God Ordained Tribulation

By Lin Brown Bible Text: Preached on: Acts 14; Romans 5 Sunday, September 15, !1"

Grace Particular Baptist Church 5# 5 $mperial La%es Bl&d 'ulberry, (L "")*! Website: Online Sermons: www+one,oldones-ep-erd+or. www+sermonaudio+com/.raceparticular

0lease turn t-is mornin. to Acts 14+ And w-en God was pleased to re&eal -is Son in me and to call me ,rom dar%ness into li.-t, t-e atmosp-ere o, w-ic- $ entered into 1-ristianity was t-e atmosp-ere o, 1+ $+ Sco,ield, 2allas Sc-ool o, T-eolo.y, dispensationalism and $ learned t-ere t-at tribulation was somet-in. t-at was to ta%e place at t-e end o, time+ And t-at stuc% wit- me a lon., lon. time, t-at $ didn3t -a&e to worry about tribulation in t-is world+ $ndeed, $ needed to interpret tribulation as bein. somet-in. cataclysmically spectacular at t-e end o, time, t-at it would be a time or, as Sco,ield put it and as t-e dispensationalists put it, a time yet in our ,uture, o, a determined number o, years t-at would brin. .reat -ards-ip upon t-e c-urc-+ And $ li&ed wit- t-at misconception ,or many, many years t-in%in. $ don3t -a&e to worry about tribulation because, a,ter all, $ was a pre4trib rapturist+ $ was .oin. to .et out o, -ere be,ore t-e tribulation too% place+ T-ere were t-ose w-o were mid4tribulation rapturists+ T-ey would .et raptured in t-e middle o, t-e tribulation and post4tribulationists, t-ose w-o would .et raptured a,ter t-e tribulation ,or w-ate&er bene,it t-at was+ But t-e tribulation was a time in w-ic- a persona.e would ta%e place o, a world leader called t-e antic-rist and -e would persecute t-e c-urc-+ And some would be martyred and ot-ers wouldn3t+ And t-is all colored t-e interpretation o, t-e boo% o, Re&elation in .reat -ues o, spectacularism, o, ,antastic e&ents, o, t-in.s t-at would be a s-ame to 5ollywood today in w-at would ta%e place+ And t-en t-e Lord was su,,icient and .ood and .racious to s-ow me w-at real tribulation was all about+ $t3s not an easy lesson but it3s one o, w-ic- all t-e c-ildren o, God must understand, t-at God -as ordained tribulation in t-is li,e ,or -is people+ 6ow, t-ere is tribulation t-at comes upon t-e world unnoticed t-at it came ,rom God+ T-ey tal% about natural e&ents, an eart-7ua%e, a ,ire, a -urricane, a tornado and t-ey t-in%, 89ell, you %now, t-ese are bad t-in.s, but $ don3t see God in t-em+ God -ad not-in. to do wit- t-at+ 'ot-er 6ature did t-at+: Or, 8T-e climatic c-an.es did t-at+: And so, t-e world sees all o, t-ese t-in.s+ T-e Bible says God is sendin. tribulation on it+ But -e also ordains tribulation ,or -is people+ $ was readin. 9illiam Tipta,t t-is wee%+ 5e was tal%in. about t-e ,act t-at most 1-ristians in -is day, t-at3s 7uite a w-ile bac%, and so we say in our day, also, t-in% t-at 1-ristians are ,ree o, tribulation+ And -e said, 80eople come to me all t-e time and don3t tal% to me about God brin.in. tribulation on

