Please turn with me to Romans 8 and I will share with you about the word of God, about your inheritance in Christ. Today’s theme is a glorious one because it is about the incredible inheritance you and I as followers of Jesus Christ have in Him. I want you to know how rich you are. Are you rich? Not very convincing. Are you rich? How rich are you? Well, the bible from Romans chapter 8 is going to share and going to be a help to your soul this day.

I read about an elderly man, an old man, a rich man who just passed away. And he left behind a huge inheritance of about $100 million to his only son, to his only heir. Problem is the son has just gone missing a few weeks before this and so the family was rather anxious and so the family tried to find the son and look for the son by all means but they couldn’t find him. It’s a missing son, it’s a missing heir. Finally they decided to hire a private detective and they found a very beautiful, young and intelligent lady detective. They put her on the job and she travelled all around the world to look for the missing son. Several weeks later she called back and she said to the family, “I’ve got good news! I’ve found the son! I’ve found the heir!” The family said ‘“That’s great news! Where is he right now? “She said “He is with me in my hotel room. We have just gotten married and we will be home right after our honeymoon. “This is a young lady who recognises and appreciates a good inheritance. Would you today appreciate your inheritance?

The bible tells you that you have a great inheritance because in Romans 8:17, Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. The book of Romans tells us that you are an heir of Jesus Christ if you are a child of God. The book of Romans has been a wonderful journey for myself. It’s a beautiful description of how God reconciles sinful man to Himself. Before we came to know Jesus, we were sinners, we were enemies, we were haters of God. But out of God’s grace, when men can’t save himself, He gave us His Son, Jesus, and because of faith in Jesus Christ, you become a child of God. That is what Jesus Christ Himself said. But as many has received him, to him gave him power to be sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. So those who turn from sin and trust in Jesus are what the bible says children of God. And along with it, as children of God you receive peace, justification. You receive forgiveness of sins, you are now no more condemned, never to be condemned again. And God says You are my child and you have peace. You have reconciliation. But you know that is for the present and children. But God does not just tell us about our present, He promises something for the future. And you know what your future holds? Your future is that you will inherit. Because the bible says you are an heir. How much will you inherit? By the way, many of you are children of your parents. Do you know how much you will inherit if your parents pass on? Most of you don’t know, right? Because your parents never quite told you your inheritance or their fortune. Maybe you are rubbing your hands in glee because one day I will be rich because daddy is rich and all will be mine! Hey, let me tell you something! God has an inheritance for you but how much is your inheritance?

We all know recently that the late Mr Steve Jobs passed away. Do you know how much he left behind for his family? By the way, how many kids does he have? Did he have? Well he had 4 kids and he left behind a huge fortune, do you know how much that will be? Anyone knows? Anyone read up on it? He left behind US$8 billion. How much is US$8 billion? It’s about S$10 billion, alright roughly , S$10 billion . And how much will that be? That is about 10 thousand million dollars. I do not know how many zeros that will be? Er, how many will that be? 10, 11 zeros? So, he left, 10? I think it is about 10 zeros. Alright, he left behind S$10 billion, how would you like it for your inheritance? You can buy, I think, a lot of houses; you can buy a lot of cars. You can buy a lot of clothes; you can buy a lot of iPads. Maybe free because you are Steve Job’s son. But all that is given to the children. S$10billion! Multiplied by 10 times. Multiplied by a 100 times. Multiplied by a 1000 times. And even if you have 100 zeros behind that 1, I think it is still an infinitely minuscule fraction of what God has given to you. Why? Because an heir of Steve Jobs can never compare to an heir of God. This is a God-sized inheritance. God owns Steve Jobs. God is the one who made Steve Jobs. Even if you multiply Steve Jobs a hundred thousand times, it will never come close to what God is. And God is saying, “I am going to give you an inheritance that is God -sized inheritance.” And listen to this, not only heirs of God but he says heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. That is a beautiful term. You are joint heirs with Christ. That means everything Christ have, you have. Wow!

