01/10/2026
WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER REFRESHING SERVICE
MESSAGE/SHARING HEB. 11: HEROES OF FAITH
HIGHLIGHTS
AUTHENTIC FAITH MUST NECESSARILY BE TESTED OR TRIED
FAITH HAS AN ELEMENT OF SUFFERING. IT IS PART OF THE PACKAGE
IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT SUFFERING/PUNISHMENT FOR A JUST CAUSE IS NOT PART OF THIS
QUESTION 1
OF WHAT USE IS SUFFERING? IS IT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SUFFERING?
ANSWER
1.SUFFERING MATURES A BELIEVER
2.WHEN WE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE, WE SHARE IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING
3.SUFFERING IS ONE OF THE PROMISES GOD PROMISED BELIEVERS THAT MUST BE CLAIMED
4.SUFFERING IS A NECESSARY SEASON THROUGH WHICH WE ENCOUNTER AND UNDERSTAND THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD JUST LIKE THE WORLD IS CONTROLLED BY SEASONS, SUFFERING IS ONE OF THE SEASONS IN A BELIEVER'S LIFE.
5.OUR SEASONS OF SUFFERING BECOME NECESSARY TOOLS FOR MINISTRY, AS THE COMFORT WE RECEIVE FROM GOD EQUIPS US TO COMFORT OTHERS.
6.SUFFERING IS A COMPULSORY NOT AN ELECTIVE COURSE FOR ALL BELIEVERS IRRESPECTIVE OF CLASS OR AGE
QUESTION 2
KNOWING THAT SUFFERING/PUNISHMENT FOR A JUST CAUSE IS NOT PART OF THE SUFFERING WE ARE REFERRING TO, WHERE DOES THE MERCY OF GOD COME IN?
1.HIS MERCY ENABLES YOU GO THROUGH THE PUNISHMENT- GOD IS A JUST GOD
2.MERCY QUALIFIES YOU BUT DOES NOT MAKE YOU SKIP THE PUNISHMENT
3.HE WILL NOT WAVE IT BUT GIVE GRACE TO GO THROUGH IT
EXAMPLE:
IF A BELIEVER COMMITS AN OFFENCE THAT ATTRACTS DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE CHURCH, SUCH AS SEXUAL IMMORALITY RESULTING IN A PREGNANCY OUTSIDE WEDLOCK, GOD’S MERCY DOES NOT NECESSARILY CANCEL THE CONSEQUENCES OR DISCIPLINARY PROCESS. RATHER, HIS MERCY GIVES THE BELIEVER THE GRACE TO GO THROUGH IT IN HUMILITY, ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, SUBMIT TO CORRECTION, AND ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE. IN SUCH A SEASON, THE BELIEVER CAN LEARN SUBMISSION, HUMILITY, OBEDIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY, TRUST IN GOD, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGHTEOUS LIVING. THUS, MERCY DOES NOT ALWAYS REMOVE THE CONSEQUENCE; SOMETIMES, IT GIVES US THE GRACE TO GO THROUGH IT AND EMERGE WISER, STRONGER, AND MORE MATURE
CONCLUSION
THEREFORE, SUFFERING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE IS NOT WASTED; IT IS A DIVINE INSTRUMENT FOR MATURITY, DEEPER FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST, GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, AND EFFECTIVE MINISTRY. EVEN WHEN WE FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR WRONG ACTIONS, GOD’S MERCY DOES NOT ABANDON US; IT GIVES US GRACE TO LEARN, SUBMIT, GROW, AND BE RESTORED. EVERY SEASON HAS A PURPOSE, AND THE BELIEVER WHO ALLOWS GOD TO WORK THROUGH EVERY SEASON WILL EMERGE WITH A STRONGER FAITH AND A LIFE THAT CAN STRENGTHEN OTHERS.
