Hello Friends,
I'm John Lomacang,
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welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School.
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If you've been following
us from month to month,
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we thank you for
staying with us and joining us.
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This Quarter is
the Lesson titled:
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In the Crucible with Christ
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and Lesson Number 2 is:
The Crucibles That Come.
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You know, a crucible
is a trial... a test.
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There are many tests
that come to us as Christians
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and that's what we're
going to talk about today
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and how you can
endure those tests in Christ.
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If you'd like to follow
us with the Lesson Study,
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go to:
3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com
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and download the Lesson
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or go to one of your local
Seventh-day Adventist churches
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and join for an in-person
exciting excursion through
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the Word of God,
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but nevertheless, stay tuned to
join us for this exciting study:
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The Crucibles That Come.
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Music...
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Hello Friends, welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel,
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I am John Lomacang and
we are in a Lesson Study
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that's really
very, very practical.
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You know, often times in
life, we face our crucibles...
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our melting pot...
our fiery furnace...
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our Lion's Den
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and we're going to
talk about that today.
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What happens when
you face the crucibles
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and I like the Lesson theme:
In the Crucible with Christ.
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When you are a Christian,
you are never by yourself.
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Well, we have an
exciting study today
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and my family is
ready and waiting
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and I think that Shelley Quinn
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is going to be the
first out of the...
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how you doing Shelley?
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Shelley: I'm doing great and
I'm going to be speaking about:
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The Crucibles of Satan.
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Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm...
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Lomacang:
That's going to be deep
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and Jill, good to have you
here, what's your title today?
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Jill: Thank you Pastor
John, The Crucibles of Sin.
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Lomacang: Ooooh! wow! Ryan...
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Ryan: All right, I have
Crucibles of Purification.
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Lomacang: I can't
wait... and James...
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James: Crucibles of Maturity.
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Panel: Hmmm... Lomacang: Wow!
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I think that you
might get it by now,
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we're talking about Crucibles,
can I simply say that?
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Wow! well before we
go into our Lesson Study,
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thank you for your prayers
and support of this Network
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but before we open God's Word,
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we want to go to
the Lord in prayer,
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James, would you
have prayer for us?
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James: Sure.
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"Father, again we just want
to thank You for each Viewer
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that's tuned in,
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we want to thank You
for the opportunity we have
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to open Your Word
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and we want to pray that
please send the Holy Spirit
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to tune in with
us... to direct us...
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to strengthen
us... to encourage us
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as we study this
important Lesson on Crucibles,
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we pray this in
Jesus' name, amen. "
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Panel: Amen... amen.
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Lomacang: You
know, the Lesson...
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the person that
constructed the Lesson...
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the author of this
Lesson has done an amazing job
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to just distill something
down to practical Christianity.
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Practical Christianity...
somebody once said to me
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actually, not too
long ago they said,
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"Well, you know, you talk
about Revelation and prophecy
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quite a bit but you haven't
been doing that lately... "
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and I said to them...
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because I've discovered
that we don't falter in prophecy
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and end-time topics,
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we falter in
practical Christianity.
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Panel: That's true... hmmm...
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Lomacang: And I think this
Lesson is bringing that out
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because these are the
places that we often fail.
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When we pass the
fulcrum point in our experiences
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and we can't pull it back...
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when we lean too far forward and
we cannot recover ourselves...
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when trials come that seem
to overwhelm our scales of life,
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we face crucibles
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and that's why this lesson
is so important and practical.
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As a matter of fact,
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the theme Scripture for
this particular lesson is
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1st Peter chapter
4 verses 12 and 13
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and Peter... who
better to write it...
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passage like this
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than somebody who had to face
his own crucible with Christ.
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"Beloved... " he says,
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"do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial
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which is to try you... "
notice, that's a certainty,
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"as though some
strange thing happened to you;
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but rejoice to the extent
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that you partake of
Christ's sufferings,
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that when His glory is revealed,
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you may also be glad
with exceeding joy. "
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The author of the Lesson
talks about the chemistry lab...
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I don't know if any of
you remember... Chemistry lab.
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When I first went into a
Chemistry Lab in High School,
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it was exciting
because it had an unusual odor.
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To know whether it was
a chemical or something
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that was burning or...
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and we even got to
the point once where we...
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they brought a
little, little small animal
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to kind of expose some of
us to the thought that maybe
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we might want to be in
the medical field as surgeon
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and we dissected it
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and it was just the
most awful smelling thing.
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But in those Labs you have
strange kinds of experiments
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and the writer of the
Lesson brings this out
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in this story that he
says, "In Chemistry Labs,
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one often places various
materials into a small container
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and heats them to
extreme temperatures.
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As the container becomes hotter,
the material either melts...
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fizzle...
spit... or burn brightly
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depending on
what they are made of.
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The container is
called Crucible. "
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Now, each of
us... something happens
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maybe differently in each of us.
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That's why when you go
through something in your life
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and you see how it has
molded you or shaped you
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or formed you,
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then you are able
to help somebody else
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going through the
very same crucible
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and I learned something...
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Oswald Chambers... one of
my favorite devotional writers
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he said, "When God is...
when God is refining someone,
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the worst thing we
can do as Christians
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is step in between
that person and God
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thinking that by...
by being sympathetic,
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we're helping them. "
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We prevent them from
being refined if we...
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if we step
between God's refinement
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and the person who
needs to be refined.
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It's like throwing cold water
in a tube in a Chemistry Lab.
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It will never become
what it's supposed to become.
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And the dictionary
defines a crucible this way...
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in three different ways,
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a vessel used for
melting a substance
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that requires a
high degree of heat...
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hooooo... sounds like
gold tried in the fire,
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what do you think, Shelley?
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Secondly, a severe test.
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The gold tried... severe test.
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Thirdly, a place
or situation in which
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concentrated forces interact
to cause or influence change
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or development.
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Wow! that sounds like
something you'll be using
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in Tuesday's...
The Satanic Crucibles
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where... where
concentrated forces
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between light and
darkness... good and evil...
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they interact to cause or
influence change or development
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and sometimes, it is
not until we face difficulty
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that we become what God
always intended for us to be.
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Paul the Apostle talked
about those who don't respond
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to the voice of God
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and he said, "Commit such a one
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to Satan that
they may be buffeted
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but in the end,
their flesh may be saved. "
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So, sometimes God says
to us like He said to Peter,
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"The devil desires
to sift you as wheat,
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but I pray that your
faith will not fail... "
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and it's after that sifting,
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He says things
like this to us...
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"when you're converted,
strengthen the brethren. "
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God does not always
intervene in our crucibles
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but He never leaves
us in our crucibles,
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praise God for that.
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What are the surprises?
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Crucibles are
sometimes appointed.
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That's why Peter said,
"Do not think it strange
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concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you... "
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trials are a part and
parcel with the Christian life.
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Trials are not
always coincidental.
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Sometimes, they
are allowed by God,
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other times, they
are designed by God.
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There's a difference...
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God sometimes allows
it... sometimes God designs it.
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Now, I found
that in the crucibles
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I found three
very important things.
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Let's go to Romans 8 verse 17.
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Talk about how God is with us
in the crucibles that we face.
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Okay, Romans 8 verse
17, Jill, do you have that?
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This is one...
this one talks about
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sharing in Christ's crucible.
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Romans 8:17, "And if
children, then heirs...
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heirs of God and
joint heirs with Christ,
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if indeed we suffer with Him,
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that we may also be
glorified together. "
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Lomacang: That's right, that's
the suffering with Christ.
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The Hebrews faced the
fiery furnace with Christ.
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They would not have known that
Christ was with them so directly
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the Son of God with them
until they stepped in the fire
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and those who put
them in the crucible
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saw One like the Son of Man.
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There are those people
that may think that they are
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extinguishing your faith
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when in fact, they're
simply igniting your faith
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by putting you in the fire.
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The faith of the
Hebrews were ignited...
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not extinguished...
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not burned up... not destroyed.
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Sometimes, God allows us
to be put into the places
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where our faith will
shine even brighter than it did
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apart from the flames.
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The other one is John 16:33,
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the crucible of certainty.
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John 16:33... who can get
that and read that for us?
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John 16:33... the
crucible of certainty.
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You have that Ryan?
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Ryan: Yes I do... John
chapter 16 verse 33 says,
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"These things I
have spoken to you,
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that in Me you may have peace.
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In the world, you
will have tribulation;
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be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world. "
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Lomacang: Yeah, the
crucible of certainty...
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we're going to have it.
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Some people when
they become Christians
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they wonder, "Man, I
just gave my life to the Lord
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why am I going through this?"
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Hey, it is the trial...
the battle doesn't begin
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until you give
your life to the Lord
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because you are
at an intersection,
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you've just turned
away from your old way,
00:10:00.16\00:10:02.16
now you're
beginning to learn a new way
00:10:02.20\00:10:04.20
and as one person once said,
00:10:04.23\00:10:05.70
"All the miles you
traveled going away from God,
00:10:05.73\00:10:08.17
you got to travel coming back
00:10:08.20\00:10:09.87
and He refines you
in the return journey. "
00:10:09.90\00:10:13.41
He refines you on the way back
00:10:13.44\00:10:15.01
and it's not an easy refinement
but it's a worthy refinement.
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The other one is the
crucible of Satanic attack
00:10:18.41\00:10:21.65
and Jill, I'll
have you read this one
00:10:21.68\00:10:23.02
since that's your...
Revelation 2 and verse 10,
00:10:23.05\00:10:24.92
the crucible of Satanic attacks.
00:10:24.95\00:10:27.62
This is Revelation chapter
2 and verse 10, you have that?
00:10:27.66\00:10:30.36
Jill: "Do not fear
any of these things
00:10:30.39\00:10:32.26
which you are about to suffer.
00:10:32.29\00:10:34.53
Indeed, the devil is about to
throw some of you into prison,
00:10:34.56\00:10:37.37
that you may be tested, and you
will have tribulation ten days.
00:10:37.40\00:10:41.64
Be faithful until death,
00:10:41.67\00:10:43.00
and I will give you
the crown of life. "
00:10:43.04\00:10:45.37
Lomacang: Notice
there's a cadence...
00:10:45.41\00:10:46.78
"the trials are coming
but if you suffer with me,
00:10:46.81\00:10:50.45
you're going to be
glorified with me. "
00:10:50.48\00:10:52.01
"The trials are coming...
the tribulations are coming
00:10:52.05\00:10:54.28
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world. "
00:10:54.32\00:10:55.98
"It's going to be difficult
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but be thou faithful until death
00:10:57.39\00:10:58.72
and I will give
you a crown of life. "
00:10:58.75\00:11:00.09
There's always a
reward at the end of the test.
00:11:00.12\00:11:04.43
If we endure through it,
00:11:04.46\00:11:06.19
then we become what
God intends for us to be
00:11:06.23\00:11:09.26
and Jesus... and I
love this in Hebrews 12:1
00:11:09.30\00:11:12.50
He says, "For the joy
that was set before Him
00:11:12.53\00:11:15.30
endured the cross... "
00:11:15.34\00:11:16.67
I made this statement in
one of my recent sermons,
00:11:16.71\00:11:19.87
the cross was not the destiny...
00:11:19.91\00:11:22.08
the cross was a stop
along the way to the destiny.
00:11:22.11\00:11:25.81
Panel: That's good.
00:11:25.85\00:11:27.32
Lomacang: What was the destiny
00:11:27.35\00:11:28.68
for the joy that
was set before Him?
00:11:28.72\00:11:30.12
"I'm going to... I'm
going to endure the cross...
