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, friends, and
welcome to 3ABN Today.
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And this is obviously the
edition of Family Worship.
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And we want to thank you
so much for joining us here
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on this special
Sabbath worship time.
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This is family
worship where we gather around
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the table as family,
brothers and sisters in Christ
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and we just have a
good time in the Lord.
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And we just want to
thank you for joining us
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'cause you could
probably be doing
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anything else right now.
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But at this particular time,
you are joining us for worship.
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And that's, you know
what better thing to do
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on the Sabbath,
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as we're entering
into the Sabbath hours,
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to be with God,
to commune with God,
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to commune with each other
than to get deep into His Word.
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And that's what we're going to
do right now with these hours.
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We're going to take
on a powerful topic,
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and we're going to just have
a good old family discussion
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and worship in
spirit and in truth
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as the Bible tells
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us. We're going to
tell you about the topic
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in just a few moments.
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But I've got to
introduce our family.
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And, oh, I'm so
excited because we got Miss Day
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with us tonight.
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This is rare
'cause Miss Stephanie Day,
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who happens to be my wife,
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she's not usually
with us, quite often,
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but praise the Lord,
you're with us today.
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How are you doing?
I'm doing pretty well.
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It's nice to be here. Thank you.
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Amen. Praise the Lord.
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It's always a special time
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to have my wife on
the program with us.
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And she's going to
be joining us tonight.
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It's good to have you
with us. Thank you so much.
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Praise the Lord. All right.
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Well, we're going to
go to this side over here
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and introduce the Shelton's.
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Of course when we say the
Shelton's most of the time
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we think of Kenny and
Danny obviously, but you,
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you're kin to that
Shelton family, right?
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I am. I guess I
have to admit it.
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Yeah. We got
Terry and Wendy Shelton.
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It's always a
blessing to have you guys.
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How you doing? We're doing well.
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I'm kind of like you, I don't
often have my wife with me.
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So I've been out here a
number of times without her
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and I think we've
done, we do one program?
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We did. Yeah. Okay.
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So, yeah.
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Glad to have my
better half with me as well.
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Praise the Lord.
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Well, it's great to have
you guys joining us tonight.
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And all the way
back across here.
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Last but certainly not
least, Pastor John Lomacang,
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always a blessing,
Brother, to have you.
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It's good to see
you. Good to be here.
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And I usually always
have my wife with me,
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but she's involved in
something else this evening.
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So, but it's good to be here,
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we're going to have
a very exciting time
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talking about a topic
that I think everyone is going
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to be able to relate.
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Amen. Praise the Lord.
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I agree with that.
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Tonight's topic is
entitled, Faith through Trial,
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Faith through Trial.
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This was kind of encouraged,
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I was inspired to
encourage this conversation,
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this family worship topic
tonight, because, you know,
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we're living in very
interesting and trying times.
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And, you know, it seems
like the closer we progress
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to the Second
Coming of Jesus, you know,
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things get tougher, you
know, more and more loss,
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more and more
death, more sorrow,
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more pain,
despair, discouragement,
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things that's just
unfolding on this planet,
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like no other time.
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And it's during this time
that the spirit of the enemy
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would like to do nothing
else, but to discourage people,
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to put them in a mindset,
in a despairing mindset,
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to discourage them from
continuing in their faith,
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you know, with God
during these times.
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And so tonight, we're
going to be talking about
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how to maintain
your faith through trial,
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through these
trials, these challenges,
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these difficulties that
we often face in this life,
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when we're having to,
you know, face adversity
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or whatever
persecution or tribulation
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that we may be
experiencing in our life
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that you at home
may be experiencing.
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Tonight, we're going to put
it in a biblical perspective.
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We're going to
look into the Bible,
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we're going to read and
study together to learn exactly
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how do we approach
this special topic?
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How can we
maintain our faith in God
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and His will in these last days,
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and during often times,
we have to face these tough
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and difficult
trials in our life.
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So we're going to answer
those questions right now
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during this hour.
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But before we go any further,
let's go to the Lord in prayer
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and, Pastor
Lomacang, I'm going to ask you
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to have a prayer for us.
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Sure.
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Loving Father, a gracious God
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as we put
ourselves in Your hands,
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and as we open
Your all capable Word,
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we invite Your
Holy Spirit to come
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and speak to our hearts, Lord,
that those who are watching
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and listening to this
program will hear something,
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will hear the
voice of Your Spirit,
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the beauty of Your Word
that will strengthen them,
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they may be going
through something even now,
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and this might be a
timely message for them.
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So give us words of wisdom that
we will not only communicate
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what is written, but
we all speak in a way
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that some heart needs to hear.
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But we decided to give
all the glory just to You.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Amen. Praise God.
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The Bible teaches
us that we are saved
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by grace through faith.
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It is not of works,
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but through our faith in Christ,
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exercising the very faith
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that Jesus
Christ had on this earth
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when He had to depend on
His Father to get through.
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And we know that
Jesus certainly endured
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some challenges and
some trials in His life.
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And, you know, I don't know
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if this is
necessarily a theme text,
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but as I was preparing for this,
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John 16:31-33, came to mind.
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I'd like to read that now
as we kind of launch ourselves
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into this study together.
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So John 16:31-33,
and notice what this is,
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this is
obviously Jesus speaking.
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And it says there, it
says, "Jesus answered them,
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'Do you now believe?
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Indeed, the hour is
coming, yes, has now come,
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that you will be
scattered each to his own,
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and will leave Me alone.
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And yet I am not alone
because the Father is with me.
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These things I
have spoken to you,
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that in Me you may have peace."
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Notice this last line here.
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He says, "In the world,
you will have tribulation,
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but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world."
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Powerful text.
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You know, Jesus never told us
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that we wouldn't
endure these trials,
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we wouldn't endure challenges,
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challenges,
struggles during this life.
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But you know what,
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as this program
is airing right now,
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perhaps many people are
watching it around the world,
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you may be going
through something and dealing
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with something in your life,
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and it's really
testing your faith, right?
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Sometimes we deal with some
of the most difficult problems,
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difficult challenges.
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And we often wonder,
you know, where is God?
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Is God still with me?
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Does God still love me?
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Is God the reason or the cause
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for why I'm
having to endure this?
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But I want to start off
just by asking the question,
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just throw it out
there guys, faith.
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We know we're saved
by grace through faith.
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And the title of
this particular study
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is faith through trial.
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Let's talk about faith,
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because there may be
someone watching right now
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that doesn't
know in what is faith?
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How do we have faith?
How do we build faith?
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Let's just talk about
the fundamental aspect
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of faith as we
begin this conversation.
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Okay.
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Well, you know, Hebrews
11:1-2, the academic answer,
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that's the way I would say it.
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You know, when
people say, what is sin?
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The transgression of the law.
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What is faith?
00:08:04.91\00:08:06.25
Now, faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
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the evidence of things not seen.
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And so when we think about
the academic answer to faith,
00:08:12.12\00:08:16.22
sometimes faith
goes over our heads
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when we give
the academic answer,
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because just like
in the case of sin,
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what is sin?
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The transgression of the law,
but the Bible also says to him
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that knows to do good,
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and does not do
it to him it a sin.
00:08:28.34\00:08:30.04
So there may be something
that will be a sin to me,
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that's not a sin
to you, or vice versa.
00:08:32.47\00:08:35.24
But when it comes to faith,
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each of us and I like to use
the picture of the blacksmith.
00:08:36.64\00:08:39.11
Okay.
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You know, blacksmith is
a picture that many of us
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don't really see
because we live in cities,
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we don't see metal being formed
like it was in the days of old.
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We don't walk past a
blacksmith shop and hear,
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that hot metal
placed in cold water.
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We don't hear the clinging of
the hammer, beating into shape.
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And we don't hear the roaring
furnace, trying to melt it
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so it could be shaped.
00:09:01.67\00:09:03.00
Well, each of us is like metal
in the hand of a blacksmith.
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And the only way that
the blacksmith can shape
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that metal is to put it in fire.
00:09:09.98\00:09:12.71
And so when you, when the topic,
00:09:12.75\00:09:14.35
faith through
trial, it said to me,
00:09:14.38\00:09:16.99
the Lord wants to shape us.
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And one of the
easiest ways to shape us
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is to expose us to the fire.
00:09:21.39\00:09:23.53
Thus the three Hebrews,
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you wouldn't know
what kind of faith they had
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until they were facing the fire.
00:09:27.30\00:09:29.20
And that to me is what I
call the blacksmith faith.
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It could stand unto trials,
it could stand unto fire.
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Peter says don't think
it's strange concerning
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the fiery trial,
which is to try you
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as though some
strange thing happened.
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What is he saying?
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God has a
particular shape for your life.
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So He's got to
heat it up sometimes.
00:09:47.02\00:09:48.92
So not all trials come
because we're innocent.
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But sometimes they
come because God is saying,
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"I still need
to shape you more."
00:09:54.89\00:09:56.22
That's right. I
liked it. I liked it.
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When you said, "What is faith?"
00:09:58.66\00:10:01.26
Now somebody, there
might be someone out
00:10:01.30\00:10:03.77
there today who says I
don't really have any faith
00:10:03.80\00:10:06.23
or I don't even
know what that is.
00:10:06.27\00:10:07.80
We all have faith,
00:10:07.84\00:10:09.87
even in
practicalities of our life.
00:10:09.90\00:10:12.31
For example, you walk out
of your house every morning,
00:10:12.34\00:10:15.81
and you reach in and
you grab your car key.
00:10:15.84\00:10:18.05
And you put that
car in that ignition.
00:10:18.08\00:10:19.78
Now, what are you
expecting to have?
00:10:19.81\00:10:21.22
Right. Right?
00:10:21.25\00:10:22.58
You are expecting
that you're going to turn
00:10:22.62\00:10:24.55
and that your
vehicle is going to start up.
00:10:24.59\00:10:26.79
Why do you expect that?
00:10:26.82\00:10:28.72
Because it happened yesterday,
00:10:28.76\00:10:30.46
and the day before
and the day before.
00:10:30.49\00:10:32.09
Right?
00:10:32.13\00:10:33.46
So when we
talking about practicality
00:10:33.50\00:10:35.43
of just what is
faith, faith is believing
00:10:35.46\00:10:38.37
that something
is going to happen
00:10:38.40\00:10:40.57
based on past experience.
00:10:40.60\00:10:43.00
And for those of us
00:10:43.04\00:10:44.37
who have experienced
the faith of God already,
00:10:44.41\00:10:47.78
or the faith that He gives us,
00:10:47.81\00:10:49.34
we've seen Him come through
time and time and time again.
00:10:49.38\00:10:52.88
And so we believe,
even if we reach a point
00:10:52.91\00:10:55.85
where we say like
Job, "Though He slays me,
00:10:55.88\00:10:59.29
yet will I trust Him."
00:10:59.32\00:11:00.92
I love that passage.
00:11:00.96\00:11:02.49
And that shows an
ultimate faith right there.
00:11:02.52\00:11:05.09
So let's talk
about this, though,
00:11:05.13\00:11:06.46
because I want to
add another element.
00:11:06.49\00:11:07.83
I love what you guys
have just said, beautiful.
00:11:07.86\00:11:09.83
Let's add it, let's go a
little deeper, though, because,
00:11:09.86\00:11:12.80
you know, it's hard
sometimes for us to have faith
00:11:12.83\00:11:17.87
when it seems like
there's not a response
00:11:17.91\00:11:19.87
that we're looking for from God.
00:11:19.91\00:11:21.84
In other words, you
know, people pray for things.
00:11:21.88\00:11:25.08
And they say, you know,
00:11:25.11\00:11:27.98
you read those
texts where it says,
00:11:28.02\00:11:29.72
you know, ask and
you shall receive,
00:11:29.75\00:11:31.49
seek and you shall find, knock,
and it shall be open to you,
00:11:31.52\00:11:34.16
you don't have because
you do not ask, you know,
00:11:34.19\00:11:35.82
all these different
texts that come to mind.
00:11:35.86\00:11:37.43
And so when someone's
sick, or someone's dying,
00:11:37.46\00:11:39.66
or someone's, you
know, in a very testy,
00:11:39.69\00:11:41.70
difficult situation, and
they're crying out to God,
00:11:41.73\00:11:43.80
and they're praying,
and they have faith in God,
00:11:43.83\00:11:46.03
and they say, "I
know you can do it, God,"
00:11:46.07\00:11:47.40
but then it doesn't happen.
00:11:47.44\00:11:48.97
And then now, it seems like
00:11:49.00\00:11:51.34
that faith may diminish
from some people's perspective.
00:11:51.37\00:11:53.58
Oh, God doesn't hear me.
