I want to speak to you about the good work I have begun in you and will perform until the day of My Son. I want to encourage you. This is a word to support and encourage you as to the fruitfulness of your life and of its outcome. I want to enable you to be like My servant Paul who though he was in prison and seemed limited and had hardships, yet he encouraged the believers and could speak positively about his suffering and about the advantages of it to the believers. I am working in you so you can go through difficult things, you will be able to see the blessings, you will not feel sorry for yourselves, and you will learn to minister to others.

You will not say, “Woe is me, I am badly treated.” But you will say, “This has turned out for my blessing.” But you will not deny the hardship. He recognized it was hard but he was more impressed about what was being accomplished for My glory, and he encouraged them and pointed them to the example of My Son in humility and suffering. He expressed his deep concern for them and he desired to know their circumstances. I want to give you that same heart that will lift you above your pain and trial to bless others. Some are afraid of that and miss the blessing. Some take My blessings and employ them for themselves. Paul took My blessings and employed them for others. He desired that all of his circumstances should glorify Me for he knew that if he did it would bless others. You see, he was willing to be responsible for his circumstances. He spoke of working out his salvation with trembling. I will give you the wisdom, grace and strength to do the same that I called him to do.

I Peter 4 – I want you to see that when you have made a firm decision regarding suffering that you have availed yourself of a mighty weapon. I want you to see that when you desire to share all of the life of My Son, not just the naturally pleasant part but His sufferings, then you will experience greater victory, for on one hand the enemy cannot intimidate you regarding pain and loss and on the other hand you will be able to manifest rejoicing that will give evidence that you are living by My power rather than by your own strength. It will show that you have surely entrusted your lives to Me. The world has never understood the suffering of My Son.

At best it can only admire His willingness to die for principles. You will not be understood, but two things will be accomplished. The enemy will be not be able to deter you and the world will not be able to deny that you have a power beyond its power. There are those in the world who are willing to die for their principles, but it is they who receive the honor and glory. They are called heroes or martyrs for the state. But because the Spirit of God and glory rests upon you, your suffering will glorify Me.

The world cannot glorify Me. I am not asking you to go out and be beaten up. I am simply calling you to obey Me and to pursue My will whatever it may take. If that pursuit gives promise of suffering you are not to be turned away by it. There are those who have done this and have suffered and died alone and unsung. And there are those who have done this and have suffered and died and many have commended them. Whether commended or not those who suffer and die according to My will glorify Me. But it is at the revelation of My Son that it will be manifested though it bear fruit in the present. It is like a tree. There is a season when the leaves come out, then the buds and then the fruit. Some trees do not blossom early but late. But ultimately the life in the tree expresses itself in reproduction. Do not be concerned about the timing of the fruit. Be concerned that as you obey Me, My life in you will be fruitful. Suffering in My will is not a fruitless experience. There will be a time when I will take you back and I will remind you of these things. Today I am encouraging you that even though obedience leads you through the path of suffering you will bear much fruit and that fruit will be lasting. It will not dry up and rot but will remain and bear fruit itself.

Tags: Fruitful, Give Glory, Suffering