I would like for us tonight to look
at three words.
I would like for us tonight to look
at three words in the Bible.
Persecution, Affliction and Tribulation.
What is the difference, you may ask, between
Persecution, Affliction and Tribulation?
Well, let's look at the Scriptures, at what
God says concerning these three things.
Let's look at the Scriptures, at what God
says concerning these three things.
Firstly, Persecution.
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
These staggering words are found in 2 Timothy
3, verse 12.
Isaiah prophesied in chapter 59, verse 15.
Isaiah prophesied in chapter 59, verse 15, that
a time would come, a time would come
when he that departeth from evil maketh himself
a prey.
He that departeth from evil maketh himself a
prey.
The margin says, would be treated as mad,
would be accounted as mad, would be treated
as someone who's mad.
Now, in its context, Isaiah is prophesying here
about the gospel dispensation.
He is prophesying about the gospel dispensation.
A time would come in the gospel dispensation
when he that turns from a life of
evil to a life of godliness would be
accounted, would be treated as someone who's mad.
I would say that the most accurate interpretation
of this verse, in its context, would go
like this.
A time would come when he that turns
from a life of evil to a life
of godliness, as a result of the gospel,
would be persecuted, would be persecuted.
Now, beloved, 30 years ago, 30 years ago,
as a young Christian, I don't think that
I would have accepted these words as relevant
to this day and age that you and
I are living in concerning the church.
But in the last 30 years, over the
last 30 years, something has happened in this
world that has staggered me deeply.
The avalanche, the avalanche of moral decadence and
evil that has swept across this world, affecting
and swaying and conditioning the minds of the
masses to hate the good and love the
evil.
I have become deeply and fearfully aware that
the stage has been set, I have become
deeply and fearfully aware that the stage has
been set to usher in an era of
unprecedented global persecution against all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus.
Not against all that will profess to know
Christ Jesus, but against all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus.
There's a great difference, beloved.
Now, before we go on any further into
the sermon, before we move on into the
Word of God, I'd like for us just
to, once again, in the context of these
verses, just look at these two verses again
at what God is saying.
Isaiah 59, verse 15, begins with these words,
Yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from
evil maketh himself appraised, will be hunted out
to persecute, literally, maketh himself appraised.
Truth faileth.
I would say what is being implied here
very clearly is that as a result of
truth failing to be preached, somewhere in the
gospel dispensation, there will come a time when
truth fails to be preached as God intended
it to be in the so-called church.
As a result of liberal theology affecting the
pulpits of the evangelical church across the world,
there will come a famine of the Word
of God.
As God intended it to be preached, there
will become a scarcity of the Word of
God.
And then, a remnant will be left that
will be willing to make great sacrifice to
travel, to find anywhere where there is truth
preached still.
It will not be easy to find it
anywhere.
Where there still will be a famine, a
scarcity of the Word of God will come
upon the evangelical era.
Where the sharp edge of the sword will
lose its cutting power because it's watered down.
The way God intended it to be reaching
out to man and affecting the church first
will be lost as we are scared of
offending.
And we lose the sharp edge of the
sword, of the spirit, through liberal theology, through
fear of offending man, because so much of
the church is in the world, so much
of the world is in the church, that
we're scared of offending for losing the crown.
So truth fails.
And as a result, I believe, of this
moment that Isaiah prophesies will come, somewhere in
the gospel dispensation, he that departs from evil,
he that still will be willing at any
cost to live this standard of this book
in its unadulterated form and to want it
and to desire it to be preached in
its form as God intended it to be
preached, he that will be willing for that
cost, no matter what the cost is, will
be ostracized and will be persecuted.
But in its context, clearly it's being implied
that the persecution will begin in the so
-called church.
Yea, truth fails to be preached as God
intended it to be because of, oh brother,
sister, books have to be written today to
explain away why Jesus didn't mean that.
And it stands so that we don't offend
the crowds.
If only we just said it and left
it to the Holy Ghost to sort out
those who don't want the truth.
And those who do will remain.
I believe that as a result of this
truth failing, right within the house of God,
the so-called churches, the evangelical pulpits, the
churches that say they profess the truth, who
use the terms but deny the power thereof,
they will become an ostracizing of anyone who
preaches, an undermining of anyone in your land
who preaches the standard of this book uncompromised.