00:11:53.61\00:11:54.94
God doesn't listen to me.
00:11:54.98\00:11:56.34
If there's
someone at home right now,
00:11:56.38\00:11:57.71
who may be going through this,
00:11:57.75\00:11:59.08
what would you say
to someone like that?
00:11:59.11\00:12:00.68
Who says, "You know
what, I want to have faith.
00:12:00.72\00:12:02.85
I know God can,
but He's not doing
00:12:02.88\00:12:05.49
what He said He
would do perhaps,
00:12:05.52\00:12:07.36
or He's not responding in
the way that I would think
00:12:07.39\00:12:09.86
He should respond.
00:12:09.89\00:12:11.23
So therefore, my faith
in Him is not as strong."
00:12:11.26\00:12:14.20
Okay, well, I don't
know, Wendy or Stephanie,
00:12:14.23\00:12:16.56
'cause I don't know.
00:12:16.60\00:12:17.93
I have a story of you and I...
00:12:17.97\00:12:19.53
Yeah, let's hear it.
00:12:19.57\00:12:21.80
Sometimes when we're asking
God for something, we may,
00:12:21.84\00:12:24.27
it may appear that
He's not doing anything.
00:12:24.31\00:12:27.14
That doesn't mean
He's not doing anything.
00:12:27.18\00:12:30.08
A number of years ago,
Wendy has a granddaughter
00:12:30.11\00:12:35.08
that that I inherited
whenever we got married.
00:12:35.12\00:12:38.89
And this little girl was
just living in a bad situation.
00:12:38.92\00:12:44.29
My son had deceased.
00:12:44.33\00:12:45.99
And so, yeah, she was,
00:12:46.03\00:12:50.53
it's a long story
but we began to pray.
00:12:50.57\00:12:55.94
And the little girl was
with us for a little while.
00:12:55.97\00:12:59.51
But when the authorities came,
the state came in and said,
00:12:59.54\00:13:03.91
"You know, the
little girl is going back
00:13:03.95\00:13:05.98
into another
state, into the home."
00:13:06.01\00:13:07.35
And we said,
"Lord, what are you doing?
00:13:07.38\00:13:10.09
This can't be right.
00:13:10.12\00:13:12.55
How in the world, you know?"
And we just started to pray.
00:13:12.59\00:13:17.33
And we prayed, and we prayed.
00:13:17.36\00:13:19.49
And we got virtually no evidence
00:13:19.53\00:13:22.43
that God was doing
anything, you know?
00:13:22.46\00:13:25.47
And we just
continue to trust God.
00:13:25.50\00:13:29.14
And a year and a half later,
00:13:29.17\00:13:31.27
I remember where I was
the day that the phone rang.
00:13:31.31\00:13:33.61
And it was, you know,
00:13:33.64\00:13:35.51
the authorities
in another state,
00:13:35.54\00:13:37.01
which said, "We find
that her granddaughter
00:13:37.05\00:13:41.45
is not flourishing so well,
00:13:41.48\00:13:43.45
would you be
willing to take her in?"
00:13:43.49\00:13:46.09
And we're like, "Yes, of
course, we will," you know,
00:13:46.12\00:13:48.99
and that started a process.
00:13:49.02\00:13:51.06
And we said, "We didn't know
that God was doing anything."
00:13:51.09\00:13:54.56
But in the background,
He was doing something.
00:13:54.60\00:13:57.17
And then, you know,
00:13:57.20\00:13:58.53
we saw miracle after
miracle that transpired.
00:13:58.57\00:14:01.17
And now, you know, we
we've been raising her
00:14:01.20\00:14:02.94
for six years now.
00:14:02.97\00:14:04.31
Wow. And she has a good
and stable home, a loving home.
00:14:04.34\00:14:07.94
And we know that it
was God that did that,
00:14:07.98\00:14:10.75
because we didn't do
anything, and He did it.
00:14:10.78\00:14:14.02
It just didn't
happen in the timing
00:14:14.05\00:14:16.25
that you expected, right?
00:14:16.28\00:14:17.62
Exactly.
00:14:17.65\00:14:18.99
Because you know,
often in those moments
00:14:19.02\00:14:20.36
when you're praying and
saying, "God, God, come on,
00:14:20.39\00:14:21.72
come through, come through."
00:14:21.76\00:14:23.09
And you get silence.
And it's like, "Where's God?
00:14:23.12\00:14:25.26
Right? God's not showing up.
00:14:25.29\00:14:26.63
God doesn't care for me."
00:14:26.66\00:14:28.00
And oftentimes, sometimes
people respond that way,
00:14:28.03\00:14:30.10
and their faith diminishes
in God and what God can do,
00:14:30.13\00:14:32.70
because He's not
answering in the way
00:14:32.73\00:14:34.44
that they think
that He should answer.
00:14:34.47\00:14:35.84
Pastor, you want
to answer to that?
00:14:35.87\00:14:37.21
And as the person who's
all sovereign and all knowing,
00:14:37.24\00:14:40.11
we have to continue
to remember that, "Okay,
00:14:40.14\00:14:42.88
God hears our prayer,
but He knows when we need
00:14:42.91\00:14:45.31
what we're asking for."
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.02
But there's some people
that I know who have said me,
00:14:47.05\00:14:48.85
"I've got to know what's going
to happen before it happens."
00:14:48.88\00:14:52.19
I am a person and not me,
00:14:52.22\00:14:54.42
but I've known
people that said, "Yes,
00:14:54.46\00:14:56.42
I can't live under assumptions
of what's going to happen.
00:14:56.46\00:15:00.16
I need to know,
like, move number five."
00:15:00.20\00:15:03.57
That's well,
that's not really faith.
00:15:03.60\00:15:06.57
And sometimes they pray.
00:15:06.60\00:15:08.47
But, you know, let me
just give another side
00:15:08.50\00:15:10.14
about this prayer.
00:15:10.17\00:15:11.51
Daniel end up in
trial because he prayed.
00:15:11.54\00:15:14.38
Okay, if he didn't
pray, he wouldn't have trial.
00:15:14.41\00:15:17.28
Some people have to understand
that God sometimes give you
00:15:17.31\00:15:19.78
a Daniel experience.
00:15:19.81\00:15:21.42
Oh, you prayed,
so here's the trial.
00:15:21.45\00:15:24.65
And it's not that
prayer avoids trial.
00:15:24.69\00:15:28.62
Sometimes prayer proves,
sometimes trial proves prayer.
00:15:28.66\00:15:33.26
Right. Okay.
00:15:33.29\00:15:34.63
Let me just say
that again. I like that.
00:15:34.66\00:15:36.00
Sometimes trials prove
that you really believe
00:15:36.03\00:15:38.73
who you're talking to.
00:15:38.77\00:15:40.10
Because I've said to
people before, and they said,
00:15:40.14\00:15:41.47
you meant, I've
told people, I said,
00:15:41.50\00:15:42.84
"I don't believe in prayer.
00:15:42.87\00:15:44.21
I believe in the
One who I'm praying to."
00:15:44.24\00:15:46.37
Because people pray to
trees and rocks and stones,
00:15:46.41\00:15:49.34
you know,
Elijah on Mount Carmel,
00:15:49.38\00:15:51.28
those people prayed
all day long but he said,
00:15:51.31\00:15:53.88
"Maybe he's on a
vacation somewhere."
00:15:53.92\00:15:56.02
So let the trial
test your prayer life,
00:15:56.05\00:16:01.09
not your prayer
life test your trial.
00:16:01.12\00:16:03.89
I like that.
00:16:03.93\00:16:05.26
Because somebody
say, "Well, I don't,
00:16:05.29\00:16:06.63
if I pray I
shouldn't have the trial."
00:16:06.66\00:16:08.33
Don't tell that to Daniel.
00:16:08.36\00:16:09.70
You know, it sparks a question,
00:16:09.73\00:16:11.53
is God the reason
for your troubles?
00:16:11.57\00:16:13.97
'Cause there's people
that, you know, again,
00:16:14.00\00:16:15.70
whatever they're experiencing,
it may be that they are sick
00:16:15.74\00:16:17.77
with a disease or an illness,
they have a family member
00:16:17.81\00:16:20.28
who's, you know,
dying because or has died
00:16:20.31\00:16:22.84
because of something or
whatever situation someone
00:16:22.88\00:16:25.35
that they're about
to lose their home,
00:16:25.38\00:16:26.72
and they've lost their job.
00:16:26.75\00:16:28.22
And I've actually heard
many people say, you know,
00:16:28.25\00:16:30.35
"God could have prevented this,
therefore, God's the reason
00:16:30.39\00:16:32.92
why I'm in the
situation that I'm in."
00:16:32.95\00:16:34.96
So how do we, how do
you respond to someone
00:16:34.99\00:16:36.62
like that who
says, you know what,
00:16:36.66\00:16:38.19
God's the
reason for my troubles?
00:16:38.23\00:16:39.73
If it wasn't, if
He would just step up
00:16:39.76\00:16:41.53
and do what He's supposed to do,
00:16:41.56\00:16:43.23
I wouldn't be in the situation.
00:16:43.26\00:16:44.60
He could have prevented.
00:16:44.63\00:16:45.97
So how do you respond to
that, right? Go ahead, Brother.
00:16:46.00\00:16:49.44
We know, Jesus
told this, this parable,
00:16:49.47\00:16:51.54
I think it's in Matthew 13.
00:16:51.57\00:16:53.41
He talks about
this sower, you know,
00:16:53.44\00:16:55.68
and the sower had gone out,
00:16:55.71\00:16:57.05
and they spread all the
good seed and everything.
00:16:57.08\00:16:58.68
And over time, they noticed
that the wheat was coming up,
00:16:58.71\00:17:01.82
but there's
something else coming up too,
00:17:01.85\00:17:03.25
didn't look like
weed, it's something else
00:17:03.28\00:17:04.92
that the Bible calls it tares.
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.96
And, you know, a
servant came along and said,
00:17:06.99\00:17:10.36
"Where do all these weeds
come from, you know, basically?"
00:17:10.39\00:17:13.06
And what was the sower's answer?
00:17:13.09\00:17:16.53
An enemy had done this.
Okay, I like that. Yeah.
00:17:16.56\00:17:18.83
So we understand that we
are involved in what we like
00:17:18.87\00:17:23.91
to call the great controversy.
00:17:23.94\00:17:25.97
There are two strong forces
battling behind the shadows
00:17:26.01\00:17:30.95
of things that we
don't see and don't know
00:17:30.98\00:17:33.58
and understand
completely, but it is going on.
00:17:33.62\00:17:36.72
And so, while God
does sometimes step in
00:17:36.75\00:17:40.89
and prevent
things at the same time,
00:17:40.92\00:17:44.26
because of this
great controversy,
00:17:44.29\00:17:46.06
it must play out
so that in the end,
00:17:46.09\00:17:48.96
the entire universe will
see that God is vindicated.
00:17:49.00\00:17:52.53
Wow. An enemy has done this.
00:17:52.57\00:17:55.44
You know, oftentimes,
00:17:55.47\00:17:56.81
when we're
shaking the fist at God,
00:17:56.84\00:17:58.91
and we're saying,
"Lord, You could have,
00:17:58.94\00:18:00.78
You should have," you know,
00:18:00.81\00:18:02.34
we don't often stop to
think that the simple answer
00:18:02.38\00:18:05.45
is that God's not the
reason for your problems,
00:18:05.48\00:18:07.68
or God is not the one
necessarily that calls that,
00:18:07.72\00:18:10.52
that the enemy,
there's an enemy out there
00:18:10.55\00:18:12.82
as John 10:10, Jesus says here,
00:18:12.85\00:18:15.42
"The thief does not
come except to steal,
00:18:15.46\00:18:17.63
and to kill, and to destroy."
00:18:17.66\00:18:19.06
And then Jesus confirms,
00:18:19.09\00:18:20.43
"I have come that
they may have life
00:18:20.46\00:18:22.26
and that they may
have it more abundantly."
00:18:22.30\00:18:25.07
God wants to save His
people, God wants His people
00:18:25.10\00:18:28.37
to remain in the faith, to
remain strong in the faith,
00:18:28.40\00:18:32.07
but the enemy
wants to crush that.
00:18:32.11\00:18:33.94
Also think of 1 Peter 5:8-10.
00:18:33.98\00:18:37.98
This text came to my mind,
00:18:38.01\00:18:39.35
as I was thinking
of someone saying,
00:18:39.38\00:18:41.02
you know, God is
the reason behind
00:18:41.05\00:18:42.85
why I'm in this situation.
