Surviving Suffering

The transcript is a morning devotion at Harvest Chapel in Kandislam, Kumasi. The speaker discusses the topic of surviving suffering and emphasizes that Jesus understands and feels our sorrows because he experienced suffering himself. The speaker encourages building a strong relationship with Jesus through daily prayer and reading the Bible. The speaker concludes by reminding listeners to sign up for a full day fast to gain strength during trying times. Good morning to you, beloved, and you are once again welcome to Harvest Chapel in Kandislam, Kumasi, and to our Morning Glory devotion. We know that day in and day out as we connect and hear the Word of God here on this platform, that life will be transformed for the better in Jesus' name. My name is Ahenabab Kusii Kingsford, and I'll be leading this morning's episode. Let's kindly share a word of prayer. Today we thank you this morning for this opportunity to hear a word we ask that you grant us understanding, you open up our hearts to receive your Word, that you'll be propheted by your Word. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Let's kindly take our confession together from the book of Joshua chapter 1 verse 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate in it day and night, that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then I will make my way prosperous, and then I will have good success, Amen. For today's devotion we'll be looking at the topic, Surviving Suffering, Surviving Suffering, and we'll take our anchor scripture from the book of Isaiah chapter 53 verse 3. Isaiah chapter 53 verse 3, I'm reading from the Message Bible. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain first hand. One look at him, and people turned away. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain first hand. One look at him, and people turned away. Surviving Suffering Are you going through any trying times? Do you feel rejected, unwanted, and ignored? Are there situations in your life that causes you to weep? Are you being persecuted for the godly values that you uphold, or feel intimidated for the message of repentance you preach? Whatever the magnitude your pain or suffering is, never think that you are alone. Jesus went through suffering and every kind of imaginable pain. His suffering and pain were at all points, seen unseen, physical, emotional, and psychological. He was persecuted for the message he preached and the exemplary life he lived. He was criticized, opposed, and rejected by the scribes and priests, who were supposed to have been God's representatives at the time. He was called names, Juan Viva, a glutton, and a friend of sinners and publicans. He was unaccepted in many places, one of which broke his heart the most was his own town. As though that were not enough, his own countrymen finally requested for his execution even when Pilate was determined to release him. Aside the physical torture he was subjected to by the cruel Roman soldiers, he felt the deepest heartbreak when his own trusted friends betrayed and denied him. He was tattered on, beloved, insulted, mocked, and stripped naked as he was dragged to be crucified. Indeed, Jesus knows and has experienced every form of imaginable suffering and pain. Borrowing from the writer of the book of Hebrews, beloved, have you suffered to the point of shedding your blood? Jesus did. So no matter the suffering you go through, know that you are not alone. Jesus understands and feels your sorrow. Indeed, the writer of Hebrews tells us, in chapter 2 verse 18 of the book of Hebrews, that because Jesus himself has gone through suffering, he is able to help us in our trying times. Man may not understand but Jesus does. That is the moral reason why you should build a strong and intimate friendship with him by spending time with him daily, not intermittently, not every now and then, not only when you have troubles, but every moment. Sing him a song in the morning when you wake up. Talk and pour out your heart unto him. In the heat of the day, just take a break to whisper something unto him. Get to know him and fix your mind on him through his word, through the gospels. Let not a day go by without having had time with Jesus. By so doing, beloved, you will make yourself a candidate to receive the help and consolation he gives, himself being the first to overcome all sufferings, and you become a close friend of Jesus. Sufferings will not overshadow and break your faith. Rather, you will develop strength of character and maturity in your faith and convictions. Ultimately, you will become more like Jesus who remains blameless and uncompromising amidst his suffering. People will see you and know that this one has been with Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen. We will take our memory verse from the book of Hebrews chapter 2 verse 18 from the New Living Translation. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Amen. Let's kindly end on a note of prayer. Father, we pray and we thank you this morning for blessing us with this timely word. We pray in Jesus' name, God, that you will help us build an intimate relationship with Jesus, to come to him daily, to receive of him in the name of Jesus, so that we can thrive and survive through sufferings. In Jesus' name, Amen. Beloved God, bless you so much and thank you for staying through with us from our prayer time to the end of our morning glory devotion this morning. God bless you so much. Continue to stay connected to Radio ACI today. Come your way again at 12 o'clock noon for another one hour time of prayer. And don't forget that today we are taking a full day fast as a ministry. Sign up and you'll be strengthened to go through sufferings and your trying times. In Jesus' name, Amen.