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-is people, -e doesn3t do t-at, -e3s too .ood+: And t-at3s t-e misconception today in modern reli.ion, 1-ristianity, t-at God is too .ood to brin. t-ese t-in.s upon -is people+ But t-is was not t-e preac-in. o, t-e disciples and be,ore t-at, it wasn3t t-e preac-in. o, our Lord+ Our Lord said in t-is world, in t-is time, in t-is li,e, you3re .oin. to -a&e tribulation+ $t is ordained ,or you+ Tipta,t said, 89ell, people as% me all t-e time, w-y would God do t-at; And $ as%, do you %now God; 2o you understand God; 5a&e you e<perienced God;: And t-ey say, 89ell, sure, you %now $ listened to t-is messa.e and $ recei&ed it and $ recei&ed 1-rist and $3m a 1-ristian+: But -e said, 8$ stand in doubt o, you because God -as ordained tribulation ,or e&ery one o, -is c-ildren and t-ey %now t-at it came ,rom God+ T-ey %now it came down ,rom t-e -ea&enly (at-er w-en -e3s pleased to re&eal t-at to t-em and s-ow t-em t-at t-is is me+ T-en t-ey bow t-e %nee and t-ey cry out,: and t-is w-ole sermon was about prayer is a cryin. out to God+ And -e said, 8=ou probably aren3t really prayin. until you3re really cryin. out to God ,or -is deli&erance+: 5e said, 8T-ere3s not a person in t-e Scripture w-o really cries out to God w-o -asn3t been s-own t-eir need and so t-en t-ey pray+ T-en t-ey call out to God+: $ t-ou.-t about t-at and $ t-ou.-t -ow many times do $ pray t-at $3m not desperate+ $ >ust pray+ $ pray maybe because $ do see a need, but $3m not desperate yet+ But w-en $ do .et desperate, t-en $ do cry out to God+ And so, t-at3s w-y -e ordains tribulation ,or -is people, so t-ey3ll .et desperate enou.- to call out to -im+ And -e3s .ood to do so, isn3t -e; 5e3s .racious to do so, isn3t -e; To create t-at situation in t-eir li,e t-at t-ey3ll despair o, anyt-in. else+ So, w-y are we at Acts 14; Loo% toward t-e end o, it+ $ don3t %now -ow ,ar bac% we want to start but let3s start in &erse 1?, 8And t-ere came t-it-er certain @ews ,rom Antioc- and $conium, w-o persuaded t-e people, and, -a&in. stoned 0aul, drew -im out o, t-e city, supposin. -e -ad been dead+: 9ow, w-at a dar% time t-is is+ 9ow+ T-ey came and t-ey persuaded t-e people to all rise up a.ainst 0aul and stone -im to deat- and t-ey t-ou.-t t-ey3d .otten rid o, -im+ And we read, &erse !, 85owbeit, as t-e disciples stood round about -im, -e rose up, and came into t-e cityA and t-e ne<t day -e departed wit- Barnabas to 2erbe+ And w-en t-ey -ad preac-ed t-e .ospel to t-at city,: notice t-is, please notice t-is, 8and w-en t-ey -ad preac-ed t-e .ospel to t-at city and -ad tau.-t many, t-ey returned a.ain to Lystra, and to $conium, and Antioc-, con,irmin. t-e souls o, t-e disciples, and e<-ortin. t-em to continue in t-e ,ait-, and t-at we must t-rou.- muc- tribulation enter into t-e %in.dom o, God+: 0art o, 0aul3s preac-in. o, t-e .ospel was to understand t-is li,e is in tribulation+ $t3s attended wit- tribulation+ $t3s not a 8belie&e and .et to -ea&en easy+: O&er t-e years, 1-ristian preac-ers -a&e been accused o, preac-in. easy belie&in.+ $t3s easy to belie&e+ $t3s easy to %eep belie&in.+ 6o, it isn3t+ $t is a -ard time to -old on to your belie,+ As Satan bu,,ets you, as t-e world comes and calls out to you, as your ,les- -ollers