00:18:42.88\00:18:44.45
But 1 Peter 5:8-10
says, "Be sober, be vigilant,
00:18:44.49\00:18:48.52
because your adversary,
the devil walks about like
00:18:48.56\00:18:50.79
a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour."
00:18:50.83\00:18:54.30
And then notice the
rest of this, oftentimes,
00:18:54.33\00:18:55.73
we read that text
and we stop there.
00:18:55.76\00:18:57.60
But notice what the
rest of the passage says,
00:18:57.63\00:18:59.47
beginning with
verse 9, here, it says,
00:18:59.50\00:19:00.87
"Resist him,
steadfast in the faith,
00:19:00.90\00:19:03.94
knowing the same
sufferings are experienced
00:19:03.97\00:19:06.84
by your
brotherhood in the world."
00:19:06.88\00:19:09.21
And it says, "But
may the God of all grace,
00:19:09.24\00:19:11.85
who called us to his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
00:19:11.88\00:19:15.38
after you have suffered
a while, notice, perfect,
00:19:15.42\00:19:20.12
establish,
strengthen, and settle you."
00:19:20.16\00:19:24.06
So the enemy is the one
that wants to steal from you,
00:19:24.09\00:19:27.50
who wants to kill you,
who wants to destroy you,
00:19:27.53\00:19:29.53
who wants to bring
about your problems.
00:19:29.56\00:19:31.70
And so before I go
on to the next question,
00:19:31.73\00:19:33.87
I just want to
open up the floor.
00:19:33.90\00:19:35.24
Does anybody else
want to respond to,
00:19:35.27\00:19:37.71
you know, is God the
reason for my troubles?
00:19:37.74\00:19:39.97
Is He the one
that, is He the reason
00:19:40.01\00:19:41.71
that I'm in this situation?
00:19:41.74\00:19:43.91
He could have prevented it?
00:19:43.95\00:19:45.41
Pastor, is there something
you want to add to that?
00:19:45.45\00:19:46.78
Let me give the ladies a chance.
00:19:46.82\00:19:48.25
Anybody want to respond to that?
00:19:48.28\00:19:51.45
Yes. Well,
here's what I think of.
00:19:51.49\00:19:55.02
You know, Terry alluded to this,
00:19:55.06\00:19:56.89
and I think that on
a couple of occasions,
00:19:56.93\00:19:59.09
I've been pulling this out.
00:19:59.13\00:20:00.50
And if you notice, my
answers have been kind
00:20:00.53\00:20:02.16
of going to the other side.
00:20:02.20\00:20:03.53
Sure.
00:20:03.57\00:20:04.90
Because I'm looking at,
I'm in the midst of a study now
00:20:04.93\00:20:06.27
about character development.
00:20:06.30\00:20:07.87
And character
development is huge
00:20:07.90\00:20:10.21
because we're not
taking anything with us,
00:20:10.24\00:20:11.94
but our characters.
00:20:11.97\00:20:13.31
That's right.
00:20:13.34\00:20:14.68
And like a blacksmith, the
Lord has to shape each one of us
00:20:14.71\00:20:16.21
into what He knows
that He wants us to be.
00:20:16.24\00:20:19.21
And that's a
challenging process.
00:20:19.25\00:20:21.28
And Hebrews 12,
Hebrews is the chapter
00:20:21.32\00:20:24.82
where it is comparing
the endurance of Christ
00:20:24.85\00:20:29.36
to the endurance
of the Christian.
00:20:29.39\00:20:31.93
And he said until
you get to the place
00:20:31.96\00:20:34.36
that you can
endure like Christ did,
00:20:34.40\00:20:36.23
I've got a lot of work,
00:20:36.26\00:20:38.03
I got to get you ready for that.
00:20:38.07\00:20:40.24
Because, you
know, the Lord says,
00:20:40.27\00:20:41.74
if they do this to a green tree,
00:20:41.77\00:20:44.11
the trials He went
through, what are they going
00:20:44.14\00:20:46.64
to do to a tree that
doesn't even bear fruit?
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.64
So if they did, so
if they tried Jesus,
00:20:48.68\00:20:51.71
and put Him
through the difficulty
00:20:51.75\00:20:53.08
that He went through,
he's in essence saying to us,
00:20:53.11\00:20:55.88
like they say in New York,
what makes you any different,
00:20:55.92\00:20:57.75
you know?
00:20:57.79\00:20:59.12
What do you think
you need to be avoiding?
00:20:59.15\00:21:00.56
And look at Hebrews
12:6, I mean verses,
00:21:00.59\00:21:04.56
verse 6, I'll start there,
00:21:04.59\00:21:06.16
and I just jump
through a couple of them.
00:21:06.19\00:21:07.56
But it says,
first, actually, verse 5,
00:21:07.60\00:21:12.23
"And you have
forgotten the exhortation
00:21:12.27\00:21:15.50
which speaks to you as to sons:
00:21:15.54\00:21:18.01
'My son, do not despise
the chastening of the Lord,
00:21:18.04\00:21:21.61
nor be discouraged
when you are rebuked by Him,
00:21:21.64\00:21:24.81
for whom the Lord
loves He chastens,
00:21:24.85\00:21:26.85
and scourges every
son whom He receives.'"
00:21:26.88\00:21:29.85
Verse 7, "If you
endure chastening,
00:21:29.88\00:21:32.72
God deals with you as with sons,
00:21:32.75\00:21:35.96
for what son is there
00:21:35.99\00:21:37.59
whom the father doesn't chasten?
00:21:37.63\00:21:39.76
But if you are
without chastening,
00:21:39.79\00:21:41.53
of which all have
become partakers."
00:21:41.56\00:21:44.37
That means everybody that I
know has gone through stuff,
00:21:44.40\00:21:47.04
but if you don't, notice
what it says, where am I now?
00:21:47.07\00:21:50.14
"Then you are
illegitimate and not sons."
00:21:50.17\00:21:53.41
So before we go any
further, what is he saying?
00:21:53.44\00:21:55.48
If you're my son, you're
going to go through stuff. Okay.
00:21:55.51\00:21:58.31
So let's just go
ahead and start there.
00:21:58.35\00:22:00.18
One of the
misconceptions of Christianity
00:22:00.22\00:22:02.72
is I become a
Christian, and the trial cease.
00:22:02.75\00:22:05.35
No, let's liken it
to a sports game, okay.
00:22:05.39\00:22:08.39
You play basketball,
we all about football.
00:22:08.42\00:22:11.53
Let's just say,
getting on the field means
00:22:11.56\00:22:14.36
you've just
declared your allegiance
00:22:14.40\00:22:15.73
against the other team.
00:22:15.76\00:22:17.10
That's right.
00:22:17.13\00:22:18.47
Joining with Christ,
meaning you just declared
00:22:18.50\00:22:19.83
your allegiance
against the other team.
00:22:19.87\00:22:21.20
That's right. That's right.
00:22:21.24\00:22:22.57
Now the other
team going to hit you?
00:22:22.60\00:22:23.94
Of course. Football?
00:22:23.97\00:22:25.31
Are they going to tackle you?
00:22:25.34\00:22:26.68
Are they going
to try to stop you
00:22:26.71\00:22:28.04
from getting to
the goals of life?
00:22:28.08\00:22:30.01
Are they going to really
bump it up on the one yard line?
00:22:30.05\00:22:33.52
Yeah, of course, when
the devil sees the closer
00:22:33.55\00:22:35.55
we get to the goal
that Christ has for us,
00:22:35.58\00:22:37.85
press toward the goal.
00:22:37.89\00:22:39.52
The closer he sees us
getting toward the goal,
00:22:39.55\00:22:41.72
he brings in the guys
that he knows can hit us hard,
00:22:41.76\00:22:44.76
can stop us.
00:22:44.79\00:22:46.13
So here's what I say.
00:22:46.16\00:22:48.06
If you're getting hit
harder than you used to,
00:22:48.10\00:22:50.10
you're closer to the goal.
00:22:50.13\00:22:51.93
Did you hear what I
said? Yes, that's right.
00:22:51.97\00:22:53.50
Be encouraged,
00:22:53.54\00:22:54.87
because the
devil wouldn't hit you
00:22:54.90\00:22:56.24
if you are too
far from the goal.
00:22:56.27\00:22:58.24
He's not even
concerned about the goal.
00:22:58.27\00:22:59.91
That's right.
00:22:59.94\00:23:01.28
But if you're getting
really close to the goal
00:23:01.31\00:23:02.64
and the hits are getting harder.
00:23:02.68\00:23:04.01
He's saying, "I don't
like the fact that Wendy
00:23:04.05\00:23:07.42
and Stephanie are just
pushing toward the goal.
00:23:07.45\00:23:10.09
I got to find a
way to stop them.
00:23:10.12\00:23:11.45
So I'm going to
hit them harder."
00:23:11.49\00:23:12.82
So you get hit hard as
you getting closer to the goal
00:23:12.85\00:23:15.99
of what Jesus
has in store for you.
00:23:16.02\00:23:18.23
Daniel, he was
getting to the goal,
00:23:18.26\00:23:20.50
the devil didn't
like it, the Hebrews,
00:23:20.53\00:23:22.56
getting to the goal,
the devil didn't like it,
00:23:22.60\00:23:23.97
Peter, getting to the
goal, the devil didn't like it,
00:23:24.00\00:23:26.57
Paul and Silas,
getting to the goal,
00:23:26.60\00:23:28.60
the devil didn't like
it, John the Revelator,
00:23:28.64\00:23:30.51
getting to the goal.
00:23:30.54\00:23:31.87
So if you're getting
toward the goal, understand,
00:23:31.91\00:23:34.88
that's powerful.
00:23:34.91\00:23:36.75
So if I don't get hit,
I'm not even on the field.
00:23:36.78\00:23:41.28
I haven't even declared
my allegiance to anyone.
00:23:41.32\00:23:43.65
That's right.
00:23:43.69\00:23:45.02
And I'll leave the next
verse for the next question.
00:23:45.05\00:23:46.39
That's great.
00:23:46.42\00:23:47.76
You know, I was thinking
as you were saying that,
00:23:47.79\00:23:49.12
I was thinking
of Revelation 12:17.
00:23:49.16\00:23:50.49
Yes. You know, that the
dragon is wroth with the woman.
00:23:50.53\00:23:52.79
We know the woman
represent God's Church, right?
00:23:52.83\00:23:54.90
He's wroth with a
woman and went to make war
00:23:54.93\00:23:57.43
with the remnant of her
seed which keep the commandments
00:23:57.47\00:23:59.33
of God and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:23:59.37\00:24:01.27
It should not surprise
us that if we're trying.
00:24:01.30\00:24:03.91
I mean, when I say trying,
00:24:03.94\00:24:05.27
I mean striving
to remain in Christ,
00:24:05.31\00:24:08.91
that the enemy's just
going to back up and say,
00:24:08.94\00:24:10.75
"Oh, you know, I'm
not going to touch them
00:24:10.78\00:24:12.11
because they're
already in Jesus."
00:24:12.15\00:24:13.48
Right? No.
00:24:13.52\00:24:14.85
He said, he's already
set his sights on you,
00:24:14.88\00:24:16.28
he's going to
amplify his attacks.
00:24:16.32\00:24:18.19
And, you know, you were just
mentioning a few minutes ago
00:24:18.22\00:24:21.26
about the
difficulties and the trials.
00:24:21.29\00:24:22.62
We know that God is
not always the reason
00:24:22.66\00:24:25.19
why these trials come upon us,
00:24:25.23\00:24:27.23
but He certainly
allows them many,
00:24:27.26\00:24:29.13
many times and that's
the key we have to understand
00:24:29.16\00:24:30.80
and I think that's the thing
a lot of people struggle with.
00:24:30.83\00:24:32.83
You know, why is God
allowing this to happen to me?
00:24:32.87\00:24:34.80
Why do I have to go
through this, right?
00:24:34.84\00:24:36.71
Why me, Lord?
00:24:36.74\00:24:38.07
You know, I hear
people say that all the time.
00:24:38.11\00:24:39.44
Why me?
00:24:39.47\00:24:40.81
Why do I have
to go through this?
00:24:40.84\00:24:42.18
And you know, I think not to
put Stephanie on the spot here.
00:24:42.21\00:24:45.35
But, you know, when I was
thinking of people who allowed,
00:24:45.38\00:24:48.42
people who God
allowed to go through trial.
00:24:48.45\00:24:50.95
There's just a
list here, Job, Joseph,
00:24:50.99\00:24:55.86
Moses, Samson, Solomon,
00:24:55.89\00:24:59.36
you mentioned
Daniel, John the Baptist.
00:24:59.39\00:25:01.50
I mean, really John the Baptist,
00:25:01.53\00:25:02.93
Jesus said is the
greatest of all the prophets.
