{"id":2412,"date":"2022-04-07T16:39:48","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T16:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2412"},"modified":"2022-04-12T19:01:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T19:01:41","slug":"10-april-2022-rejoicing-in-sufferings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2412","title":{"rendered":"10 April 2022: Rejoicing in sufferings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:36% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220410.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2413 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220410.jpg 740w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220410-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220410-24x11.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220410-36x17.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220410-48x22.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<br>10 April 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2398\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2418\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=72\">Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;page<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"10 April 2022: Rejoicing in sufferings\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Vl7XUa44x60?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let us continue to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As narrated by Richard Wurmbrand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surioanu was a priest \u2026 put in jail at the age of seventy. When \u2026 brought in, \u2026 officers at the gate of the jail mocked him. One asked, <em>\u201cWhy did they bring this old priest here?\u201d<\/em> \u2026 another replied with a jeer,<em> \u201cProbably to take the confessions of everybody\u201d<\/em> [i.e. before they die].<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had a son who had died in a Soviet jail; a daughter sentenced to 20 years. Two of his sons-in-law were with him in jail\u2014one in the same cell. His grandchildren had no food \u2026 forced to eat from the garbage. His whole family was destroyed. He had lost his church. But he had such a shining face\u2014always a beautiful smile. He never greeted anyone with <em>\u201cGood morning\u201d<\/em> or <em>\u201cGood evening\u201d,<\/em> but instead with,<em> \u201cAlways rejoice<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One day we asked him, <em>\u201cFather, how can you say \u2018always rejoice\u2019\u2014you who passed through such a terrible tragedy?\u201d<\/em> He said, <em>\u201cRejoicing is very easy if we fulfill at least one word from the Bible \u2026 \u2018Rejoice with all those who rejoice.\u2019 Now if one rejoices with all those who rejoice, he always has plenty of motivation for rejoicing. I sit in jail, and I rejoice that so many are free. I don\u2019t go to church, but I rejoice with all those who are in church. I can\u2019t take Holy Communion, but I rejoice about all those who do take it. I can\u2019t read the Bible or any other holy book, but I rejoice with those who do. I can\u2019t see flowers [we never saw a tree or a flower during those years. We were under the earth, in a subterranean prison. We never saw the sun, the moon, stars\u2014many times we forgot that these things existed. We never saw a colour, only the grey walls of the cell and our grey uniforms. But we knew that such a world existed, a world with multicoloured butterflies and with rainbows], but I can rejoice with those who see the rainbows and who see the multicoloured butterflies\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In prison, the smell was not very good. But the priest said, <em>\u201cOthers have the perfume of flowers around them, and girls wearing perfume. And others have picnics and others have their families of children around them. I cannot see my children but others have children. And he who can rejoice with all those who rejoice can always rejoice. I can always be glad<\/em>\u201d. That is why he had such a beautiful expression on his face.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rejoice in the Lord Always | Christian Songs For Kids\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TqooawtPhcI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Please Read: <\/strong>Romans 5:1-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u2026 we also rejoice in our sufferings \u2026<\/p><cite>Rom. 5:3<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s almost like the apostle is bringing us down to earth with a crash. Here we were rejoicing in the glory to come and then suddenly we are faced with this, <em>\u201crejoicing in our sufferings. How can we do that?\u201d<\/em> \u2013 by the Holy Spirit\u2019s enabling (and see the Testimony above, <em>\u201cRejoicing <strong>with others<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><strong>,<\/strong> and worship song<em> \u2018Rejoice <strong>in the Lord\u2019<\/strong><\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The word for suffering here can mean: <em>\u201cdistress brought about by outward circumstances\u201d<\/em> (James Dunn); e.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe <strong>suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit<\/strong>.<\/p><cite>1 Thess 1:6<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But also means <em>\u201cthe <strong>tribulations<\/strong> of the last days\u201d<\/em> (Dunn) e.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>There will be a time of <strong>distress<\/strong> such as has not happened from the beginning of nations \u2026 But at that time your people&nbsp;\u2013 everyone whose name is found written in the book&nbsp;\u2013 will be delivered.<\/p><cite>Daniel 12:1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further pointers to enable us to rejoice in suffering are to realise that these are not from God. In the book of Job we see how obsessive the enemy is to get at God\u2019s righteous people and to afflict them. Another key is the way we respond to suffering, recognising God uses them for good purposes, an attitude completely opposite to pagan or worldly views to suffering which regard them as a disaster or calamity without any reason or purpose behind them. The Christian \u201ccomes to understand his or her own sufferings as being under the providence of God and allowed by God as a means of gaining \u2018perseverance,\u2019 \u2018character,\u2019 and \u2018hope\u2019\u201d (Richard Longenecker). So afflictions end up producing hope, how very awesome is God, in and through His Son Jesus Christ, Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cI have found truly jubilant Christians only in the Bible, in the Underground Church and in prison.\u201d<br><\/em><br>Richard Wurmbrand \u2013 \u2018In &nbsp;God\u2019s Underground\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. <\/p><cite>Rom. 14:17<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our gracious, loving, heavenly Father, we worship and adore You and rejoice in You. Help us to rejoice and glory in our sufferings. Pray bring the sufferings in the Ukraine to an end in Jesus, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;Podcasts&nbsp;page. Welcome Let us continue to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. Testimony As narrated by Richard Wurmbrand: Surioanu was a priest \u2026 put in jail at the age of seventy. When \u2026 brought in, \u2026 officers at the gate &#8230; <a title=\"10 April 2022: Rejoicing in sufferings\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2412\" aria-label=\"Read more about 10 April 2022: Rejoicing in sufferings\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2412","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2412"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2423,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2412\/revisions\/2423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}