Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY210005S
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00:01 As you're well aware,
00:03 we're living in unprecedented times. 00:05 Join us now for Today special program. 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Mending broken people 00:23 I want to spend my life 00:29 Removing pain 00:34 Lord, let my words 00:39 Heal a heart that hurts 00:44 I want to spend my life 00:50 Mending broken people 00:55 I want to spend my life 01:00 Mending broken people 01:15 Hello and welcome friends 01:16 to another edition of 3ABN Today. 01:20 And we have a very, very special program 01:21 for you today. 01:23 We're gonna be taking on a Bible topic 01:24 that I believe 01:26 is really sufficient for any time. 01:28 And especially for the times that we're living in, 01:30 because we know we're getting closer and closer 01:32 to the second coming of Jesus. 01:33 And the topic 01:35 that we're gonna be discussing today 01:36 is entitled "Perseverance Through Trial," 01:39 "Perseverance Through Trial." 01:41 And so this is something I think 01:42 that each and every one of us can relate to. 01:44 And we're gonna get heavily into that 01:46 in just a little while, 01:47 but before we go any further, 01:49 I wanna to go ahead and introduce 01:50 my wonderful guest here today 01:52 that's joining me in this study. 01:54 Across the table we have Brother Kenny Shelton 01:56 and his wonderful wife, Miss Chris Shelton. 01:59 It's beautiful to have both of you on here today. 02:01 Appreciate you. We're blessed to be here today. 02:03 Absolutely. 02:04 What a joy to study the Word of God together. 02:06 Amen, and praise the Lord. 02:08 And you guys have been busy traveling 02:10 to and fro, even though during COVID, 02:12 the Lord still got you working for Him, right? 02:15 A little bit. Yeah. 02:17 It seems like we're very busy... 02:19 It's been a busy day. 02:20 And it's been a blessing and you know, with COVID 02:22 you mentioned here the way things are going on, 02:23 that we're doing things via the telephone 02:26 or whatever else we can do and... 02:28 Got to get creative. Zoom meetings. 02:30 Did a graveside thing 02:31 the other day from people in Ohio 02:33 that we knew. 02:34 And so, you know. Virginia. 02:36 Was it Virginia? I'm sorry, Virginia. 02:37 Ohio, Virginia. 02:39 Pretty close. All right. 02:40 We're just saying that God has things in line 02:42 and we're staying busy in the cause of Christ. 02:45 And it's a blessing. 02:46 Amen. Praise the Lord. It's good to have you both. 02:48 And, of course, to my right here is my good old brother, 02:51 little brother. 02:52 That's right. Not too little anymore though. 02:54 Dakota Day from Amazing Facts Ministry 02:57 evangelist, how are you doing? 02:58 I'm blessed. I'm so happy to be here. 03:00 Thank you guys for the invitation 03:02 to join you guys in an awesome Bible study. 03:03 Yeah. Amen. 03:05 And you've been, 03:06 Lord had you busy through this time as well. 03:07 Yeah. 03:09 And He still has opening doors for you to share 03:10 the Word of the Lord, 03:11 even though we have to get little creative at times. 03:13 That's right. That's right. 03:15 We've been doing online meetings. 03:16 We've done a couple of public onsite meetings, 03:18 but yeah, we've been doing all the way can 03:20 to do personal Bible studies online. 03:23 And so, yeah, it's the Lord's really opening doors. 03:25 And I see more people now during these times 03:27 that are wanting to say, you know what? 03:29 I really want to give my life to the Lord 03:30 and spend that time reading His Word. 03:32 And so, I think through all of this, 03:34 we're seeing a lot of positivity 03:35 come out of it. 03:36 Amen. Praise the Lord. 03:38 That's right. I want to interject. 03:39 I'm glad that he hasn't traveled 03:41 quite as much 03:42 because he's been around 3ABN 03:43 moreover seeing him on several different programs 03:46 and it's always, always a blessing. 03:48 Amen. Absolutely. 03:50 I agree with that. 03:51 Praise the Lord, perseverance through trial. 03:54 And we're gonna get into that study 03:55 in just a moment. 03:56 But before we do, we're gonna have 03:58 a very special musical number. 04:00 It's gonna bring a blessing to us 04:01 from Miss Farrah Barry. 04:02 She's gonna be playing "Day By Day. 07:21 Praise the Lord. 07:22 I love Farrah has such a, 07:25 just a delicate, beautiful way of playing the piano 07:27 and it's such a blessing. 07:28 So thank you Farrah for that wonderful piece 07:30 that really has set the tone 07:32 day by day with each passing moment, 07:34 strength I find in Jesus Christ my Lord. 07:36 I just... 07:38 That song is a testament 07:39 kind of what we're going to be talking 07:41 about today, 07:42 which is perseverance through trial. 07:45 We live in a world 07:46 where each and every one of us experienced 07:48 some type of trial, some type of tribulation, 07:51 some type of difficulty or challenge 07:54 facing different adversities on a daily basis 07:57 and only truly you and the Lord know 07:59 what those trials are. 08:01 And we're gonna talk about 08:02 how we can persevere through that 08:04 because we know it's not God's, 08:06 it's not God's idea, it's not His plan. 08:09 It was never His plan for us to deal with 08:11 or have to go through the difficulties 08:13 and the trials 08:14 and the tribulations of this life. 08:16 But nonetheless, it does teach us 08:17 and tell us that, 08:19 you know what? 08:20 It gives us an indication that there's a sin problem 08:22 and that we need to depend on Jesus Christ 08:24 each and every day. 08:26 But before we get into this study, 08:28 I'm going to ask my Brother Dakota, 08:29 if you will just give us, open us in a word of prayer 08:32 and ask the Holy Spirit 08:34 to lead and guide us in this study. 08:35 Let's do it. 08:36 Father in heaven, we wanna thank You so much 08:38 for this opportunity to come together 08:40 on this beautiful day to study Your Word. 08:42 Lord, we know that millions around the world 08:45 are perishing. 08:47 Some of which who have that blessed assurance 08:50 and know You, and some of which they don't. 08:53 Lord, we study now that we might know 08:55 how to persevere all the way to the end. 08:58 Lord, You'll give us hope and that You'll give us 09:00 that Holy Spirit effort, Lord, 09:05 that we need to make it all the way to the end. 09:07 Amen. 09:08 And we're told in Your Word 09:10 that he that endures to the end will be saved. 09:13 And so, Lord, help us to learn to endure in this study now. 09:15 We thank You and we love You. 09:17 We ask You this in Jesus' name. 09:18 Amen. Amen. 09:20 Beautiful prayer, beautiful prayer. 09:23 Well, there's probably gonna be a lot of repetitive, 09:27 maybe some repetitive text in this study 09:29 just because, you know, 09:31 the Bible is just so rich and abundant 09:32 of so many wonderful passages and texts 09:35 that give us some insight and some understanding 09:38 and some counsel on how we can indeed 09:40 as Dakota just prayed 09:41 persevere to the end, so that we can be saved. 09:43 In fact, that text I believe comes from Matthew 24:13, 09:48 when Jesus said those who endure to the end 09:50 shall be saved. 09:52 And that's what we're talking about today, 09:53 whatever trial, whatever tribulation, 09:55 whatever challenge, 09:56 adversity you're facing in your life, 09:59 we wanna make sure that we are equipped 10:01 to make it through, 10:02 to persevere through that 10:04 so that we can come out on the other side, 10:06 you know, we can reach it to the promised land, right? 10:09 Amen. Amen. That's right. 10:10 And Jesus indeed is waiting on us there. 10:12 And He's gonna see us through also through these trials. 10:15 And so we wanna talk about that today. 10:17 I wanna open up with this text though. 10:18 I think it really sets the foundation. 