I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and welcome to
Friday night Family Worship.
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Honey... Yeah.
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Happy Sabbath, I hope
you're having a great evening.
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That's right. Hope
you had a great week also.
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And we thank you for
taking the time to tune in
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and join us in a very...
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You know, we're smiling,
but the topic is about trials.
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I don't think there's
anybody watching this program
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unless you are born today
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that did not or
do not have trials.
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And so we want to invite you
to spend the next hour with us,
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we have a
wonderful panel with us,
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our church
family, our 3ABN family.
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And we're going to talk about
something that everyone doesn't
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want to have, but
everyone does have.
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And, honey, I tell you
when we started putting this,
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matter of fact, you
suggested the topic.
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Yeah, because I said to
you, everyone go through trials,
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everyone, those of you,
who watching, listening,
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you've gone through your trials
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or you are going
through a trial right now,
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a major trial in your life.
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And so I think this topic
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is going to be
right on target for you,
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so we're ready and so
is all of our team here.
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And we are not
necessarily ready for trials
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but because of the Jesus,
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we're going to
talk about that too
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because we have a
great panel with us
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just before our prayer
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because we're not
going to sing today,
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we want this time.
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Yeah, we need the time.
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To talk about the difficulties
that people are facing today.
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And I'm just going to
quickly introduce everybody.
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Sure.
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Jason Bradley to my far
right Associate Director of...
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Dare to Dream
Network. Dare to Dream Network.
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Wonderful. And Will, Gary Will.
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Gary does so many things,
but your major function is?
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Video editing here in 3ABN.
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And he does a very good job.
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For those of you
are computer geeks,
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he has a hackintosh,
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which is a Mac
that's been hacked.
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And my lovely wife
Angela, right next to me,
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we have gone
through trials together,
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some of our own
making, some of my own making.
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But Lord, thank you...
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But God is
good. But God is good.
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Yes.
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And, Marlena, good
to have you here today.
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Good to be here.
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And, Marlena, do you
know anything about trials?
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Oh, do I? Yes, I do.
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Okay.
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She's a member of the
church in Thompsonville.
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Yes. Yeah.
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And you've been with
us for a number of years.
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She came out of
the Sunday movement
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and now her and her girls
are part of our fellowship
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and we're so happy
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and blessed to
have them here with us.
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That's right.
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And every one of them...
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Everyone on this
table knows about a trial,
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knows about several trials.
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And we're not going
to talk about our trials
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but what our
trials have done for us.
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And what God
promises to do for us
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because of the
trials that come our way.
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But, honey, would
you have a prayer for us.
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Sure. Let's bow heads.
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Our loving, Heavenly Father,
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we bow before you
tonight and first and foremost,
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we give you the
praise, the honor,
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and the glory
which you alone deserve.
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Lord, you have mighty to save.
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And, Father, we come to
you in the name of Jesus,
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and we thank you
for this opportunity
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to share with those
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that are watching and
listening around the world.
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Many of us are going
through deep dark trials,
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but, Lord, you are the one
that can lift us out of it,
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help us to look to you
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for there is no
other to look to.
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So, Lord, we thank you
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and we bless your
holy name in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Now what we do for those of you
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who don't know what
we have in front of us,
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I often put together an outline.
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The outline is just
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for the purpose of
stimulating thought
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but in the
construction of the outline,
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the Lord has
given me the scriptures
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to put in there
that particularly...
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So when we talk about trials,
bit of a tribulation, trials,
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suffering, hardship, difficulty,
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and there are so
many stories in the Bible,
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Gary was sharing one
with me and a couple of them
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before the program began
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and we'll all be able
to share from the Bible
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and spread the
prophecy in God's Word
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hopefully today this program,
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something that
will help you through,
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what you're going through,
or give you encouragement
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as you're coming out of
what you're going through,
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or encourage you as
you're all in your way in
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to a trial, you
never know what they are.
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But let's just begin
with one I think that...
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Go ahead, honey.
What about this through?
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You always say
going through. Wow.
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Give that illustration.
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You know, a pastor had
a lady come to his office,
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and she said, "Pastor,
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we are going through
difficulty in our family."
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He said, "Amen, sister."
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She said, "We are
going through hardship."
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He said, "Amen."
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"We are going through
trials." He said, "Amen."
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And she said, "Why
are you rejoicing?"
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And he said, "Sister,
just keep going through it.
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Don't stop.
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Just keep going through it."
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And that's what we
want to encourage you to do,
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going through trials.
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As Pastor CA said,
"If you haven't had one,
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wait, it's on the way."
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Everyone has it on the way.
But everyone has had a trial.
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The one light
side of the trials,
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you know, people...
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Somebody I read a poem once,
it's actually a little saying,
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and somebody said,
"Well, trials are not bad
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because there's always a
light at the end of the tunnel."
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And somebody responded,
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"Make sure that the
light at the end of the tunnel
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is not a train."
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That's correct.
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That's when you're
really in the trial,
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you just can't see
anything positive about it.
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Yeah, yeah. You only
wish it's not a train.
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Don't be so pessimistic.
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Exactly.
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But I want us all to
begin with this first scripture
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because this question
that I have catapulted us into
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is in John 16:33,
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and it's on each
one of our syllabus,
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and I want to just
begin with this question,
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what is the reality about trial?
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So let's read this
first scripture together
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and then we could
catapult right into our topic.
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What is the
reality about trials?
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John 16:33, the
Bible says together,
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"These things I
have spoken to you,
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that in me you may
have peace in the world,
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you will have tribulation,
but be of good cheer,
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I have overcome the world."
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The highlight of this is,
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"In the world you will
have tribulation," you will.
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Who would like to start
out? You will have tribulation.
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Jason, since you're
the young guy in our group,
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let's talk about your trial.
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He's single. I received that.
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Okay.
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So I mean, trials
are going to come,
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you know, sometimes trials
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are meant to
refine our character.
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They're meant to...
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How we react in a
trial says a lot about us,
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you know, do we lean on God
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or do we try and lean
on our own understanding,
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who do we turn
to in those trials,
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how do we
respond to those trials.
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Like you were saying earlier,
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there's a blessing at
the end of the tunnel,
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you know, we go
through certain things
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and we should learn from them,
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there should be a
lesson that is learnt.
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We wouldn't have a
testimony without the test.
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And I've experienced
several trials in my life,
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but when we look
at the life of Christ,
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He was perfect, and
He went through trials.
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Yeah.
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So I mean, just when
you become a Christian,
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you know,
sometimes people think,
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"Oh, if I just
become a Christian,
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everything is
going to be perfect,
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I'm not going to have
to deal with anything."
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That's not true.
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The devil is coming after
you that much more, you know.
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When we look at
the life of Christ,
00:08:27.87\00:08:29.20
he came after
Christ that much more
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because he knew
what was at stake
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and that his time is short.
00:08:32.64\00:08:33.98
That's right.
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So in my hearing, you say
that trials come sometimes
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because you're with Christ?
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Oh, yeah. Okay, all right.
00:08:39.11\00:08:42.15
Anyone else?
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I believe the
trials come specifically
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because we are with Christ,
00:08:46.96\00:08:49.76
you know, Satan
doesn't seem to go
00:08:49.79\00:08:52.09
after those he already has,
00:08:52.13\00:08:54.83
he goes after those
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who are seeking
to escape his grasp.
00:08:56.23\00:08:59.30
And I was think about
the illustration of Satan
00:08:59.33\00:09:02.40
going about as a roaring lion,
00:09:02.44\00:09:04.04
if you see any nature films
with how vicious lions are,
00:09:04.07\00:09:07.28
sometimes we want to
kind of keep ourselves
00:09:07.31\00:09:09.34
from that scene of the
viciousness of the lion
00:09:09.38\00:09:11.35
but when you watch the
lion go after its pray,
00:09:11.38\00:09:14.02
it's vicious.
00:09:14.05\00:09:15.38
I mean, he hangs
on, the lion hangs on
00:09:15.42\00:09:16.99
until he brings his
prey down and after,
00:09:17.02\00:09:19.22
the others will
join in, you know.
00:09:19.25\00:09:20.86
And that's how Satan is with us,
00:09:20.89\00:09:23.19
he comes after us
as a roaring lion.
00:09:23.22\00:09:26.29
Well said.
00:09:26.33\00:09:27.66
Well, now always in
that nature scene in my mind
00:09:27.70\00:09:29.66
because sometimes
lions attack you in packs.
00:09:29.70\00:09:31.57
Oh, yeah.
00:09:31.60\00:09:32.93
And it could be a buffalo,
it could be some large beast,
00:09:32.97\00:09:35.64
and the grab on the back
00:09:35.67\00:09:37.64
and the claw in
and just hold on,
00:09:37.67\00:09:40.64
that beast is
writhing and shaking
00:09:40.68\00:09:43.45
and they're just holding on
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because they
want to bring it down.
00:09:45.31\00:09:46.72
Exactly.
00:09:46.75\00:09:48.08
And if they could bring you down
00:09:48.12\00:09:49.45
then you are the pray,
00:09:49.48\00:09:50.82
you're the meal for the evening.
00:09:50.85\00:09:52.19
But then the Lord, wow.
00:09:52.22\00:09:55.26
He would love that...
00:09:55.29\00:09:56.62
The Satan, he being
Satan would love to destroy us
00:09:56.66\00:09:59.86
in our sins, you know,
00:09:59.89\00:10:01.83
he wants to take us out
while we're in our sins.
00:10:01.86\00:10:04.20
Yes.
00:10:04.23\00:10:05.57
And I have
experienced some of that myself
00:10:05.60\00:10:09.87
when my appendix
ruptured inside of me
00:10:09.90\00:10:11.91
and I was misdiagnosed.
00:10:11.94\00:10:13.78
And at that point of
time, I wasn't in church,
00:10:13.81\00:10:16.81
you know, I did
whatever I wanted to do,
00:10:16.85\00:10:18.85
and I was outside of...
00:10:18.88\00:10:23.89
I was outside of
church basically.
00:10:23.92\00:10:25.52
I was outside
of that protection.
00:10:25.55\00:10:28.66
But God still
had his hand over me
00:10:28.69\00:10:30.59
because he
didn't allow the devil
00:10:30.63\00:10:31.99
to take me out at that
time and now I'm back in church,
00:10:32.03\00:10:36.03
I'm actually a
deacon at the church.
00:10:36.06\00:10:38.03
That's right.
00:10:38.07\00:10:39.70
Wow, wow. That's
quite a lot of journey.
00:10:39.73\00:10:41.74
But God is good.
00:10:41.77\00:10:43.20
So did your trial
bring you closer to Christ?
00:10:43.24\00:10:46.31
At that particular time,
it was one of those things
00:10:46.34\00:10:49.01
where it was a
moment where I was like,
00:10:49.04\00:10:51.55
"Well, God, if you
get me out of this,
00:10:51.58\00:10:53.78
I'll change, I'll do
something different."
00:10:53.82\00:10:55.95
You know, as often times,
when people go through trials,
00:10:55.98\00:11:01.19
they end up making, sometimes,
false promises or saying that,
00:11:01.22\00:11:05.53
you know, "God,
if you deliver me
00:11:05.56\00:11:06.90
from this I'll do X, Y, and Z."
00:11:06.93\00:11:09.43
Well, God delivered me from that
00:11:09.46\00:11:11.07
and then about I'd
say about six weeks,
00:11:11.10\00:11:14.60
five to six weeks later,
00:11:14.64\00:11:17.57
I ended up getting
arrested for a drug charge.
00:11:17.61\00:11:21.04
And so it was, you
know, that got my attention.
00:11:21.08\00:11:25.45
And I mean, even
through that trial
00:11:25.48\00:11:28.28
like the Lord
delivered me from that.
00:11:28.32\00:11:30.32
I ended up
spending one night in jail.
00:11:30.35\00:11:32.82
I got bailed out the next day.
00:11:32.85\00:11:34.29
And that was the
last I ever touched drugs.
00:11:34.32\00:11:37.93
And I still didn't
give my heart to the Lord
00:11:37.96\00:11:39.86
at that very moment.
00:11:39.89\00:11:41.43
But I ended up making
like a behavioral modification,
00:11:41.46\00:11:46.20
you know, I kind of
switch my drug of choice
00:11:46.23\00:11:48.20
to alcohol to after
my probation and stuff
00:11:48.24\00:11:51.47
and I was managing a sports bar.