How many of you have a joint-account? Anyone? Joint -account? Joint account will be generally husband and wife. what does it mean for you to have a joint -account? It means that 1 party has the right to 50% of the account? Is that so? No, you guys don’t know? Very dangerous. A joint account means you have 100% rights to all the money that is in the account. In other words, you can sign a cheque for all that sum of money you have even without your partner knowing it. You can. You can take out the entire sum. That is what a joint -account means. And you know what; the bible tells me that I am a joint-heir with Christ. Everything Christ has, I have. In the future, when I am with him forevermore. Whatever Christ has, I have. Think about it. Let me twist this around. If you have nothing in the future, what does that mean for Jesus? I am twisting this the other way round. If, when we go to heaven, you have nothing. What does it mean for Jesus? It means Jesus also has nothing. If you have little, it also means that Jesus must have little. I will flip it back again. If Jesus has much, you will also have much. You have exactly in a sense what Jesus will inherit. Because you are joint heirs with God, or with Christ. Now how much does Jesus have? How much will Jesus have? What is his inheritance? What does he receive? You never check your title deed. You never check your will. The bible says this about the Lord, Jesus Christ. God has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. (Heb 1:2) What about you? You will also have all things because you are joint heirs. That is why in Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; It makes sense because we are joint heirs with Christ. Wow! I have all things. Let me say this, I don’t understand what I am preaching this morning, I don’t. I really don’t. I don’t understand what it means for me to inherit all things? I can’t even imagine what it will be like be Steve Job’s son? I can’t. But God is going to give me an inheritance that blows my mind. And all I can do today is to share with you from the scriptures what God is preparing for you. What God is ready to give to you? He is ready to give to you all things because that is all Jesus has as well.

Look at other specifics. The bible says in Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne. Sitting with someone on the throne refers to being a king. To reign, to rule, to be king. You know something, God is going to create a new heavens and a new earth and you will be kings. You will be rulers, you will reign. We live in a day where people are trying so hard to buy a piece of land in Singapore. Am I right? It’s a dream of almost every Singaporean to own a piece of land in Singapore. 2000 square foot land, no need to be too big. I will be very happy, I made it in life. This is what I live for. People today are living for property, struggling so hard to get a car. And you know what the bible say about your piece of land? And your car? It is not freehold ok. We always say, “I want to buy freehold land.” Your land is not freehold. I know one day it will go. Why? Because the bible says this earth will pass away, gone. So however hard you work, this lousy piece of land cannot follow you. But if you recognise what God is going to give you in Jesus Christ, you can rejoice. He is not just going to give you a piece of land, 2000 square foot. He gives you the whole entire heaven and earth. Because Jesus is ruler of all things. And you reign with Jesus Christ. Can you imagine what that means? I can’t but that is what the bible says. I will rule and reign and I will be seated with Christ and be reigning with him over the whole new creation. So in your inheritance, God is going to give you a whole new world. Everything that is found there but there is more. When Jesus looks for the cross, he looked forward to an inheritance. What is it? Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. He today inherits pure, perfect, unadulterated and undiluted joy. That’s what Jesus has. Pure Joy. What will you have? What will you have when you pass into heaven with Jesus? The bible says in Mat 25:21….. I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

This is a world with a lot of pain, isn’t it? There is a lot of tears and sorrow. But what God is preparing for you is a life, an eternal life that is pure, unadulterated joy because that is what Jesus has. Jesus has all the kingdom, Jesus has all the joy and you will have all the kingdom and you will have all the joy. Thirdly, I think when you go into heaven; this is what God gives to you. He says the glory shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18). Notice this is not the glory to us. It is in us. It is in you. The glory of God will be manifested in your life. There will be a Christ Likeness, a holiness, a perfection in who you are. Wow! I am a very flawed person. All of us are. We are sinners saved by grace. But on that day, forevermore, the bible says you inherit the heavens and the earth, you have the whole of the created universe, you have pure joy and nothing can dilute that and glory in yourself. The Glory of God revealed in you. Being like Christ. Perfect and Holy. But all of that is a just appetizer. That’s not the main thing. You say what is the main thing about heaven? You say what is the main thing about your inheritance? What is it? If you are a child of God, this will be an echo from your heart. Psa 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. Who is this Thee? Who is this You? If you are a child of God, you look forward to being with God. And your great inheritance is this , you will have God. This is what Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. All that thrills my soul is Jesus. That is the great inheritance. Oh yes, God is going to give you the new heavens, new earth. All that is therein. God is going to give you joy. God is going to give you the glory of God in your life. But supremely above all, you will have God Himself. He will dwell with you and we shall be satisfied in His presence. That is why we have joy because God is with us and we are with Him. My friends, this is a God-sized inheritance. I don’t think we all, none of us today, can fully appreciate what this means. But let these thoughts sink into your soul. These are great promises of scripture. This is your inheritance in Jesus Christ.