00:25:02.96\00:25:04.87
And what
happened to that brother?
00:25:04.90\00:25:06.23
You can imagine him
in jail saying, you know,
00:25:06.27\00:25:08.10
again, when I say
imagine you could imagine
00:25:08.14\00:25:10.01
the humanity like,
"When is Jesus going to come
00:25:10.04\00:25:12.47
and bust me up out of here?"
00:25:12.51\00:25:13.84
Right? I'm the
greatest of all the prophets.
00:25:13.88\00:25:15.21
I mean, not that he
would have said that.
00:25:15.24\00:25:16.58
But seriously,
like, I'm His cousin,
00:25:16.61\00:25:18.15
He should have come and
got me out of here by now.
00:25:18.18\00:25:20.02
But what was the
ultimate end for that brother?
00:25:20.05\00:25:22.18
I mean, it wasn't a
positive one, right?
00:25:22.22\00:25:23.62
It wasn't a happy ending.
00:25:23.65\00:25:25.25
I'm also
thinking of the disciples
00:25:25.29\00:25:26.65
and all that they went
through what it costs them
00:25:26.69\00:25:28.29
to follow Jesus.
00:25:28.32\00:25:29.66
Now watch this. Yeah, go ahead.
00:25:29.69\00:25:31.03
He didn't lose his
faith, he lost his head.
00:25:31.06\00:25:32.93
He lost... Oh, okay.
00:25:32.96\00:25:35.06
Now, if you got
to choose the two,
00:25:35.10\00:25:37.37
that's what the Lord
said in Matthew 10:28,
00:25:37.40\00:25:39.90
"Don't fear those who
just could affect your body."
00:25:39.93\00:25:41.97
That's right.
00:25:42.00\00:25:43.34
So some of us rather
lose, or some of us have to make
00:25:43.37\00:25:45.34
a decision between losing
our head or losing our faith.
00:25:45.37\00:25:48.98
John said, "I'd rather lose
my head than lose my faith."
00:25:49.01\00:25:51.45
That's right.
00:25:51.48\00:25:52.81
And so that's we're
getting down to the nitty-gritty
00:25:52.85\00:25:54.18
of trials.
00:25:54.22\00:25:55.55
It's not going to get easier,
it's going to get tougher.
00:25:55.58\00:25:58.52
I don't want to
stop you full stride.
00:25:58.55\00:25:59.92
But that just kind of,
let's all turn to this passage
00:25:59.95\00:26:01.92
I want to have...
00:26:01.96\00:26:03.29
Yeah, let's go
there. Absolutely.
00:26:03.32\00:26:04.66
Matter of fact, I want to
have any one of the ladies read
00:26:04.69\00:26:06.03
Hebrews 12, we're in Hebrews 12.
00:26:06.06\00:26:07.40
Okay.
00:26:07.43\00:26:08.76
I talked about that,
but I want to go in just now
00:26:08.80\00:26:10.13
bring this out.
00:26:10.17\00:26:11.50
Because I know that as we
talked about this program,
00:26:11.53\00:26:13.60
those who are watching
the program, they may be right
00:26:13.64\00:26:15.60
where this passage is right now.
00:26:15.64\00:26:18.47
I'll ask Stephanie,
if you can read verse 11
00:26:18.51\00:26:20.74
because this is what
you're talking about, Ryan,
00:26:20.78\00:26:22.64
Hebrews 12:11.
00:26:22.68\00:26:24.71
"Now no chastening seems
to be joyful for the present,
00:26:24.75\00:26:29.62
but painful, nevertheless,
afterward it yields
00:26:29.65\00:26:33.22
the peaceable
fruit of righteousness
00:26:33.25\00:26:35.86
to those who have
been trained by it."
00:26:35.89\00:26:38.06
Right.
00:26:38.09\00:26:39.43
So when you're going
through it, it says, this is not
00:26:39.46\00:26:41.80
what I call a
Christian experience.
00:26:41.83\00:26:44.77
Right. Right?
00:26:44.80\00:26:46.13
But afterward you
say, "Oh, I didn't know.
00:26:46.17\00:26:48.30
Look how clean, look
how sharp my edges are now.
00:26:48.34\00:26:51.54
Right.
00:26:51.57\00:26:52.91
And you know the
text, iron sharpens iron.
00:26:52.94\00:26:56.85
Don't try to get a blunt
tool to get another one sharp.
00:26:56.88\00:27:00.12
So some people
experience sharp folk, why?
00:27:00.15\00:27:04.49
'Cause the Lord
wants you to be sharp.
00:27:04.52\00:27:06.86
If He didn't
want you to be sharp,
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.12
He wouldn't bring another
sharp person in your vicinity.
00:27:09.16\00:27:11.99
After all these years in
the ministry, believe me,
00:27:12.03\00:27:15.16
when I encounter sharp
focus I say, "Okay, Lord,
00:27:15.20\00:27:17.93
I'm kind of getting
dull around the edges."
00:27:17.97\00:27:19.93
So He sends a sharp
person to get me back
00:27:19.97\00:27:21.77
to where I need to be.
00:27:21.80\00:27:24.44
You know,
there, there's probably
00:27:24.47\00:27:25.81
no better person
that can attest to this
00:27:25.84\00:27:27.88
than my wife here.
00:27:27.91\00:27:29.81
During the times
that we're living in,
00:27:29.84\00:27:31.21
I have seen first firsthand
the challenges, the struggles,
00:27:31.25\00:27:35.92
the difficulties,
that you as a teacher,
00:27:35.95\00:27:38.22
as an administrator,
a principal of a school,
00:27:38.25\00:27:42.06
you know, having
others in your care,
00:27:42.09\00:27:43.79
and not just others,
children in your care.
00:27:43.83\00:27:46.36
There has to be those
days where and I know it
00:27:46.39\00:27:48.96
to be the case, this is more
rhetorical from my perspective.
00:27:49.00\00:27:51.37
But there's those days clearly,
where you just, you know,
00:27:51.40\00:27:54.74
it's kind of the
hands in the face, like,
00:27:54.77\00:27:56.54
I don't know how far
I can keep going, right?
00:27:56.57\00:27:59.21
You know, speak on
that for just a moment,
00:27:59.24\00:28:00.68
'cause there's probably
someone watching right now
00:28:00.71\00:28:02.28
that's saying, you know,
"I'm really struggling here."
00:28:02.31\00:28:05.38
You've been through quite a bit,
00:28:05.41\00:28:06.75
explain from a
teacher's perspective?
00:28:06.78\00:28:08.85
Well, I mean, in dealing
with that, but also in having,
00:28:08.88\00:28:13.19
like my own health issue
of severe anxiety already.
00:28:13.22\00:28:19.16
So I relate highly to the...
00:28:19.19\00:28:22.90
I'm praying, and I'm praying,
and it's just not going away.
00:28:22.93\00:28:26.53
Why? Yeah, Jesus,
take way my anxiety.
00:28:26.57\00:28:28.77
Right?
00:28:28.80\00:28:30.14
I know, there's no
telling how many times
00:28:30.17\00:28:31.51
I know that I've prayed this,
"Please, why won't this stop?
00:28:31.54\00:28:34.11
God, what did I do?
00:28:34.14\00:28:35.48
What do I need to learn?
00:28:35.51\00:28:36.95
Just make it
end." And it doesn't.
00:28:36.98\00:28:40.12
So then I very much relate to,
00:28:40.15\00:28:43.52
has my faith just
not strong enough?
00:28:43.55\00:28:45.39
Yeah.
00:28:45.42\00:28:46.76
Somebody else pray for me,
00:28:46.79\00:28:48.12
because apparently
I'm not doing it right.
00:28:48.16\00:28:50.99
You know, because
that's what it feels like.
00:28:51.03\00:28:52.49
Absolutely.
00:28:52.53\00:28:53.86
But through this, this year,
we've talked about Joseph...
00:28:53.90\00:28:58.13
Right, we
mentioned Joseph. And Moses.
00:28:58.17\00:29:00.27
And so what I'm
hearing is kind of both
00:29:00.30\00:29:03.91
of why we go through trials.
00:29:03.94\00:29:06.74
And so I find that
pretty interesting of with one,
00:29:06.78\00:29:11.65
you know, with the whole
story of Joseph, you know,
00:29:11.68\00:29:15.18
it was meant for evil,
00:29:15.22\00:29:17.45
but God took it
and used it for good.
00:29:17.49\00:29:19.72
Right. Absolutely.
00:29:19.75\00:29:21.46
So that's what I was hearing
with, the enemy has done this.
00:29:21.49\00:29:24.56
That's what has
been shared so far.
00:29:24.59\00:29:26.09
So I kind of get that side.
00:29:26.13\00:29:27.66
But then you also
have the story of Moses
00:29:27.70\00:29:29.50
who needed to
be a strong leader.
00:29:29.53\00:29:31.83
And so he had to go
through those things.
00:29:31.87\00:29:33.97
And some of those,
you know, most likely,
00:29:34.00\00:29:37.11
God placed in his path to be
the leader he needed to be...
00:29:37.14\00:29:40.61
Wow. Okay.
00:29:40.64\00:29:41.98
And to have to go
through those things.
00:29:42.01\00:29:43.71
So we've been talking about
both of those Bible characters
00:29:43.75\00:29:47.12
at school, and
it's just, it's amazing
00:29:47.15\00:29:51.22
because I'm teaching
it, but at the same time,
00:29:51.25\00:29:53.05
it's what I need to hear.
00:29:53.09\00:29:54.56
And so I'm like,
"Okay, well, this makes sense,
00:29:54.59\00:29:57.29
even though, yeah, I
relate to that, like why,
00:29:57.33\00:30:00.06
why do I have to
go through this?"
00:30:00.10\00:30:01.60
But, you know, if I
00:30:01.63\00:30:03.97
didn't, I wouldn't be able
to share with somebody else
00:30:04.00\00:30:06.17
that might need to hear it.
00:30:06.20\00:30:07.54
Amen. Wow. That's right.
00:30:07.57\00:30:08.90
Praise the Lord.
Thank you for sharing that.
00:30:08.94\00:30:10.27
Thank you so much You know
what she's saying reminds me
00:30:10.31\00:30:12.47
of the Apostle Paul had
the same problem, right?
00:30:12.51\00:30:15.48
Yeah. Absolutely. You
know, he told this story.
00:30:15.51\00:30:17.75
It comes from 2 Corinthians
Chapter 12 where in verse 7,
00:30:17.78\00:30:22.45
2 Corinthians 12:7,
a thorn in the flesh,
00:30:22.48\00:30:25.72
my Bible says, which is exactly
00:30:25.75\00:30:28.09
what Stephanie is talking about.
00:30:28.12\00:30:29.46
Yeah, read that.
00:30:29.49\00:30:30.83
"And lest I should be exalted
above measured by the abundance
00:30:30.86\00:30:32.99
of the revelations, a thorn
in the flesh was given to me,
00:30:33.03\00:30:36.46
a messenger of
Satan to buffet me,
00:30:36.50\00:30:38.83
lest I be exalted above measure.
00:30:38.87\00:30:41.40
Concerning this thing,
I pleaded with the Lord
00:30:41.44\00:30:43.34
three times that it
might depart from me.
00:30:43.37\00:30:45.61
And He said to me,
00:30:45.64\00:30:47.14
'My grace is sufficient for you,
00:30:47.18\00:30:49.68
for My strength is
made perfect in weakness.'
00:30:49.71\00:30:52.75
Therefore, most gladly I will
rather boast in my infirmities,
00:30:52.78\00:30:56.12
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
00:30:56.15\00:30:59.35
Therefore, I take
pleasure in infirmities,
00:30:59.39\00:31:01.59
in reproaches, in needs, in
persecutions, in distresses,
00:31:01.62\00:31:04.83
for Christ's sake,
for when I am weak,
00:31:04.86\00:31:07.46
then I am strong.'"
00:31:07.50\00:31:09.46
Man, that's beautiful.
00:31:09.50\00:31:10.83
And I thought of this little
quote, I looked it up here
00:31:10.87\00:31:13.64
when we were talking about,
00:31:13.67\00:31:15.00
I just want to
share this with you.
00:31:15.04\00:31:16.37
This is from the
writings of Mrs. White,
00:31:16.40\00:31:19.17
it's a, an article called
The Saving Providence of God,
00:31:19.21\00:31:22.11
March 5.
00:31:22.14\00:31:23.48
And listen to what she says.
00:31:23.51\00:31:24.91
She says, "He who is
imbued with the Spirit of Christ
00:31:24.95\00:31:27.78
abides in Christ.