00:11:51.51\00:11:54.58
But I knew being
raised in the church
00:11:54.61\00:11:57.65
that I needed a
genuine transformation.
00:11:57.68\00:12:01.28
And I knew that only
Christ could provide that.
00:12:01.32\00:12:03.28
You see, I had a
hole in my heart,
00:12:03.32\00:12:05.29
there was an emptiness,
00:12:05.32\00:12:06.65
a void that only
Christ could fill.
00:12:06.69\00:12:08.96
And so as I was walking,
00:12:08.99\00:12:10.66
I was working like
60, 70 hours a week.
00:12:10.69\00:12:15.06
And I remember being
invited to 3ABN out here
00:12:15.10\00:12:18.80
to the Day of Prayer
00:12:18.83\00:12:20.17
where, you know,
we all come together
00:12:20.20\00:12:21.74
and talk about what's
going on in the ministry,
00:12:21.77\00:12:24.17
what's to come, and
what happened already.
00:12:24.21\00:12:27.31
And I remember
Danny Shelton saying that
00:12:27.34\00:12:31.88
if you leave this place
00:12:31.91\00:12:33.25
and you can't get
it out of your mind
00:12:33.28\00:12:34.62
and then this is where
God would have you to be.
00:12:34.65\00:12:36.65
And I went home
to Atlanta, Georgia
00:12:36.69\00:12:39.12
and I was working my 70-hour
a week job, busy, you know,
00:12:39.15\00:12:43.66
and I was thinking, I
don't know that's like...
00:12:43.69\00:12:46.66
I'm from the city
New York, Dallas, Atlanta
00:12:46.70\00:12:49.73
like these are cities
00:12:49.76\00:12:51.10
and then we're not
in the city right now.
00:12:51.13\00:12:53.50
No.
00:12:53.54\00:12:55.24
So I went back there
00:12:55.27\00:12:56.67
and I was just
thinking 3ABN, 3ABN, 3ABN
00:12:56.71\00:12:59.91
and instead of fighting God,
I surrendered my life to Him
00:12:59.94\00:13:03.14
and moved out here and
it was the best decision
00:13:03.18\00:13:05.21
I've ever made, I'm
going on four years.
00:13:05.25\00:13:07.32
Amen. Amen.
00:13:07.35\00:13:08.78
So that's a tremendous blessing.
00:13:08.82\00:13:10.15
Praise God.
00:13:10.19\00:13:11.69
So in this, well, you
will have tribulation.
00:13:11.72\00:13:13.46
Yeah.
00:13:13.49\00:13:14.82
And just to piggyback on that,
00:13:14.86\00:13:16.19
you know, I think
we were sharing earlier
00:13:16.22\00:13:18.79
before we got started
was that some of our trials
00:13:18.83\00:13:21.46
are self-inflicted.
00:13:21.50\00:13:23.40
You know, I was
reading a scripture
00:13:23.43\00:13:25.90
and it's found in
James 1:12 and says,
00:13:25.93\00:13:30.61
"Blessed is the man
that endureth temptation
00:13:30.64\00:13:33.21
for when he is tried,
00:13:33.24\00:13:34.68
he shall receive
the crown of life,
00:13:34.71\00:13:36.44
which the Lord
has promised to them
00:13:36.48\00:13:38.08
that love him.
00:13:38.11\00:13:39.71
Let no man say
when he is tempted,
00:13:39.75\00:13:41.98
I am tempted of God for God
cannot be tempted with evil,
00:13:42.02\00:13:46.05
neither tempteth he any man.
00:13:46.09\00:13:48.76
But every man is tempted,
00:13:48.79\00:13:50.33
when he is drawn away of
his own lust, and enticed.
00:13:50.36\00:13:53.76
Then when lust hath conceived,
it bringeth forth sin, and sin,
00:13:53.80\00:13:58.60
when it is finished,
bringeth forth death."
00:13:58.63\00:14:01.44
So sometimes, when we
are going through life
00:14:01.47\00:14:03.97
and Christ is
trying to guide us,
00:14:04.01\00:14:06.47
you know, the way to go,
00:14:06.51\00:14:07.84
you know, we reject
that, we don't listen to Him,
00:14:07.88\00:14:10.38
you know, and it
leads us down a path
00:14:10.41\00:14:12.71
that is very devastating.
00:14:12.75\00:14:14.58
And but we can't say that,
00:14:14.62\00:14:15.95
"Okay, God, this is your fault."
00:14:15.98\00:14:18.25
No, you were tempted
00:14:18.29\00:14:20.06
and you gave in
to that temptation.
00:14:20.09\00:14:22.52
You know, and that's I
think a lot of my experience
00:14:22.56\00:14:25.09
was not heeding God's call,
God's instruction in my life.
00:14:25.13\00:14:30.10
And so that led me down
a bad road of bad choices
00:14:30.13\00:14:33.94
which brought about trials.
00:14:33.97\00:14:35.97
But through God's
grace He saw me through.
00:14:36.00\00:14:38.51
Okay. Well said.
00:14:38.54\00:14:40.81
Go ahead. Where is that verse?
00:14:40.84\00:14:42.41
I'm looking for it and I
think it's in 1 Corinthians.
00:14:42.44\00:14:45.61
Well, it talks about
where there is temptation
00:14:45.65\00:14:47.95
God provides a way of escape.
00:14:47.98\00:14:49.68
1 Corinthians 10:13.
00:14:49.72\00:14:51.05
10:13, yes.
00:14:51.09\00:14:53.09
Where there is temptation,
there is always a way of escape
00:14:53.12\00:14:56.93
and He never
places, he being God,
00:14:56.96\00:14:59.49
never places anything on us
that is more than we can bear.
00:14:59.53\00:15:04.67
There's always a way
of escape. Absolutely.
00:15:04.70\00:15:07.07
And the easiest way
is to not put yourself
00:15:07.10\00:15:09.90
in the position to be
tempted in the first place.
00:15:09.94\00:15:11.81
That's right.
00:15:11.84\00:15:13.17
You know, if you don't...
00:15:13.21\00:15:14.54
You're not going to
have a flame and they say,
00:15:14.58\00:15:18.71
"Oh, I wonder if I
cannot get burned."
00:15:18.75\00:15:21.85
And you just stick your hand
00:15:21.88\00:15:24.02
in the flame
like you're flirting,
00:15:24.05\00:15:25.45
you're playing with danger.
00:15:25.49\00:15:26.82
That's right.
00:15:26.86\00:15:28.19
You know, you don't put
yourself on the Devil's ground.
00:15:28.22\00:15:29.62
That's right. And
it leads to death.
00:15:29.66\00:15:31.03
Absolutely because in John,
I think it's John 10:10 says,
00:15:31.06\00:15:34.73
"The thief cometh not,
00:15:34.76\00:15:36.10
but to steal,
kill, and destroy."
00:15:36.13\00:15:38.33
So if you put
yourself in his path,
00:15:38.37\00:15:40.34
if you are on his playground,
he's going try to take you out.
00:15:40.37\00:15:45.51
And if it's not for God's grace,
00:15:45.54\00:15:47.38
he will succeed.
00:15:47.41\00:15:48.74
Yeah.
00:15:48.78\00:15:50.11
So, you know,
we have to remember
00:15:50.15\00:15:51.48
that we do have an enemy,
00:15:51.51\00:15:53.21
we have an enemy
that wants to take us out
00:15:53.25\00:15:55.58
before we have a
chance to see the kingdom.
00:15:55.62\00:15:57.85
As a roaring lion
as Gary pointed out.
00:15:57.89\00:16:00.49
There's a quote, it says,
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.16
"Never is one
received into the family of God
00:16:02.19\00:16:04.73
without exciting the determined
resistance of the enemy
00:16:04.76\00:16:07.86
but he who was
the hope of Israel,
00:16:07.90\00:16:10.53
then their defense,
their justification,
00:16:10.57\00:16:13.00
and redemption is the
hope of the church today."
00:16:13.03\00:16:17.11
So there is always a struggle,
00:16:17.14\00:16:18.47
you know, Satan is not going
to let you go without a fight,
00:16:18.51\00:16:21.58
I mean, he's excited
to up to the challenge,
00:16:21.61\00:16:24.81
we're no match
for that challenge.
00:16:24.85\00:16:26.65
That's why we need the Savior
00:16:26.68\00:16:28.02
to go through the trial with us.
00:16:28.05\00:16:30.22
That's right.
00:16:30.25\00:16:32.05
Let's pull together
and some of the things
00:16:32.09\00:16:34.09
we talked about here.
00:16:34.12\00:16:36.49
First thing we pointed out
00:16:36.52\00:16:37.86
and I think some of the examples
00:16:37.89\00:16:39.23
you brought out was sometimes,
00:16:39.26\00:16:40.60
trials are not
just what come to us
00:16:40.63\00:16:41.96
but sometimes
trials is what we create.
00:16:42.00\00:16:43.33
Absolutely.
00:16:43.37\00:16:44.70
You know, and in our
lives, I know of my life,
00:16:44.73\00:16:47.04
I know in all of
our lives, sometimes...
00:16:47.07\00:16:49.57
A good friend of mine,
00:16:49.60\00:16:51.04
he's now the
President of the Pacific Union,
00:16:51.07\00:16:53.44
Pastor Ricardo Graham, he said,
00:16:53.48\00:16:56.51
"The devil's going
to throw stones at you
00:16:56.54\00:16:58.08
but don't give him any."
00:16:58.11\00:16:59.88
And sometimes those lessons
are learned in a hard way.
00:16:59.91\00:17:03.49
Sometimes, you say,
"I remember that cliché."
00:17:03.52\00:17:05.95
But then it's a different story
00:17:05.99\00:17:07.32
when you're on the train tracks,
00:17:07.36\00:17:09.29
and you recognize,
00:17:09.32\00:17:11.16
"I can't get off
these tracks quickly
00:17:11.19\00:17:12.59
enough to dodge the
train that's coming at me."
00:17:12.63\00:17:15.50
And but you see, that in it all,
00:17:15.53\00:17:18.90
and I like what you pointed out,
00:17:18.93\00:17:20.87
that the Lord doesn't allow...
00:17:20.90\00:17:22.54
And I think we
talked about this,
00:17:22.57\00:17:23.91
I'll just go ahead
and introduce this here.
00:17:23.94\00:17:26.27
The trial comes and
Satan has an aim for the trial.
00:17:26.31\00:17:33.05
Yes.
00:17:33.08\00:17:34.42
But in the Lord's mercy,
00:17:34.45\00:17:35.78
he doesn't allow
the enemy to accomplish
00:17:35.82\00:17:39.45
what he intends to accomplish.
00:17:39.49\00:17:41.02
That's right.
00:17:41.06\00:17:42.39
So like the roaring lion,
this grabbing and pulling down,
00:17:42.42\00:17:45.39
he doesn't allow the enemy
to accomplish to bringing down.
00:17:45.43\00:17:49.00
We might get a
scar, we might get a bite,
00:17:49.03\00:17:52.83
but he does not
allow the enemy to devour.
00:17:52.87\00:17:54.77
Well, like the
three Hebrew worthies,
00:17:54.80\00:17:56.87
God did not start the fire
00:17:56.91\00:17:58.24
but he went into
the fire with them.
00:17:58.27\00:17:59.87
That's right.
00:17:59.91\00:18:01.61
Satan started the fire.
00:18:01.64\00:18:04.35
Very good point.
He started the fire.
00:18:04.38\00:18:06.11
So when these fires
come, there's a quotation,
00:18:06.15\00:18:08.82
I think you were
about to share with us
00:18:08.85\00:18:10.19
so you open this up
in front of you here.
00:18:10.22\00:18:11.62
Yeah, this is from
Acts of the Apostles
00:18:11.65\00:18:13.86
page 524, Paragraph
2, it's about trials,
00:18:13.89\00:18:17.86
"Trial is part of the education
given in the school of Christ."
00:18:17.89\00:18:22.53
It's like wow, it is a
part of our education, isn't it?
00:18:22.56\00:18:25.40
"To purify God's children
from the dross of earthliness,
00:18:25.43\00:18:30.57
it is because God
is leading His children
00:18:30.61\00:18:33.68
that try and
experiences come to them,
00:18:33.71\00:18:37.25
trials an obstacle are His
chosen method of discipline
00:18:37.28\00:18:42.28
and His appointed
conditions of success.
00:18:42.32\00:18:46.02
He who reads the hearts
of men knows their weaknesses
00:18:46.05\00:18:50.16
better than they
themselves can know them.
