1 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:18,560 Well, Pastor Kyle has been walking us through the Apostle 2 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:23,240 John's first letter, and we're getting to the end of that 3 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:24,760 letter. But don't turn there. 4 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,640 We're taking a break from that today, and I want us to look at 5 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,440 a text that has really been on my heart for a number of months, 6 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:41,200 maybe for the past year. And I've been in a season of 7 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:48,120 reflecting on God's Word for a while and seeing God's Word, 8 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:55,240 particularly as a lens through which we view all of existence, 9 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,680 everything, all of reality in God's Word. 10 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,360 God has revealed a story, and he's brought about that story. 11 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,200 And that story makes sense of the world, makes sense of all 12 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,480 reality. And to the degree that we know, 13 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:20,960 comprehend, and believe this story, we're able to view it 14 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:24,120 through our lenses. We're able to view it, interpret 15 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,560 it the way that he views and interprets the world. 16 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,360 And all of us sitting here today are somewhere on the spectrum in 17 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:41,480 in regard to grasping the story and all of its details, right? 18 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,680 And in turn, the world making sense to us. 19 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:52,040 But for all of us, there are experiences and circumstances in 20 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:57,080 our lives or circumstances around us that just simply don't 21 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:04,840 seem to make much sense. And one of these areas is trials 22 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,680 and tribulations. Now while I believe that many 23 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,920 Christians and many of you sitting here today can give a 24 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:16,560 basic answer as to why we as Christians go through trials and 25 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,080 tribulations. I also believe that many 26 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:23,240 Christians don't reach an understanding or perspection, 27 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:28,920 perception or perspective of the true purpose or the true end of 28 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,880 tribulations in their life. And as a result, they don't have 29 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,600 the opportunity to experience the fruit that God desires to 30 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,560 produce through those trials and tribulations. 31 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,880 When thinking about what God's word says about tribulations or 32 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,480 trials, we may recall a number of texts. 33 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:56,400 Jesus words as recorded in John 1633 that in the world we will 34 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,640 have tribulation, but we're to take heart. 35 00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:02,280 Why? Because Jesus has overcome the 36 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,560 world. Peter tells us in first Peter 37 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,320 412 that we should not be surprised when fiery trials come 38 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:15,160 upon us to test us. It's it's not something strange 39 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,160 or unusual that's occurring in our lives. 40 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,240 A chapter later in chapter 5, verse 10, he tells us that 41 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,200 suffering is temporary. We have this from the language 42 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,200 after you have suffered for a little while. 43 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,600 Now, often our suffering doesn't seem temporary, doesn't seem 44 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,560 like it's going to last a little while. 45 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:41,160 But in actual fact, I know that matter how long it lasts, even 46 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,920 if it lasted the rest of our life, it is only for a little 47 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:50,680 while because God's Word says our entire life is but a vapor. 48 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,440 And then we have the words maybe that have already come to your 49 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,080 mind. From James chapter 1 verses 2 to 50 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,680 3. James tells the believers that 51 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,200 consider it all joy when they encounter various trials because 52 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,920 they know that the testing of their faith produces endurance. 53 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:14,760 Now he says James does encounter count it all joy when you 54 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:20,000 encounter various trials. So as you're encountering them, 55 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,720 you're to count it all joy. I don't often do that in my 56 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,000 life. Tribulation happens, trial 57 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,840 happens and I'm joyous doesn't happen very often in my life. 58 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:36,640 In verse 4 of chapter James chapter 1, he says endurance has 59 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,600 a good result, the believer being made perfect and complete, 60 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:47,560 lacking in nothing. Later in verse 12 he writes that 61 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,280 the blessing of the one who perseveres, or for the one who 62 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:55,920 perseveres under trial is that he would receive a great reward, 63 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,840 the crown of life. We could go many other places in 64 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,600 Scripture. Jesus's words about those who 65 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,480 are blessed when they are persecuted and experience 66 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,840 afflictions for following him. We could go to the times when 67 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,400 the faithful rejoice in the shame they received from 68 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,280 preaching the gospel. We could go to Paul's statement 69 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:24,640 in Acts that through many tribulations we will enter the 70 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,480 Kingdom of God. We could go to 2nd Corinthians 71 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:34,360 12 where Paul says power is perfected in weakness, and 72 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:40,680 because of that Paul says he can be content in all circumstances, 73 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:47,360 even the difficult ones. But perhaps no text in Scripture 74 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,960 helps us view our trials in the way that God desires for us to 75 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:57,320 view them, as does Romans 5 verses 3 to 5. 