00:11:30.15\00:11:32.39
I'm going to despise the
shame because after this,
00:11:32.42\00:11:35.09
I'm going to be able to sit down
00:11:35.12\00:11:36.83
at the right hand with
my Father on His throne. "
00:11:36.86\00:11:40.00
We've got to
look beyond those...
00:11:40.03\00:11:42.06
those points where
things happen to us
00:11:42.10\00:11:44.13
that are purifying
us... that try our faith
00:11:44.17\00:11:46.53
and Ellen White
points out in Desire of Ages
00:11:46.57\00:11:48.87
that when the Lord endured
the challenges that came to Him
00:11:48.90\00:11:53.41
in the Garden,
00:11:53.44\00:11:54.78
when He endured the test that
came to Him... His own crucible
00:11:54.81\00:11:57.21
on the day that He
was about to be arrested,
00:11:57.25\00:12:00.25
when the angel came and...
and... and ministered to Him
00:12:00.28\00:12:03.95
in the difficult
time of His life,
00:12:03.99\00:12:05.39
He was able to recompose Himself
and face all the challenges
00:12:05.42\00:12:10.16
ahead of Him with
integrity... with dignity
00:12:10.19\00:12:13.06
not with fear at all.
00:12:13.09\00:12:15.06
As He said to
Peter, "Put away your sword
00:12:15.10\00:12:17.87
I get to call 12
legions of angels. "
00:12:17.90\00:12:20.30
I did the math James,
that's more than 80,000 angels.
00:12:20.34\00:12:24.24
James: Hmmm...
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:12:24.27\00:12:25.61
Lomacang: What is one
sword compared to 80,000 angels
00:12:25.64\00:12:28.04
when one angel killed how many?
00:12:28.08\00:12:29.91
Panel: 185,000.
Lomacang: 185,000.
00:12:29.94\00:12:31.28
Panel: Right.
00:12:31.31\00:12:32.65
Lomacang: The Lord
could have turned that garden
00:12:32.68\00:12:34.28
into a stadium of destruction.
00:12:34.32\00:12:35.95
He says, "Peter, I
don't need your help.
00:12:35.98\00:12:38.85
I could have
called 80,000 angels. "
00:12:38.92\00:12:41.72
He didn't look at
the cross as His destiny,
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.76
He looked at the joy
that was set before Him.
00:12:44.79\00:12:47.70
In every one of our crucibles,
there is a character benefit.
00:12:47.73\00:12:50.97
Look at some of the benefits,
James 1 verses 3 and 4,
00:12:51.00\00:12:54.07
James... James 1 verses 3
and 4, if you get that for us?
00:12:54.14\00:12:57.17
The benefits of the
crucible... here it is,
00:12:57.21\00:13:00.88
James: James 1:3 and 4?
Lomacang: Hmmm... hmmm... yeah.
00:13:00.91\00:13:03.48
James: It says, "Knowing this,
that the trying of your faith
00:13:03.51\00:13:06.58
worketh patience.
00:13:06.61\00:13:07.95
But let patience
have her perfect work,
00:13:07.98\00:13:09.65
that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing. "
00:13:09.68\00:13:12.05
Lomacang: That's right
and so when we look at that...
00:13:12.09\00:13:14.39
that patience that
comes in the difficult trials,
00:13:14.42\00:13:17.06
it gets us to the
place where we are mature...
00:13:17.09\00:13:19.66
the word "perfect" there
means "mature" in the Greek
00:13:19.69\00:13:21.53
and then we are
complete in Christ...
00:13:21.56\00:13:23.60
we're not lacking anything
00:13:23.67\00:13:25.00
and that is why when the
Hebrews face the furnaces...
00:13:25.03\00:13:27.94
what I enjoyed
about that story in...
00:13:27.97\00:13:30.54
I'm reminded when I go
back to it every now and then...
00:13:30.57\00:13:33.54
they didn't even consider,
"Well now, should be go...
00:13:33.58\00:13:36.51
should we not go...
00:13:36.54\00:13:38.65
should we bow...
should we not bow?"
00:13:38.68\00:13:40.45
Their minds were made
up before the test came.
00:13:40.48\00:13:43.15
Panel: Hmmm... amen.
00:13:43.18\00:13:44.52
Lomacang: One of the
best things we can do
00:13:44.55\00:13:45.99
because we know that
these are certainties,
00:13:46.02\00:13:47.82
these crucibles are certainties,
00:13:47.86\00:13:49.32
we've got to make up our
minds long before the test comes
00:13:49.36\00:13:52.79
what our reaction is
going to be when the test comes.
00:13:52.83\00:13:56.20
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:13:56.23\00:13:57.60
Lomacang: Revelation 3 and
verse 10, here is how it works,
00:13:57.63\00:13:59.40
"Because you have kept
My command to persevere,
00:13:59.43\00:14:03.00
I also will keep you
from the hour of trial
00:14:03.04\00:14:06.57
which shall come
upon the whole world,
00:14:06.61\00:14:08.71
to test those who
dwell upon the earth. "
00:14:08.74\00:14:12.28
We will endure when the
crucible comes to the world.
00:14:12.31\00:14:15.92
Shelley: Ooooooh! Panel: Hmmm...
00:14:15.95\00:14:17.29
Shelley: Amen, thank you
for that foundation, John,
00:14:17.32\00:14:19.32
I'm Shelley Quinn and
I have Monday's Lesson:
00:14:19.35\00:14:22.39
The Crucibles of Satan.
00:14:22.42\00:14:25.19
The cosmic conflict
that's going on in this world...
00:14:25.23\00:14:29.03
the war between good
and evil is very real.
00:14:29.06\00:14:32.33
Now, some people
don't take Satan seriously,
00:14:32.37\00:14:35.54
they see him as a
cartoonish character
00:14:35.60\00:14:37.84
with the pitchfork and
the little red tail and all
00:14:37.87\00:14:41.34
but God's Word
takes him very seriously.
00:14:41.38\00:14:45.11
In the New Testament alone,
Satan is mentioned 35 times
00:14:45.15\00:14:49.48
and then Jesus speaks of
him a number of times as well.
00:14:49.52\00:14:54.26
Satan is called the tempter...
the ruler of demons...
00:14:54.29\00:14:57.63
the god of this world...
00:14:57.66\00:14:58.99
the prince of
the powers of air...
00:14:59.03\00:15:00.60
the ruler of
darkness of this age.
00:15:00.63\00:15:02.86
He masquerades as
an angel of light,
00:15:02.90\00:15:05.10
he's the
adversary... the evil one...
00:15:05.13\00:15:07.37
the one who deceives...
00:15:07.44\00:15:08.77
the accuser... the
serpent... the dragon...
00:15:08.80\00:15:10.87
Jesus said... he was a
murderer from the beginning
00:15:10.91\00:15:14.34
and a father of all lies.
00:15:14.38\00:15:15.71
So, we need to
take Satan seriously
00:15:15.74\00:15:18.71
but on the flip
side of that coin,
00:15:18.75\00:15:21.78
some people give
Satan too much credit.
00:15:21.82\00:15:24.75
Let me tell you something...
00:15:24.79\00:15:26.12
God operates by
the power of love.
00:15:26.15\00:15:29.79
Satan operates by
the love of power.
00:15:29.82\00:15:33.73
He wants to get the
worship that's due to God.
00:15:33.80\00:15:37.83
He wants to control...
whereas God gives us free will.
00:15:37.87\00:15:41.47
But here's the point
that I want you to take home,
00:15:41.50\00:15:45.07
Satan is a single being.
00:15:45.11\00:15:49.51
He is not omnipotent...
00:15:49.54\00:15:53.35
he is not omnipresent.
00:15:53.38\00:15:57.12
You know, God is not
threatened at all by Satan
00:15:57.15\00:16:01.32
and so, what
we've got to remember,
00:16:01.36\00:16:03.83
even though Satan
leads this allegiance,
00:16:03.86\00:16:07.06
one-third of the
angels that were cast down...
00:16:07.10\00:16:10.17
that followed
him in rebellion...
00:16:10.20\00:16:11.67
even though he leads this
rebellious group on the earth
00:16:11.73\00:16:16.07
and there are demonic attacks,
00:16:16.10\00:16:18.07
we just have to
remember that... they...
00:16:18.11\00:16:22.18
Satan can tempt us
but he can't force us.
00:16:22.21\00:16:26.82
1st Corinthians 10:13
promises us that we...
00:16:26.85\00:16:31.35
God will not allow us to
be tempted beyond measure,
00:16:31.39\00:16:34.42
He will always
give us a way out.
00:16:34.49\00:16:36.56
1st John 4:4 says,
"Greater is He who is in you,
00:16:36.59\00:16:40.40
than he who is in this world. "
00:16:40.43\00:16:42.93
So, when you've got the
Holy Spirit living inside of you
00:16:42.96\00:16:47.57
you can count on the
fact... Colossians 2:15 said,
00:16:47.64\00:16:51.87
Jesus already disarmed the
principalities at the cross.
00:16:51.91\00:16:56.14
He has defeated Satan
00:16:56.18\00:16:58.05
and He will defeat
him in your life as well.
00:16:58.08\00:17:01.92
Okay, our study
begins with 1st Peter 5:8,
00:17:01.95\00:17:05.75
1st Peter 5:8...
00:17:05.79\00:17:08.42
Peter says, "Be
sober, be vigilant;
00:17:08.46\00:17:11.03
because your
adversary the devil,
00:17:11.06\00:17:13.83
walks around
like a roaring lion,
00:17:13.86\00:17:16.36
seeking whom he may devour. "
00:17:16.40\00:17:21.04
Satan is on the prowl
00:17:21.07\00:17:23.07
and his evil
work on the earth...
00:17:23.10\00:17:25.07
he wants... it's manifested
in death and in destruction
00:17:25.14\00:17:29.38
and suffering.
00:17:29.41\00:17:30.75
He twists God's Word...
00:17:30.78\00:17:32.81
he maligns God's character
00:17:32.85\00:17:34.98
and he perverts the
moral standards of this world.
00:17:35.05\00:17:38.75
When we were in Africa,
00:17:38.82\00:17:41.02
we watched a lion who
was going after a gazelle
00:17:41.09\00:17:45.59
and what they do is
they do everything they can
00:17:45.63\00:17:48.96
first, they go for
the weak or the sickly...
00:17:49.00\00:17:52.27
but the lion will separate
the animal from the herd...
00:17:52.30\00:17:59.01
that's the way they do this.
00:17:59.04\00:18:00.58
See, Satan wants to separate you
from your connection with God.
00:18:00.61\00:18:04.91
He wants to separate you from
your fellowship in the church,
00:18:04.95\00:18:09.22
he is on the
prowl ready to attack...
00:18:09.25\00:18:12.52
he wants to get
your eyes on the problem
00:18:12.55\00:18:15.92
and off the Problem Solver
00:18:15.96\00:18:19.83
so, we need to
take his plot seriously,
00:18:19.86\00:18:24.07
Jesus said... he comes
to steal, kill and destroy.
00:18:24.10\00:18:27.50
We need to take Satan seriously.
00:18:27.54\00:18:29.84
We've got to be on the alert
and I have to say one thing,
00:18:29.87\00:18:33.31
I'm so quick to recognize
in somebody else's life,
00:18:33.34\00:18:36.75
I'll say, "You are going
through a spiritual battle...
00:18:36.78\00:18:40.15
this is a Satanic attack... "
00:18:40.22\00:18:42.02
but when it happens to me,
00:18:42.05\00:18:43.79
it's like, "Oh Lord,
what's wrong with me?
00:18:43.82\00:18:45.85
What?"
00:18:45.89\00:18:47.32
And you know, all of a
sudden I wake up to the fact
00:18:47.36\00:18:49.72
that... wow! I'm in
a spiritual battle...
