When the enemy strikes!

Truth in Love Network iconTruth in Love Network

1 view

Jesus is King: Living in that victory when the enemy is striking.

0 comments

00:00
Hello, this is truth and love so glad you could be with me tonight good evening to you
00:05
Thank you for watching the video. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your prayers. I'm thankful that you
00:11
Decide to spend a little bit of time with me time in God's Word glorifying him sharing Jesus Christ Looking at him setting him apart
00:20
Loving him learning about him and sharing him. Thank you so much. I really enjoy spending time with you
00:28
I'm glad to be back And I'm glad to be just spending time in God's Word with you again.
00:33
Thank you for your prayers And if I can pray for you tonight, I'd love to be able to do that So, let me know if I can pray for you if you watch the video later
00:45
All you have to do is type me if you're watching If you watch now, all you have to do is type me if you
00:53
Watch later. All you have to do is type me and I'll see the notification and and I'll be glad to pray for you then
01:00
But at the end, I will definitely pray for you If you type me the floor is always yours
01:05
We can stop whatever we're doing if we can discuss the things that you would like to discuss Love to discuss those things with you talk about the
01:12
Bible have a question about the Bible talk about church have a question about church Anything you'd like to talk about it.
01:18
Just reach out Let me know that you're watching and if you would like to help me reach our community
01:26
I only ask this because My love for Christ and wanting to reach the community
01:32
I asked that you would share the video if you're so inclined to do that If this this time together encourages you and you'd like to help me get the message of Jesus Christ out to our community
01:45
This is truth and love and we get truth and love from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 But speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in all aspects into him.
01:54
Who is the head even Christ? That's our goal. That's our aim to grow up in all aspects into Christ speaking the truth
02:02
Truth in love both things going on at one time speaking of prayer
02:09
Again, let me know if I can pray for you. All you have to do is type me But we
02:16
I want to remember that Today, I know that the the funeral for the police officer happened
02:25
The officer of Mount Holly lived in Kings Mountain Kings Mountain area We want to remember that family, of course in prayer and we want to remember
02:35
All of our officers and all of our emergency workers in prayer. We want to lift them up to the
02:42
Lord We're so thankful for them. God gives a special gift to to those that serve police officers fire rescue
02:53
Military, I believe that God gives a special special gift to those folks to give them the courage and and the the desire to do those things that that not everybody has the desire or or Ability to do and so we thank
03:10
God for those folks and we want to pray for them We want to pray for that family who lost their loved one and And all officers that that died that that we've lost
03:21
I don't know how close you live to an emergency facility but we now live closer to a fire and police department and so we hear
03:34
Sirens more often than we than we used to when we lived a greater distance from Police or fire station or department and and every time
03:44
I hear the sirens go off It's always a reminder to me to pray for them because you don't you don't know what they are going into Sometimes the the calls for firemen are are are calls that they're required to go out to but it's not necessarily an
04:04
Emergency for them. So we we don't ever know but when I hear the siren sirens
04:10
It is a reminder for me to to pray for them to remember them to be thankful for them
04:17
And so I just wanted to share that with you as we as we started tonight remembering those who serve
04:25
Law enforcement fire rescue military all all those guys every one of them we're so thankful for them and and The gift that God has given them.
04:37
So Join me in praying for them. Um Let's go ahead and jump in and get started the uh
04:49
The topic the the video discussion that I want to have tonight Um is carrying on with the theme of Jesus is
04:58
King. So how do we live in that victory if Jesus is King? How do we live in that victory and tonight's topic was?
05:06
If Jesus is King, which he is Living in that victory when the enemy is striking
05:13
So we want to learn how to do that when the enemy is striking. How do we live in that victory? That Jesus is
05:20
King not just our King not just you know a spiritual kingdom, but but Jesus is King He has all authority in heaven and earth.
05:27
And so how do we live in that victory in this? specific Particular area when the enemy is striking
05:35
And and a lot of it starts with with our thinking from my perspective
05:42
Wrong Thinking leads to wrong living and right thinking lives to right living and a lot of our wrong
05:50
Thinking comes from many different places Of course if we if we proclaim to be
05:57
Christian if we Proclaim to be followers of Christ and then we of course need to to dig into his word to to know who he is who he says he is and How he wants us to live but but our bad thinking which leads to bad leaving living
06:16
Comes from so many different places throughout our life We were often nurtured as we grow up as we're raised to think a certain way because of the
06:28
Where we live Geographically our culture that we live in the the church that we go to we we often
06:38
Are taught certain things. Sometimes we're taught bad theology. Sometimes we're taught things that People believe are from Scripture, but are not necessarily found in Scripture and we're taught to believe that this is how
06:54
God is or who God is and this is you know his word and Sometimes and I think it was one of the last videos that we did.
07:00
We've looked at some of those Misconceptions where people think this is a
07:06
Bible verse but it's really not found in the Bible And so we oftentimes get our our bad thinking from so many different places and that bad thinking leads to bad living
07:16
So we want to have right thinking which comes from God's Word so that we can have right living When it comes to the subject tonight the subject matter for tonight when the enemy is striking how to live in the victory that Jesus is king we want to have right thinking we want to get it from Scripture so that we can have right living because Going through those difficult times we want to be prepared and we want to know how to live in those times of Struggling of strife of trials and tribulations
07:48
And so we want to prepare ourselves have right thinking so we can live rightly through those times
07:55
That we're going through Because they are difficult
08:01
Am I right? Again, thank you guys for watching. Let me know that you're watching say hello Share like so that we can reach out to our community with the gospel with the
08:13
Word of God Let me know if I can pray for you. I'd love to be able to do that One of the
08:20
One of the ways I want to start out, of course recognizing and pointing out that that wrong thinking that leads to wrong living and And that wrong thinking and wrong living is
08:33
Living in defeat where we think in defeat and live in defeat and so therefore we our struggle intensifies so much more when we go through those difficult times because We we think in defeat and therefore we live in defeat and we don't want to live like that the struggle and the trials are difficult enough on their own so living and thinking in defeat
09:00
Just intensifies those difficult times that we go through When the enemy is striking or if it's something else whatever is going on and so With those things being as difficult as they are.