10:20 And again, if one of you have this text already 10:22 and you wanna share it later and go a little deeper with it, 10:25 please do. 10:26 But this text came to my mind 10:27 as I was preparing this particular lesson. 10:32 And this is coming from James 1:12. 10:35 James 1:12. I love this. 10:37 It says, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation 10:43 for when he has been approved, 10:46 he will receive the crown of life, 10:49 which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." 10:53 Amen. I love that. 10:54 Blessed is the man who endures temptation. 10:57 We know it's not a sin to be tempted. 10:59 Even Jesus Himself was tempted, but did Jesus endure? 11:03 Amen. Did Jesus persevere? 11:04 Amen. 11:05 And some people might be watching right now 11:07 and saying, "Yeah, Ryan, but that's Jesus, right? 11:09 Jesus of course has that power. 11:11 And He has that authority to be able to endure 11:13 and persevere through." 11:15 But you know what? 11:16 Jesus really didn't go through what I went through 11:18 or Jesus didn't really experience 11:19 what I experienced. 11:21 But yet the Bible tells us that He experienced 11:23 what we experienced and more, right? 11:24 He was tempted 11:26 as the Bible says in every point 11:27 that we are yet without sin. 11:29 And so the question is, if Jesus can do it and He says, 11:32 what I have done by the power of My Father, 11:35 you can do through the power of the Holy Spirit. 11:37 We wanna talk about that today. 11:38 How can we make sure we can persevere 11:41 through the trials of this life? 11:42 And so I wanna open up the floor. 11:44 I've said that word quite a bit. 11:45 Persevere, perseverance, right? 11:47 Perseverance through trial. 11:49 What is perseverance? 11:50 Let's just kind of open it up here 11:51 and start with that. 11:53 Let's define maybe from a definition perspective, 11:55 a biblical perspective. 11:56 What is perseverance? 11:59 Don't worry, speak in ones. 12:00 All right, speak in ones. 12:02 I think maybe a good, just a good start 12:04 and somebody can add too. 12:07 I think we learned some things at home growing up, 12:11 and one of them was, we say person... 12:14 I don't know if we heard the word perseverance, 12:16 but dad would always say, you've got to stick to it, son. 12:19 You've got bring it to completion. 12:20 Yeah. 12:22 And so, you know, with that attitude and constant 12:24 was you've begun, 12:25 it is kind of what the Bible says. 12:27 He's begun a good work, and He'll finish it. 12:28 That's right. Amen. 12:30 That God... 12:31 My dad was always saying to us, you've got to stay with it. 12:33 And then my uncle would say, we've heard this many times. 12:37 He said, when the going gets tough, 12:39 the tough get going. 12:42 See, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. 12:44 I like that. 12:46 And again, we look at toughness, 12:48 not as the world as toughness, 12:50 but because we need the graces of Jesus Christ. 12:53 But we also need the ability, 12:56 which the Holy Spirit when implanted in us 12:58 to be able to. 13:00 When God has opened a door, 13:03 He's opened a way whether it's in ministry 13:05 or wherever it might be. 13:06 And you know that He's opened this door, 13:09 we have to persevere. 13:11 We have to hang in there. 13:13 We have to push. 13:15 We have to be strong in the Lord. 13:17 Amen. 13:18 And I think that's very, very important 13:19 because again, 13:21 and then how's the outcome going to be? 13:22 Right. 13:23 It's depending how we stay with the program 13:25 is how we are constant persevering... 13:28 That's right. Stay with an attitude diligent. 13:32 Basically, my dad would tell me, 13:33 stay with it, son, at all costs. 13:36 I knew it was gonna cost if I didn't. 13:39 But those are things I think as a young person, 13:40 we can learn. 13:42 And then we can transfer that 13:43 over into the spiritual realm of this warfare that we are in. 13:49 And only those who finish the race, 13:51 so perseverance. 13:53 I like it. Yeah. 13:54 I think perseverance is a gift of the Holy Spirit. 13:57 I don't know that it's anything that I ever had on my own. 14:00 It's perseverance through trial is something 14:03 that I didn't understand when I first accepted 14:05 Jesus into my heart, my life. 14:06 You don't think about the spiritual warfare 14:08 that we're in. 14:10 This was a wonderful study to go through. 14:12 But at times it brings me to tears 14:14 'cause I don't feel that strong. 14:15 I'm not that strong on my own. 14:18 So to me, perseverance is a gift of God. 14:20 Perseverance is something 14:22 that every Christian should have, 14:24 should exhibit 14:25 under the unction of the Holy Spirit, 14:27 because some people will take what I just said. 14:29 And they'll hit someone over the head. 14:31 I'm gonna persevere till you accept Jesus. 14:33 Oh, my. That's not it. 14:34 I'm gonna wipe in on my way through. 14:35 Yeah, God doesn't force, you know, but the devil does. 14:40 I did like a definition that I looked up 14:43 in the Webster Merriam online dictionary. 14:46 It says, 14:48 "Continued effort to do or achieve something 14:51 despite difficulty, despite failure or opposition, 14:57 the action or condition, 14:58 or an instance of persevering steadfastness." 15:03 So as a Christian, 15:06 we're going to have difficulties. 15:08 We're going to feel like we have failed 15:11 whether we did in God's eyes or we didn't. 15:13 And many times I believe we have, 15:15 you know, there's gonna be opposition, 15:18 you know, sad to say opposition to the truth, 15:21 to the Word of God, as it is written. 15:23 We're seeing that throughout the whole world now. 15:26 You know, the Bible in some cases, 15:28 they want to throw it out. 15:30 It's outdated. 15:31 It doesn't meet today's new world standards. 15:35 Right. 15:36 And yet God doesn't change. Amen. 15:37 You know, one thing you said about Jesus, 15:39 when you were talking about Him, 15:40 you said in His Father's power. 15:44 You see, because He didn't use any of His strength, 15:47 He persevered only through the unction 15:49 of the Holy Spirit, 15:51 only through the power of God on this earth. 15:54 He had no edge over us. 15:55 That's right. 15:56 Isn't that beautiful? Amen. 15:58 Praise the Lord. That is our Savior. 15:59 Amen. Amen. 16:00 Praise the Lord. Beautiful prayer. 16:02 Pastor Dakota? Amen. 16:03 Well, you know, perseverance is something, 16:05 obviously when I think of perseverance, 16:06 I think of Jesus 16:07 because as Miss Shelton just said, 16:09 you know, you have so many people 16:11 when they think of God, 16:13 they think of Jesus persevering. 16:14 They think of someone who, you know, they think of God, 16:16 you know, His attributes, 16:17 but Jesus laid aside all of His attributes 16:20 to take on the form of man. 16:21 And I think one of the greatest thoughts 16:23 we could ever ponder is that the Son of God 16:25 became the Son of man, 16:28 in that, you know, history is filled full of men 16:31 who want it to be God, 16:33 but there's only one story of a God who wanted to be man. 16:37 And think of the perseverance that Jesus had to go through, 16:39 through all of them. 16:40 So when I think of perseverance, 16:42 I think of a prize, a goal, 16:45 there's something that you're having to endure 16:48 a trial or tribulation. 16:49 And you have to do that consistently 16:52 in order to achieve that prize. 16:53 That's right. 16:54 Ryan, you and I played basketball growing up a lot 16:57 and there was much difficulty. 16:59 We would have an opponent, 17:00 we'd have someone in front of us 17:01 that's keeping us from getting to our goal. 17:04 Right? And literally it's the goal. 17:05 That's what we call it. 17:07 And we're wanting to put the ball in the goal. 17:08 Right? And so there's... 17:10 It was much difficulty and much trial 17:12 to get it in the hole, 17:13 especially to get, you know, as many points at the end. 17:16 And I think that, you know, in this great, 17:19 you know, controversy 17:20 that we're living in between good and evil, 17:22 we can relate to these kinds of things 17:24 that were, as Kenny mentioned, the race. 17:27 Paul mentioned that many times, I have some notes on that. 17:30 There's lots of effort involved in that. 17:32 But as Miss Shelton brought out, 17:34 I think it's beautiful is that we in of ourselves, 17:36 Jesus said, can do nothing. 