230714-Finding Joy in Trials

In the transcription, the speaker discusses the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. They highlight the importance of trusting God and not carrying the burdens of past trials. The speaker emphasizes the need to turn our attention to the Lord through worship and devotion, which can help us let go of the aftermath of difficult situations. They also discuss the faith and grace of God, noting the audacity of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to trust in God even in the midst of their punishment and exile. This level of faith and trust comes from a revelation and understanding of God's purpose and plan in their lives. Amen. We're already in July, 2023, it's the 14th of July, and we have been anticipating this particular part two of Refiner's Fire, simply titled Finding Joy in Trial, Finding Joy in Trouble. I think we're going to have a lot of blessing, and that the Holy Spirit himself is all over this understanding, that if God before us, who can be against us for no trouble or trial, can end up in destruction, because if God is for us, he can turn all things, he can turn all things, or better glory in our lives, and we're going to just look at the scriptures, and we're going to see some really interesting, beautiful things, thank God, so let's just invite the Holy Spirit, specifically for this time, God, we ask your wisdom, your words, your divine moving of your spirit, your gift of teaching, your gift of proclaiming, even your prophetic gift to be released, your spirit of counsel, your spirit of might and of the fear of the Lord be released upon us tonight, God, that as we move together with your spirit, Lord, that each of us would be encouraged one of another, and that your word would bear fruit in our lives, God. Lord, I just submit myself before you, Lord, that God, you be glorified. Your name would be lifted up, Father, for Lord, if we are anything, we're an available servant, and so, Lord, we just thank you for it, and we praise you for it, and God, we give it to you, this is your time, Lord, we ask you just to, you take it away from here, in the precious name of Jesus. Oh, hallelujah, let's turn to Daniel chapter three, what an interesting thing, this actually just came to me as we were praying, it was not part of the notes, but it sure fits, Daniel chapter three, I'm laughing because of how God does things, oh, bless the name of the Lord. Daniel chapter three, verse three, then the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, they are gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar has set up, then an herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackcloth, samsara, dissima, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. Six, and whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackcloth, the samsara, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Therefore, at that time, certain charlatans came near and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackcloth, the samsara, and the dissima, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the provosts of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded thee. They serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, the psalmstry, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made. Well, but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that god that shall deliver you out of man? That's a strong one. That is a strong one. Carry on. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our god whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. For he spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was worth to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. These men were bound in their coats, their hosts, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. And he answered and said, No, I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hosts, and the form of the fort is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth and come thither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth from the midst of the fire. And the priests, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose body the fire had no power, no one, and hair of their head sound, neither was their coat changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and hath chained the king's wall, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own. 29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other God that can deliver after these sorts. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Praise the Lord. Wow, what a story, isn't it? What a powerful, powerful story. So some takeaways, what the Lord spoke to me when he gave me this story as we were praying, he spoke to me, what happens after the fiery furnace, the after, happens in the last verses. So first of all, Nebuchadnezzar made a challenge, he says, no god can save you from my hand. Well, that was the wrong word to say, because then it made it about the reputation of God. And what we need to realize so many times is what is coming against us, is coming against us because we are children and sons of God. Because we are, the enemy puts a target on our back, and he will challenge, oh, but no thing that the enemy plans for evil will stand because the Lord, our God, is our father. We are his children. And so because of his children, we can say, enemy, Satan, you have no right to come against the living God and his children and his family. So first takeaway from this is that the challenge was made to Almighty God. No, this God can't save you. Amen. Anyone want to comment on this part here, go for