00:18:50.19\00:18:54.13
He sees that some
have qualifications
00:18:54.16\00:18:57.57
which if rightly
directed could be used
00:18:57.60\00:19:01.70
in the advancement of His work."
00:19:01.74\00:19:04.94
And this is where it
ends "In his providence,
00:19:04.97\00:19:07.71
he brings these souls
into different positions
00:19:07.74\00:19:11.35
and varied circumstances
00:19:11.38\00:19:13.48
that they may
discover the defects
00:19:13.52\00:19:16.28
that are concealed
from their own knowledge.
00:19:16.32\00:19:21.42
He gives them opportunity
to overcome these defects
00:19:21.46\00:19:25.63
and to fit
themselves for service,
00:19:25.66\00:19:29.33
often he permits the
fires of affliction to burn
00:19:29.36\00:19:33.34
that they may be purified."
00:19:33.37\00:19:35.47
Wow.
00:19:35.50\00:19:36.84
That's a lot...
00:19:36.87\00:19:38.21
Gold.
00:19:38.24\00:19:39.57
Gold, yeah, tried
in the fire, right?
00:19:39.61\00:19:40.94
Gold, tried in the fire.
00:19:40.98\00:19:42.31
When you go back to
the example of the Hebrews,
00:19:42.34\00:19:44.21
the only thing that burnt
was the ropes that bound them,
00:19:44.25\00:19:48.32
ain't that good news?
00:19:48.35\00:19:49.98
So when the double binds us,
00:19:50.02\00:19:51.35
the only thing the
Lord allows to burn
00:19:51.39\00:19:52.79
because of us being
His servants are the ropes.
00:19:52.82\00:19:55.76
And the ropes were
his design to bind,
00:19:55.79\00:19:58.19
the Lord burnt the ropes,
00:19:58.23\00:20:00.06
but it did not burn the Hebrews.
00:20:00.10\00:20:03.57
Look at 2 Peter...
00:20:03.60\00:20:05.67
Sorry, 1 Peter 4:12-13,
00:20:05.70\00:20:08.80
how does the
Bible reveal the truth?
00:20:08.84\00:20:11.17
How does the Bible reveal
the trials are not unique?
00:20:11.21\00:20:16.34
Do you have that one, Jason,
you want to read that for us?
00:20:16.38\00:20:17.91
Sure.
00:20:17.95\00:20:19.35
"Beloved, do not
think it's strange
00:20:19.38\00:20:21.18
concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you as though
00:20:21.22\00:20:24.42
some strange
thing happened to you,
00:20:24.45\00:20:26.55
but rejoice to the extent
00:20:26.59\00:20:27.92
that you partake
of Christ's sufferings
00:20:27.96\00:20:30.06
that when His glory is revealed
00:20:30.09\00:20:31.63
you may also be
glad with exceeding joy."
00:20:31.66\00:20:35.26
I think one of the reasons
why we're going to be glad is
00:20:35.30\00:20:37.03
because trails are finally over.
00:20:37.07\00:20:38.40
Yes.
00:20:38.43\00:20:39.77
Now, I'll be honest with you.
00:20:39.80\00:20:41.14
I have not gotten to the place
00:20:41.17\00:20:42.50
where I rejoice
when trials come.
00:20:42.54\00:20:45.04
No.
00:20:45.07\00:20:46.41
When do we
rejoice? When it's over.
00:20:46.44\00:20:50.15
It's done and over.
00:20:50.18\00:20:51.95
We'll be like, "Yes!
00:20:51.98\00:20:53.72
Thank you, Jesus.
00:20:53.75\00:20:55.08
Thank you, Jesus, for
seeing me through it."
00:20:55.12\00:20:57.62
But not in it. You
don't rejoice in it.
00:20:57.65\00:20:59.79
I don't think that
Lord is being cynical here.
00:20:59.82\00:21:01.52
No. No.
00:21:01.56\00:21:02.89
But we rejoice after it's gone
00:21:02.92\00:21:06.39
because then we
see that yields...
00:21:06.43\00:21:08.76
Oh, I'm going to
find the text in a moment.
00:21:08.80\00:21:10.53
But yields a peaceable
fruit of righteousness.
00:21:10.57\00:21:13.84
You know, the discouraging
for the moment is not joyful,
00:21:13.87\00:21:18.34
but it develops in us
00:21:18.37\00:21:20.61
the peaceable
fruit of righteousness.
00:21:20.64\00:21:22.81
And if we want our gold,
00:21:22.84\00:21:24.18
we wouldn't be
tried in the fire.
00:21:24.21\00:21:26.41
But notice, it
didn't just say trials,
00:21:26.45\00:21:28.72
what kind of trials?
00:21:28.75\00:21:30.65
What kind of
trials? The fiery trial.
00:21:30.69\00:21:33.66
Okay, now think about that.
00:21:33.69\00:21:36.62
What do we need...
00:21:36.66\00:21:37.99
I'm kind of
giving the answer here,
00:21:38.03\00:21:40.66
the armor of God,
the whole armor of God,
00:21:40.70\00:21:42.90
what quenches the
fiery darts of the wicked?
00:21:42.93\00:21:45.47
The shield. The
shield, that's your faith.
00:21:45.50\00:21:47.14
Your faith. Okay.
00:21:47.17\00:21:49.70
Okay.
00:21:49.74\00:21:51.07
So why do we need
the shield of faith?
00:21:51.11\00:21:54.98
Well, without faith,
it's impossible to please God.
00:21:55.01\00:21:56.98
Okay.
00:21:57.01\00:21:58.75
And so we need the
shield of faith to do what?
00:21:58.78\00:22:00.88
Protect us.
00:22:00.92\00:22:02.28
To protect us.
So why faith though?
00:22:02.32\00:22:05.59
What is faith?
00:22:05.62\00:22:07.42
Substance...
00:22:07.46\00:22:09.42
Evidence of things not seen.
Evidence of things not seen.
00:22:09.46\00:22:11.16
Okay, so what do we not
see when we are in trials?
00:22:11.19\00:22:14.16
The end.
00:22:14.20\00:22:17.73
We don't see the way
through at the moment in time.
00:22:17.77\00:22:20.77
But if we have faith
that the one who is with us
00:22:20.80\00:22:22.97
will lead us through.
00:22:23.00\00:22:24.34
Okay. And what else?
00:22:24.37\00:22:26.51
What else don't we see?
00:22:26.54\00:22:28.64
I say we don't see the end
sometimes you don't see Jesus
00:22:28.68\00:22:32.15
when you're in it.
00:22:32.18\00:22:34.02
Some people don't see the Lord
00:22:34.05\00:22:35.58
when you're going
through the trial,
00:22:35.62\00:22:37.39
it's like, you feel like
you're going through it alone
00:22:37.42\00:22:39.65
but you're really
not, He's with you.
00:22:39.69\00:22:41.99
Sometimes you can't see...
00:22:42.02\00:22:43.83
Sometimes it's
hard to see expression
00:22:43.86\00:22:45.99
depending on how
your trial comes at you,
00:22:46.03\00:22:48.20
who's bringing that trial.
00:22:48.23\00:22:51.20
Well, at times,
we look at people
00:22:51.23\00:22:54.24
or we look at
things or circumstances
00:22:54.27\00:22:56.77
but we have to remember
that it's our enemy Satan
00:22:56.81\00:23:00.38
who is coming at us.
00:23:00.41\00:23:01.74
With that on mind,
against flesh and blood
00:23:01.78\00:23:03.85
but principalities and...
00:23:03.88\00:23:07.42
Finish that up for me.
00:23:07.45\00:23:09.05
"Against power,
against the rulers
00:23:09.08\00:23:10.72
of the darkness of this world
00:23:10.75\00:23:12.09
and spiritual
wickedness in high places."
00:23:12.12\00:23:15.16
Even the
disciples who knew Jesus,
00:23:15.19\00:23:16.79
when they were in trials
when they were on the lake
00:23:16.83\00:23:19.13
and the waters
begin to get rough,
00:23:19.16\00:23:21.20
and Jesus came out
to them on the water,
00:23:21.23\00:23:23.60
they thought
they you saw a ghost.
00:23:23.63\00:23:24.97
Yeah.
00:23:25.00\00:23:26.33
The very one that they were
with just a few hours earlier,
00:23:26.37\00:23:28.40
they couldn't recognize him
in the middle of the trials.
00:23:28.44\00:23:31.41
And so but what it says here
00:23:31.44\00:23:32.97
and this is the thing
that kind of comes to me,
00:23:33.01\00:23:35.94
"We don't
rejoice about the trials
00:23:35.98\00:23:37.45
but about what
it develop in us."
00:23:37.48\00:23:39.61
So now let me
throw a question out.
00:23:39.65\00:23:41.62
Have you found
yourself stronger or weaker
00:23:41.65\00:23:44.65
because of trials?
00:23:44.69\00:23:46.02
Let's just kind of put that out.
00:23:46.05\00:23:47.39
Stronger.
Stronger, always stronger.
00:23:47.42\00:23:49.59
Okay, like how?
00:23:49.62\00:23:50.96
Well, in my, you
know, in my own life,
00:23:50.99\00:23:53.96
you know, a lot of times
when you go through things,
00:23:54.00\00:23:56.46
you're going to
do one of two things,
00:23:56.50\00:23:58.13
you're going to
either draw closer to God
00:23:58.17\00:23:59.53
or you got to go
further away from that.
00:23:59.57\00:24:02.24
And what I've learned
or trying to learn to do
00:24:02.27\00:24:05.37
is to spend a
lot of time in prayer
00:24:05.41\00:24:07.94
and talking to God, you know,
00:24:07.98\00:24:09.84
and that gets those
scriptures in your hearts says
00:24:09.88\00:24:12.71
"Thy word if I hid in my heart
00:24:12.75\00:24:14.28
that I might not
sin against thee."
00:24:14.32\00:24:15.98
So it's hiding those
scriptures in your heart
00:24:16.02\00:24:17.89
and just remembering
even in this God is with me
00:24:17.92\00:24:20.89
and knowing
that God is faithful,
00:24:20.92\00:24:22.26
but you don't know that
00:24:22.29\00:24:23.63
if you are
spending that time with him
00:24:23.66\00:24:25.69
and allowing him to
comfort you and strengthen you.
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.36
So just really taking...
00:24:28.40\00:24:30.33
It's helped me develop
00:24:30.37\00:24:32.87
my prayer life, my relationship,
00:24:32.90\00:24:35.57
you know, my
communion time with Him.
00:24:35.60\00:24:37.24
You said it the prayer life,
00:24:37.27\00:24:38.94
that when I'm
going through my trials,
00:24:38.97\00:24:41.14
pray, pray and pray.
00:24:41.18\00:24:43.18
You cannot pray enough.
00:24:43.21\00:24:45.21
it's like, "Oh, I
had prayed enough."
00:24:45.25\00:24:46.58
No.
00:24:46.61\00:24:47.95
Keep talking to
God, and listen to him,
00:24:47.98\00:24:49.52
he'll answer you.
00:24:49.55\00:24:50.95
Now he'll talk to you.
00:24:50.99\00:24:52.49
He'll give you answers.
00:24:52.52\00:24:53.86
He's our burden
bearer, you know, cast your...
00:24:53.89\00:24:56.39
If you care on Him,
00:24:56.42\00:24:57.76
He's saying
that, His yoke is easy,
00:24:57.79\00:25:00.30
His burden is
light and sometimes,
00:25:00.33\00:25:02.13
we're taking on that yoke,
00:25:02.16\00:25:04.13
that burden on us
instead of giving it to Him.
00:25:04.17\00:25:07.57
And so prayer is huge
00:25:07.60\00:25:10.01
when you're
going through a trial.
00:25:10.04\00:25:11.87
Trail makes God more real to us.
00:25:11.91\00:25:14.21
Yes.
00:25:14.24\00:25:16.64
How would you know
that He exists unless you
00:25:16.68\00:25:18.95
had to depend on Him?
00:25:18.98\00:25:20.78
And if we don't
have the experience
00:25:20.82\00:25:22.15
to depend on Him,
00:25:22.18\00:25:23.52
then our faith will never grow.
00:25:23.55\00:25:26.79
That's right. Okay.
00:25:26.82\00:25:28.16
When everything is perfect,
00:25:28.19\00:25:30.33
sometimes you can almost think
00:25:30.36\00:25:31.69
that you're
doing something right.
00:25:31.73\00:25:33.06
Oh, yeah.