And so let’s look at Rev 21:4. What does it mean? What does it mean when God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away? It means this. We have ecstasy after ecstasy. You know people today try to have ecstasy pills. It doesn’t last and it is damaging. But the real ecstasy is in heaven. Your ruler shall be joyful and glorious and you are with God forevermore. So this is a great verse, isn’t it? (Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…) And if children, because of faith in Jesus shall be heirs and not only will you enjoy blessings today, God is preparing for you great blessings in the future. And all that you have is the same as all that Jesus has. Because you are joint-heirs with Christ. So there will come a day, there will come a day in the future where you inherit all these things.

But let me say this to you, this is all in the future. That means in the present, it is not so. That is why Paul goes on to say Rom 8:17 (…..if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together), if so be that we, this is a scary word, Suffer, Suffer, Suffer with him. I think the honest preaching of the scripture must always be about the whole truth and nothing less than that. I think there are people today that do not want to preach this verse. They just want to stick here. They just want to stick at heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ and stop there. And they tell you, life with Jesus today is sweet and rosy; there will no trials, no pain, and no sufferings. No! The bible tells us this is the reality. Yes, you will inherit great blessings from God but in Verse 17 the second half, you will also suffer with him today. Are you prepared for sufferings? Or is your theology about good things? Jesus is here to give me good things. You know that is what the world believes? That is what many churches preach? You come to Jesus Christ and there will be no pain. You come to Jesus Christ and there will be no sufferings. You come to Jesus Christ and you should not suffer sickness and you will not go through poverty. That is never the promises of God. The bible does tell you clearly that while there is a day of future glory, there is a present day of present suffering right here, right now. (Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us) But the health and wealth teachers, the prosperity teachers will say No. God’s will is that you will never suffer. God’s will is that you will be rich. God’s will is that you will own many houses and drive fancy cars. God’s will is that you will never fall sick again. And they dangle this carrot in front of you and say, “Now , Jesus is going to give you all these goodies. He is going to give you a car. He is going to give you a house. He is going to heal of all this sickness. Would you want to believe in Jesus? “You will say, “Oh yeah! I want to believe in Jesus if he gives me all those things. “What happens is that when difficulties comes into your life, when poverty strikes, when sickness comes into your life . You’ll say “I do not want this Jesus anymore! He doesn’t give me health, he doesn’t give me wealth. He is just like any other God I have in the past!” And that is never the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

During the times of Christ, there were many who followed Jesus Christ and they said to Jesus, “Lord, give us this bread forevermore. “ They say that we want the bread that you produce. We want you to give us more food. And Jesus says that is not the bread I want to give. I am the Bread of Life. I am the one who saves you from your sin and you know what the crowds did? Upon hearing that, the crowds said, “Then you are not the one we want to follow. “ And all except the 12 departed from Jesus. Are you surprised that today that many people say they are Christians but eventually they go to other religions, they fall away from faith, they call that apostasy? You know why? Because they came to Jesus not because of Jesus. They came to Jesus because of what Jesus is said to give. Money, cars, health, healing. And it shames God’s name. Prosperity Gospel tells you no suffering. But look at verse 17, we suffer with him. And just in case you don’t get it, he says in Rom 8:18 again (For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us). For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time - Yes! There will be great blessings! Great humongous, gigantic God-sized blessings. But today, it’s about present suffering. I believe that your Christianity can be reflected towards your perspective towards suffering. It tells you a lot about your faith.

The bible doesn’t shrinks back from hard truths. And I think preachers shouldn’t as well. We ought to be faithfully teaching and declaring the word of God. If you are a Christian today, let me tell you something, alright? You will go through much suffering. I didn’t say it. The bible says it. I am going to run through a list of verses and you read it for yourself and see if will be convinced?

