Tuesday March 31st, 2026
« But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” »
21 ‘What do you want me to do?’ Jesus asked her. She said, ‘One day, you will be king. Then I want my two sons to rule with you. One may sit at your right side and the other one at your left side. Please will you do this?’
22 Jesus said to them, ‘You do not understand what you are asking for. I will have much pain and trouble. Are you ready to have the same pain?’ James and John replied, ‘Yes, we can do that.’
23 Jesus said to them, ‘Yes, that is true. You will have pain and trouble like mine. But I cannot promise that you will sit at my right side or at my left side. My Father God has chosen the people who will sit there. He has prepared the places for those people.’
Over the past two days, I have been discussing some lessons from Philippians 3:10 , and today, I will be going even deeper.
Apostle Paul said clearly that he wanted to know the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings; in other words, he wanted to partake in the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
Ordinary Christians don’t pray this kind of prayer;
the prayer of the ordinary Christian usually sounds as follows, “God heal me, set me free, give me a car, prosper me, promote me, make me fruitful.”
You won’t hear an ordinary Christian praying, “God, let me suffer for you.”
I pray for you that you will leave the company of the ordinary today and enter into the company of the extraordinary, in Jesus’ name.
Paul was a great example of an extraordinary Christian. He was eager to know God and to suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:16-17Easy English says
« God’s Spirit Himself causes us to know that we are God’s children. God’s Spirit and our own spirits agree that this is true. Because we are God’s children, we also know that we will receive good things from Him. Those are the things that He has promised to give to His children. Together with Christ, we will receive the things that God has kept for Him. That is true if we agree to have troubles like Christ did. Then we will also enjoy life in heaven like Christ does »
It is when we suffer with Jesus that we can be glorified with Him.
Paul said, Galatians 6:17Amplified
« From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me] »
In other words, he was saying, I have scars to show that I suffered with Him.
God glorifies those who are partakers of the sufferings of Christ.
It’s just like a responsible man whose wife suffered with him during tough times. When things get better, there will be nothing money can afford that he will not buy for her.
One of the reasons I value my wife greatly today is that when I resigned from lecturing and moved into the middle of nowhere, telling everyone that it is a city that God promised me, she moved in with me. It was tough, but she backed me all the way and partook in my suffering. Now that things are better, she is partaking in the glory.
Are you seeking for opportunities to experience the fellowship of Jesus’ suffering ?
Have you suffered with Him in any way ?
Congratulations if you said, ‘Yes’ genuinely to these questions because when it is time to be glorified, you will be glorified with Jesus.
If you, however, are among those denying Him, remember that He said that He will also deny such persons before His Father in Heaven, Matthew 10:33.
Prayer focus – Lord, I want to know the fellowship of Your suffering. Please let me partake in Your suffering.
Author – Bishop Enoch Adejare Adeboye; General Overseer of the RCCG
Posted by Naomie Joseph
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