76 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:02,160 And in this text, we're going to see that God has ordained 77 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:07,840 tribulations as the first step in a process toward godliness 78 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:13,680 and ultimately toward a hope that he wants his children to 79 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,440 experience. While we're going to focus on 80 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:22,400 verses 3 to 5 in that process, I want to us to read verses 1:00 81 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,720 to 5:00. So now that you're comfortable, 82 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,880 I'm going to ask you to stand and we're going to proclaim 83 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,880 God's words together today. Something a little bit 84 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,800 different, but we're going to have it on the screen and we're 85 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,680 going to read God's Word together. 86 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,160 We're going to have it on the screen and read there we go. 87 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,360 It worked the second time. So we're going to read His word, 88 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,600 read the first 5 verses together. 89 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,280 So let's proclaim the word of the Lord together. 90 00:06:54,720 --> 00:07:01,200 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God 91 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:06,880 through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have 92 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:12,720 obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which 93 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,640 we stand. And we exalt in the hope of the 94 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:22,880 glory of God. And not only this, but we also 95 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:28,280 exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings 96 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:33,240 about perseverance and perseverance, proven character 97 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,680 and proven character. Hope. 98 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:41,680 And hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been 99 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:46,480 poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was 100 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,400 given to us. This is the word of the Lord. 101 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,360 You may be seated. Y'all did a wonderful job. 102 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:57,080 Wasn't that beautiful to hear? I love hearing our voices praise 103 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,320 the Lord in song, but I love hearing our voices in unison 104 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,200 reading and proclaiming God's word. 105 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,360 In the 1st 5 chapters of the book of Romans, Paul lays the 106 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:13,600 foundation for the entire book by establishing that humanity is 107 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:19,080 is in need of salvation. And then he presents the 108 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,480 solution. All people he says, regardless 109 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,080 of their religious background, Jew and Gentile alike are 110 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:31,240 condemned by their sin and they are deserving of God's wrath. 111 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:37,240 But Despite that condemnation, the gospel or good news is the 112 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:38,640 solution. Fact. 113 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,000 In Romans chapter 1 he calls it the power. 114 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,280 That Greek term is dunamis, which is we get the term 115 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:52,200 dynamite, for it is the power. The gospel is for salvation to 116 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,640 all who believe, to the Jew 1st and then the Gentile, and so he 117 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,760 calls it the power of God unto salvation. 118 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:07,280 This good news is that God has provided a way for us to avoid 119 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,360 the wrath and the condemnation that we deserve. 120 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:16,800 The way in which He's provided a solution, a way, is by giving 121 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,800 His Son what we just celebrated in the ordinance of the Supper. 122 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:27,040 By giving His Son as a substitute sacrifice for us, He 123 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:31,520 became sin on our behalf. He took the wrath that was 124 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,320 designed for us. That was that. 125 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:40,640 That was our payment for sins. And the reason he did this is in 126 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:45,160 order to save, in order to redeem, in order to the 127 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:51,080 ultimately declare us justified. He uses the term justification 128 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:56,560 to declare us righteous before God because after we place our 129 00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:00,920 faith in Jesus Christ, he no longer sees Sinner. 130 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,800 He sees righteous because Christ's righteousness is over 131 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,400 us. And this declaration of 132 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,360 justification is available again through faith in Jesus Christ 133 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,640 apart from any works that one does. 134 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:21,840 Finally, this faith in Jesus results in a peace with God and 135 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,840 a hopeful future. And that brings us to chapter 5 136 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,280 and chapter 5. The therefore is the first of 137 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,000 three major transitional therefore's in the book of 138 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,600 Romans. The second one comes in Romans 139 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:41,800 chapter 8, where Paul there says, therefore I now urge you, 140 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,280 brethren, by the mercies of God, I'm sorry, I'm getting the 141 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,960 wrong. Therefore, therefore there there 142 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,920 is now no condemn. Thank you. 143 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:55,560 There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are 144 00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:59,360 in Christ Jesus. The third major transitional 145 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,360 therefore is in Romans chapter 12. 146 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,400 He says, therefore I urge you, my brethren, by the mercies of 147 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:09,920 God, to present your our bodies as living, holy, acceptable to 148 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:15,320 God, sacrifices for this is your spiritual service of worship. 149 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,320 We're here in verse 1 of chapter 5 that therefore serves to 150 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:26,160 transition to the result of this justification, this salvation. 151 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:31,320 His answer, his solution to our problem, to every man's problem 152 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,240 that he's been discussing in the 1st 4 chapters. 