In Acts 14:22, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Christianity today is suffering! Much tribulation. I say that to you that if you feel that this is not the way you want, I am not going to sweeten the Gospel. This is the Gospel. The Gospel is turning from our sins to believing in Jesus and following Him. And it requires that we follow in the footsteps of suffering.

In Phi 1:29, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Suffer! You say I don’t like this word. But my friends, this is what God says. I am not here to dangle carrots. I am not here to sweeten a bitter pill. But this is the reality for today.

In Phi 3:10, Paul says” this is my goal,” alright, this is my aim in life. “This is one thing that I may know him” - I want to have intimacy with Jesus. “And the power of his resurrection,” and most preachers and most Christians stop at this verse. That’s all. I want to know Jesus, I want to know the power of his resurrection and then we stop there. No! Let me tell you got to be complete. The 3rd part is as trite as the 1st and 2nd part. You need to understand that God calls us to have “fellowship of his sufferings, “in other words, we will taste of the suffering of Christ when we ourselves go through the sufferings of life. Christian living is about going through sufferings.

Then you have John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” Jesus left these words to his apostles and disciples that you will have tribulation. And again in 2Tim 3:12, Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. In 2Tim 2:12, If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. So you see the balance, the tension. Sufferings today, then glory tomorrow. The Chinese has this saying “Xian Ku Hou Tian” is applicable to Christianity, suffering first then glory. Jesus who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross that is the way of the Christ. That is the way of his followers. In 1Pet 2:19, 21: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully - maybe today you are ill-treated. You are working for an employer, you are working for your boss and they despise you and they hurt you and they shame you and they treat you badly. What do you do? Do you throw stones at your employer? Do you put poison in his drink? The bible says- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example- wow! This is hard, this is painful. But the God of all grace who have called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after ye has suffered awhile. And if this is not enough, let me share with you the last verse here. Luke 9:23,24, And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. You know what is the Christian way? The Christ way? It is the dying way. Many people today come to Jesus, claim to be a Christian, hoping to add Jesus to their lives. My friends, you don’t add Jesus to your life. The bible says you lose your life. You don’t say I still want to pursue health and wealth and let me add Jesus to my portfolio. No, you lose your life for Jesus’ sake. When Jesus bids a man come, He bids him come to die. That’s why the health and wealth Gospel is a damnable heresy. It leads people to worship materialism which is idolatry. It leads people to worship the things above God. It leads people to a phony kind of conversion, they were not truly saved because they love Jesus but they wanted the goodies, the bread that comes from Jesus. It’s a damnable heresy.

I saw a video on YouTube of Pastor John Piper and I want to share this video with you. I thought he said it eloquently in the 2 minutes sole video about what he thinks about the prosperity Gospel. I want to share this with you and just take 2-3minutes and listen to what he has to say.

Video of Pastor John Piper playing …

Who expresses the idolatry, the dangers and the damnable heresies that is called the prosperity gospel seeping through this world today. You know it makes Jesus like any other religions, isn’t it? Why do people go to places of worship today for this reason? He came to give you far more than that. He came to turn you from your life of sin. Worship God not the gifts. 1Tim 6:9, 10 tells you this scary verse that you today, watch out for this as the bible say “But they that will be rich” refers to people who want to be rich, desire to be rich, aim to be rich. For those who will be rich “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The health and wealth, the prosperity gospel is a damnable heresy because not only does it result in false conversions, it shipwrecks your faith. It ruins your life. It teaches you to pierce yourself with many sorrows. It's spiritual suicide. When you come to church and the preacher and the pastor tells you “Get rich! Name it, claim it! BMW, just tell God about it. He gives it to you. That is the promise of Jesus. “It pierces your soul. You worship mammon, you worship riches and you fall away from the truth and living God. Watch out for your souls. This is the reality, friends. God tells us clearly from the verses that I have just shared and from Rom 8:18 that there are sufferings for this present time (For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.) It is real. That is the reality. That is the way of the bible. No cross, no crown. No pain, no gain. No grief, no glory. Because Jesus calls us not to a comfortable road but to a Calvary road where you take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Jesus. That is the way of the cross.

