"The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and
joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we
may also be glorified together."
Romans 8:16-17
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer,
I have
overcome the world.”
John 16:33
"He said to
me, 'My
grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.'
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"... we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we
despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in
ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who
raises the dead... in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given
by many persons on our behalf...."
2 Corinthians
1:8-11
"...we have
this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the
power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every
side, yet not crushed... perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
2 Corinthians
4:7-10
“But none of
these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so
that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the
grace of God.“
Acts 20:24
"For to you it
has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but
also to suffer for His sake."
Philippians
1:29
"...count
it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let
patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing."
James 1:2-4
"....according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I
shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Philippians
1:20-21
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For
our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look
at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen are eternal."
2
Corinthians 4:16-18
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your
presence?...
If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall fall on me,' even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night
shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You."
Psalm 139:6,
11-12
“For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness....
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him."
2 Samuel
22:29, 31
"...what things were
gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I
also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be
found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the
law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...."
Philippians 3:7-10
"'He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood
abides in
Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of
the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread
which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.'
"...many of His disciples, when they
heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying; who can understand
it?'
"When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He
said to them, 'Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man
ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and
they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus
knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray
Him. And He said, Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to
Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
"From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no
more.
"Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?'
"But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:56-69
Sharing His suffering
"...when you do good and suffer, if you take it
patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this
you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
'Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return;
when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself
to Him who judges righteously."
1 Peter
2:20-23
"Jesus said,
'Now My soul is troubled,
and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour? But
for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your
name.”
John 12:27-28
"I can
of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of
the Father who sent Me."
John
5:30
"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is
to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice
to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His
glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you
are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit
of glory and of God rests upon you."
1 Peter 4:12-14
"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh,
arm
yourselves also with the same mind.... For we have spent enough of our past
lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in
lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and
abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it
strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of
dissipation, speaking evil of you."
1 Peter 4:1-4
"Therefore we also,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross.... For consider Him who endured such hostility from
sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged
in your souls."
Hebrews 12:1-3
Sharing His victory
"I will give you the treasures of darkness
and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel."
Isaiah 45:3
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them;
for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
"If you were of
the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not
of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the
world hates you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do
not know the One who sent Me."
John 15:19-21
"...do not be
afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they
defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in
Christ may be ashamed."
1 Peter 3:13-16
"Be
still, and know that I am God...."
Psalm 46:10
"Though
the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines....
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."
Habakkuk
3:17-19
"These
things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world." John
16:33
See also
Endurance with joy &
Perseverance