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out and it -urts and spare me, it3s -ard to -old on+ And so, God -olds us close to -im+ Tribulation is t-at w-ic- brin.s us close to -im+ Tribulation is t-at w-ic- causes us to run to -im and to -old on to -im+ 0art o, 0aul3s preac-in. o, t-e .ospel was t-at t-ey t-rou.muc- tribulation enter into t-e Bin.dom o, God+ 9e3&e already 7uoted @o-n 1*A"" t-at says, 8$n t-e world ye s-all -a&e tribulation+: 6ow, turn o&er to Romans 5 and we start out readin., 8T-ere,ore bein. >usti,ied by ,ait-, we -a&e peace wit- God t-rou.- our Lord @esus 1-ristA by w-om also we -a&e access by ,ait- into t-is .race w-erein we stand, and re>oice in -ope o, t-e .lory o, God+ And not only so, but we .lory in tribulations+: $s t-at you; 2id you .lory in tribulation; $ don3t mean t-at you say, 8O-, -ow ,un t-is isC $ lo&e t-is pain+ $ en>oy t-is pain+ $ en>oy t-is an.uis- o, mine+ $ en>oy t-is su,,erin. o, my soul,: but we .lory in t-at God -as brou.-t it to us because it will teac- us more about God, it will brin. us closer to God, it will cause us to wors-ip God in spirit and in trut-, in reality o, w-o -e is+ 6ot >ust some old man upstairs is -andin. out coo%ies and ice cream+ 6ot suc- a .ood God t-at would ne&er brin. anyt-in. t-at would cause us in any way to be troubled+ But ,or t-e real and true God w-o is so&erei.n o&er all situations and turns t-em all to -is .lory+ $, we could settle t-is one issue, i, we could settle t-is one issue, we would not only bear tribulation, we would not only accept tribulation, but we would .lory in tribulation+ And t-at one issue is w-at; (or me to li&e as 1-rist+ (or me to li&e as 1-rist+ T-e only reason $ li&e is ,or 1-rist+ $, we can -onestly say t-at and be .i&en t-e spiritual utterance o, t-e reality o, t-at ,act t-at ,or me to li&e is 1-rist, t-en t-at part t-at comes a,terward 8and to die is .ain: means t-at e&eryt-in. else in between is somet-in. we can bear+ $ do .et disturbed w-en $ -ear people say, 8$ can3t bear t-at+: 6ow, $ %now t-at t-ere are a lot o, t-in.s in my li,e, as we were tal%in. about be,ore t-e ser&ice+ $3m .ettin. closer to t-at t-reescore and ten years w-en God says t-at3s t-e ordained time ,or man to li&e upon t-is eart- and a lot o, t-in.s in my li,e t-at $ -a&e said $ couldn3t bear, $ couldn3t ta%e t-at, $ couldn3t abide t-at, $ couldn3t .o t-rou.- t-at, $ couldn3t do t-at, but t-ere are a lot more now and say, 8$ can do all t-in.s t-rou.- 1-rist w-o stren.t-ens me+: 9-ate&er is in your li,e+ 9-ate&er troubles you+ 9-ate&er -as stirred up your -earts+ 9-ate&er cause you ,ear+ 9-ate&er causes you an.er+ 9-ate&er causes you discom,ort+ =ou can bear t-em in 1-rist and will bear t-em in 1-rist+ 9e .lory+ And, you %now, you almost want to as% 0aul, 8Are you craDy;: But 0aul didn3t say, 89e3re -appy and we3re .iddy o&er tribulation,: -e said, 89e .lory in it+: 9-at do we .lory about; T-at God is so&erei.n and -e3s brou.-t it+ 9e .lory in 1-rist+ 9e .lory in God t-e (at-er+ 9e .lory in t-e 5oly Spirit+ 9e .lory in -is ministry to us+ 9e .lory in -is so&erei.n will to do w-at -e will wit- -is own and .et .ood results out o, it+ 8By w-om also we -a&e access by ,ait- into t-is .race w-erein we stand, and re>oice in -ope o, t-e .lory o, God+ And not only so, but we .lory in tribulations alsoA %nowin. t-at tribulation wor%et- patience; and patience, e<perience; and e<perience, -opeA and -ope ma%et- not as-amed; because t-e lo&e o, God is s-ed abroad in our -earts by t-e 5oly