153 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:40,000 At the outset he states that it results with in peace with God 154 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,600 through our Lord Jesus Christ and that it should give away 155 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:52,560 verse 2 to exuberant elation, to jubilation, to joy. 156 00:11:52,560 --> 00:12:00,680 He says we exalt, we rejoice, we boast in the hope of the glory 157 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:04,360 of God. There is rejoicing, there is 158 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:09,880 boasting, there is elation, there's jubilance in what God 159 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,920 has accomplished in his grace for the believer. 160 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:22,680 But in verse 3, in verse 3, Paul transitions to something that we 161 00:12:22,680 --> 00:12:30,240 may not immediately expect or even think fits the context by 162 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:36,040 saying, and not only this, at the beginning of verse 3, not 163 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:42,960 only this, but also he adds something else in which those 164 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:49,400 who have been justified can rejoice or exalt. 165 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:54,960 And what is this additional? What is this additional object 166 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,120 of the Christians? Boasting or rejoicing? 167 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,560 Tribulations. Really Paul? 168 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:09,280 Rejoicing in tribulations. I get rejoicing and exalting in 169 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,920 the hope of the glory of God and what he has done for me by 170 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,760 saving me from death and condemnation. 171 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:21,880 But now add on to this. Not only this, but we rejoice in 172 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,280 tribulations. Really, Paul? 173 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,760 What? What exactly is Paul asking us 174 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,040 to do here? What is he telling us that we 175 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,760 should do? The word translated tribulations 176 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:47,680 or afflictions or sufferings implies pressing or pressure. 177 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:53,440 What's in view is trouble in life that causes distress, 178 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,200 oppression, affliction, and tribulation. 179 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,000 We're not talking here about minor inconveniences, although 180 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,640 sometimes we make our minor inconveniences into something 181 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:08,640 major. But we're not talking about 182 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,200 minor inconveniences. We're talking about real 183 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:16,400 hardships that press us, that pressed us down, weigh us down, 184 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,760 burden us heavily. And it's likely that the 185 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,200 majority of us sitting in this room right now are experiencing 186 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:30,680 circumstances outside of us that are pressing us, pushing us down 187 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,080 in various ways. Heaviness. 188 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,440 And if not right now, you may have just gotten out of one. 189 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,320 And if you haven't just gotten out of one and you're not in 190 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:42,080 right now, that would be a miracle. 191 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,800 But don't worry about it, because one's coming right 192 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:52,880 around the bend. I didn't hear that. 193 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:59,960 You tell me afterward. So here Paul is proclaiming that 194 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:06,560 the Christian can rejoice when these external circumstances are 195 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:12,360 pressing down on them. Troubles and sufferings and 196 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:17,000 tribulations and trials are not merely to be endured as 197 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:22,280 stoically as possible. Not showing one's feelings and 198 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,640 not complaining. Not complaining is good. 199 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:30,480 But that's not ultimately what Paul is interested in. 200 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,760 This is not about being cool under pressure. 201 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:39,680 This is not about having ice in the veins as the circumstances 202 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,960 press you in. It's not about letting things 203 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,240 just roll off your shoulder. Some people do that better than 204 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,720 others. Paul is not saying here that 205 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,680 Christians are merely to endure these difficult circumstances 206 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:56,800 which press us. They are to be glory. 207 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,800 Then we are to exalt in our tribulations. 208 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,080 We're to boast in them. We're to pride ourselves in 209 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,520 them. We're to rejoice in our 210 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,040 tribulations. But how are we to do this, Paul? 211 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:15,960 God, if you're called allowing me to do this, on what basis can 212 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,560 I do this? On what basis? 213 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:24,640 As trials press me down in life, on what basis can I truly exalt 214 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:30,920 and rejoice? Here's the key in the middle of 215 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,400 verse 3. The key to rejoicing in one's 216 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:40,920 tribulations comes here in knowing something. 217 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:47,320 This part is simple. Knowing gives the reason, the 218 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:52,920 justification, the basis for why, for how we exalt in our 219 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:58,120 tribulations, what he is saying. He's about to give a reason for 220 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:02,520 why a Christian can do this. He's about to reveal. 221 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,920 We can think of it like this. He's about to reveal a proper 222 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:11,119 view of tribulation and trials in the believer's life. 223 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:16,040 He's about to review how God views the tribulation and the 224 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:21,920 trial in your life and mine. And if we knew and accepted that 225 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:27,720 view, it would allow us to rejoice in the tribulations in 226 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,560 our life. So what is it that he says 227 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:35,160 Christians should know? What is the knowledge that leads 228 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,960 to rejoicing in the tribulations of my life? 229 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:44,480 As we progress in this text, we see that what he reveals is that 230 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,400 the basis of rejoicing in tribulations is a process. 