Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Pure Religion Pt.1

The more you look around, the more you see the hour that we’re in and the signs that the prophets spoke of. We all know that history cycles. There were a number of times in history when it looked like it could be the final hour, the day that the Lord would come. Then there would be shift, and it would cycle one more time. We begin to look back—hindsight is "twenty/twenty." You say, "Well, you know. It obviously couldn’t have taken place during that time. The technology we know now didn’t exist then." And, should the Lord tarry, people will look back on this hour, and say, "Yeah. All the pieces were there, but God is longsuffering." Amen? But the Scripture also says, "He will not always strive with man." One thing we know for sure this morning is this: it’s sooner than when we first believed, praise God! Look at the Middle East. Look at the economy today. Look at the demand for tolerance and the move toward a one world religion. We know the false prophet is going to be the agent used to bring in the Antichrist or the Man of Sin. And so, continue to watch. See whether or not there’s a further intolerance, whether it is for the extremists of Islam or what is perceived as the extremists of Christianity. How many of you know you’ll never marry those two? What must happen then? You have to do away with them. Here we are, living in this hour. It’s an exciting time to stand up and boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. Amen? But don’t think it strange, when people who used to tolerate that begin to hate you. From the origin, from the onset, Jesus said that they’re going to hate you for His name’s sake. Yet we’ve been through decades of ease and political acceptance, and it is probably due to the diluting of the gospel. The hour is on us, beloved. The day of the Lord is at hand. The Scripture says everything that can be shaken will be shaken. If the day of the Lord is at hand as it pertains to this world and in the natural, the Scripture says the world itself, the Earth will begin to reel as a drunken man. There are going to be earthquakes in diverse places. We’re going to see many different extremes and geological changes. The hour is upon us. I don’t want to get off from where we’re going to be this morning. But in my spirit I sense that it’s a time of celebration; the Lord’s coming back! Praise God! We need to prepare ourselves for that hour, because, if the day of the Lord is at hand, judgment will begin in the house of the Lord. You and I are going to be tested and tried first, before the world is tested. It’s on us.

Let’s go ahead and turn to the first chapter of James. We’re talking about the aspect of where we are as believers today. We asked ourselves a question last Wednesday, if you remember, about the little trials some of us are experiencing in these last days. Some of us are experiencing financial trials. How many of you have had a little bit of financial pressure and experienced some reversals recently? Is there anybody? Hey! It is everybody, right? Dan came walking in the office the other day, and said, "Well, we just lost five hundred thousand dollars today in our stocks." That is a "bummer" of a day, isn’t it? But you didn’t lose anything; it’s all paper. Do you know what? We lost five hundred thousand dollars, and I sat down and had a hamburger. I was still eating. I still have the joy of the Lord; amen? I still have the promise that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Some of you experienced some of those same financial pressures. Some have lost jobs. Some of us have experienced different physical problems and ailments. We’ve just gone through our personal grief: the paradox of our personal grief and the celebration of a brother going home. In the spiritual and eternal it’s a time of rejoicing; in the natural it’s a time of grief, and sorrow, and pain. Some of us have experienced the defection of friends and loved ones. We have experienced things we never thought we would experience. I never thought my son would hate me, try to destroy me, and want me dead. Yet Matthew, Chapter 10 says, "I didn’t come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword. A man’s enemies are going to be those of his own household. I’m going to divide two against three, and three against two. Don’t think these things strange."

In the midst of the loss of loved ones, financial pressures, physical infirmities, and all the pressures of daily living, the Lord says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2-4). The question we were asking on Wednesday night is, "Are you really counting it joy?" It is not saying [in a depressed voice], "Praise God. Thank You." I’m talking about spiritually, internally, and in reality saying, "God is doing good stuff. He’s refining me in this process, so I might come out purer than I was when I went in." That’s God’s purpose for your trial this morning. [Pastor uses a depressed voice.] "Amen." Amen! Hallelujah! Wake up! Praise God! Your redemption is drawing nigh.