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G-ost w-ic- is .i&en unto us+: 6otice t-at c-an.e starts out -ow; $n tribulation and it ends in -ope+ 5ope t-at ma%et- not as-amed+ 5ope t-at resides in 1-rist+ 5ope t-at doesn3t disappoint+ 5ope t-at doesn3t miss its mar%+ 9e don3t come up and say, 8=ou %now, $ -oped it would be t-at way but $ .ot disappointed+: T-at3s not t-e biblical -ope t-at is ,ounded in 1-rist @esus+ 5ope ma%et- not as-amed because t-en we understand God lo&ed us and does lo&e us+ And you %now w-at; Always will lo&e us+ E&en as we .o t-rou.- t-at state in w-ic- we t-in% would absolutely destroy us and Tipta,t tal%ed about t-at, too+ 5e said, 82estroy us+ 9-at terrible terms and w-at ,ear,ul lan.ua.e is t-at; T-at t-is t-in. t-at is comin. upon us, be w-ate&er it is, w-ate&er it ser&es to i.niteA our ,ears, our an.er, our sorrow, our su,,erin., our pain, our an.uis-+ 9-ate&er it i.nites is not su,,icient to separate us ,rom t-e lo&e t-at is in 1-rist+: 1ertainly, we %now Romans ) and its statement about all o, t-e t-in.s t-at come upon us in t-is world t-at can3t separate us ,rom t-e lo&e o, 1-rist+ $, it cannot separate you ,rom t-e lo&e o, 1-rist, t-en s-ould you ,ear it; S-ould you be in trouble o&er it; S-ould you be .ratin. about it; S-ould you be rebellin. about it; And t-at is a point t-at o,tentimes comes in+ 9e rebel a.ainst God+ 9e turn a.ainst God and we say, 8$t3s not your so&erei.n ri.-t to do t-at to me+ $ don3t want it and you s-ouldn3t do it+: 5ow many span%in.s -a&e we .otten as c-ildren and despised our parents ,or it and t-ou.-t, 8T-at -urt and you s-ouldn3t -a&e done it;: 'any times t-at is t-e case and many times t-at3s t-e case wit- t-e c-ildren o, God+ 8T-at tribulation -urt, God+ $3m better t-an to .et t-at ,rom your -and+ =ou3re better t-an to do t-at to me+ =ou s-ouldn3t brin. t-at into my li,e+: And, sadly enou.-, t-at tribulation will wor% out t-e patience to endure it o&er and o&er %nowin. t-at tribulation wor%s patience+ 9-at does it do; $t creates patience+ But now, patience is not >ust acceptin. t-in.s as t-ey are+ 0atience is not >ust sayin., 89ell, you %now, $3m .onna wait t-is out and it3s .oin. to be better sooner or later+: 0atience is endurin. belie,+ Tribulation wor%s our endurance in belie,+ And t-at patience wor%s e<perience+ 9e -a&e e<perience wit- God and t-ere3s not-in. more precious t-an t-at+ 9e may -a&e all %nowled.e and be able to tell all mysteries and discern all %ind o, t-in.s but i, we don3t -a&e e<perience, i, we don3t -a&e e<perience, e<perience t-at comes ,rom e<periencin. t-e lo&e o, God in 1-rist @esus, e<perience ,rom trustin. -im in t-e deep waters o, a,,liction, e<perience in trustin. -im in t-e ,rustrations o, li,e, i, we don3t -a&e e<perience, we are >ust as an empty sound and an unsure sound+ T-en, o, course, e<perience wor%s -ope and -ope is not, 8$ -ope $ .et it and maybe not+: Our -ope is a sure trustin. t-at it will be+ 8And -ope ma%et- not as-amed; because t-e lo&e o, God is s-ed abroad in our -earts by t-e 5oly G-ost w-ic- is .i&en unto us+

