Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW210038S
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Hello, friends, and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:12 And this is obviously the edition of Family Worship. 01:15 And we want to thank you so much for joining us here 01:17 on this special Sabbath worship time. 01:20 This is family worship where we gather around 01:23 the table as family, brothers and sisters in Christ 01:26 and we just have a good time in the Lord. 01:28 And we just want to thank you for joining us 01:29 'cause you could probably be doing 01:31 anything else right now. 01:32 But at this particular time, you are joining us for worship. 01:35 And that's, you know what better thing to do 01:36 on the Sabbath, 01:38 as we're entering into the Sabbath hours, 01:40 to be with God, to commune with God, 01:42 to commune with each other than to get deep into His Word. 01:46 And that's what we're going to do right now with these hours. 01:48 We're going to take on a powerful topic, 01:50 and we're going to just have a good old family discussion 01:53 and worship in spirit and in truth 01:55 as the Bible tells 01:57 us. We're going to tell you about the topic 01:59 in just a few moments. 02:00 But I've got to introduce our family. 02:01 And, oh, I'm so excited because we got Miss Day 02:05 with us tonight. 02:06 This is rare 'cause Miss Stephanie Day, 02:09 who happens to be my wife, 02:10 she's not usually with us, quite often, 02:12 but praise the Lord, you're with us today. 02:14 How are you doing? I'm doing pretty well. 02:16 It's nice to be here. Thank you. 02:18 Amen. Praise the Lord. 02:19 It's always a special time 02:22 to have my wife on the program with us. 02:23 And she's going to be joining us tonight. 02:25 It's good to have you with us. Thank you so much. 02:27 Praise the Lord. All right. 02:28 Well, we're going to go to this side over here 02:30 and introduce the Shelton's. 02:32 Of course when we say the Shelton's most of the time 02:34 we think of Kenny and Danny obviously, but you, 02:38 you're kin to that Shelton family, right? 02:40 I am. I guess I have to admit it. 02:41 Yeah. We got Terry and Wendy Shelton. 02:43 It's always a blessing to have you guys. 02:45 How you doing? We're doing well. 02:46 I'm kind of like you, I don't often have my wife with me. 02:49 So I've been out here a number of times without her 02:52 and I think we've done, we do one program? 02:54 We did. Yeah. Okay. 02:56 So, yeah. 02:57 Glad to have my better half with me as well. 02:59 Praise the Lord. 03:00 Well, it's great to have you guys joining us tonight. 03:02 And all the way back across here. 03:04 Last but certainly not least, Pastor John Lomacang, 03:06 always a blessing, Brother, to have you. 03:08 It's good to see you. Good to be here. 03:10 And I usually always have my wife with me, 03:11 but she's involved in something else this evening. 03:13 So, but it's good to be here, 03:15 we're going to have a very exciting time 03:17 talking about a topic that I think everyone is going 03:19 to be able to relate. 03:21 Amen. Praise the Lord. 03:22 I agree with that. 03:24 Tonight's topic is entitled, Faith through Trial, 03:29 Faith through Trial. 03:32 This was kind of encouraged, 03:33 I was inspired to encourage this conversation, 03:36 this family worship topic tonight, because, you know, 03:39 we're living in very interesting and trying times. 03:42 And, you know, it seems like the closer we progress 03:45 to the Second Coming of Jesus, you know, 03:47 things get tougher, you know, more and more loss, 03:50 more and more death, more sorrow, 03:52 more pain, despair, discouragement, 03:55 things that's just unfolding on this planet, 03:58 like no other time. 04:00 And it's during this time that the spirit of the enemy 04:02 would like to do nothing else, but to discourage people, 04:05 to put them in a mindset, in a despairing mindset, 04:08 to discourage them from continuing in their faith, 04:12 you know, with God during these times. 04:14 And so tonight, we're going to be talking about 04:15 how to maintain your faith through trial, 04:19 through these trials, these challenges, 04:21 these difficulties that we often face in this life, 04:24 when we're having to, you know, face adversity 04:26 or whatever persecution or tribulation 04:29 that we may be experiencing in our life 04:31 that you at home may be experiencing. 04:33 Tonight, we're going to put it in a biblical perspective. 04:36 We're going to look into the Bible, 04:37 we're going to read and study together to learn exactly 04:40 how do we approach this special topic? 04:42 How can we maintain our faith in God 04:45 and His will in these last days, 04:47 and during often times, we have to face these tough 04:51 and difficult trials in our life. 04:52 So we're going to answer those questions right now 04:54 during this hour. 04:56 But before we go any further, let's go to the Lord in prayer 04:58 and, Pastor Lomacang, I'm going to ask you 04:59 to have a prayer for us. 05:00 Sure. 05:02 Loving Father, a gracious God 05:03 as we put ourselves in Your hands, 05:05 and as we open Your all capable Word, 05:08 we invite Your Holy Spirit to come 05:10 and speak to our hearts, Lord, that those who are watching 05:12 and listening to this program will hear something, 05:16 will hear the voice of Your Spirit, 05:19 the beauty of Your Word that will strengthen them, 05:22 they may be going through something even now, 05:25 and this might be a timely message for them. 05:27 So give us words of wisdom that we will not only communicate 05:30 what is written, but we all speak in a way 05:33 that some heart needs to hear. 05:35 But we decided to give all the glory just to You. 05:37 In Jesus' name, amen. 05:40 Amen. Amen. Praise God. 05:43 The Bible teaches us that we are saved 05:45 by grace through faith. 05:49 It is not of works, 05:51 but through our faith in Christ, 05:53 exercising the very faith 05:55 that Jesus Christ had on this earth 05:57 when He had to depend on His Father to get through. 06:00 And we know that Jesus certainly endured 06:03 some challenges and some trials in His life. 06:06 And, you know, I don't know 06:07 if this is necessarily a theme text, 06:10 but as I was preparing for this, 06:12 John 16:31-33, came to mind. 06:15 I'd like to read that now as we kind of launch ourselves 06:18 into this study together. 06:19 So John 16:31-33, and notice what this is, 06:22 this is obviously Jesus speaking. 06:24 And it says there, it says, "Jesus answered them, 06:27 'Do you now believe? 06:30 Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, 06:34 that you will be scattered each to his own, 06:37 and will leave Me alone. 06:40 And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 06:44 These things I have spoken to you, 06:47 that in Me you may have peace." 06:50 Notice this last line here. 06:52 He says, "In the world, you will have tribulation, 06:57 but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 07:01 Powerful text. 07:02 You know, Jesus never told us 07:03 that we wouldn't endure these trials, 07:05 we wouldn't endure challenges, 07:06 challenges, struggles during this life. 07:08 But you know what, 07:10 as this program is airing right now, 07:12 perhaps many people are watching it around the world, 07:14 you may be going through something and dealing 07:16 with something in your life, 07:17 and it's really testing your faith, right? 07:19 Sometimes we deal with some of the most difficult problems, 07:22 difficult challenges. 07:23 And we often wonder, you know, where is God? 07:26 Is God still with me? 07:27 Does God still love me? 07:29 Is God the reason or the cause 07:30 for why I'm having to endure this? 07:32 But I want to start off just by asking the question, 07:35 just throw it out there guys, faith. 07:37 We know we're saved by grace through faith. 07:40 And the title of this particular study 07:42 is faith through trial. 07:43 Let's talk about faith, 07:44 because there may be someone watching right now 07:46 that doesn't know in what is faith? 07:47 How do we have faith? How do we build faith? 07:50 Let's just talk about the fundamental aspect 07:52 of faith as we begin this conversation. 07:54 Okay. 07:55 Well, you know, Hebrews 11:1-2, the academic answer, 08:00 that's the way I would say it. 08:02 You know, when people say, what is sin? 08:03 The transgression of the law. 08:04 What is faith? 