00:25:33.09\00:25:34.43
You know, it's almost
like a self-reliance thing
00:25:34.46\00:25:36.26
which is a very
dangerous area to be in.
00:25:36.30\00:25:39.33
And, you know, those trials,
it's like exercising, you know.
00:25:39.37\00:25:42.94
When you're working out,
you're building your muscles,
00:25:42.97\00:25:45.97
your muscles are
actually being...
00:25:46.01\00:25:47.44
they're tearing
down to rebuild stronger.
00:25:47.48\00:25:50.75
So by the dependence on God
00:25:50.78\00:25:53.45
during those
trials like with faith,
00:25:53.48\00:25:55.18
I like to think of it
as being able to tolerate
00:25:55.22\00:25:57.39
uncertainty
while trusting in God.
00:25:57.42\00:25:59.25
You know, trusting
00:25:59.29\00:26:00.62
that He has your best
interest at heart and trusting
00:26:00.66\00:26:02.86
that He is going to deliver
you from that trial and see you
00:26:02.89\00:26:06.96
through and has
something way better for you.
00:26:07.00\00:26:10.07
When you look at
the story of Joseph,
00:26:10.10\00:26:12.00
you know, Joseph
was sold into captivity
00:26:12.03\00:26:14.40
to slavery by his brothers,
00:26:14.44\00:26:16.60
you know, ended up in
jail and everything else,
00:26:16.64\00:26:20.01
and then he ended
up second in command.
00:26:20.04\00:26:22.91
That's right.
00:26:22.94\00:26:24.35
You know. From pits to palaces.
00:26:24.38\00:26:26.18
Yes. And you look at Job.
00:26:26.21\00:26:28.25
I mean, here's a man
00:26:28.28\00:26:29.62
who was great in
God's eyes, you know.
00:26:29.65\00:26:33.52
And he went through trial
00:26:33.56\00:26:35.52
after trial after trial
after trial after trial,
00:26:35.56\00:26:38.16
God would only allow
the devil to go but so far.
00:26:38.19\00:26:40.73
That's right.
00:26:40.76\00:26:42.10
You can't have
his life, you know.
00:26:42.13\00:26:43.83
He would only let
him go but so far.
00:26:43.87\00:26:45.83
And at the end of that,
God blessed him with like,
00:26:45.87\00:26:49.00
what was it?
00:26:49.04\00:26:50.37
Double of everything,
more than what he had before.
00:26:50.41\00:26:54.64
I mean, so the
trial, in the midst of it,
00:26:54.68\00:26:59.21
it might break
you down a little bit.
00:26:59.25\00:27:00.65
Yeah.
00:27:00.68\00:27:02.02
But if you place
your trust in the Lord,
00:27:02.05\00:27:04.62
if you continue to seek
Him in the midst of the trial,
00:27:04.65\00:27:08.36
you will come
out so much stronger.
00:27:08.39\00:27:10.23
And after my trials, I've
come out so much stronger,
00:27:10.26\00:27:14.03
you know, because I
can reflect and retrospect.
00:27:14.06\00:27:16.80
I'm looking at how
God's hand was on my life
00:27:16.83\00:27:18.90
the whole way through
even when I was doing wrong.
00:27:18.93\00:27:21.87
I see the things
that He protected me from.
00:27:21.90\00:27:23.77
That's right.
00:27:23.81\00:27:25.14
And that just makes me love Him
00:27:25.17\00:27:26.74
and appreciate
Him that much more.
00:27:26.78\00:27:28.74
To him that much is forgiven...
00:27:28.78\00:27:33.21
Much is required. Yeah.
00:27:33.25\00:27:35.08
And He also loves...
00:27:35.12\00:27:37.32
Almost specifically to Him,
00:27:37.35\00:27:38.69
"Who's forgiven
much, loveth much."
00:27:38.72\00:27:40.16
Loveth much, yes, there we go.
00:27:40.19\00:27:42.06
Yes.
00:27:42.09\00:27:43.43
I mean, that's
why I'm so passionate
00:27:43.46\00:27:44.79
about sharing Christ
with so many other people
00:27:44.83\00:27:47.00
because I don't
deserve any of the stuff
00:27:47.03\00:27:49.16
that He has
blessed me with, period.
00:27:49.20\00:27:51.27
Yeah, we don't, none of us do.
00:27:51.30\00:27:52.90
What I'm hearing
when you say I want go...
00:27:52.93\00:27:54.44
because what you
just mentioned here,
00:27:54.47\00:27:56.47
we could all understand this.
00:27:56.50\00:27:57.84
Trails sometimes break you down
00:27:57.87\00:27:59.21
but if you're using the
muscle building example,
00:27:59.24\00:28:01.24
you've got to
break the muscle down
00:28:01.28\00:28:02.61
to build it up.
00:28:02.64\00:28:03.98
That's right.
00:28:04.01\00:28:05.35
So sometimes
the Lord says to us,
00:28:05.38\00:28:06.72
"You're not studying
your Bible as you should."
00:28:06.75\00:28:08.18
Yeah. "You need the trail."
00:28:08.22\00:28:10.45
And the Devil has a
conversation with Him,
00:28:10.49\00:28:12.05
he says, "And think about this.
00:28:12.09\00:28:13.96
Does he serve you for nothing?"
00:28:13.99\00:28:16.29
Didn't he say
that about Job? Yeah.
00:28:16.32\00:28:18.33
"I bet you if
you let me touch him,
00:28:18.36\00:28:19.76
he will curse you to
your face and die" God says,
00:28:19.79\00:28:24.93
"All right, do
everything but take his life."
00:28:24.97\00:28:28.34
And that's a
scary prospect. It is.
00:28:28.37\00:28:30.27
Because, you know, that means,
00:28:30.31\00:28:32.57
take him within
the inch of his life
00:28:32.61\00:28:36.14
but you can't take his life.
00:28:36.18\00:28:37.58
Yes. Mercy.
00:28:37.61\00:28:38.95
And trials
sometimes can take you
00:28:38.98\00:28:40.32
within the inch of your life.
00:28:40.35\00:28:41.68
Oh, yes.
Emotionally, spiritually.
00:28:41.72\00:28:43.69
But then...
00:28:43.72\00:28:45.05
Physically. Physically.
00:28:45.09\00:28:46.42
Your health. Your health.
00:28:46.45\00:28:47.92
It could break you down
00:28:47.96\00:28:49.29
but then when
you come through it,
00:28:49.32\00:28:51.23
the next verse kind of...
00:28:51.26\00:28:53.63
the next verse, James 1:2-4,
00:28:53.66\00:28:55.70
I ask my wife to
read out what's here,
00:28:55.73\00:28:57.20
it's in our syllabus.
00:28:57.23\00:28:58.63
The next verse in James,
when you come through it,
00:28:58.67\00:29:01.27
this verse kind of
makes a difference here.
00:29:01.30\00:29:03.41
"My brethren, count it all joy
00:29:03.44\00:29:06.44
when you fall
into various trials,
00:29:06.47\00:29:09.41
knowing that the
testing of your faith
00:29:09.44\00:29:11.91
produces patience.
00:29:11.95\00:29:13.92
But let patience
have its perfect work,
00:29:13.95\00:29:17.99
that you may be perfect
and complete lacking nothing."
00:29:18.02\00:29:22.89
So, is it possible then
that the Lord could say to us,
00:29:22.92\00:29:25.53
"You're lacking
something, you need...
00:29:25.56\00:29:28.33
Okay, okay, go ahead
and put him in the furnace.
00:29:28.36\00:29:32.53
Go ahead and put
him in the lions den.
00:29:32.57\00:29:34.94
Go ahead and get on the lake,
00:29:34.97\00:29:36.30
I'm not going with you
00:29:36.34\00:29:37.67
'cause you're gonna
need me in a little bit."
00:29:37.71\00:29:39.41
It could be that
sometimes in our walk with God,
00:29:39.44\00:29:40.88
we're lacking something...
00:29:40.91\00:29:42.24
Absolutely.
00:29:42.28\00:29:43.61
But when you go
through the trials,
00:29:43.65\00:29:44.98
I love that it says,
00:29:45.01\00:29:46.35
"And the testing of your
faith produces patience."
00:29:46.38\00:29:48.88
When patience
work, what happens?
00:29:48.92\00:29:52.09
You come out perfect
and complete lacking what?
00:29:52.12\00:29:54.89
Nothing. Wow.
00:29:54.92\00:29:57.19
So basically,
trails are there to show us
00:29:57.23\00:30:00.53
sometimes
what's in us, you know.
00:30:00.56\00:30:02.96
Say it again.
00:30:03.00\00:30:04.33
Trials come about
00:30:04.37\00:30:05.80
so that we can see what's in us.
00:30:05.83\00:30:08.07
Be it impatience, be
it selfishness, be it,
00:30:08.10\00:30:11.94
you know, animosity, bitterness,
00:30:11.97\00:30:15.38
it tends to
bring up all that stuff
00:30:15.41\00:30:19.85
that's down in us
that we thought we'd...
00:30:19.88\00:30:22.32
that we thought
we had gotten rid of.
00:30:22.35\00:30:24.42
Because it's easy to be
right when things are right.
00:30:24.45\00:30:26.79
Yeah. Absolutely.
00:30:26.82\00:30:28.16
So like when you
take a look at...
00:30:28.19\00:30:30.63
here's a
practical example for you.
00:30:30.66\00:30:32.29
When you take a
look at a business,
00:30:32.33\00:30:35.33
everybody's friendly, smiling,
everything's going well,
00:30:35.36\00:30:38.37
you know, you
really see customer service
00:30:38.40\00:30:42.77
when things are going wrong.
00:30:42.80\00:30:45.14
How well a company performs
when things are going wrong.
00:30:45.17\00:30:47.84
When they've
wronged an individual,
00:30:47.88\00:30:49.34
how do they make that right?
00:30:49.38\00:30:50.91
What types of things
come out in that situation
00:30:50.95\00:30:54.32
or when you're driving?
00:30:54.35\00:30:55.68
I think Pastor Bradshaw said...
00:30:55.72\00:30:57.05
Or in the restaurant.
00:30:57.09\00:30:58.42
Oh, yeah,
restaurant, people and food
00:30:58.45\00:30:59.79
Yeah.
00:30:59.82\00:31:01.16
But when I think
Pastor Bradshaw said
00:31:01.19\00:31:03.02
this at camp meeting.
00:31:03.06\00:31:04.39
He was talking
about when you're driving
00:31:04.43\00:31:05.76
and somebody cut you off,
how do you respond to that?
00:31:05.79\00:31:08.46
Absolutely. Yeah.
00:31:08.50\00:31:09.83
I need some prayer...
00:31:09.86\00:31:12.37
because I get frustrate.
00:31:12.40\00:31:15.50
But, I mean, you know,
00:31:15.54\00:31:16.97
those are the
times where you see,
00:31:17.01\00:31:19.41
I mean, your need for Christ.
00:31:19.44\00:31:21.81
Yeah.
00:31:21.84\00:31:23.18
I like what
you're saying, Marlena.
00:31:23.21\00:31:24.81
Trials, and I want
to say this, trials,
00:31:24.85\00:31:27.38
while they to some
degree develop in us,
00:31:27.42\00:31:31.69
they reveal who we are.
00:31:31.72\00:31:33.05
Yes. Yeah.
00:31:33.09\00:31:34.56
That's the first thing,
before they develop anything,
00:31:34.59\00:31:37.03
they reveal who we are.
00:31:37.06\00:31:38.39
Absolutely.
00:31:38.43\00:31:39.76
And then when we
find out who we are,
00:31:39.79\00:31:42.16
then we see our
need and then the Lord...
00:31:42.20\00:31:45.63
Go to God. Say it again, honey.
00:31:45.67\00:31:47.00
Oh, wretched man that I am,
00:31:47.04\00:31:48.70
who shall deliver me, oh, woman.
00:31:48.74\00:31:50.07
Yeah.
00:31:50.11\00:31:51.44
And then you can
go to God in prayer
00:31:51.47\00:31:52.81
and then study of
your scriptures and say,
00:31:52.84\00:31:54.18
"Okay, Lord, you show
me this, this is in me.
00:31:54.21\00:31:57.31
And I need you to
help me with this.
00:31:57.35\00:31:59.15
I need you to help
me to get rid of this.
00:31:59.18\00:32:01.58
I need you to take this
and I need you to make me
00:32:01.62\00:32:03.55
that new creature
that you desire me to be."