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Ferse ), 8But God commendet- -is lo&e toward us, in t-at, w-ile we were yet sinners, 1-rist died ,or us+ 'uc- more t-en, bein. now >usti,ied by -is blood, we s-all be sa&ed ,rom wrat- t-rou.- -im+: T-is tribulation t-at comes to us is not wrat- 8,or God -as not appointed -is c-ildren to wrat-+: 9rat- destroys and brin.s >ud.ment+ T-ere is no condemnation to t-e people o, God but t-ere is tribulation ordained ,or t-em and it is to teac- t-em to rely upon -im as t-ey wal% t-rou.- t-is world+ Loo% at c-apter )A"5+ 9e3&e already tal%ed about t-ese &erses but we3ll loo% at t-em because t-ey are certainly pro,itable+ 89-o s-all separate us ,rom t-e lo&e o, 1-rist; s-all tribulation;: $t won3t, so w-at are we .oin. to do about it; 9e3re .oin. to .lory in it+ $t won3t separate us ,rom 1-rist+ 9-ate&er it is, w-et-er it3s an a,,liction, w-et-er it3s a pain, w-et-er it3s a su,,erin., w-et-er it3s a doubt, w-et-er it3s a ,ear+ $t won3t separate us ,rom t-e lo&e o, 1-rist+ 6ot-in.+ Loo% at Romans 1 + 0aul is writin. some concludin. statements+ 5e starts out sayin., 8$ beseec- you t-ere,ore, bret-ren, by t-e mercies o, God, t-at ye present your bodies a li&in. sacri,ice, -oly, acceptable unto God, w-ic- is your reasonable ser&ice+ And be not con,ormed to t-is worldA but be ye trans,ormed by t-e renewin. o, your mind, t-at ye may pro&e w-at is t-at .ood, and acceptable, and per,ect, will o, God+ (or $ say, t-rou.- t-e .race .i&en unto me, to e&ery man t-at is amon. you, not to t-in% o, -imsel, more -i.-ly t-an -e ou.-t to t-in%; but to t-in% soberly, accordin. as God -at- dealt to e&ery man t-e measure o, ,ait-+ (or as we -a&e many members in one body, and all members -a&e not t-e same o,,iceA So we, bein. many, are one body in 1-rist, and e&ery one members one o, anot-er+ 5a&in. t-en .i,ts di,,erin. accordin. to t-e .race t-at is .i&en to us, w-et-er prop-ecy, let us prop-esy accordin. to t-e proportion o, ,ait-; or ministry, let us wait on our ministerin.A or -e t-at teac-et-, on teac-in.; or -e t-at e<-ortet-, on e<-ortationA -e t-at .i&et-, let -im do it witsimplicity; -e t-at rulet-, wit- dili.ence; -e t-at s-ewet- mercy, witc-eer,ulness+ Let lo&e be wit-out dissimulation+ Ab-or t-at w-ic- is e&il; clea&e to t-at w-ic- is .ood+ Be %indly a,,ectioned one to anot-er witbrot-erly lo&e; in -onour pre,errin. one anot-er; not slot-,ul in business; ,er&ent in spirit; ser&in. t-e Lord; re>oicin. in -ope; patient in tribulation; continuin. instant in prayer; distributin. to t-e necessity o, saints; .i&en to -ospitality+ Bless t-em w-ic- persecute youA bless, and curse not+ Re>oice wit- t-em t-at do re>oice, and weep wit- t-em t-at weep+ Be o, t-e same mind one toward anot-er+ 'ind not -i.- t-in.s, but condescend to men o, low estate+ Be not wise in your own conceits+ Recompense to no man e&il ,or e&il+ 0ro&ide t-in.s -onest in t-e si.-t o, all men+ $, it be possible, as muc- as liet- in you, li&e peaceably wit- all men+ 2early belo&ed, a&en.e not yoursel&es, but rat-er .i&e place unto wrat-A ,or it is written, Fen.eance is mine; $ will repay, sait- t-e Lord+ T-ere,ore i, t-ine enemy -un.er, ,eed -im; i, -e t-irst, .i&e -im drin%A ,or in so doin. t-ou