08:06 Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, 08:09 the evidence of things not seen. 08:12 And so when we think about the academic answer to faith, 08:16 sometimes faith goes over our heads 08:19 when we give the academic answer, 08:21 because just like in the case of sin, 08:23 what is sin? 08:25 The transgression of the law, but the Bible also says to him 08:26 that knows to do good, 08:28 and does not do it to him it a sin. 08:30 So there may be something that will be a sin to me, 08:32 that's not a sin to you, or vice versa. 08:35 But when it comes to faith, 08:36 each of us and I like to use the picture of the blacksmith. 08:39 Okay. 08:40 You know, blacksmith is a picture that many of us 08:41 don't really see because we live in cities, 08:44 we don't see metal being formed like it was in the days of old. 08:48 We don't walk past a blacksmith shop and hear, 08:52 that hot metal placed in cold water. 08:55 We don't hear the clinging of the hammer, beating into shape. 08:58 And we don't hear the roaring furnace, trying to melt it 09:01 so it could be shaped. 09:03 Well, each of us is like metal in the hand of a blacksmith. 09:07 And the only way that the blacksmith can shape 09:09 that metal is to put it in fire. 09:12 And so when you, when the topic, 09:14 faith through trial, it said to me, 09:17 the Lord wants to shape us. 09:19 And one of the easiest ways to shape us 09:21 is to expose us to the fire. 09:23 Thus the three Hebrews, 09:25 you wouldn't know what kind of faith they had 09:27 until they were facing the fire. 09:29 And that to me is what I call the blacksmith faith. 09:32 It could stand unto trials, it could stand unto fire. 09:35 Peter says don't think it's strange concerning 09:37 the fiery trial, which is to try you 09:40 as though some strange thing happened. 09:42 What is he saying? 09:44 God has a particular shape for your life. 09:47 So He's got to heat it up sometimes. 09:48 So not all trials come because we're innocent. 09:52 But sometimes they come because God is saying, 09:54 "I still need to shape you more." 09:56 That's right. I liked it. I liked it. 09:58 When you said, "What is faith?" 10:01 Now somebody, there might be someone out 10:03 there today who says I don't really have any faith 10:06 or I don't even know what that is. 10:07 We all have faith, 10:09 even in practicalities of our life. 10:12 For example, you walk out of your house every morning, 10:15 and you reach in and you grab your car key. 10:18 And you put that car in that ignition. 10:19 Now, what are you expecting to have? 10:21 Right. Right? 10:22 You are expecting that you're going to turn 10:24 and that your vehicle is going to start up. 10:26 Why do you expect that? 10:28 Because it happened yesterday, 10:30 and the day before and the day before. 10:32 Right? 10:33 So when we talking about practicality 10:35 of just what is faith, faith is believing 10:38 that something is going to happen 10:40 based on past experience. 10:43 And for those of us 10:44 who have experienced the faith of God already, 10:47 or the faith that He gives us, 10:49 we've seen Him come through time and time and time again. 10:52 And so we believe, even if we reach a point 10:55 where we say like Job, "Though He slays me, 10:59 yet will I trust Him." 11:00 I love that passage. 11:02 And that shows an ultimate faith right there. 11:05 So let's talk about this, though, 11:06 because I want to add another element. 11:07 I love what you guys have just said, beautiful. 11:09 Let's add it, let's go a little deeper, though, because, 11:12 you know, it's hard sometimes for us to have faith 11:17 when it seems like there's not a response 11:19 that we're looking for from God. 11:21 In other words, you know, people pray for things. 11:25 And they say, you know, 11:28 you read those texts where it says, 11:29 you know, ask and you shall receive, 11:31 seek and you shall find, knock, and it shall be open to you, 11:34 you don't have because you do not ask, you know, 11:35 all these different texts that come to mind. 11:37 And so when someone's sick, or someone's dying, 11:39 or someone's, you know, in a very testy, 11:41 difficult situation, and they're crying out to God, 11:43 and they're praying, and they have faith in God, 11:46 and they say, "I know you can do it, God," 11:47 but then it doesn't happen. 11:49 And then now, it seems like 11:51 that faith may diminish from some people's perspective. 11:53 Oh, God doesn't hear me. 11:54 God doesn't listen to me. 11:56 If there's someone at home right now, 11:57 who may be going through this, 11:59 what would you say to someone like that? 12:00 Who says, "You know what, I want to have faith. 12:02 I know God can, but He's not doing 12:05 what He said He would do perhaps, 12:07 or He's not responding in the way that I would think 12:09 He should respond. 12:11 So therefore, my faith in Him is not as strong." 12:14 Okay, well, I don't know, Wendy or Stephanie, 12:16 'cause I don't know. 12:17 I have a story of you and I... 12:19 Yeah, let's hear it. 12:21 Sometimes when we're asking God for something, we may, 12:24 it may appear that He's not doing anything. 12:27 That doesn't mean He's not doing anything. 12:30 A number of years ago, Wendy has a granddaughter 12:35 that that I inherited whenever we got married. 12:38 And this little girl was just living in a bad situation. 12:44 My son had deceased. 12:46 And so, yeah, she was, 12:50 it's a long story but we began to pray. 12:55 And the little girl was with us for a little while. 12:59 But when the authorities came, the state came in and said, 13:03 "You know, the little girl is going back 13:06 into another state, into the home." 13:07 And we said, "Lord, what are you doing? 13:10 This can't be right. 13:12 How in the world, you know?" And we just started to pray. 13:17 And we prayed, and we prayed. 13:19 And we got virtually no evidence 13:22 that God was doing anything, you know? 13:25 And we just continue to trust God. 13:29 And a year and a half later, 13:31 I remember where I was the day that the phone rang. 13:33 And it was, you know, 13:35 the authorities in another state, 13:37 which said, "We find that her granddaughter 13:41 is not flourishing so well, 13:43 would you be willing to take her in?" 13:46 And we're like, "Yes, of course, we will," you know, 13:49 and that started a process. 13:51 And we said, "We didn't know that God was doing anything." 13:54 But in the background, He was doing something. 13:57 And then, you know, 13:58 we saw miracle after miracle that transpired. 14:01 And now, you know, we we've been raising her 14:02 for six years now. 14:04 Wow. And she has a good and stable home, a loving home. 14:07 And we know that it was God that did that, 14:10 because we didn't do anything, and He did it. 14:14 It just didn't happen in the timing 14:16 that you expected, right? 14:17 Exactly. 14:19 Because you know, often in those moments 14:20 when you're praying and saying, "God, God, come on, 14:21 come through, come through." 14:23 And you get silence. And it's like, "Where's God? 14:25 Right? God's not showing up. 14:26 God doesn't care for me." 14:28 And oftentimes, sometimes people respond that way, 14:30 and their faith diminishes in God and what God can do, 14:32 because He's not answering in the way 14:34 that they think that He should answer. 14:35 Pastor, you want to answer to that? 14:37 And as the person who's all sovereign and all knowing, 14:40 we have to continue to remember that, "Okay, 14:42 God hears our prayer, but He knows when we need 14:45 what we're asking for." 14:47 But there's some people that I know who have said me, 14:48 "I've got to know what's going to happen before it happens." 14:52 I am a person and not me, 14:54 but I've known people that said, "Yes, 14:56 I can't live under assumptions of what's going to happen. 15:00 I need to know, like, move number five." 15:03 That's well, that's not really faith. 15:06 And sometimes they pray. 15:08 But, you know, let me just give another side 15:10 about this prayer. 15:11 Daniel end up in trial because he prayed. 15:14 Okay, if he didn't pray, he wouldn't have trial. 15:17 Some people have to understand that God sometimes give you 15:19 a Daniel experience. 15:21 Oh, you prayed, so here's the trial. 