it. Hallelujah. And I noticed that this other takeaway, you know nothing. When they stood, I remember teaching on this and preaching one time, they didn't bend. They did not bend. They would not bow, and they could not be burned. You know, before you fall into temptation, you begin to lean toward it. Before you fall into discouragement, you begin to think negatively. If you don't bend, you'll never bow. If you don't bend or bow, you cannot be burned. You cannot be burned. That's, I remember that teaching that the Lord gave me. I think I preached that seven times in a row in the prisons. And the Lord anointed it because what we realize is we must stand as children of God, servants of God, and that when the enemy attacks, we cannot take it personally. The battle is the Lord's. The battle is between our mighty God and an enemy who attempts, who's already defeated. He attempts to hinder and trouble. And if we begin to bend, he can give us that push. Ah, but somebody stand in the Lord and in the power of his might, amen, be strong in the Lord. And so the next takeaway I noticed that as they came out of the fiery furnace, you know, some people, I hear them recounting that which happened to them 25 years ago as if it was yesterday. Oh, Lord Jesus, help us that we allow ourselves to let go of the trials that we've been through and don't add it to what we're going through today. You know, when troubles pile up on us, it's too heavy. The trials of a year ago and the whole last year, when we consider it, when we count it all up and it all piles up, it's too heavy. You cannot bear the trials of a whole year on you today. Somehow we have to be wise in these things that we don't carry yesterday's trials upon our shoulders, but we let it go. You know, the enemy loves to say, oh, look, this happened and that happened. And oh, no, all these bad things are happening. It's getting really terrible. Ever hear anybody talk like that? I'm sure you have. Maybe you have done it yourself. I think I have. I've learned not to count how many nights I went without sleep or how many days I was slacked on food, how many times, you know, I got injured in something. No, no. Sufficient for the day is the trouble thereof. You remember that? We have to begin to know that this is the trial we're in and we cannot carry yesterday's. And look at these guys. After they came out of the fire, nothing was burned. Come on, say it with me. The enemy put me in a furnace, but in the end, nothing was burned. Hallelujah. And not even the smell of the fire was upon them. Come through the trial. Don't carry the smell of the smoke. Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. And Joyce, how? Here's my question. How do you let it go? Somebody talk to me. How do you let it go when you've been through something for two months, three months? It's been a year building up. How do you let it go? Somebody talk to me. I'm here. Hallelujah. I'll call your name. Bless the Lord. How do you let it go? Brother Gordon, I see you, Jerry. I see a favor. Go ahead first, Jerry. Just the Lord gives consolation when he comes into your situation and he fills you with his presence. That's enough joy. It's enough peace to sustain you. And it sort of gives you like a victory by faith. You sort of know you're going to go over this and that consoles you. It may or may not, but he may just give you enough grace to go through it. Enough that you can say it's done. It's taken care of. I don't need to worry about this anymore. You don't carry that with you every day. He may deal with the situation or not, but you have that consolation in you. You have that hope and joy of his presence, just like he tells the apostle that, you know, my grace is sufficient. So he gives you enough grace to be enough. That's what I've gone through in the past. His grace has just covered it, that I don't need to worry about it anymore. That's a good point. Favorite of you. We want to add to that. I think, you know, brother Jerry's answer is spot on. It's so wonderful. And I think when we learn to take our eyes off of the problem and off of, and that's why, you know, the buildup to this Bible study tonight, I just, I posted something and it came to me by inspiration. I talked about sweet seasoning. Perfect. There are seasons that are so sour. We, you know, we think we may break. We think we may lose it. We think we may lose our scheme, but we find out that when we turn our attention to the Lord in worship, in devotion, you know, and just in worship, in pure fellowship with the Lord, it takes our minds, it takes our attention off of the situation, off of the challenges. And that is a huge blessing in itself. The ability, and this is what happens. This is a blessing of, you know, worship and then fellowship with the Lord. You know, when people say, don't look at your problems, don't concentrate on your problems, just say as it is, as if it is something that we can do by ourselves. But it's almost impossible not to look at your challenges, except you turn your attention to something else. And if you turn your attention to God, if you turn your attention to God and to the Lord in worship, he, his peace fills your heart. His presence, his presence satisfies you. And that way, you begin to look at the challenge in a different perspective. Then you will not carry on the effects of the challenges. Well said, sir. Anybody else? If you're unmuted right now, we will include you, otherwise we'll move on. I believe that one of the ways you can let go of the aftermath of things that happened in the past is simply to totally trust the Lord with all things. It's not easy to find