00:18:49.76\00:18:52.26
this is a Satanic attack.
00:18:52.29\00:18:54.20
1st Peter 5:9, Peter continues,
00:18:54.23\00:18:57.17
he says, "Resist him,
steadfast in the faith,
00:18:57.20\00:19:01.57
knowing that the
same experiences...
00:19:01.60\00:19:05.17
the same sufferings are being
experienced by your brotherhood
00:19:05.21\00:19:09.44
throughout the world. "
00:19:09.51\00:19:11.35
Hey, did you
know your fiery trial
00:19:11.41\00:19:14.22
maybe a little bit
different than mine
00:19:14.28\00:19:17.05
but it's... somebody else in
this world... another believer
00:19:17.09\00:19:20.09
is going through it.
00:19:20.12\00:19:21.46
We have to stand
up against the devil
00:19:21.49\00:19:25.73
and that's what James 4:7 said,
00:19:25.76\00:19:27.86
he says, "Submit to God... "
00:19:27.90\00:19:31.00
that means: line up
under His authority...
00:19:31.03\00:19:34.70
under the authority of His
Word... it's a military term.
00:19:34.74\00:19:37.57
Submit to His
will... resist the devil
00:19:37.61\00:19:42.14
and guess what?
00:19:42.18\00:19:43.51
He will flee from you.
00:19:43.55\00:19:46.48
So, we've got to
give God our allegiance
00:19:46.51\00:19:49.95
and did you know what?
00:19:49.98\00:19:51.32
You are either submitted to God
or you're submitted to Satan.
00:19:51.35\00:19:56.26
Panel: Hmmm...
00:19:56.29\00:19:57.63
Shelley: That's the only
two places we can go, right?
00:19:57.66\00:20:00.20
So, put on the
full armor of God...
00:20:00.23\00:20:02.43
resist the devil.
00:20:02.46\00:20:04.20
It takes a little energy...
00:20:04.27\00:20:06.00
an active
resistance to temptation.
00:20:06.03\00:20:09.60
But 1st Peter 5:10 he goes on
00:20:09.64\00:20:12.41
and here's God's
promise to those who suffer,
00:20:12.44\00:20:15.81
he says, "May
the God of all grace,
00:20:15.84\00:20:20.95
who has called us to His
eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
00:20:20.98\00:20:27.42
after you have
suffered a little while
00:20:27.46\00:20:31.86
may our God perfect, establish,
00:20:31.89\00:20:37.00
strengthen and settle you. "
00:20:37.03\00:20:41.20
You can have
confidence in God's loving care.
00:20:41.24\00:20:47.18
When you were
talking, I was thinking...
00:20:47.21\00:20:49.38
wow! the crucible that we
are in... is the hand of God.
00:20:49.41\00:20:55.35
He is holding us in His hand
00:20:55.38\00:20:59.49
and if we turn to God...
00:20:59.52\00:21:00.86
if we seek Him and
ask the Holy Spirit,
00:21:00.89\00:21:04.79
He will help us to master sin.
00:21:04.83\00:21:07.60
Sin won't be our master anymore
00:21:07.63\00:21:10.33
but we will reign through
Christ Jesus in this life
00:21:10.37\00:21:15.04
and we have to
remember... life is but a vapor.
00:21:15.07\00:21:19.64
You know, sometimes... I
was thinking the other day,
00:21:19.67\00:21:23.04
you look at a tiny little ant...
00:21:23.08\00:21:25.11
I don't know the
lifespan of an ant
00:21:25.15\00:21:27.12
but to him, that life
seems like it's a long time
00:21:27.15\00:21:30.29
and then we just go squish.
00:21:30.32\00:21:32.42
Well, did you know what?
00:21:32.45\00:21:34.46
That's what the
devil's trying to do to us.
00:21:34.49\00:21:35.82
Panel: Yeah.
00:21:35.86\00:21:37.29
Shelley: And we feel like
we're in this eternal battle
00:21:37.33\00:21:41.26
but what God does
is... He uses our trials
00:21:41.30\00:21:47.70
our pain to purify us...
00:21:47.74\00:21:50.17
to conform us to
the image of Jesus.
00:21:50.21\00:21:53.64
So, when you are attacked,
00:21:53.68\00:21:56.31
remember: greater
is He who is in me.
00:21:56.34\00:21:58.98
God is working in you
00:21:59.01\00:22:01.35
through your
struggles to perfect you.
00:22:01.38\00:22:05.25
He's... He's burning the dross
off of your spiritual life,
00:22:05.29\00:22:09.89
you'll come out like pure gold.
00:22:09.92\00:22:12.03
He is faithful to
establish you firm in your faith
00:22:12.06\00:22:18.07
and you know what?
00:22:18.10\00:22:19.43
Jesus said, "My grace
is sufficient for you...
00:22:19.47\00:22:23.77
My power is made
perfect in weakness. "
00:22:23.81\00:22:28.38
So, He promises to strengthen
us through these trials
00:22:28.41\00:22:34.05
and I love Zephaniah 3:17
00:22:34.08\00:22:37.29
that says that our
mighty God will save us.
00:22:37.32\00:22:43.06
He will quiet us with
His love, I love that.
00:22:43.09\00:22:48.83
God quiets us...
00:22:48.86\00:22:50.73
He gives our hearts
rest as we rest in His love
00:22:50.77\00:22:55.40
and it says... He
rejoices over us with singing.
00:22:55.47\00:23:00.08
Is that your picture of God?
00:23:00.11\00:23:01.81
When you're
going through a trial,
00:23:01.84\00:23:03.91
do you see God's everlasting
arms wrapped around you?
00:23:03.95\00:23:08.98
That the crucible... you're
in the mighty hand of God.
00:23:09.02\00:23:14.02
You know, sometimes we
are delivered from our trials
00:23:14.06\00:23:19.36
at some point during our life.
00:23:19.39\00:23:21.76
But some people don't get
released from their suffering
00:23:21.80\00:23:27.20
till death. Panel: Hmmm...
00:23:27.24\00:23:28.57
Shelley: And we
talked about Isaiah 57:1,
00:23:28.60\00:23:31.34
God sometimes
takes the righteous,
00:23:31.37\00:23:34.71
He lets the righteous
die to help them avoid evil.
00:23:34.74\00:23:40.85
But when we get to
heaven, you know what?
00:23:40.88\00:23:44.75
God is promising us...
there will be no more tears,
00:23:44.79\00:23:49.02
no more
sorrow... no more pain...
00:23:49.06\00:23:51.93
no more sighing over sin
00:23:51.96\00:23:54.46
and here's what the
author of this work says,
00:23:54.50\00:24:01.67
he said, "Satan is
at work in many ways
00:24:01.70\00:24:03.77
and although we must
be aware of the reality
00:24:03.81\00:24:06.14
and the power of our enemy,
00:24:06.17\00:24:08.01
we must never be discouraged
00:24:08.04\00:24:09.84
for we must always remember
that Jesus has beaten Satan.
00:24:09.88\00:24:13.55
Satan is a defeated
foe. " Panel: That's right.
00:24:13.58\00:24:15.28
Shelley: "and that as long
as we stay connected with Jesus
00:24:15.32\00:24:18.72
clinging to Him in faith,
00:24:18.75\00:24:20.62
we can never be defeated
either because of the cross.
00:24:20.66\00:24:26.26
Christ's victory is ours. "
00:24:26.29\00:24:28.33
Panel: Amen.
00:24:28.36\00:24:29.70
Lomacang: Thank you so
much Shelley, thank you so much.
00:24:29.73\00:24:31.23
We're just getting
started on this lesson:
00:24:31.27\00:24:33.07
The Crucibles that Come
00:24:33.10\00:24:34.87
so, don't go away,
we'll be right back.
00:24:34.90\00:24:36.84
Music...
00:24:36.87\00:24:42.04
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Lomacang: Well, welcome
back to our Lesson Study...
00:25:11.67\00:25:14.54
Lesson Number 2
00:25:14.58\00:25:15.91
and now we go to Jill on
Tuesday: Crucibles of Sin.
00:25:15.94\00:25:18.31
Jill: Thank you so much
Pastor John and Shelley.
00:25:18.35\00:25:20.92
What an incredible study this
is... I like what you said...
00:25:20.95\00:25:24.62
it's practical... it's relevant
and it's what we need today.
00:25:24.65\00:25:28.29
On Tuesday's Lesson,
we have: Crucibles of Sin
00:25:28.32\00:25:33.23
and to be honest with
you, my lesson's kind of heavy.
00:25:33.26\00:25:36.46
We're going to be
looking at Romans chapter 1
00:25:36.50\00:25:40.47
but before we get to Romans 1,
00:25:40.50\00:25:42.90
I want to talk to you
about "if-then statements"
00:25:42.94\00:25:46.88
in light of the
crucibles of sin.
00:25:46.94\00:25:49.71
Now, if-then
statements are simply
00:25:49.74\00:25:52.48
cause-and-effect statements.
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.68
It's a conditional statement:
00:25:54.72\00:25:56.25
if this happens...
then, this will happen.
00:25:56.28\00:25:59.89
For instance, if you
drive 75 miles an hour
00:25:59.92\00:26:03.49
in a 35-mile-an-hour zone,
00:26:03.53\00:26:05.96
likely, then you will
get a speeding ticket.
00:26:05.99\00:26:10.20
If you smoke for 30 years,
00:26:10.23\00:26:13.84
then there is a very good chance
00:26:13.87\00:26:16.81
that you will
develop lung cancer.
00:26:16.84\00:26:19.84
If you go to a light
switch and you flip it on,
00:26:19.87\00:26:22.18
what's going to happen?
00:26:22.21\00:26:24.61
Then, the light comes on.
00:26:24.65\00:26:26.61
But you know,
"if-then statements"
00:26:26.65\00:26:28.88
apply in the Word of God.
00:26:28.92\00:26:30.39
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:26:30.42\00:26:31.85
Jill: I'm reminded
of Exodus chapter 19...
00:26:31.89\00:26:33.69
this is, of course,
the Sinaitic covenant...
00:26:33.76\00:26:35.56
this is right before the
Ten Commandments are given
00:26:35.59\00:26:38.23
in Exodus chapter 20
00:26:38.26\00:26:39.96
and we see in Exodus 19 verse 5,
00:26:40.00\00:26:42.20
"If you will indeed obey
my voice and keep my covenant,
00:26:42.23\00:26:47.10
then you shall be a special
treasure to Me above all people;
00:26:47.14\00:26:51.34
for all the earth is Mine. "
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.44
Panel: That's right.
00:26:53.48\00:26:55.28
Jill: If you look at the
spiritual if-then connection,
00:26:55.31\00:26:57.68
if you sin... then you will die.
00:26:57.71\00:27:01.78
We see that in Romans 6:23,
"The wages of sin is death... "
00:27:01.82\00:27:06.09
that's an if-then statement...
if you sin... you die
00:27:06.12\00:27:08.72
but it doesn't stop
there, it continues,
00:27:08.76\00:27:10.96
"If you accept God's gift
of salvation, what happens?
00:27:10.99\00:27:14.46
Then, you will live.
00:27:14.50\00:27:17.23
The gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
00:27:17.27\00:27:21.40
1st John 1:9, "If you
confess your sins... "
00:27:21.44\00:27:24.74
what happens?
00:27:24.77\00:27:26.11
Then you experience forgiveness
and cleansing and redemption.
00:27:26.14\00:27:30.75
Panel: That's right.