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s-alt -eap coals o, ,ire on -is -ead+ Be not o&ercome o, e&il, but o&ercome e&il wit- .ood+: 9-at a c-apter o, instruction+ 5a&e you e&er read it and loo%ed at it and said, 8=ea, Lord, t-ese t-in.s are commanded o, me but $ am su,,icient to .et t-em done+ 2o t-y will and purpose in t-em;: One o, t-em is bein. patient in tribulation+ T-ose o, you w-o are a,,licted, t-ose o, you w-o are su,,erin., t-ose o, you w-o -a&e pain, t-ose o, you w-o -a&e an.uis- o, soul, %now w-at -e means by commandin. and ordainin. patience in tribulation+ Tribulation is somet-in. t-at comes and doesn3t easily .o away+ $, it did, it wouldn3t be tribulation, it would >ust be a pain, an a.ony+ $t would >ust be a little passin. moment but tribulation is somet-in. t-at abides and re7uires t-at God ordained patience to .o t-rou.- it+ Let3s loo% at 1orint-ians 1+ 80aul, an apostle o, @esus 1-rist by t-e will o, God, and Timot-y our brot-er, unto t-e c-urc- o, God w-ic- is at 1orint-, wit- all t-e saints w-ic- are in all Ac-aiaA Grace be to you and peace ,rom God our (at-er, and ,rom t-e Lord @esus 1-rist+ Blessed be God, e&en t-e (at-er o, our Lord @esus 1-rist, t-e (at-er o, mercies, and t-e God o, all com,ort; w-o com,ortet- us in all our tribulation+: As we loo% at t-is, $ -a&e to pause and $ say, 8Lord, t-at tribulation t-at you3&e ordained ,or me, you3&e also ordained your com,ort in+: 0eople w-o need to be com,orted are people w-o are su,,erin., people w-o need to >ust -a&e some assurance t-at t-ey are t-e c-ildren o, God+ 2o you e&er doubt you are; 2o you e&er >ust stop in t-e middle o, t-e day and say, 8Am $ really a c-ild o, God; 9-at $ >ust did, could a c-ild o, God do t-at;: And Satan is always o&er t-ere wit- -is prod sayin., 86ope, you can3t do t-at and be a c-ild o, God+ =ou can3t -a&e t-at attitude and be a c-ild o, God+ =ou can3t -a&e t-at be-a&ior and be a c-ild o, God+: And t-ere are plenty o, people w-o name t-e name o, 1-rist w-o will want to a.ree wit- -im+ 8Surely i, you did t-at, you couldn3t be a c-ild o, God+ Surely i, you be-a&ed t-at way+ Surely i, you did t-at to me, you can3t be a c-ild o, God+: Tipta,t wrote about t-at and -e said, 8$, you -a&en3t e&er 7uestioned w-et-er you3re a c-ild o, God, you probably aren3t one,: because t-e world ne&er as%s t-emsel&es t-at 7uestion+ Am $ really a belie&er; 9e must, at all times, -a&e some trouble about t-at situation, 8w-o com,ortet- us in all our tribulation+: And we may be able to com,ort t-em w-ic- are in any tribulation+ 5a&e you com,orted any o, your ,ellow belie&ers today; T-is wee%; At any time; $t is because you -a&e .one t-rou.- tribulation and been com,orted by God t-at you are e7uipped to do so+ T-is says a .reat deal about our e<perience t-at we tal%ed about+ 'any people say, 8=ou %now, $ %now 1-rist+: 9ell, w-at -a&e you e<perienced o, -im; 89ell, $3m a 1-ristian+: But w-at -a&e you e<perience o, 1-rist com,ortin. you; And t-at resultin. in t-e ,act t-at you t-en, t-ere,ore, com,orted ot-ers+