15:24 And it's not that prayer avoids trial. 15:28 Sometimes prayer proves, sometimes trial proves prayer. 15:33 Right. Okay. 15:34 Let me just say that again. I like that. 15:36 Sometimes trials prove that you really believe 15:38 who you're talking to. 15:40 Because I've said to people before, and they said, 15:41 you meant, I've told people, I said, 15:42 "I don't believe in prayer. 15:44 I believe in the One who I'm praying to." 15:46 Because people pray to trees and rocks and stones, 15:49 you know, Elijah on Mount Carmel, 15:51 those people prayed all day long but he said, 15:53 "Maybe he's on a vacation somewhere." 15:56 So let the trial test your prayer life, 16:01 not your prayer life test your trial. 16:03 I like that. 16:05 Because somebody say, "Well, I don't, 16:06 if I pray I shouldn't have the trial." 16:08 Don't tell that to Daniel. 16:09 You know, it sparks a question, 16:11 is God the reason for your troubles? 16:14 'Cause there's people that, you know, again, 16:15 whatever they're experiencing, it may be that they are sick 16:17 with a disease or an illness, they have a family member 16:20 who's, you know, dying because or has died 16:22 because of something or whatever situation someone 16:25 that they're about to lose their home, 16:26 and they've lost their job. 16:28 And I've actually heard many people say, you know, 16:30 "God could have prevented this, therefore, God's the reason 16:32 why I'm in the situation that I'm in." 16:34 So how do we, how do you respond to someone 16:36 like that who says, you know what, 16:38 God's the reason for my troubles? 16:39 If it wasn't, if He would just step up 16:41 and do what He's supposed to do, 16:43 I wouldn't be in the situation. 16:44 He could have prevented. 16:46 So how do you respond to that, right? Go ahead, Brother. 16:49 We know, Jesus told this, this parable, 16:51 I think it's in Matthew 13. 16:53 He talks about this sower, you know, 16:55 and the sower had gone out, 16:57 and they spread all the good seed and everything. 16:58 And over time, they noticed that the wheat was coming up, 17:01 but there's something else coming up too, 17:03 didn't look like weed, it's something else 17:04 that the Bible calls it tares. 17:06 And, you know, a servant came along and said, 17:10 "Where do all these weeds come from, you know, basically?" 17:13 And what was the sower's answer? 17:16 An enemy had done this. Okay, I like that. Yeah. 17:18 So we understand that we are involved in what we like 17:23 to call the great controversy. 17:26 There are two strong forces battling behind the shadows 17:30 of things that we don't see and don't know 17:33 and understand completely, but it is going on. 17:36 And so, while God does sometimes step in 17:40 and prevent things at the same time, 17:44 because of this great controversy, 17:46 it must play out so that in the end, 17:49 the entire universe will see that God is vindicated. 17:52 Wow. An enemy has done this. 17:55 You know, oftentimes, 17:56 when we're shaking the fist at God, 17:58 and we're saying, "Lord, You could have, 18:00 You should have," you know, 18:02 we don't often stop to think that the simple answer 18:05 is that God's not the reason for your problems, 18:07 or God is not the one necessarily that calls that, 18:10 that the enemy, there's an enemy out there 18:12 as John 10:10, Jesus says here, 18:15 "The thief does not come except to steal, 18:17 and to kill, and to destroy." 18:19 And then Jesus confirms, 18:20 "I have come that they may have life 18:22 and that they may have it more abundantly." 18:25 God wants to save His people, God wants His people 18:28 to remain in the faith, to remain strong in the faith, 18:32 but the enemy wants to crush that. 18:33 Also think of 1 Peter 5:8-10. 18:38 This text came to my mind, 18:39 as I was thinking of someone saying, 18:41 you know, God is the reason behind 18:42 why I'm in this situation. 18:44 But 1 Peter 5:8-10 says, "Be sober, be vigilant, 18:48 because your adversary, the devil walks about like 18:50 a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 18:54 And then notice the rest of this, oftentimes, 18:55 we read that text and we stop there. 18:57 But notice what the rest of the passage says, 18:59 beginning with verse 9, here, it says, 19:00 "Resist him, steadfast in the faith, 19:03 knowing the same sufferings are experienced 19:06 by your brotherhood in the world." 19:09 And it says, "But may the God of all grace, 19:11 who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 19:15 after you have suffered a while, notice, perfect, 19:20 establish, strengthen, and settle you." 19:24 So the enemy is the one that wants to steal from you, 19:27 who wants to kill you, who wants to destroy you, 19:29 who wants to bring about your problems. 19:31 And so before I go on to the next question, 19:33 I just want to open up the floor. 19:35 Does anybody else want to respond to, 19:37 you know, is God the reason for my troubles? 19:40 Is He the one that, is He the reason 19:41 that I'm in this situation? 19:43 He could have prevented it? 19:45 Pastor, is there something you want to add to that? 19:46 Let me give the ladies a chance. 19:48 Anybody want to respond to that? 19:51 Yes. Well, here's what I think of. 19:55 You know, Terry alluded to this, 19:56 and I think that on a couple of occasions, 19:59 I've been pulling this out. 20:00 And if you notice, my answers have been kind 20:02 of going to the other side. 20:03 Sure. 20:04 Because I'm looking at, I'm in the midst of a study now 20:06 about character development. 20:07 And character development is huge 20:10 because we're not taking anything with us, 20:11 but our characters. 20:13 That's right. 20:14 And like a blacksmith, the Lord has to shape each one of us 20:16 into what He knows that He wants us to be. 20:19 And that's a challenging process. 20:21 And Hebrews 12, Hebrews is the chapter 20:24 where it is comparing the endurance of Christ 20:29 to the endurance of the Christian. 20:31 And he said until you get to the place 20:34 that you can endure like Christ did, 20:36 I've got a lot of work, 20:38 I got to get you ready for that. 20:40 Because, you know, the Lord says, 20:41 if they do this to a green tree, 20:44 the trials He went through, what are they going 20:46 to do to a tree that doesn't even bear fruit? 20:48 So if they did, so if they tried Jesus, 20:51 and put Him through the difficulty 20:53 that He went through, he's in essence saying to us, 20:55 like they say in New York, what makes you any different, 20:57 you know? 20:59 What do you think you need to be avoiding? 21:00 And look at Hebrews 12:6, I mean verses, 21:04 verse 6, I'll start there, 21:06 and I just jump through a couple of them. 21:07 But it says, first, actually, verse 5, 21:12 "And you have forgotten the exhortation 21:15 which speaks to you as to sons: 21:18 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, 21:21 nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, 21:24 for whom the Lord loves He chastens, 21:26 and scourges every son whom He receives.'" 21:29 Verse 7, "If you endure chastening, 21:32 God deals with you as with sons, 21:35 for what son is there 21:37 whom the father doesn't chasten? 21:39 But if you are without chastening, 21:41 of which all have become partakers." 21:44 That means everybody that I know has gone through stuff, 21:47 but if you don't, notice what it says, where am I now? 21:50 "Then you are illegitimate and not sons." 21:53 So before we go any further, what is he saying? 21:55 If you're my son, you're going to go through stuff. Okay. 21:58 So let's just go ahead and start there. 22:00 One of the misconceptions of Christianity 22:02 is I become a Christian, and the trial cease. 22:05 No, let's liken it to a sports game, okay. 22:08 You play basketball, we all about football. 22:11 Let's just say, getting on the field means 22:14 you've just declared your allegiance 22:15 against the other team. 22:17 That's right. 22:18 Joining with Christ, meaning you just declared 22:19 your allegiance against the other team. 22:21 That's right. That's right. 22:22 Now the other team going to hit you? 22:23 Of course. Football? 