yourself in diverse temptations. This one happens this month. After three weeks, another one happens. A lot of things cross your mind as these things happen to you. But if you can be able to trust the Lord, which will help you through meditation, meditation and worship, through those you can build yourself up to the point where you know that the Lord will see me through all of this. You build yourself to the point where you tell yourself, yes, I've gone through this and this and this and that, but I'm going to come out at the other side better. So I believe one of the ways that help us to not carry the smell of the flame is just to trust God wholly, totally, despite all that has happened in the times of those challenges. Praise God. Like the verse that says, you know, your mercies are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Can we wake up in the morning and it be a brand new day? It's a new beginning for you starting in the morning. Whatever your trials, failures, troubles, relationships, whatever torment has come upon you yesterday, wake up in the morning and just begin to declare a new beginning for ourselves today in the Lord Jesus. For in God, all things are made new. So why not this morning? A brand new day. Hallelujah. Savior, go ahead. I would like to comment on the point that Brother Jerry has put forward. So he has talked about the ingredient of our faith in God. And when I check in verse 16, 17, 18, I find there is a type of faith that God had given these young men because they say they really know that their God whom they serve is going to deliver them. But even if the case is that he's not going to deliver them, they are not going to bow. Whether by life or by death, they are full of faith that they are not going to bow. Their Lord can deliver them. But even if he doesn't deliver them, they are not going to bow. They are not going to worship any other God. So I think it takes us to another level of being aware and having the real experience of knowing our God, because no matter what the situation is, whether it is taking life or it is taking what, as long as, like Jesus put it forward very well, I even shared it with my children in the evening, that this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God and know your only begotten son. So when these guys were full of the knowledge of their God, it didn't matter whether they die or live, they already know their God. So because they had a lot of this ingredient of their faith in God, they are ready to take in everything. So I appreciate the Lord for Brother Jerry's comment about the supply of this ingredient of faith that is done by the Lord who gives us the grace even to have this faith. So I think these guys had a lot of faith in their God. They knew their God. Even the same Daniel says, those that know their God, they shall be strong. So these guys went on for years. Yes, thank you for your input, Pastor. And Jerry also talked about the faith and the grace of God. And what is God's grace in the situation where it's been three months and things just keep happening? It's a season of low, a season of inconvenience and difficulty and trouble. Jerry, go ahead. I'm just going to go a little deeper into this situation. You're welcome. When the brother was reading the passage, that's when it opened up to me. Yes. What gave them the faith and the confidence to say that? Now, remember, they are in exile. Exile is a national judgment. Yes. They're in sin. They rebelled against God. So they're walking with their head bent as being exiled into a foreign country to be used as whatever, as help and slavery, whatever it is. What audacity do they have to trust in God to save them while they're in a punishment state? This baffles me. Absolutely. Talk about the level of faith. Now, we can have faith while we're saved and we're forgiven. But when you're under judgment and you're being punished and you're driven out of your land and you're put against a situation like this, why would God come and save you? Because you already are being punished. So this is a little baffling. Let's hear some comments about that. Wow. That's strong, Jerry. Go ahead, Faber. Yes. Yes, Reverend. That is strong and that is wonderful. That's something that we should think about and then contribute share fellowship on. Here's what I believe and I'm inspired to. You know, Brother Jerry is saying that, yes, they are suffering. They are in exile. They are in a situation where ordinarily somebody would think, well, if God didn't save me from this situation, then how would he save me from this one now? Right? That's what the average person would process. But no, they are still trusting the Lord in spite of what they were currently going through. Here's what comes to my mind. That level of faith, you know, in spite of the challenge, in spite of the current state of things, that level of faith and trust in the Lord can only come by revelation and understanding. Revelation of who God is and understanding of what he is doing in their lives. Yes. The understanding, and this is why we have to strive to grow in wisdom and understanding. And that's what the Bible, you know, the Bible keeps talking about that. Proverbs, the Apostle Paul keeps talking about maturing, keeps talking about growing and understanding. Right? When we understand what God is doing in our lives at the moment, and just like I said to the build, you know, in the build up to this fellowship tonight, I didn't think it was just inspired. When we understand the purpose, the plan, and the promise, then our faith will still be solid and strong, because now we understand. So