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6otice w-at -e says, 89-o com,ortet- us in all our tribulation, t-at we may be able to com,ort t-em w-ic- are in any trouble, by t-e com,ort w-erewit- we oursel&es are com,orted o, God+: =ou mi.-t say 0aul is pretty sin.ularly minded in t-is &erse+ $t3s all about com,ort+ God com,orts us, we com,ort ot-ers and we com,ort ot-ers by t-at com,ort t-at we -a&e recei&ed ,rom God+ 6ot our sympat-y and not our ,eelin. sorry ,or you, but t-e com,ort t-at we3&e been com,orted by God, t-ere,ore, we com,ort t-e people o, God+ 8(or as t-e su,,erin.s o, 1-rist abound in us, so our consolation also aboundet- by 1-rist+ And w-et-er we be a,,licted, it is ,or your consolation and sal&ation, w-ic- is e,,ectual in t-e endurin. o, t-e same su,,erin.s w-ic- we also su,,erA or w-et-er we be com,orted, it is ,or your consolation and sal&ation+: All t-in.s ,or all t-e ,amily o, God+ God does not-in. ,or t-e indi&idual belie&er t-at -e doesn3t do ,or -is w-ole body+ 9-at ta%es place in your li,e as a belie&er is ,or t-e bene,it o, t-e body o, 1-rist, ,or t-e .lory o, 1-rist, o, t-e praise o, 1-rist+ 6e<t, we loo% at 1 T-essalonians ", 89-ere,ore w-en we could no lon.er ,orbear, we t-ou.-t it .ood to be le,t at At-ens alone; and sent Timot-eus, our brot-er, and minister o, God, and our ,ellowlabourer in t-e .ospel o, 1-rist, to establis- you, and to com,ort you concernin. your ,ait-A T-at no man s-ould be mo&ed by t-ese a,,lictionsA ,or yoursel&es %now t-at we are appointed t-ereunto+: 6otice t-at we are appointed to a,,lictions+ $t is a stran.e, stran.e occurrence t-at in li.-t o, all t-ese Scriptures, t-at people w-o name t-e name o, 1-rist would say, 8$ -a&e no a,,liction in my li,e+ $ -a&e no tribulation in my li,e+ $ -a&e no su,,erin. in my li,e+ $ li&e abo&e it+ $3m a &ictorious 1-ristian+ $3m -appy and you s-ould be too+: 9ell, -e .oes on to say, 8(or &erily, w-en we were wit- you, we told you be,ore t-at we s-ould su,,er tribulation; e&en as it came to pass, and ye %now+ (or t-is cause, w-en $ could no lon.er ,orbear, $ sent to %now your ,ait-, lest by some means t-e tempter -a&e tempted you, and our labour be in &ain+: $n t-e midst o, all o, t-is su,,erin. and all o, -is a,,liction, one o, w-ic- we >ust read t-at -e .ot stoned, so muc- so t-at t-e stones pelted -im so muc- t-ey t-ou.-t t-ey -ad %illed -im, -e was concerned about t-e issues in t-e c-urc-+ 5e said, 89e want to %now w-et-er you3re a belie&er or not+ 9-et-er you really belie&e or not+: And many times, as 0astor o, t-is ,loc%, $ -a&e to loo% at some o, you and say, 8$ wonder i, you are a c-ild o, God+ $ don3t %now w-at you3re .oin. t-rou.- but $ %now t-e way t-at you3re ta%in. it and it ma%es me 7uestion w-et-er you3re a c-ild o, God or not+: Sometimes $ loo% in t-e mirror and stand t-ere and loo% at mysel, and say, 8=ou %now, t-e way you3&e reacted to t-is situation today, can you possibly be a c-ild o, God; 1an you possibly be t-at;: And we must all answer, w-at; By t-e .race o, God+ By t-e .race o, God $ am able to stand in t-e midst o, all o, t-is+ 9e3ll brin. t-is to a close in t-e boo% o, t-e closin., t-e boo% o, Re&elation 1A?+ 9e won3t read a lot o, t-in.s -ere but >ust a ,ew closin. tribulation passa.es+ And $ wanted to .et to t-is because t-is tribulation t-at is spo%en o, -ere in t-e boo% o, Re&elation is so