231 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,400 And this process has four elements. 232 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:56,800 So 4 elements and three steps and in the necessary movement 233 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:01,400 from one element to another to another. 234 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:09,440 Note the brings about language. Each element produces the 235 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,080 element which follows. In fact, many of your 236 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:17,880 translations actually use the term produces here instead of 237 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:23,080 brings about, and it's this verb translated brings about or 238 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,040 produces that connects the process as we move from one 239 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:33,160 element to the next such that we could replace the commas with 240 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,320 the verb that's driving the process. 241 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,920 Whether your text says produce or brings about, we know that 242 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,760 tribulation brings about something and that something 243 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:48,080 brings about or produces something, and that something 244 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,120 brings about or produces something. 245 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:57,760 I have this process in your worship guide indicated by the 246 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:02,800 four arrows. And we've already noted that 247 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:07,280 what Paul is referring to in tribulations is this pressing, 248 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,600 pressing down, this pressure. But what we noticed when he 249 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:16,760 introduces the process is that tribulation is the first element 250 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,680 in the process. You're going to see the image of 251 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,640 a barrel press here. I chose this image to help us 252 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,080 think about the pressure which I talked about of tribulation. 253 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,040 That's the result of tribulation. 254 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:36,240 The barrel grape press presses down with a great amount of 255 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,520 pressure. It presses the juice out of the 256 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,640 grape by allowing downward that downward pressure, great 257 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:47,320 pressure to press and the juice coming out. 258 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:52,480 I guess the question for us is, do we ever feel like, do you 259 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,680 ever feel like you're being juiced by this life and its 260 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:02,840 circumstances? So the process is kicked off, 261 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,000 initiated by tribulations in my life. 262 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:11,560 This means that the process that he set up that is going to, if 263 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:16,080 we know it and believe it, is going to give us the ability to 264 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:21,320 rejoice in tribulations. The process is kicked off by 265 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:25,480 tribulations. It can't even begin without what 266 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,920 tribulation, which is an important thing for us to note 267 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,720 even before going further in the text. 268 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,560 The first element, Tribulation, brings about something, and 269 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,760 nothing that comes after that can come without the 270 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:44,040 tribulation. Now, if we didn't know what the 271 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,680 next element is, we do know because I, I asked for your 272 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:49,880 help. We proclaim God's word together. 273 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,000 We've read the text. But if you didn't know what the 274 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,240 next element was that is brought about by tribulation, you might 275 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,680 be tempted to fill in the result with many things. 276 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,000 I we could take a poll here and you could just popcorn it off. 277 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,400 Tribulation brings about sadness for me. 278 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:11,840 Tribulation brings about grief. Tribulation brings anxiety in my 279 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,000 life. Tribulation brings doubt. 280 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,840 Tribulation brings uncertainty. The trials of my life make me 281 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:22,120 angry. I do all sorts of scheming and 282 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:24,840 planning to try to get out of the tribulation when it comes. 283 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,280 Tribulation brings pain. Tribulation produces desperation 284 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,600 and hopelessness. We could go on and on, but Paul 285 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:37,800 does not say that the believer should see any of those as being 286 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,080 the product of tribulations. Look at what he says that 287 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,920 tribulation brings about perseverance. 288 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:56,560 Perseverance, patient, patient, endurance, steadfastness. 289 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:02,520 The definition of perseverance. One definition is the capacity 290 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:07,320 to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty or 291 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,920 tribulation. The capacity to hold up or hold 292 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:16,680 out or bear up in the face of difficulty or tribulation. 293 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,360 Paul says that the believer should know that tribulation 294 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,680 brings about or produces perseverance. 295 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:27,440 Now, you may be thinking, my tribulations don't bring about 296 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:34,200 perseverance in my life, but I think Paul's point here is to 297 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:38,680 say not that perseverance automatically comes for those 298 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:44,320 who have tribulations, but that tribulations are the occurrence. 299 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:49,680 They're the event in which perseverance can be produced, 300 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,280 can evidence itself or become manifest. 301 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:57,280 In other words, one cannot have patient endurance or 302 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,320 steadfastness without tribulations. 303 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,240 It's a necessary thing. You got to have tribulations. 