They will be undermined, they will be ostracized,
they will be persecuted one way or the
other and beginning in the house of God.
Can you imagine the state of the persecution
out there?
Because if the salt of the earth has
lost its effect, if the salt of the
earth, which is supposed to be the protection
of the world from just destroying itself from
corruption, if we have lost our purity, our
effectiveness, oh, the world will trample on us.
The cost to society is worthless.
And oh beloved, can you imagine the state
of the world if there's persecution in the
church itself because of the state?
The so-called church is unacceptable to this
word.
Can you imagine the persecution out there because
the state the world will get into when
there's no protection from the salt of the
earth left as God intended it to be?
Can you imagine the persecution out there?
Yea, truth faileth, God says through Isaiah.
And he that departeth from evil maketh himself
a prey.
Through Timothy 3 verse 12, Yea, and all,
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
But the next verse, verse 13 says, But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving and being deceived.
What does that mean?
Evil men, God says, in this time which
will usher in unprecedented global persecution against those
who dare to still live the standard of
this book.
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving and being deceived.
The word seducers means imposters.
People who profess to be Christians, they have
the terms, but they deny the power thereof.
They deny it.
Evil men, oh, I can understand evil men
waxing worse and worse in the last days,
but when God says imposters of the church,
seducers, they shall wax worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived.
I do not believe that all that will
live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution
in times of revival.
Your land, for over 100 years, had revival
power sweeping across this land from one side
to the other as no other nation in
history.
That is why you became the greatest land
on earth, only because there was a time
your people sought God for over 100 years,
and there are millions.
It started with Jonathan Edwards in New England,
a flame that lit the fire that spread,
where millions were affected through George Whitefield, but
the flame couldn't be put out.
Charles Finney came.
Don't deny there was a Charles Finney, because
you disagree with some of his statements, you
theologians.
You may as well deny there's an America.
And don't undermine his fruit, because the prayer
revival was the fruit of Finney.
It was there, those converts, starting with Jeremiah
C.
Lanphier, saved through Finney.
There in Fulton Street, Dutch Reformed churches underneath
the Twin Towers, a little building in Fulton
Street.
And God broke through in the greatest revival
in the history of the world.
No other revival in the world ever accounted
for so many people coming to Christ right
into the Civil War, where Moody came along
at the height of it, where millions turned
to God in one land.
And who was in the prayer revival?
Finney's converts, friends.
They were the ones that in their thousands
gathered.
They were there.
Don't say there was no fruit.
Goodness me, how can you deny the man
existed just because you disagree with some of
his statements?
Be careful, theologians of America.
You bury God just now if you're scared
of doctrine being touched.
No, I believe in the revival times when
a land seeks God as the dead in
America.
All who will live godly in Christ Jesus
will be respected, will be revered, will be
emulated by the youth, will be so a
drawing power to follow after.
They will be revered by a land.
All across the land, the majority will revere
such people when the majority have a fear
of God.
But when for over a hundred years liberal
theology has crept in and the Holy Ghost
has been quenched and quenched and quenched and
quenched for fear of man, and when truth
fails to be preached for over a hundred
years generally across the land and less and
less and more and more deceiving and less
and less of the truth of fear of
offense, so there's no sharp end of the
sword anymore, lovely eloquent words and perfect doctrine,
but no conviction that makes men writhe through
their sin.
I believe after this time, America, the greatness
you once had, you're about to lose.
Anything left was because of the greatness of
your land through seeking God.
You won't have anything left unless you seek
Him fast again.
I believe after all this time of truth
failing where even men and seducers are waxing
worse and worse and worse and worse and
worse, it's unbelievable how the seducers are professing
to know Christ and the rubbish they're preaching
is acceptable as if it's the message of
God.
I believe in this time all that will
live godly in Christ Jesus, I believe this
will usher in an era of unprecedented persecution
against all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus.
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution, but, but, Jesus, Jesus
said in Matthew 5 verse 10, Blessed, blessed
are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Blessed, oh I love Christ's words, every word
is treasured by me.
Blessed, blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you
and persecute you and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is
your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they
the prophets which are before you.
But, beloved, but, beloved, we must be careful
now.
We must be careful now.