00:32:03.59\00:32:05.02
Yes.
00:32:05.05\00:32:06.39
Because a lot of times people
could just get upset with God
00:32:06.42\00:32:07.89
and say, "You know,
00:32:07.92\00:32:09.26
you didn't have to
show me that about me."
00:32:09.29\00:32:11.49
And some people
turn their backs on God.
00:32:11.53\00:32:12.93
Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:12.96\00:32:14.30
Because they don't
want to see who they are.
00:32:14.33\00:32:16.16
The sad reality of it is
the Lord allows these trials
00:32:16.20\00:32:19.13
so that the dross, all the dirt,
00:32:19.17\00:32:21.44
all the junk that's in
the gold could be melted out.
00:32:21.47\00:32:23.87
Yes.
00:32:23.91\00:32:25.24
And so He
wouldn't put us in a fire,
00:32:25.27\00:32:26.78
He wouldn't even let
us go through fiery trial
00:32:26.81\00:32:28.74
if He didn't see us as gold.
00:32:28.78\00:32:30.41
That's right.
00:32:30.45\00:32:31.78
But He puts us in,
00:32:31.81\00:32:33.15
He allows us to go through these
00:32:33.18\00:32:34.58
so that His glory
might be revealed.
00:32:34.62\00:32:35.98
You want to say something, Gary,
00:32:36.02\00:32:37.35
before we go to the next
00:32:37.39\00:32:38.72
because I see you
percolating right here.
00:32:38.75\00:32:40.72
Well, I was...
00:32:40.76\00:32:42.09
The Lord gave me
preparation for this study,
00:32:42.12\00:32:44.76
the illustration of
Joshua and the high priest
00:32:44.79\00:32:49.96
being accused by Satan.
00:32:50.00\00:32:52.40
And I think, you know,
00:32:52.43\00:32:53.77
if people watching
this could go find the book
00:32:53.80\00:32:56.47
'Prophets and Kings'
00:32:56.50\00:32:57.84
and look at the
chapter Joshua and the angel.
00:32:57.87\00:33:00.88
It's...
00:33:00.91\00:33:02.34
I feel like it goes hand in hand
00:33:02.38\00:33:03.98
because Satan is accusing us
of the wrongs to discourage us
00:33:04.01\00:33:09.12
and then condemn us before God.
00:33:09.15\00:33:11.55
And that has to
do with the trials
00:33:11.59\00:33:12.95
we're
experiencing on this earth.
00:33:12.99\00:33:14.32
As we're going
through these trials,
00:33:14.36\00:33:16.42
Satan is accusing us
00:33:16.46\00:33:17.79
as we may fall
during the trials.
00:33:17.83\00:33:20.33
But what's
interesting is that Satan knows
00:33:20.36\00:33:21.96
that those who ask God
00:33:22.00\00:33:23.43
for pardon and
grace will obtain it.
00:33:23.47\00:33:25.63
Therefore, he
presents their sins
00:33:25.67\00:33:27.20
before them to discourage them
00:33:27.24\00:33:29.37
against those who
are trying to obey God,
00:33:29.40\00:33:31.17
he constantly seeking
occasions for complaint
00:33:31.21\00:33:34.08
even their best and
most acceptable service
00:33:34.11\00:33:36.34
he seeks to make a pure
corrupt by countless devices,
00:33:36.38\00:33:39.68
the most subtle
and the most cruel
00:33:39.71\00:33:41.52
he endeavors to
secure their condemnation.
00:33:41.55\00:33:43.49
So Satan is constantly accusing,
00:33:43.52\00:33:44.85
he's accuser of brethren.
00:33:44.89\00:33:46.22
So these trials
00:33:46.25\00:33:47.59
that we're
experiencing are like,
00:33:47.62\00:33:48.96
we've been talking about,
00:33:48.99\00:33:50.33
they reveal the character
that God is building in us.
00:33:50.36\00:33:53.26
And Satan wants to make us
fall in those moments of trial
00:33:53.29\00:33:57.33
because then he can accuse.
00:33:57.37\00:33:58.70
But the beautiful thing is
God has promised that pardon
00:33:58.73\00:34:04.07
when we fall in the temptation
and trials and restoration.
00:34:04.11\00:34:09.61
Amen. Amen.
00:34:09.64\00:34:10.98
And the point
you brought out here
00:34:11.01\00:34:12.35
is Satan doesn't
like the restoration.
00:34:12.38\00:34:14.32
No. No.
00:34:14.35\00:34:15.68
He does not want the character
of Christ to reveal in us.
00:34:15.72\00:34:18.62
He hates Christ and
he hates that character.
00:34:18.65\00:34:21.52
And he wants to
obliterate that from us,
00:34:21.56\00:34:23.29
that's why the world
is so messed up today.
00:34:23.32\00:34:25.43
Wow. Accuser of all brethren.
00:34:25.46\00:34:28.86
I had you read the
last one, I want to have...
00:34:28.90\00:34:31.30
Marlena, read...
00:34:31.33\00:34:32.90
it's in our text number four.
00:34:32.93\00:34:34.97
What are some
00:34:35.00\00:34:36.34
of the good
results of tribulations?
00:34:36.37\00:34:37.71
Romans 5:3-4.
00:34:37.74\00:34:39.34
It says that,
"And not only that,
00:34:39.37\00:34:40.81
but we also
glory in tribulations,
00:34:40.84\00:34:43.58
knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance,
00:34:43.61\00:34:47.05
and perseverance,
character, and character, hope."
00:34:47.08\00:34:50.55
Wow. See the end result of it?
00:34:50.59\00:34:52.55
Tribulation produces patience,
00:34:52.59\00:34:54.96
tribulation
produces perseverance.
00:34:54.99\00:34:56.32
What's perseverance?
00:34:56.36\00:34:58.29
Stick to it. Stick to it.
00:34:58.33\00:35:00.03
Don't give up, Don't give up.
00:35:00.06\00:35:02.10
I know what the devil's
saying, I know you hear,
00:35:02.13\00:35:04.57
curse God and die, just...
00:35:04.60\00:35:07.24
He throws your sins at you.
00:35:07.27\00:35:08.60
Walk away from it,
00:35:08.64\00:35:09.97
Ain't worthy of me
being around, people are...
00:35:10.01\00:35:12.47
You know, persevere,
you've got to go through that,
00:35:12.51\00:35:14.44
there's that the guy
00:35:14.48\00:35:15.81
that's hanging on
the edge of the cliff
00:35:15.84\00:35:17.18
by just a few fingers and
he looks below and said...
00:35:17.21\00:35:20.78
and the devil says,
00:35:20.82\00:35:22.15
"How simple it
is, do not struggle,
00:35:22.18\00:35:23.52
just let go."
00:35:23.55\00:35:25.32
But Galatians 6:9 says this,
00:35:25.35\00:35:27.59
"And let us not be
weary in well doing
00:35:27.62\00:35:29.66
but in due season, we
shall reap if we faint not."
00:35:29.69\00:35:33.23
That's right, if
you don't give in.
00:35:33.26\00:35:34.60
Yeah.
00:35:34.63\00:35:35.96
And then at the end
of it, perseverance,
00:35:36.00\00:35:37.87
character and character, hope.
00:35:37.90\00:35:39.53
So when you see
that through this,
00:35:39.57\00:35:41.67
your character gets developed.
00:35:41.70\00:35:43.37
You start feeling,
00:35:43.41\00:35:44.74
"Wow, if it had not
been for that trail."
00:35:44.77\00:35:47.41
Right. Yeah, yeah.
00:35:47.44\00:35:48.78
Yeah. That's made you stronger.
00:35:48.81\00:35:50.75
Yeah. It burns
away all the dust.
00:35:50.78\00:35:53.01
Absolutely. It
burns away all the dust.
00:35:53.05\00:35:55.25
Wow, this is a topic
that needs two hours.
00:35:55.28\00:35:57.75
And it's because He loves us,
00:35:57.79\00:35:59.25
it's because He
wants to take us home
00:35:59.29\00:36:01.66
that He allows these things,
00:36:01.69\00:36:03.93
you know, to refine us
because He wants us ready.
00:36:03.96\00:36:06.53
He wants...
00:36:06.56\00:36:07.90
when He comes, He
wants to see Him in us.
00:36:07.93\00:36:10.93
That's right.
00:36:10.97\00:36:12.30
And so it's because He
loves us that we go through...
00:36:12.33\00:36:15.60
He allows us to go
through these things.
00:36:15.64\00:36:17.84
Through much tribulation,
we will enter the kingdom.
00:36:17.87\00:36:20.18
And didn't Jesus go
through trial for us?
00:36:20.21\00:36:22.31
He says, "I've written
you on the palms of my hands."
00:36:22.34\00:36:25.41
He went through the
ultimate trial for us.
00:36:25.45\00:36:26.78
He did. Absolutely.
00:36:26.82\00:36:28.15
And that's how much He loves us.
00:36:28.18\00:36:29.52
Wow.
00:36:29.55\00:36:30.89
The green tree
as the Bible says.
00:36:30.92\00:36:32.32
Talk about that.
Oh, you talk about it.
00:36:32.35\00:36:34.56
The green tree, He's
the green tree, right?
00:36:34.59\00:36:36.32
He's ripe.
00:36:36.36\00:36:37.69
And Jesus said,
00:36:37.73\00:36:39.06
if they do these
things to a green tree...
00:36:39.09\00:36:40.63
Absolutely.
00:36:40.66\00:36:42.00
That's a tree
that's producing fruit.
00:36:42.03\00:36:43.67
What would they do to a
tree that's not producing fruit?
00:36:43.70\00:36:45.63
Have mercy.
00:36:45.67\00:36:47.00
If they do this to me,
00:36:47.04\00:36:48.37
and I haven't
done anything wrong,
00:36:48.40\00:36:50.71
don't complain when
they do something to you
00:36:50.74\00:36:52.67
because you are
nothing but a sinner.
00:36:52.71\00:36:55.41
So we see that those things...
00:36:55.44\00:36:57.85
and you just said this
under your breath there
00:36:57.88\00:36:59.85
but Acts 14:22,
what does that say?
00:36:59.88\00:37:04.95
"We must
through much tribulation
00:37:04.99\00:37:07.86
enter the Kingdom of God."
00:37:07.89\00:37:10.16
Much. Much, many tribulations.
00:37:10.19\00:37:11.76
The apostles...
00:37:11.79\00:37:13.19
look at that, look at David,
we're reading now, aren't we?
00:37:13.23\00:37:17.17
Yeah, we were in David now.
00:37:17.20\00:37:18.90
David and Saul,
that's like a saga,
00:37:18.93\00:37:21.80
Saul's hatred of David.
00:37:21.84\00:37:23.17
Yeah.
00:37:23.20\00:37:24.54
David is there playing
his harp and flute for Saul
00:37:24.57\00:37:28.14
and Saul ups and
throws the javelin at him.
00:37:28.18\00:37:31.75
And we read in
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:37:31.78\00:37:33.98
Ellen White says,
00:37:34.02\00:37:35.35
had it not been for
the angel of the Lord,
00:37:35.38\00:37:36.72
who redirected the javelin
00:37:36.75\00:37:38.85
so it would not
pierce through David.
00:37:38.89\00:37:40.22
Yeah.
00:37:40.26\00:37:41.59
The angel redirected the javelin
00:37:41.62\00:37:43.39
so it would not
pin David to the wall.
00:37:43.43\00:37:45.73
And then David goes after Saul
00:37:45.76\00:37:48.03
because he prays, "Lord,
deliver him into my hand."
00:37:48.06\00:37:51.10
And he climbs to
tip of his garment
00:37:51.13\00:37:53.37
and he sees Saul and he says,
"Why are you trying to kill me.
00:37:53.40\00:37:57.67
Do you not know..."
00:37:57.71\00:37:59.04
David said, "Do you not
know the Lord delivered you
00:37:59.07\00:38:01.11
into my hand?
00:38:01.14\00:38:02.48
Here's a piece of your garments.
00:38:02.51\00:38:04.08
I could have killed you.
00:38:04.11\00:38:05.71
And you still...
00:38:05.75\00:38:07.08
have I done
anything wrong to you?"
00:38:07.12\00:38:09.35
And there's
some people in trials
00:38:09.38\00:38:10.82
that just won't leave you alone.
00:38:10.85\00:38:13.15
Yes.