00:31:27.82\00:31:29.68
The blow that is aimed at
him falls upon the Savior,
00:31:29.72\00:31:34.86
who surrounds him
with His presence.
00:31:34.89\00:31:37.26
Whatever comes to
him, comes from Christ.
00:31:37.29\00:31:41.00
He has no need to resist
evil for Christ is his defense.
00:31:41.03\00:31:45.33
Nothing can touch him,
00:31:45.37\00:31:47.00
except by our Lord's permission,
00:31:47.04\00:31:49.34
and all things
that are permitted,
00:31:49.37\00:31:51.41
work together for good
to them that love God."
00:31:51.44\00:31:54.38
Think about the water
in this little bottle here.
00:31:54.41\00:31:56.58
Okay, so if I'm the
water in this bottle,
00:31:56.61\00:31:59.51
and if Jesus is
the bottle itself,
00:31:59.55\00:32:01.58
anything that's going
to get through to the water
00:32:01.62\00:32:03.95
has to come through the bottle.
00:32:03.99\00:32:05.59
And this is me,
because I'm in Christ,
00:32:05.62\00:32:07.82
and whatever.
00:32:07.86\00:32:09.19
And so therefore,
it comes through Christ
00:32:09.22\00:32:11.63
by His permission,
00:32:11.66\00:32:13.46
because He's
trying to purify me.
00:32:13.50\00:32:16.13
Right.
00:32:16.16\00:32:17.50
And what's coming
to my mind right now
00:32:17.53\00:32:19.00
is the scripture there in...
00:32:19.03\00:32:21.40
Let me find here,
1 Corinthians 10:13.
00:32:21.44\00:32:24.54
1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
00:32:24.57\00:32:26.27
"No temptation has overtaken you
00:32:26.31\00:32:28.11
except such as common to
man, but God is faithful,
00:32:28.14\00:32:31.48
who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond
00:32:31.51\00:32:33.38
what you are able,
but with the temptation
00:32:33.42\00:32:35.82
will also make
the way of escape,
00:32:35.85\00:32:37.79
that you may be
able to bear it."
00:32:37.82\00:32:40.36
So as you were
talking, I thought of Job.
00:32:40.39\00:32:43.16
Because, you know,
right there in Job Chapter 1,
00:32:43.19\00:32:45.33
there's this heavenly council,
Satan shows up, and you know,
00:32:45.36\00:32:48.16
hey, I'm just, I'm
just running to and fro,
00:32:48.20\00:32:49.76
you know, back
on earth over here,
00:32:49.80\00:32:51.37
you know, my place
that goes by my rules,
00:32:51.40\00:32:53.54
and your God, you
know, kind of implied
00:32:53.57\00:32:55.27
there very clearly
God's like, you know,
00:32:55.30\00:32:56.64
what about my man Job?
00:32:56.67\00:32:58.01
If it's according to
your rules, your ways,
00:32:58.04\00:33:00.04
what about my man Job?
00:33:00.08\00:33:01.41
He doesn't function
according to your rules,
00:33:01.44\00:33:02.78
your ways, your character.
00:33:02.81\00:33:04.45
And then, you know,
Satan issues a challenge.
00:33:04.48\00:33:06.92
You know, and he basically,
00:33:06.95\00:33:08.28
there's an
implied accusation against
00:33:08.32\00:33:09.65
the character of God there,
00:33:09.68\00:33:11.05
because he
basically says to God,
00:33:11.09\00:33:12.85
oh, no, no, no,
Job only is the way
00:33:12.89\00:33:14.72
he is because You,
You have put a hedge
00:33:14.76\00:33:16.62
of protection around him,
and You give him good things.
00:33:16.66\00:33:19.19
But the moment you
take away those good things,
00:33:19.23\00:33:21.33
and the moment you
remove that hedge of protection,
00:33:21.36\00:33:23.26
and let me had him,
he'll curse you to your face.
00:33:23.30\00:33:25.47
In other words,
the implied accusation
00:33:25.50\00:33:27.24
against the
character of God is that
00:33:27.27\00:33:28.60
you God or not in
and of yourself worthy
00:33:28.64\00:33:31.51
to be worshipped, that
Your people only worship You,
00:33:31.54\00:33:34.58
because You give them good
things, and You protect them.
00:33:34.61\00:33:37.25
And, you know, there's
no truth to that at all.
00:33:37.28\00:33:39.85
We know that
there's no truth to that.
00:33:39.88\00:33:41.38
But yet, oftentimes,
00:33:41.42\00:33:42.75
the devil makes
people think that,
00:33:42.78\00:33:44.59
because you see
that from the very fruits
00:33:44.62\00:33:46.65
in the very
response from many people,
00:33:46.69\00:33:48.36
and that is, as long as
their life's going well,
00:33:48.39\00:33:50.76
as long as the
money is coming in,
00:33:50.79\00:33:52.19
as long as the bills are paid,
00:33:52.23\00:33:53.56
as long as their health is good,
00:33:53.60\00:33:54.93
as long as all the
people in their families
00:33:54.96\00:33:56.50
not suffering
and dying are fine,
00:33:56.53\00:33:57.97
everybody's fine,
then, you know, God's good.
00:33:58.00\00:34:00.30
But as soon as something
bad comes, as soon as, you know,
00:34:00.34\00:34:03.51
somebody loses their job,
as soon as a loved one dies,
00:34:03.54\00:34:06.24
as soon as you
know, some horrible,
00:34:06.27\00:34:08.41
horrible challenge comes,
00:34:08.44\00:34:09.78
then oftentimes
you see people turn
00:34:09.81\00:34:11.55
and shake their fist to God say,
00:34:11.58\00:34:12.91
"Oh, God, it's Your fault.
00:34:12.95\00:34:14.62
You know, You're the one
that did this," when in reality,
00:34:14.65\00:34:17.12
you know, God is worthy
00:34:17.15\00:34:19.09
to be worshipped
in and of Himself in
00:34:19.12\00:34:21.29
because of who He is.
00:34:21.32\00:34:22.66
Do we worship God because
He does good things for us?
00:34:22.69\00:34:26.03
Is He only
worthy to be worshipped
00:34:26.06\00:34:27.50
because of the
hedge of protection
00:34:27.53\00:34:28.86
He puts around us?
00:34:28.90\00:34:30.57
Or is He worthy to be worshipped
00:34:30.60\00:34:31.93
because of who He is?
00:34:31.97\00:34:33.47
That's right. He is
creator of all things.
00:34:33.50\00:34:36.00
And this is kind of
what we're getting to.
00:34:36.04\00:34:37.47
We're getting
to the nitty-gritty
00:34:37.51\00:34:38.94
of the fact that
can you maintain,
00:34:38.97\00:34:41.38
can you still have faith in God
00:34:41.41\00:34:45.55
though the things
that may be happening
00:34:45.58\00:34:47.35
to you in your life can't
really fully be explained?
00:34:47.38\00:34:50.49
Maybe, can you
still worship Him?
00:34:50.52\00:34:52.35
Can you still serve Him?
00:34:52.39\00:34:53.79
Can you still put your
trust and your faith in Him
00:34:53.82\00:34:56.06
through the unknown?
00:34:56.09\00:34:57.63
I found many times in my own
life I've asked this question.
00:34:57.66\00:35:00.53
I've said this to
the Lord in prayer,
00:35:00.56\00:35:02.36
just driving down the road
calling out to Him and saying,
00:35:02.40\00:35:04.23
"God, I don't
know why in the world
00:35:04.27\00:35:05.97
You're allowing this to happen.
00:35:06.00\00:35:07.70
I don't know why in the world,
00:35:07.74\00:35:09.17
you know, You have allowed
this horrible thing to happen.
00:35:09.20\00:35:13.34
But God, I still trust You.
00:35:13.38\00:35:15.08
I can't see two
feet in front of my face.
00:35:15.11\00:35:17.15
I don't know what's
beyond these blurry lives,
00:35:17.18\00:35:19.58
because I'm
seeing everything blurry.
00:35:19.61\00:35:20.95
But God, I still trust you."
00:35:20.98\00:35:22.32
That's the faith that God wants
00:35:22.35\00:35:24.05
that through the trial,
through the complication,
00:35:24.09\00:35:26.19
through the
difficulty, through the sorrow,
00:35:26.22\00:35:28.09
through the
despair, through the pain,
00:35:28.12\00:35:29.46
through it all, can
you still say, "God,
00:35:29.49\00:35:31.39
I don't understand,
but I still trust You?"
00:35:31.43\00:35:34.13
You know, God never
intended for us to understand.
00:35:34.16\00:35:36.36
That's the biggest part about
it, because He's sovereign.
00:35:36.40\00:35:38.77
He sees the end
from the beginning.
00:35:38.80\00:35:40.14
He's the beginning from
the end, He sees it all.
00:35:40.17\00:35:42.34
And you have a
passage here, Isaiah 55:89,
00:35:42.37\00:35:45.17
"For my thoughts
are not your thoughts."
00:35:45.21\00:35:47.41
You think it's
happening for this reason,
00:35:47.44\00:35:48.84
that's not why.
00:35:48.88\00:35:50.21
Right. That's not
what I'm thinking.
00:35:50.25\00:35:51.58
Nor are my ways, nor
are your ways my ways,
00:35:51.61\00:35:53.65
well, this is how
you want to be done,
00:35:53.68\00:35:56.48
but this is how I
want it to be done.
00:35:56.52\00:35:57.85
That's right.
00:35:57.89\00:35:59.22
"So for as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
00:35:59.25\00:36:01.19
so are My ways
higher than your ways
00:36:01.22\00:36:03.36
and My thoughts
than your thoughts."
00:36:03.39\00:36:05.23
So let's go,
let's look are God's
00:36:05.26\00:36:07.96
thoughts lower than ours?
00:36:08.00\00:36:09.33
No, definitely not.
00:36:09.36\00:36:10.70
Okay, so He has a higher purpose
00:36:10.73\00:36:13.34
behind everything He
allows to come our way.
00:36:13.37\00:36:16.10
I've often said this way,
00:36:16.14\00:36:17.57
"God never
measures His grace and mercy
00:36:17.61\00:36:20.31
but He always
measures the trial."
00:36:20.34\00:36:22.38
That's why He says no
temptation will overtake you.
00:36:22.41\00:36:24.65
And let's all turn to Romans
8, 'cause I want to read this
00:36:24.68\00:36:28.82
one Romans 8:28.
00:36:28.85\00:36:30.39
We know it by heart,
00:36:30.42\00:36:31.75
but I want us to look at
a specific word in it that
00:36:31.79\00:36:35.02
we often take for granted.
00:36:35.06\00:36:36.62
You know, when we
look at that verse,
00:36:36.66\00:36:38.49
we have some clich,
verses, Romans 8:28.
00:36:38.53\00:36:42.03
We know that
those are clich, verses.
00:36:42.06\00:36:44.83
Wendy, read that one for us.
00:36:44.87\00:36:46.23
Listen to this.
00:36:46.27\00:36:47.60
"And we know that all
things work together for good
00:36:47.64\00:36:50.04
to those who love God,
00:36:50.07\00:36:51.67
to those who are called
according to His purpose.
00:36:51.71\00:36:53.98
Right.
00:36:54.01\00:36:55.34
So if you are the called,
00:36:55.38\00:36:56.71
how many things are going
to work together for good?
00:36:56.75\00:36:59.55
Notice it didn't say work
apart, it says work together.
00:36:59.58\00:37:01.82
So let's put
that picture together.
00:37:01.85\00:37:03.69
The bad, the good, the sour,
the sweet, the disappointing,
00:37:03.72\00:37:07.46
the encouraging, the
high, the low, the painful,
00:37:07.49\00:37:10.93
the joyful, you put
that on the same pot,
00:37:10.96\00:37:13.80
God says, I know
what's in your pot,
00:37:13.83\00:37:17.17
but it's going to
work together for good.
00:37:17.20\00:37:19.30
So we have to get that
picture because today people,
00:37:19.33\00:37:22.77
indicting God,
because they don't realize
00:37:22.80\00:37:25.41
that He doesn't
think like they do.
00:37:25.44\00:37:27.31
My thoughts are
not your thoughts.
00:37:27.34\00:37:29.08
How many children
think like their parents?
00:37:29.11\00:37:32.58
Okay, how many parents say,
"You're not getting the car?"
00:37:32.61\00:37:36.25
"Mom, what do you mean
I'm not getting the car?"
00:37:36.28\00:37:37.79
This is the
night. This is the event.
00:37:37.82\00:37:41.32
That's why you're
not getting the car
00:37:41.36\00:37:42.69
because you're going to act up
00:37:42.72\00:37:44.06
and going to do
something stupid.