let's say I'm in exile, and I'm going through some hard times, but the Lord has revealed to me, the Lord has shown me the purpose for this. I'm like, okay, Lord, I'm going to stay according to your plan. And then when other things come up, it won't deter me from exercising faith. It won't deter me from exercising trust in the Lord, because I have come to understand the purpose of what I am going through, you know, at the moment. And so I think that this is my contribution as to how we can have that level of faith. John Ligato That's right on point, both of you. Because God's calling and his purposes, when we understand that, it keeps us from living in the moment of trouble, as if that's our permanent status. We cannot live in the moment of trouble, as if this is where we will always be. Look at Joseph in prison, and other places, so many other examples. If they had no hope, if they had no faith, that the purposes of God had called them to get a leader. Joseph had visions. He had dreams. If he did not understand the purposes of God, he would have been in big trouble. So that's a good, excellent depth to things. Because when we understand refiner's fire, I know it's helped a lot of us already, that one message, to understand that no matter what comes against me, no matter what happens, God can turn it to refine me. The devil can't stop me through troubles and circumstances. I can only be improved in God's trials. Hallelujah. I can only come out as pure gold in the midst of these things. Hallelujah. So an example of this is in the last three verses. What happened as a result of all of this trouble, trial, danger? What happened in the last couple of verses? Then Nebuchadnezzar faked and said, this is a whole change of heart. Nebuchadnezzar learned that there is a God in heaven who is more powerful than him. Nebuchadnezzar learned that he should fear the living God. Nebuchadnezzar knew that there's no other God like this God. And all people under my dominion should serve and worship the living God. But what a huge impact for not bending and not bowing. Next, in the verse 30, then the king promoted. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the whole province of Babylon. Okay, so you hear messages about your promotion is coming. How many have heard those messages? Ah, promotion, promotion. But how many teach that you go through the fire before the promotion? You have to be tested. You have to be proven. You have to be strengthened. You have to learn to trust God before God can entrust you with greater responsibility and authority. God desires to give you influence, authority, responsibility, but not for a novice, not for untested. So David said about Saul's armor, I can't wear this. I have never tested it because I'm going to stick with what I know. God has delivered me before and I have this one slinger and that's all I need. Hallelujah. After the fiery furnace, look what happens. Anybody else, did you want to jump in before we go to another verse? Hallelujah. I'm enjoying all of you today. Yeah, that's a savior. Take a minute. Praise the Lord. I've been still thinking about Brother Jerry's comment because, you know, these guys were already under judgment, but there's a judgment, a judgment of fire that was going to the land of Sodom and Gomorrah and God bypassed his friend Abraham and he said, you are taking this judgment, but I believe in this city there must be a remnant, most likely 50, most likely this, most likely this, until he stopped at 10. So when we look at these guys, they purposed long time ago in verse 1 that they would not want to defile themselves because when like national judgment comes, there's always a remnant for God. They have kept themselves, but the judgment is general. But I see these boys determining in themselves and asking the leader who was in charge of them that we shall not defile ourselves from verse 8. We shall not defile ourselves with the king's delicacies and we shall not drink his wine. So I believe these guys' determination was from the level of their knowledge of their God because much as they are in a foreign land, they are in captivity, but their faith was not captive. They were sure about what they believed and what they believed was not captivated by their captivity. So I think this was some of the remnant, much as the nation sinned, like for example, Uganda may sin and judgment comes, but even though this judgment is coming for the entire Uganda, there is always a remnant for God. So I believe these guys were so, so bold and they challenged his majesty the king because they were the remnant for the Lord. That's what I believe. So I believe that we've covered that area because it's so important that we begin to understand the purposes of God. And even though there's judgment around, even though our nation may be under the judgment of the Lord, or maybe the enemy rules our country more or less, he doesn't rule God's people. So God can take this time and prepare us, prepare us, our character, our nature, our faith, our trust in God, so we can find joy in the midst of a furnace of much affliction. Nobody said these things would be easy. Even the scriptures say it's not going to be easy. However, God will, with the trouble, temptation, make a way and we can put our hope and our trust in God. Let's look at a verse that often is used, Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. We should all memorize this verse by now. We know. Yeah, we should know it already. Romans 8, 28, let's look deeply into this verse and maybe we'll find additional understanding of the purposes of God. Romans 8, 28, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose. Very clearly, the first prerequisite, you know, before you can go to P4, you have to pass P3. Amen. And it's always prerequisite in this life and the prerequisite to finding all things working together for good is that we love the Lord, love him, we trust him, we know him, we walk with him, we're closely intertwined in his presence. Somebody said earlier, how do you not carry three months worth of trouble? You enter into God's presence, into his looking upon his face and today becomes a new day. Hallelujah. But second, let's look at to them who are the called, the called according to his purpose. Well, according to my study, this word called, the original Greek specifies it's a summoning. You ever receive a summons to appear in court or you've heard of it? That is not a suggestion. It's a call that has more strength to it. It involves your presence being officially requested. And refusal is not really optional. As many as are those who God has called according to his purpose. So let's look at purpose. Purpose means an intention for an anticipated outcome, but that intends on the guidance we get of how we plan and how we act. So the purpose of God includes us. God has called us or summoned us or subpoenaed us for specific purposes. And it's according to how we seek and know the plans and the ways of God. You can know the plan of God, but do it your own way. And how does that work out? You can have the ways of God, but not know what it is he wants for you. Many struggle day by day, not knowing the purposes of God. Not understanding God's plans and purposes for you. And not knowing how to get there from here. Still operating in a human charisma and human abilities without a leading, a guiding, the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. Only way through the wilderness. The only way through the wilderness was to follow the cloud and to be led by the Lord. Because only the Lord knows the way through wilderness. All we have to do is follow. He provides everything. He gives the strength. But so often we become so stressed with what we see that we lose track of what God called us to do. Okay, and I say it again. We get so distracted by what we see with our eyes, the circumstances around us, that we lose that focus on what it is that God has called and purposed for us in this season. I think that's the devil's purpose. To get us all worked up. To get us all afraid. To get us all angry. All disturbed. Depressed. All troubled. It's the enemy's distraction to keep you from knowing the purposes. Callings of God. I'm not talking about a grand purpose for my life. And that we know from the beginning to the end. If I can just know. If I can just today what God wants me to do. If I can just understand the next steps and I'm obedient. Then God's provision, God's blessing, God's fellowship is there with me. So all things work together for the good to them who love God, follow him, trust him. And those who have been, had the hand laid upon them for a purpose. Have the hand laid upon me for a purpose. You know, have you ever heard the term, they tapped his shoulder? In the media, often in politics or military, they tapped this one or they tapped that one. That means they were the ones selected to do that purpose. And this is the meaning of this verse. The Lord taps you for a certain purpose. And those who heed the call, respond to the call, God will work all things together. To get you to that purpose and to that calling. Nothing can stop. It can only improve you, prepare you. You gain authority, you gain victory, you gain faith, you gain cleansing and purifying. Oh, you gain knowledge of God and you can't lose it. Hallelujah. Let me step back for a minute. Anyone want to share on this verse or bring in something else? Um, Pastor Xavier, prepare Philippians 2.13. What are we called to? What are we called to? Philippians 2.13. Correct. And then Jerry, if you have a Bible, can you do first Philippians 1.9. Philippians 2.13. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It's God who works in you, putting those desires in your heart, helping you to learn so you can act to fulfill what is good purpose. You know, there's purposes in the hearts of men, but sometimes they're selfish ambitions. And not all things work for the good to those who are about their own business. Sometimes the Lord will allow total destruction of business, our business, in order to get our attention. But those who are about our Father's business. God is at work in you, helping you to will and to act according to his purpose. But what are we called to? I love 1 Corinthians 1.9 because it brings out something very special about my calling and your calling too. 1 Corinthians 1.9. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. Wow. What do you call this too, Jerry? Fellowship with Jesus. Does it get any better than that? What do you call it, do you favor? Fellowship with Jesus. There's nothing higher. Nothing greater. You know, as men, and we're all men here tonight. Wow, we're project oriented. We like to accomplish things. And I know God made us like that. But they have to be about his purposes before his blessings will be upon us fully. Oh, God, show us your purpose. God, what have you called me for? Lord, tap me for something. God, I want to serve you. What are you preparing me for? God, I want to do it. Hallelujah. And the Lord says, I just want you to have fellowship with me. And when you're full of Jesus, and you look like Jesus, and you smell like Jesus, I'll send you to represent me somewhere. Oh, then we can rejoice in the time of