00:27:30.78\00:27:32.11
Jill: Galatians 6,
"If you sow to the flesh,
00:27:32.15\00:27:34.98
then, you reap corruption. "
00:27:35.02\00:27:37.62
The contrast... if
you sow to the spirit,
00:27:37.65\00:27:40.86
then you reap eternal life.
00:27:40.89\00:27:43.86
Proverbs 22 verse 8,
00:27:43.89\00:27:45.99
"If you sow iniquity,
then you will reap sorrow. "
00:27:46.03\00:27:51.43
2nd Corinthians 9:6,
00:27:51.47\00:27:53.67
"If you sow sparingly,
then you will reap sparingly,
00:27:53.70\00:27:57.97
if you sow bountifully,
00:27:58.01\00:27:59.67
then you will
reap bountifully. "
00:27:59.71\00:28:02.31
James 3:18, "If you sow peace,
00:28:02.34\00:28:05.41
you will reap righteousness. "
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.82
Hosea 10:12, "If
you sow righteousness,
00:28:07.85\00:28:11.55
you will reap mercy. "
00:28:11.59\00:28:13.36
Hosea 8:7, "If
you sow to the wind,
00:28:13.39\00:28:17.46
you will reap the whirlwind. "
00:28:17.49\00:28:20.33
So, what are
if-then statements...
00:28:20.36\00:28:23.30
this cause and effect
that we see in Scripture,
00:28:23.33\00:28:25.60
what does that have to
do with the crucible of sin?
00:28:25.63\00:28:28.17
You cannot outwit God.
00:28:28.20\00:28:31.37
You cannot dally with sin
without expecting consequences.
00:28:31.41\00:28:38.25
That's what we see
in Romans chapter 1.
00:28:38.28\00:28:41.42
We're going to look at Romans 1,
00:28:41.45\00:28:43.02
I've never looked
at Romans 1 this way
00:28:43.05\00:28:45.19
with the if-then
principle intact,
00:28:45.22\00:28:47.29
so let's look at it.
00:28:47.36\00:28:48.69
Romans chapter 1, we're
picking it up in verse 18,
00:28:48.72\00:28:51.69
"For the wrath of God... "
this is the judgment of God
00:28:51.73\00:28:54.16
that settled
anger opposition of God,
00:28:54.20\00:28:56.46
it's revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness
00:28:56.50\00:28:59.97
and unrighteousness of men,
00:29:00.00\00:29:01.34
who suppressed the
truth in unrighteousness. "
00:29:01.37\00:29:04.14
God is literally...
we see this in Romans 1,
00:29:04.17\00:29:07.28
allowing humanity to
reap what we have sown.
00:29:07.31\00:29:12.35
Why is that?
00:29:12.38\00:29:13.72
We experience the
consequences of our action
00:29:13.75\00:29:17.25
because God
wants us to understand
00:29:17.29\00:29:19.19
how deeply damaging sin is...
00:29:19.22\00:29:21.72
how deeply offensive sin is
to the heart and mind of God.
00:29:21.76\00:29:27.03
So, let's look at
the if-then statements
00:29:27.10\00:29:30.33
from Romans 1... we
start in Romans 1:21,
00:29:30.37\00:29:33.60
"because although they knew God,
00:29:33.64\00:29:36.71
they did not glorify Him
as God, nor were thankful,
00:29:36.74\00:29:40.24
but became futile
in their thoughts,
00:29:40.28\00:29:43.04
and their foolish
hearts were darkened. "
00:29:43.08\00:29:46.82
So, if we refuse
to recognize God...
00:29:46.85\00:29:50.99
if we refuse to recognize
Him as Creator, what happens?
00:29:51.02\00:29:55.52
We become... then we
become futile in our thoughts
00:29:55.56\00:30:00.00
and our hearts and
minds become darkened.
00:30:00.03\00:30:04.33
Futile in their thoughts
is connected with idolatry
00:30:04.37\00:30:08.07
in the Greek
00:30:08.10\00:30:09.70
and we're going to see
this as we see this list...
00:30:09.74\00:30:13.17
this progression of sin.
00:30:13.21\00:30:15.14
We see idolatry
really come to the forefront.
00:30:15.18\00:30:17.18
The next verse, Romans 1:22,
00:30:17.21\00:30:19.51
"Professing to be
wise, they became fools. "
00:30:19.55\00:30:23.79
So, what's our
if-then connection here?
00:30:23.82\00:30:25.75
If we claim to be wise
in human understanding...
00:30:25.79\00:30:29.79
if we follow psychology...
00:30:29.82\00:30:33.29
if we follow evolution...
00:30:33.33\00:30:35.66
if we follow humanism...
00:30:35.70\00:30:37.87
if we follow rationalism...
00:30:37.90\00:30:42.00
if we follow secularism...
00:30:42.04\00:30:43.84
if we follow new-age
beliefs, then we become fools.
00:30:43.87\00:30:49.41
The next verse... verse 23...
00:30:49.44\00:30:51.21
"And changed the glory
of the incorruptible God
00:30:51.25\00:30:54.98
into an image made
like corruptible man...
00:30:55.02\00:30:57.82
and birds and four-footed
animals and creeping things. "
00:30:57.85\00:31:00.89
This is our "if" statement.
00:31:00.92\00:31:02.26
If we substitute human
creativity and false gods
00:31:02.29\00:31:07.33
for the Creator God's majesty,
00:31:07.36\00:31:09.73
basically, if we
indulge in idolatry,
00:31:09.76\00:31:13.30
if we step into idolatry,
00:31:13.34\00:31:15.90
what happens then? Verse 24,
00:31:15.94\00:31:18.44
"Then God will give
them up to uncleanness,
00:31:18.47\00:31:23.28
in the lust of their hearts,
00:31:23.31\00:31:25.08
to dishonor their
bodies among themselves. "
00:31:25.11\00:31:27.88
So, if we engage
in this idolatry,
00:31:27.92\00:31:30.75
then the consequences come
and we see this close connection
00:31:30.79\00:31:34.82
begin to develop
between idolatry and sexual sin.
00:31:34.86\00:31:39.26
God orchestrates events so that
we see the if-then connection.
00:31:39.29\00:31:45.57
We see the consequences work out
00:31:45.60\00:31:48.27
of us walking into
the crucible of sin.
00:31:48.30\00:31:52.11
Let's keep going... verse 25,
00:31:52.14\00:31:53.54
"Who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie,
00:31:53.58\00:31:55.94
and worshiped and
served the creature
00:31:55.98\00:31:58.51
rather than the Creator,
who is blessed forever? "
00:31:58.55\00:32:01.15
This is Pantheism...
00:32:01.18\00:32:02.72
if we engage in Pantheism...
00:32:02.75\00:32:04.42
if we worship the
creature instead of the Creator,
00:32:04.45\00:32:08.12
what happens? Verses 26 and 27,
00:32:08.16\00:32:10.89
"For this reason God
gave them up to vile passions.
00:32:10.93\00:32:14.73
For even their women
exchanged the natural use
00:32:14.76\00:32:17.37
for what is against nature.
00:32:17.40\00:32:18.73
Likewise also the men, leaving
the natural use of the woman,
00:32:18.77\00:32:22.27
burned in their
lust for one another,
00:32:22.30\00:32:25.11
men with men
committing what is shameful,
00:32:25.14\00:32:27.44
and receiving in themselves
the penalty of their error
00:32:27.48\00:32:30.31
which was due. "
00:32:30.35\00:32:32.01
So, we see again this connection
between idolatry and sexual sin.
00:32:32.05\00:32:36.62
We see immoral activity...
00:32:36.65\00:32:38.79
we see homosexuality...
00:32:38.82\00:32:40.92
We see fornication...
00:32:40.96\00:32:42.29
we see bestiality.
00:32:42.42\00:32:44.23
If we engage in
unnatural sexual activities,
00:32:44.26\00:32:47.96
the natural consequence is what?
00:32:48.00\00:32:49.60
Disease and death.
00:32:49.63\00:32:52.13
That is a crucible of sin.
00:32:52.17\00:32:55.07
That is the effect of
the if-then crucible of sin.
00:32:55.10\00:33:01.31
Panel: That's
right. Jill: Verse 28,
00:33:01.38\00:33:02.71
"Even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge,
00:33:02.74\00:33:06.58
God gave them
over to a debased mind,
00:33:06.61\00:33:09.72
to do those things
which were not fitting... "
00:33:09.75\00:33:12.02
If we refuse to remember God,
00:33:12.05\00:33:15.02
then we receive a
debased and carnal mind
00:33:15.06\00:33:18.79
and there's a list of
sins which is incredible.
00:33:18.83\00:33:20.93
Verses 29 through 31,
00:33:20.96\00:33:23.13
"unrighteousness,
sexual immorality,
00:33:23.16\00:33:25.17
wickedness, covetousness,
00:33:25.20\00:33:26.53
maliciousness; full of envy,
00:33:26.57\00:33:27.90
murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness... "
00:33:27.94\00:33:29.84
it's heavy...
00:33:29.87\00:33:31.67
backbiters, haters of
God, violent, proud, boasters,
00:33:31.71\00:33:36.14
inventors of evil things,
00:33:36.18\00:33:37.51
disobedient to parents,
00:33:37.55\00:33:38.88
undiscerning, untrustworthy,
00:33:38.91\00:33:40.25
unloving,
unforgiving, unmerciful. "
00:33:40.28\00:33:42.22
This is the "Then List" that
happens if we step into sin.
00:33:42.25\00:33:49.72
The last "then" the
final event is verse 32,
00:33:49.76\00:33:53.60
"who, knowing the
righteous judgment of God,
00:33:53.63\00:33:56.00
that those who practice such
things are deserving of death,
00:33:56.03\00:33:59.03
not only do the same
00:33:59.07\00:34:00.94
but also will approve of
those who practice them. "
00:34:00.97\00:34:03.91
In other words, we know better
00:34:03.94\00:34:07.08
and not only do we not
do what we know to be right,
00:34:07.11\00:34:10.95
we approve and
celebrate other people
00:34:10.98\00:34:14.18
who walk in wickedness.
00:34:14.22\00:34:16.79
A Christian has
to follow after God
00:34:16.82\00:34:19.45
and encourage other
people to follow God.
00:34:19.49\00:34:22.26
The people in
Romans 1 follow after sin
00:34:22.29\00:34:27.63
and encourage other people to
step into the crucible of sin.
00:34:27.66\00:34:33.54
So, I don't want
to leave you there.
00:34:33.57\00:34:35.67
I want to leave you with hope.
00:34:35.70\00:34:37.04
If you are in the
crucible of sin right now,
00:34:37.07\00:34:40.74
if you're in the "then"
consequences of the "if"
00:34:40.78\00:34:44.61
where you stepped into sin,
00:34:44.65\00:34:46.82
God doesn't have
to leave you there.
00:34:46.85\00:34:48.78
Know that the "if-then" in
the Scripture applies to you.
00:34:48.82\00:34:53.15
If you confess, He will forgive.
00:34:53.19\00:34:55.82
He will cleanse
and make you holy.
00:34:55.86\00:34:58.56
If you give your heart to God,
00:34:58.59\00:35:01.23
He will transform you
by the power of His Spirit.
00:35:01.26\00:35:07.07
You don't have to walk in
the "then" consequences of sin,
00:35:07.10\00:35:10.24
because you can walk
in the "then" consequences
00:35:10.27\00:35:13.81
of the newness of
life and restoration,
00:35:13.84\00:35:16.88
so, make a choice...
"if" choose Jesus today.
00:35:16.91\00:35:20.52
Panel: Hmmm...
Lomacang: Amen, thank you, Jill.
00:35:20.55\00:35:22.15
Ryan: This has
been a powerful lesson.