22:25 Are they going to tackle you? 22:26 Are they going to try to stop you 22:28 from getting to the goals of life? 22:30 Are they going to really bump it up on the one yard line? 22:33 Yeah, of course, when the devil sees the closer 22:35 we get to the goal that Christ has for us, 22:37 press toward the goal. 22:39 The closer he sees us getting toward the goal, 22:41 he brings in the guys that he knows can hit us hard, 22:44 can stop us. 22:46 So here's what I say. 22:48 If you're getting hit harder than you used to, 22:50 you're closer to the goal. 22:51 Did you hear what I said? Yes, that's right. 22:53 Be encouraged, 22:54 because the devil wouldn't hit you 22:56 if you are too far from the goal. 22:58 He's not even concerned about the goal. 22:59 That's right. 23:01 But if you're getting really close to the goal 23:02 and the hits are getting harder. 23:04 He's saying, "I don't like the fact that Wendy 23:07 and Stephanie are just pushing toward the goal. 23:10 I got to find a way to stop them. 23:11 So I'm going to hit them harder." 23:12 So you get hit hard as you getting closer to the goal 23:16 of what Jesus has in store for you. 23:18 Daniel, he was getting to the goal, 23:20 the devil didn't like it, the Hebrews, 23:22 getting to the goal, the devil didn't like it, 23:24 Peter, getting to the goal, the devil didn't like it, 23:26 Paul and Silas, getting to the goal, 23:28 the devil didn't like it, John the Revelator, 23:30 getting to the goal. 23:31 So if you're getting toward the goal, understand, 23:34 that's powerful. 23:36 So if I don't get hit, I'm not even on the field. 23:41 I haven't even declared my allegiance to anyone. 23:43 That's right. 23:45 And I'll leave the next verse for the next question. 23:46 That's great. 23:47 You know, I was thinking as you were saying that, 23:49 I was thinking of Revelation 12:17. 23:50 Yes. You know, that the dragon is wroth with the woman. 23:52 We know the woman represent God's Church, right? 23:54 He's wroth with a woman and went to make war 23:57 with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments 23:59 of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 24:01 It should not surprise us that if we're trying. 24:03 I mean, when I say trying, 24:05 I mean striving to remain in Christ, 24:08 that the enemy's just going to back up and say, 24:10 "Oh, you know, I'm not going to touch them 24:12 because they're already in Jesus." 24:13 Right? No. 24:14 He said, he's already set his sights on you, 24:16 he's going to amplify his attacks. 24:18 And, you know, you were just mentioning a few minutes ago 24:21 about the difficulties and the trials. 24:22 We know that God is not always the reason 24:25 why these trials come upon us, 24:27 but He certainly allows them many, 24:29 many times and that's the key we have to understand 24:30 and I think that's the thing a lot of people struggle with. 24:32 You know, why is God allowing this to happen to me? 24:34 Why do I have to go through this, right? 24:36 Why me, Lord? 24:38 You know, I hear people say that all the time. 24:39 Why me? 24:40 Why do I have to go through this? 24:42 And you know, I think not to put Stephanie on the spot here. 24:45 But, you know, when I was thinking of people who allowed, 24:48 people who God allowed to go through trial. 24:50 There's just a list here, Job, Joseph, 24:55 Moses, Samson, Solomon, 24:59 you mentioned Daniel, John the Baptist. 25:01 I mean, really John the Baptist, 25:02 Jesus said is the greatest of all the prophets. 25:04 And what happened to that brother? 25:06 You can imagine him in jail saying, you know, 25:08 again, when I say imagine you could imagine 25:10 the humanity like, "When is Jesus going to come 25:12 and bust me up out of here?" 25:13 Right? I'm the greatest of all the prophets. 25:15 I mean, not that he would have said that. 25:16 But seriously, like, I'm His cousin, 25:18 He should have come and got me out of here by now. 25:20 But what was the ultimate end for that brother? 25:22 I mean, it wasn't a positive one, right? 25:23 It wasn't a happy ending. 25:25 I'm also thinking of the disciples 25:26 and all that they went through what it costs them 25:28 to follow Jesus. 25:29 Now watch this. Yeah, go ahead. 25:31 He didn't lose his faith, he lost his head. 25:32 He lost... Oh, okay. 25:35 Now, if you got to choose the two, 25:37 that's what the Lord said in Matthew 10:28, 25:39 "Don't fear those who just could affect your body." 25:42 That's right. 25:43 So some of us rather lose, or some of us have to make 25:45 a decision between losing our head or losing our faith. 25:49 John said, "I'd rather lose my head than lose my faith." 25:51 That's right. 25:52 And so that's we're getting down to the nitty-gritty 25:54 of trials. 25:55 It's not going to get easier, it's going to get tougher. 25:58 I don't want to stop you full stride. 25:59 But that just kind of, let's all turn to this passage 26:01 I want to have... 26:03 Yeah, let's go there. Absolutely. 26:04 Matter of fact, I want to have any one of the ladies read 26:06 Hebrews 12, we're in Hebrews 12. 26:07 Okay. 26:08 I talked about that, but I want to go in just now 26:10 bring this out. 26:11 Because I know that as we talked about this program, 26:13 those who are watching the program, they may be right 26:15 where this passage is right now. 26:18 I'll ask Stephanie, if you can read verse 11 26:20 because this is what you're talking about, Ryan, 26:22 Hebrews 12:11. 26:24 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, 26:29 but painful, nevertheless, afterward it yields 26:33 the peaceable fruit of righteousness 26:35 to those who have been trained by it." 26:38 Right. 26:39 So when you're going through it, it says, this is not 26:41 what I call a Christian experience. 26:44 Right. Right? 26:46 But afterward you say, "Oh, I didn't know. 26:48 Look how clean, look how sharp my edges are now. 26:51 Right. 26:52 And you know the text, iron sharpens iron. 26:56 Don't try to get a blunt tool to get another one sharp. 27:00 So some people experience sharp folk, why? 27:04 'Cause the Lord wants you to be sharp. 27:06 If He didn't want you to be sharp, 27:09 He wouldn't bring another sharp person in your vicinity. 27:12 After all these years in the ministry, believe me, 27:15 when I encounter sharp focus I say, "Okay, Lord, 27:17 I'm kind of getting dull around the edges." 27:19 So He sends a sharp person to get me back 27:21 to where I need to be. 27:24 You know, there, there's probably 27:25 no better person that can attest to this 27:27 than my wife here. 27:29 During the times that we're living in, 27:31 I have seen first firsthand the challenges, the struggles, 27:35 the difficulties, that you as a teacher, 27:38 as an administrator, a principal of a school, 27:42 you know, having others in your care, 27:43 and not just others, children in your care. 27:46 There has to be those days where and I know it 27:49 to be the case, this is more rhetorical from my perspective. 27:51 But there's those days clearly, where you just, you know, 27:54 it's kind of the hands in the face, like, 27:56 I don't know how far I can keep going, right? 27:59 You know, speak on that for just a moment, 28:00 'cause there's probably someone watching right now 28:02 that's saying, you know, "I'm really struggling here." 28:05 You've been through quite a bit, 28:06 explain from a teacher's perspective? 28:08 Well, I mean, in dealing with that, but also in having, 28:13 like my own health issue of severe anxiety already. 28:19 So I relate highly to the... 28:22 I'm praying, and I'm praying, and it's just not going away. 28:26 Why? Yeah, Jesus, take way my anxiety. 28:28 Right? 28:30 I know, there's no telling how many times 28:31 I know that I've prayed this, "Please, why won't this stop? 28:34 God, what did I do? 28:35 What do I need to learn? 28:36 Just make it end." And it doesn't. 28:40 So then I very much relate to, 28:43 has my faith just not strong enough? 28:45 Yeah. 28:46 Somebody else pray for me, 28:48 because apparently I'm not doing it right. 28:51 You know, because that's what it feels like. 28:52 Absolutely. 28:53 But through this, this year, we've talked about Joseph... 28:58 Right, we mentioned Joseph. And Moses. 29:00 And so what I'm hearing is kind of both 29:03 of why we go through trials. 29:06 And so I find that pretty interesting of with one, 29:11 you know, with the whole story of Joseph, you know, 29:15 it was meant for evil, 29:17 but God took it and used it for good. 29:19 Right. Absolutely. 