00:38:13.19\00:38:14.52
Because the devil
is in their hearts
00:38:14.56\00:38:15.89
because we all know
eventually Saul rejected Christ,
00:38:15.92\00:38:19.09
I mean, God rejected him
00:38:19.13\00:38:21.06
but he had his
hatred toward David.
00:38:21.10\00:38:25.33
And I think the text
that we were just talking,
00:38:25.37\00:38:27.57
"All that live godly in
Christ Jesus shall," what?
00:38:27.60\00:38:29.90
Suffer persecution.
00:38:29.94\00:38:31.27
It was the God in
David that he hated.
00:38:31.31\00:38:34.18
It was not David but
the God in David that...
00:38:34.21\00:38:35.98
People that are
living in darkness
00:38:36.01\00:38:37.41
feel uncomfortable in light,
00:38:37.45\00:38:39.08
you know, you
go around people...
00:38:39.11\00:38:42.85
you go around that use profanity
00:38:42.88\00:38:44.79
and stuff like that
00:38:44.82\00:38:46.15
and they see a
difference in you,
00:38:46.19\00:38:47.52
they feel bad for
using profanity around you.
00:38:47.56\00:38:50.59
Yeah.
00:38:50.63\00:38:51.96
And they somehow try
to make you feel bad,
00:38:51.99\00:38:54.46
you know, it's like,
they twist it on you,
00:38:54.50\00:38:56.67
"Oh, you're too
good to hang with us."
00:38:56.70\00:38:58.80
Or, you know. Yeah.
00:38:58.83\00:39:00.17
You know, so "No, well,
you're not the one for me
00:39:00.20\00:39:03.24
because I need somebody
that does this, this and this,
00:39:03.27\00:39:06.24
you know, and you
don't do that kind of stuff,
00:39:06.27\00:39:08.51
so you know."
00:39:08.54\00:39:11.11
They make you feel bad
00:39:11.15\00:39:12.48
because you
want to follow Christ
00:39:12.51\00:39:13.85
and you want to do things right.
00:39:13.88\00:39:15.95
That's okay,
we're in good company...
00:39:15.98\00:39:17.99
But I want to
flip the scripture on,
00:39:18.02\00:39:20.02
you know, because here's
the text that Romans 8:35,
00:39:20.06\00:39:23.43
it's under
section number six here
00:39:23.46\00:39:25.69
because this is a big
challenge to many of us.
00:39:25.73\00:39:30.93
Romans 8:35,
Jason, read that for us.
00:39:30.97\00:39:32.67
Sure.
00:39:32.70\00:39:34.04
"Who shall
separate us from the..."
00:39:34.07\00:39:35.64
Do a little slower.
00:39:35.67\00:39:37.01
"Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ,
00:39:37.04\00:39:40.58
shall tribulation or distress
or persecution or famine
00:39:40.61\00:39:44.85
or nakedness or peril or sword?"
00:39:44.88\00:39:47.82
So the questions,
00:39:47.85\00:39:49.88
what are you going
to let separate you?
00:39:49.92\00:39:52.09
Nothing. That's huge.
00:39:52.12\00:39:54.19
We shouldn't let
nothing. Say that again.
00:39:54.22\00:39:56.46
We shouldn't let
nothing separate us.
00:39:56.49\00:39:58.79
We will go through trails,
00:39:58.83\00:40:00.63
everyone goes through trails
00:40:00.66\00:40:02.63
but it is who you're looking to,
00:40:02.66\00:40:04.00
who you're holding onto.
00:40:04.03\00:40:05.83
As you said that
cliff thing, hold on.
00:40:05.87\00:40:09.24
Sometimes it seems like
you're in the last grasp,
00:40:09.27\00:40:12.14
you just about to fall
00:40:12.17\00:40:14.01
but you're not going to
fall if you hold onto Jesus.
00:40:14.04\00:40:16.01
He's carrying you.
00:40:16.04\00:40:17.38
Do you ever heard of footsteps,
footprints in the sand?
00:40:17.41\00:40:20.78
You think you
were walking alone?
00:40:20.82\00:40:22.25
He was holding you.
00:40:22.28\00:40:23.62
He's the one
that was carrying you.
00:40:23.65\00:40:25.29
And it reminds me of that
00:40:25.32\00:40:26.65
when you're
going through trials,
00:40:26.69\00:40:28.02
Jesus is carrying you.
00:40:28.06\00:40:29.79
We feel like we're
hanging over the cliff.
00:40:29.82\00:40:31.79
It's not us hanging
on, He's hanging onto us.
00:40:31.83\00:40:33.90
He's the one that
has his hand over us.
00:40:33.93\00:40:35.60
Yes. Thank you, Lord.
00:40:35.63\00:40:36.97
You know, you think
you're holding onto a rock
00:40:37.00\00:40:39.23
when in fact, the
rock is holding you.
00:40:39.27\00:40:41.07
Absolutely. Oh, yes.
00:40:41.10\00:40:42.44
You know, you don't
see that unseen hand
00:40:42.47\00:40:45.74
is there cradling you
00:40:45.77\00:40:47.11
because we met
people through the years,
00:40:47.14\00:40:48.48
my wife and I know this.
00:40:48.51\00:40:49.84
We've traveled to from places,
00:40:49.88\00:40:51.21
we met people
that have walked away
00:40:51.25\00:40:52.58
from the church.
00:40:52.61\00:40:53.95
And we said,
00:40:53.98\00:40:55.32
"Now, why did you
leave, tell me why you left?"
00:40:55.35\00:40:56.69
"Well, you know,
00:40:56.72\00:40:58.05
the pastor offended
me one Sabbath morning."
00:40:58.09\00:40:59.42
And I'm waiting
for the rest of story
00:40:59.45\00:41:00.79
and, "What happened?"
00:41:00.82\00:41:02.16
"Well, he kind of
didn't like the hymn I played,
00:41:02.19\00:41:03.53
so he just said,
play another hymn
00:41:03.56\00:41:04.89
and I was preparing all Sabbath
00:41:04.93\00:41:06.26
for that hymn and
he changed it on me."
00:41:06.29\00:41:07.63
"And how many years ago was it?
00:41:07.66\00:41:09.80
How many years ago was this?
00:41:09.83\00:41:11.17
You left the church
00:41:11.20\00:41:12.53
because the pastor
didn't like the hymn
00:41:12.57\00:41:13.90
and he asked you to change it
and you left because of that?"
00:41:13.94\00:41:16.14
And they're looking around like,
00:41:16.17\00:41:17.94
"Is there any more to my story.
00:41:17.97\00:41:19.97
I actually left for that?"
00:41:20.01\00:41:22.14
But the good news is we met
these people in South Dakota,
00:41:22.18\00:41:25.05
I think it was.
00:41:25.08\00:41:26.41
And we went there not
knowing we would meet them
00:41:26.45\00:41:29.38
but we now knew
00:41:29.42\00:41:30.75
why the Lord
allowed us to go there.
00:41:30.79\00:41:32.12
We met these three people,
00:41:32.15\00:41:33.49
they gave us their stories
as to why they left the church
00:41:33.52\00:41:35.22
and we looked at
them like, "And?"
00:41:35.26\00:41:37.43
Yeah.
00:41:37.46\00:41:38.79
And the good news is though,
00:41:38.83\00:41:40.16
we've got some letters from them
00:41:40.20\00:41:41.53
later on that said
they're all back in church.
00:41:41.56\00:41:42.90
That's right.
00:41:42.93\00:41:44.27
And so, that's why
this question is huge.
00:41:44.30\00:41:46.17
Who shall
separate you from the...
00:41:46.20\00:41:48.90
separate us from
the love of Christ?
00:41:48.94\00:41:50.27
And who is a
person instead of what.
00:41:50.31\00:41:54.14
Now, there's a reason
this text says, "Who?"
00:41:54.18\00:41:57.58
Okay. The 'Who' is us.
00:41:57.61\00:42:00.52
We are the only ones
00:42:00.55\00:42:02.05
that can separate
ourselves from Christ
00:42:02.08\00:42:04.15
because the Word of God says,
00:42:04.19\00:42:05.55
"He will never
leave us or forsake us."
00:42:05.59\00:42:06.99
That's right.
00:42:07.02\00:42:08.36
So it's only with us
walking away from Him
00:42:08.39\00:42:10.76
that we separate
from that protection
00:42:10.79\00:42:14.26
and from that person
that will get us through it.
00:42:14.30\00:42:17.77
And sometimes that
00:42:17.80\00:42:19.13
"Who" could be
somebody in your life, you know.
00:42:19.17\00:42:21.74
Some people go
through marriages and divorces
00:42:21.77\00:42:25.17
or children walk away
00:42:25.21\00:42:26.61
from their parents
and they're separated,
00:42:26.64\00:42:30.28
but you can't stop praying
for them, you can't stop.
00:42:30.31\00:42:33.42
If you have a child that's
not with the Lord anymore,
00:42:33.45\00:42:36.55
we can't stop praying for them.
00:42:36.58\00:42:38.02
But we can't let them
take us away from Christ.
00:42:38.05\00:42:41.36
We can't let those
situations separate us.
00:42:41.39\00:42:42.72
No, but some people do. Yeah.
00:42:42.76\00:42:44.86
And sometimes,
it's a big choice,
00:42:44.89\00:42:48.40
you know, sometimes
00:42:48.43\00:42:49.76
because you're forced to choose.
00:42:49.80\00:42:52.00
But I'd rather choose
someone who knows my future
00:42:52.03\00:42:55.20
and has a great
plan for my life.
00:42:55.24\00:42:57.27
Somebody told
me, "I'm mad at God.
00:42:57.31\00:42:59.04
I'm mad at God,"
00:42:59.07\00:43:00.74
because of the person
00:43:00.78\00:43:02.88
they wanted and
the Lord said, "No."
00:43:02.91\00:43:05.75
So they're mad at God.
00:43:05.78\00:43:07.42
How could you be mad at God?
00:43:07.45\00:43:08.78
What do you say
when they're mad at God?
00:43:08.82\00:43:10.72
If you mad at God,
who are you talking to?
00:43:10.75\00:43:12.92
You only got two
choices, God or the devil.
00:43:16.16\00:43:19.06
So you and Devil
having cocktails at night,
00:43:19.09\00:43:21.03
"Man, God is
really upset with you.
00:43:21.06\00:43:22.40
He's upset with me too."
00:43:22.43\00:43:24.03
No, not really. And so, Gary?
00:43:24.07\00:43:26.10
Well, I don't think
we can stress enough
00:43:26.13\00:43:28.40
the love of God in
the face of trials.
00:43:28.44\00:43:32.81
My experience has
been that I would feel
00:43:32.84\00:43:35.61
the condemnation
of my wrong actions
00:43:35.64\00:43:38.65
and Satan would
really pile on that
00:43:38.68\00:43:40.65
and so I just felt like,
00:43:40.68\00:43:42.18
I was forsaken of God
00:43:42.22\00:43:43.55
because it was so
filthy, you know, my clothing,
00:43:43.59\00:43:46.99
my righteousness is so filthy.
00:43:47.02\00:43:49.49
And it wasn't until I
realized just how much God
00:43:49.52\00:43:51.49
actually does
love us, individually.
00:43:51.53\00:43:55.96
I saw a program on
our Kids Network channel
00:43:56.00\00:43:58.17
where the camera pulls
back from space to show,
00:43:58.20\00:44:00.90
you know, how
massive the universe is.
00:44:00.94\00:44:03.67
And yet, when you pull back
00:44:03.71\00:44:05.27
and you see the
edge of the universe
00:44:05.31\00:44:06.64
and you see all
the things God created,
00:44:06.68\00:44:09.38
it does make us ask like David,
00:44:09.41\00:44:10.75
you know, "What is man
that God is mindful us?"
00:44:10.78\00:44:13.31
And yet the
answer is He Loves us.
00:44:13.35\00:44:16.18
He is intimately, you know,
00:44:16.22\00:44:18.25
acquainted with each of
us in our lives and stuff.
00:44:18.29\00:44:20.19
And in those
trials that we go through,
00:44:20.22\00:44:22.19
He really does care,
He really is there for us.
00:44:22.22\00:44:25.56
He really wants
to see us succeed
00:44:25.59\00:44:27.50
in those trials and
then to bless others
00:44:27.53\00:44:29.46
when we do come
through those trials.
00:44:29.50\00:44:31.03
It's like a parent,
00:44:31.07\00:44:32.40
they want the best
for their children, right?
00:44:32.43\00:44:33.77
Absolutely.
00:44:33.80\00:44:35.14
You want the best for
your children as a parent.