I know it’s been a long week for many of us, but this is something to get excited about. The whole purpose is making us better for Jesus. It is so you might be made perfect, entire, and wanting nothing. So what is it that James says is being tried? It is our faith. Without faith it is… Without faith it is what? It is impossible to please God. If it is impossible to please God without faith, then doesn’t it stand to reason that the Lord wants to increase our faith, that we might please Him more? Our faith must be matured and perfected absolutely in Him. Now, remember what faith is. Faith is not only belief, but it is assurance. Has anybody been shaken lately? It is the assurance of our salvation, the assurance of our son-ship, the assurance of our friendship with God, and the assurance of our acceptance in the Beloved. You don’t know, until you’ve been tested! What kind of a relationship do you have? You don’t know what your marriage is made of until it’s been tested. You don’t know how courageous your heart is until you’ve been tested. You don’t know how strong you are until you’ve been tested.

I happen to be a fan of America’s Funniest Home Videos. I enjoy watching some of those shows. I just like seeing people fall down. It’s hilarious, but, in the midst of all of these things, there was one that I liked. There was this video recently where this man was videotaping himself. He’s all alone. He’s videotaping himself, so he can prove his new personal best in bench pressing to his friends. He is in there. He’s got the video on himself, and he takes the bar off the rack. He’s strains—argh!—there it was, and there is the dilemma. He starts rolling the bar down his chest. [Pastor laughs.]

He was put to the test. Some of us have been tested lately. How have you done? Have you been able to love, when you’ve been hated? Have you been able to forgive, as you’ve been forgiven? We know that the Scripture says—everybody here can say, "Amen" to this. Beloved, what do we have need of? It is patience. We have need of patience. Does anybody here need more patience? We even hate to say [raises his hand], "Yeah, Lord," because we know what happens. Am I right? Has anybody ever prayed for patience? When you pray for patience, what do you get? You get problems, don’t you? Remember, as we’re studying this, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations. The word "temptations" used there does not mean "a temptation to sin." It’s the Greek word for "testing and trying." Count it all joy when you fall into different trials or tests of your faith. They are to determine how strong you are. We know the Scripture says God led Israel through the wilderness to experience all of those adversities so He might prove them. It was not that they were proven to Him, but they were proven to themselves. The Scripture says it was done so that they would know what was in their hearts. We have need of patience.

Count it all joy when your faith is being tried. The reason that we’re to count it all joy is to understand the principle from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 10. Let’s turn over there for just a moment. We made reference to this on Wednesday night. It is 1 Corinthians, Chapter 10. A statement is made that we’re all very aware of, but I want to make this statement that the Spirit speaks here through the apostle. Then I want to go back in the context of it, and let us take a little look at where we are right now. Because, if we really believe that we’re facing the day of the Lord, and if you’ve begun to have some trials and some rough times—let me just say it to you this way, "You ain’t seen anything yet." Yet many of us think pretty highly of ourselves. Many of us are exactly where Peter was. "Lord, though everybody else denies you, I won’t. It’ll never happen with me." Take heed when you think you stand. What have you learned from the test? The Scripture says if the footmen have wearied us, how are we going to stand and contend with the horses and chariots?

I’ve shared very openly with you. My life has been opened more than I would have ever wanted it to be in your presence. I’ve tried to live my life openly before you: our trials, our failures. I’m so thankful, and I know you are too, as we look at it, not only in Scriptures that God shows us, but also in the commonness of our weaknesses, and the commonness of our faith. We read through the Scriptures, and we see that even the greatest that are noted are men subject to like passions as we are. We look at the failures of men in the Bible. We don’t rejoice in them, but we can identify with them and say, "At least there’s hope for me." We learn the longsuffering of God, the mercy of God, the goodness of God, and the forgiveness of God. It’s not about specific failures. It’s about finishing the course. Because the good man may fall seven times, but what does he do? We’re coming into an hour, beloved, when people are quitting. And there are those who are going to quit.