29:21 So that's what I was hearing with, the enemy has done this. 29:24 That's what has been shared so far. 29:26 So I kind of get that side. 29:27 But then you also have the story of Moses 29:29 who needed to be a strong leader. 29:31 And so he had to go through those things. 29:34 And some of those, you know, most likely, 29:37 God placed in his path to be the leader he needed to be... 29:40 Wow. Okay. 29:42 And to have to go through those things. 29:43 So we've been talking about both of those Bible characters 29:47 at school, and it's just, it's amazing 29:51 because I'm teaching it, but at the same time, 29:53 it's what I need to hear. 29:54 And so I'm like, "Okay, well, this makes sense, 29:57 even though, yeah, I relate to that, like why, 30:00 why do I have to go through this?" 30:01 But, you know, if I 30:04 didn't, I wouldn't be able to share with somebody else 30:06 that might need to hear it. 30:07 Amen. Wow. That's right. 30:08 Praise the Lord. Thank you for sharing that. 30:10 Thank you so much You know what she's saying reminds me 30:12 of the Apostle Paul had the same problem, right? 30:15 Yeah. Absolutely. You know, he told this story. 30:17 It comes from 2 Corinthians Chapter 12 where in verse 7, 30:22 2 Corinthians 12:7, a thorn in the flesh, 30:25 my Bible says, which is exactly 30:28 what Stephanie is talking about. 30:29 Yeah, read that. 30:30 "And lest I should be exalted above measured by the abundance 30:33 of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, 30:36 a messenger of Satan to buffet me, 30:38 lest I be exalted above measure. 30:41 Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord 30:43 three times that it might depart from me. 30:45 And He said to me, 30:47 'My grace is sufficient for you, 30:49 for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' 30:52 Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, 30:56 that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 30:59 Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, 31:01 in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, 31:04 for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, 31:07 then I am strong.'" 31:09 Man, that's beautiful. 31:10 And I thought of this little quote, I looked it up here 31:13 when we were talking about, 31:15 I just want to share this with you. 31:16 This is from the writings of Mrs. White, 31:19 it's a, an article called The Saving Providence of God, 31:22 March 5. 31:23 And listen to what she says. 31:24 She says, "He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ 31:27 abides in Christ. 31:29 The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Savior, 31:34 who surrounds him with His presence. 31:37 Whatever comes to him, comes from Christ. 31:41 He has no need to resist evil for Christ is his defense. 31:45 Nothing can touch him, 31:47 except by our Lord's permission, 31:49 and all things that are permitted, 31:51 work together for good to them that love God." 31:54 Think about the water in this little bottle here. 31:56 Okay, so if I'm the water in this bottle, 31:59 and if Jesus is the bottle itself, 32:01 anything that's going to get through to the water 32:03 has to come through the bottle. 32:05 And this is me, because I'm in Christ, 32:07 and whatever. 32:09 And so therefore, it comes through Christ 32:11 by His permission, 32:13 because He's trying to purify me. 32:16 Right. 32:17 And what's coming to my mind right now 32:19 is the scripture there in... 32:21 Let me find here, 1 Corinthians 10:13. 32:24 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, 32:26 "No temptation has overtaken you 32:28 except such as common to man, but God is faithful, 32:31 who will not allow you to be tempted beyond 32:33 what you are able, but with the temptation 32:35 will also make the way of escape, 32:37 that you may be able to bear it." 32:40 So as you were talking, I thought of Job. 32:43 Because, you know, right there in Job Chapter 1, 32:45 there's this heavenly council, Satan shows up, and you know, 32:48 hey, I'm just, I'm just running to and fro, 32:49 you know, back on earth over here, 32:51 you know, my place that goes by my rules, 32:53 and your God, you know, kind of implied 32:55 there very clearly God's like, you know, 32:56 what about my man Job? 32:58 If it's according to your rules, your ways, 33:00 what about my man Job? 33:01 He doesn't function according to your rules, 33:02 your ways, your character. 33:04 And then, you know, Satan issues a challenge. 33:06 You know, and he basically, 33:08 there's an implied accusation against 33:09 the character of God there, 33:11 because he basically says to God, 33:12 oh, no, no, no, Job only is the way 33:14 he is because You, You have put a hedge 33:16 of protection around him, and You give him good things. 33:19 But the moment you take away those good things, 33:21 and the moment you remove that hedge of protection, 33:23 and let me had him, he'll curse you to your face. 33:25 In other words, the implied accusation 33:27 against the character of God is that 33:28 you God or not in and of yourself worthy 33:31 to be worshipped, that Your people only worship You, 33:34 because You give them good things, and You protect them. 33:37 And, you know, there's no truth to that at all. 33:39 We know that there's no truth to that. 33:41 But yet, oftentimes, 33:42 the devil makes people think that, 33:44 because you see that from the very fruits 33:46 in the very response from many people, 33:48 and that is, as long as their life's going well, 33:50 as long as the money is coming in, 33:52 as long as the bills are paid, 33:53 as long as their health is good, 33:54 as long as all the people in their families 33:56 not suffering and dying are fine, 33:58 everybody's fine, then, you know, God's good. 34:00 But as soon as something bad comes, as soon as, you know, 34:03 somebody loses their job, as soon as a loved one dies, 34:06 as soon as you know, some horrible, 34:08 horrible challenge comes, 34:09 then oftentimes you see people turn 34:11 and shake their fist to God say, 34:12 "Oh, God, it's Your fault. 34:14 You know, You're the one that did this," when in reality, 34:17 you know, God is worthy 34:19 to be worshipped in and of Himself in 34:21 because of who He is. 34:22 Do we worship God because He does good things for us? 34:26 Is He only worthy to be worshipped 34:27 because of the hedge of protection 34:28 He puts around us? 34:30 Or is He worthy to be worshipped 34:31 because of who He is? 34:33 That's right. He is creator of all things. 34:36 And this is kind of what we're getting to. 34:37 We're getting to the nitty-gritty 34:38 of the fact that can you maintain, 34:41 can you still have faith in God 34:45 though the things that may be happening 34:47 to you in your life can't really fully be explained? 34:50 Maybe, can you still worship Him? 34:52 Can you still serve Him? 34:53 Can you still put your trust and your faith in Him 34:56 through the unknown? 34:57 I found many times in my own life I've asked this question. 35:00 I've said this to the Lord in prayer, 35:02 just driving down the road calling out to Him and saying, 35:04 "God, I don't know why in the world 35:06 You're allowing this to happen. 35:07 I don't know why in the world, 35:09 you know, You have allowed this horrible thing to happen. 35:13 But God, I still trust You. 35:15 I can't see two feet in front of my face. 35:17 I don't know what's beyond these blurry lives, 35:19 because I'm seeing everything blurry. 35:20 But God, I still trust you." 35:22 That's the faith that God wants 35:24 that through the trial, through the complication, 35:26 through the difficulty, through the sorrow, 35:28 through the despair, through the pain, 35:29 through it all, can you still say, "God, 35:31 I don't understand, but I still trust You?" 35:34 You know, God never intended for us to understand. 35:36 That's the biggest part about it, because He's sovereign. 35:38 He sees the end from the beginning. 35:40 He's the beginning from the end, He sees it all. 35:42 And you have a passage here, Isaiah 55:89, 35:45 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts." 35:47 You think it's happening for this reason, 35:48 that's not why. 35:50 Right. That's not what I'm thinking. 35:51 Nor are my ways, nor are your ways my ways, 35:53 well, this is how you want to be done, 35:56 but this is how I want it to be done. 35:57 That's right. 