304 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,360 You can't get to endurance or perseverance or endurance or 305 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:10,840 steadfastness. Remember the definition of 306 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:15,760 perseverance that I just said. It's the capacity to hold out or 307 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,520 bear up in the face of difficulty or tribulation. 308 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,440 What do you have to have for perseverance? 309 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,560 You got to have tribulation. Do you see that? 310 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:39,200 Perhaps there are better ways than what I have here to to 311 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,960 illustrate the idea of perseverance, but I chose a 312 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,680 clock. The reason I chose a clock is it 313 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:50,880 symbolizes the necessity of the passing of time. 314 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,120 What we're talking about is the passing of time during a 315 00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:59,760 tribulation. It takes time. 316 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,800 Tribulation produces perseverance. 317 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,880 The third element in the process is proven character. 318 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,000 So tribulation, the pressing or pressure of outward 319 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:18,560 circumstances in my life, is the context in which we can learn 320 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:22,880 and exhibit perseverance, holding up in the face of 321 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:27,760 difficulty, which takes place over time and ultimately, Paul 322 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,760 says, brings about or produces proven character. 323 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,760 This phrase proven character we get from one word in the 324 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:41,720 original Greek, which connotates a testing process that has a 325 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:46,880 particular result or a particular product that follows 326 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,960 the testing process. What we're talking about is a 327 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:56,000 process that over time determines the genuineness or 328 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,000 value of something. This is why in the 1st century, 329 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:05,520 this term was quite often used in the concept or in the realm 330 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:09,680 of testing of metals to test whether they're genuine. 331 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:15,760 The image I have here is not the metal imagery, but it's it's a 332 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:20,600 reference to the phrase the proof is in the pudding. 333 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,480 You young people probably never heard that in your life. 334 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:28,360 The proof is in the pudding. It's a wonderful phrase, not the 335 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:33,440 least of which the reason for is because it's as its origins or 336 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,640 roots in in British from Britain. 337 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,160 Britain and I love all things British. 338 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:45,200 So but the original phrase is the proof of the pudding is in 339 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,840 the OK, somebody said taste. That's close. 340 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,800 But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. 341 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,600 That's the original phrase, but the proof is in the pudding. 342 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:01,440 What does this phrase mean? The phrase means that the real 343 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:08,240 value, the quality of success of the success of something can 344 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:13,800 only be judged by seeing or experiencing or tasting. 345 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:18,120 Paul, you said tasting the final results, I don't mean to make 346 00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:22,040 y'all hungry this morning, but the final results of a coach may 347 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:27,280 say the proof is in the pudding. And by that he might mean I 348 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:29,600 think I know what we got as a team. 349 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,920 We got a game plan. I think we're ready to go, but 350 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,880 the proof is in the pudding. I don't really know how genuine 351 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,240 we are. I don't know how good we are. 352 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:44,240 I don't know how we're going to look until we get out there and 353 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,600 play the game and the clock strikes 0 until the end. 354 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,680 See, this character cannot be faked. 355 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:56,040 It can't be promised even it can't be simulated. 356 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:02,000 This character has to be proven over time, and it's proven 357 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:07,360 through perseverance. So you have this tribulation and 358 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:12,720 you got the perseverance and, and over time, over time, you 359 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:17,720 get to proven character. If we progressed in this process 360 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,520 and that was the end of the process right there. 361 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,960 And so we're we're persevering under the trials and 362 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:28,000 tribulations in our life. We're persevering over time, and 363 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:33,640 that leads to proven character. If that was the end, I mean, 364 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:39,080 praise the Lord if we would but get to a genuineness of 365 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:43,600 character before God, so we're living out our faith in the 366 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,440 midst of our trials and tribulations, how wonderful that 367 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,840 would be. But we're not even at the final 368 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,720 result. We're still climbing up the 369 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:57,320 mountain here and we haven't seen the ultimate goal here of 370 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,760 what we're going to see at the end of the process. 371 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:10,400 We get to that end at the end of verse 4 and it's hope. 372 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:16,840 The hope was present at the end of verse 2 when Paul stated we 373 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:21,920 exalt in the hope of the glory of God, all that God has done in 374 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:26,600 saving us, in justifying us by grace through faith in his Son 375 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,520 Jesus Christ because of what he accomplished in him. 376 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:35,560 We rejoice and we exalt, we boast in in Christ. 377 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:39,280 We pride ourselves only in Christ. 378 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:45,720 But he puts it here at the end of the process, I think because 379 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:52,960 it's experienced in a richer and deeper way as we go through 380 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:58,040 tribulations, hope has to do with the looking forward to 381 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:01,040 something with some reason for confidence. 