00:37:44.09\00:37:45.43
What are my
friends are going to say?
00:37:45.46\00:37:47.16
What's your friends
going to say is not my concern.
00:37:47.20\00:37:49.70
I know what I'm thinking,
and what you're thinking
00:37:49.73\00:37:51.53
is not the same thing.
00:37:51.57\00:37:53.20
So and then you find out that
some terrible thing happened
00:37:53.23\00:37:55.84
during the night, some
students got in a bad accident.
00:37:55.87\00:37:58.47
And the next day your senses,
00:37:58.51\00:38:00.78
"Mom, how did you know
that was going to happen?
00:38:00.81\00:38:02.44
"I didn't know, but
I knew the potential.
00:38:02.48\00:38:04.71
So we have to trust our Father,
00:38:04.75\00:38:06.08
if we could
trust earthly parents,
00:38:06.11\00:38:08.42
we need to trust our Father
00:38:08.45\00:38:09.78
who sees farther
than our earthly parents.
00:38:09.82\00:38:13.49
Trusting Him even
when it doesn't make sense.
00:38:13.52\00:38:15.69
When it doesn't make sense.
00:38:15.72\00:38:17.06
You know, you read 2
Corinthians 11:22-27,
00:38:17.09\00:38:20.70
which is, I mean,
you read the experience
00:38:20.73\00:38:24.63
of what Paul went through
00:38:24.67\00:38:26.13
when he gave his heart to Christ
00:38:26.17\00:38:27.64
from the time that he was
completely devoted to Christ
00:38:27.67\00:38:30.27
when he was converted all
the way to the end of his life.
00:38:30.31\00:38:32.84
There's a list here,
00:38:32.87\00:38:34.21
there's a list of
things that happened to him.
00:38:34.24\00:38:36.68
I'm just going to read it
here. 2 Corinthians 11:22-27.
00:38:36.71\00:38:41.42
It says, "Are
they Hebrew? So am I.
00:38:41.45\00:38:44.29
Are they Israelites? So am I.
00:38:44.32\00:38:46.35
Are they the seed
of Abraham? So am I."
00:38:46.39\00:38:49.12
And then he goes on to say,
00:38:49.16\00:38:50.49
"Are they all
ministers of Christ?
00:38:50.53\00:38:51.96
I speak as a fool, I am more."
And then he gives this list.
00:38:51.99\00:38:56.36
Notice he says, "In
labors more abundant,
00:38:56.40\00:39:00.34
in stripes above measure,
in prisons more frequent,
00:39:00.37\00:39:04.67
in deaths often.
00:39:04.71\00:39:06.88
From the Jews five times
00:39:06.91\00:39:08.54
I received forty
stripes minus one.
00:39:08.58\00:39:11.61
Three times I was beaten
with rods, once I was stoned,
00:39:11.65\00:39:15.55
three times I was shipwrecked,
00:39:15.58\00:39:17.32
at night and day I
have been in the deep,
00:39:17.35\00:39:20.69
in journeys often,
in perils of waters,
00:39:20.72\00:39:22.99
in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own countrymen,
00:39:23.02\00:39:25.99
in perils of the
Gentiles, in perils of the city,
00:39:26.03\00:39:28.43
in perils of the wilderness,
in perils of the sea,
00:39:28.46\00:39:30.40
in perils among false
brethren, in weariness and toil,
00:39:30.43\00:39:34.30
in sleeplessness
often, in hunger and thirst,
00:39:34.34\00:39:36.97
in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness."
00:39:37.01\00:39:39.47
I mean, this
brother goes on and says,
00:39:39.51\00:39:40.98
"Let me show you what
happens when you follow Jesus."
00:39:41.01\00:39:44.81
I've experienced it all.
00:39:44.85\00:39:46.18
Now tie all of that
and I read all of that
00:39:46.21\00:39:48.52
to read James 1:2-4.
00:39:48.55\00:39:50.65
Okay.
00:39:50.69\00:39:52.02
Because, you know,
sometimes we were going
00:39:52.05\00:39:53.39
to ask the question,
00:39:53.42\00:39:54.76
"Why does God allow
these trials often?"
00:39:54.79\00:39:56.12
God may not always
be the cause of it,
00:39:56.16\00:39:57.49
but why does He allow it?"
00:39:57.53\00:39:58.86
I think of James 1:2-4.
00:39:58.89\00:40:00.53
And after I read this text,
00:40:00.56\00:40:01.96
Stephanie, why don't you
read that for us, James 1:2-4?
00:40:02.00\00:40:05.40
Read that for us there?
00:40:05.43\00:40:07.04
"My brethren, count it all joy
00:40:07.07\00:40:09.17
when you fall
into various trials,
00:40:09.20\00:40:11.27
knowing that the
testing of your faith
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.34
produces patience.
00:40:13.38\00:40:15.41
But let patience
have its perfect work,
00:40:15.44\00:40:17.75
that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing."
00:40:17.78\00:40:21.88
Okay, so go with me on this.
00:40:21.92\00:40:23.55
You know, Paul was
stoned. You can imagine that.
00:40:23.59\00:40:26.52
I mean, really,
and that brother going
00:40:26.55\00:40:27.92
to be sitting there being
stoned being beat with rods,
00:40:27.96\00:40:30.43
"Lord, praise God for
they beat me with these rods."
00:40:30.46\00:40:32.86
I just counted all
joy that I can fall
00:40:32.89\00:40:34.53
into this stoning right now.
00:40:34.56\00:40:35.90
You know, none of us when we
find ourselves in these trials,
00:40:35.93\00:40:38.43
do we have that what seems
to be very counteractive almost
00:40:38.47\00:40:41.74
unrealistic attitude right off,
00:40:41.77\00:40:43.57
praise God that I'm
going through this fiery trial,
00:40:43.61\00:40:46.07
the storm in my life.
00:40:46.11\00:40:47.44
But yet, the
attitude of a Christian,
00:40:47.48\00:40:49.68
Stephanie just read
there, according to James 1:2-4,
00:40:49.71\00:40:53.38
"Count it all joy when
you fall into various trials,
00:40:53.42\00:40:55.38
knowing that the testing
00:40:55.42\00:40:56.75
of your faith
produces patience."
00:40:56.79\00:40:58.75
It goes back to
what you said earlier,
00:40:58.79\00:41:00.16
Pastor, this is all
about character development.
00:41:00.19\00:41:02.79
Character development.
00:41:02.82\00:41:04.16
We're being
pressed into the fire
00:41:04.19\00:41:05.86
and sometimes you
have to be pressed
00:41:05.89\00:41:07.23
into the hottest
part of the flame,
00:41:07.26\00:41:09.56
you know, to be
produced for that character
00:41:09.60\00:41:11.53
to be produced and
prepared for the kingdom of God.
00:41:11.57\00:41:15.57
And not only
that, but I'm going,
00:41:15.60\00:41:17.41
I'm thinking about you driving
down the road and asking God,
00:41:17.44\00:41:19.54
"Why am I going through it?
00:41:19.57\00:41:20.91
Why is it happening, you know?"
00:41:20.94\00:41:22.28
And this verse came to mind.
00:41:22.31\00:41:23.65
It's comes from 2
Corinthians Chapter 4
00:41:23.68\00:41:27.22
and beginning at verse 16.
00:41:27.25\00:41:30.55
2 Corinthians Chapter
4, beginning at verse 16.
00:41:30.59\00:41:33.66
And this is Paul
writing, he says, "Therefore,
00:41:33.69\00:41:35.32
we do not lose heart,
even though our inward man
00:41:35.36\00:41:37.56
is perishing at the...
00:41:37.59\00:41:39.06
Our outward man is perishing,
00:41:39.09\00:41:40.43
yet the inner man is
being renewed day by day.
00:41:40.46\00:41:42.66
For our light
affliction," I love that,
00:41:42.70\00:41:46.23
"our light affliction, which is,
00:41:46.27\00:41:48.17
but for a moment is working
for us a far more exceeding
00:41:48.20\00:41:53.14
and eternal weight of glory,
00:41:53.17\00:41:54.78
while we do not look at
the things which are seen,
00:41:54.81\00:41:57.35
but at the things
which are not seen,
00:41:57.38\00:41:59.28
for the things
which are seen are," what?
00:41:59.31\00:42:02.38
"Temporary, but the things
00:42:02.42\00:42:04.45
which are not seen are eternal."
00:42:04.49\00:42:07.59
I remember years
ago, I worked with,
00:42:07.62\00:42:10.89
I was working
in a school system,
00:42:10.93\00:42:12.26
and there was this teacher,
who had a 15 year old daughter.
00:42:12.29\00:42:16.93
And this young girl was popular,
00:42:16.97\00:42:19.73
she was an athlete, she
was a straight A student,
00:42:19.77\00:42:23.51
she was beautiful, she was just,
00:42:23.54\00:42:26.17
everybody loved
this little girl.
00:42:26.21\00:42:28.28
She's 15. And it
says she has leukemia.
00:42:28.31\00:42:31.48
Wow.
00:42:31.51\00:42:32.88
And so went
through all the treatment,
00:42:32.91\00:42:35.02
treatments wasn't working,
she's slowly dying away.
00:42:35.05\00:42:38.95
And I remember
hearing a story later,
00:42:38.99\00:42:42.62
the mother was talking
to the daughter one day
00:42:42.66\00:42:45.89
and she said,
"I don't understand
00:42:45.93\00:42:48.30
why God is allowing
this to happen to you."
00:42:48.33\00:42:52.03
And she said,
"Mom, don't you remember
00:42:52.07\00:42:54.90
all the people that
I've been able to talk
00:42:54.94\00:42:56.64
to about Jesus,
00:42:56.67\00:42:58.54
and how Jesus is the
one strengthening me,
00:42:58.57\00:43:00.94
even though my
body is failing inside,
00:43:00.98\00:43:03.95
I'm being renewed day by day."
00:43:03.98\00:43:05.61
And she passed away.
00:43:05.65\00:43:07.58
But she passed
away in knowing Christ,
00:43:07.62\00:43:11.42
and was able to
minister to people.
00:43:11.45\00:43:14.66
That takes a special mindset
to be able to have that kind
00:43:14.69\00:43:18.46
of attitude to again, like
Job to say, though He slay me,
00:43:18.49\00:43:23.03
yet will I trust in Him.
00:43:23.06\00:43:24.40
That's amazing.
00:43:24.43\00:43:25.77
I think of people
who have been through
00:43:25.80\00:43:27.14
some of the
most difficult times.
00:43:27.17\00:43:28.50
I mean, even us
sitting at this table,
00:43:28.54\00:43:30.34
there's not a one
of us here that can sit
00:43:30.37\00:43:31.71
at this table and say
we haven't been through
00:43:31.74\00:43:33.17
something that
really tested our faith.
00:43:33.21\00:43:36.64
Maybe one time even
almost crushed our faith, right?
00:43:36.68\00:43:40.58
And I think
people who, you know,
00:43:40.62\00:43:41.95
probably one of
the toughest trials
00:43:41.98\00:43:43.32
anybody could ever endure
00:43:43.35\00:43:44.95
is the loss of a
loved one or a friend,
00:43:44.99\00:43:47.12
someone who's close to them.
00:43:47.16\00:43:49.22
A parent losing a
child, a husband losing a wife,
00:43:49.26\00:43:52.86
losing a sibling,
kids losing a parent,
00:43:52.89\00:43:56.77
you know, in my
case, a couple years ago,
00:43:56.80\00:43:58.20
when I lost my mom,
00:43:58.23\00:43:59.70
I think it was one
of the biggest trials
00:43:59.73\00:44:01.40
I ever experienced in my life.
00:44:01.44\00:44:03.64
But nonetheless, you
know, it's in those moments,
00:44:03.67\00:44:06.51
where even it seems like
when God is silent often,
00:44:06.54\00:44:09.11
where it's like, where's God?
00:44:09.14\00:44:10.68
God is still there.
He's in the silence.
00:44:10.71\00:44:13.08
In fact, there was a quote,
I didn't bring it with me.
00:44:13.11\00:44:16.12
I have to share it another time.
00:44:16.15\00:44:17.49
But there's a
quote from Mrs. White
00:44:17.52\00:44:18.85
where she actually says,
"It's in the darkest hours
00:44:18.89\00:44:21.92
that God draws
nearest to His people."
00:44:21.96\00:44:25.23
And you know,
even though sometimes
00:44:25.26\00:44:27.00
we can't perceive it or feel it,
00:44:27.03\00:44:28.83
I think of the story
of Horatio G. Spafford
00:44:28.86\00:44:32.63
lost his son, lost almost half,
00:44:32.67\00:44:35.20
almost all of his
business in the Chicago fires
00:44:35.24\00:44:37.11
of the 1870s, sent his
family off across the Atlantic
00:44:37.14\00:44:40.28
to go have a
much needed vacation,
00:44:40.31\00:44:44.25
the boat capsizes, loses
all the rest of his daughters.