09:15
Anyway, we want to think rightly and live rightly but to identify that that wrong thinking so that we can
09:23
Remove it, you know, you've got to identify it so that you can remove it and then replace it with something else
09:30
One of those one of those areas of wrong thinking that we have Is Now I'm thinking specifically of our subjects tonight when the enemy strikes
09:42
And so when we go through difficult situations in our life or or things aren't things aren't going our way
09:49
Throughout the day And this this is just gonna be you know, some silly examples or whatever and you can probably come up with with your own examples, but you know, let's say that You're going to the store and you you don't get the the close parking space that you would like you have to park further away
10:09
So you you have to walk, you know Further to get into the store and walk further to get back to your vehicle carrying your groceries or whatever
10:19
The The at the restaurant they get your order wrong Your your pet
10:28
All of a sudden has fleas where they didn't have fleas before, you know things just roll
10:34
Let me look at the comments. I don't have my comments up here. There we go. Hey, Mary. I Noticed somebody had sent me a message and I see it now
10:44
Thank you for messaging. It's good to see you So You've got those difficult things that happen in your life those things where life just isn't isn't going right and and a lot of times
10:56
We we put the blame where it doesn't belong And we say the enemy's after me the the enemy is striking when you know that That is not the the enemy striking at us
11:14
Just making our day because We we think that our our day should go a certain way our day should go our way.
11:22
We we deserve You we may not say it. We may not think it but because we
11:31
We respond in such a way That we get aggravated when we don't get the right parking place when our order gets messed up or you know things just You know aren't going smoothly at home or wherever or at work
11:48
Because we behave that way and get aggravated about it our our thinking where our heart is is that you know
11:54
We deserve that we deserve the best, you know, we we deserve to be you know
12:01
Everything to just just go great. We should get the best parking place all the time and everything should just go great all the time
12:09
And so that comes from a heart a heart attitude of Thinking that we deserve it.
12:14
And and so we need to recognize that that bad thinking so we can remove it and replace it
12:21
Another area of bad thinking is um And I think
12:31
I brought it up just a second ago was that we we we blame no I'm gonna
12:37
I'm gonna reverse it because I haven't mentioned it yet. I Things things go wrong in our life and We we go through difficult times and circumstances and what they really are are consequences of things that that we've done and then we will we will blame the enemy for Striking or attacking us when actually in all reality
13:06
It is consequences because of decisions that that we made And so we we don't want to blame ourselves.
13:13
We want to blame someone else because you know, of course I Deserve better than this even though I you know,
13:20
I did mess up I deserve not to go through the consequences and of the
13:26
The decisions that I make we believe that way we feel that way about ourselves
13:33
Naturally, I mean that just comes naturally to us That we we feel that we don't we shouldn't have to go suffer the consequences of our decisions
13:42
So when when we are suffering consequences and and things aren't going right and we're struggling
13:49
We don't want to blame ourselves We'll say the enemy is striking and and or something else's is attacking us and coming after us and we just won't blame ourselves but in reality
14:02
When when we think we're thinking wrongly when we think that we we don't
14:09
We don't deserve, you know, this this trial or suffering that we're going through and and the reality is is that we
14:23
Not only do we not Not deserve it and I don't even know if I wrote that correctly because it sounds weird in my head not only do we
14:36
Not not deserve it but and if I didn't say that correctly,
14:42
I Think you know what? I'm what I'm trying to say, but it's worse than that Not only should we should not have the attitude that that we don't we don't deserve to be going through this trial or this tribulation or why have you it's worse than that as deep into that Romans chapter 3 verse 23 and Most of you are probably familiar with that verse that says
15:06
For the wages of sin is is death. So Not only do we
15:13
Not not deserve that we deserve worse
15:19
Scripture says the wages of sin is death and so How do we respond to that so we
15:30
We're replacing it. We're pointing it out. We're pointing out that that bad thinking and And we're pulling it out and we're wanting to replace it.
15:38
So We've come to reality with face to face with Scripture with the circumstances that we go through in life where the whether we
15:47
You know ultimately caused it and and we can draw a connection between this
15:56
This Circumstance is Connected to this behavior, you know that like we can do with a consequence of a certain behavior whether we can make that connection or not what we ultimately deserve is an eternity in hell because we've sinned against an eternally
16:14
Holy God and We've we've just faced that reality with Scripture and so We how should we respond to that reality?
16:29
Um, I think Romans chapter 9 verses 14 through 21 Gives us a good idea of how we should respond to that reality.