Jesus went on to warn in verse 38,
Ye have heard that it hath been said
an eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth, but I say unto you,
I say unto you that ye resist not
evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy
right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Verse 43, ye have heard that it hath
been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and
hate thine enemy, but I say unto you,
I say unto you, love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you and persecute you.
Pray for them.
1 Peter 2 verse 19, For this is
thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God
endure grief.
This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what glory is it when ye be
buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
patiently.
But if when ye do well and suffer
for it, ye take it patiently.
This is acceptable with God.
For even here unto where ye called, because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example that ye should follow his steps.
Who did no sin, neither was guile found
in his mouth.
Who when he was reviled, reviled not again.
When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed
himself to him that judges righteously.
1 Peter 4 verse 12, 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.
But when his glory shall be revealed, ye
may be glad also with exceeding joy, if
ye be reproached for the name of Christ.
If ye be reproached for the name of
Christ, how much happier ye that the Spirit
of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part he is evil spoken of,
but on your part he is glorified.
But let none of you suffer.
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.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed, but let him
glorify God on his behalf.
Philippians 1 verse 29, For unto you it
is given, on the behalf of Christ, not
only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for his sake.
Can I repeat that, beloved?
For unto you it is given, on the
behalf of Christ, not only to believe on
him, but also to suffer for his sake.
But I would like for us tonight to
look at three words in the Bible.
I would like for us tonight to look
at three words in the Bible.
Persecution, Affliction, and Tribulation.
What is the difference, you may ask, between
persecution and affliction?
Well, let's look at the Scriptures, at what
God says concerning affliction.
Let's look at the Scriptures, at what God
says concerning affliction.
In Psalm 34 verse 19, we read, Many
are the afflictions of the righteous.
Oh, it's always the righteous that matter to
the devil.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Many are the afflictions.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
But the Lord delivereth him out of them
all.
I don't know about you, brethren, but I
sometimes feel like I'm a Pentecostal when I
want to shout hallelujah.
I'm not a Pentecostal.
Oh, don't get offended if you are.
I better be careful here.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Many, God says, are the afflictions of the
righteous.
But the Lord delivereth him out of them
all.
James says to us in chapter 5 verse
10, Take, my brethren, the prophets who have
spoken in the name of the Lord for
an example of suffering affliction.
Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken
in the name of the Lord for an
example of suffering affliction and of patience.
Behold, we count them happy which endure.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job
and have seen the end of the Lord,
that the Lord is very pitiful and of
tender mercy.
Now, Job is the only man James refers
to as an example of someone who suffered
affliction in the Bible.
Job is the only man James refers to
as an example of someone who suffered affliction
in the Bible.
So, let's look.
Let's look at the life of Job.
Let's look at the many afflictions of this
righteous man, Job.
There was a man in the land of
Urs whose name was Job and that man
was perfect and upright and one that feared
God and eschewed evil.
He hated evil.
And there were born unto him seven sons
and three daughters.
His substance also was seven thousand sheep and
three thousand camels and five hundred yoke of
oxen and five hundred she-asses and a
very great household so that this man was
the greatest of all the men of the
east.
And his sons went and feasted in their
houses every one his day, every one on
his birthday and sent and called for their
three sisters to eat and to drink with
them.
And it was so in the days that
their feasting were gone about that Job sent
and sanctified them and rose up early in
the morning and offered burnt offerings according to
the number of them all.
For Job said, It may be that my
sons have sinned and cursed God in
their hearts.
Thus did Job continually.
Now there was a day when the sons
of God the angels came to present themselves
before the Lord.
There was a day when the sons of
God the angels came to present themselves before
the Lord.
And Satan Satan came also among them.
Satan came also among them.
And the Lord the Lord said unto Satan,
Whence comest thou?
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, From
going to and fro in the earth and
from walking up and down in it.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou
considered my servant Job?
But there is none like him in the
earth, a perfect and upright man, one that
feareth God and estueth evil.
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Doth
Job fear God?
For nought hast thou not made in heads
about him and about his house and about
all that he hath on every side?
Thou hast blessed the work of his hands
and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now and touch
all that he hath.
Put forth thine hand now and touch all
that he hath and he will curse thee.
He will curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord
said unto Satan, Behold, all
that he hath all that he hath is
in thy power.
Only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
So Satan went forth from the presence of
the Lord.