suffering, because we have that understanding that Jerry was talking about, a deeper understanding of the purposes of God. Ah, the purposes of troubles and trials. Hallelujah. Called into fellowship. And Galatians 1, 15, 16 says, but when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, so this is Paul speaking. Take a look at it. But when it pleased God, Paul said, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace. Okay, for what purpose? Verse 16, to reveal his son in me. Earlier in the chapter of Galatians chapter 1, it talks about the time when when Jesus was revealed to Paul. Every major time Paul would give an answer for his faith, he would refer to this experience where he met Jesus. And Jesus was revealed to him. Brothers and sisters, this is a different level of revelation. When Jesus begins to be revealed in you, to reveal his son in me. And he makes this a qualification to do the work of God. He says that I might preach him among the heathen. When I saw this in Galatians 1, I was so amazed. Because I believe that it, as Christ is formed in us, as we have fellowship with his son, we are, there's the verse that says that we are being transformed by his glory. As we, as we behold his glory, we are transformed into his likeness and into his image. This is, this is something that the more we spend time with Jesus, in Jesus, trusting him, the more that we invite him to every aspect of our life. We don't separate. This is natural. This is spiritual. Jesus, this is all you. He just begins to transform us to the point that he can reveal his son in me and through me. And through me. I remember when Jesus began to reveal himself in me as I was ministering, rather than me giving you my best, very amazing talk. Now I can't even speak that well. And yet Jesus, Jesus is glorified and people's lives are transformed by the word of Jesus that he gives. And this is the process that we've been talking about, which brings such joy. They said Christ is being formed in me. I am coming to the image of Jesus Christ. He is being revealed, not just to me. Many times people have Jesus revealed to them and they get a head knowledge and they can become arrogant. But when Jesus, who is the humble servant, begins to be revealed in me, through ire and trust, he breaks off those things that should not be there. He begins to purify until he can see his own face in this silver that's been tried. Oh, brother, sister, I just want to preach it, but I actually, I don't want to. I just want us to see it so that we can begin to cry out to the Lord for this. God, go ahead and put me in a fiery trial so that I will come out as a pure gold. Amen. Somebody read Ephesians then, chapter four. That's wonderful. Paul again is talking about his vocation, his calling. His vocation is calling. Ephesians four? Yes. Chapter one to four. Verse one to four? Yes, correct. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling. How does this apply to what we're talking about, Pastor Xavier? Can you see it? Is it speaking to you? Basically, I can see in verse one that there is a vocation wherewith I am called. I am called and I am supposed to walk worthy of it and how? With lowliness and meekness and long-suffering and forbearing one another in love. So, I think this vocation is what we have earlier discussed, a vocation of the fellowship of the Son of God. When I borrow a little bit from 1 John, the Apostle John says they have seen something they even had. They reached a level of handling and touching even with their hands. And he says concerning of the word of life and he says all these things that we have heard and seen and touched and handled and relied upon, we bring to you that you also may join us in the fellowship. So, I believe so much that this vocation which we are called for is the vocation of the fellowship. John puts it clear, he says, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. I believe that. Are you catching what the Lord is saying to us tonight? What is he spreading into your heart? Yes, please. What I received from elements of what was read in the scripture just now. Apostle Paul sees himself as not just serving for his own self alone, but whatever it is that happened to him in the course of his service, he saw it as his own sacrifice for the work of the kingdom. He did not allow the enemy to misinterpret it in his mind or present it in a way, you know, that his mind would drift away from the course that he has been set to follow or from his calling. He didn't allow any of those to happen to him. He saw it as, okay, yes, even though I go through these things, I go through them as a servant of the commission. That's a good comment. It makes me think about how Paul was when he was stating his credentials. He stated the shipwrecks, how many times, how many times he was stoned, how many times he was whipped, 40 minus one. How is his credentials? He was stating, I'm an apostle because I've been through all of this. Well, I left God before you. No one lives through all that imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, and stonings. I don't know many people who've lived through one stoning. And Paul took this and turned it and said, because God was with me, I never ceased to preach the gospel. If I was called of myself, I could never have made it through all of these things that have been through. And so when he begins to talk to Timothy, he says, Timothy, God has saved us unto a holy life, not because of what we've done, but because of his purpose, his grace. Do you know that grace comes with purpose? Authority comes with God's calling and God's purpose. And