16:38
Now. We're in the mindset of What I deserve ultimately isn't is eternal punishment eternal hell because I've sinned against an eternally
16:48
Holy God So this is this is a response therefore of a person who now realizes
16:56
This is this is who I am. This is what I deserve. Um, this is my relationship between me and the
17:04
Creator Romans 9 14 through 21 says what shall we say then there is no injustice with God is there
17:12
Far from it for he says to Moses. I will have mercy on whomever
17:18
I have mercy I will show compassion to whom whomever
17:23
I show compassion You see how our thinking is changing with the reading of God's Word We are no longer the center of Attention we are we are no longer the the center of our being we are removing self from from having control
17:43
Or thinking we need control over everything and and we are correctly putting in place
17:49
The the Creator the God of the universe in his rightful place in in our mind
17:55
And we're letting scripture tell us who he says he is He will have mercy and show compassion on whomever
18:04
He wills verse 16. So then it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs
18:12
But on God who has mercy verse 17 for the scripture says for scripture says to Pharaoh for the scripture says to Pharaoh for this reason
18:24
I raised you up in order to demonstrate my Power in you and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the earth 18 so then he has mercy on whom he desires and he hardens whom he desires
18:37
You will say to me then why does he still find fault? for who has
18:44
Resisted his will on the contrary Who are you you foolish foolish person who answers back to God the thing molded?
18:54
Will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this? Will it or does the potter not have the right over the clay to make from the same lump one object for honorable?
19:07
Use and another object for common use God is our Creator and it's his decision on How he wants to use his creation and and how he wants to distribute his compassion and his mercy
19:22
God therefore in it is put in the right place in our mind and in our thinking and We realize that that he is the
19:33
Creator he is the decider. It's it's his will and And and what he wants to do and how he decides to do it
19:41
And so we we as in response to what we've learned about ourselves what we deserve
19:48
And and who God is You know, we realize, you know, we are the ones that have been molded by the motor
19:56
We are the clay and he is he is the potter and and we Do not say to him, you know, why did you make me this way?
20:09
How does he say it the thing molded when I say to the motor, why did you make me like this?
20:15
The potter has right over the clay. So that's that's the position that we in that is our relationship with our
20:23
Creator and Once we begin to think that way
20:28
We are moving in the right direction Of thinking rightly so that we can live rightly through those those trials and circumstances, so We've got through that The next question we want to answer is, you know, is it is it us?
20:48
Is it a consequence of something that that we've done, you know instead of Blame shifting and saying this is the enemy the enemies attacking the enemy striking the enemies just coming after us and he won't leave me alone, he's just got a hold of me and Instead of looking at ourselves and how we could have been had caused this
21:09
Issue or problem and it'd be a consequence of our lives. I'm gonna look at first Peter chapter 4
21:16
Verses 12 through 19 and it says beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you
21:23
Which comes upon you for your testing as though something strange were happening to you
21:29
He says don't be shocked. Don't be surprised but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ keep on rejoicing and I would like for us to keep a mental note of every time one of the scripture writers gives us a
21:48
Command or an admonition to to do a certain thing One of those things here is keep on rejoicing
21:54
So we want to keep a mental note of that or we want to write it down or underline it in our Bible Because there's there's going to be several things as we continue to look at scripture that that God is going to Encourage us to do teach us how to live through these these trials and circumstances
22:14
So he says keep on rejoicing so that at the revelation of his glory
22:19
You may also rejoice and be overjoyed If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you
22:31
This is And we could use that scripture to talk about our subject tonight
22:37
But what I wanted to pull from 1st Peter chapter 4 tonight was was the following it says make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer or a thief or evildoer or Troublesome meddler, but if anyone suffers as a
22:54
Christian, he is not to be ashamed but is to glorify God in this name for it is time for judgment to begin with a household of God and If it begins with us first what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God and If it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved what will become of a godless man and the sinner therefore those
23:16
Also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right and there's another one doing what is right entrusting our souls to a faithful creator and The result is doing what's right, but the focus here in this particular instance is
23:39
We want to make sure that we are not blame shifting but we are We are looking at ourselves first You know, are we the cause of this circumstance?
23:51
Is this a consequence of my action and no we might not fall under, you know, one of these categories but this is just a list of a short list
24:03
That could be lengthened tremendously You know Are you a gossip it could be added, you know gossip is going to cause
24:15
Tons of consequences and trouble in your life There's going to be consequences for gossip backbiting there's going to be consequences for All sorts of sin in your life that we cannot blame the enemy.
24:29
We cannot blame Satan he says make sure you that none of you suffer as One of these things and you can just insert, you know any sin in your life and let's make sure that we're not blame shifting but we are
24:44
Being introspective. We're looking at ourselves so we can repent Remove it and think rightly and live rightly so I Think that we've
24:58
Realized that not all trials and circumstances not all bad things that happen to us who we can blame or is the result of the enemy striking
25:12
I Think a lot of times we want to lump everything in Bad that happens to us every trial every circle bad circumstance that we go through tribulation
25:23
We want to lump it all together and and say that the enemy's attacking. He just won't let me go he's you know, he's after me he's attacking and I'm just tired of you know, the enemy coming after me all the time
25:37
But we don't want to I think we realized and saw that it's not a hey
25:42
Roger. Hope you're doing good tonight I think we've seen that We can't always blame the enemy
25:50
But but when is it the enemy? When is it the enemy that's attacking? Well?
25:57
What I did was I looked at Ephesians chapter 6 and Most of you some of you may be familiar with the
26:04
Ephesians chapter 6 the the second half Starting in verse 10. We're it's the famous section speaking of the armor of God And without reading at all
26:17
The Paul tells us in Ephesians what what the armor of God is and and what that particular piece of armor and a military gear what it represents and I think we can look at those things and See how we can tell if there is if there is suffering in our life
26:38
We can identify And I think it will help us to identify that if it's the enemy
26:45
Striking by looking at the the opposite of what the enemy is.