What I want to do in this teaching is to encourage, to strengthen, and to prepare us to finish this course that’s before us. I don’t want us to be so caught up with where we are today, the personal comfort of this hour, the victories that we may have experienced in the past, the personal monuments we’ve built in our own minds to ourselves, or the victories we’ve accomplished. I want to remind us of this hour: if the time were not shortened, even the very elect won’t make it. How serious are we taking this hour that we’re facing? How shortsighted have we been in the shaking that we’ve just been through? Beloved, don’t be so shortsighted that you think this is just certain personalities, and individuals, and conflicts based upon trivial things. This is a revealing of our hearts. We’re not to look shortsighted at these things, but we are to look at them from an eternal perspective. What has this shown me about me? Let’s not be worried about anybody else. What have I learned in the midst of this temptation, this test, and this trial that’s been on us as a fellowship, and that’s been on us as individuals? Many of the different things we’ve already referred to are personal pressures in life from the job, and from the commonness of our human frailties.

The good news is in Chapter 10. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). What you’re experiencing, many have gone through before you. Many are going through it at the same moment you are, and others are going to face it in the future. You are not unique. You’re not the only one that’s ever been there. Jesus, the Scripture says, was tempted in every way such as we are and yet without sin. He knows about your fears and your pains. He knows what it means to be rejected, to be hated, to be persecuted, to be beaten, and to be afflicted. He was made sin with our sin. He never sinned. He was made sin with our sin. He knew the horror of it and the disdain of it. He knew the consequences of it: the rejection of Father. But He ever lives to make intercession for us, as One that can comfort with the same comfort; praise God! Run to Him, and then accept the ministry that He provides. As the Scripture says and makes very clear: the reason you and I have experienced many adversities, is that we might comfort with the same comfort wherewith we’ve been comforted. Amen?

Look for those that you can help through the trial, right now. Share with them the testimony! Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and open up about where you were and where God’s brought you through the trial! "Well, I don’t know if I can be that vulnerable. You know, I don’t want people to think that I’m not spiritual." We know what you are. How do we know what you are? It is because we’re all sons of Adam. Amen? Now, many of us have greater frailties and weaknesses in one area, as opposed to another. But none is worse than the other. They are just different.

Pride’s not worse than fear. We could go down through the list, but there’s the good news. What you’re experiencing is common to man, but God is faithful. Say it with me, "But God is faithful." Now, look. "…God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Have you ever doubted that? "God, I can’t take this." Has anybody ever said something similar to this? It wouldn’t be on you if you couldn’t take it. The apostle said, "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me" (2 Corinthians 12:8). And God said, "My [what?]… My grace is sufficient for you." There’s nothing wrong with praying to get out of it, but when the voice of God speaks, accept the promise as true. His grace is sufficient; amen? Even Jesus prayed, "…O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done" (Matthew 26:42).

Can you embrace the fact that the trial you’re experiencing right now is the will of God for you? Don’t let us get into this lie of Satan, not only as a fellowship but also as individuals. I want to tell you something. The lie of Satan is the same lie that Job experienced in all forty-one chapters, until the forty-second chapter. How many of you are glad for Job, Chapter 42? Here is the pagan mentality and satanic mentality: if you’re living right with God, and you’re doing what’s right, everything will be smooth and good, but if you make some kind of a mistake, if you’re wrong in your decisions, in your financial decisions, in your heart’s lusting or coveting for things, or whatever, God is going to punish you. It is sin. Many of these things are sin, but I want you to understand something. What does the Lord do? He chastens those whom He loves. Chastening is a trial, but we’re going to show you a little bit of a distinction.

Chastening is a trial of relationship and sonship when we’re wrong. We’re going to see that we don’t suffer for wickedness. We suffer for the sake of righteousness. There’s a consequence of living righteously. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer [say it] persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). If we adapt the pagan thought, the minute persecution and hard times come, we’re going to think we’re doing something wrong, but it’s there because of righteousness’ sake. Count it all joy. We many not think it, beloved, but that pagan mentality has a root in many of our minds.

