect? You're just so easy to upturn. Empty brain, mighty tummy. Worshipper of food and a lackey!

Meanwhile, knowing you're a certified and not wanting to insult you further, let me only briefly remind you that I never begged for anything from ogoamaka99. He offered in the same spirit of pride with which you postulate then cannot defend. My whole point in accepting his "fake" offer was to prove he was lying and it was achieved. The dude has tried to come back a couple of times but he had been exposed so he is always ignored or shown the hole in his head. I won't be suprised if he has a new id now on NL. At least, he has shame unlike you and for that, I give him credit. You are too far gone, it seems.  Keep sucking chris and lets see where you'll be in just three years time.

nuclearboy:

@Joagbaje:

"Morever, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work -this is a gift of God" Eccl 5:19

It is a gift not a right! Does everyone get the same gifts? Before you answer, think!

"I have seen something else under the sun: the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or wealth to the brilliant, or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all" Eccl 9:11

Time and Chance (luck) not "name and claim"

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven" a time to be born and a time to die, a ,  ,  ,  . ., a time to weep and a time to laugh, ,  " Eccl 3:1

"Moreover, no man knows when his time will come" Eccl 9:12(a)

Combine Eccl 3:1 and Eccl 9:12 together and what do you get? There is apparently also a time to be rich and a time to be poor (since all things have a time) AND no man knows his OWN time. Confess and claim all you want - its rubbish. Time and chance are determined by God, not by you and the combination of time and chance are what is called "luck".

"sufferhead" as you call it is what Christians better than you faced that made the Apostles of Christ gather offerings for them. If you feel they were wrong, fine. The Apostles obviously didn't know as much as you, to your thinking, which is why they didn't shout at them to claim and become rich. And why do you have poor people in your church anyway since all are called into wealth? why are your members stealing society blind so chris embassy can pay for satellite coverage and chris can fry his hair? Or is he broiling it now? Why did the bank staff take 60 million? Was it because they were so rich they had NO money?

I am rich Joagbaje.

SPIRITUALLY. . But I am not rich physically.

But resembling who, slowpoke? Moses, the wealthy "god" of his people? Enoch who walked with God? Elijah, the fiery prophet? Isaiah, who saw visions that scared him? Jonah, who lived in a fish? David, who wanted to give all to God and was TOLD not to? Malachi, who rebuked the priests? Jesus HIMSELF, who had no place to lay His Head? Peter, the poor fisherman? Stephen, stoned to death for his testimony? Paul, who boasted in his infirmity and poverty? James, who said its not just mouth (as you do) but actions (which you run from)? John, banished to solitude on an island because of Christ yet gave a WEALTH (do you see what wealth can mean now?) of prophecy because of that?

Dude, thats all you are - a slave to chris! Do you dare to say he's wrong about anything? ANYTHING? Hunger will kill you if you do cos you sold yourself out! Or you wish to say he's perfect? You're just so easy to upturn. Empty brain, mighty tummy. Worshipper of food and a lackey!

Meanwhile, knowing you're a certified  and not wanting to insult you further,

Keep sucking chris and lets see where you'll be in just three years time.

nuclearboy:


Time and Chance (luck) not "name and claim"

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven" a time to be born and a time to die, a ,  ,  ,  . ., a time to weep and a time to laugh, ,  " Eccl 3:1

"Moreover, no man knows when his time will come" Eccl 9:12(a)

Combine Eccl 3:1 and Eccl 9:12 together and what do you get? There is apparently also a time to be rich and a time to be poor (since all things have a time) AND no man knows his OWN time. Confess and claim all you want - its rubbish. Time and chance are determined by God, not by you and the combination of time and chance are what is called "luck".