when we walk in God's calling, we walk in God's purpose, and God will help us to fulfill the purpose which he has tapped us for. We cannot be defeated in doing the work of God. We cannot be defeated in pursuing his purposes, his calling in our life and not our own. Yes, we will go through, but everything we overcome, God gives us greater authority, greater blessings, more fruit. We become more fruitful through the things we've been through. Every victory over every power of the enemy gives us a greater confidence and a greater authority. David started with the lion and the bear, and he had graduated throughout to the giant. He graduated to destroying Philistines as an army. He graduated to shepherding sheep, to being the leader of a band of 300 to 600 men, to being the king of 20,000 to 200,000 people, depending on what time of their history. And you see that what they've been through brings the greater depth, because we must begin to draw on the Lord in those times. When we draw on the Lord, we gain strength, we gain courage, we gain trust, we grow in faith, we grow in gifting, we grow in discernment, we grow in the prophetic. Because you must. You have no choice. You must grow in grace to make it through. You cannot make it through with last year's grace. His purpose is His grace. It's new every morning. Second Timothy 1.9. He saved us. He's called us to a holy life, not through what we've done, but because of His purpose. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus, even before the beginning of time, he says. Romans 12.2 again talks about the will of God, the purposes of God in our lives. And he talks about a renewing of our mind. Let's read Romans chapter 12, verse 2. We didn't read 1 and 2. They're both... That whole chapter is amazing. Romans chapter 12, 1 and 2. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service to. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Praise God. So, as I studied this verse in previous times, if I remember correctly, this word prove means to find out, to discover, and to perform. To find out, to discover, and to perform the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. The good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. And perhaps there is levels of good, more acceptable, and then perfect. It seems like it. And so, what is this discovering of and knowing and walking in the perfect will of God that leads us into a greater provision, greater grace, greater joy, greater authority? Well, that has to do with renewing of our minds. Knowing the deeper purpose of God, as Moses did. The people knew one part of it, but Moses understood God's place. So, we desire to become intimate with the Lord, spend time in his glory in every part of our life until we begin to smile and walk like Jesus. Fulfilling the will of the Father as Jesus did. Amen. Have any of these verses stirred up thoughts in you? You're welcome. Brother Faber, help me out. What do you have? Yes, Reverend. Um, I was going to comment on the last thing you said. You said knowing, um, just like I had mentioned the purpose of God. That was just where you put it. And a comment came to my head and it just left. So, I was being quiet to get that out again. But yeah, it's essential when we know the purpose of God, you know, and it gives us better perspective into what we go through, what we are going through. And then we take it in good stride, you know. And not just taking it in good stride, like say, okay, yes, I deserve to go through all these bad things. No, we understand it's working out to the Lord's purpose. It's working out to the Lord's purpose. And so, it becomes something for us to rejoice. There is a little change of subject in this because I can bring a different aspect to this. We all know that what James chapter 1, verse 2 to 4, and we've heard it often. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations and trials. Because, you know, the testing by fire of your faith. Oh, why did I say testing by fire? Well, because that's the meaning of the word trial, testing. It's to a say, which we talked about last time. Knowing that testing by fire of your faith produces. Oh, come on. Somebody say produces. The fiery furnace produces in our life. It produces what? It produces endurance. You know, sometimes I realize that I'm weak and I don't like difficulties. But the more God works with me, the more that God works with me, that the strength of the Lord is built up on the inside. So, endurance and let endurance have its perfect work that you could be complete and lacking nothing. You know, God is at work in me, causing me, helping me, purifying me. So, this is one of the sources of finding joy. Read James chapter 1, verse 2 to 4 every other day. If you become challenged with your joy and you're counting your troubles instead of your blessings, Malachi chapter 3, verse 13 to 15. Whoever unmute first, please read Malachi chapter 3, verse 13. Your words have been out against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, what have we spoken so much against you? 14 You have said it is vain to serve God. And what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance? And that we have walked mindfully before the Lord of hosts. And now we call the proud happy. Yeah, they that work wickedness are set up. Yeah, they that tempt God are even delivered. I mean, and, you know, in especially in the countries where you live, you see a lot of corruption. And the ones who are the richest are the most corrupt. And we could agree with the children of Israel. And if we did not think correctly, we could begin to say, well, what good