“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear (to be) in me.”
“Because to-you has-been-given on-behalf-of Christ, not only the believing on Him, but also the suffering on-behalf-of Him; having the same sort-of struggle which ye-saw in me, and now hear-of in me.”
Now let us turn to the last two verses of Philippians 112But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; (Philippians 1:12). The little word “because” links up these verses with those before. Peter tells us that we need not think it “strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1 Peter 4:1212Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (1 Peter 4:12)). And he goes on to say: “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:1313But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:13)). It is remarkable how often suffering is linked with glory and joy. And so Paul tells the saints that, “to you has been given.... the suffering on behalf of Him.” The word used here for “given,” is the one from which we get “grace”; and “denotes specially a grant of free favor.” In 1 Cor. 3:1212Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1 Corinthians 3:12) we find this same word: “That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God”: where this one Greek word is translated “are freely-given”. And this is a good translation. I wonder if suffering was one of the things included in this verse in Corinthians?
I think the Apostle was about to write: “To you has been given on the behalf of Christ the suffering,” linking the “given” with the “suffering.” But then he checks himself, or, the Spirit of God checks him; as he remembers there was first something else freely given: and that was “the believing on Him” (vs. 29). The boon of suffering on His behalf is not granted, until we have first received the boon of “believing on Him” (vs. 29). Both the believing and the suffering are free gifts of His grace. You will notice that twice we find the words “on behalf of.” Some tell us the second occurence is redundant or superfluous: there is nothing redundant in the Scriptures. 1 Cor. 2:1313Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13) tells us that the things the apostles spoke were “not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth”. This tells us that the Holy Ghost taught the apostles the very words they were to write down: and He did not write one word too many. Why, then, do we get “on behalf of Christ,” and then in the same verse, referring to the same suffering, “on behalf of Him”? I think because it is
“Love that makes sorrow so sweet.”
What a difference between “suffering,” and “suffering on behalf of Christ!” And the Spirit would impress this on us: for this takes the sting out of the suffering. It is something like the words “unto Him,” in the verse: “Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp” (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)). “Unto Him,” makes the reproach and the suffering sweet.
In the days of old the saints rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:4141And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41)). Can it be that most of us suffer so little for His Name, because He counts most of us unworthy of this gift? But let us count our brethren, who are suffering for His Name, (and there are many of them just now), worthy of all honor; and let us not forget to bear them up in our prayers, as the Scriptures say: “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them” (Heb. 13:33Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. (Hebrews 13:3)).
When the Lord first met Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, and three days later sent His servant Ananias to him, at that very time, He said: “I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name’s sake” (Acts 9:1616For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:16)). He did not speak of great things he would do so much as the great things he must suffer. And if you will read with care 2 Cor. 11:23-3323Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. (2 Corinthians 11:23‑33), you will find a most amazing list of sufferings: most of which are not even referred to in the book of Acts, in the account of his labors and suffering in preaching the gospel. Few have ever suffered as Paul suffered: so he may indeed speak of it with authority.
But there are other sufferings for His Name besides prisons, and labor camps, and being burned at the stake. I recall a story dear Mr. Heney told us when we were children: I think his own experience: a brother had been invited by an elderly lady to have some cottage meetings in her house, and a number of neighbors had come in. They were mostly good women, regular “church-goers,” and probably true Christians: but they knew nothing of what it meant to be gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus alone; or to walk in separation from that which is contrary to the Word of God. One evening the verse was quoted: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)). The lady who had invited her neighbors was greatly struck with this verse: and remarked, “I’ve been a Christian for many years, and I have never suffered any persecution.... That can only mean one thing, that is, I do not live godly in Christ Jesus.” Then she turned to the lady sitting next her, and remarked: “Mrs. Johnson, I have known you for many years, and neither have you ever suffered any persecution.” So she went round the circle of her friends; and all had to admit they knew nothing of persecution.
It was not many weeks after this, that this lady, for her Lord’s Name’s sake, withdrew from the “church” of which she had been a member for many years: and then she quickly found that she suffered plenty of persecution. We may each one do well to challenge ourselves, “Why is it that I suffer so little on behalf of Him?” Sure I am, that if we were more true and faithful to Christ, we would know more of what it means to be given on behalf of Christ, not only the believing on Him, but also the suffering on behalf of Him. And we would also know more joy in our lives, and more of the glory before us.