Things begin to go wrong, and the first thing many of us say is, "What’s wrong? I must have done something wrong." Maybe you’re doing something right. Maybe it’s not whether you’re doing right or wrong. Maybe there’s a devil. Maybe we’re living in the midst of a world governed by sin, where there are adversities and hardships. What you have to watch out for are Bible-toting, Job’s "comforters," who will say, "Because of sin in your life, because of error, and because of this, God is punishing you." When people begin to approach us that way, we need to be careful that we don’t respond the same way Job did: begin to rise up and try to justify ourselves. The fact is that these things are too high for us. In Chapter 42, Job said, "I finally learned this secret. I’m going to put my hand over my mouth. These things are too much for me to comprehend. One thing I do know: God is good! And He is just." Job said, "I’d heard about God with the hearing of the ear, but now, my eyes have seen Him." Do you want to know what this trial is for? It is for you to see God. It is for you to begin to be comfortable in His love, and His justice, and for you to know that He does all things well. It is to be able to stand like Job and say, "Though He slays me, I’m going to trust Him and serve Him. Praise God! I don’t understand everything that’s going on. His ways are too high for me. But I know one thing! God’s good! And what I’m experiencing is for my good and for God’s glory. Even if it doesn’t feel good, it will result in good." All things work together for… What? "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

We get kind of shortsighted, don’t we? When the pressure is on us, we want to fix it. We want it to go away. Instead, James says in those next couple of verses, we are to pray for wisdom. Pray for understanding, not only for the reason we’re in the trial, but also for what it’s already produced for good in us. Ask God for that comprehension, that wisdom. "Lord, what’s already been worked in me?" I know one thing. People can counsel you, reprove you, rebuke you, give you Scripture, and nothing moves you away from that video game. But trials will! God will get you on your knees; amen? God will get you reading His Book. God will get you on your face, because the Lord chastens those He loves.

Count it all joy, when God puts you to the test. The test is the method to show us who we are, what we know, and what we really are. We get these false images of ourselves. That’s why James goes on in his epistle and says, "Continue in the Word of God so you don’t forget what manner of man you are." Are you counting it joy? There’s no temptation taken us, but such as is common to man. "…God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are [say it with me] able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape…" (1 Corinthians 10:13). It would be great if it ended right there. Is anybody pulling for a period after [the word] "escape?" "…that ye may be able to [‘Oh, bummer…’] bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Sometimes—most times—the escape is the ability to endure, to stand up under, and to finish the process of refining, so our faith can be made perfect, entire, and lacking nothing.

How many of us, like Israel, get up and run in the midst of it? And then we have to go around one more time. It was forty years! Don’t raise your hand. Is anybody here on the "forty year plan?" Some of us are. Some of us still haven’t learned, after forty years, a truth that God’s trying to teach us. God is merciful, and guess what? He’ll take you around one more time. Are you able to embrace these trials and rejoice in them for sure? Or do you just want out? "I just want out from under the pressure."

Many of us would like to be one of those man-made diamonds that they have now. They have diamonds that are virtually perfect. You take carbon particles, you put them under the artificial pressure that we have through all of our technology, and you can make diamonds. People are willing to pay thousands of dollars for one. If you take the same thing that stayed under pressure, thousands, and thousands, and thousands of years—we won’t get into creationism. I personally believe that God created a mature Earth. That explains its age. How old do you think God is, if He’s eternal? All the Earth was formed by the Word of God. He spoke it into existence. Adam was not created a baby. He was created a mature man; amen? The Earth was created mature, so you can have all of the years you want to put on it with the joke of carbon dating. I don’t mind a billion-year-old Earth. I’m not all taken up with the dinosaurs that fit into the gap theory. But what about a natural diamond that takes all that process of pressure? You want to get a flawless, natural diamond. The one that’s "this" size over here, people are willing to pay two thousand dollars for it, but people are willing to pay two million for the real thing.

We just want the cheap, quick way out; don’t we? God doesn’t wear costume jewelry, and we are precious stones in this building called the Church of God. He’s putting pressure on us, and He’s purifying us. He’s refining us. He’s coming for a Church without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Don’t feel bad or like you’re some kind of inferior Christian, because you want out. We all want out of it! It’s natural in every one of us. There’s not one of us that rejoices in the pain. We rejoice in the foreseen results and for the glory of God. We begin to see the glory of God from the eternal perspective.

Go back to the last part of the ninth chapter of Corinthians. Let me show you something really quick. Paul talks about his running this race that we’re involved in, and he says, "Run it, that you might obtain." We’re not going to spend a lot of time here. Over the years, we have spent much time in these verses. But he says, "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:25). We know that that word "strive" means "to agonize or to labor fervently." We have to be temperate in everything, except where our true prize is: Christlikeness and the kingdom of God.