17:37 There you go. That's right. 17:39 So perseverance, I believe is a gift of God. 17:40 Amen. 17:42 But it's through our surrender to Him. 17:43 Amen. 17:45 To achieve that gift, to achieve that goal. 17:46 Praise the Lord. 17:47 Yeah. Wonderful. 17:49 I love this great foundation that we've been able to set. 17:50 You know, you read an online definition earlier. 17:53 I think it was Merriam-Webster online dictionary. 17:56 I just wanted to Google it just to see 17:57 'cause like I could imagine 90% of people 17:59 probably when they want a definition of something, 18:01 they just Google it, right? 18:02 And whatever definition pops up on the top is what they read. 18:05 I just took that definition and it comes 18:07 from the Oxford's online dictionary, 18:09 which is usually what they use for the Google research. 18:12 And this is what it says, 18:13 "Persistence in doing something 18:14 despite difficulty or delay in achieving success." 18:19 So I like that word. 18:20 I think Brother Kenny used earlier, 18:22 persistence, keeping at it. 18:24 You know, none of us 18:26 have really experienced trials, right? 18:29 None of us have really experienced, 18:30 you know, so there may be something 18:32 you would like to share. 18:34 Let's take time just to share that. 18:35 What story illustration, 18:39 maybe an experience 18:40 you've been through that it kind... 18:41 Clearly illustrates a time in your life 18:43 when you were facing adversity. 18:44 Maybe you were going through a trial 18:46 and the Lord had to bring you, He had to help you persevere. 18:51 You have any stories to share on that? 18:53 I think it's something that that's important 18:54 because it makes us, 18:56 you know, we're real, Christ was real. 18:58 This world is real. 19:00 The trials of this world is real. 19:01 And, I think that's important for us to illustrate 19:04 because there may be someone watching right now 19:06 that that's going through the same things 19:07 that perhaps maybe some of us have been through before. 19:10 Absolutely. So anybody wanna share one? 19:12 Well, like, you know, there's, 19:13 I think we're looking at our life, 19:15 there's just so many different things 19:16 that have happened and transpired 19:18 to where God has brought us today. 19:20 Right. 19:21 You know, I can think of the back at the call of God 19:25 in my own life and into the ministry 19:27 and having your, 19:30 people can relate to that, having their own business. 19:32 So almost 20 years got Shelton construction, 19:36 you know, that was the livelihood. 19:37 That's what I did every day. 19:40 And then God calling to step out in faith 19:42 and to begin to work for Him 19:45 to let 20 years go 19:48 to give up your business that you have 19:50 and so on and so forth. 19:51 So it was a test and trial, 19:54 but as I saw Him leading and guiding and directing 19:57 and opening up doors, 19:59 and again, I hate to say, 20:01 but I turned Him down for seven years... 20:03 I see. 20:05 And it's interesting figure for seven years. 20:08 And I thought I was turning Him down 20:10 when basically He was calling me, 20:12 but He turned me down 20:13 to be able to put me into the field. 20:15 There was things that had to be changed 20:17 in my character. 20:18 Right. 20:20 And I look back and I say, 20:21 during those seven years of tests and trials 20:23 and changes in my life that if I had just, 20:28 you know, they say, 20:29 just go right out and just jump in and say, 20:31 I'm going into ministry I'm blah-blah... 20:33 I would fail miserably. Sure, sure. 20:35 Because, and God knew that. 20:36 And so He was giving time 20:38 and things that transpired in my heart and my life, 20:42 things that need to go, things that need to be changed. 20:45 And it took, I wanna say seven years 20:47 before I finally said, yes, Lord. 20:49 And then I found out I wasn't ready without Him. 20:52 Sure. It all boiled down. 20:54 So there was tests and trials, things we have to give up, 20:55 character changes. 20:57 Sure. 20:58 And these all cause, you know, the trials in your life. 21:02 That's right. Absolutely. 21:03 When you change your lifestyle... 21:05 Right. 21:06 And you're doing something different 21:08 than what you're used to or raised to do. 21:09 Yeah. 21:10 And so, to me, that's, 21:12 you know, that's just one little thing 21:13 that was a trial and test, 21:15 and I praise God that He persevered with me. 21:19 Amen. I like that. 21:20 Yeah, I like that. I like that he persevered. 21:22 He stayed with me. Amen. 21:24 Because again, each one of you, He knows each of our hearts, 21:29 He knows that was really the desire of my heart 21:31 was to serve Him. 21:32 I just didn't know really how. 21:34 I just had no, really no direction 21:36 and He was pointing me to Him every time. 21:39 And so, you know, and He's going to do it 21:41 'cause He's begun a good work and He'll what? 21:43 He'll finish it. He promises to finish it. 21:46 Yeah. Yeah. 21:47 I love that. For me I had to... 21:50 I just kind of wrote down an answer to this question 21:52 because life in and of itself, the experiences, 21:56 they're all full of trials, 21:57 you know, whether good or whether bad, 22:00 there have been experiences 22:02 that I probably wouldn't have gone through 22:04 if I'd made the right choices, 22:06 you know, and it's at those times 22:08 when you make a bad decision 22:09 that many times 22:11 it would drop you to your knees, 22:12 because I didn't want to be outside of God's grace. 22:16 I didn't want sin in my life. 22:17 And so then you would plead for a way of escape. 22:20 You know the good experiences. 22:22 There were times we've had good experiences 22:24 where you, you were in the atmosphere of heaven. 22:27 You could taste it. 22:29 You saw God working, you saw miracles. 22:31 We spoke to a couple here today before this program began. 22:35 And that was a miracle... What a joy. 22:36 You know, there's been so many miracles 22:39 and it's at those times that many times 22:40 you don't even wanna come back. 22:42 In fact, I was, I wrote down one, 22:44 the first recording of pillars of our faith 22:47 in Battle Creek, Michigan. 22:49 The Holy Spirit was so strong. 22:53 It was so strong. We were weeping. 22:55 I remember, I was like almost in a grieving state. 22:58 Does that make sense? 22:59 Like, you're happy you feel God's presence, 23:02 but you're kind of grieving... 23:03 Spiritual agony. 23:04 I was praying for those that I knew 23:06 were outside of the ark of safety 23:08 and we cried and we cried and we cried. 23:11 And literally it was one of those times 23:13 where, you know how Mrs. White says 23:14 it became darker and darker. 23:16 It's like, no, you didn't want him to leave. 23:18 You didn't want him to leave. 23:19 You know, I experienced that at the time 23:21 of my mother's passing. 23:28 When they started putting the morphine in 23:32 and the girls and I had been up there 23:34 and we had reads, 23:35 you know, out of scripture and to her. 23:39 And then Kenny had come in later 23:42 and we were singing and then she went unconscious, 23:46 but every time we would begin to sing... 23:49 Come on now. 23:51 Her breathing would ease out and she would be at peace. 23:54 My mother was a singer by the way. 23:56 Okay. Amen. 23:57 And so, we would stop singing, you know, every so often. 24:02 And she would begin to labor and labor, 24:04 we'd start singing again. 24:05 And you could just... 24:07 You just felt as if he just could do this 24:09 and you would be touching an angel. 24:12 That's how the atmosphere was. 24:13 Nurses came by, 24:15 they commented on the atmosphere. 