THE EAGER EXPECTATION IN THE SUFFERINGS
BY OLUWANISOLA SEUN EMMANUEL
EZINE ARTICLE EXPERT AUTHOR
ARTICLE BY AUTHOR, SHARED WITH NCCF (CROSS RIVER)


“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” Philippians 1:29. The expectations is an eager one on the part of all for the set of people who Jesus promised while leaving who will be called the sons of God (Rom 8:18) and who will fight the good fight in liberating the creation. There is expectation on the face of the people and likewise on the mind of the sons too. And just as have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven” (I Cor 15:49).

Many scriptures in the Old Testament including Joel 2:28-32 (also reiterated in Acts 2: 17-21) spoke about the future of the sons and daughters of God who by God’s divine purpose and empowerment would be commissioned for great task of liberating the age-bond creation via their manifestation. The fulfillment is what happened in Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians i.e. they took after Christ (Christ-like), Acts 11:26b.

The promise of the Messiah as the one from whom the sons are to receive the grace, thus, paved way for the eager expectation of the sons of God, for a time when they will be legally adopted as sons and their bodies redeemed. This expectation could be seen on the faces of John the Baptist and the host of people being baptized (John 1:26-27). Also, the Samaritan woman’s word in John 4:25-26 is another good example. While the sons continue to face severe pains, agony and persecutions, they waited eagerly for the promise to be fulfilled. When Jesus, therefore came, He reiterated this and He brought the sons into this glorious position. John 1: 12 says, Yet to all whom receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

Another point to consider here is that while many sons like Stephen, James, Paul, etc, continued to ensure any sufferings they came across and were ready to place their lives on the line, it because they know that even if their physical bodies are destroyed, they hope eagerly for the day of the Lord when they will reign with Christ in glory (i.e. adoption as sons) and their bodied redeemed. This is the hope of all sons, our joy and the end we waited for, being the basis of our endurance of the sufferings we face.

How do we understand the term, “the redemption of our bodies”? It means the giving of heavenly bodies, imperishable body, and the very nature of God. It’s the spiritual bodies, kingdom-customized body, the mortal bodies transformed to becoming immortal bodies, death-defocused and incorruptible bodies. Whao! Great to be experienced!

Let’s distinguish between the earthly body and the heavenly one. They are different in glory and splendour.
• The earthly body is ranked after the heavenly body i.e. most preferable and superb.
• The destruction of the earthly body (if the person is redeemed) gives birth to the heavenly body.
• The earthly body could grow weak due to stress but the heavenly body (angelic in nature don’t. Thus, don’t over stress the earthly body by taking the form of angelic nature right here on earth (Read God’s Generals)
• You cannot have the two bodies at a time
• They are restricted to their area (earth and heaven respectively)

Lastly, there are lots of other expectations that the sons can set their minds on in order to endure whatsoever sufferings that come their way. They include: the inexpressible joy, the comfort of His presence, the warm greetings from the Lord (Your are welcome my son), the Heaven crowns, eating from the fruit of the tree of life, not tasting the second death, eating heavenly manner, having new name, having authority over nations, living eternally and sitting with God in the heavenly places. All these could be found in the book of Revelation.

In conclusion, the bible says that the expectation of the righteous (i.e. sons of God) can never be cut short. What does this denote? It means that when we choose to suffer for Christ with the expectation of becoming like Christ and reigning with Him, hoping to be adopted as sons and waiting eagerly for when our bodies will be redeemed and glorious and heavenly bodies given to us, we shall SURELY have this. Halleluyah!

If jesus was nailed on cross and cried till he died in pieces mathew 27:46-48, then why would he be a god or son of a wicked god. Reason my people !