00:35:22.18\00:35:24.85
Wow! All right,
my name is Ryan Day
00:35:24.89\00:35:28.22
and I have
Wednesday's Lesson entitled:
00:35:28.26\00:35:30.49
Crucibles of Purification.
00:35:30.53\00:35:33.03
God wants to purify us.
00:35:33.06\00:35:34.96
God sometimes allows us
to fall into these crucibles
00:35:35.00\00:35:38.80
or experience these crucibles
for the purpose of purifying us,
00:35:38.83\00:35:42.60
for the purpose of setting us
on the right path to redemption
00:35:42.64\00:35:45.97
and I love the way that
the Lesson kind of begins
00:35:46.01\00:35:49.38
because it starts with a
quote from one of mine...
00:35:49.41\00:35:51.81
one of mine and Pastor
Lomacang' s favorite writers:
00:35:51.85\00:35:54.38
Oswald Chambers,
00:35:54.42\00:35:55.75
My Utmost for His
Highest, page 271,
00:35:55.78\00:35:58.49
Pastor, here's a
sermon, get ready for it.
00:35:58.52\00:35:59.85
Lomacang: Okay.
00:35:59.89\00:36:01.22
Ryan: I love this... I love this
quote because it's powerful.
00:36:01.26\00:36:02.59
Again, "My
Utmost for His Highest"
00:36:02.62\00:36:04.73
page 271, notice what this says,
00:36:04.79\00:36:07.06
"If the Spirit of God brings
to your mind a word of the Lord
00:36:07.10\00:36:11.30
that hurts you,
00:36:11.33\00:36:12.80
you can be sure that
there is something in you
00:36:12.83\00:36:16.00
that He wants to hurt to
the point of its death. "
00:36:16.04\00:36:18.47
Panel: Hmmm...
Lomacang: That's right.
00:36:18.51\00:36:20.04
Ryan: That's
powerful. Lomacang: Right.
00:36:20.08\00:36:21.41
Ryan: That's powerful... it's
not that God wants to hurt you,
00:36:21.44\00:36:23.88
but there's something in
you that He wants to hurt
00:36:23.91\00:36:26.92
to the point of its death.
00:36:26.95\00:36:28.58
He wants to lay it on the altar
and purge it from your life
00:36:28.62\00:36:31.32
as we have learned...
as we have seen so far...
00:36:31.35\00:36:33.46
God is in the
business of restoration.
00:36:33.49\00:36:35.36
God is in the
business of renovating...
00:36:35.42\00:36:37.26
doing an overhaul of your life
00:36:37.29\00:36:39.16
in order to
prepare us for heaven
00:36:39.19\00:36:40.76
and that's what this Lesson...
00:36:40.80\00:36:42.26
Lesson... Wednesday's Lesson:
00:36:42.30\00:36:43.70
Crucibles for
Purification is all about.
00:36:43.73\00:36:46.53
We read from
Jeremiah chapter 9 verse 7,
00:36:46.57\00:36:49.30
we see that through
the history of Israel...
00:36:49.34\00:36:51.97
we see that Israel's story is...
is one of constant crucibles
00:36:52.04\00:36:55.44
and we read there in
Jeremiah chapter 9 and verse 7
00:36:55.48\00:36:58.15
speaking of the
children of Israel,
00:36:58.98\00:37:00.32
it says, "Therefore
thus says the LORD of hosts:
00:37:00.35\00:37:02.65
'Behold, I will
refine them and try them;
00:37:02.68\00:37:06.02
for how shall I deal with
the daughter of My people?"
00:37:06.05\00:37:09.52
Now, we're going to come back to
these passage in just a moment
00:37:09.56\00:37:12.26
but it's bringing out the fact
that Israel's story as I said
00:37:12.29\00:37:14.93
is one of constant crucibles.
00:37:14.96\00:37:16.87
They were a
stubborn-and- hardened-of-heart
00:37:16.90\00:37:19.40
kind of people.
00:37:19.50\00:37:20.84
They were very hardened of heart
00:37:20.87\00:37:22.20
that God had to go to
the extremes in times...
00:37:22.24\00:37:24.14
what we might
consider extremes in times
00:37:24.17\00:37:26.27
and attempt to reach them
00:37:26.31\00:37:27.74
and you know, we
are really no different.
00:37:27.78\00:37:30.78
I hear people all
the time sometimes say,
00:37:30.81\00:37:32.58
"Well, you know, I
read the story of Israel
00:37:32.61\00:37:34.45
and I think to myself,
00:37:34.48\00:37:35.82
'How could these
people not have followed God?
00:37:35.85\00:37:37.29
how could these people not
have believed and trusted in Him
00:37:37.32\00:37:40.32
after seeing all
those mighty things?'"
00:37:40.36\00:37:41.79
We ain't no different,
00:37:41.82\00:37:43.16
we... we're no
different than them,
00:37:43.19\00:37:44.89
we're just like Israel at times
00:37:45.06\00:37:46.39
and God has to put us or
allow us to go through crucibles
00:37:46.43\00:37:49.03
in order to get
our attention as well.
00:37:49.06\00:37:50.83
You know, the
Lesson brought out...
00:37:50.87\00:37:52.50
was asking, "You know,
what are some of the crucibles
00:37:52.53\00:37:54.20
or some of the
moments in your life
00:37:54.24\00:37:55.57
that you might
have experienced?"
00:37:55.60\00:37:56.94
I remember early on in
my experience, you know,
00:37:56.97\00:37:58.84
I had one leg in the
church and one leg in the world
00:37:58.87\00:38:01.34
and I was just, you
know, I was a... a pastor's son
00:38:01.41\00:38:03.85
and a... you know, just
kind of playing the role...
00:38:03.88\00:38:06.28
putting on the
mask at different times
00:38:06.31\00:38:08.18
of whatever crowd I was around
00:38:08.22\00:38:09.68
and God wanted
to get my attention,
00:38:09.72\00:38:11.65
He saw... He sees
every single one of us,
00:38:11.69\00:38:14.26
we are valuable to Him
and He will do anything...
00:38:14.32\00:38:17.03
He will do
everything He can to reach us
00:38:17.09\00:38:19.19
and He allowed me on
two different occasions
00:38:19.23\00:38:21.26
to end up in two different...
on separate occasions
00:38:21.30\00:38:23.83
emergency surgeries
that almost claimed my life
00:38:23.87\00:38:26.33
and... and... and He was trying
to wake me up and shake me
00:38:26.37\00:38:29.24
and say, "Son,
I want to use you,
00:38:29.27\00:38:30.71
I want to transform your life
00:38:30.74\00:38:32.07
but I need you to wake up
and see your need of Me... "
00:38:32.11\00:38:34.54
and... and He was able to
do that but I can tell you,
00:38:34.58\00:38:37.18
"Does that mean the crucible
stopped once God asked us?"
00:38:37.21\00:38:39.58
You know, even though
we may profess our belief
00:38:39.61\00:38:41.92
and profess our...
our dedication to Him
00:38:41.98\00:38:44.09
and... and we now claim Him
as Lord and Savior or our life,
00:38:44.15\00:38:47.29
there are some
character flaws in us
00:38:47.32\00:38:49.36
that need to be burned out...
00:38:49.42\00:38:50.76
they need to be purged out
00:38:50.79\00:38:52.13
and so, often times, even
along our path as we're learning
00:38:52.16\00:38:55.10
and as we're going to
continue to learn in this study,
00:38:55.13\00:38:57.17
God will allow us to
fall into certain crucibles
00:38:57.20\00:39:01.34
or to be tested... to be tried
00:39:01.37\00:39:02.70
in order to prepare
us and shape and mold us
00:39:02.74\00:39:05.61
as He is the potter
and we are the clay...
00:39:05.64\00:39:08.68
He's working on us to prepare us
00:39:08.71\00:39:10.11
as vessels of
honor for His kingdom
00:39:10.15\00:39:11.51
and so, you know for me,
just... just kind of, you know,
00:39:11.55\00:39:15.12
telling off on myself here...
00:39:15.15\00:39:16.79
for me... I actually think
I've said this in a previous
00:39:16.82\00:39:20.69
Program... I have... I
struggle with patience...
00:39:20.72\00:39:23.76
that's my thing...
00:39:23.79\00:39:25.36
you know, that's one of
the fruits of the Spirit,
00:39:25.39\00:39:26.76
God wants us to have patience...
00:39:26.80\00:39:28.13
I struggle in that area
00:39:28.16\00:39:29.50
and I find myself...
it's the story of my life.
00:39:29.53\00:39:32.60
I find myself in
crucibles that I hate to be in
00:39:32.63\00:39:35.60
but I think God
allows me to be in them often
00:39:35.64\00:39:38.51
because He's wanting to say,
"Hey Ryan, here's an opportunity
00:39:38.54\00:39:41.01
for you to learn patience. "
00:39:41.04\00:39:42.38
Just example, you know,
long lines at the grocery store,
00:39:42.41\00:39:44.45
oh, Lord have mercy on me.
00:39:44.48\00:39:45.95
You know, I'll sometimes
go to Walmart and I'll find...
00:39:46.01\00:39:48.02
I'll look for that short line
00:39:48.25\00:39:49.75
and I'll think, "Ah, no...
no time for long lines today. "
00:39:49.78\00:39:51.75
and then look for that
short line and I'm perusing...
00:39:51.79\00:39:53.62
I'll find the
shortest line and think,
00:39:53.66\00:39:55.09
"Ha ha, I'm going to get
out before all these people... "
00:39:55.12\00:39:57.06
and I promise you,
every time the one I choose
00:39:57.09\00:39:59.09
is the one where they have
some type of electrical problem
00:39:59.13\00:40:01.63
or some type of, you know,
problem with something going on
00:40:01.66\00:40:04.10
and then I have
to stand there longer
00:40:04.13\00:40:05.47
and watch all the other lines...
00:40:05.50\00:40:06.84
they were longer
than the one I chose...
00:40:06.87\00:40:08.40
keep going by... keep
going by, keep going by...
00:40:08.44\00:40:10.01
in those moments I think those
are moments when the Lord says,
00:40:10.04\00:40:12.64
"Slow down... breathe...
learn patience, you know,
00:40:12.67\00:40:15.18
where are you... where
are you hurrying off to?"
00:40:15.24\00:40:17.65
but yet, that's...
that's one of my flaws...
00:40:17.68\00:40:20.08
whether it's behind slow
drivers driving on the road...
00:40:20.12\00:40:22.38
I used to speed... and the
Lord taught me not to speed
00:40:22.42\00:40:24.69
but even sometimes
I'll get behind someone
00:40:24.72\00:40:26.45
who's doing
speed limit and think,
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.02
"Oh, if you could just go five
miles per hour little more... "
00:40:28.06\00:40:30.89
you know, little bit faster...
and I'm like... ooooh...
00:40:30.93\00:40:32.86
you know, I'm not a
honker or anything like that
00:40:32.89\00:40:35.16
but still, I find
myself saying, "Lord, oooooh...
00:40:35.20\00:40:37.47
give me
patience, Lord, help me. "
00:40:37.50\00:40:39.90
You know, God is preparing
00:40:39.93\00:40:41.27
and sometimes...
00:40:41.30\00:40:42.64
sometimes the Lord will allow
us to fall into crucibles...
00:40:42.67\00:40:46.24
times of trying...
times of testing...
00:40:46.27\00:40:48.64
He will allow us to go through,
00:40:48.68\00:40:50.61
not that it's His
plan for this to happen,
00:40:50.65\00:40:52.25
but sometimes the
enemy... as we have learned...