And there was a day when his sons
and his daughters were eating and drinking wine
in their eldest brother's house.
And there came a messenger unto Job and
said, The oxen, the oxen were ploughing and
the asses feeding beside them.
And the Sabians fell upon them and took
them away.
Yea, they have slain the servant with the
edge of the sword.
And I only am escaped, I only am
escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, while he was
yet speaking, there came also another and said,
The fire of God is fallen from heaven
and hath burned up the sheep and the
servants and consumed them.
And I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
While he was yet speaking, while he was
yet speaking, there came also another and said,
The Chaldeans made out three bands, the Chaldeans
made out three bands and fell upon the
camels and have carried them away.
Yea, they have slain the servants with the
edge of the sword.
And I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
While he was yet speaking, while he was
yet speaking, there came also another and said,
Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.
And behold, there came a great wind from
the wilderness and smote the four corners of
the house and it fell upon the young
men.
And they are dead, they are dead.
And I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
Then, then Job arose, then Job arose and
rent his mantle, he tore his garment and
saved his head and fell down upon the
ground and worshipped and worshipped
and said, Naked, naked came I out of
my mother's womb and naked shall I return
that the Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this, in all this Job sinned
not.
In all this Job sinned not nor charged
God foolishly.
Again, again there was a day when the
sons of God, the angels came to present
themselves before the Lord and Satan came also
among them to present himself before the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence
comest thou?
And Satan answered the Lord and said, From
going to and fro in the earth, from
going to and fro in the earth and
from walking up and down in it.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou
considered my servant Job?
Hast thou considered my servant Job that there
is none like him in the earth?
There is none like him in the earth,
a perfect and upright man, one that feareth
God and escheweth evil and still he holdeth
fast his integrity although thou movest me against
him to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the Lord and said, Skin
for skin, yea, all that a man hath
will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now and touch
his bone and his flesh and he will
curse thee.
He will curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord, the Lord said unto Satan,
Behold, he is in thine hand but
save his life.
So went Satan forth from the presence of
the Lord and smoked Job with sore boils
from the sole of his foot unto his
crown.
And he took him a potsherd, a piece
of broken pottery to scrape himself withal.
And he sat down among the ashes then
said his wife unto him, then said his
wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine
integrity?
Do you still profess to be righteous?
And die!
Die!
But he said unto her, Thou speakest
as one of the foolish women speaketh.
What, shall we receive good at the hand
of God?
And shall we not receive evil?
Do we only trust God and serve God
and love God when everything goes well?
Do we cease to trust God and serve
Him and love Him if things go wrong?
What, shall we receive good at the hand
of God and shall we not receive evil?
In all this did not Job sin with
his lips.
In all this did not Job sin with
his lips.
1 Peter 5 verse 8 Be sober, be
vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a
roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may
devour.
Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that
the same afflictions are accomplice in your brethren
that are in the world.
Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that
the same afflictions are accomplice in your brethren
that are in the world.
O beloved, Job was not the only righteous
man to suffer many afflictions.
Job was not the only righteous man to
suffer the loss of all his material possessions.
In one moment, I have been safe for
34 years and I have lost count of
the homes upon homes that I went to
of wealthy men, men who were born in
wealth, unbelievable wealth.
And in one moment, everything they had on
earth was taken from them.
Taken!
In one moment they stood with nothing.
I have been on these wealthy men's farms,
men who knew such wealth.
Godly men.
And I have trembled as they stood, everything
taken in one moment from them.
Every material possession they have in the world,
bankrupt, totally bankrupt.
And I have watched these men as my
heart has trembled.
As they, in their godliness, tears coming down
their face, have lifted up their hands without
any bitterness against God, in a holy resonation,
no matter what God was doing.
And they have cried out, The Lord gave.
The Lord hath taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this they sent not, nor charged
God foolishly.
Job was not the only righteous man to
suffer many afflictions.
Job was not the only righteous man to
suffer the loss of all his children.
I have seen many righteous homes where all
the children were taken in one moment.
Gone.
I come from a land which has had
terrorism for 30 years, like you're only beginning
to taste now.
Where through politics men would drive lorries in
front of buildings that were filled with bombs.
Where 200 people were blown to pieces, maimed.
Where day after day the front pages of
our newspaper, death was just everywhere.
Bombs and...