00:44:44.28\00:44:48.28
His wife sends him a letter
back saying I survived alone.
00:44:48.32\00:44:51.15
I mean, this man
literally went through hell,
00:44:51.19\00:44:53.76
in a very short
period of time in his life
00:44:53.79\00:44:55.52
where he literally almost
lost everything and in a moment
00:44:55.56\00:44:58.33
where you know, you
would expect someone
00:44:58.36\00:44:59.79
to shake the fist at
God and say, "Why, Lord,
00:44:59.83\00:45:01.56
why me, why is
this happening to me?
00:45:01.60\00:45:03.40
It seems like, you know,
you don't care about me."
00:45:03.43\00:45:05.10
This brother pens
down the, you know,
00:45:05.13\00:45:06.97
it shows his
faith by penning down
00:45:07.00\00:45:08.50
one of the most beautiful songs,
00:45:08.54\00:45:10.04
the lyrics to one of the most
beautiful songs ever written.
00:45:10.07\00:45:12.04
It is well with my soul.
00:45:12.07\00:45:13.78
When peace, like a
river, attendeth my way,
00:45:13.81\00:45:17.25
when sorrows like
sea billows roll, right?
00:45:17.28\00:45:20.98
Whatever my lot... What is it?
00:45:21.02\00:45:23.92
Thou hast taught
me to say, it is well,
00:45:23.95\00:45:27.32
it is well with my soul.
00:45:27.36\00:45:29.42
And then you really see that
his faith in the third verse
00:45:29.46\00:45:31.66
'cause he says and
Lord haste the day,
00:45:31.69\00:45:34.76
'cause this brother is
dealing with a lot, right?
00:45:34.80\00:45:36.87
And he's looking
forward and he say,
00:45:36.90\00:45:38.60
and Lord haste the day,
00:45:38.63\00:45:40.37
when my faith shall be sight,
00:45:40.40\00:45:43.24
and the clouds be
rolled back as a scroll.
00:45:43.27\00:45:47.21
I love that.
00:45:47.24\00:45:48.58
He's looking
forward to the second coming
00:45:48.61\00:45:50.58
right now even though
he's having a walk through
00:45:50.61\00:45:52.25
it seems like the valley
of the shadow of death, right?
00:45:52.28\00:45:55.48
And he's having a
walk through hellfire.
00:45:55.52\00:45:57.45
It seems like, you
know, spiritually speaking,
00:45:57.49\00:45:59.89
but he's looking
forward to the time in faith
00:45:59.92\00:46:01.72
when Christ will come back
and He'll make all things new.
00:46:01.76\00:46:04.33
Amen.
00:46:04.36\00:46:05.69
And, you know, that song
would have never been born
00:46:05.73\00:46:07.06
had he not gone through that.
00:46:07.10\00:46:08.43
So we...
00:46:08.46\00:46:09.80
How many people has
that song encouraged?
00:46:09.83\00:46:13.23
How many people?
00:46:13.27\00:46:14.60
How many millions have
sung that song at difficult time
00:46:14.64\00:46:18.34
at the bedside of someone
going through affliction,
00:46:18.37\00:46:20.81
at a funeral, at the
laying to rest a young child,
00:46:20.84\00:46:25.08
the most difficult
funeral to abide over
00:46:25.11\00:46:27.28
is when the coffin
00:46:27.32\00:46:28.65
is just as small as you know,
00:46:28.68\00:46:33.52
dinner napkin.
00:46:33.56\00:46:34.89
And you look at that,
00:46:34.92\00:46:36.26
and the parents are
standing there and you say,
00:46:36.29\00:46:37.63
"What do you say to them?"
00:46:37.66\00:46:38.99
And these are the
moments that we have to remember
00:46:39.03\00:46:40.80
that God is not in that.
00:46:40.83\00:46:42.66
God is not, God does not bring
death upon a loved one to say,
00:46:42.70\00:46:46.84
"Now do you trust Me?"
00:46:46.87\00:46:48.30
Just glue that one all together.
00:46:48.34\00:46:51.07
Other things may come, you may
get close to difficult trials,
00:46:51.11\00:46:54.08
but God is not
going to kill someone
00:46:54.11\00:46:56.18
to strengthen your faith.
00:46:56.21\00:46:57.55
So please never
indict God as He took.
00:46:57.58\00:46:59.91
God doesn't take children.
00:46:59.95\00:47:01.28
So when Job said
though He slay me,
00:47:01.32\00:47:03.49
the reality was the Lord
wasn't slaying Job at all.
00:47:03.52\00:47:06.45
He said he
removed the protection,
00:47:06.49\00:47:08.59
but he told the devil
you could do everything
00:47:08.62\00:47:09.96
but don't take his life.
00:47:09.99\00:47:11.59
So the Lord sometimes gives...
00:47:11.63\00:47:13.46
You find two people in the Bible
00:47:13.50\00:47:14.83
that had that experience
that I remember very well,
00:47:14.86\00:47:16.63
Job and Peter.
00:47:16.67\00:47:18.63
And what did the
Lord say to Peter,
00:47:18.67\00:47:20.00
"The devil desires to have you
that he may sift you as wheat."
00:47:20.04\00:47:22.60
But what did the Lord
say? I prayed for you.
00:47:22.64\00:47:26.47
So when you're getting sifted,
00:47:26.51\00:47:28.51
it's so good to know that
you on Jesus's prayer list.
00:47:28.54\00:47:32.41
You know, they say,
could you pray for me, Terry?
00:47:32.45\00:47:33.82
Could you pray,
Wendy? Stephanie, could you?
00:47:33.85\00:47:35.48
Ryan, you pray.
00:47:35.52\00:47:36.85
Jesus said, "You
don't have to ask Me,
00:47:36.89\00:47:38.25
already got you
on the prayer list."
00:47:38.29\00:47:39.62
Ain't that amen?
00:47:39.65\00:47:41.02
We are on the Lord's prayer list
00:47:41.06\00:47:42.72
when we're going
through difficulty,
00:47:42.76\00:47:44.36
because He then said to Peter,
00:47:44.39\00:47:46.53
knowing what that
trial was going to produce,
00:47:46.56\00:47:48.53
he said, "When
you are converted,"
00:47:48.56\00:47:51.43
I'll let the King
James version that,
00:47:51.47\00:47:52.80
"When you are converted,
strengthen the brethren."
00:47:52.83\00:47:55.97
Yes. Sometimes we've
got to go through stuff
00:47:56.00\00:47:57.84
to experience conversion.
00:47:57.87\00:47:59.37
If you're going through stuff,
00:47:59.41\00:48:00.74
you may not be
where God wants you to be.
00:48:00.78\00:48:02.84
And your life has no use.
00:48:02.88\00:48:04.21
I've often said until your
life is a threat to the kingdom
00:48:04.25\00:48:08.25
of darkness, it is no
use to the kingdom of light.
00:48:08.28\00:48:11.49
But we got to be developed.
00:48:11.52\00:48:13.05
Let me just this
very short quotation.
00:48:13.09\00:48:14.79
Absolutely.
00:48:14.82\00:48:16.16
And you know, this is in a book
Ministry of Healing, page 470,
00:48:16.19\00:48:19.46
and paragraph two it
says, to live such a life,
00:48:19.49\00:48:22.20
speaking about
the life of trial,
00:48:22.23\00:48:23.57
to exert such an
influence cause that every step
00:48:23.60\00:48:27.10
self-sacrifice discipline,
00:48:27.14\00:48:28.77
it is because that we
do not understand this
00:48:28.80\00:48:31.17
that many are so
easily discouraged
00:48:31.21\00:48:33.21
in the Christian life.
00:48:33.24\00:48:34.58
They pray for
Christ's likeness of character
00:48:34.61\00:48:36.68
for fitness for the Lord's work.
00:48:36.71\00:48:38.41
And they are
placed in circumstances
00:48:38.45\00:48:41.45
that seem to call forth
all the evil of their nature.
00:48:41.48\00:48:46.02
Faults are revealed of
which they did not even
00:48:46.05\00:48:48.49
suspect the existence.
00:48:48.52\00:48:51.23
How would you know that
you'll lose your cool unless
00:48:51.26\00:48:54.30
you were placed in a situation
to lose your cool, right?
00:48:54.33\00:48:57.07
Lord says, "See,
you're not over yet, are you?"
00:48:57.10\00:48:59.93
How did you...
00:48:59.97\00:49:01.30
Would you that word
that you just now have
00:49:01.34\00:49:03.71
to ask forgiveness for?
00:49:03.74\00:49:05.31
How would you have
known it was still in there?
00:49:05.34\00:49:06.91
That's right. And so I'm doing
a study on Wednesday nights.
00:49:06.94\00:49:09.41
Next week we're talking about,
00:49:09.44\00:49:10.95
you know, we talked
about that so topic,
00:49:10.98\00:49:13.25
but here's it is
because God is leading them
00:49:13.28\00:49:15.95
that these
things come upon them.
00:49:15.98\00:49:18.55
He sees that some have
powers and susceptibilities,
00:49:18.59\00:49:21.22
which rightly directed,
00:49:21.26\00:49:22.62
might be used in the advancement
00:49:22.66\00:49:24.39
of His work.
00:49:24.43\00:49:25.76
So in His providence,
He bring these people
00:49:25.79\00:49:28.33
into different positions
and varied circumstances
00:49:28.36\00:49:31.30
that they may
discover, in their character
00:49:31.33\00:49:34.24
the defects which
had been concealed
00:49:34.27\00:49:36.91
from their own knowledge.
00:49:36.94\00:49:38.94
He says you didn't know
that you had it in you, did you?
00:49:38.97\00:49:42.68
Then He gives them opportunity
to correct these defects
00:49:42.71\00:49:45.48
to fit themselves for service.
00:49:45.51\00:49:47.25
Often, He permits the fires
of affliction to assail them
00:49:47.28\00:49:51.62
that they may be purified.
00:49:51.65\00:49:54.52
So purification,
gold tried in the fire.
00:49:54.56\00:49:58.33
Do we really want to
be gold tried in the fire?
00:49:58.36\00:50:00.50
I mean, really, then you
got to be tried in the fire.
00:50:00.53\00:50:03.30
That's right. Okay.
00:50:03.33\00:50:04.67
So I mean, I'm
telling you this as a 34,
00:50:04.70\00:50:06.94
35 years of ministry,
believe me, I had those,
00:50:06.97\00:50:11.27
I'm quitting moments.
00:50:11.31\00:50:12.81
I am done.
00:50:12.84\00:50:14.21
I'm suing this
person, that person.
00:50:14.24\00:50:16.54
I'm not even going,
00:50:16.58\00:50:17.91
I don't want to be
involved in pastoring.
00:50:17.95\00:50:19.48
I am not taking, I'm going
to be evangelist hit and run.
00:50:19.51\00:50:22.92
Right.
00:50:22.95\00:50:24.32
Lord says, "I'm
just getting started."
00:50:24.35\00:50:26.82
And my wife told me,
"So you tell Him the Lord
00:50:26.86\00:50:28.72
what to do now?
00:50:28.76\00:50:30.09
"Well, you know, I
don't want to pastor anymore.
00:50:30.13\00:50:31.46
After that church,
there's no way I want to pastor.
00:50:31.49\00:50:33.56
There is no way."
00:50:33.60\00:50:34.93
"So you tell the
Lord what to do now?"
00:50:34.96\00:50:37.20
And I, as I'm
eating my ice cream
00:50:37.23\00:50:39.07
between where I'm coming
from and where I'm headed,
00:50:39.10\00:50:42.10
okay, Lord why do You...
00:50:42.14\00:50:43.47
I gave the Lord a challenge.
00:50:43.51\00:50:45.17
And He broke me in that moment.
And I went back into pastoring.
00:50:45.21\00:50:47.68
And I'm all the stronger for it.
00:50:47.71\00:50:49.21
Amen. Wow. So you
got to, God seasoned me.
00:50:49.24\00:50:52.25
He says, "I got
something 15 years from now
00:50:52.28\00:50:54.65
that you are not yet ready for?
00:50:54.68\00:50:56.85
"You need three more
churches to get ready for?
00:50:56.89\00:50:59.25
You need about 900 more people
00:50:59.29\00:51:00.62
to work on you
to get ready for it.
00:51:00.66\00:51:01.99
That's right. So I understand.
00:51:02.02\00:51:03.43
Yeah.