26:51
I hope that makes sense So let's look at the first one The the first part of the armor
26:59
Well any just a reminder Looking at those things Go back and read
27:06
Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 10 through 18 just to save time
27:11
I don't want to read it all but just like in the other verses that we read where it says rejoice
27:20
Entrust entrust your heart to the Lord and do what's right Here in Ephesians three times he says to stand firm stand firm stand firm another thing that that that we are to do and And just a reminder to in verse 12
27:37
There are times that these trials and circumstances that we go through Are coming from the enemy
27:45
Paul tells us that our for our struggle is not against flesh and blood. So we want to recognize who our enemy is not it's our fellow man
27:55
Ultimately, they are they are not our enemy But against rulers against powers against the world forces of this darkness against spiritual forces of weaknesses in the heavenly places
28:08
So we're in a spiritual war. We're in spiritual battle. And and so we we need to take up spiritual armor
28:18
To fight this spiritual battle spiritual war and and the enemy when he does strike he's going to strike
28:24
Spiritually, and so by looking at these things, I think we can kind of identify
28:30
When it is the enemy striking so the first one is
28:38
Verse 14 stand firm therefore having girded your loins with truth So, you know
28:44
God's Word is truth it says that of itself and we know that to be true from experience from study
28:50
We know God's Word is truth. And so therefore and I'm going to try to go quickly with these things so if there's anything that is
29:01
Within this trial within this circumstance this struggle this striving where there is
29:10
Truth is being attacked when we can we can think or we can
29:22
Lean towards thinking that This is coming from the enemy because this is a this is spiritual warfare.
29:30
This is spiritual battle rulers forces in the heavenly places and So when when truth is being attacked when you're standing firm and you're standing firm on truth
29:43
The truth of God's Word not your own truth, not my truth, but the truth of God's Word and truth is being attacked
29:51
We can possibly look towards the enemy striking us. The second one and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness and I heard someone once Explained that righteousness is is right living.
30:07
So we have truth which comes from God's Word and then we have Righteousness, which is right living.
30:15
So if you have Something that is coming striving after you struggling causing you to struggle and in the realm of Not behaving rightly according to truth then we can look at the enemy as a possible source
30:34
I hope that's making sense how we can identify When the enemy is striking if something is coming against the truth of God's Word coming against you for standing on the truth of God's Word and then you are applying that to your life, which is righteousness right living and And and something is coming after you to tear you down for for living right?
30:59
Then we can look at the enemy Verse 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace and ultimately
31:09
What is the gospel of peace? We know that we know that the gospel is is itself Jesus Christ and then who he is and what he did on the cross and the result of that is reconciliation between us and God for God's glory, but also the the effects of that gospel is
31:29
Reconciliation between man and So the if we shot our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace
31:37
We are we are always prepared to be applying the gospel so if we are if we are working towards reconciliation and and part of that is forgiveness and restoration and and we're working towards that goal if that's our heart and that's what we're working towards and you have something intervening in your life that is that is causing
32:06
Unforgiveness or to to block restoration to to block
32:14
Reconciliation, you know to block all those things to tear all these things down then we can look towards the enemy because the enemy maybe is
32:24
Is Hindering the gospel effects there in your life and also
32:32
Sharing the gospel in itself and and Preventing you if if you're being attacked and Struggling and striving because In your efforts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to win souls as well
32:50
Then we can look at the enemy. I mean the enemy is going to be attacking the things that glorify
32:56
God truth Righteousness right living the gospel of reconciliation between man and God and and each other
33:04
That's that's where the enemy is going to be striking not when we don't have when not when we don't get the the
33:13
Parking place that we think we deserve or or when the waitress messes up our order
33:19
The enemy is going to be attacking here in these places the next one is verse 16 in addition to all
33:27
Taking up the the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one and and the faith is our trust in the
33:40
Lord Jesus Christ Setting Christ setting apart Christ as Lord We're gonna read that verse a little bit later in your hearts
33:49
He is Lord and we put our trust in him and that trust is
33:56
A shield that protects us against the enemy And so whenever we have something striking against us to tear down our trust in the
34:06
Lord Jesus Christ We can look to the enemy in that spiritual warfare in that spiritual battle
34:13
The Next the next one is Verse 17 and take the helmet of salvation
34:23
To me you know the helmet is a protection for your head and and this is where your brain is your mind and your thinking is so How does that relate to salvation in my opinion and and there's probably
34:39
You can probably go a whole lot deeper into into these thoughts than than what I'm going into But in in my association and making these connections our mind is where we have our our doubts
34:54
And so we don't want to we won't we don't want to doubt God. We don't want to doubt his work
35:00
In our lives that doubt our salvation doubt what doubt what he is doing in our lives and what he has done in our lives so we put on that helmet of salvation to to protect our thinking and And so that we we don't get discouraged in our thinking so if we have something attacking our
35:21
Our thinking to cause us to doubt To cause us to think wrongly about God and about Jesus Then we can
35:31
Possibly look to the enemy as the one striking Because that is that would be a part of the spiritual battle and then the last one and the sword of the spirit the sword of the spirit which is of course the
35:49
Word of God and then you know that one's a no -brainer if If something is coming after the
35:57
Word of God Then we can look at possibly the enemy striking
36:04
So I think looking at Ephesians chapter chapter 6 verses 10 through through 18 We it helps us to identify
36:13
The enemy and the enemy strategy and where the enemy works When we look at the truth and we look at God and we look at how he works and I just want to point out
36:25
That we're making a list in our mind or we're making a list in our notes in our in our paper on our paper
36:32
Of some of the commands that we read as we go through these verses We've seen that that we've been encouraged to entrust entrust our souls to the our faithful Creator in Doing what is right?