How many godly homes I've been in, in
our country where their children were just in
the wrong moment, standing in the wrong place
because of politics.
They were mowed down with guns.
Mowed down on their way home.
Godly young boys and girls.
Mowed down.
I have been in homes of godliness.
When the news came, and I stood and
I shook and I trembled, and my heart
sunk and tears came down my face.
But what shook me most of all was
the father and the mother.
How they lifted their hands with no anger
at God.
It is unfathomable that the godly can do
this, not only job.
Tears coming down their face, and they have
cried, The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken
away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this they sinned not, nor charged
God foolishly.
Job was not the only man that lost
his health, beloved.
He was not the only righteous man that
lost his health and suddenly found excruciating sickness
and pain.
It is unfathomable how a godly man can
suffer so.
Oh, I have seen so many of the
godly who were strapping men, so strapping, so
strong they could do anything, they were so
strong.
And women who were capable of anything in
their health and their abilities, I have seen
them in one moment suddenly stricken with disease.
Again and again, suddenly frail.
Weeks later, hanging on to life.
In such excruciating pain as I sat beside
them in the beds of their hospital I
watched these godly men, who once were strong,
now in excruciating weakness and pain, lifting up
their hands and crying in holy resignation, no
anger at God's doings.
Though he slay me, though he slay me,
yet will I trust him.
Oh, Job was not the only man to
suffer many afflictions, though he was righteous.
Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in
your brethren that are in the world.
Oh, in the midst of all his sufferings,
Job cried out these staggering words, beloved.
In the midst of all his sufferings, Job
cried out these staggering words.
When he hath tried me, when he hath
tried me, I shall come forth as gold
from the fire.
1 Peter 1 verse 6 Wherein ye greatly
rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.
Oh, the Lord's words are precious, you know.
He weighs them up, if need be, child,
for a season.
Listen carefully to the heart of God, the
heartbeat of God for your good, no matter
what he allows the devil to do.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a
season, if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations.
And that word means afflictions, sufferings, literally.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a
season, if need be, child, ye are in
heaviness through manifold temptations.
That the trial of your faith, the trial
of your faith being much more precious than
of gold, that perisheth though it be tried
with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ.
James says to us in chapter 1 verse
2, My brethren, my brethren, count it all
joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.
The same word here, afflictions, suffering.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye
fall into diverse 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.
But James goes on.
He goes on to ask us compassionately in
chapter 5 verse 13, Is any among you
afflicted?
Do you know those words were written 2
,000 years ago?
But they were meant for you.
And I have the right to ask you
tonight from the heart of God, as James
was asking those in the early days who
were being afflicted.
I have the right to say it from
the heart of God and to give you
the answer, as James gave them the answer.
Is any among you afflicted?
And then James says three words.
Have you noticed that?
Just three words.
And he leaves the whole thing.
Let him pray.
Why did James say that?
He didn't go on to some big discourse
you know now about afflictions.
He asked this question in simplicity to us.
To this day, God asks us, Is any
among you afflicted?
And all God would say through James is,
Let him pray.
You see, beloved James knew that afflictions, more
than anything else, lead us into a life
of prayer that we would never know.
Afflictions, more than anything else, lead us into
a life of ceaseless prayer, of praying without
ceasing, a life consumed by prayer, a life
of deep communing with God that we would
never, ever, ever have been driven to if
it wasn't for afflictions, if everything was fine,
if there were no trials or sufferings or
sorrows or tragedies.
God knows, God knows, God knows it backfires
on the devil.
Virtually everything will backfire on the devil if
you just keep your eyes on God and
His word.
Oh, we are driven through afflictions to the
university level in the school of God, beloved.
The highest level attainable, this side of eternity,
comes through afflictions.
No wonder God doesn't worry too much about
our comforts and our health and our wealth.
He's got such a short time to protect
you through the fires, to refine you and
to drive you to know what it is
to walk with God closer than Enoch walked
with God, I guarantee you.
And God knows how to get you to
the university level, if only He can trust
you.
The devil wants to destroy you, but if
you keep your eyes on Jesus, it backfires
on Satan and you just come out to
the university and God's school, praying without ceasing,
entering into deep communing with God you would
never ever have experienced in life, to draw
strength and to find grace to survive, to
find grace to take another step that you
would never ever have sought God for in
this way if it wasn't for afflictions.
