This week’s verse, Ephesians 3:13, has proven hard to understand for many modern, Western Christians. Paul writes, “Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.” It is understandable that he would ask them not to lose heart when they saw their apostle suffering tribulations, but how are they suffering on behalf of the Ephesian Christians, or for their glory? In Acts 14: 21-22 we read concerning Paul’s missionary journey:
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
How did telling them that they had to go through tribulations to enter the kingdom encourage and strengthen the saints? Today, many of us could hardly think of anything more discouraging! First, it encouraged and strengthened them because it is the truth. Second, it strengthened and encouraged them because the apostolic gospel was clear that trials and tribulations are opportunities to be embraced and taken advantage of, not avoided.
Christ Jesus is our example. Where would we be if He had avoided the cross? It was by Him enduring the cross that the ultimate victory over evil has been accomplished. We too have been told to take up our crosses daily, and to lay down our own lives. This is the true and only path to glory and fulfillment. The Lord Jesus made clear to us in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.”
In Romans 5:3-5 Paul elaborates on this, saying, “... but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” The Ephesians observed Paul’s tribulations as an example of Paul himself embracing this basic Christian truth.
A false doctrine that is in basic conflict with the Scriptures teaches that Jesus went to the cross and suffered so we do not have to. He did not go to the cross and suffer so we will not have to suffer, but rather so we could be victorious in our suffering. In fact, we can be so victorious that we begin to “exult in tribulations,” seeing them as great opportunities to triumph over evil. If this is not true, what about the martyrs? Did they die needlessly? Of course not. We need to understand that many today that are preaching “another gospel,” which is truly an enemy of the cross, and has been the case since the first century. This is nothing new, but if we are going to walk in truth we must face even the most difficult biblical truths with determination to receive them as they are, not as we may want them to be.
In Jeremiah 17:10 we read, “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” In Jeremiah 20:12 he says, “Yet, O LORD of hosts, Thou who dost test the righteous.…” God’s tests do not come because we have done something wrong, but because we are doing something right.
Every trial is a test. A test is different from a temptation. Just as our tests in school were given so we can pass and go on to higher grades, spiritual tests are given to us so we can go on to greater anointing and spiritual authority. This is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians that they should be encouraged by his tribulations, and see them for their glory. He was in a sense saying, “Look at the great tests I have been given! What opportunities! We are really going to see glory from these, which you will share in because you stand so united with Me in my purpose.”
As our friend Francis Frangipane likes to say, “You never fail one of God’s tests, you just keep taking them until you pass.” This is true and is the same as going in circles in the wilderness. We must stop running from trials and begin to embrace them as the opportunities they are. They are going to come anyway, so why not make use of them? It is by embracing them, and overcoming them, that we will enter into the kingdom.
An army is not raised in order to run from battles, but in order to win them. Without a battle there can be no victory. Battles are coming, but we have the encouragement of II Corinthians 2:14 that He “.... always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” Battles are a lot more fun when you know that you can’t lose! We need to seize this truth and walk in it. Then we will truly exult and glory in tribulations with expectations of the great victories we will experience.
The title that God uses more than any other in Scripture is “the Lord of hosts,” or “the Lord of armies.” This title is actually used about ten times more than any other of His titles. How many generals do you know from history who never fought a battle? Just as all the great generals are known for their performance in battle, all great Christians will be known in eternity for the same.