00:40:52.28\00:40:54.52
will place people in your life
and around your life to test you
00:40:54.55\00:40:57.35
and God will allow
you to go through that
00:40:57.39\00:40:59.35
and sometimes it comes
from the brethren around you.
00:40:59.39\00:41:01.82
Sometimes it comes
from your innermost circle
00:41:01.86\00:41:04.99
that you may not perceive
00:41:05.03\00:41:06.49
and you will go through
a testing and a trying time
00:41:06.53\00:41:09.03
whether it be your character...
00:41:09.06\00:41:10.53
your name or whatever it
is that you're going through,
00:41:10.57\00:41:12.80
God would allow you to be tried
00:41:12.83\00:41:14.50
and that's what we're basically
reading here in Jeremiah
00:41:14.54\00:41:17.97
chapter 9... where
we just read verse 7,
00:41:18.01\00:41:20.08
we'll read that
again, Jeremiah chapter 9,
00:41:20.11\00:41:22.08
I'm going to read a few of these
verses through to verse 16,
00:41:22.11\00:41:24.15
we're not going to
read the whole passage
00:41:24.18\00:41:25.85
but listen...
just listen to how...
00:41:25.88\00:41:27.62
I mean, this is...
this is tough to read
00:41:27.65\00:41:29.02
because God as the parent...
He wants to reach His children
00:41:29.05\00:41:32.95
but they're just not getting it
00:41:33.02\00:41:34.89
and so, now He has to
sometimes take extreme measures
00:41:34.92\00:41:37.63
and just say, "I will do
what it takes to get you...
00:41:37.66\00:41:40.30
I would do what it
takes to redeem you... "
00:41:40.33\00:41:41.93
and so, we see here in Jeremiah
chapter 9 beginning with verse 7
00:41:41.96\00:41:44.87
we read it earlier but He says,
00:41:44.90\00:41:46.40
"Therefore thus
says the Lord of hosts:
00:41:46.43\00:41:48.14
'Behold, I will
refine them and try them;
00:41:48.17\00:41:50.91
for how shall I deal with
the daughter of My people?"
00:41:50.94\00:41:54.01
and then, on to verse 8,
00:41:54.04\00:41:55.41
"Their tongue is
an arrow shot out;
00:41:55.44\00:41:57.81
it speaks deceit;
00:41:57.85\00:41:59.65
one speaks peaceably to
his neighbor with his mouth,
00:41:59.68\00:42:02.92
but in his heart
he lies in wait. "
00:42:02.95\00:42:05.62
That's
horrible... and then verse 9,
00:42:05.65\00:42:07.69
"Shall I not punish them for
these things?" says the Lord.
00:42:07.72\00:42:10.69
"Shall I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?"
00:42:10.73\00:42:14.46
Skipping down to verse 11,
00:42:14.50\00:42:16.20
He says, "I will make
Jerusalem a heap of ruins,
00:42:16.23\00:42:18.87
a den of jackals.
00:42:18.90\00:42:20.64
I will make the
cities of Judah desolate
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.34
without an inhabitant. "
00:42:23.37\00:42:25.17
And then we go
on down to verse 13,
00:42:25.21\00:42:27.04
"And the Lord said,
00:42:27.08\00:42:28.44
'Because they have forsaken
My law which I set before them,
00:42:28.48\00:42:31.98
and have not obeyed My voice,
nor walked according to it,
00:42:32.01\00:42:35.48
but they have walked
according to the dictates
00:42:35.52\00:42:38.19
of their own hearts
and after the Baals,
00:42:38.22\00:42:41.62
which their
fathers taught them... '"
00:42:41.66\00:42:43.63
verse 15,
00:42:43.66\00:42:44.99
"Therefore thus says the Lord
of hosts, the God of Israel:
00:42:45.03\00:42:48.53
'Behold, I will feed them,
this people, with wormwood,
00:42:48.56\00:42:52.23
and give them
water of gall to drink.
00:42:52.27\00:42:54.80
I will scatter them
also among the Gentiles,
00:42:54.84\00:42:57.87
whom neither they nor
their fathers have known.
00:42:57.91\00:43:00.78
And I will send
a sword after them
00:43:00.81\00:43:03.48
until I have consumed them. '"
00:43:03.51\00:43:05.98
You know, those are some harsh
difficult words to deal with
00:43:06.01\00:43:08.92
right there, it seems...
00:43:08.95\00:43:10.29
from our perspective, it's like,
"Man, God, calm down. " Right?
00:43:10.32\00:43:13.32
"It's okay, we're
going to get through this. "
00:43:13.36\00:43:14.69
The Lord's like, "No, this... "
00:43:14.72\00:43:16.16
this is... we're talking about
more than 400... excuse me, yes,
00:43:16.19\00:43:20.73
more than 800
years at this point
00:43:20.76\00:43:22.66
from the time of Mount
Sinai all the way to this point,
00:43:22.73\00:43:25.83
we're talking about more
than 840 years of rebellion...
00:43:25.87\00:43:28.90
a constant rebellion and
God is just working with them...
00:43:28.94\00:43:31.77
working with them,
00:43:31.81\00:43:33.14
trying to prepare them for
His original covenant intent
00:43:33.17\00:43:36.51
which... for them to
be the beacon of light
00:43:36.54\00:43:38.65
to the rest of the world
but yet that is not the case,
00:43:38.68\00:43:41.28
that's not what
we're seeing here.
00:43:41.32\00:43:42.65
God often allows us
to fall in those trials
00:43:42.68\00:43:45.69
and sometimes He has to take
extreme measures to receive us
00:43:45.75\00:43:49.12
and when I read this
passage in Jeremiah chapter 9,
00:43:49.16\00:43:52.56
I could remember back to
my parents disciplining me
00:43:52.59\00:43:55.96
as a child. You
know I... as an adult
00:43:56.00\00:43:59.50
I praise God for all
those whopping's I got as a kid.
00:43:59.53\00:44:02.10
I am not one of
those kids growing up like,
00:44:02.14\00:44:04.54
"Aaaah, you know,
my parents abused me
00:44:04.57\00:44:05.91
and they whipped me. "
00:44:05.94\00:44:07.28
You know, the
truth of the matter is,
00:44:07.31\00:44:08.64
there are those kids
that are good kids...
00:44:08.68\00:44:10.01
you know, I think of
the Vandervolts' kids, Liam,
00:44:10.05\00:44:12.38
Little Liam...
he's such a good kid.
00:44:12.41\00:44:13.75
I think he received one
whopping his whole life,
00:44:13.78\00:44:15.75
it was... I was
on a weekly basis,
00:44:15.78\00:44:18.42
I was one of them kids that got
whopping's on a weekly basis,
00:44:18.45\00:44:20.36
I needed them...
00:44:20.39\00:44:21.72
there's other kids like Liam
that don't need them, right,
00:44:21.76\00:44:24.76
but the truth of the matter
is, God knows what we need,
00:44:24.79\00:44:26.86
He knows that with some of us,
He has to take extreme measures
00:44:26.90\00:44:30.20
and with others,
maybe not so much
00:44:30.23\00:44:31.77
because some of us
listen and some of us don't
00:44:31.80\00:44:34.40
and the truth of the
matter is, God wants to...
00:44:34.44\00:44:37.01
He wants to prepare us...
00:44:37.07\00:44:38.57
He wants to, you know,
00:44:38.61\00:44:40.04
He wants us to be
prepared for His Kingdom.
00:44:40.08\00:44:42.84
He loves us...
00:44:42.88\00:44:44.35
He doesn't want us to
fall into these trials
00:44:44.38\00:44:45.85
and be caught by
the snares of the enemy
00:44:45.88\00:44:48.18
and float off into the abyss
to where we're forever lost,
00:44:48.22\00:44:51.32
He will go to the utmost...
00:44:51.35\00:44:53.36
He will go wherever...
wherever He can to save us.
00:44:53.42\00:44:56.62
That's why I love that song,
00:44:56.66\00:44:58.46
I love the worship song...
ah... ah... what's it called?
00:44:58.49\00:45:02.36
"Reckless love" I love that...
00:45:02.43\00:45:05.13
Reckless love... "There's
no mountain you won't climb up,
00:45:05.17\00:45:08.57
there's no mountain
you won't climb up...
00:45:08.60\00:45:11.74
shadow you won't...
mmm... coming after me... "
00:45:11.77\00:45:14.18
I can't remember
the words but anyway,
00:45:14.21\00:45:15.71
"There's no wall
you won't kick down...
00:45:15.74\00:45:17.21
lie you won't tear
down coming after me... "
00:45:17.25\00:45:20.25
God is coming after you,
He is... He is seeking you,
00:45:20.28\00:45:23.15
He is running for you,
He wants to win your heart
00:45:23.18\00:45:25.99
and He will do all that He can
even if it means to purify...
00:45:26.05\00:45:29.12
purification means to be
brought about by a crucible
00:45:29.16\00:45:31.79
that He would allow us
to go into that... for sure.
00:45:31.83\00:45:34.40
Panel: Amen...
amen. Ryan: Absolutely.
00:45:34.43\00:45:35.76
James: Thank you Ryan, that...
00:45:35.80\00:45:37.13
yeah, that's so
powerful, you know,
00:45:37.17\00:45:39.13
the... the issue
is: trusting God.
00:45:39.17\00:45:41.14
My name is James Rafferty
and I have the Thursday's Lesson
00:45:41.17\00:45:43.67
which is: Crucibles of Maturity
00:45:43.71\00:45:45.37
and it's this idea
that we come to the place
00:45:45.41\00:45:47.38
where we actually
start trusting God.
00:45:47.41\00:45:49.14
We start trusting God in
the crucibles that we go through
00:45:49.18\00:45:53.05
and Paul came to that place.
00:45:53.08\00:45:54.92
We're looking in
Thursday's Lesson
00:45:54.95\00:45:57.12
in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12.
00:45:57.19\00:45:58.55
We're going to be looking
at verses 7 through verse 10
00:45:58.59\00:46:01.72
but we'll just
start with verse 7.
00:46:01.79\00:46:03.12
It says here, "Lest...
00:46:03.16\00:46:04.69
And lest I should be
exalted above my measure...
00:46:04.73\00:46:07.20
above measure by the
abundance of revelations,
00:46:07.23\00:46:09.66
a thorn in the
flesh was given to me,
00:46:09.70\00:46:12.90
a messenger of
Satan to buffet me,
00:46:12.93\00:46:14.34
lest I should be
exalted above measure. "
00:46:14.37\00:46:16.40
And he emphasizes that twice.
00:46:16.44\00:46:18.14
He tells us why
this is happening
00:46:18.17\00:46:20.14
and that is the
crucible of maturity.
00:46:20.18\00:46:23.11
The crucible of maturity is...
00:46:23.14\00:46:24.48
is when you come to the
place where you no longer say,
00:46:24.51\00:46:26.85
"Why is this happening to me?"
00:46:26.88\00:46:28.35
"How come this is... "
you know, "my experience?
00:46:28.38\00:46:30.89
if the Lord is leading
me, what in the world...?"
00:46:30.92\00:46:33.42
You say, "Lest I should
be exalted above measure. "
00:46:33.46\00:46:36.56
Let me repeat that now,
00:46:36.59\00:46:37.93
"Lest I should be
exalted above measure... "
00:46:37.96\00:46:39.86
that's why God has
allowed this to happen
00:46:39.89\00:46:42.50
and it... it
really is powerful because
00:46:42.53\00:46:44.83
when you think about maturity...
00:46:44.87\00:46:46.74
when you think about faith...
00:46:46.80\00:46:48.60
I remember a
preacher once said...