But I would like for us tonight to
look at three words in the Bible.
I would like for us tonight to look
at three words in the Bible.
Persecution, affliction and tribulation.
What is the difference?
What is the difference, you may ask, between
persecution, affliction and tribulation?
Well, persecution is the devil working through people
to hurt us.
Persecution is the devil working through people to
hurt us.
Affliction is the devil working through circumstances to
hurt us.
Affliction is the devil working through circumstances to
hurt us.
And tribulation is the devil coming against us
in total onslaught.
Oh, oh, Satan in despair, beloved.
That's the only word I can honestly use
about why this happened.
As he sees, as he sees God's grace
given to you, all the grace you need,
above the grace you need, carrying you through
triumphantly through any persecution he sends upon you,
through any afflictions he sends upon you, in
anger and desperation, Satan rises up against us
in total onslaught, in great tribulation, in
great tribulation.
Do you know the only time Paul ever
spoke about tribulation in his own life, the
only occasion in the whole Bible where Paul
ever spoke the word tribulation coming upon him
as a person, he said these words, we
were pressed out of measure, so much so
that we despaired of life itself, in Attia,
in Asia.
Let's look at the Scriptures, at what God
says concerning tribulation.
Let's look at the Scriptures, at what God
says concerning tribulation.
John 16, verse 33, Jesus says, In the
world ye shall have tribulation, but be of
good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Oh, I want to be a Pentecostal again,
forgive me, hallelujah.
In the world ye shall have tribulation, but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the
world.
What does Jesus mean by this?
In the world ye shall have tribulation.
It's true, child.
You are going to face moments where the
devil is going to be so angry and
so desperate, in his total desperation against you,
in his anger, he will come against you
that you will be pressed out of measure.
There's going to be moments as a Christian,
though you're my child, that you will despair
of life itself.
It's true, these moments are going to come,
but I haven't lost control.
Don't think you're going to be destroyed.
In the world ye shall have tribulation, it
will happen, but be of good cheer.
Don't lose hope.
Don't you lose hope now, I have overcome
the world, greater is he that is in
you than he that is in the world.
I hope you believe it, Christ in you
is the hope of glory.
We have this treasure within earthen vessels of
the excellency, the power maybe of God, not
of us, greater is he that is in
you than he that is in the world.
Beloved, Jesus is greater than the devil, I
hope you know that.
Jesus is not a million times greater than
the devil, by the by.
He is about a billion times a trillion
times a zillion times another billion, and then
we haven't come anywhere near.
And if you don't know that, you stagger
me, you stagger me, if you don't know
that.
Do you honestly think God will let you
be destroyed?
Do you honestly think that Christ in you
is not able to keep you?
He will never suffer you to be tempted,
to be tested, to be tried above that
you're able to bear.
If he does, that's a lie.
Do you think God could lie, brother?
Tell me, answer God right now, in your
heart.
In the world you shall have tribulations, I
hope.
I won't deny it to you, I'm going
to tell you.
Heaven's coming, but in the world you have
to do with the devil, up there no
devil.
But here we have to be honest from
the pulpit or get out of the pulpit.
Tell them it's not heaven on earth, it's
not prosperity, it's not heaven on earth.
That's a lie.
You'll have people bitter against God and man
if you tell them it's heaven on earth.
No, no, in the world you shall have
tribulation.
But, but, child, be of good cheer, don't
you lose hope, I in you, greater than
the devil I will overcome, I will overcome
him, and I'm in you.
Acts 14, verse 22, Paul said these words,
that we must, through much tribulation, enter into
the kingdom.
Oh, we told the converts now what Jesus
says, we must, through much tribulation, enter into
the kingdom.
Don't let's hide it now and say that
it isn't so, don't let's lie.
If Paul had to say it, we'd better
say it, preachers, and say it clearly, that
they know it's coming.
But not to put fear in their heart,
to tell them, don't you lose hope now.
Romans 12, verse 12, isn't it Paul's staggering
words, rejoicing, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing instant in prayer, rejoicing in hope, patient
in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.
There's three good points for you, preachers.
We all try to find three good points
before we start.
Here's three, I want to preach that one
day.
Rejoicing, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing
instant in prayer.
What does that mean, rejoicing in hope?
Well, hope maketh not ashamed.