35:59 "So for as the heavens are higher than the earth, 36:01 so are My ways higher than your ways 36:03 and My thoughts than your thoughts." 36:05 So let's go, let's look are God's 36:08 thoughts lower than ours? 36:09 No, definitely not. 36:10 Okay, so He has a higher purpose 36:13 behind everything He allows to come our way. 36:16 I've often said this way, 36:17 "God never measures His grace and mercy 36:20 but He always measures the trial." 36:22 That's why He says no temptation will overtake you. 36:24 And let's all turn to Romans 8, 'cause I want to read this 36:28 one Romans 8:28. 36:30 We know it by heart, 36:31 but I want us to look at a specific word in it that 36:35 we often take for granted. 36:36 You know, when we look at that verse, 36:38 we have some clich, verses, Romans 8:28. 36:42 We know that those are clich, verses. 36:44 Wendy, read that one for us. 36:46 Listen to this. 36:47 "And we know that all things work together for good 36:50 to those who love God, 36:51 to those who are called according to His purpose. 36:54 Right. 36:55 So if you are the called, 36:56 how many things are going to work together for good? 36:59 Notice it didn't say work apart, it says work together. 37:01 So let's put that picture together. 37:03 The bad, the good, the sour, the sweet, the disappointing, 37:07 the encouraging, the high, the low, the painful, 37:10 the joyful, you put that on the same pot, 37:13 God says, I know what's in your pot, 37:17 but it's going to work together for good. 37:19 So we have to get that picture because today people, 37:22 indicting God, because they don't realize 37:25 that He doesn't think like they do. 37:27 My thoughts are not your thoughts. 37:29 How many children think like their parents? 37:32 Okay, how many parents say, "You're not getting the car?" 37:36 "Mom, what do you mean I'm not getting the car?" 37:37 This is the night. This is the event. 37:41 That's why you're not getting the car 37:42 because you're going to act up 37:44 and going to do something stupid. 37:45 What are my friends are going to say? 37:47 What's your friends going to say is not my concern. 37:49 I know what I'm thinking, and what you're thinking 37:51 is not the same thing. 37:53 So and then you find out that some terrible thing happened 37:55 during the night, some students got in a bad accident. 37:58 And the next day your senses, 38:00 "Mom, how did you know that was going to happen? 38:02 "I didn't know, but I knew the potential. 38:04 So we have to trust our Father, 38:06 if we could trust earthly parents, 38:08 we need to trust our Father 38:09 who sees farther than our earthly parents. 38:13 Trusting Him even when it doesn't make sense. 38:15 When it doesn't make sense. 38:17 You know, you read 2 Corinthians 11:22-27, 38:20 which is, I mean, you read the experience 38:24 of what Paul went through 38:26 when he gave his heart to Christ 38:27 from the time that he was completely devoted to Christ 38:30 when he was converted all the way to the end of his life. 38:32 There's a list here, 38:34 there's a list of things that happened to him. 38:36 I'm just going to read it here. 2 Corinthians 11:22-27. 38:41 It says, "Are they Hebrew? So am I. 38:44 Are they Israelites? So am I. 38:46 Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I." 38:49 And then he goes on to say, 38:50 "Are they all ministers of Christ? 38:51 I speak as a fool, I am more." And then he gives this list. 38:56 Notice he says, "In labors more abundant, 39:00 in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, 39:04 in deaths often. 39:06 From the Jews five times 39:08 I received forty stripes minus one. 39:11 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, 39:15 three times I was shipwrecked, 39:17 at night and day I have been in the deep, 39:20 in journeys often, in perils of waters, 39:23 in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, 39:26 in perils of the Gentiles, in perils of the city, 39:28 in perils of the wilderness, in perils of the sea, 39:30 in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, 39:34 in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, 39:37 in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." 39:39 I mean, this brother goes on and says, 39:41 "Let me show you what happens when you follow Jesus." 39:44 I've experienced it all. 39:46 Now tie all of that and I read all of that 39:48 to read James 1:2-4. 39:50 Okay. 39:52 Because, you know, sometimes we were going 39:53 to ask the question, 39:54 "Why does God allow these trials often?" 39:56 God may not always be the cause of it, 39:57 but why does He allow it?" 39:58 I think of James 1:2-4. 40:00 And after I read this text, 40:02 Stephanie, why don't you read that for us, James 1:2-4? 40:05 Read that for us there? 40:07 "My brethren, count it all joy 40:09 when you fall into various trials, 40:11 knowing that the testing of your faith 40:13 produces patience. 40:15 But let patience have its perfect work, 40:17 that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 40:21 Okay, so go with me on this. 40:23 You know, Paul was stoned. You can imagine that. 40:26 I mean, really, and that brother going 40:27 to be sitting there being stoned being beat with rods, 40:30 "Lord, praise God for they beat me with these rods." 40:32 I just counted all joy that I can fall 40:34 into this stoning right now. 40:35 You know, none of us when we find ourselves in these trials, 40:38 do we have that what seems to be very counteractive almost 40:41 unrealistic attitude right off, 40:43 praise God that I'm going through this fiery trial, 40:46 the storm in my life. 40:47 But yet, the attitude of a Christian, 40:49 Stephanie just read there, according to James 1:2-4, 40:53 "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 40:55 knowing that the testing 40:56 of your faith produces patience." 40:58 It goes back to what you said earlier, 41:00 Pastor, this is all about character development. 41:02 Character development. 41:04 We're being pressed into the fire 41:05 and sometimes you have to be pressed 41:07 into the hottest part of the flame, 41:09 you know, to be produced for that character 41:11 to be produced and prepared for the kingdom of God. 41:15 And not only that, but I'm going, 41:17 I'm thinking about you driving down the road and asking God, 41:19 "Why am I going through it? 41:20 Why is it happening, you know?" 41:22 And this verse came to mind. 41:23 It's comes from 2 Corinthians Chapter 4 41:27 and beginning at verse 16. 41:30 2 Corinthians Chapter 4, beginning at verse 16. 41:33 And this is Paul writing, he says, "Therefore, 41:35 we do not lose heart, even though our inward man 41:37 is perishing at the... 41:39 Our outward man is perishing, 41:40 yet the inner man is being renewed day by day. 41:42 For our light affliction," I love that, 41:46 "our light affliction, which is, 41:48 but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding 41:53 and eternal weight of glory, 41:54 while we do not look at the things which are seen, 41:57 but at the things which are not seen, 41:59 for the things which are seen are," what? 42:02 "Temporary, but the things 42:04 which are not seen are eternal." 42:07 I remember years ago, I worked with, 42:10 I was working in a school system, 42:12 and there was this teacher, who had a 15 year old daughter. 42:16 And this young girl was popular, 42:19 she was an athlete, she was a straight A student, 42:23 she was beautiful, she was just, 42:26 everybody loved this little girl. 42:28 She's 15. And it says she has leukemia. 42:31 Wow. 42:32 And so went through all the treatment, 42:35 treatments wasn't working, she's slowly dying away. 42:38 And I remember hearing a story later, 42:42 the mother was talking to the daughter one day 42:45 and she said, "I don't understand 42:48 why God is allowing this to happen to you." 42:52 And she said, "Mom, don't you remember 42:54 all the people that I've been able to talk 42:56 to about Jesus, 42:58 and how Jesus is the one strengthening me, 43:00 even though my body is failing inside, 43:03 I'm being renewed day by day." 43:05 And she passed away. 43:07 But she passed away in knowing Christ, 43:11 and was able to minister to people. 43:14 That takes a special mindset to be able to have that kind 43:18 of attitude to again, like Job to say, though He slay me, 43:23 yet will I trust in Him. 43:24 That's amazing. 