24:16 My cousin came in, 24:18 they commented on the atmosphere, 24:19 even outside the room, you know? 24:22 So those are some experiences that are, that draw you in. 24:26 Absolutely. 24:27 I thought I wrote down some many, 24:28 but another one I think that's really important 24:31 is when he had his open heart surgery, 24:33 that was such a stressful time 24:36 'cause he had eaten good all of his life. 24:38 He's been an Adventist most of his life. 24:40 And we try to do what's right. 24:42 But you know, a lot of times, like with his father, 24:45 his heart attack came early. 24:46 He didn't have a heart attack, 24:48 but he had an artery that shut off. 24:49 So he has a predisposition for those arteries to build up 24:54 and cause problems. 24:56 And it's really only by the grace of God 24:59 that he's here 25:01 because we found out during his heart cath 25:03 that one of those arteries had completely shut, 25:06 but he didn't die 25:07 because either God's tipped in right there, 25:09 or he had been preparing a natural bypass. 25:12 It wasn't enough to keep him along alive for much longer. 25:16 But there were so many experiences 25:18 during that time 25:20 and time that I know he just wanted to give up, 25:23 'cause he would talk about breathing and just, 25:25 he could feel himself stop breathing 25:27 and how the Lord talked to him. 25:29 And then during the night he said, 25:32 he was about ready to give up. 25:33 And he thought, Lord, you know, what's going on? 25:35 And the Lord spoke to his heart, 25:37 it's probably what about two in the morning? 25:39 And He said, "Kenny, you shall not die." 25:42 Wow. 25:43 But you shall live to preach the gospel. 25:47 Praise the Lord. Amen. 25:49 And he has been back in the pulpit. 25:51 He's not the same person. 25:53 His eyes have changed. 25:54 Things have changed... Wow. 25:56 But there are times 25:57 that you see the Spirit of God take over 25:59 and he perseveres... 26:00 That's right. Come on now. 26:02 Praise the Lord. 26:03 And God takes over and it's been a blessing. 26:06 Amen. It's been a blessing. 26:07 We're not done, you know, 26:09 as long as the Lord wants to give us that gift, 26:11 we wanna persevere in His cause. 26:12 Amen. Praise the Lord. 26:14 When your surgeon comes in two days after, 26:16 you know, afterwards, 26:17 well, it was a long time before I woke up, 26:19 maybe a week or two, 26:21 but when he came in where I was conscious of it, 26:23 he just, I mean, 26:24 he did three or four of these every day, 26:27 five days a week for years. 26:28 So I know he's seen a lot of things, 26:31 but he just stayed at the foot of the bed and hit, 26:32 look at me like that. 26:34 And he say, "How's my miracle man today." 26:37 Wow. He did that two days in a row. 26:39 And I would just kinda like, 26:40 I wanted to say, I just couldn't. 26:43 Right. 26:44 What did God do? Right. 26:46 What did God do? What was that? 26:48 What took place that was out of the ordinary? 26:50 Sure. 26:51 See, 'cause God perseveres with us. 26:53 We told him about, he stayed in there 26:55 and the next day he come in, he looked at me. 26:56 Again he kind of just shook his head. 26:58 He looked at it and he said, "How's my miracle man today." 27:00 Right. So God is in that field. 27:03 Don't anyone get discouraged. 27:04 Sure. Absolutely. Yeah. 27:06 Wanna interject these stories I'm telling you about this 27:09 and the scripture will verify this 27:11 once we get into that passage, 27:13 but the perseverance will build our faith. 27:16 Amen. 27:17 And without faith, we will not persevere. 27:19 That's right. So they work together here. 27:21 That's true. That's right. 27:22 That's powerful. That is very powerful. 27:23 Remind me of Hezekiah. 27:25 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. 27:26 He's like, "Oh man, you know, this is it. 27:27 I'm about to die." 27:29 And he turns his face to the Lord and says, 27:31 Lord, you know, 27:32 and there's no sooner than Isaiah left the court, 27:35 God sends him back in there and he's like, 27:37 you go and tell him 27:38 that I'm gonna add to his years. 27:40 Now I'm gonna give him victory over the Assyrians. 27:41 You know, it's just powerful. 27:43 Amen. Praise the Lord. 27:44 Thank you guys for sharing that. 27:46 You know, I have this little outline here 27:47 that we had made, 27:48 but you know, I just, as we're going through this, 27:50 my mind's just wondering 27:52 kind of all over this outline here. 27:53 Come on. 27:54 Certain texts, you know, when I think of trial, 27:56 when I think of an example 27:57 of someone who went through trials, 28:00 someone who went through tribulation. 28:02 There's probably no other texts in all the Bible 28:04 where it's more summed up as far as an individual. 28:08 Of course, I'll think of Job, right, Job went. 28:10 Job went through it all, right? 28:12 But I'm actually thinking of Paul, 2 Corinthians 11. 28:15 Let's go here. 28:16 I had notes on that too. Yeah. 28:18 Just feel free to jump in here. 28:19 No, yeah, go ahead. 28:20 But 2 Corinthians 11, 28:22 when I read this right here, I'm humbled. 28:23 Me too. 28:24 'Cause you know, we go through sometimes our trials in life 28:27 and that's not to diminish, 28:28 you know, we don't want this program. 28:29 We wouldn't want anything we say here to diminish 28:31 anyone's particular trial. 28:32 We recognize that 28:33 when we're going through these trials, 28:35 it feels like the world's against us, right? 28:36 It feels like that. 28:38 You know a lot of times it feels like 28:39 we're just on a road to a complete 28:40 and utter destruction. 28:42 That's right. 28:43 But when I read Paul's account 28:44 of what this brother had to endure for the Lord, 28:47 you know, during his time, 28:48 and you would think a lot of people, 28:50 I have people ask me all the time, you know? 28:51 Well, Paul went through all this stuff. 28:52 Where was God, right? Where was God? 28:55 That's His man, right? That's His chosen, you know? 28:57 Surely, the Lord could have stepped in 28:59 and kept him from that. 29:00 And we'll probably get into a little bit 29:02 in just a moment 29:03 of why does God allow those things to happen? 29:05 But I wanna read 2 Corinthians 11:22-29 here. 29:09 It's a rather lengthy passage, 29:10 but I want you to listen carefully to the description 29:13 that Paul gives describing his own experiences 29:16 during his ministry for Christ. 29:20 So 2 Corinthians 11 verse, starting with verse 22. 29:23 He says here, "Are they Hebrews? 29:25 So am I. 29:26 Are they Israelites? So am I. 29:28 Are they the seed of Abraham? 29:30 So am I, he says, He says, are they ministers of Christ? 29:34 He says, I speak as a fool. 29:36 I am more. 29:37 And then listen to this, "In labors more abundant, 29:41 in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, 29:46 in deaths often." 29:48 This brother, 29:49 he died too many deaths and came back. 29:51 You know, this brother endured some pain. 29:54 Verse 24, "For the Jews five times 29:57 I received forty stripes minus one." 29:59 Oh, wow. Mercy me. 30:02 None of us sitting here can say 30:03 we've received one of those, right? 30:05 He received it five times. Okay. 30:07 He goes on to say in verse 25, 30:09 "Three times I was beaten with rods, 30:11 once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, 30:18 a night and a day I have been in the deep, 30:21 in journeys often, in perils of waters, 30:24 in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, 30:27 in perils of Gentiles, in perils of the city, 30:31 in perils of the wilderness, in perils of the sea, 30:34 in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, 30:38 in sleeplessness often." 30:41 How many have had some of those sleepless nights? 30:43 All right. Okay. 30:45 "In hunger and thirst, in fastings, 30:48 often, in cold and nakedness." 30:50 Besides the, notice verse 28, he says, 30:53 "Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily." 30:57 He says, I'm gonna just list all those things 30:59 that I've been through, but what comes upon me daily? 