If you don't have hope, you'll be ashamed
of being a Christian in this world, let
me tell you.
But where does hope come from, that you
can rejoice in it?
David is the first one to give us
a glimpse of what God, why God gives
us hope.
He said, remember the word unto thy servant,
upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which
thou hast caused me to hope.
This is my comfort and my affliction, for
thy word hath quickened me, O beloved.
The promises of God are there to tell
you about affliction, about persecution, about tribulation, but
to tell you the Lord is going to
deliver you out of it all.
Oh, don't you believe those promises?
That's where we get hope, that God has
a holy integrity at stake.
He has a holy obligation.
There's a holy obligation.
God is obligated in His holiness.
You might say that's irreverent to say that.
No, it's irreverent not to say it.
I believe God's holiness makes Him have a
holy obligation to do what He promised me.
Is that irreverent?
That's faith.
Remember the word, God, unto thy servant, upon
which thou hast caused me to hope.
Faith cometh by the word of God, beloved.
Without God's promises, we have no hope.
We'll be ashamed as we seem to be
devoured, as it seems there's no hope.
Rejoicing in hope.
Oh, the promises are precious.
Listen to this.
This was from my quiet time.
This sermon never ends, you know.
I just keep getting things, and I wrote
this down, how God will never fail to
comfort us in our tribulation.
This is my comfort in all my affliction
and persecution and tribulation, don't doubt it.
Thy word hath quickened me, given me hope,
made me of faith, got me going again,
kept me.
God will never fail to comfort us in
tribulation.
Paul says, listen, in case you think Paul's
lying, I don't think so.
He says in 2 Corinthians 7, for I
am exceedingly joyful in our tribulation.
Oh, my.
He said he'd a spirit of life, but
there's something about God's peace that passes all
understanding in spite of what the devil is
doing.
We don't give up, you see.
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering, don't
give up, just persevere.
You're not going to be destroyed, child, you're
going to be made.
Trust God, everything backfires against the devil if
you just trust.
That's why he allows it.
For when we were coming to Macedonia, our
flesh had no rest.
We were troubled on every side, without the
fighting, within were fears.
Nevertheless, God that comforted those that are cast
down.
Oh, I love this.
Do you honestly think when you're cast down,
God won't comfort you?
He's going to have your Bible open, brother,
and the sovereign God will have you just
where you need to be out of its
context.
Don't open your Bible unless you have a
pen next to your Bible.
Don't you dare.
You preachers especially, don't you dare open your
Bible for a sermon.
Open your Bible expecting God to speak, otherwise
don't open your Bible.
And he will.
Trust me, in the circumstances you are, there's
something about the sovereign God that will somehow
heal the wounds, flood you with peace.
The Comforter will comfort you.
And this is his main source of comfort.
Just don't let the devil get you to
shut the Bible.
Best to memorize it.
Keep it in your heart.
Oh, nevertheless, in spite of this troubles, and
fighting, and fears that came in our hearts,
God that comforted those that are cast down.
I cannot think of one occasion in 34
years since I gave my life to Jesus
when I was cast down that God didn't
come and give me hope through a promise
where he said, oh, the waters may flow
over thee, but they will never destroy you.
You'll go through the fire, but they won't
destroy you.
Do you believe God?
Nevertheless, God that comforted those that are cast
down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.
He'll send someone to you if you need
someone just to pray and remind you of
the promises and the greatness of God.
2 Corinthians 1 verse 4, the God of
all comfort, who comforted us in all our
tribulation, in all our tribulation.
We would not, brethren, have you ignorant of
our trouble which came to us in Asia,
that we were oppressed out of measure, above
strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life
itself.
You know, that's true.
We don't want to be really ignorant about
it.
I don't want to deny it.
It happens.
But the God of all comfort, isn't this
amazing, who always will comfort those that are
cast down.
Isn't God faithful?
Do you think he isn't going to comfort
you?
Oh, no, no, no, rejoicing in hope.
I love that.
Rejoicing in hope because of God's holy commitment
to his word.
He cannot fail.
He's promised.
And so he has a holy responsibility through
his integrity because of what he promised to
keep you.
That the devil won't destroy you no matter
what you're going through.
You won't be destroyed.
Rejoicing in hope that comes through the word
of God, through the promises of Christ.
Right along the whole Bible, too.