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mali.ned and besmud.ed wit- t-e idea t-at it3s some ,uture time o, trouble ,or t-e world+ Re&elation 1A?, 8$ @o-n, w-o also am your brot-er, and companion in,: w-at; $n t-e world; =es, it3s certainly in t-e world+ $n t-e c-urc-; =es, certainly in t-e c-urc-+ $n t-e ,ait-; =es, certainly in t-e c-urc- but w-at -e wanted you to %now is -e3s your companion 8in tribulation and in t-e %in.dom and patience o, @esus 1-rist,: all .oin. to.et-erA tribulation, %in.dom and patience+ $t all belon.s to 1-rist and all is t-e domain o, t-e li,e o, t-e c-ild o, God+ All o, it+ 1-apter A), 8And unto t-e an.el o, t-e c-urc- in Smyrna write; T-ese t-in.s sait- t-e ,irst and t-e last, w-ic- was dead, and is ali&e, $ %now t-y wor%s, and tribulation, and po&erty, Gbut t-ou art ric-H and $ %now t-e blasp-emy o, t-em w-ic- say t-ey are @ews, and are not, but are t-e syna.o.ue o, Satan+ (ear none o, t-ose t-in.s w-ic- t-ou s-alt su,,erA be-old, t-e de&il s-all cast some o, you into prison, t-at ye may be tried; and ye s-all -a&e tribulation ten daysA be t-ou ,ait-,ul unto deat-, and $ will .i&e t-ee a crown o, li,e+: All tribulation t-at comes to t-e c-ild o, God comes ,or a predetermined purpose in a predetermined lin% it -as us in+ T-at3s w-at -e teac-es us -ere, t-at you3ll be cast into prison ten days and a,ter t-at you will .o on+ Re&elation #, ,or our last &erse+ Ferse 1", 8And one o, t-e elders answered, sayin. unto me, 9-at are t-ese w-ic- are arrayed in w-ite robes; and w-ence came t-ey; And $ said unto -im, Sir, t-ou %nowest+ And -e said to me, T-ese are t-ey w-ic- came out o, .reat tribulation, and -a&e was-ed t-eir robes, and made t-em w-ite in t-e blood o, t-e Lamb+: Some would say, 8=ea-, -ere it is+ 5ere it is+ T-is is t-at ,uture time ,or t-e end+: But w-at are you; 9-at are you w-en you reac- -ea&en; And really, t-in% about it+ 9-en you are deli&ered out o, t-is world -owe&er it may be, in God3s time, in God3s way, you will t-en -a&e been deli&ered ,rom t-e tribulation -ere in t-is world+ 6ow, we -a&e not spo%en and -a&e not noted t-at word is spo%en o, in direct relations-ip to discipline and t-at is 8c-astenin.+: Tribulation will always c-asten us o, our non4 reliance upon God+ 9-en tribulation comes in our li,e, we3re eit-er .oin. to depend on t-e Lord and draw near to God and .lori,y God and wors-ip God, or we3re not+ And as t-at tribulation remains, we are t-en more troubled t-at we -a&e it and we are more troubled and more desperate t-at we do so+ =ou and $ as t-e c-ildren o, God -a&e t-e .race o, God and t-e mercy o, God t-at we can .o to -im in times o, our trials, in times o, our a,,liction+ 9e can .o and %iss t-e &ery rod t-at disciplines us+ 9e can .o and bow our %nees be,ore t-e one w-o puts t-e rod upon our bac% and say, 8=ea, Lord, t-ou doest all t-in.s ri.-t+: Gracious Lord and heavenly Father, as we come to you this day we ask that we might be taught of you to receive all things from thy hand and to regard them as being gracious and loving and kind and generous and for our good. Always, in Jesus name. Amen.

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