31:01 My deep concern for all the churches. 31:05 That's right. Yeah. That's powerful. 31:06 Powerful. 31:07 "My deep concern for all the churches. 31:09 Who is weak and I'm not weak? 31:12 Who is made to stumble, 31:14 and I do not burn with indignation?" 31:16 So what Paul is saying, he's like, you know what? 31:18 I've been through all of these trials, 31:19 God has brought me through them. 31:21 I've been through things 31:22 that nobody else could ever possibly imagine, 31:24 but God helped him persevere through it. 31:26 And at the end of the day, 31:27 he's not looking at all those trials 31:29 he went through and oh, man woe is me, right? 31:31 Poor little, pitiful me. 31:33 He says, no, my heart and my mind is on the church. 31:36 Where is God's people? 31:38 My heart is burning for God's people. 31:40 And so, you know, feel free to say something about this, 31:43 you know, reading this list here 31:44 just reminds us that we all have trials. 31:46 And sometimes as Brother Kenny was telling that story 31:49 and even Sister Shelton, 31:51 there was also expounding on the difficulties 31:54 that you guys have endured through this, 31:56 this health experience. 31:57 You know, I'm sure there were times 31:59 when you were like, you know what? 32:00 You just wanted to just kind of throw in the towel and say, 32:02 "Okay, Lord, I can't endure this anymore." 32:04 But yet there was something there 32:07 the Holy Spirit that said, "Keep going, keep going." 32:11 That's right. 32:12 So what's your remarks on what we just read? 32:14 I'd say one quick thing about that as good is, 32:16 it's all of Holy Spirit. 32:18 But when you feel like maybe you're on your last leg, 32:22 you don't know, you'll take your last breath. 32:25 The Holy Spirit was so good 32:26 in the wee hours of the morning 32:28 to start putting scripture in my mind. 32:32 And I do my best to try to remember 32:37 and to put it in order. 32:38 And then after that for a little bit, 32:40 there would be songs, songs I've sung all my life. 32:43 And I'd try to sing those 32:45 and remember the lines of those songs. 32:47 Yeah. 32:48 It brought such joy and such comfort 32:51 and that will do it for anyone today. 32:53 They don't have to be going through a surgery and be just, 32:56 you know, think on scripture, think on Jesus Christ. 32:58 Think on those songs, you know that been inspired. 33:05 May I just throw this in, some, 33:08 maybe the best songs. 33:09 I'm not an authority on it, 33:11 but some of the best songs I've ever heard, 33:12 I've heard you sing and lot of others sing. 33:15 Those blossomed out of a very difficult time 33:19 a lot of those. 33:21 People had went through such heartache. 33:23 They'd lost, oh, my, loved ones. 33:28 I'm thinking of it is well. It is well with my soul... 33:30 When peace like a river attendeth my way, 33:34 when sorrows like sea billows roll. 33:37 This brother had just lost his, all of his kids. 33:40 Yeah. 33:41 He said, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, oh. 33:45 It is well with my soul. 33:47 At the end of the day, if we can just say 33:50 persevere by the grace of God, we roll over and go to sleep. 33:53 It is well with soul. 33:55 The best we understand it. 33:56 Sure. Yeah. 33:58 He's still working on us, but... 33:59 Yeah. 34:00 Through sorrow, through the persecution, 34:02 through tests and trials, 34:03 some of the greatest things has ever, 34:06 Has happened to mankind to lead him closer to Jesus, 34:10 because I'm convinced it's not the will of God. 34:12 And I think that's in Lamentations 3. 34:16 You can read that, Lamentations 3, what? 34:17 31 through 33, something says, 34:19 for he does not afflict willingly... 34:26 He does not afflict willingly 34:28 nor grieve the children of men. 34:30 So it's, God doesn't find joy in doing that. 34:33 That's right. 34:35 But He's gonna find joy one of these days, 34:36 if we are persevering, 34:38 if we stay with it and He stays with us, 34:40 that we can share His throne together. 34:41 What joy that will be. 34:44 Well, they say, it's gonna be worth it all 34:45 some days living with Jesus. 34:46 That's right. 34:48 You know, Dakota was talking about the goal earlier, 34:49 you know, looking to that prize. 34:51 And when you... 34:52 When we started thinking of, 34:53 you know, the lyrics to it is well, 34:55 I love the second verse. 34:56 Oh, come on. 34:57 Because through all this, he's, 34:59 you know, he's pouring it out. 35:00 You know, Lord, it is well, it is well with my soul within. 35:02 I think it's the third verse. The third verse says. 35:04 And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 35:09 when the clouds be rolled back like a scroll. 35:13 And he's describing this, the second coming of Jesus. 35:16 Like all of this that I'm going through. 35:18 All of these trials, I'm going through. 35:20 It's, I'm looking forward to the prize. 35:22 I'm looking past through the clouds, 35:25 through the shadows, through the pain, 35:26 the sorrow, the depth of the, all of that, 35:29 that we're dealing with, the trials and tribulations. 35:31 I'm looking past that. 35:32 And I'm looking up ahead because Christ is coming soon. 35:36 And when He comes back, 35:37 all of this is gonna be wiped away. 35:39 That's endurance, right? 35:40 Second verse, though Satan should buff, 35:43 buffet, is it right? 35:44 That's right. Something buff. 35:46 Though trials should come, 35:50 you know, let this blessed assurance. 35:51 Amen. That's what we need. 35:53 Other words, just what you're talking about here, 35:54 what our lesson is, 35:56 even though Satan should hit you, 35:59 though he come against you, whatever it might be. 36:01 Keep our eyes single to the glory of God. 36:04 And again, it is well, I want it to be well. 36:07 So I want it to be well with your soul too. 36:09 Amen. Everyone. 36:10 That should be our... 36:12 In our heart and our mind 36:13 as those who are in ministry 36:15 is not so much what we might go through here. 36:18 That our mind should be like Paul, 36:19 it should be on others and on Jesus Christ. 36:22 Amen. 36:23 One of these days is be well with my soul. 36:25 Amen. Amen. 36:26 So are there any other texts that come to your mind? 36:28 I've got a note here that I wrote 36:30 that there are various texts throughout the Bible 36:31 that reveal to us God's attitude 36:34 in regards to His 36:35 children enduring trials, right? 36:37 So why don't we expound on some of these texts 36:40 so that we might have the right 36:41 and adopt the right mentality on approaching, 36:45 you know, the endurance, 36:46 the persistence, the testing of trial? 36:48 Yeah. 36:49 I do have some scriptures for that, 36:50 but I wanna just jump back a little bit 36:52 to what you guys were saying, 36:54 because that's what we all need to be. 36:56 We have to keep focus. 36:57 You know, this 2020, now 2021, you know, it's been different. 37:03 And we're seeing these pestilence, 37:04 we're seeing all of these things 37:06 that the Bible talked about, 37:07 even in Matthew 24, you know, play out on the earth. 37:10 And we don't know just where we're at in time, 37:14 but it's very possible, 37:15 we're entering that little time of trouble, 37:17 you know, which we realize 37:18 will lead to that great time of trouble. 37:20 And we have to keep our eyes focused on the end. 37:23 You know, for me, when I told you I was weak, 37:25 I have trouble seeing an animal die. 37:27 You know, I have trouble seeing anything die, suffer. 37:31 And yet, in Christ, we realize that He suffered... 37:35 Oh, mercy. 37:36 By His stripes we were healed, 37:38 you know, we find salvation in His blood. 37:42 But even Paul, you brought, you started this out with Paul. 37:46 Mrs. White says, 37:48 and I believe this is Acts of the Apostles, 37:51 page 512 and 513. 