Rejoicing in hope, he said, patient in tribulation,
persevering it means, just go on, don't give
up, continuing instant in prayer.
You know what that means?
Devoted to a life of prayer, literally consumed
in a life of prayer, devoted, just like
affliction.
So with tribulation, you're drawn to the university
and the school of God.
It backfires on the devil, suddenly you're in
the university of God's school, what are you
going to destroy?
You.
But it made you something you would never
have been, never, in God's hands.
Bless God forever.
You know, Jesus said that men's hearts would
fail them for fear of things that would
come upon the earth in the last days.
Think about that.
If you don't know that we're not living
in the last days, oh my, things would
come upon this earth where men's hearts would
fail them for fear of things that would
come upon the earth.
You know, the Bible is more up to
date than any newspaper you could ever buy.
My word, if you want to just be
a bit ahead of what's going on, just
soak yourself in the scriptures.
And then you read the papers and say,
oh, now they're getting to it.
I don't want to be presumptuous, I don't
want to be arrogant, but there's a truth
about this.
God is saying, I don't want you to
be taken by surprise at the end times.
I'm telling you it's happening, but look up,
your redemption is yours and I don't, I'm
not going to let you be destroyed.
But listen carefully to what Jesus says, in
the last days, just before his coming, you
know, the eschatology of the Bible, you know,
the theology of those events, those final events
just before Christ's return, this is eschatology, big
word.
But think about this, Christ has told us
these things, not to put fear in our
heart about what's coming, we see we're in
it, don't doubt it, we're right in there.
The things Christ said, men's hearts are failing
them for fear, I don't know if there's
any sane person whose heart didn't sink, when
those buildings just crumbled, I mean, deranged minds
have lost every ethical code against human decency,
they're doing things there's no understanding how they
could do it, and say, for God they're
doing it.
So people's hearts are full of fear, now
there's no ethical code left, there's nothing to
even reason how they're going to do it,
what they're going to do, and they're thinking
they're doing God justice.
Oh, the darkness that be in you, if
the light that be in you be darkness,
how great is that darkness, that great darkness,
let me tell you, if you think it's
light, you could believe that's God.
Oh, of anybody of these religions, here's this
tape, get out of that religion, use your
mind, how can that be God?
But look how the world is suffering, we're
living when God said these things would happen,
things no mind could think before it happened
would ever happen, nobody would ever do such
things, but right before I come things will
happen that will be beyond comprehension, no one
could understand how a human could do these
things, how human capacity could even do it,
and these things in the last days, things
will come upon the earth, that men's hearts
will fail them for fear, that's what's happening
right now, I don't know if you'll see
it, of things that have come upon the
earth, but beloved, nowhere does Jesus say my
people's hearts are going to fail them for
fear of things, you know, failed hearts, just
failing them for fear, I've told you this
is going to happen, and you're not going
to be destroyed, I haven't lost control, that's
why I, not my people, do you know
why John Wesley was saved?
John Wesley came to America to win the
Red Indians to God, but then he found
out something terrible, he found out that he
wasn't saved, now that's a shock, that's a
shock, he was getting into more and more
despair as he became more and more conscious
as he was handling the word of God,
that this just condemns him, there's nothing to
confirm that his life is saved, he couldn't
even prepare, he couldn't even wait and try
and discern what to say, because everything that
he found yet never happened to him, the
more he looked the more despair, you know
what Wesley did, he got in a boat
to go home, that's a terrible thing for
a missionary to do, you know, to come
all the way across the world to win
the war, you lost the Christ and then
you find you lost, so he goes home
now defeated, and oh he was in despair,
but you know what God did to John
Wesley, he did what he did to Jonah,
on the boat, he sent a storm, now
why would God do that to Wesley, he's
in a bad enough state now, because God
knew something about that storm, there were Moravians
on that boat, oh how often God has
to resort to the Moravians when there's no
one else left that will do the right
thing, Wesley feared everyone, despair, everyone was despairing
of life as the waves just started filling
the ship and the ship, believe me that
ship was ready to sink, it was amazing
it didn't, and everybody was crying out and
he was hanging on in his heart, fearful
for he knew now he was going to
hell but he didn't know how to escape,
and suddenly he heard singing, oh such singing,
the harmony of the Moravians, wow, they were
singing.