The question you have, I think in your mind is this. Why? Why God? Why can’t I immediately have that perfect joy today? Why sufferings? Let me first of all tell you why not? Why it is not? Or why it is not the reason you suffer today. You suffer today not because God hates you. You suffer today not because you are condemned. Romans 8:1 already declare you are not condemned. Romans 8, the entire chapter says that it is not because God has stop loving you, that’s why you suffer. No! Nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. The sufferings you go through today is not because God hates you, or God stops loving you or God condemns you. No. It’s not that. You say, “Then Pastor, why? “. You know when you go through sufferings, what you need is context, isn’t it . The reality in life is sufferings. Maybe your child turns rebellious. Maybe, right now you are going through sufferings. You are diagnosed with cancer; you are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Maybe you have lost your job. Maybe you have a quarrel at home and your family is about to break up. And these are the trials and sufferings of life and you are asking God, “Why?” Because you know trials are real, it is inescapable. But when you go through it, you need someone to help you connect the dots. Tell you why. What is the context? Let me say this, the bible offers you context. The bible helps you discern the will of God in your sufferings. If you read Romans 8, you will realise there are good reasons why you suffer.

Number 1, God tells you that you suffer because this is the world you live in. This is the world that is cursed. This is the world that is fallen. This is the world that is corrupting; this is the world that is decaying. And therefore you suffer. Romans 8, verses 19 onwards, we are going to look at that in the weeks to come. You suffer because this is the fallen, corrupt, decaying world we live in. You cannot escape that reality. You say, “Pastor, that is not very helpful, you know? “ I know it is not very helpful because it seems almost like it’s a situation you can’t do anything about. But let’s look at scripture. Why do Christians suffer? I want to open this. I put no verse there in this section. So I want you to come and just share why do you think God allows you to suffer? There are to me several reasons, at least 7- 8 or so. To strengthen us in our character. That is a great reason. Do you believe it? Is it true, is it scriptural? Absolutely! James 1: 2-3, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces patience- the word “hupomone” , to be able to stay under difficulty, so that and in verse 4, And let patience have its full effect, that you may be entire, wanting nothing. Trials are God’s fast track to spiritual growth. Yes, I agree to that. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, he says trials are like an iron, like a heat. It’s like the heat of an iron that straightens out the wrinkles of our character and God uses trials to mold us, to shape us, to mature us. That is why we need trials today. And James’ perspective is, not only do you resign yourself to trials, you rejoice in it. So that is a great reason. Any other reason?
I said that there are some 6, 7, 8 reasons and we have got one.

Alright, we are afflicted to know the truth of God. That is a great verse too and it is very much related to what the husband has shared about growth, knowing the world of God. Spiritual growth. Great thought, great verse Psalm 119. Anyone else? Why should you be afflicted? We all want to escape suffering, isn’t it? But the bible says sufferings are for your good today. 2Cor1:4 that when we go through the same sufferings, we are comforted by God. And when we are comforted by God, we can take the same comfort and comfort those who are likewise afflicted. That is a great reason for our sufferings, it is not for you. It is for others. That is mind-blowing! Why, why God do you allow me to go through this? Because of him. I want you to be my channel to be a blessing to him, to her. That is a great reason, 2Cor1. Why else will you suffer? 2Cor 12: 9-10 is to help us in our humility. You know why God gives you pain? To humble you. You know why Paul had a thorn in the flesh? To humble Paul. Paul had a vision and God says least he be exalted beyond measure, I give him a thorn in the flesh (2Cor 12:7) By the way, its from God. It’s directly from God. Through the devil, Satan himself. But it was given by God to humble Paul so that Paul may say when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Cor 12:10).