00:44:35.17\00:44:36.87
You want them to do well.
00:44:36.91\00:44:38.44
So sometimes when you're trying
to hold on to those things
00:44:38.47\00:44:41.04
that Christ, you know,
is telling us to let go off,
00:44:41.08\00:44:44.18
we get hurt, we get damaged.
00:44:44.21\00:44:45.88
We go through all
those trials and persecution,
00:44:45.91\00:44:48.68
everything that comes with it
00:44:48.72\00:44:50.05
because we're trying to
hold on and God is saying,
00:44:50.09\00:44:52.09
"Hey, don't worry about it.
00:44:52.12\00:44:53.46
I got this.
00:44:53.49\00:44:54.82
But I need you to let go,
00:44:54.86\00:44:56.19
I need you to just let me do it
00:44:56.22\00:44:57.69
but you got to let go
and just let me take it."
00:44:57.73\00:45:00.10
Exactly. You know.
00:45:00.13\00:45:01.46
Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:01.50\00:45:02.83
I like what you're saying, Gary,
00:45:02.86\00:45:04.20
because like,
00:45:04.23\00:45:05.57
basically when you
go through a trial,
00:45:05.60\00:45:06.94
your trial could be a
blessing to somebody else.
00:45:06.97\00:45:09.40
You know, we
all have a ministry,
00:45:09.44\00:45:11.77
you know,
everybody has a ministry.
00:45:11.81\00:45:13.78
Those that are at home watching
and partaking in this worship,
00:45:13.81\00:45:18.15
they have a ministry as well.
00:45:18.18\00:45:19.98
And we can all
reach different people,
00:45:20.02\00:45:24.35
you know, you might be able
to reach people that I can't
00:45:24.39\00:45:27.56
or I might be
able to reach people
00:45:27.59\00:45:29.12
that you can't
like if there's somebody
00:45:29.16\00:45:30.96
who was struggling
with drugs or selling drugs
00:45:30.99\00:45:33.33
or whatever,
00:45:33.36\00:45:34.70
I might be able to
speak to that person
00:45:34.73\00:45:36.83
because I have a
frame of reference,
00:45:36.87\00:45:39.63
you know, and vice versa.
00:45:39.67\00:45:44.01
So sometimes our trials can
be somebody else's blessings.
00:45:44.04\00:45:47.94
Amen.
00:45:47.98\00:45:49.31
Maybe a little quick
testimony if I could.
00:45:49.34\00:45:50.68
Sure.
00:45:50.71\00:45:52.05
When Lord was
bringing me back to His,
00:45:52.08\00:45:55.85
you know, church and everything,
00:45:55.88\00:45:57.82
I was really excited
00:45:57.85\00:45:59.19
and I wanted to
evangelize my community.
00:45:59.22\00:46:01.66
So I went and bought a
series, evangelic series,
00:46:01.69\00:46:03.99
and our community
had a movie theater.
00:46:04.03\00:46:06.16
And so I went to the
print shop with my own money
00:46:06.19\00:46:08.70
and I printed up
flyers and my kids
00:46:08.73\00:46:10.67
and I went to every
door in the neighborhood
00:46:10.70\00:46:12.67
and we were going to
evangelize our neighborhood.
00:46:12.70\00:46:15.10
Well, the first
night, we were excited.
00:46:15.14\00:46:16.94
We just knew people
are going to show up
00:46:16.97\00:46:18.31
and nobody showed up.
00:46:18.34\00:46:19.97
And so the next week we're like,
00:46:20.01\00:46:21.34
"Well, you know,
we'll go pass out
00:46:21.38\00:46:22.71
some more flyers and stuff."
00:46:22.74\00:46:24.08
So we did.
00:46:24.11\00:46:25.45
We went to another
area, nobody showed up.
00:46:25.48\00:46:27.82
Week after week after week,
00:46:27.85\00:46:29.68
nobody showed up to
our meetings and I'm like,
00:46:29.72\00:46:31.79
"Lord, why are you
allowing this to happen?"
00:46:31.82\00:46:34.32
But you know what?
00:46:34.36\00:46:35.69
Looking back to 2:20,
00:46:35.72\00:46:37.23
that was the start of my
family's Christian journey.
00:46:37.26\00:46:40.53
Our family wasn't ready.
00:46:40.56\00:46:42.20
Do you know who
showed up to those meetings?
00:46:42.23\00:46:44.30
I did. My wife and my kids.
00:46:44.33\00:46:46.97
And we watched
those by ourselves
00:46:47.00\00:46:50.01
and the Lord used that
experience to change us
00:46:50.04\00:46:53.11
and to draw us closer to
Him in together as a family.
00:46:53.14\00:46:55.78
And that's when
our Christian life
00:46:55.81\00:46:57.65
as a family took off.
00:46:57.68\00:46:59.01
So that trial of, I thought,
00:46:59.05\00:47:00.38
you know, we were going
to evangelize the community
00:47:00.42\00:47:02.15
but God had
evangelized us first.
00:47:02.18\00:47:04.32
Wow. Amen.
00:47:04.35\00:47:05.99
You look back and you
think, "Ain't nobody here?"
00:47:06.02\00:47:08.66
"Because I don't
need anybody, I need you."
00:47:08.69\00:47:11.36
That's exactly
what happened. Amen.
00:47:11.39\00:47:13.56
We're trying to
lead other people,
00:47:13.60\00:47:14.93
He said, "No, wait, wait, wait.
00:47:14.96\00:47:16.30
No, you got to find the path
00:47:16.33\00:47:17.67
before you're leading somebody."
00:47:17.70\00:47:19.03
Exactly.
00:47:19.07\00:47:20.40
And this is true
00:47:20.44\00:47:21.77
because I look at one
of these passages here,
00:47:21.80\00:47:23.91
you know, what
assurance have we've been given,
00:47:23.94\00:47:25.84
on the point number eight,
00:47:25.87\00:47:27.21
concerning
trials in tribulation.
00:47:27.24\00:47:29.81
It says, "Blessed be the God,"
this is 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
00:47:29.84\00:47:33.98
"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:47:34.02\00:47:36.62
the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort."
00:47:36.65\00:47:41.16
I don't want to run past that.
00:47:41.19\00:47:42.52
"The Father of mercies
and God of all comfort,
00:47:42.56\00:47:45.29
who comforts us in
all our tribulation,
00:47:45.33\00:47:49.23
that we may be able to comfort
00:47:49.26\00:47:50.67
those who are in any
trouble with the comfort
00:47:50.70\00:47:54.50
with which we
ourselves are comforted by God."
00:47:54.54\00:47:58.24
So Lord brings you comfort,
and you say, "Gary, I know.
00:47:58.27\00:48:04.85
I know."
00:48:04.88\00:48:06.38
Right because if you've
not been through anything,
00:48:06.41\00:48:09.65
if you've not
gone through the fire,
00:48:09.68\00:48:12.19
I mean, how can you affectively,
00:48:12.22\00:48:13.76
really help
somebody else in that same,
00:48:13.79\00:48:15.96
that's going through that.
00:48:15.99\00:48:17.33
I mean, you can say, you
know, "I'm praying for you,
00:48:17.36\00:48:19.16
I'm here for you, you
know, if you need something."
00:48:19.19\00:48:21.73
But to truly have
compassion and understand
00:48:21.76\00:48:25.30
what that person is feeling,
00:48:25.33\00:48:27.04
sometimes you have
to walk through it.
00:48:27.07\00:48:28.97
You know, the God
allows you to walk
00:48:29.00\00:48:30.64
through it so you can,
00:48:30.67\00:48:32.01
"Hey, I know God
could bring you through it
00:48:32.04\00:48:34.31
because He did it for me."
00:48:34.34\00:48:35.98
You know.
00:48:36.01\00:48:37.35
And, but sometimes too,
00:48:37.38\00:48:39.31
and there's another part to that
00:48:39.35\00:48:40.98
because sometimes we feel like,
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.12
"I don't have a testimony
or I can't really help anybody
00:48:43.15\00:48:46.29
or how is my testimony
00:48:46.32\00:48:47.66
going to help that
person or this person?"
00:48:47.69\00:48:49.99
Short experience.
00:48:50.03\00:48:52.89
We've been
traveling with Christmas
00:48:52.93\00:48:54.53
Behind Bars and going
to the different prisons
00:48:54.56\00:48:57.13
in different states.
00:48:57.17\00:48:58.50
And so I was like, man,
you know, Brother Vega said,
00:48:58.53\00:49:01.84
"Marlena, I like for you
to share your testimony."
00:49:01.87\00:49:03.47
I'm like, "My testimony?
00:49:03.51\00:49:04.87
How in the world is my testimony
00:49:04.91\00:49:06.24
going to help these
men that are incarcerated?"
00:49:06.27\00:49:08.44
So I was like, "Okay."
00:49:08.48\00:49:09.81
So I'm like,
"Well, I'll just share it,
00:49:09.84\00:49:11.38
you know, if He says
He wants me to tell it,
00:49:11.41\00:49:13.11
I'll be willing," you know.
00:49:13.15\00:49:15.78
And, you know,
each time I share,
00:49:15.82\00:49:18.62
there is not a moment or a
time that I don't get feedback.
00:49:18.65\00:49:22.56
"Wow, your
testimony really blessed me,"
00:49:22.59\00:49:25.09
or "Man, I've been
through the same thing,"
00:49:25.13\00:49:28.36
you know, or even for them
to see the flip side of women
00:49:28.40\00:49:33.00
who have suffered from
things that they have done.
00:49:33.03\00:49:37.11
And it was like,
"Lord, I didn't know
00:49:37.14\00:49:38.54
how my testimony
was going to help them.
00:49:38.57\00:49:41.21
How it was gonna affect
them in a positive way."
00:49:41.24\00:49:43.35
But God said, "You just tell it,
00:49:43.38\00:49:45.51
you do it, you be obedient,
and I would do the rest."
00:49:45.55\00:49:49.45
By the word of their
testimony. Say it again.
00:49:49.48\00:49:51.62
By word of their
testimony, Scripture says.
00:49:51.65\00:49:54.16
Overcame by the
word of their testimony.
00:49:54.19\00:49:57.46
And I want to also,
00:49:57.49\00:49:59.76
in the interest of pulling
all these pieces together
00:49:59.79\00:50:03.33
because there's so much here,
when you think about child,
00:50:03.37\00:50:05.77
every one of us
is a history book.
00:50:05.80\00:50:08.44
We look at the
times in our lives
00:50:08.47\00:50:10.61
and we could do the
same thing in our own life,
00:50:10.64\00:50:12.44
in our own
marriage, in our own ministry,
00:50:12.47\00:50:14.21
we could trace
intersections of our lives,
00:50:14.24\00:50:16.75
we could have either
gone left and left the church,
00:50:16.78\00:50:20.42
or right and get
things right with God,
00:50:20.45\00:50:23.02
or right and indoor.
00:50:23.05\00:50:24.85
And the Bible, in Romans 8...
00:50:24.89\00:50:29.46
Two roads, life and blessings.
00:50:29.49\00:50:31.73
Yeah, life and
blessings, death and cursing.
00:50:31.76\00:50:33.63
I want you to
read that Romans 8:39,
00:50:33.66\00:50:35.43
because here's the
question I going to leave.
00:50:35.46\00:50:36.80
What kind of determination
00:50:36.83\00:50:38.17
are we to have in
trials and tribulations?
00:50:38.20\00:50:40.20
And this is
important to read now
00:50:40.24\00:50:42.10
because somebody might be
going through it right now
00:50:42.14\00:50:44.84
and we want to let you
know that this is important.
00:50:44.87\00:50:46.88
Romans...
00:50:46.91\00:50:48.24
Read that for us, honey. Okay.
00:50:48.28\00:50:49.61
"For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life,
00:50:49.64\00:50:54.22
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present,
00:50:54.25\00:51:00.16
nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth,
00:51:00.19\00:51:05.06
nor any other created thing
shall be able to separate us
00:51:05.09\00:51:10.73
from the love of God
00:51:10.77\00:51:12.63
which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord."
00:51:12.67\00:51:16.00
So Paul has an
exhaustive list here
00:51:16.04\00:51:17.77
because how many apostles
as persecuted as he was.
00:51:17.81\00:51:21.11
Oh, I know.
00:51:21.14\00:51:22.74
So this is actually an
answer to who shall separate us.