00:46:48.64\00:46:50.61
talking to someone who was sick
00:46:50.67\00:46:52.57
and they wanted
prayer for healing
00:46:52.61\00:46:54.48
and the preacher
asked the question,
00:46:54.51\00:46:56.28
"Do you have enough
faith not to be healed?"
00:46:56.31\00:46:58.21
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... right...
00:46:58.25\00:46:59.58
James: "Where is
your level of maturity?"
00:46:59.61\00:47:01.65
You know, Elisha died of a
terrible sickness we're told
00:47:01.75\00:47:05.39
in 2nd Kings
chapter 13 and verse 14,
00:47:05.42\00:47:08.02
he had the faith
not to be healed.
00:47:08.06\00:47:10.66
He still kept
his trust in God...
00:47:10.69\00:47:12.19
He was faithful
till the very end,
00:47:12.23\00:47:13.66
in fact, he was in
ministry to the very end.
00:47:13.70\00:47:15.03
Panel: That's right.
00:47:15.06\00:47:16.40
James: He was actually
ministering to the king
00:47:16.43\00:47:17.77
and encouraging his faith,
00:47:17.80\00:47:19.13
saying, "Hey, hit
those arrows on the ground
00:47:19.17\00:47:20.50
seven, eight, nine times...
not just two or three times. "
00:47:20.54\00:47:23.10
And this is while he's
dying of a terrible disease.
00:47:23.14\00:47:26.14
So, you know, when you...
00:47:26.17\00:47:27.78
when you think about,
for example, gardening.
00:47:27.81\00:47:29.54
We're developing an
orchard right now...
00:47:29.58\00:47:31.65
you know, you get out
there and you... you plant trees
00:47:31.68\00:47:34.95
and, of course,
you prune them up
00:47:34.98\00:47:36.35
and there's a big difference
between pruning a tree
00:47:36.38\00:47:38.89
and cutting a
tree down, you know.
00:47:38.92\00:47:41.66
The Bible talks about
in... in John chapter 15,
00:47:41.69\00:47:44.89
Jesus talks about pruning us
00:47:44.93\00:47:46.33
and the reason
why He's pruning us
00:47:46.36\00:47:48.03
is because He doesn't
want us to be cut off.
00:47:48.10\00:47:49.60
You see, the Bible talks...
uses that phrase, you know,
00:47:49.63\00:47:52.13
"cut off" to... to
describe the loss...
00:47:52.17\00:47:54.64
those who eventually
turn away from God...
00:47:54.67\00:47:57.11
who are eventually uprooted...
00:47:57.14\00:47:58.57
who are eventually... are no
longer in the Kingdom of God.
00:47:58.61\00:48:01.08
So, we want to allow God to
develop greater fruitfulness.
00:48:01.11\00:48:04.58
We... we want to allow Him
to prune us... to grow us...
00:48:04.61\00:48:08.05
to develop us
00:48:08.08\00:48:09.48
and that's the
purpose that God has for us
00:48:09.52\00:48:11.49
and that is the crucible of
maturity that we are to come to.
00:48:11.52\00:48:15.12
Now, people have wondered,
00:48:15.16\00:48:16.86
"What was Paul's issue anyway?
00:48:16.89\00:48:18.29
You know, he
prayed more than once...
00:48:18.33\00:48:20.60
he prayed, you know, that
God would remove this thorn
00:48:20.63\00:48:22.40
out of his flesh
00:48:22.43\00:48:23.80
but what was this
thorn in his flesh?"
00:48:23.83\00:48:25.33
It's talked about here
in 2nd Corinthians 12:7,
00:48:25.37\00:48:27.84
you know, and ideas range from,
00:48:27.90\00:48:29.24
you know, Paul's having constant
attacks from his enemies
00:48:29.27\00:48:32.87
to having a speech difficulty
00:48:32.91\00:48:34.68
but it seems
that this was actually
00:48:34.71\00:48:37.95
a problem with his eyesight...
00:48:37.98\00:48:39.31
in fact, in... in
Galatians he talks about
00:48:39.35\00:48:41.12
how he wrote a large letter
00:48:41.15\00:48:42.92
and if you look
at the Greek there,
00:48:42.98\00:48:44.49
it's actually
large in character...
00:48:44.52\00:48:46.02
large letter by his own hand
00:48:46.05\00:48:47.62
that he had this issue from
the time that he was converted.
00:48:47.66\00:48:51.43
Panel: Right.
00:48:51.46\00:48:52.79
James: You know, when Christ
met him on the road to Damascus
00:48:52.83\00:48:54.70
and, of course, he
couldn't see at all
00:48:54.73\00:48:56.43
and then his
eyesight was restored
00:48:56.46\00:48:58.07
but it was still... there
was still a weakness there
00:48:58.13\00:48:59.93
and I think about how God allows
us to have these weaknesses
00:48:59.97\00:49:04.57
sometimes from the very
beginning of our ministry.
00:49:04.61\00:49:06.27
We have these areas where
God doesn't fully remove them
00:49:06.31\00:49:10.55
because He knows we need them
00:49:10.58\00:49:12.88
to help keep us
dependent on Him.
00:49:12.91\00:49:15.45
Paul says... it
was given to him.
00:49:15.48\00:49:17.95
Well, who gave it to him?
00:49:17.99\00:49:19.32
Now, of course, Paul went
through all kinds of trials.
00:49:19.35\00:49:22.82
Satan buffeted
him and came after him
00:49:22.86\00:49:24.89
and the text tells us that.
00:49:24.93\00:49:26.26
So, I think that it
was larger than this
00:49:26.29\00:49:28.53
than just his eyesight
00:49:28.56\00:49:29.90
and we recognize that even
when we go through these trials
00:49:29.93\00:49:34.07
that God is superseding...
God is superintending.
00:49:34.10\00:49:37.07
You know, nothing comes
to us but through Jesus.
00:49:37.11\00:49:40.08
You know, we're
told in Romans chapter 8
00:49:40.11\00:49:42.18
that all things
work together for good.
00:49:42.21\00:49:44.25
Now, it doesn't mean everything
that happens to us is God's will
00:49:44.28\00:49:46.92
but He will
overrule those things...
00:49:46.95\00:49:49.02
He will bring good
out of those things
00:49:49.08\00:49:50.95
and this is what
we find with Paul
00:49:50.99\00:49:52.85
and it's really significant
00:49:52.89\00:49:54.22
because when you
look at the big picture,
00:49:54.26\00:49:56.09
well, let's just look at...
00:49:56.12\00:49:57.46
at the... at the
verses themselves.
00:49:57.49\00:49:58.83
Let's just start with...
we... we've read verse 7,
00:49:58.86\00:50:01.06
let's just start there again,
00:50:01.10\00:50:02.43
let's just read all
the way through verse 10
00:50:02.46\00:50:03.80
and try to get
in the big picture
00:50:03.83\00:50:05.47
of what's happening here.
00:50:05.50\00:50:07.00
2nd Corinthians
chapter... chapter what?
00:50:07.04\00:50:09.74
Chapter 12
verses... verses 7 through 10,
00:50:09.77\00:50:12.41
"And lest I should be
exalted above measure... "
00:50:12.44\00:50:15.51
there it is...
00:50:15.54\00:50:16.88
"through the abundance
of the revelations... "
00:50:16.91\00:50:18.25
in other words...
00:50:18.28\00:50:19.61
through the way God
has been using me, right?
00:50:19.65\00:50:20.98
"there was given unto
me a thorn in the flesh,
00:50:21.02\00:50:22.58
a messenger of
Satan to buffet me,
00:50:22.62\00:50:24.42
lest I should be
exalted above measure. "
00:50:24.45\00:50:26.49
Now, I just want to
stop there for a second.
00:50:26.52\00:50:28.52
Beyond his eyesight,
00:50:28.56\00:50:30.23
Paul went through all kinds
of trials and tribulations.
00:50:30.26\00:50:33.40
You know, it's not
just one thing in our lives.
00:50:33.43\00:50:36.10
There are many
things that come at us.
00:50:36.13\00:50:38.00
I remember 20 years ago in 2003,
00:50:38.03\00:50:40.40
I was diagnosed
with... with cancer
00:50:40.44\00:50:42.77
and it was overwhelming...
00:50:42.80\00:50:44.57
it was so dark that I
felt like I was just going down
00:50:44.61\00:50:49.34
and couldn't get out.
00:50:49.38\00:50:50.71
I remember there was a Pastor
friend who lived in Seattle,
00:50:50.75\00:50:53.15
a young man that had
been in our Camp Meeting.
00:50:53.31\00:50:55.22
We had been working out
together down in the basement
00:50:55.25\00:50:57.22
just kind of connecting
00:50:57.25\00:50:58.59
and he found out
about this situation...
00:50:58.62\00:50:59.95
he found out that I was
going to have an anointing
00:50:59.99\00:51:01.49
on a Friday evening
00:51:01.52\00:51:02.86
and he drove from
Seattle five hours away...
00:51:02.89\00:51:04.73
he drove over that Friday
for this anointing service
00:51:04.76\00:51:08.46
and then he had to
preach the next morning,
00:51:08.50\00:51:10.67
then he turned around and
he drove back to his church.
00:51:10.70\00:51:14.97
I think... I think his love...
his sacrifice of travel...
00:51:15.00\00:51:19.24
his desire to be
there for me at that time
00:51:19.27\00:51:21.71
was more healing
than almost anything else.
00:51:21.74\00:51:23.95
Just the... just
the service that he...
00:51:23.98\00:51:26.21
that he... it told
me that God loves me.
00:51:26.25\00:51:28.45
God put this spirit in his
heart to do that act of service
00:51:28.48\00:51:31.69
and that told me...
God still cared about me.
00:51:31.72\00:51:33.66
God works through people,
00:51:33.69\00:51:35.16
He works through human
beings to reach out to...
00:51:35.19\00:51:38.09
to the afflicted... those
who are going through trials.
00:51:38.13\00:51:40.20
He wants to encourage us...
00:51:40.23\00:51:42.26
and when I went
through this trial with cancer
00:51:42.30\00:51:44.17
and when people say to
me, "Well, what did you do?
00:51:44.20\00:51:46.03
How come you...
did you eat something?"
00:51:46.07\00:51:47.90
Or... "What's up with your
diet?" this that and the other.
00:51:47.94\00:51:50.07
And other people
said to me, you know,
00:51:50.11\00:51:51.81
"James, we just want you
to know that we love you...
00:51:51.84\00:51:53.58
that God loves you and
we're praying for you. "
00:51:53.61\00:51:55.21
We love you... God loves
you and we're praying for you
00:51:55.24\00:51:57.55
and that meant everything to me
00:51:57.58\00:51:58.91
and I think that is so important
for people to hear those words
00:51:58.95\00:52:01.88
from other human beings
who are connected with God
00:52:01.92\00:52:04.89
because it's as
though God is speaking to us
00:52:04.92\00:52:06.79
through those human beings
00:52:06.86\00:52:08.32
and then he goes on
in verse 8, he says,
00:52:08.36\00:52:09.69
"For this thing I besought
the Lord thrice... three times,
00:52:09.72\00:52:12.29
that it might depart from me.
00:52:12.33\00:52:13.66
And He said unto me, 'My
grace is sufficient for thee:
00:52:13.70\00:52:15.63
for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. '
00:52:15.66\00:52:18.10
Most gladly,
therefore... " he says,
00:52:18.13\00:52:20.30
"will I rather
glory in my infirmities,
00:52:20.34\00:52:22.24
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
00:52:22.27\00:52:24.17
Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities... "
00:52:24.21\00:52:26.44
see... this is the
crucible of maturity...