Athletes do it for a corruptible prize. They do it for fame and for fortune. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27). That word "castaway" is interesting. In Greek it means "to experience rejection or to fail a test." I keep my body under to pass the test. I strengthen myself. I prepare myself for what’s ahead, because we are going to be tested. Look at the context. He continues to roll on. In the original text there wasn’t a chapter heading here. There’s no Chapter 10. It is "lest I should not pass the test," or "lest I should fail the test," I keep my body disciplined. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).

Now see, this is the context of the thirteenth verse. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). He begins to give some examples here. He says, "Look. With many of those, God was not well pleased. They failed the test." Some of them, he says in Verse 7, were given over to idolatry, remembering Chapters 11 and 26 of Numbers. He makes reference to those that rose up to play and worship the golden calf. They were idolaters. What they’re really looking at is a trust in the world. They wanted to return to Egypt: the religion and the gods of the world system. As their hearts continued to be proved, and they continued this journey, the Scripture says in Verse 8 of Numbers, Chapter 25, that some committed fornication. You remember the temptation of Edom. They were seducing them with the world’s pleasures, and getting caught up with the carnality and vices of natural man. Others tempted Christ and were destroyed of serpents. That temptation of Christ is the rejection of spiritual leadership. In Numbers, Chapter 21, they opposed the God appointed leaders. Here that is called "tempting Christ." Then others did something that’s very foreign to man. None of us have ever experienced it before. They murmured! "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10:10). "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:11).

We sit here. We have all of these examples, and we somehow think it’s not going to happen to us. Now, beloved, I’m not saying failure’s going to happen to you. I’m saying the opportunities to fail are going to happen to you. These were examples set forth. This is what we’re going to face right now. What are we doing to put on the whole armor of God? What are we doing to renew our minds? What are we doing to be knit together, where we begin to have confidence in those around us that can lift up our hands when they’re hanging down? Because the fact is, beloved, we’re all going to have times of weakness when we need somebody to prop us up. You know the problem, though. When we’re at our weakest, we least trust those that have been entrusted to us. When we need the greatest help, we’re the strongest in our own eyes. But it’s when we’re weak, that we’re strong; amen?

The minute you think you have it all together, you’re in danger. You are in danger the moment you can no longer be counseled, those that used to be wise are now stupid, and the things you were saved from you now have liberty to partake of. The destroyer has taken you at his will. "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). He’s talking about the idolatry of the world’s system, the idolatry of self-will, and the idolatry of independence. The original sin was ease, an appetite to be out from under, and independence. Satan tempted her, and said, "Your eyes will be opened. You will be as gods. You’ll no longer answer to anybody. You won’t answer to God. You won’t answer to Adam. You’re going to be your own." The curse that was put upon her was to be put under Adam’s care and oversight. The curse put upon man was to try to keep her in line for the rest of his life, because he didn’t initially. To my knowledge, and if I read history correctly, there hasn’t been a whole lot of getting it right since the garden. What are we saying? Don’t think it strange.

Turn to 1 Peter for just a moment. Look at what Israel went through to prove them in the wilderness. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified" (1 Peter 4:12-14). We’re going to talk about some different aspects. We’re going to talk about the trials we experience just by being inhabitants of a world infected and infested by sin. We’re not immune, as Christians, to all of the disasters, and pain, and pressure of life on this planet. But God has given exceeding great and precious promises to us. He’s given us promises of protection, and deliverance, and healing, and victory. But God is also sovereign. He allows us to experience much of what the world experiences. Much of that is the proving of our faith and our assurance in God.

But what I want to talk about for a moment is not just the natural trials and afflictions that so many go through, but the spirit that we’re living in. The opposition that we’ve read about to our theology and what we’ve believed in, has been very uncommon for many years, especially to those of us here in America. I probably wouldn’t have to spend this much time on this if we were dealing with Christians under the regime of Mao, or our brothers and sisters who experienced the consequences of Marxism and Stalin. It is that spirit of antichrist. There are those who are still suffering the consequences of Idi Amin and the hatred of Christians, as Pastor Tony shared with us when he was ministering over the border into Uganda. Beloved, they are not only persecuted and martyred, but they are cannibalized. And we Christians in America faint because of the pressures of our company, or because certain organizations want to oppose manger scenes on government property.