The text I will think of is Romans 5. You glory in tribulation, why? Why do you glory? Why are you so happy in pain? Knowing this that the trying of your faith works patience that is again the same word hupomone, to stay under and after you have gone through the trials, you have proveness. That is the word there. Proveness means experience, know that the faith within you is real, its stands up to the trials of life. And eventually it gives you hope. Confident expectation. You know one thing you can know about your salvation? It’s that it is greater in an assurance as you go through sufferings? I know this is real. I know if this is not from God, I would’ve given up a long time ago. But it’s real! And as you go through suffering after suffering after suffering, your confident expectation that you belong to God and He belongs to you grows. That is why God gives you sufferings. It increases your hope, your confidence. You say can a Christian walk away from God? Can or not? Yes. Hebrews 12. That is a son that is walking in rebellion. That is a son who is sinning in his life. So what does God do? He chastens He scourges. Why does God give you pain? So that He can turn you from your rebellious self and destructive ways. And there are churches today that tell you that God doesn’t chasten, God doesn’t scourge and that is all a lie. The bible tells us that he chastens us to turn us. I think my time is almost up; therefore I can’t wait for all your answers. But let me just say this. God has one son without sin but none without suffering. None. It is the will of God that His children will suffer.

We have given great reasons for the present. Right? Why do we suffer? For growth, for hope, for humility, for helping others, for learning his ways , his word. The suffering of Christ prepares you for the future. It says here 2Cor 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. This is it! In a sense, your sufferings today will result in you being able to appreciate and understand and enjoy the eternal Glory that God has prepared. Dr. John Macarthur says that, “I believe that the eternal capacity to glorify God is dependent upon the willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ here.” Therefore those who will be the greatest in terms of the capability of glorifying God through eternity will be those who suffered the most for the cause of Jesus Christ. There is a purpose. There is a purpose. The more we lose our life here, the more we will radiate the Glory there.(Dr John Macarthur) The momentary light afflictions works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. 1Pet 4:13- But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Look at this, the present sufferings enable us to rejoice and enjoy the Glory of God in future Glory.

So let’s do some mathematics, for I reckon - the word “reckon” is an accounting term, it means to calculate, to weigh. I reckon Singaporeans are good at Math, isn’t it . Our Math always get champion in overseas competition and so on. But do you do spiritual mathematics? The spiritual mathematics is this- sum up all the sufferings you have, sum up all the Glory you will receive and make a balance. The bible says your sufferings is not even worthy to be compared. It is not even a drop of the ocean compared to the Glory we will receive. Wow! Paul, you don’t know my sufferings, lah. You are saying all these because you have never been in my shoes. Have you ever been in Paul’s shoes? Look at 2Cor 11 and I don’t think anyone of us will envy his footsteps in a sense. But Paul who has suffered greatly will say , “All that I have suffered- shipwrecks, castings, hungerings, near death experiences, canings and whippings, all that is nothing compared to the Glory I will receive. “ Our light affliction , he says, light, you may have think you have suffered a lot but in the light of eternity, it is light. You might think that you have suffered a whole life time but compared to eternity, it is just a moment. It is nothing to be compared, nothing at all. And if children, then heirs of God, and joint -heirs with Christ. If so that we may suffer with him, we may be also glorified together. You know the health and wealth preachers tell you how to deal with sufferings today? Ignore it. Deny it. Dismiss it. Say that is not from God. That cannot be real. No faith! They tell you dismiss it because that is not God’s will. I tell you the biblical way to deal with sufferings today. Rejoice in it. Not reject it but rejoice in it. Why? Because of all the reasons we have looked in scriptures, it grows you today and it prepares you for exceeding glory that is in the eternity to come. My friends do your spiritual mathematics. Rejoice in the incredible inheritance Jesus shares with you.

Let’s bow for a word of prayer. Our Father, we rejoice today that from the beginning till the end, you have our interest at heart. And even while we dislike sufferings, you know best what we need and what is good for us. I pray that your Church and your children will not fall into the temptations and snares of false teachings but they will come to the truth. And that they will have biblical scriptural perspectives to life. I pray for those who are going through trials right here and right now. I pray for the comfort of God to be upon their hearts. But God, will you allow our hearts to see eternal things? Will you allow faith to arise within us so that our eyes will be on things in the future, things that are eternal, things that are promised? And may we as your scripture declares Glory and rejoice in tribulation because you have prepared for us an incredible inheritance for us to enjoy henceforth forevermore. So Lord, bless your word to the heart of your people. We thank you and we pray all these in Jesus’s name, Amen.