382 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,600 There's an expectation of something that's good, something 383 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,680 positive. There's prospect for the future, 384 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:13,600 and it's a positive prospect. But hope is not superficial 385 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,120 optimism about the future. It's not looking on the bright 386 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,480 side, if you will. It's not positive thinking, not 387 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:24,080 this kind of hope, this kind of hope that's in view here is a 388 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:28,480 confident assurance, A certainty that something good is going to 389 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,200 come to pass. And if we have this kind of 390 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,520 hope, we know that God is working in our lives to 391 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:38,120 accomplish something. We know that he not only has the 392 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:42,960 power, but he has the desire to deliver us through the 393 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:45,720 tribulation. Now it's very important you hear 394 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:49,280 what I say there. He, we know in this hope that he 395 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:54,080 has not only the power, but the desire to deliver us through the 396 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,000 tribulation. Notice I said through and not 397 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:03,640 from now. Utilize sort of a silly image 398 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:07,840 here for this one to illustrate hope, but it evokes a 399 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,800 confidence, a strength. A confidence and strength that 400 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,680 is the result of tested character proven over time in 401 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:21,080 the midst of trans tribulation. The important thing to note here 402 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:26,680 is that the end of the process is not, as Paul explained it, 403 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:30,160 the end of the process is not relief from the tribulation. 404 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:34,080 That's not what gives hope. It's not that tribulation is 405 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:37,200 taken away per SE, that particular tribulation or trial 406 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:40,560 that's pressing you down. It's that there is hope in the 407 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:45,160 midst of the tribulation, hope in what seemingly is a hopeless 408 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,560 situation. You're getting juiced by the 409 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:52,960 circumstances in your life, and while in the midst of getting 410 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:58,640 juiced, you have hope. I don't have enough time to 411 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:04,480 unpack verse 5 fully. It could be its own sermon. 412 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:09,240 But Paul speaks as to the certainty of this kind of hope, 413 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,800 which results from the process that he just laid out. 414 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,120 This kind of hope will never let the believer down. 415 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:21,280 And the simple reason is that it reveals in such a clear and 416 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:25,520 undeniable way that God loves us. 417 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:33,320 If you own this process, you will know that God loves you. 418 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:38,400 The God of the universe has flooded our hearts with his love 419 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,760 through the Holy Spirit that He has given us. 420 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:46,200 So now we're getting the view. Are you with me? 421 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,440 We're on top of the mountaintop. We're at the apex of this 422 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:53,400 process and we're looking out and it's a beautiful view. 423 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,480 It's a very hopeful view, and we experience a beautiful and 424 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,320 indescribable hope that's before us. 425 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:08,160 We know we understand to a better degree God's true love 426 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:13,000 for us, particularly through His presence in the person of the 427 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:18,320 Holy Spirit in our life as we go through this tribulation. 428 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,640 But we can't get there. You can't get there by asking 429 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,280 God to take the tribulation away. 430 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:28,840 You can't get there by not persevering over time in the 431 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:32,320 tribulation. You can't get there until you, 432 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:37,000 until proven character is produced, this hope. 433 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,560 It's a journey to the top of the mountain and you can't get there 434 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:44,000 in a helicopter. You got to walk through. 435 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:49,960 That's the only way to get there for the remaining of our time. 436 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:53,520 I just have some observation, some reflections. 437 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:56,280 Call these some pastoral concerns. 438 00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:00,120 Not that I wasn't caring for you as a pastor for the rest of the 439 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,240 sermon, but these are from my heart to you as one of your 440 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:07,680 pastors, as a shepherd. Number one, this process that 441 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:12,640 we've just looked at is for believers, the process outlined 442 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:16,440 in verse, verses 3 to 4, which is the basis for rejoicing and 443 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:21,280 tribulations is only for those who also can rejoice because 444 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:25,920 they have the peace with God through Jesus Christ that he 445 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:29,880 talks about in verse one. If you're an unbeliever and 446 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:34,880 you're sitting here today, these promises regarding hope are not 447 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:38,560 for you now. They can be for you and they can 448 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,360 be for you today. When a moment we'll have a time 449 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,000 of response. If you're here today, you've 450 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:46,240 never trust in Christ. Not only can you rejoice and 451 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:49,640 exalt in the hope of the glory of God because God has saved you 452 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,240 and experienced that today, but you can also rejoice and exalt 453 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:56,200 in this process. That is going to be the case for 454 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,480 you as you encounter various trials in your life. 455 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,120 But tribulations in your life, if you've never trusted in 456 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:08,960 Christ, are there to lead you to depend wholly on Christ. 