00:52:26.47\00:52:28.68
"in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions,
00:52:28.71\00:52:31.21
in distresses for Christ's sake:
00:52:31.25\00:52:32.58
for when I am
weak, then I am strong. "
00:52:32.61\00:52:35.42
Now, this maturity
is almost overwhelming
00:52:35.45\00:52:39.99
if you're not there yet
00:52:40.02\00:52:41.66
and I know in my own experience,
00:52:41.69\00:52:43.09
I've struggled... you know
in... in times of trials, you
00:52:43.12\00:52:46.59
struggle, you think, "Oh, I
don't know if I can get through
00:52:46.66\00:52:48.93
this you know, I'm not sure...
00:52:48.96\00:52:50.77
maybe this is my fault,
00:52:50.80\00:52:52.53
maybe this is the experience
that I brought upon myself
00:52:52.57\00:52:55.04
and maybe... is it possible
I'm going to get through this. "
00:52:55.07\00:52:57.04
But when I think about
the experience of maturity...
00:52:57.07\00:52:59.81
this crucible of
maturity I think about...
00:52:59.84\00:53:02.04
I can't help but think about
the experience of Daniel's...
00:53:02.08\00:53:05.18
chapter 4... excuse
me, Daniel chapter 4.
00:53:05.21\00:53:08.55
It's actually not a
chapter that Daniel wrote,
00:53:08.58\00:53:11.25
it's a chapter that
Nebuchadnezzar wrote.
00:53:11.29\00:53:12.62
Panel: Right... Hmmm... hmmm...
00:53:12.65\00:53:13.99
James: And I just want to
highlight a couple of thoughts
00:53:14.02\00:53:15.36
here in this chapter...
just toward the end...
00:53:15.39\00:53:18.59
we know the
story a little bit...
00:53:18.63\00:53:20.33
for those of you who don't,
00:53:20.36\00:53:21.70
Nebuchadnezzar
is King of Babylon,
00:53:21.73\00:53:23.06
God is bringing him
through a crucible of maturity,
00:53:23.10\00:53:26.30
okay, and it's intense...
00:53:26.33\00:53:28.77
like it's a
seven-year time-out...
00:53:28.80\00:53:30.87
that was the one
thing my daughter hated
00:53:30.91\00:53:32.71
when it came to
discipline was time-out.
00:53:32.77\00:53:34.11
She liked to talk...
she liked to communicate...
00:53:34.14\00:53:35.74
you could give her a spanking...
it wouldn't touch her...
00:53:35.81\00:53:37.45
time-out...
ah... that was like...
00:53:37.48\00:53:39.15
and so, Nebuchadnezzar is
put on a seven-year time-out.
00:53:39.21\00:53:41.82
He loses his
mind for seven years,
00:53:41.85\00:53:43.52
he's not saying anything...
he's not doing anything...
00:53:43.55\00:53:45.09
he's been removed from office,
00:53:45.12\00:53:46.52
he's like a wild man, right?
00:53:46.69\00:53:48.06
When he gets out
of all this experience
00:53:48.09\00:53:49.89
that God is using
through a crucible of maturity,
00:53:49.92\00:53:52.53
this is what he says, verse 34,
00:53:52.56\00:53:54.06
"At the end of the days
00:53:54.10\00:53:55.43
I Nebuchadnezzar lifted
up mine eyes unto heaven,
00:53:55.46\00:53:57.23
and mine
understanding returned unto me,
00:53:57.27\00:53:59.53
and I blessed the Most High,
00:53:59.57\00:54:00.90
and I praised and I
honored Him... " what?
00:54:00.94\00:54:03.41
What? He has just
caused you to be a wild man
00:54:03.44\00:54:05.61
and to lose everything you have
on planet earth for seven years
00:54:05.67\00:54:08.91
and you're blessing Him
and you're praising Him?
00:54:08.94\00:54:10.58
That is a converted man...
00:54:10.65\00:54:12.58
that is a crucible of maturity
00:54:12.61\00:54:15.92
and we... we... God is bringing
us to this place ourselves
00:54:15.98\00:54:19.02
because see, the whole...
00:54:19.05\00:54:20.39
the whole issue with
us is self-exaltation.
00:54:20.42\00:54:22.62
Now Paul... that's what
Paul's emphasizing twice there
00:54:22.66\00:54:25.09
in verse 7,
"Unless I be exalted... "
00:54:25.16\00:54:26.96
the... the issue with Lucifer...
00:54:27.00\00:54:28.33
the issue with Eve...
the issue with Cain...
00:54:28.36\00:54:29.76
the issue with Saul...
the issue with David...
00:54:29.83\00:54:31.17
the issue with Solomon...
00:54:31.20\00:54:32.53
the issue with
all of God's people...
00:54:32.57\00:54:33.90
the
Pharisees... the disciples...
00:54:33.94\00:54:35.27
the early church...
the Laodicean church...
00:54:35.30\00:54:37.61
you know... rich
and increased with goods
00:54:37.64\00:54:40.18
and in need of nothing.
00:54:40.21\00:54:41.54
The... the inclination to
self-exaltation is natural
00:54:41.58\00:54:44.81
but it's carnal.
00:54:44.85\00:54:46.18
You know. Paul was dealing
with this in Corinthians,
00:54:46.21\00:54:48.05
you know, "one
says you're of Apollos,
00:54:48.08\00:54:49.45
another says you're of Paul...
00:54:49.48\00:54:50.92
and another
says you're of Peter"
00:54:50.95\00:54:52.39
and we're all of Christ.
00:54:52.42\00:54:53.76
You know, Daniel
himself, you know says,
00:54:53.79\00:54:55.92
Arioch says, "I found a man... "
00:54:55.96\00:54:57.63
and Nebuchadnezzar
says, "Oh, you're the one... "
00:54:57.69\00:54:59.96
and Daniel says, "No one
of your wise men can do this
00:55:00.00\00:55:02.16
but there is a
God in heaven... "
00:55:02.20\00:55:03.53
completely eclipses himself
00:55:03.57\00:55:06.33
and that's where
God wants to bring us.
00:55:06.37\00:55:08.24
You know, in the
book of Revelation,
00:55:08.27\00:55:10.07
we have the same revelation,
John falls down before the angel
00:55:10.11\00:55:12.84
in Revelation 19:10
and... and begins to worship...
00:55:12.87\00:55:14.88
and the angel was like,
"No, no, no, no, don't...
00:55:14.91\00:55:16.88
don't... do not do that... "
00:55:16.91\00:55:18.85
and you... you can
imagine he's thinking back.
00:55:18.88\00:55:20.52
As it says in a little
devotional: This Day with God...
00:55:20.55\00:55:24.02
you know, to Lucifer's
fall because some of the angels
00:55:24.05\00:55:27.52
actually in
less-exalted positions in heaven
00:55:27.56\00:55:29.89
thought that Lucifer
was the ruler in heaven...
00:55:29.92\00:55:31.89
the God of heaven
00:55:31.93\00:55:33.26
and so, he's saying,
"No, no, don't do this,
00:55:33.29\00:55:35.00
I'm your fellow
servant... worship God. "
00:55:35.03\00:55:36.80
God gets all the glory,
God gets all the praise.
00:55:36.83\00:55:40.00
God alone is
worthy of our worship
00:55:40.04\00:55:42.54
and we can trust Him in
the crucible of maturity.
00:55:42.57\00:55:44.74
Lomacang: Wow, thank
you James, thank you Ryan...
00:55:44.77\00:55:46.81
thank you Jill...
thank you Shelley...
00:55:46.84\00:55:48.18
Shelley, some closing thoughts.
00:55:48.21\00:55:49.54
Shelley: I don't
know if this even connects
00:55:49.58\00:55:51.58
but what was just
going through my mind is
00:55:51.61\00:55:53.85
what Satan tries to get us to do
00:55:53.88\00:55:56.62
as he did with Adam and Eve,
00:55:56.65\00:55:58.12
it is to declare
our independence of God.
00:55:58.15\00:56:01.96
That's the root of sin.
00:56:01.99\00:56:03.53
So, I want to
encourage you to depend on God
00:56:03.56\00:56:07.80
to get you through it all.
00:56:08.90\00:56:10.23
Hold on to Him... submit to God
00:56:10.27\00:56:12.80
and He will strengthen you.
00:56:12.83\00:56:15.60
Panel: Amen.
00:56:15.64\00:56:17.04
Jill: This has
been an amazing study
00:56:17.07\00:56:18.61
and if you are in the
midst of a crucible of sin,
00:56:18.64\00:56:21.64
there is hope.
00:56:21.68\00:56:23.01
You don't have to stay
there or be stuck there
00:56:23.04\00:56:26.21
but God wants to bring you out.
00:56:26.25\00:56:27.82
Ryan: Amen, I kind
of butchered the lyrics
00:56:27.85\00:56:29.92
to Reckless Love earlier
00:56:29.95\00:56:31.42
and as the Program progressed
along... I remembered them.
00:56:31.45\00:56:34.19
There's no shadow
You won't light up...
00:56:34.26\00:56:38.23
Mountain You won't
climb up coming after me.
00:56:38.26\00:56:41.06
There's no wall
You won't kick down,
00:56:41.10\00:56:43.90
Lie you won't tear
down coming after me.
00:56:43.93\00:56:46.67
God is after us
and He wants to save us
00:56:46.70\00:56:49.37
He will do anything He
can to reach us this time.
00:56:49.40\00:56:52.74
Panel: Amen... amen.
00:56:52.77\00:56:54.11
James: And we can trust God...
00:56:54.14\00:56:55.48
we're going to go
through some crucibles
00:56:55.51\00:56:57.21
and they're for us...
they're for our protection.
00:56:57.25\00:56:59.45
They're to help us
to put our trustfully...
00:56:59.51\00:57:02.45
completely in Jesus
Christ as the only One
00:57:02.48\00:57:05.42
who can take us through the...
00:57:05.45\00:57:07.46
the difficulties and the
challenges of this earth,
00:57:07.49\00:57:10.16
so, learn to trust Jesus
in that crucible of maturity.
00:57:10.19\00:57:12.59
Panel: Amen... amen.
00:57:12.63\00:57:13.96
John: Thank you all for the
crucibles that we talked about
00:57:14.00\00:57:17.90
and we are
praying for the crucible
00:57:17.93\00:57:20.07
that you may be going through.
00:57:20.14\00:57:21.47
There's a passage in
Scripture I was going to use...
00:57:21.50\00:57:23.57
1st Corinthians...
2nd Corinthians 12:9,
00:57:23.61\00:57:25.97
that was wonderful that
James talked about that,
00:57:26.01\00:57:27.74
"boasting in our infirmities"
00:57:27.78\00:57:29.21
but Isaiah 43:2, "When
you pass through the waters,
00:57:29.24\00:57:32.85
I will be with you;
00:57:32.88\00:57:34.22
and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you.
00:57:34.25\00:57:36.32
When you walk through the
fire, you shall not be burned,
00:57:36.35\00:57:39.15
nor shall the
flame scorch you. "
00:57:39.19\00:57:41.02
And I add my part...
but you will be purified.
00:57:41.06\00:57:43.63
So, may God bless you as you
go through the crucibles of life
00:57:43.66\00:57:47.40
knowing that the Lord
is working out your best.
00:57:47.43\00:57:49.73
At the end of the journey...
at the end of the fire...
00:57:49.76\00:57:52.77
at the end of the water.
00:57:52.80\00:57:54.14
We look forward to
seeing you for the next Lesson,
00:57:54.17\00:57:56.07
Lesson Number 3
entitled: Birdcage
00:57:56.10\00:57:59.04
and we look
forward to seeing you then.
00:57:59.07\00:58:00.71
God bless you.
00:58:00.74\00:58:02.54