Suffering for Christ body on earth

 Colossians 1:24 [Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. AMV

What is Holy Spirit saying here through Paul the apostle?

                                Colossians 1:24-27 (NKJV)

 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 The message to the church in these verses is this; as believers, our hope of the fulfillment of being completely in His glory presence is having Christ fully alive in us. It is to grow up into the full stature of Christ. However, that will require the sacrifice of suffering what is still left of Christ’s sufferings. God has left us a part of Christ’s sufferings to fulfill in order for us to be completely filled with His glory presence. We must complete the sufferings of Christ that God has ordained for the purpose of the whole body of Christ to come to full maturity. It is our stewardship to fulfill the word of God especially for ministers gifted to mature the church, but also to all as ambassadors of the good news. The call is to all in different ways and levels. Jesus said to God the Father; “You have given me a body to do your will, I am the offering, once for all.” It is still His body on the earth that must do His will, which includes fulfilling the completion of Christ sufferings. Christ fully mature within us is our glory, The sufferings we willingly endure for the sake of a mature empowered church and to advance the Kingdom of God will grace our lives with such an increase of anointing and resurrection power.

I Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

So Father in Jesus Name let us come before you willing to suffer to do your will for the sake Your Glory in Christ ‘s body on the earth. We are encouraged and thankful that there will be much increased favor and grace on our life.  All we do we do out of love for you Jesus.                                                                    Janee