457 00:34:09,679 --> 00:34:13,480 They're there to get you to the end of trusting in yourself or 458 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:18,880 other human beings to show you that Christ is the only answer, 459 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:23,560 and He's the answer to every one of your problems #2 perseverance 460 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,840 necessarily involves the passing of time. 461 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:33,120 I've already belabored this, but without hardship you don't have 462 00:34:33,159 --> 00:34:37,880 perseverance and without time enduring the hardship, you can't 463 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,840 have perseverance. You got to withstand the 464 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,520 hardship for a extended period of time. 465 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:48,480 You do that by God's grace #3 God is working in the believers 466 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:52,159 tribulation. This is why Paul later on after 467 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:54,800 that second therefore in Romans chapter 8 verse one. 468 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,520 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are 469 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:02,360 in Christ Jesus. He says in Romans 828, we know 470 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:07,200 another No, we know that God causes all things to work 471 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:11,120 together for good to those who love God and to those who are 472 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:20,200 called according to His purpose, all things, all things does all 473 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,720 things include tribulation and trials, all things. 474 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:30,520 And This is why Paul can say this because we know and he 475 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:36,080 knows the process to hope that we can rejoice in that. 476 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:41,720 Johnny Ardavanis is a pastor who wrote a book this past year or 477 00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:44,680 maybe this year called Consider the Lilies, Finding Perfect 478 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:49,800 Peace in the Character of God. This book is about anxiety. 479 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:51,600 Primarily. It's about trusting God. 480 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:55,320 But I heard him on a podcast talk about Romans 828 and he 481 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:59,760 said something that I can't It's it's, it's branded on my brain 482 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,280 and I can't get it out of my brain says this. 483 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,280 There's nothing that God, this is for the believer. 484 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:09,600 There's nothing that God is doing for your good that's not 485 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,480 for his glory. And there's nothing that he's 486 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:14,560 doing for his glory that's not for your good. 487 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:18,560 I'll say it again, there's nothing that God is doing for 488 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:22,440 your good that is not for His glory, and there is nothing that 489 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:25,840 He's doing for His glory that is not for your good. 490 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,160 We can rejoice in the tribulation knowing that He's 491 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:33,560 working in that tribulation in our lives #4 God uses 492 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:40,000 tribulation to make us look more like Christ in Hebrews 12/1. 493 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,440 And two, we're told that there's that great cloud of witnesses 494 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:47,520 that have surrounded us, that they have gone before us. 495 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:52,040 And for that reason we lay aside every encumbrance and the sin 496 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:55,600 which entangles us, and we run with endurance the race set 497 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:58,640 before us. Number verse 2, Fix our eyes on 498 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:00,480 Jesus. That's what we do. 499 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,440 He's the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set 500 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:10,000 before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set 501 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,120 down at the right hand of the throne of God. 502 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:17,280 There's no better example of Jesus than Jesus Christ of the 503 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,240 one who's gone through this process. 504 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:24,040 He's our example and God conforms us to his image and you 505 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,320 know how he does that through trials and tribulations in our 506 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,160 lives. Romans 829 the verse after we 507 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:32,960 know God causes all things to work together for the good of 508 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:37,280 those. 11 Romans 829 says for those whom he for new, He also 509 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:41,480 predestined to be become conformed to the image of his 510 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:44,920 Son, so that we would be the first born among many brethren. 511 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:49,320 What I want to tell you is, in tribulation, God wants to 512 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:58,160 conform from you into the image of His son #5 Tribulation is 513 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:01,680 necessary for hope. I've said this already, but hope 514 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:07,160 is produced through the formation of character after 515 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:10,160 perseverance through the tribulations of life. 516 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:14,160 Earlier I mentioned that for us often tribulation brings 517 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:20,040 sadness, It brings grief, it brings anxiety, it brings doubt, 518 00:38:20,040 --> 00:38:25,440 it brings uncertainty, anger, scheming pain, desperation and 519 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:29,720 the tribulations of life. We sometimes experience feelings 520 00:38:29,720 --> 00:38:34,640 of utter and undeniable hopelessness, but what we see in 521 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:37,880 Romans 5 is that idea turn on its head. 522 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:43,200 For the believer should know this process, that tribulation 523 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:48,040 is necessary for us to have hope. 524 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:52,000 That brings me to #6 trivial. And this may be the most 525 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:54,880 difficult thing for us to accept. 526 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,400 This may be the most difficult thing you hear this morning. 527 00:38:58,720 --> 00:39:05,880 Tribulation is a gift from God. To believers, Tribulation is a 528 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:09,680 gift. We should see it as a gift from 529 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:15,240 God because it is the necessary first step to proving character 530 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:20,440 and to hope. So many times in our life, as I 531 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:26,200 mentioned earlier, our hope is to escape the tribulation. 