00:51:03.46\00:51:04.79
You know, I can
look at it nowadays
00:51:04.83\00:51:06.16
is that you want
to see some bruises.
00:51:06.19\00:51:07.60
I'll show you some.
00:51:07.63\00:51:08.96
You want to see some awful
letters, I'll show you some.
00:51:09.00\00:51:10.33
You want to see
some wicked people
00:51:10.37\00:51:11.70
that I started on my
list that God dealt with,
00:51:11.73\00:51:14.24
I'll show you some.
00:51:14.27\00:51:15.77
But here I am,
stronger, all because of it.
00:51:15.80\00:51:17.64
It's easier for
the enemy to see you
00:51:17.67\00:51:19.61
when you step into the light.
00:51:19.64\00:51:20.98
Yeah. Yeah. Powerful.
00:51:21.01\00:51:23.21
It's easier for
the enemy to see you
00:51:23.24\00:51:24.85
when you step into the light,
00:51:24.88\00:51:26.21
when we step into
the light of Christ.
00:51:26.25\00:51:28.08
And if we are in Christ,
and we are in His light, right,
00:51:28.12\00:51:30.15
because He is the
light of the world.
00:51:30.19\00:51:31.89
But when we step into
that light to be in His favor,
00:51:31.92\00:51:35.02
it's easier for
the enemy to see you.
00:51:35.06\00:51:36.73
And the enemy is
going to lock in on you.
00:51:36.76\00:51:38.29
We have to expect that
these challenges will come.
00:51:38.33\00:51:40.73
We have about five minutes here.
00:51:40.76\00:51:42.40
There's just
three or four texts here
00:51:42.43\00:51:44.40
that I want to just read
just as an encouragement,
00:51:44.43\00:51:47.40
you know, to
those who may be dealing
00:51:47.44\00:51:49.74
with trial right now.
00:51:49.77\00:51:51.11
I'm going to just
assign these really quickly.
00:51:51.14\00:51:52.61
So, Stephanie, why don't
you prepare to read James 1:12?
00:51:52.64\00:51:57.01
And then, if you could,
00:51:57.05\00:51:59.85
Wendy, read 1 Peter 4:12-14?
00:51:59.88\00:52:03.55
So 1 Peter 4:12-14.
00:52:03.59\00:52:05.89
And then, Brother Terry,
00:52:05.92\00:52:08.02
if you could
read Revelation 3:21?
00:52:08.06\00:52:11.96
Actually, you know what?
00:52:11.99\00:52:14.13
Why don't you read James 1:12
00:52:14.16\00:52:15.53
'cause this is
Stephanie's favorite,
00:52:15.56\00:52:16.90
Philippians 4:6, 7 and 13.
00:52:16.93\00:52:19.17
So I'm going to have you
Terry to read James 1:12.
00:52:19.20\00:52:22.20
And then pastor,
we're going to let you
00:52:22.24\00:52:23.57
finish off with Revelation 3:21.
00:52:23.61\00:52:25.47
Sure.
00:52:25.51\00:52:26.84
So let's go to James 1:12 first,
00:52:26.88\00:52:28.71
let's read that one.
00:52:28.74\00:52:30.08
"Blessed is the man
who endures temptation
00:52:30.11\00:52:32.31
for when he has been approved,
00:52:32.35\00:52:33.68
he will receive
the crown of life,
00:52:33.72\00:52:35.55
which the Lord has
promised to those who love Him."
00:52:35.58\00:52:38.09
You know, blessed is the
man who endures temptation.
00:52:38.12\00:52:42.22
I've heard people use,
you know, we made reference,
00:52:42.26\00:52:45.29
I think we read it
earlier, the one that says,
00:52:45.33\00:52:48.36
"There had no
temptation overtaken you
00:52:48.40\00:52:50.00
but such as is common to man."
00:52:50.03\00:52:51.47
I've heard people say,
00:52:51.50\00:52:52.87
you've probably
seen on social media,
00:52:52.90\00:52:54.30
"God won't give you
more than you can handle."
00:52:54.34\00:52:56.20
I've seen that a lot.
00:52:56.24\00:52:57.57
"God won't give me
more than you can handle."
00:52:57.61\00:52:58.94
That's not exactly
what the scripture says.
00:52:58.97\00:53:01.08
Because otherwise
why would we have things
00:53:01.11\00:53:03.04
like blessed is the
man who endures temptation,
00:53:03.08\00:53:06.51
not escapes temptation.
00:53:06.55\00:53:08.38
But if we read that other one,
you know, but God is faithful,
00:53:08.42\00:53:13.32
who will not allow
you to be tempted above
00:53:13.36\00:53:15.12
that which you are able,
00:53:15.16\00:53:16.49
but will with the
temptation make a way of escape.
00:53:16.52\00:53:18.76
In other words,
God may not give you
00:53:18.79\00:53:21.03
more than you can handle,
but He's going to give it,
00:53:21.06\00:53:24.17
He's going to allow it to you
00:53:24.20\00:53:25.53
so that you might run
to Him as an escape, right?
00:53:25.57\00:53:28.40
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:53:28.44\00:53:29.80
Wendy, let's go
to 1 Peter 4:12-14.
00:53:29.84\00:53:33.48
This is powerful.
00:53:33.51\00:53:35.34
"Beloved, do not
think it strange concerning
00:53:35.38\00:53:36.95
the fiery trial
which is to try you,
00:53:36.98\00:53:39.35
as though some
strange thing happened to you,
00:53:39.38\00:53:42.38
but rejoice to the extent
00:53:42.42\00:53:43.75
that you partake of
Christ's sufferings,
00:53:43.79\00:53:45.99
that when His glory is revealed,
00:53:46.02\00:53:47.92
you may also be
glad with exceeding joy.
00:53:47.96\00:53:51.06
If you are reproached
for the name of Christ,
00:53:51.09\00:53:53.13
blessed are you,
for the Spirit of glory
00:53:53.16\00:53:55.70
and of God rests upon you.
00:53:55.73\00:53:57.60
On their part He is blasphemed,
00:53:57.63\00:53:59.83
but on your part
He is glorified."
00:53:59.87\00:54:02.30
That's right. Wow.
00:54:02.34\00:54:03.67
That's amazing. For
His glory, for His glory.
00:54:03.71\00:54:06.57
That's what this is all
about Two different reactions.
00:54:06.61\00:54:08.84
That's right, powerful.
00:54:08.88\00:54:10.31
Stephanie,
Philippians 4:6, 7 and 13?
00:54:10.35\00:54:13.92
"Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer
00:54:13.95\00:54:17.49
and supplication,
with thanksgiving,
00:54:17.52\00:54:19.89
let your requests
be made known to God,
00:54:19.92\00:54:22.29
and the peace of God,
00:54:22.32\00:54:23.66
which surpasses
all understanding,
00:54:23.69\00:54:26.09
will guard your hearts
00:54:26.13\00:54:27.46
and minds through Christ Jesus."
00:54:27.50\00:54:30.13
And 13 says, "I
can do all things
00:54:30.17\00:54:32.33
through Christ
who strengthens me."
00:54:32.37\00:54:34.14
That's right.
00:54:34.17\00:54:35.50
The strength
comes from Jesus Christ
00:54:35.54\00:54:37.77
and that's what
we have to continue
00:54:37.81\00:54:39.41
through the fieriest
trial, the most difficult time,
00:54:39.44\00:54:42.91
putting your faith in Christ.
00:54:42.94\00:54:44.48
That's what it's all about.
00:54:44.51\00:54:46.11
All right,
Pastor, Revelation 3:21.
00:54:46.15\00:54:48.52
Let's cap it off here.
00:54:48.55\00:54:50.02
"To him who over comes,
00:54:50.05\00:54:52.45
I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne,
00:54:52.49\00:54:56.83
as I also overcame,
00:54:56.86\00:54:58.83
and sat down with My
Father on His throne."
00:54:58.86\00:55:02.10
We overcome by
the blood of the Lamb.
00:55:02.13\00:55:03.80
That's right.
00:55:03.83\00:55:05.17
So it's, you know, the
trials are going to come.
00:55:05.20\00:55:06.97
It's just not, it's
not the trials that come,
00:55:07.00\00:55:10.51
it's who...
00:55:10.54\00:55:12.17
Well let me just finish this
and I'll throw it back to you.
00:55:12.21\00:55:14.01
Sure.
00:55:14.04\00:55:15.98
It's not, trials
don't develop our faith,
00:55:16.01\00:55:18.05
trial reveal our faith.
00:55:18.08\00:55:20.32
And so when you find a person
00:55:20.35\00:55:22.05
that's just wallowing
in the middle of a trial,
00:55:22.08\00:55:24.85
it's a sad
reality, the Lord is saying,
00:55:24.89\00:55:27.19
"You're not ready yet."
00:55:27.22\00:55:28.92
And more may come,
00:55:28.96\00:55:31.99
but eventually you'll
get to the place you'll say,
00:55:32.03\00:55:35.73
"I've been here before,
00:55:35.76\00:55:37.43
and God will bring another
trial to make me stronger
00:55:37.47\00:55:39.83
for the next thing."
00:55:39.87\00:55:41.44
What did David go through?
00:55:41.47\00:55:42.80
He killed a lion,
a bear, Goliath...
00:55:42.84\00:55:46.11
That's right.
00:55:46.14\00:55:47.48
But he couldn't
overcome the character defects
00:55:47.51\00:55:50.18
until the Lord put him
through in the most severe trial
00:55:50.21\00:55:52.08
of his denial of the
Lord through Bathsheba,
00:55:52.11\00:55:54.98
and then his repentance,
then he became a stronger man.
00:55:55.02\00:55:58.05
So God knows exactly
what each one of us needs
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.46
to go through
to get to the place
00:56:00.49\00:56:02.06
that He wants us to be.
00:56:02.09\00:56:03.43
Amen. Wow, praise the Lord.
00:56:03.46\00:56:05.43
I got to finish
off with Malachi 3:2-3.
00:56:05.46\00:56:08.90
Notice what the Bible says here.
00:56:08.93\00:56:10.47
Malachi 3:2-3, it says,
00:56:10.50\00:56:12.13
"But who can endure
the day of His coming
00:56:12.17\00:56:15.70
and who can
stand when He appears,
00:56:15.74\00:56:18.41
for He is like a refiner's
fire and like launderer's soap.
00:56:18.44\00:56:23.04
He will sit as a refiner
and a purifier of silver,
00:56:23.08\00:56:26.82
He will purify the sons of
Levi and purge them as gold
00:56:26.85\00:56:29.75
and silver that they may
offer to the Lord in offering
00:56:29.78\00:56:32.82
and righteousness."
00:56:32.85\00:56:34.19
If you look into
how a silversmith
00:56:34.22\00:56:35.86
actually refined silver,
00:56:35.89\00:56:37.56
he puts that
silver in the hottest part
00:56:37.59\00:56:39.73
of the flame.
00:56:39.76\00:56:41.10
And how does he
know that it's ready?
00:56:41.13\00:56:42.60
Look it up. It's true.
00:56:42.63\00:56:43.97
It's when he can
see his reflection
00:56:44.00\00:56:46.53
in that piece of silver.
00:56:46.57\00:56:47.97
That's right. My,
friends, Jesus is coming soon.
00:56:48.00\00:56:50.54
And faith comes by hearing
and hearing by the Word of God.
00:56:50.57\00:56:53.94
We hope that you have
been encouraged today.
00:56:53.98\00:56:55.88
We hope you take this
program, these scriptures
00:56:55.91\00:56:58.01
and that you encourage others.
00:56:58.05\00:56:59.81
I just want to say
thank you Pastor Lomacang,
00:56:59.85\00:57:01.85
thank you, Terry and
Wendy, so much for joining us.
00:57:01.88\00:57:04.25
Thank you, Miss
Stephanie Day, my lovely wife.
00:57:04.29\00:57:06.96
Thank you all my friends
for joining us during this time.
00:57:06.99\00:57:09.66
Again, go out, smile knowing
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
00:57:09.69\00:57:14.26
that Jesus Christ
is still with you.
00:57:14.30\00:57:16.93
And if you are in Christ,
00:57:16.97\00:57:18.40
you are His, you
are Abraham's seed
00:57:18.43\00:57:21.10
and heirs
according to the promise.
00:57:21.14\00:57:23.10
My friends, get
in the Word of God,
00:57:23.14\00:57:25.04
find yourself in Jesus Christ.
00:57:25.07\00:57:27.08
And next time you
go through that trial
00:57:27.11\00:57:28.44
know that you are not alone.
00:57:28.48\00:57:30.75
God bless you, my
friends, and have a good day.
00:57:30.78\00:57:32.35