Where are the Daniels of our hour? There are pastors who bow down and will no longer preach the Word of God as it declares the sin of homosexuality, because it’s a hate crime. And the government tries to legislate the pulpits of America, because of political positions. Where are those like Daniel that are going to stand, throw open their windows, and pray as they always did with the threat of death upon them? Have the footmen wearied us? What do we do when the real trials come? If we can’t let it cost us a position or a job, what about when it’s our lives? This is not overly dramatic. What will you do when it’s your baby being held by the hair with a knife to his throat, and you are told to renounce Jesus? And we cave in under headaches, 401Ks, and healthcare? Who are we? Are we the true church? "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2-4). Beloved, we’re being tested. We’re being built up. We’re being strengthened. Can you say, "Praise God" for it?

You have all heard the old saying, right? "If it doesn’t kill you, it’s good for you." The natural mind thinks that: what doesn’t kill you is good for you. Many of us have experienced a lot of good: beaten up, scars, and limps like Jacob. Some of us are bearing about in our body the marks—not literally—of being crucified with Christ: the hatred and the stigma that’s been put upon us. Do you know who you are? I want to tell you something. The hour’s coming when many people’s minds are going to be reeling. They will be asking themselves the questions, "Who is a Christian? What’s true?" [Holds up Bible] Thy Word is Truth!

Have you, through some of the questions you’ve encountered recently, gone to the Word of God and allowed it to speak for itself? "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters" (1 Peter 4:12-15). You know, this always cracks me up. Right in the middle of "murderer" and "thief," he throws in "busybody." I just thought I’d refer to that. "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1 Peter 4:16).

Let me ask you something. If you’ve been experiencing some adversity, is it because you’re a Christian? Is it because you’ve been uncompromised, stood on the Word of God, and said, "Let God be true and every man a liar"? If so, rejoice in it. Embrace it! Many of us have become weary and shaken. Some of us have. Beloved, you need to go on the offence and understand that God is true, and everything that opposes this is a lie! "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9). "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator " (1 Peter 4:17-19).

What a great time to be alive. What a great time to be able to stand and proclaim the unsearchable riches of this gospel of Jesus Christ, and of the soon coming of the Lamb of God for a bride that’s without spot or wrinkle. How much more should we stand up in this hour, and hold up the standards of holiness and separation? We should expect hatred, opposition, and condemnation of those that would bring tolerance, call it love, and call it wisdom. They are of those that would worship the creature more than the Creator. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:2-5). In the midst of this, ask for that wisdom. "Father, show me what’s being worked in me at this time." "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6-8).

We’re living in a great hour. He said, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:12). The proof of our love for God is our ability to stand up under these trials and these adversities, and that we trust Him. It is trying our faith. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). You don’t know if you have faith if you’re not put to the test. We must have assurance, reliance, and trust. We have need of patience. We’ll pick it up here tonight. We need patience, meaning "endurance and consistency." Many of us have made it a long time, but we’re like the Dow [Jones Industrial Average]. God wants us to be consistent. The one good thing that is consistent is this: many of us rise up again when we have fallen. The consistency is that you haven’t quit. Can you say, "Thank God for the grace"?

Father, touch our hearts and strengthen us. Help us as we come to understand the work in our lives, and even tonight, Lord, as we study and look a little bit at the life of Joseph. We need the most patience when we think we’ve heard from You, have a promise, and it’s not working out. "This isn’t how I envisioned it. I had a dream, and I’m in a pit." Blessed be the name of the Lord! "I don’t understand." Do you believe? "I don’t understand." Can you worship? "I don’t understand." Are you counting it all joy? "I don’t understand." Are you praying for wisdom? There is a crown, a crown of life, promised to those that love You. Give us ears to hear. My grace is sufficient for you. For that we say, "Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen." Before we go, turn to somebody next to you and say, "We have need of patience." Amen. Go in peace. God’s love go with you.

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