36:47
rejoice entrust stand firm here in Ephesians chapter 6 and Then verse 18 with all prayer and petition pray at all times with all prayer and petition pray at all times in The spirit and with this in view be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the
37:10
Saints so entrust rejoice stand firm and pray and Pray all the time and pray for the
37:19
Saints. So our list is growing What do we do when the enemy is striking what do we do through any trial?
37:28
tribulation or difficult circumstance Rejoice entrust stand firm and pray.
37:36
So we're working on our list So sometimes it's us
37:44
Sometimes it is the enemy striking But we want to be clear and we want to make sure that we are not lumping everything up together and Giving all the credit to Satan or the devil or the enemy
38:00
Sometimes it's us Sometimes it's him, but ultimately Ultimately God is sovereign
38:07
God is in control of everything and those things that happen are Things every he allows everything to happen and things will happen according to his will
38:19
Some of the things that we go through are are not just things that he Allows where the enemy attacks or Consequences for our actions, but some things come into our life where we we struggle we strive
38:35
We go through trials because Hebrews chapter 12 verse 6 says the Lord Disciplines who he loves
38:44
So a lot of these trials and I was I would say all these trials difficulties circumstances that we go through We could view them as opportunities
38:57
For us to be discipled for us to grow Because the Lord loves us and he's not going to leave us alone
39:07
Now that we made it to this point. I And look look at an article that I found
39:14
And I thought he had some really good thoughts on this subject
39:20
And I wanted to share it with you. I'm going to share with you these thoughts from this article The title of the article is ten reasons
39:30
God entrusts us with trials and it's by Kyle Farron and you can google it you can look it up on the internet, but just want to give him credit
39:40
For this article and this is going to come from come from, you know, his article
39:46
I think maybe I Added just a little bit of my own thoughts in here, but not much it comes from his article
39:54
And I thought it was very insightful and it goes along with our subject matter tonight ten reasons
40:01
God entrusts us with trials So it helps us to understand that it's that the things that we go through are not pointless
40:10
They're not Worthless there they have they have meaning they have purpose and so You know
40:21
It's not a time to abandon all hope because what we go through God knows
40:28
God allows and God will use For his glory and our good.
40:34
So let's look at the ten things that that Kyle Farron points out in his article Number one trials are part of God's work
40:43
And like I just said God is in control of the trials
40:48
Romans 828 It says and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love
40:55
God to those who are called according to his purpose so we know that that God is sovereign
41:01
God is in control and He's gonna cause all things to work together for his glory and and our good and we can we can rest in that One thing that that we can be sure of that that will not happen in In any circumstance any trial no matter how deep and difficult it is
41:23
We can be sure that God is not going to backtrack and go back on his promises And here's one of them
41:29
God is in control and he is going to cause all things to work together For good to those who are called according to his purpose got to remember that part
41:40
We want to be in him number two trials point or trials put
41:47
God's power on display and Isn't isn't that what we want to do?
41:54
It shouldn't that be our desire as well? We want to be instruments so that we're putting God's power on display
42:00
He is getting the glory and not us and and so we want to be those those that are molded
42:06
We want to be those clay pots that God uses for his glory where he demonstrates
42:12
His power and trials allows that to happen in our lives
42:19
You remember remember the scripture says let him that boasts boast in the Lord So when when things work out when when we come out on the other side or or when we have strength
42:33
And we're able to make it through those difficult times we can boast in the
42:39
Lord because We don't have the power. We don't have the strength to make it through these things in and of ourselves not even
42:47
We have zero Ability to do that according to scripture It's all
42:55
God's strength. It's all God's power and So we can boast in him
43:01
I listen to Judges chapter 7 verse 2 and the Lord said to Gideon the people
43:07
Who are with you are too many for me to hand? Midian over to them.
43:13
Otherwise Israel would become boastful saying my own power has saved me, but it's not and That's not gonna happen
43:26
Nobody is going to rob or steal God's glory and we want to be ones that that put his power and glory on display number three trials
43:38
Prepare us for service Listen to Luke chapter 16 verse 10 it says the one who is faithful in very in a very little thing is also faithful in much and the one who is unrighteous in a very little in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much and we want to be we want to be those people who are faithful in little things and So we can be entrusted and be faithful in When we're given much in the
44:10
Romans 5 3 through 5 says and not only this but we also Celebrate and there's another one for our list celebrate in our tribulations
44:24
Sometimes you have to sometimes I have to pause Because the
44:31
Lord asked us to do things in his word That if you've been through any trial any circumstance any difficulty
44:44
You know, this is an impossible request being made of us rejoice entrust our souls to the
44:59
Creator and Do what's right? Pray without ceasing and Celebrate How in the world am
45:13
I supposed to do that in my own strength? I'm so incapable of doing that to celebrate
45:26
It's unfathomable to imagine Being able to celebrate
45:34
There's some of the things that I've been through and some of the things that I'm going through But the
45:42
Lord tells us to celebrate and so we must rely on His strength.