43:25 I think of people who have been through 43:27 some of the most difficult times. 43:28 I mean, even us sitting at this table, 43:30 there's not a one of us here that can sit 43:31 at this table and say we haven't been through 43:33 something that really tested our faith. 43:36 Maybe one time even almost crushed our faith, right? 43:40 And I think people who, you know, 43:41 probably one of the toughest trials 43:43 anybody could ever endure 43:44 is the loss of a loved one or a friend, 43:47 someone who's close to them. 43:49 A parent losing a child, a husband losing a wife, 43:52 losing a sibling, kids losing a parent, 43:56 you know, in my case, a couple years ago, 43:58 when I lost my mom, 43:59 I think it was one of the biggest trials 44:01 I ever experienced in my life. 44:03 But nonetheless, you know, it's in those moments, 44:06 where even it seems like when God is silent often, 44:09 where it's like, where's God? 44:10 God is still there. He's in the silence. 44:13 In fact, there was a quote, I didn't bring it with me. 44:16 I have to share it another time. 44:17 But there's a quote from Mrs. White 44:18 where she actually says, "It's in the darkest hours 44:21 that God draws nearest to His people." 44:25 And you know, even though sometimes 44:27 we can't perceive it or feel it, 44:28 I think of the story of Horatio G. Spafford 44:32 lost his son, lost almost half, 44:35 almost all of his business in the Chicago fires 44:37 of the 1870s, sent his family off across the Atlantic 44:40 to go have a much needed vacation, 44:44 the boat capsizes, loses all the rest of his daughters. 44:48 His wife sends him a letter back saying I survived alone. 44:51 I mean, this man literally went through hell, 44:53 in a very short period of time in his life 44:55 where he literally almost lost everything and in a moment 44:58 where you know, you would expect someone 44:59 to shake the fist at God and say, "Why, Lord, 45:01 why me, why is this happening to me? 45:03 It seems like, you know, you don't care about me." 45:05 This brother pens down the, you know, 45:07 it shows his faith by penning down 45:08 one of the most beautiful songs, 45:10 the lyrics to one of the most beautiful songs ever written. 45:12 It is well with my soul. 45:13 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 45:17 when sorrows like sea billows roll, right? 45:21 Whatever my lot... What is it? 45:23 Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, 45:27 it is well with my soul. 45:29 And then you really see that his faith in the third verse 45:31 'cause he says and Lord haste the day, 45:34 'cause this brother is dealing with a lot, right? 45:36 And he's looking forward and he say, 45:38 and Lord haste the day, 45:40 when my faith shall be sight, 45:43 and the clouds be rolled back as a scroll. 45:47 I love that. 45:48 He's looking forward to the second coming 45:50 right now even though he's having a walk through 45:52 it seems like the valley of the shadow of death, right? 45:55 And he's having a walk through hellfire. 45:57 It seems like, you know, spiritually speaking, 45:59 but he's looking forward to the time in faith 46:01 when Christ will come back and He'll make all things new. 46:04 Amen. 46:05 And, you know, that song would have never been born 46:07 had he not gone through that. 46:08 So we... 46:09 How many people has that song encouraged? 46:13 How many people? 46:14 How many millions have sung that song at difficult time 46:18 at the bedside of someone going through affliction, 46:20 at a funeral, at the laying to rest a young child, 46:25 the most difficult funeral to abide over 46:27 is when the coffin 46:28 is just as small as you know, 46:33 dinner napkin. 46:34 And you look at that, 46:36 and the parents are standing there and you say, 46:37 "What do you say to them?" 46:39 And these are the moments that we have to remember 46:40 that God is not in that. 46:42 God is not, God does not bring death upon a loved one to say, 46:46 "Now do you trust Me?" 46:48 Just glue that one all together. 46:51 Other things may come, you may get close to difficult trials, 46:54 but God is not going to kill someone 46:56 to strengthen your faith. 46:57 So please never indict God as He took. 46:59 God doesn't take children. 47:01 So when Job said though He slay me, 47:03 the reality was the Lord wasn't slaying Job at all. 47:06 He said he removed the protection, 47:08 but he told the devil you could do everything 47:09 but don't take his life. 47:11 So the Lord sometimes gives... 47:13 You find two people in the Bible 47:14 that had that experience that I remember very well, 47:16 Job and Peter. 47:18 And what did the Lord say to Peter, 47:20 "The devil desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat." 47:22 But what did the Lord say? I prayed for you. 47:26 So when you're getting sifted, 47:28 it's so good to know that you on Jesus's prayer list. 47:32 You know, they say, could you pray for me, Terry? 47:33 Could you pray, Wendy? Stephanie, could you? 47:35 Ryan, you pray. 47:36 Jesus said, "You don't have to ask Me, 47:38 already got you on the prayer list." 47:39 Ain't that amen? 47:41 We are on the Lord's prayer list 47:42 when we're going through difficulty, 47:44 because He then said to Peter, 47:46 knowing what that trial was going to produce, 47:48 he said, "When you are converted," 47:51 I'll let the King James version that, 47:52 "When you are converted, strengthen the brethren." 47:56 Yes. Sometimes we've got to go through stuff 47:57 to experience conversion. 47:59 If you're going through stuff, 48:00 you may not be where God wants you to be. 48:02 And your life has no use. 48:04 I've often said until your life is a threat to the kingdom 48:08 of darkness, it is no use to the kingdom of light. 48:11 But we got to be developed. 48:13 Let me just this very short quotation. 48:14 Absolutely. 48:16 And you know, this is in a book Ministry of Healing, page 470, 48:19 and paragraph two it says, to live such a life, 48:22 speaking about the life of trial, 48:23 to exert such an influence cause that every step 48:27 self-sacrifice discipline, 48:28 it is because that we do not understand this 48:31 that many are so easily discouraged 48:33 in the Christian life. 48:34 They pray for Christ's likeness of character 48:36 for fitness for the Lord's work. 48:38 And they are placed in circumstances 48:41 that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature. 48:46 Faults are revealed of which they did not even 48:48 suspect the existence. 48:51 How would you know that you'll lose your cool unless 48:54 you were placed in a situation to lose your cool, right? 48:57 Lord says, "See, you're not over yet, are you?" 48:59 How did you... 49:01 Would you that word that you just now have 49:03 to ask forgiveness for? 49:05 How would you have known it was still in there? 49:06 That's right. And so I'm doing a study on Wednesday nights. 49:09 Next week we're talking about, 49:10 you know, we talked about that so topic, 49:13 but here's it is because God is leading them 49:15 that these things come upon them. 49:18 He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities, 49:21 which rightly directed, 49:22 might be used in the advancement 49:24 of His work. 49:25 So in His providence, He bring these people 49:28 into different positions and varied circumstances 49:31 that they may discover, in their character 49:34 the defects which had been concealed 49:36 from their own knowledge. 49:38 He says you didn't know that you had it in you, did you? 49:42 Then He gives them opportunity to correct these defects 49:45 to fit themselves for service. 49:47 Often, He permits the fires of affliction to assail them 49:51 that they may be purified. 49:54 So purification, gold tried in the fire. 49:58 Do we really want to be gold tried in the fire? 50:00 I mean, really, then you got to be tried in the fire. 50:03 That's right. Okay. 50:04 So I mean, I'm telling you this as a 34, 50:06 35 years of ministry, believe me, I had those, 50:11 I'm quitting moments. 50:12 I am done. 50:14 I'm suing this person, that person. 50:16 I'm not even going, 50:17 I don't want to be involved in pastoring. 50:19 I am not taking, I'm going to be evangelist hit and run. 50:22 Right. 50:24 Lord says, "I'm just getting started." 