00:51:22.78\00:51:25.78
This is an answer,
00:51:25.81\00:51:27.15
shall tribulation
or the persecution
00:51:27.18\00:51:28.52
and nakedness of parallel sword.
00:51:28.55\00:51:30.05
And when we do this in
church, I may once say,
00:51:30.09\00:51:31.62
"Tribulation, " "No."
00:51:31.65\00:51:32.99
"Persecution," "No."
00:51:33.02\00:51:34.36
It's easy to be a
cheerleader on Sabbath morning.
00:51:34.39\00:51:36.66
Absolutely. It's true.
00:51:36.69\00:51:39.39
I'm not going anywhere.
00:51:39.43\00:51:40.76
Monday morning, "I'm quitting.
00:51:40.80\00:51:42.50
I'm done. This is
ridiculous. You had no right."
00:51:42.53\00:51:45.80
And, you know, in
our self-aggrandizement,
00:51:45.83\00:51:47.90
in our own self-righteousness,
do you ever feel like, come on,
00:51:47.94\00:51:50.97
do you ever feel
like telling folk off?
00:51:51.01\00:51:52.77
Oh, yeah. Oh, yes.
00:51:52.81\00:51:54.91
And we get by say
it's righteous indignation.
00:51:54.94\00:51:59.31
It is my righteous indignation.
00:51:59.35\00:52:01.58
When in fact,
you know that things
00:52:01.62\00:52:03.49
that you're
thinking are not righteous.
00:52:03.52\00:52:05.99
If my brother feed me,
00:52:06.02\00:52:07.36
I should be tell
him where the God...
00:52:07.39\00:52:08.72
You want to pluck
his eye out, right?
00:52:08.76\00:52:10.09
Right.
00:52:10.13\00:52:11.46
If your brother's eye
offend you, pull his eye out.
00:52:11.49\00:52:12.83
What all of us gonna do
00:52:12.86\00:52:14.20
is escalate the
situation anyway.
00:52:14.23\00:52:15.56
You know, a soft
answer turns away riot.
00:52:15.60\00:52:17.03
That's right. Absolutely.
00:52:17.07\00:52:18.40
And it's hard to think
that when you're there...
00:52:18.43\00:52:19.80
Absolutely.
00:52:19.83\00:52:21.17
So now you see that reason...
00:52:21.20\00:52:23.17
now you see Jesus
who didn't do anything
00:52:23.20\00:52:26.68
for when the Bible says,
"He did not open His mouth."
00:52:26.71\00:52:29.34
Yes. Come on, now.
00:52:29.38\00:52:31.21
That takes more strength,
you know, people trying...
00:52:31.25\00:52:32.75
He's God.
00:52:32.78\00:52:34.12
You have people in the
world that try and say,
00:52:34.15\00:52:35.58
"Oh, he was weak,
why didn't he fight?"
00:52:35.62\00:52:38.25
You know how much
strength that takes?
00:52:38.29\00:52:39.85
Yes. But wait a minute.
00:52:39.89\00:52:41.22
Let's go to the next level.
00:52:41.26\00:52:42.59
The king of the
universe, what, he could...
00:52:42.62\00:52:44.86
What could He have done?
00:52:44.89\00:52:47.33
What could He have done?
00:52:47.36\00:52:48.70
He said to Peter, "I
could have called..."
00:52:48.73\00:52:52.63
How many legions.
00:52:52.67\00:52:54.00
A legion, but I, added up,
00:52:54.04\00:52:56.00
I could have
called 80, 000 angels.
00:52:56.04\00:52:58.97
You didn't have to
pull out your sword
00:52:59.01\00:53:00.41
to cut off the
ear of the centurion.
00:53:00.44\00:53:02.78
I could have
called 80,000 angels.
00:53:02.81\00:53:06.38
What did one Angel
do in the Old Testament?
00:53:06.41\00:53:08.45
Killed 180,000. One angel.
00:53:08.48\00:53:11.59
Jesus said to Peter,
"I don't need that help."
00:53:11.62\00:53:13.66
I could have said, I need help,
00:53:13.69\00:53:18.29
I could call 80,000 angels.
00:53:18.33\00:53:21.06
So he who could thinketh,
when they arrested Him,
00:53:21.10\00:53:24.00
was spitting on
Him and slapping Him
00:53:24.03\00:53:26.30
and cursing at Him,
putting thorns and just saying,
00:53:26.33\00:53:29.27
"Who are you?"
00:53:29.30\00:53:30.64
He could have just said,
00:53:30.67\00:53:32.77
"I've had enough
of this. I'm done."
00:53:32.81\00:53:36.68
And just looked, consumed,
00:53:36.71\00:53:39.11
left nothing but
burn marks on the ground.
00:53:39.15\00:53:41.38
Yet, He didn't open His
mouth. So how do we do that?
00:53:41.42\00:53:44.02
How do we do that?
00:53:44.05\00:53:45.39
Gary, let me, how
would you do that, Gary?
00:53:45.42\00:53:47.72
Well, I was thinking of Moses.
00:53:47.76\00:53:49.56
Moses is said to be
one of the meekest man
00:53:49.59\00:53:52.29
and yet in his life,
00:53:52.33\00:53:54.53
he lost that one time, you know.
00:53:54.56\00:53:57.50
Yet Jesus throughout His whole,
00:53:57.53\00:54:00.97
He didn't open His mouth
until the truth was challenged.
00:54:01.00\00:54:04.54
That's right.
00:54:04.57\00:54:05.91
You know,
00:54:05.94\00:54:07.28
He didn't say
anything in his own defense.
00:54:07.31\00:54:08.64
That's right.
00:54:08.68\00:54:10.01
And I think that's
probably the secret
00:54:10.05\00:54:11.38
is we have to be emptied of self
00:54:11.41\00:54:13.52
so that we can meet the
trial in the strength of Christ
00:54:13.55\00:54:17.82
because if we try
on our own strength,
00:54:17.85\00:54:19.29
we're going to fail,
we're going to be overcome.
00:54:19.32\00:54:21.46
That's right. That's right.
00:54:21.49\00:54:22.82
Lessons learned.
00:54:22.86\00:54:24.19
The Lord looks at your life,
remember in Steps of Christ,
00:54:24.23\00:54:27.16
He looks at your whole life.
00:54:27.20\00:54:29.13
If you make...
00:54:29.16\00:54:31.33
it's not a mistake,
you make a bad choice.
00:54:31.37\00:54:34.00
He always say, a
mistake is when you...
00:54:34.04\00:54:36.07
When you type the
wrong thing is a mistake
00:54:36.10\00:54:38.44
but when you fall
into sin, it's a choice.
00:54:38.47\00:54:41.14
It's a choice,
it's not a mistake.
00:54:41.18\00:54:42.54
But He looks at your
whole life not by that...
00:54:42.58\00:54:45.85
Momentary deed
and momentary misdeed.
00:54:45.88\00:54:47.28
He doesn't look,
00:54:47.32\00:54:48.65
He looks at the
trend of your life,
00:54:48.68\00:54:50.02
where has your
life been trending,
00:54:50.05\00:54:51.39
where your life
has been trending.
00:54:51.42\00:54:52.75
And, but I want to go verse 11
00:54:52.79\00:54:55.72
in here very quickly.
00:54:55.76\00:54:57.39
"And this is why we should look
at troubles with eternal eyes."
00:54:57.43\00:55:01.23
Yes.
00:55:01.26\00:55:02.60
We got to look at
troubles with eternal eyes.
00:55:02.63\00:55:04.53
I haven't had
you read any, Gary.
00:55:04.57\00:55:06.03
Why don't you read that
one for us, Romans 8:18.
00:55:06.07\00:55:09.70
"For I consider
that the sufferings
00:55:09.74\00:55:11.97
of this present
time are not worthy
00:55:12.01\00:55:14.64
to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us."
00:55:14.68\00:55:18.68
Wow.
00:55:18.71\00:55:20.62
Have we had suffering? Yes.
00:55:20.65\00:55:23.12
You know what's sad about it?
00:55:23.15\00:55:25.29
This is show that's kind of want
00:55:25.32\00:55:27.02
to encourage you.
00:55:27.06\00:55:28.39
We have had and we will
have, through many tribulations,
00:55:28.42\00:55:32.53
we will enter the
kingdom of heaven.
00:55:32.56\00:55:34.40
So, honey, what should we do
00:55:34.43\00:55:35.76
when we go through
these trials and tribulations?
00:55:35.80\00:55:38.33
To whom should we turn?
00:55:38.37\00:55:39.70
Turn to the Lord, we
can't let go off that arm.
00:55:39.73\00:55:42.80
That righteous
right arm of Jesus.
00:55:42.84\00:55:45.07
He's there for us.
00:55:45.11\00:55:46.47
Satan is there to, what, steal,
00:55:46.51\00:55:48.24
kill and destroy as Marlena
said and the scripture says,
00:55:48.28\00:55:51.58
but we can't
let go off the Lord.
00:55:51.61\00:55:53.42
The Word of God says,
00:55:53.45\00:55:54.78
"I look to the hills
from which comes my help,
00:55:54.82\00:55:56.82
my help cometh from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth."
00:55:56.85\00:55:59.65
Yes. That's right.
00:55:59.69\00:56:01.02
Jason, who do we
turn to? To Christ.
00:56:01.06\00:56:04.13
You know, He
overcame this world.
00:56:04.16\00:56:07.43
He overcame all the
trials and the temptations
00:56:07.46\00:56:10.23
and He was tempted
the most out of any of us.
00:56:10.27\00:56:13.54
And so when we're
going through our struggles,
00:56:13.57\00:56:15.77
we have to look at
what Christ endured.
00:56:15.80\00:56:17.14
Yes.
00:56:17.17\00:56:18.51
And that makes our
struggles look like this
00:56:18.54\00:56:20.28
compared to
what He went through.
00:56:20.31\00:56:21.64
Honey, who do we turn to?
00:56:21.68\00:56:23.95
"Look on to Me and be saved."
00:56:23.98\00:56:25.48
Look on to Jesus and be saved.
00:56:25.51\00:56:27.45
We can look at ourselves
00:56:27.48\00:56:28.82
while we're going
through the trials.
00:56:28.85\00:56:30.19
That's right. Gary?
00:56:30.22\00:56:32.52
Well, we have trials ahead of us
00:56:32.55\00:56:34.26
and we're told
that before He comes,
00:56:34.29\00:56:35.99
Jesus comes back,
00:56:36.02\00:56:37.36
we're gonna have
trials in this world
00:56:37.39\00:56:39.23
but He also promised
that He will never leave us
00:56:39.26\00:56:41.00
nor forsake us.
00:56:41.03\00:56:42.36
Amen.
00:56:42.40\00:56:43.73
"Be of good cheer I
have overcome the world."
00:56:43.77\00:56:48.67
So we're praying
right now for you
00:56:48.70\00:56:50.11
that as we talk about
here in our own lives,
00:56:50.14\00:56:53.27
you know, when we get to heaven,
00:56:53.31\00:56:54.64
one of the things
that we're going to be able
00:56:54.68\00:56:56.01
to rejoice for and
I said this earlier,
00:56:56.04\00:56:57.38
we're going to
be able to rejoicing
00:56:57.41\00:56:58.75
that the trials are over, amen?
00:56:58.78\00:57:00.52
But while you're there,
maybe you're going in it,
00:57:00.55\00:57:02.72
maybe you're in it,
maybe you're coming out of it,
00:57:02.75\00:57:04.75
look unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of your faith
00:57:04.79\00:57:07.42
who for the joy
00:57:07.46\00:57:08.79
that was set before
Him endured the cross.
00:57:08.82\00:57:11.56
He despised the shame
00:57:11.59\00:57:13.46
but now He sat
down at the right hand
00:57:13.50\00:57:14.90
of the Father.
00:57:14.93\00:57:16.26
And I'll pray for you
00:57:16.30\00:57:17.63
as well as from the 3ABN family,
00:57:17.67\00:57:19.00
on behalf of my wife
00:57:19.03\00:57:20.37
and I and our panel
Jason, Gary, and Marlena,
00:57:20.40\00:57:23.61
we pray that
you'll keep holding on
00:57:23.64\00:57:25.47
to the hand of the
Lord because one day,
00:57:25.51\00:57:27.84
all the trials of
this life will be over.
00:57:27.88\00:57:30.71
Until that day,
00:57:30.75\00:57:32.21
keep trusting in the
Almighty hand of God.
00:57:32.25\00:57:35.08
God bless you. God bless you.
00:57:35.12\00:57:36.65