45:49
We also celebrate in our tribulations knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and Perseverance proven character and proven character hope and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been
46:05
Poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has given to us
46:11
So trials prepare us for service Prepares us for service and it also prepares us for something else
46:20
When we go through these trials and and in it and it proves our character it causes us to persevere
46:28
It anchors us in hope and it does all these other wonderful things
46:35
Scripture teaches us that Christ is going to present his bride
46:41
To the Father and he's not going to present a bride with spots and blemishes
46:51
So he is preparing us as a Presentation to the
46:57
Father of his glorious work and What an amazing display of his glory that we get to be a part of number four trials sanctify me
47:14
Listen to James chapter 1 verses 2 through 4 Here's another one for your list.
47:20
I hope you're making this list with me. He says James says consider it all
47:27
Joy My brothers and sisters when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance and Let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete
47:45
Lacking nothing. So there's there's the goal. We're complete lacking nothing and that trial is is working that in our lives and And what is it doing?
47:58
How does it help sanctify us? So these these trials Help reveal what's inside of us
48:07
So when we're going through a trial We need to look at how we respond to that trial and that response will tell us, you know, what's in our heart and What needs to stay or what needs to be removed what our attitude is how we respond?
48:25
And so the trial reveals what's inside of us and we can repent and we can
48:35
Move forward in in these verses like James chapter 1 2 through 4 number 5 trial makes
48:45
Makes me depend on God um What a trial does it breaks that dependence on self so often and You're fortunate if you've if you've never been through a trial like this
49:04
But so very often trials ultimately bring us to the point where we realize
49:12
There's nothing left for me to do There's nothing
49:17
I can do I am helpless my hands are tied
49:24
Yeah, and then you're at the point of abandoning all hope giving up or Releasing your dependence on yourself and let the trial
49:38
Deepen your dependence on God It makes you aware and it makes you grow in your dependence on God number 5 listen to 1st
49:49
Corinthians chapter 1 verses 28 through 29 and the and the insignificant things of the world and the despised
50:00
God has chosen These things that are not so that he may nullify the things that are
50:08
So that no human may boast before God so that just as it is written
50:13
Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord And we're just you know, we mentioned that verse before but we're reminded that that verse again
50:21
Let him who boasts boast in the Lord because we've released that dependence on self
50:30
You know what what from the beginning Put our confidence in ourselves
50:39
Yes, there are things that God requires of us and wants us to do amidst the trial
50:45
But trying to solve it trying to handle it ourselves in our own wisdom in our own ways that's what
50:54
God wants us to release our dependence on ourselves and Depend on him so that the boasting that happens is a boasting in him number six trials
51:08
Show others that God is dependable. This was pretty interesting having peace
51:20
When everything is comfortable is normal. So when everything's going smooth when everything's fine
51:27
You know, nothing's out of the ordinary Everything's you know, go quote going our way
51:33
Having peace having contentment That's normal having peace in the midst of trials
51:43
That's what's not normal for the world for our culture for those
51:49
Looking in so we need to make that distinction for those looking in out who are outside of Christ Having peace amidst trials is not normal Number six as trial shows that shows others that God is dependable.
52:08
So when we are when we are complaining instead of Instead of finding our peace
52:15
You know releasing our dependence on self depending on God finding our peace in God through our trials
52:23
If we're not doing that but instead complaining and having a bad attitude and And showing that attitude that takes away the opportunity that God Would would have given us to speak of his greatness
52:41
When we are when we are displaying peace through the midst of the trial
52:46
Boasting in the Lord we can speak of his greatness But when we complain when we when we're bitter when we're angry
52:55
We're taking away that opportunity To speak of his greatness to speak of the gospel
53:04
Because no one's going to believe our words When they see our actions if we were to if we were to display a lack of trust a lack of peace in God No matter what we said
53:22
It would not match up With how we were living Listen to 1st
53:29
Peter chapter 3 verses 14 and 15 It says but even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness
53:35
You are blessed and do not fear. There's another one that we can add to our list
53:42
Do not fear Intimidation and do not be in dread but sanctify
53:51
Christ set him apart set apart Christ as Lord now and we've got to get this straight here
53:59
Christ is Lord whether we sanctify him or set him apart or not.
54:04
He is Lord, but we want to We want to set him apart
54:11
We want to worship him and submit to him in our hearts as Lord Always Being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you
54:25
But with gentleness and respect So When when we suffer for the sake of righteousness when we go through these trials and tribulations and we have this peace
54:37
That that God has given us when we've released dependence on self and we depend on God To carry us through these circumstances knowing that he's going to work all things for our good and his glory
54:49
We're trusting in him and we have this peace That's abnormal to the world and they see that and we and it gives us an opportunity just to speak of God's greatness and It gives us an opportunity when we're asked
55:05
About the hope that's within us We're ready and able to give a defense of That peace of that that hope and then that joy that we have in Christ If that's making sense
55:24
If you're just joining us I'd encourage you to go back and try to get the rest of the information
55:32
That I pray and hope that it's good and encouraging and helpful to you. I know that it's being in God's Word and learning these things is helping me
55:43
To learn to think right and and so that I can live it out and live right number seven
55:52
Just a just a reminder. I'm going going over an article That was very
55:58
Encouraging. I thought it was insightful ten reasons God entrust us with trials by Kyle Farrin You can google it.
56:05
You can find it on the internet. It's very insightful and helpful on this subject Watching the replay.
56:12
Thank you Thank you, Tammy. I hope it would be encouraging to you
56:18
I know these things get long and I'm not going to stop until I get finished and so it's gonna be a long one
56:23
But this is really important information And I hope it's encouraging to you.
56:29
Number seven Trials show us and others that God is infinitely valuable.