532 00:39:26,560 --> 00:39:31,760 God, take the tribulation away, we ask God, I ask God to take 533 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:35,400 the tribulation away from me. I want to challenge you as I 534 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,880 have been challenged, that sometimes I am asking God to 535 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:46,960 take away the very thing, the very gift that He gives that He 536 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:54,160 allows to produce character and lead to hope, which is the 537 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:59,800 tribulation or the trial itself. The degree to which we strive to 538 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:04,760 avoid tribulation as much as possible, we miss to the same 539 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:08,960 degree or maybe greater, the depth of the fruit of this 540 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:13,440 process that leads to hope. Finally, rejoicing in one's 541 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:18,800 tribulations is no less expected than rejoicing in the glory of 542 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:22,360 God. I'm good with verses one to two, 543 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:25,040 Paul. I'm good to rejoice and exalt in 544 00:40:25,040 --> 00:40:28,120 the glory of of God because he saved me. 545 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:32,560 But I don't like this rejoicing in tribulations. 546 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,920 I don't like that. No, no, Paul says. 547 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:39,160 We rejoice in both. It's a package deal. 548 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:44,120 Rejoicing in one's tribulation is no less expected from God 549 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:49,600 then rejoicing in His glory. As John and praise team come, I 550 00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:53,160 invite you to respond to the word of God this morning. 551 00:40:53,160 --> 00:40:59,200 I didn't say this in the first in the in the first hour because 552 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:01,280 I'm running out of time but now I don't really care. 553 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:03,720 Y'all just have to go eat. What do I care? 554 00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:08,240 This is God's word. I often say that's a dangerous 555 00:41:08,240 --> 00:41:10,680 thing to open God's word. It's a dangerous thing to open 556 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:13,960 God's word and study it. It's a dangerous thing to sit 557 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:15,680 under the teaching of God's Word. 558 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:18,720 You know why? Because every time God's word is 559 00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:22,000 living inactive. Every time God's Word comes to 560 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,840 us, it demands a response. And there's only two ways to 561 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:28,560 respond, and you got to respond one of the two ways. 562 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:30,760 Everyone in here has to respond one of the two ways. 563 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:35,680 You either accept it and believe it and obey it, or you deny it, 564 00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:39,080 ignore it, which is disobedience, right? 565 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:42,680 So I'm inviting you to respond this morning in one of three 566 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:45,120 ways. I might have called you 2 up too 567 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:45,880 early, John. Sorry. 568 00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:49,400 One of three ways. The first one is repentance. 569 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:53,240 You may be here this morning and you've never trusted in Christ. 570 00:41:53,240 --> 00:41:55,160 As I've already said. The first question in your 571 00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:59,280 worship God, do I have peace with God through Jesus Christ? 572 00:41:59,720 --> 00:42:04,800 If not, am I willing to step out and to trust him as my Lord and 573 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:07,320 Savior today, to trust that he died on the cross for my sin? 574 00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:09,440 The second one is Thanksgiving and rejoicing. 575 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:13,680 These are just ideas, ways maybe God is calling you to respond to 576 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:16,640 his word this morning. Second question in the worship 577 00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:20,560 God is if I have peace with God through Jesus, do I rejoice in 578 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:24,320 the tribulations in my life? Do you thank God for the 579 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:28,080 tribulations in your life and for this process that you have 580 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:30,840 lived out? But maybe you've never 581 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:36,040 considered it in this this way, you may have experienced the end 582 00:42:36,040 --> 00:42:40,760 result hope previously through proving character over time, 583 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:42,480 persevering through a tribulation. 584 00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:45,200 And maybe you just need to come and thank the Lord this morning. 585 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:48,040 Maybe that was a recent tribulation that he brought you 586 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:49,760 through. Maybe you need to just come and 587 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:52,240 rejoice. Maybe you just need to spend 588 00:42:52,240 --> 00:42:56,320 some time worshiping the Lord in the next few minutes for the 589 00:42:56,320 --> 00:43:01,240 tribulation that he's given you for, for this process, this gift 590 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:04,200 that he's given you. So you're rejoicing maybe in the 591 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,520 very tribulation that you're in right now, Man, that's the 592 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:10,360 boldest thing you could do this morning to step out and say, 593 00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:12,800 God, I recognize this tribulation is pressing me. 594 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:16,080 Life's juicing me. I'm going to praise you anyway. 595 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:19,560 I'm going to praise you third, the third one, and then I'm 596 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:21,200 done. His confession. 597 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:28,600 You've trusted in Christ, but you have not or or not viewing 598 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:33,000 your tribulations the way that God views them, and you need to 599 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:35,280 tell the Lord you're sorry for that this morning. 600 00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:41,760 Am I willing to see the tribulations in my life as God 601 00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:43,720 sees them? I think that's the third 602 00:43:43,720 --> 00:43:49,000 question, as opportunities to build character and as the 603 00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:56,600 pathway up the mountain to get the beautiful, indescribable 604 00:43:57,640 --> 00:44:03,480 view that doesn't make sense, that view of hope in the midst 605 00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:07,920 of the tribulation. God do whatever you would do. 606 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:11,520 God do your will. It's not ours, it's yours, as we 607 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:13,360 respond to your word this morning.