37:53 That those were his last thoughts, 37:55 if I can find where it was, let's see. 37:59 But what gave him hope, even from the rack it says, 38:04 the stake, the dungeon from dens, 38:06 the caves of the earth, there falls upon his ear, 38:10 the martyr sound of triumph. 38:13 He hears the witness of steadfast souls 38:16 who through destitute afflicted, 38:18 tormented yet bear fearless solemn testimony 38:23 for the faith declaring I know whom I have believed, 38:28 thus yielding up their lives for the faith 38:30 declare to the world 38:32 that he and whom they have trusted 38:34 is able to save to the uttermost. 38:37 And she goes on in here talking about, 38:39 I'm not seeing it right now, 38:41 that his last thought 38:42 as the man was to raise that sword to kill him 38:47 was the second resurrection, 38:50 which will be his first thought when he sees Christ come. 38:53 That's right. And you know what? 38:54 We have to get to the point 38:56 through the power of the Holy Spirit, 38:59 that we're not afraid to lose this life... 39:02 There you go. Amen. 39:04 But we're afraid to lose 39:05 the one that can take eternal life. 39:07 Absolutely. 39:09 And so we, we learned so much 39:11 by looking back at the apostles, 39:12 looking back in all these things. 39:14 I mean, I've... 39:15 I know that the enemy likes to bring 39:17 about depression through these trials. 39:19 I've been there. 39:21 I wanted to end this life before, 39:24 but I persevered through prayer, 39:26 you know, for the sake of others 39:28 and, you know, praise God, there's always another day. 39:32 There's a new day. Amen. 39:33 Share with us, Dakota. 39:35 Well, there's several things, man. 39:37 You guys just, as y'all been talking, 39:38 the Holy Spirit's just been like, 39:40 you know, like putting things in my mind. 39:42 So here we go. 39:44 So first of all, when we talk about enduring, 39:46 you know, I mean, I think of people 39:48 that have actually endured 39:49 and different things that's happened in the world 39:50 to cause people to endure. 39:52 And I, you know, I thought of the world wars 39:54 that have happened. 39:56 Winston Churchill being one of the major players 39:58 during that time period 40:00 of one of the world wars that went, 40:01 you know, took the whole world by storm. 40:04 And he had a quote he gave 40:05 and, I don't normally quote secular, 40:07 you know people, but I really thought 40:10 this quote was saying something. 40:12 And it was even synonymous with the Bible 40:14 is that he told it all the soldiers 40:15 and all the people, he said, 40:17 listen, when you feel like you're going through hell... 40:20 Well. Keep going. 40:21 Well. 40:23 And I was like, wow. 40:24 I was like, wow. 40:25 You know, so there's times in life 40:27 where we feel like we're experiencing 40:29 like hell on earth. 40:30 You know, like it is just 40:32 unreal amount of pressure on us, 40:35 unreal amount of trials and tribulations 40:38 that would come our way. 40:39 But we have to keep our eyes on Jesus 40:42 and we have to be willing to hold on. 40:43 I'm also reminded of another story. 40:46 This little boy in Africa one day, 40:48 he was washing his hands 40:50 and he had just finished fishing 40:52 and he was washing his hands down by the river. 40:54 And, you know, anytime you wash your hands 40:56 down by the river, 40:57 you're supposed to be with the crowd. 40:59 And this little boy forgot about that. 41:01 He forgot about the dangers that was in the water. 41:02 Oh. 41:03 And a caiman crocodile as subtle as he was 41:07 and creeped up on this little boy 41:09 so slow reached out. 41:11 I mean, big, it was like a 12 foot caiman, 41:14 reached out and grabbed his arm. 41:16 And his mother was just, you know, 41:18 12, 15 feet away from him, 41:20 but she was far enough away where the crock could have, 41:22 or the caiman could have quickly pulled him 41:23 under the water 41:24 and just started to do the death roll. 41:26 And the mother ran as fast as she could 41:29 and dived and grabbed a hold of her son's arm. 41:34 And so the crock had one side of his arm 41:36 and the mother had the other side 41:38 and she just dug her nails. 41:40 And she pulled with everything that she had 41:42 and was not going to let her son go. 41:44 That's right. 41:45 And finally the croc let go... 41:47 Well. Interesting. 41:48 And they get to the hospital and the boy's got like, 41:51 you know, his arms almost mauled 41:53 by the caiman 41:54 and his arm is hurting, of course. 41:55 And he's crying without getting there. 41:57 And they start, you know, putting the sedatives 41:58 and everything anymore. 41:59 After the boy wakes up, 42:01 he looks at his injuring wounds, 42:03 you know, that he has, and he looks at the other arm 42:06 and the doctor said, you know, son, he said, 42:08 I know that those that arm out there 42:10 is gonna haunt you for the rest of your life. 42:12 He said, but I don't want you to forget about the marks. 42:15 And he had just, I'm talking just massive indention 42:17 to her nails going into his arm that was scarring for life. 42:20 Sure. 42:22 And he said, I don't want you to forget 42:23 about the love that your mother had for you. 42:25 Amen. 42:26 To pull you through all of that trouble, 42:29 to pull you out of these. 42:30 Don't, you forget you're worth something. 42:31 Amen. That's right. 42:33 You can always make it through anything in life. 42:34 When it seems like 42:36 something's about to pull you under, 42:37 it seems like 42:38 something's about to just kill you 42:40 and take your life. 42:41 Something's gonna grab a hold on you. 42:42 And that someone's Jesus. Amen. 42:44 And I, you know, I just, I thought of that story. 42:46 I thought, wow, you know, how are we to endure ever? 42:49 And I think that really in reality, 42:51 we have to come into a relationship with Jesus 42:53 is that, you know. 42:54 I think of Paul, what you just read 42:55 in 2 Corinthians 11. 42:57 I literally put those notes down 42:58 'cause that's what came to my mind 43:00 when I heard of this study. 43:01 And I look at what he went through, 43:03 you know, all the stripes beating, 43:04 five times he was beaten, not even counting by rods. 43:07 That was just with a whip. 43:09 Then you have him being stoned to death. 43:11 Right. 43:13 Then his brother, you go and read the Book of Acts. 43:14 You know, when we read the Book of Acts, 43:16 we should be humbled. 43:17 Right. 43:18 I mean, really, we should be humbled. 43:20 This brother's stoned to death. 43:21 They left him lying there 43:23 'cause they thought that they killed him. 43:24 That's right. 43:25 And when they stoned somebody, they didn't grab pebbles, 43:27 they grabbed just like half a boulder. 43:29 You know what I mean? 43:30 Like it's half a boulder 43:31 and just crush you on your head. 43:33 They left Paul thinking, this brother is gone, 43:35 like he's done for. 43:36 Like to see him get up again. 43:38 And the Bible says that Paul got up 43:40 the very next day 43:42 and went and preached the gospel again. 43:44 And I'm just like, well, hold on. 43:45 If that would have been me, I would've lied there thinking, 43:47 Lord, so I preach Your Word and this is what I get. 43:52 This is what I get. 43:53 I don't know if I'm cut out for this. 43:55 I mean, I'm just saying like, 43:56 you know, that's probably what most of us 43:57 would probably be thinking. 43:59 But what made me think when I read all this 44:00 in 2 Corinthians 11, what we just read about Paul. 44:03 How did that brother keep going? 44:04 Yes. 44:06 He kept going, 44:07 because he fell in love with Jesus. 44:08 That's right. 44:10 Just like the woman who fell in love, 44:11 that's her son. 44:13 She ain't gonna let that croc have her son. 44:14 She's gonna do everything she can. 44:15 And I thought of this and I'll be quiet for a minute. 44:19 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. 44:21 Okay. Okay. 44:22 "Know ye not 44:24 that they which run in a race 44:25 run all, but one receiveth the prize? 44:29 He says, so run that you may obtain." 