56:37
I hope you can follow along with me in these next few notes Number seven says trials show us and others that God is infinitely valuable
56:49
Others are watching. So we're still on that theme of others watching Therefore I want to respond in joy
57:00
So they see the goodness and worthiness and trustworthiness and value of God They can't see those things when we're complaining when we're angry when we're have a bad attitude
57:19
But they can see how good how worthy how valuable God is and how trustworthy is when we
57:28
Get our strength and Let the joy of the
57:33
Lord fill us when they see that And this is this next point is important to trials teach me
57:42
That Jesus is better than anything Learning this allows me to respond in joy.
57:50
So how can I respond in joy? That that's another one of those things
57:56
That we can add to our list and everything on this list that we're making these requests that God Thank you
58:06
Mary and thank you Tammy. Thank you for watching. Um, thank you for sticking with me
58:11
Um These things that God wants us to do to celebrate To to entrust ourselves to him
58:20
You we want to hang on to that to that control so bad to entrust ourselves to rejoice and to have joy these things
58:31
To to our human minds are so impossible and I know most of you have been through through those trials
58:39
They that are so difficult that and I've heard this comment so often here lately
58:46
Going through the year 2020 with with kovat and with the hopelessness that people have and the comment has been made
58:53
I don't know how people make it without Jesus and That's the whole point here
59:01
We can't That's why there's so much hopelessness That's why there's so much depression
59:07
Because we cannot make it without Jesus and so How do we have joy?
59:15
How do we celebrate? How do we rejoice? How do we do all these things?
59:21
So that other people can see it in us trials teach me That Jesus is better So it works hand in hand
59:34
The trials teach us how to have joy so that we can have joy in the trials
59:43
The trials teach me that and this is the the whole key here trials teach me that Jesus is better than Anything you remember
59:58
Job even when we lose everything
01:00:05
Jesus is better than anything. We don't want to lose everything. I Don't want to lose everything
01:00:13
But I must be settled in my heart With the reality that Jesus is better than anything and his ways and his decision his sovereign will his what he chooses to do is better Than anything
01:00:35
So when I can have trust in that therefore I can then have joy and then the
01:00:43
World outside looking in can see that joy in me and therefore boast in the
01:00:51
Lord Psalm 73 25 to 26 whom do I have in heaven but you and with you
01:00:59
I desire nothing on earth Shouldn't that be our attitude Who do I have in heaven but you and there's nothing on earth that I desire
01:01:08
My flesh and my heart may fail But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
01:01:15
Luke 6 23 says rejoice on that day and jump for joy
01:01:22
When when you're going through a trial These things make no sense other than in Christ other than the reality and the
01:01:32
Acknowledgement that Jesus is better than anything Luke said Luke chapter 6 says rejoice on that day and jump for joy
01:01:41
For behold your reward is great in heaven for their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way number eight
01:01:51
Trials are an opportunity for reward and we just saw that first Peter 1 6 through 7 says in this you greatly rejoice
01:02:00
Even though now for a little while if necessary you have been distressed by various trials
01:02:05
So that the proof of your faith being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire
01:02:12
May be found to result in praise glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ So Trials are an opportunity for Reward.
01:02:30
Oh my I think
01:02:38
I'm missing something. I'm missing a few verses Let me look here. There's number nine
01:02:46
All right. I got too many papers here. All right great is your reward in heaven we read that verse and So that's where we store up our treasure and and the and the trials and the things that we go through You know
01:03:03
It's for God's glory and you know Not only is Christ going to present his bride that spotless and blameless to the
01:03:11
Lord And that that's a purpose in the trials is you know creep making us into into that bride
01:03:17
But also, you know We read in scripture that the crown that that is offered to us for for the good work that we did will then be offered back
01:03:29
To the Lord because it was only him who did it in us number nine trials may be spiritual warfare and and we've already talked about that a lot so I'm not gonna go deep in Detail about that just gonna read you these verses 2nd
01:03:46
Corinthians 2 11 says so that no advantage will be taken of us by Satan for we are not ignorant of his schemes and then first John 4
01:03:57
Verse 4 says you are from God little children and have overcome them
01:04:03
Because greater is he who is in you than he that is in the world.
