Discipleship At Any Cost by Zacharias Tanee Fomum

Author:Zacharias Tanee Fomum [Fomum, Zacharias Tanee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Discipleship
Publisher: ZTF Books Online
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

SUFFERING FROM NATURAL CAUSES

Earthquakes, droughts, floods, accidents, bereavement and all such disasters befall the Christian as a member of a race under a curse. They do not become his lot for the sake of Christ and are therefore not suffering for the sake of the gospel. So when your father dies or loses money or a job, do not call this a cross. It is not. However, it is possible to use such circumstances for good and all Christians should do so.

SUFFERING FOR SIN COMMITTED

When a Christian sins, the Lord often punishes him and the State may also take action. A Christian who fails an examination because he did not study is not suffering for Christ, nor is a man who loses a job because of incompetence. Students who hold prayer meetings at times prohibited by School regulations will be punished. Such should not mistakenly take this for Christian suffering; for it is not. Rather, such should repent for bringing the Lord’s name to disrepute. The apostle Peter asks,

“What credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently?” (1 Peter 2:20).

The answer is: “None.”

When a disciple goes out of the narrow way, he will be disciplined; so that he may come back to the narrow way. In doing this, God may frustrate some plans that are outside His will; so that the disciple may learn to follow Him. All this causes suffering and is painful, but does not constitute bearing a cross. This is, however, not to be disregarded. The Bible says,

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6).

In addition to chastening, there is suffering through the process of pruning. Pruning is for those who love Jesus, who are bearing fruit but who have imperfections that hinder more fruit from being produced. In talking about it, Jesus says,

“Every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2).

Take an example of a young man who dearly loves the Lord and is labouring in His service with some success. This disciple may, however, be proud and full of himself. His pride needs to be pruned; so that his service may not be hindered by it. He does not need to ask God to deal with this pride. God will do it unasked. He will move circumstances which will undermine that disciple’s self importance in order to humble him. He might have to fail an examination even though he is very intelligent, some spiritual project in which he is involved might be frustrated, or someone who is less mature or less gifted than he is might be preferred to him in a spiritual ministry. This is very painful and humiliating, but it is meant to remove the weak spot. If the disciple sees his faults and yields to God’s pruning hand, the desired results will be produced.

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