44:31 Now, I want you to understand what Paul is just saying. 44:33 He's like, listen, we're not in this to lose. 44:34 Right. That's a fact. 44:36 We're in a race. We're not in this to lose. 44:39 He said, you need to run that you may obtain it. 44:41 We're talking about perseverance. 44:42 Have you seen races? 44:43 You've seen people 44:45 that think they're about to win. 44:46 And they start celebrating early. 44:47 Somebody just close by shoom. 44:49 And they're like, they get all, you know, they're all upset. 44:53 He says, you better run as you, like you're gonna obtain it. 44:56 He says and every man that strive it for the mastery 44:58 is temperate in all things. 45:00 Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown. 45:03 He says they do it to get a belt around their waist 45:05 or to get, you know, 45:06 some crown that's gonna be corruptible, right? 45:08 But we do it for an incorruptible crown. 45:11 He says, I therefore so run not as uncertainly. 45:14 He's like, no, I'm not running this race 45:16 like I think I might lose. 45:18 Right. 45:20 I probably won't lose, he's like no. 45:23 I don't run with certainty. 45:24 So fight, not as one that beat at the air, 45:26 but I keep my body 45:28 and bring it in into subjection, 45:30 lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, 45:33 I myself should be a castaway. 45:35 Amen. Amen. 45:36 When we think about them in the faith, 45:38 give me that faith. 45:39 That's what we all need. Give me that faith. 45:42 And what we're seeing glimpses of, 45:43 you know, you just went through all this stuff 45:45 with Paul a couple of times. 45:46 You know, we talk about Job and yet we're told, 45:49 and I mentioned it earlier. 45:50 There's a great time of trouble, 45:52 such as never be seen, 45:54 seen before on this earth, you know? 45:56 And so, I get encouraged 45:58 because what I see happening 46:00 is that there are people 46:01 that are beginning to persevere. 46:03 There are people 46:04 that are beginning to fall in love with God 46:06 within and without this church. 46:08 You know, we were meeting some of these young people 46:11 that in fact we met one just a couple of weeks ago, 46:13 came into our home. 46:15 You know, he works for the local company here. 46:17 He used to be a drug addict. 46:18 He used to be an alcoholic, but I'm telling you, he glowed, 46:24 he glowed with the atmosphere of Jesus. 46:27 Amen. 46:28 We were connected through the love of Christ. 46:31 And he said like Paul, he would find it. 46:35 If I can remember his words exactly. 46:36 He would call... 46:38 He said it would be an honor for me to lay down my life. 46:41 That's right. You know what I thought? 46:43 I'm looking at possibly 46:46 one of the 144,000, 46:48 because they're gonna be living 46:50 in the sight of a Holy God without a mediator. 46:53 Praise the Lord. 46:54 They're gonna come through all these perseverances 46:57 and all these trials. 46:58 And their faith is gonna be strong. 47:01 It has been molded by that master potter. 47:04 They've been through the fire. 47:05 Now they're shining, 47:07 even though they don't realize it, 47:08 they're shinning. 47:09 Amen. 47:11 And one thing that hit me too, 47:12 with that story of the crocodile, 47:15 nothing can happen to us 47:17 unless God says it's okay. 47:18 That's right. 47:20 Either He's gonna trust us with that trial or like Paul, 47:23 I've finished the race. 47:25 That's right. 47:26 I ran the course. Amen. 47:28 And he was done and he knew it. 47:29 Praise the Lord. 47:31 You know, so, but until then nothing, 47:32 no one God's gonna step in there. 47:34 There will be miracle after miracle. 47:36 I could tell you story after story of miracles. 47:38 Let me share this 1 Peter 4:12-13, 47:42 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, 47:47 which is to try you as some strange thing 47:50 happened to you." 47:51 You know, and that's what, 47:52 that's our first inclination in the human spirit. 47:55 Why is this happening to me? Why me? 47:57 You know, but rejoice, 47:59 see God is teaching us over and over. 48:02 Don't forget I'm in control. 48:05 That's right. Amen. 48:06 I'm in control. 48:07 But rejoice in as much as you 48:09 are partakers of Christ's sufferings 48:12 that when His glory shall be revealed, 48:14 you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 48:18 Once again, where's it pointing us to? 48:20 The second coming. 48:21 That's right. Amen. 48:23 And you know, Chris, you said something 48:24 that was really powerful, brought something back to me. 48:26 I was in a Sabbath school one day 48:28 and we were talking about this very thing, 48:30 but it was on the life of Job. 48:31 And it was a brother. 48:32 His name was Kevin Crawford. 48:34 Brother, he's a good friend of mine. 48:35 If he's watching this in the future, he'll.. 48:37 I'm sure he'll appreciate me sharing this. 48:39 Is he actually said, he said, you know, when we say, he said, 48:42 I hear people all the time say, you know, why me? 48:43 Lord, why me? 48:45 He's like, then God gave me the thought one day. 48:46 Why not me? Why not me? 48:48 And you know what? 48:50 The point he was making is that 48:51 during the hardest trials and tribulations 48:53 that you experience, 48:55 that's when people watch you the most. 48:58 Exactly. Exactly. 49:00 When someone knows, oh man, they just lost their home 49:03 and everything burned down. 49:04 Like our friend, Alex, 49:05 you know, I think of those things. 49:07 That's when people watch you the most. 49:09 They look at you and they're like, 49:10 how is this Christian gonna react. 49:12 You know what I mean? That's right. 49:14 Yeah. Yeah. 49:15 That's a good one. Brother Kenny? 49:18 A passage of scripture, 49:19 it comes to mind just part of it here. 49:20 It would be why trials? 49:22 Why tribulations? 49:23 Everybody always, you know, 49:25 no matter how much you go over the same people, 49:27 there's still somebody who's going to say why. 49:29 And we need to answer those things 49:30 and how God views it. 49:32 I think Hebrews 12:10, just the last part. 49:34 It just simply says for He, for our profit, 49:39 that we might be partakers of His holiness. 49:42 So we look at the things that are going on, 49:43 talking about chasing there. 49:45 At first, He corrects us. 49:46 What? 49:47 It says right here is for our profit, 49:49 that we may profit. 49:51 In other words, we may enter into eternal life 49:54 because He is willing to continue to labor with us 49:56 and to correct us 49:58 and have mercy and grace as He has in my life 50:01 over and over and over. 50:03 Praise the Lord. His grace is sufficient. 50:04 And I praise God for that. Amen. 50:07 And again, why has He allowed these things happen? 50:09 For our profit, that we may have eternal life. 50:12 I can give another verse as to why He allows it. 50:15 Romans 5:3-5, we glory in tribulations 50:19 also knowing that tribulation worketh what? 50:22 Patience. 50:23 Patience, and patience experience 50:25 and experience hope, 50:27 and hope make it not ashamed 50:29 because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, 50:32 by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. 50:36 Experience, hope being not ashamed, patient. 50:40 And you mentioned people are looking at us 50:42 as we're going through it, no matter what. 50:44 And I don't remember, 50:45 maybe you guys remember the verse. 50:46 You guys are better at calling these up than I am, 50:49 but in everything we do we're to have patience. 50:52 That's right. 50:54 We're to have a positive attitude, you know? 50:56 So no matter what we're asked, no matter. 50:59 And Paul, what we were reading Paul in 2 Corinthians, 51:02 all these things are happening. 51:04 He says, and what am I worried about on top of all this stuff? 51:06 The church. The church. 51:08 You know, so a lot of times we find ourselves so busy 51:10 and we feel like, 51:11 oh, this is too much for us to handle. 