01:04:08
Amen to that Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world now number 10 last one trials may be for our discipline and God disciplines those whom he loves
01:04:24
Hebrews 12 5 through 6 says and you have forgotten the
01:04:30
Exhortation which is addressed to you as sons My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the
01:04:35
Lord nor faint when you are punished by him for whom the Lord Loves he disciplines and he punishes every son whom he accepts in Psalm 139
01:04:47
Verse Verses 23 and 24 search me Oh God and know my heart put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts and see if there is any hurtful way in me and Lead me in the everlasting way trials could be for our
01:05:09
Discipline and I would say ultimately all trials are used in that way
01:05:16
Because all trials are our growing us where we are relinquishing ourselves we are getting rid of ourselves our selfishness our pride, you know every sinful way about us and Then we are being led we are
01:05:35
Continuing on that path the way the everlasting way. He says the psalmist says
01:05:43
So Those are the ten things the ten reasons why God Entrust us with trials and here's the last quote that I want to give you
01:05:51
It says God entrust us with trials because he is using us for his glory and if we are in Christ if you're a brother if you're my brother and sister in Christ and God has
01:06:06
Caused you to be born again if he has saved you You have you have that heart in you as well that you want nothing more than God's glory and Because I know we have the same
01:06:20
Holy Spirit living within us We may have differences in some of our beliefs and theology and interpretations of Scripture But there is one thing true within each of us who have the
01:06:33
Holy Spirit and that it is we want God to receive the glory and So, how do we behave
01:06:41
How do we behave through these trials? tribulations and circumstances Whether it may be the enemy attacking or not
01:06:50
And if you if you didn't catch the first part the first part of it, I went through Ephesians chapter 6 to help us
01:06:58
Identify when when it could possibly be the enemy attacking But no matter what the trial is
01:07:08
How do we respond to it? Well, if you're following along and making your list with me
01:07:15
There are things that God has requested commanded
01:07:21
Exhorted us to do in his Word rejoice
01:07:28
Entrust our souls Do what's right? pray pray without ceasing
01:07:36
Celebrate Leap with joy Rejoice and and all of those things are
01:07:45
Repeated multiple times that they're not just found in in those those few verses that we read tonight and sometimes in even certain passages
01:07:56
Like in Ephesians chapter 6 he repeats the phrase stand firm three times in those few verses
01:08:05
But it it's found Anywhere that you can that you read on trials and tribulations
01:08:12
Suffering you will see these things repeated over and over again. This is what he wants from us to rejoice to entrust ourselves to Celebrate to look to him and to pray
01:08:28
You'll see that repeated over and over and over again pray pray pray pray
01:08:37
Let me read James chapter 1 verse 2 I'm gonna
01:08:51
I'm gonna leave with this James chapter 1 verses 2 through 4
01:09:07
James tells us Consider it all joy My brethren when you encounter various trials
01:09:16
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its perfect result
01:09:22
That you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously without reproach
01:09:34
And it will be given to him But let him ask in faith without doubting for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven tossed by the wind
01:09:48
There are so many other verses in James James chapter 4 Verses there we go
01:10:04
James 4 4 through 7 But verse 5 or do you think the scripture speaks to no purpose he jealously
01:10:15
Jealously desires the spirit which he has made to dwell in us, but he gives greater grace
01:10:21
Therefore it says God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble verse 7 submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you
01:10:32
Ephesians chapter 6. How do you flee from the devil? How do you resist the devil?
01:10:38
Ephesians chapter 6 and also James chapter 4. How do you flee?
01:10:44
How do you resist verse 7 says? Submit and what is what is submission of?
01:10:49
Obedience Obeying him and That is being humble
01:10:59
God explains Exactly how we're supposed to live how he wants us to live.
01:11:04
He gives grace to the humble How are you humble you submit to the Lord and you obey him and that's how you resist the devil
01:11:14
Verse 10 and I'll leave with this one. I promise humble yourselves in The presence of the
01:11:22
Lord and He will exalt you Leave the exalting up to the
01:11:31
Lord release it let it go and and leave it in God's hands and And he will work it out for his good or for his glory in our good
01:11:44
Thank you guys for watching. Thank you for sticking with me Let's see no one requested prayer tonight
01:11:53
But I thank everybody for watching and commenting we do want to pray for our all those who serve like I said at the beginning the law enforcement and All all people who serve the community law enforcement fire rescue military we want to remember the family of the officer that And the officers that that died here recently the one in line of duty that they had the funeral for today
01:12:18
We want to remember his family and and all of those who serve So if you're still with me, let's let's close in prayer and remember those folks and if you watch the video later
01:12:28
All you have to do is type me. I'll see the notification And I'll pray for you.
01:12:34
Then when I see it father We thank you for giving us this opportunity to spend time on your word to spend time together to learn from you how to deal and handle
01:12:49
These circumstances in life you have not left us alone and not only have you not left us alone
01:12:55
You you have given us the comforter who who is living within us who is
01:13:02
Working these things through us and you promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us and you
01:13:08
You will never backtrack on your promises because you are faithful. You are holy.
01:13:14
You are good You are merciful and you are compassionate and so we praise you and we worship you we thank you and we thank you for your son,
01:13:21
Jesus, Jesus, we Honor you and glorify you and you are Lord you are
01:13:27
You've been given all authority in heaven and on earth And so we we submit to your reign.
01:13:33
We thank you for the victory that you won The victory that you have and so help us we ask
01:13:41
To live in that victory through our trials and circumstances so that we can
01:13:47
Boast in you we can give you all the glory and honor we can celebrate your greatness and we can tell other people about your greatness and how good you are and We just rejoice in you tonight and look forward to To The good that you are going to work through and work in all of these circumstances father help us to trust and stand firm in Jesus name.
01:14:21
Amen. All right. Thank you guys for watching remember that Jesus is King go live in that victory and let's continue to go out there together and Share the gospel.
01:14:32
I hope to see you soon. Oh I just saw that Tammy We want to pray for pastor
01:14:39
Jeff and and April Pastor Jeff that joins me sometimes and hopefully we will be getting back together to do some more videos.
01:14:47
They they are suffering the illness So we want to pray for their family.
01:14:54
Let's do that do that right now Father we pray for brother pastor Jeff and his wife
01:15:01
April and their family their boys We lift them up to you. We ask that you would protect them give them strength
01:15:09
Give them quick recovery and and help them and father
01:15:17
Let them know that that we're here we we don't always know how to help but father Encourage them that that you know, their brothers and sisters are here if they need anything and We we know that You have them in your hands and father.
01:15:36
We we thank you for them and for their ministry and for their service and father we We asked for you to help them tonight in Jesus name.
01:15:46
Amen. Thank you for that reminder Tammy I really appreciate that and we do want them to recover and get well soon, but Thank you for watching
01:15:57
You may not have time to watch all of the video at one time, but I believe that This information was very helpful helpful to me.
01:16:07
I hope it will encourage you so maybe you can come watch it in pieces But if it's encouraging to you