50:26 And my wife told me, "So you tell Him the Lord 50:28 what to do now? 50:30 "Well, you know, I don't want to pastor anymore. 50:31 After that church, there's no way I want to pastor. 50:33 There is no way." 50:34 "So you tell the Lord what to do now?" 50:37 And I, as I'm eating my ice cream 50:39 between where I'm coming from and where I'm headed, 50:42 okay, Lord why do You... 50:43 I gave the Lord a challenge. 50:45 And He broke me in that moment. And I went back into pastoring. 50:47 And I'm all the stronger for it. 50:49 Amen. Wow. So you got to, God seasoned me. 50:52 He says, "I got something 15 years from now 50:54 that you are not yet ready for? 50:56 "You need three more churches to get ready for? 50:59 You need about 900 more people 51:00 to work on you to get ready for it. 51:02 That's right. So I understand. 51:03 Yeah. 51:04 You know, I can look at it nowadays 51:06 is that you want to see some bruises. 51:07 I'll show you some. 51:09 You want to see some awful letters, I'll show you some. 51:10 You want to see some wicked people 51:11 that I started on my list that God dealt with, 51:14 I'll show you some. 51:15 But here I am, stronger, all because of it. 51:17 It's easier for the enemy to see you 51:19 when you step into the light. 51:21 Yeah. Yeah. Powerful. 51:23 It's easier for the enemy to see you 51:24 when you step into the light, 51:26 when we step into the light of Christ. 51:28 And if we are in Christ, and we are in His light, right, 51:30 because He is the light of the world. 51:31 But when we step into that light to be in His favor, 51:35 it's easier for the enemy to see you. 51:36 And the enemy is going to lock in on you. 51:38 We have to expect that these challenges will come. 51:40 We have about five minutes here. 51:42 There's just three or four texts here 51:44 that I want to just read just as an encouragement, 51:47 you know, to those who may be dealing 51:49 with trial right now. 51:51 I'm going to just assign these really quickly. 51:52 So, Stephanie, why don't you prepare to read James 1:12? 51:57 And then, if you could, 51:59 Wendy, read 1 Peter 4:12-14? 52:03 So 1 Peter 4:12-14. 52:05 And then, Brother Terry, 52:08 if you could read Revelation 3:21? 52:11 Actually, you know what? 52:14 Why don't you read James 1:12 52:15 'cause this is Stephanie's favorite, 52:16 Philippians 4:6, 7 and 13. 52:19 So I'm going to have you Terry to read James 1:12. 52:22 And then pastor, we're going to let you 52:23 finish off with Revelation 3:21. 52:25 Sure. 52:26 So let's go to James 1:12 first, 52:28 let's read that one. 52:30 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation 52:32 for when he has been approved, 52:33 he will receive the crown of life, 52:35 which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." 52:38 You know, blessed is the man who endures temptation. 52:42 I've heard people use, you know, we made reference, 52:45 I think we read it earlier, the one that says, 52:48 "There had no temptation overtaken you 52:50 but such as is common to man." 52:51 I've heard people say, 52:52 you've probably seen on social media, 52:54 "God won't give you more than you can handle." 52:56 I've seen that a lot. 52:57 "God won't give me more than you can handle." 52:58 That's not exactly what the scripture says. 53:01 Because otherwise why would we have things 53:03 like blessed is the man who endures temptation, 53:06 not escapes temptation. 53:08 But if we read that other one, you know, but God is faithful, 53:13 who will not allow you to be tempted above 53:15 that which you are able, 53:16 but will with the temptation make a way of escape. 53:18 In other words, God may not give you 53:21 more than you can handle, but He's going to give it, 53:24 He's going to allow it to you 53:25 so that you might run to Him as an escape, right? 53:28 Amen. Praise the Lord. 53:29 Wendy, let's go to 1 Peter 4:12-14. 53:33 This is powerful. 53:35 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning 53:36 the fiery trial which is to try you, 53:39 as though some strange thing happened to you, 53:42 but rejoice to the extent 53:43 that you partake of Christ's sufferings, 53:46 that when His glory is revealed, 53:47 you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 53:51 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, 53:53 blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory 53:55 and of God rests upon you. 53:57 On their part He is blasphemed, 53:59 but on your part He is glorified." 54:02 That's right. Wow. 54:03 That's amazing. For His glory, for His glory. 54:06 That's what this is all about Two different reactions. 54:08 That's right, powerful. 54:10 Stephanie, Philippians 4:6, 7 and 13? 54:13 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer 54:17 and supplication, with thanksgiving, 54:19 let your requests be made known to God, 54:22 and the peace of God, 54:23 which surpasses all understanding, 54:26 will guard your hearts 54:27 and minds through Christ Jesus." 54:30 And 13 says, "I can do all things 54:32 through Christ who strengthens me." 54:34 That's right. 54:35 The strength comes from Jesus Christ 54:37 and that's what we have to continue 54:39 through the fieriest trial, the most difficult time, 54:42 putting your faith in Christ. 54:44 That's what it's all about. 54:46 All right, Pastor, Revelation 3:21. 54:48 Let's cap it off here. 54:50 "To him who over comes, 54:52 I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, 54:56 as I also overcame, 54:58 and sat down with My Father on His throne." 55:02 We overcome by the blood of the Lamb. 55:03 That's right. 55:05 So it's, you know, the trials are going to come. 55:07 It's just not, it's not the trials that come, 55:10 it's who... 55:12 Well let me just finish this and I'll throw it back to you. 55:14 Sure. 55:16 It's not, trials don't develop our faith, 55:18 trial reveal our faith. 55:20 And so when you find a person 55:22 that's just wallowing in the middle of a trial, 55:24 it's a sad reality, the Lord is saying, 55:27 "You're not ready yet." 55:28 And more may come, 55:32 but eventually you'll get to the place you'll say, 55:35 "I've been here before, 55:37 and God will bring another trial to make me stronger 55:39 for the next thing." 55:41 What did David go through? 55:42 He killed a lion, a bear, Goliath... 55:46 That's right. 55:47 But he couldn't overcome the character defects 55:50 until the Lord put him through in the most severe trial 55:52 of his denial of the Lord through Bathsheba, 55:55 and then his repentance, then he became a stronger man. 55:58 So God knows exactly what each one of us needs 56:00 to go through to get to the place 56:02 that He wants us to be. 56:03 Amen. Wow, praise the Lord. 56:05 I got to finish off with Malachi 3:2-3. 56:08 Notice what the Bible says here. 56:10 Malachi 3:2-3, it says, 56:12 "But who can endure the day of His coming 56:15 and who can stand when He appears, 56:18 for He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. 56:23 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver, 56:26 He will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold 56:29 and silver that they may offer to the Lord in offering 56:32 and righteousness." 56:34 If you look into how a silversmith 56:35 actually refined silver, 56:37 he puts that silver in the hottest part 56:39 of the flame. 56:41 And how does he know that it's ready? 56:42 Look it up. It's true. 56:44 It's when he can see his reflection 56:46 in that piece of silver. 56:48 That's right. My, friends, Jesus is coming soon. 56:50 And faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 56:53 We hope that you have been encouraged today. 56:55 We hope you take this program, these scriptures 56:58 and that you encourage others. 56:59 I just want to say thank you Pastor Lomacang, 57:01 thank you, Terry and Wendy, so much for joining us. 57:04 Thank you, Miss Stephanie Day, my lovely wife. 57:06 Thank you all my friends for joining us during this time. 57:09 Again, go out, smile knowing that Jesus Christ is Lord, 57:14 that Jesus Christ is still with you. 57:16 And if you are in Christ, 57:18 you are His, you are Abraham's seed 57:21 and heirs according to the promise. 57:23 My friends, get in the Word of God, 57:25 find yourself in Jesus Christ. 57:27 And next time you go through that trial 57:28 know that you are not alone. 57:30 God bless you, my friends, and have a good day. |
Revised 2022-01-20