51:13 And then someone calls, 51:14 there's a death, someone's sick. 51:16 Someone's had operations, some something, 51:18 or getting ready for church sermon, 51:21 the church, the wellbeing... 51:22 Glory. 51:23 Glory of God's people. Yeah. 51:25 That was, 51:26 that was powerful points you made. 51:28 I wanna actually take us to a couple of verses here 51:29 where we get about five or so minutes, 51:30 six minutes left here. 51:32 I wanna share these two verses, because I think to me, 51:33 it's like one of the foundational, 51:35 couple of passages that come to my mind 51:37 when I'm thinking about perseverance. 51:40 Now Sister Shelton, just read Romans 5:3-5. 51:43 She read the King James Version I believe? 51:45 Was that the King James Version you read? 51:47 The New King James Version for that word patience 51:49 actually is the word perseverance 51:51 in the New King James, 51:52 which I love that 51:53 knowing that tribulation produces 51:55 perseverance 51:56 and perseverance character and character hope. 51:58 So that was really, really nice. 52:00 But the text that comes to my mind 52:01 when I'm thinking of this is James 1:2-4. 52:05 Yeah. Let's read James 1:2-4. 52:08 And then I'm going to couple this 52:10 with the first couple of verses of Hebrews Chapter 12. 52:13 So let's go to James 1:2-4. 52:15 The Bible says, "My brethren count it all joy 52:19 when you fall into various trials, 52:22 knowing that the testing of your faith 52:24 produces patience. 52:27 But let patience have its perfect work 52:29 that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing." 52:33 So when I first read this verse many, many years ago, 52:35 you know, when I was really picking up 52:37 the Bible for the first time in my life 52:39 and really trying to read it, 52:40 you know, it's difficult 52:42 when you're going through a trial. 52:43 I'll give you an example of one of the trials I through. 52:45 Years ago, I was in my first year of college 52:48 and without going into too deep, 52:51 there was a lot of at home pressures 52:54 and different things that was going on in my life. 52:56 I was so stressed out 52:58 that I had brought upon me 53:00 this intense, extreme level of anxiety. 53:04 And I would fall into these panic attacks 53:06 where my heart rate would literally like, 53:07 just at the drop of a moment 53:09 my heart rate would go from like 53:10 70 to 150 beats a minute in like no time. 53:14 And I felt like my chest, you know, my heart 53:16 was about to burst out of my chest. 53:17 And at first I thought 53:19 something was wrong with me, right? 53:20 Boom, you know, 53:21 something's wrong with my heart? 53:23 And here I am, 20, 20, 21 years old. 53:24 And I'm really this messed up and you know, 53:27 went and got some tests done. 53:28 But every single day, the same thing, all these. 53:31 And I remember laying there again as a young man, 53:34 all this happening, thinking to myself, woe is me. 53:38 Woe is me. 53:39 Lord, You've brought me here to just die. 53:41 This is what You've brought me to do, Lord. 53:43 You've brought me through to this moment to die? 53:46 And, but I'll never forget reading this text, 53:48 count it all joy. 53:50 I mean, who's going through it, 53:51 you know, could you imagine laying there, 53:53 your heart's beating on your chest. 53:54 You thought you were about to die 53:56 and you could barely breathe 53:57 and you're going, thank you Lord 53:59 for this anxiety attack. 54:01 I'm so happy and joyful 54:02 that I'm experiencing this, right? 54:04 Thank you Lord, for that flat tire 54:06 that I have to now get out in the rain and change 54:08 and you know, all of these various trials 54:10 and things that we go through it, it's... 54:12 We don't think of it in that way, 54:14 but yet God says we should be joyful 54:18 in a spiritual sense 54:19 because it helps produce character and patience. 54:22 Now keep that. He says, count it all joy. 54:25 Go to Hebrews 12:1-2. 54:28 Hebrews 12:1-2. 54:30 I love this text. 54:31 One of my favorite texts in all the Bible. 54:33 Hebrews 12:1-2, "Therefore we also, 54:35 since we are surrounded 54:36 by so great a cloud of witnesses." 54:38 Mercy. 54:39 Talking about overcoming, and I wanna just add this. 54:42 I'm gonna give some final thoughts to these, 54:44 my wonderful guests here. 54:46 Therefore, since we are surrounded 54:47 by so great a cloud of witnesses, 54:48 let us lay aside every weight, 54:50 and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 54:53 and let us run with endurance 54:56 the race that is set before us." 54:58 And then verse 2 really sets the tone here 55:00 'cause Christ is our example, right? 55:02 Yes. Looking unto who? 55:03 Jesus. Okay. 55:05 You're going through whatever trial 55:06 you're going through right now in your life. 55:08 There's someone watching right now 55:09 that's saying, I'm dealing with this. 55:10 I'm dealing with depression. 55:12 I'm dealing with anxiety. I'm dealing with pain. 55:13 I'm dealing with sickness. 55:14 I'm dealing with the loss of a loved one. 55:16 I'm dealing, whatever it is. 55:17 Sorrow, challenge, adversity that you're dealing with. 55:20 The Bible says, look unto Jesus, 55:22 looking unto Jesus, 55:23 the author and finisher of our faith for, 55:25 notice for the joy that was set before him, 55:29 he endured the cross. 55:32 You could take all of the whippings 55:35 that Paul got, 55:37 all of the horrible things that Job had to endure 55:39 and all the other ones and wrap that all up into one. 55:41 And it would still fall short of the trial 55:43 and the agony that Jesus had to endure 55:46 the last 12 hours of His life. 55:48 He saw past the cross. 55:49 He endured the cross despising the shame 55:52 and has sat down 55:53 at the right hand of the throne of God. 55:56 Talk about persevering through trial. 55:58 We have about a minute and a half, 56:00 really quickly give us some final thoughts 56:01 before we end our program. 56:04 Man, real quick, I got to share something 56:06 'cause it just goes perfectly along with this. 56:07 And I heard this story from you, Ryan, 56:10 basically it was in Malachi Chapter 3, 56:11 remember that? 56:12 Okay. The refiner's fire. 56:14 So Jesus says in Malachi 3, 56:16 "I sit as a refiner 56:17 and purifier of silver and gold, 56:18 that I may purify, the sons of Levi." 56:20 Make a long story short, Jesus is saying, listen, 56:23 you'll have to go through fires in life, 56:25 trials in life, 56:26 but blacksmiths or not blacksmiths, 56:28 silversmiths and goldsmiths. 56:30 They put the gold and the silver, 56:31 which we are a reflection of that in scripture, 56:34 in the fire that it might burn off 56:35 all of its impurities... 56:36 The hottest part of the fire. The hottest part of the fire. 56:38 It may burn off all of its impurities 56:40 and all through all of that. 56:43 He knows when the silver is ready 56:46 to be taken out of the fire, 56:47 when it perfectly reflects the image of the refiner. 56:50 Amen. 56:51 And so... I like that. 56:53 As a silversmith is there holding it into the flame. 56:56 He knows when to take it out of the fire 56:57 when his image is perfectly seen through it. 57:00 So keep that in the back of your guys' minds. 57:02 Amen. Praise the Lord. 57:03 I appreciate that. 57:04 Guys, thank you so much for joining us today. 57:06 I felt like we could just talk a whole another hour 57:07 on this one topic. 57:09 That's right. 57:10 I looked through all these notes here. 57:12 We didn't even get through half of our notes, 57:13 but you know what? 57:14 God is good. His Word is good. 57:16 Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. 57:18 He's coming soon. 57:19 So keep fighting that good fight of faith. 57:22 Persevere to the end, Jesus said, 57:24 and you shall be saved. 57:25 Thank you so much for joining us today. 57:27 God bless you all. 57:28 We're praying for you. We love you. 57:29 We thank you for your love, prayers and support of 3ABN. 57:32 Until next time, God bless. |
Revised 2021-04-19