is it to serve the Lord? I mean, it seems like the wicked prosper. It seems like the proud are the happiest ones. Those who work wickedness, and they're set. They that God, nothing happens to them. What happens to the. You know, the next chapter talks about when Jesus comes. When Jesus comes. Anyway, David, King David wrote a lot about that in the Psalms, didn't he? How that we can be disturbed by BC, the wicked, the unrighteous. And it can cause us to lose our peace and even question God as the book of Malachi has six or seven questions against God. And it's a good study in the book of Malachi to analyze our hearts and see, are we questioning God? Any of these things? Is there a concern or a doubt or a challenge? Psalm 73, Psalm 73, verse 11 to 18. David is commenting on these kinds of things. All right. If you have it on mute, are you there, Emmanuel? 73, verse 17. Right. 73, please read 11 to 18. 11. OK. OK. And they say, how does God know? And is your knowledge in the most high? Let me be sure that I'm on the right. You are correct. First of all, sorry about that. I just wanted to be sure. Yeah, it begins. So it begins with lamenting against God. OK, go ahead. And they say, how does God know? And is their knowledge in the most high? Godly, who prosper in the world, they increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my heart in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning. If I say I will speak false, behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then understood I their end. 18. Surely, thou didst set them in slippery places. Thou casteth them down into destruction. Classify my scripture, praise God. Yes. When David was thinking that way. That it's been vain for me to even serve the Lord. This is a lie and a thought that can come to us. And I hope none of us here tonight. But maybe this verse is for somebody, you know. They're just in a place where the wicked have been prospering. There's no consequences. What, what, what uses it to serve the Lord? Well, as David found out when he thought that way. In verse 16, I thought this way, it was too painful for me. You'll find that that that way of thinking leads to a lot of pain. But then David said, until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then I began to understand. Then understanding came to me and I understood their end. You know, last time we were talking about afterward. You know, the chastisement of the Lord. The chastisement of the Lord for a season doesn't seem to be joyful. But afterward, it yields a peaceful fruit of righteousness. Let us not be caught up into this painful way of thinking. And if we're caught in this, please quickly repent. Go to the sanctuary of the Lord and consider the end of the wicked. For there, the Lord says, he, now David says, surely. You set them in slippery places and you cast them down into destruction. Another place, he says, they rise up like the grass that flowers in the night. And it's gone in the day. But the righteous, I've never seen the righteous forsaken. Oh, Jesus, help us to come out of the mentality of questioning God. And we're looking at the wealthy and trying to compete with them. We need to be seeking the purposes of God for our life, not competing with the wicked for our place in the world. The blessing of the Lord make it rich and added no sorrow to it. But that's all joy when God begins to bless us after the trial. You know, you want to come into the purpose of God. You want to be blessed. Walk with Jesus. Seek his face. Seek his purpose, which is he's called you into fellowship with him. You know, you can be studying the Word. You can be going to Bible school. You can be preaching and all these things. But if you are not experiencing daily fellowship with Jesus, my dear ones, go back to the sanctuary until you find Jesus. I was saved. No, Jesus begins to live in me. Jesus begins to minister through me. Jesus begins to meet my every need. Give me wisdom for business decisions. Give me grace to minister to so-and-so. Give me the patience to put up with my in-laws, my out-laws, and my up-laws, and my down-laws. All of them. But the joy, you know, that one of the marks of Jesus' presence is peace and it's joy. There's in-presence. There is fullness, fullness, dear ones. If we're not experiencing fullness of Jesus, let's go back to the sanctuary. Let's go back to him because the whole purpose of God is that we would walk with Jesus and that we could be a light in this world, the light of Jesus. Amen. Thank you. Father, we bring this night before you in this precious, precious word. Lord, the purposes of these trials, these patience, these troubles of life, to form your Son in us, Jesus, forgive us for being distracted by what the enemy has brought against us. And help us to focus again. Forgive us, Lord, for carrying the last three months of whatever it is. Forgive us, O God, Lord, for having our own purposes, for our own self. And God, begin to seek, God, what's your purpose for me? Father, bless each of these, my dear brothers, who are precious to me, Lord. Bless each one with a deep understanding of your purposes. God, we're not under a curse. We're being blessed to be refined by your fire. Afterwards, we know promotion. God, we know blessing is coming. You will bless the works of our hands. But God, during this season, we're seeking to know what is your calling, what is your purpose for this day and for our lives. God, bless this, this word that you've placed upon my heart. And we've shared revelation together, each one. Touch and bless us in the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen.