Strength for the Climbing

Now, brethren, I'm personally beginning to do some physical preparation for a trip that I will be taking to Wyoming in July. To be honest, I have only been thinking about beginning the physical preparation for the trip. I've been too busy to do much else, but I have been thinking about it. It is a trip to scout out the Wind River Range in Wyoming and to prepare for taking a group of young men and women to this rugged, but extremely beautiful and inspiring area. Mark Mickelson will be heading up Challenger 2 program. I'll be helping him. Matt Finchel from Cincinnati will also be going on this trip along with his wife and two older children. So, a small group of us are going out to be trained for the Challenger 2 program. We'll be doing some rock climbing, some rappelling, and some belaying, and lots of hiking and some fishing, too. I'm looking forward to that because there are some big fish in the Wind River Range, some big trout, and there's some golden trout. There, I don't know if we'll be in the actual lakes where there's golden trout, but I was reading an article this week, and there are some beautiful golden trout there as well, so I'm hoping possibly we can catch a few of those, too, as well as some lake trout. I know Mark Mickelson was saying that he caught like a 22-inch, I think it was probably a lake trout, the high-altitude lakes. So, we'll be doing some fishing, and I'll probably be teaching fishing, by the way. It's very important that I do some fishing. I've got to know how to catch those fish to help out those who will be camping with us next year. Now, I've decided that I need to start walking, and then hopefully jogging up the steep hill that leads to my home to get in better shape for the trip. We'll be doing much of our hiking and climbing at altitudes around 10,000 feet above sea level.

As you know, the 7 tenths of a mile road that leads to our house is dirt, gravel, even some rocks. But the worst part for those who are exercising is the steep hill. I don't really look forward to training on that hill, but I know if I want to be physically prepared, then climbing this mountain will at least help some.

Sea level or... I don't know how much is going to help. It won't help a lot with the altitude, but hopefully I'll be in better shape so that I can adapt to the altitude more quickly.

On more than one occasion in the past, Barb and I have both commented on how much we hate to run. You probably don't necessarily love to run either. In fact, probably a lot of you don't run because you hate doing it and you refuse to.

I'm not running as much as I used to. I'm doing a lot more jogging and even walking these days.

We don't like it, but we know it's necessary if we are to stay in reasonably good shape. We're also... we've been doing quite a bit of elliptical exercise as well. We believe that with the pain, there will be some gain. We believe that we'll be healthier, that we'll feel better, we'll enjoy life more, and we'll be able to accomplish more because we will have more energy in the long haul. So if you're not getting any exercise at all, I would recommend that you think about getting some exercise because it will certainly improve your health. I often liken our run-up our road to life itself. In a very real sense, that run is a trial to me. The run is full of ups and downs, going up that road. It's full of ups and downs. You know, we've got a pretty steep hill. There are also potholes along the way. There's some loose gravel. Sometimes we've slipped and fallen, and we've skinned ourselves up. Sixteen years ago, when I first began running up that mountain, there were times when I wanted to walk.

There were times I did walk. And as I said, I do more walking now. But just like our road, and especially the climb up the steep hill, life itself just seems to be full of trials and problems of one sort or another. Doesn't it? In fact, some of you commented in that regard on the way in here today. Mr. Clement, I asked him how he was doing, and for the last couple of weeks, he's been going through a health trial himself. And probably many of you have. I know many of you have. In fact, I forgot to mention that Ada Peel would like your prayers, because Ada's been having some health issues that have been bothering her for quite some time. And she's been going to the doctor some to try to figure out what all the problem is. So if you would add Ada Peel to your prayer list, I know she would appreciate that. And she's going to be anointed after services, looking to God for healing. But we all have our issues, don't we? Some of you are in neck braces. Some of you... That's your... I'm not! But, you know, we have our own health issues that we have to deal with, that we have to struggle with. And it's just our lot in life to go through various trials. I'm sure you've stopped to ask why. Why all these trials? Why do we see so many things happening? Tornadoes, blowing away people's homes, even church members' homes, people getting cancer and having, you know, some very rough sicknesses. Why is life so hard at times? What is the purpose for trials in our lives? Why does God allow trials to come upon us? Why are... again, why are they so hard at times? What are we supposed to learn from these trials in our lives? What does it take to endure these trials physically? More importantly, what does it take to endure spiritually? It actually takes the same thing in one sense. It takes strength to climb the mountain of life. It takes strength to climb the mountain of life. To climb mountains, it takes strength. Trials are our mountains. Trials are our Goliath. We know David fought Goliath. David was puny in the sight of Goliath. Goliath was a trial, but obviously he conquered that trial. Today I'd like to discuss seven types of trials and the key to overcoming all of them. Today we're going to talk about strength for the climbing. If you like titles, you can call this one strength for the climbing. We all have to climb, and we all have to need strength.

We all need strength. We all have to have the strength to endure and to climb those mountains. Now, brethren, there are many trials in life. There are financial trials, health trials, relationship trials, spiritual trials, etc., etc. But I would like us to consider the root cause of a number of trials. We'll go through seven to be exact, and the lessons that we can learn from each of these trials. The first one is a trial that we bring upon ourselves because we are faithful to God. There are trials that we bring upon ourselves because we are faithful to God. Now, this is the best kind of trial. If you are persecuted for righteousness' sake, you will do well. God will bless you for that. Spiritually, you will definitely be blessed in so many ways. In 1 Peter 3, it talks about suffering for righteousness' sake. 1 Peter 3, verse 14. But even if you should suffer for righteousness, and who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? Now, that's a question. There are people out there that will try to harm you if you are a follower of what is good. But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Obviously, it's a whole lot better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. So this is a root cause of suffering, a trial that we bring upon ourselves because of righteousness, because of obeying God and keeping His commandments. In 1 Peter 4, and we're quite familiar with this particular verse, 1 Peter 4, verse 12, Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. Peter's saying, don't be shocked when trials come along, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The head of this church had to suffer greatly. Is it any wonder that we will also need to suffer at times through various trials? If you are reproach for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blaspheme, but on your part He is glorified.

Yes, we glorify God, we praise Him, we worship Him, but let none of you suffer as a murderer, as a thief, as an evildoer, or as a busy body in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now, if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good as to a faithful Creator. We are called to do good, brethren, and when trials come, we must not shrink from our trials, especially if they are coming because of righteousness' sake. We must continue to stay fast to the truth of God. We must continue to keep God's commandments. We must continue to obey God in all aspects, living by every word of God.

The Scriptures are clear. The Sabbath is a day sanctified and made holy by God. God's holy days are to be observed. Oftentimes, people don't like the fact that we keep these Jewish days. And there will be more persecution as we draw nearer to the return of Jesus Christ.

There will be those who will hold Sunday very dear, and they won't like it when we've chosen another day to worship.

In 2 Timothy 3, it also shows that if we follow Christ, we will suffer persecution.

And undoubtedly, we have not yet seen even the real beginnings of real persecution.

I mean, honestly, we live in a land that's tremendously free. We have so many liberties and so many freedoms here. I'm sure we take them for granted, but those freedoms may be taken away in our lifetime.

So we need to be prepared if that happens, that we will remain faithful regardless of the consequences. We may have to suffer for righteousness' sake. Some people will be martyred for righteousness' sake.

2 Timothy 3, verse 10.

2 Timothy 3, verse 10.

Of course, this is Paul speaking here. He says, You know, God delivered him out of tremendous trials and persecutions, even being left for dead at one point, being stoned, maybe possibly dead, and then resurrected.

God delivered him out of all of those trials. Verse 12.

Now, that is a promise that in one way or another, those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

It is going to happen, but evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

And we are to live by the Scriptures, by the doctrines that God has outlined in His Word.

So trials we bring upon ourselves because we are faithful to God will take place.

Persecution in the form of discrimination on the job or at school is a trial for many in God's Church.

Now, in this country, it's not as big a trial as it is in some countries, for sure.

But being shunned by others is something that does happen at times.

Even my family was not allowed to be a part of a home school group because we didn't believe in the Trinity.

We wouldn't sign a statement of belief that we believed in the Trinity.

And so we were not allowed to be a part of that organization. Now, God provided a different organization that was probably better for us, but a mild form of persecution. Trials will come upon those who are faithful to God. That's the first type of trial that we need to be aware of. Now, when you're suffering for that reason, certainly count it all joy. And realize that you're suffering for righteousness' sake.

And that is commendable for you.

Number two, another trial, another root cause. There are trials that we bring upon ourselves because of our sins and our unwise decisions, poor decisions and sinful decisions. We do bring trials upon ourselves because of this. We've all done it. There's not a single person in here that hasn't brought a trial upon themselves because of a poor choice, a poor decision or a sinful act.

These are trials that will come upon us because we are human beings. We're not perfect beings. We're not perfect as Christ is perfect. So there are times when these trials will come upon us. In fact, the job of a minister is to deal oftentimes with trials that have come into people's lives because of wrong choices. And oftentimes, sinful acts, helping people pick up the pieces from things that they brought upon themselves. Too often, we are careless and foolish human beings. We must learn wisdom. We must learn patience. We must learn humility. It's not something that we're just automatically given or born with. It's something that we have to strive for, and we have to humble ourselves and submit to God if we're going to develop this kind of wisdom and patience and humility. We build character by responding properly to the trials that come upon us. Whatever kind of trial it is, if we respond properly, then we're going to build character.

We need to learn to turn from sin, brethren. We really do need to learn to turn from sin. We need to repent of our sins because we are bringing trials upon us because of our sins. In Numbers 32-23, and you don't need to take the time to go there, but we're familiar with this principle. It says, Be sure your sins will find you out. Be sure that your sins will find you out. This had to do with an instant instance when the people of Israel were going into the Promised Land. They were taking conquest of the Land. Moses talked about this principle, or Joshua, who talked about this principle. He said, Be sure your sins will find you out. If you act against God's laws and His ways, then you can count on those sins finding you out. You will pay some kind of price. Thankfully, God doesn't make us pay the ultimate price right away. The wages of sin is death. That's what we deserve for our sins, but God is merciful. God is gracious. We do suffer other trials, though, because of our sins. If it's only just that we feel ashamed of what we've done.

I felt ashamed of things that I've done, and that helped bring me to repentance. Godly sorrow for the wrong acts that we commit, the things that we do. If we can learn our lesson quickly and repent, then the consequences oftentimes aren't so great. But if we don't learn our lessons, then oftentimes the consequences are great. Families have been totally destroyed because of people's sins. Be sure your sins will find you out. So we need to turn from our sins. We have an opportunity to set an example for others when we turn from sin and change our lives for the better. In Hebrews 12, it talks about how God chastens those He loves. When we sin, God takes that seriously. God loves us. He doesn't want to see us sin. He wants to see us turn from our sins. In Hebrews 12, verse 6, Hebrews 12, verse 6, For whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.

The Lord chastens those He loves. Now He chastens us when we are going astray, when we are doing things that are contrary to His way of life. Verse 7, If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? A good father only chastens his son when his son has done something wrong, or has done something harmful to himself or to others. And God is the same way. If you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they, indeed, for a few days chastened us as seen best to them, speaking of earthly fathers, but God the Father for our prophet, that we might be partakers of his holiness, that we might become holy even as God is holy. Now, no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. In other words, if we learn our lesson by the trials that come upon us because of our own sins, if we learn those lessons, then we will be trained and we will seek repentance. We will have a godly sorrow, and God will grant us repentance. In Romans 2, it talks about how God's righteous judgment is upon all people. Romans 2. Let's go there briefly. Romans 2. Romans 2. Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, in verse 1, chapter 2 of Romans. Whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practices the same things. Oftentimes, people point the finger at someone else when they're committing the very same act. That's hypocritical. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenence in heart, you are treasuring up for yourselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to His deeds. We reap what we sow, brethren. Eternal life to those who by patience, continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor, and immortality, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath. And there's all kinds of unrighteousness. Upon those who do follow unrighteousness, this course of unrighteousness, there will be indignation and wrath. There will be tribulation and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek. But glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good to the Jew first and also to the Greek, for there is no partiality with God. God is not a respecter of persons. God is a respecter of a person's heart. God looks on the heart. He knows whether you're truly repentant when you sin, or if you're not repentant. He sees that, and God acts accordingly. If we are repentant and we change the behavior, then oftentimes God is very merciful.

Sometimes He's extremely merciful even when we haven't yet changed, when we continue in our sins. But trust me, be sure your sin will find you out. You won't get away with it forever. So if there are things that you are doing, habits, things that you are doing, now is the time to stop. Now is the time to seek the will of God and to please Him more faithfully and more perfectly. So rather learn to turn from your sins. The second trial is those that we bring upon ourselves because of our sins. The third trial is those that others bring upon us because of their sins. Those that others bring upon us because of their sins.

In Numbers 14.30, let's go there briefly. Numbers 14.30. Here we find the account of the spies who were unfaithful, who were unbelieving, and they discouraged the people of Israel. Caleb and Joshua were encouraging the people of Israel to go into the Promised Land, to take the Promised Land.

That's what God told them to do. That's what God was giving them. But instead, they leaned to their own understanding. They leaned to their own carnal nature. They did not have faith. They did not trust and believe in God to the degree that they needed to. They did not step out in faith. So in Numbers 14.30, verse 29, it talks about how the carcasses of those who complained will fall in the wilderness. In verse 30, except for Caleb and Joshua, who shall by no means enter the land, which I swore I would make you dwell in, only Joshua and Caleb would enter the land, not the others.

But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. In other words, God is going to protect the children in the wilderness. He's going to take care of them, but those who have rebelled against him will die in the wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and bear the brunt of your infidelity. They had to bear the brunt of their father's infidelity. The children had to wander in the wilderness for forty years.

They could have enjoyed the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Instead, they were in a land of hardship, a land of many trials. And it was because of the sins of the fathers who did not step forward in faith and possess the land. There are trials that others bring upon us because of their sins.

None of us like to suffer that way, do we? None of us like to suffer because of other people. How many of us enjoy that? Raise your hand. Of course, we don't enjoy it if we're suffering, if it's because of our own faults, or if it's because of our righteousness that we suffer. That's not near as hard to take as it is when someone else is sinning and it's affecting us.

And oftentimes, we feel the brunt of that in our families. When a father is an alcoholic, the wife and the children pay a price for that. When the father is an adulterer, or the wife and adulteress, the husband, the spouse, the wife, the children, they all pay a price for that.

So there are sins that others commit that bring trials upon us. Those are particularly difficult to deal with. It takes a lot of patience to deal with a trial that someone else has brought upon us. It takes a lot of love. It takes compassion. It takes understanding. And it's not easy to respond properly when you are suffering because of others. But when we respond properly in a case like that, God blesses us.

God is with us. God helps us. So if you are suffering because of someone else, I would encourage you to take that to heart and realize that this trial is a trial that you need to respond to in a proper way. And you need to seek God's mind.

You need to seek the mind of Christ. Certainly try to help the person. Go to them. Talk to them. Plead with them. Encourage them to change, to stop their wrong behavior. Do your part by communicating that to others. And hopefully that will help. And hopefully they will respond. And hopefully they will change. And hopefully that trial will no longer be upon you because of the sin of others. We are all affected by those near us. Generally, the closer they are to us, the more we are affected by their actions. When near to us sins, we will suffer consequences of those sins. We've all done that.

Everyone has suffered a consequence from the sins of others. It's just the way it goes. It's the human condition. We learn to avoid contact also with blatant sinners when it's possible. We pull away from blatant sinners. People that will not change or repent of their sin. Sometimes these things end up in divorce because a husband or a wife will not change. They will not repent. They will not alter their behavior. They will not try to overcome. And sometimes divorce is a result of that. It's tragic. It's sad, but that is a reality. That is a tremendous trial that comes upon a family when divorce enters in.

Divorce should be avoided at nearly all costs, but not all costs. There are times, you know, the Bible does show that there are times when divorce is even biblically sound. But we have to use wisdom and get counsel whenever we're in a situation like that. Divorce should be rare in God's church. It should be very rare. I mean, it shouldn't ever happen, really, if people are responding to the Spirit of God dwelling in them.

But sometimes people are not married to converted people, and things happen. People are not responding in a godly way, and it causes a lot of grief. So there are trials that others bring upon us.

Again, we have an opportunity to set an example for others when we take this type of trial patiently and when we take it with love. We must stop the cycle of sin in our families as best we can by not sinning ourselves. So it is important that we set a good example for the person who's having the problem.

But there should be tough love. I'm not saying just act like nothing's happening. That's not the way to deal with the situation. It is to confront it. It is to deal with it. And it is to make sure that progress is being made. So trials others bring upon us because of their sins are real trials that sometimes we have to deal with. Fourthly, there are trials that we bring upon others because of our sins.

And those obviously are grievous sins that we have to take responsibility for. If you are caught in a sin that's affecting your family, now is the time to repent. Now is the time to change. Now is the time to overcome. Don't hurt your loved ones any longer. Come out of this sin and be a sinner no more. That's what the Scripture tells us. Again, sometimes we bring trials upon others because of our actions, because of our sins. Whether it's our infidelity, our anger, our gossip, our drunkenness, our covetousness, our lying, our stealing, etc., etc., whatever it is, it all brings trials and suffering upon those that we love and those who love us.

So it's very, very important that we take this type of trial personally. If you have done something to bring a trial upon your family, it is time to repent of that sin and lift that trial from your loved one. Lift that trial from your family. We learn that our sins will affect others, and so we are more careful to obey. And we're more careful to follow God because we don't want to hurt those that we love. So it is important that you communicate with your mate, with your spouse, with your children. Sometimes children do things to hurt us. Sometimes we do things to hurt our children.

There should be open communication, and there should be a willingness to repent of our sins and change. Let's go on to a fifth trial. There are trials that Satan brings upon us because he wants to hurt us. There are trials that Satan brings upon us because he wants to hurt us. Satan is the God of this world. Satan is a controller. He is a manipulator. He is a deceiver. He has deceived the whole world. Satan brings trials upon us because he wants to hurt us.

And frankly, he does not want us to respond properly to those trials. And that's when Satan will make inroads in your life. When you do not respond properly to a trial, Satan can make inroads in your life. We learn that Satan really is our adversary. When we go through trials that he has brought upon us, we also realize that God will protect us and fight our battles for us. But we must resist Satan, as the Scripture says in James 4, verse 7, resist Satan and he will flee from you, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

So there are times when Satan is bringing a temptation upon you. This is a trial. You need to realize that and recognize any time Satan is tempting you, it is a trial. You are being tested. You are being tried. How will you respond to that test? How will you respond to that trial? If we resist Satan, then he will flee from us. Rather, too often, we really don't resist Satan like we should. Too often, we are too close to the sin and we just simply don't resist like we should. It takes a closeness to God to be able to resist the things that are especially tempting to us.

You know what is mostly tempting for you. You have an idea of what it is that tempts you the most. Now is the time to pray and to fast about those problems in your life. Sometimes we neglect to realize that if we would just pray and fast about our sins, God would give us victory over those sins. But when we are cozying up to those sins, we are not going to have the strength to resist Satan.

We just simply aren't. We need to draw near to God. We draw near to God through fasting, through prayer, and through dedicating our lives to Him more fully and more faithfully. Satan brings upon us trials. He wants to hurt us. In 1 Chronicles 21, I don't think I'm going to take the time to go there and read it. You can read the account later, but it talks about how Satan stood up against Israel.

Satan stood up against the children of God, the children of Israel, and he moved David to number them. It was a lack of faith on David's part. He was moved to number Israel. Plagues were poured out upon the children of Israel because of David and his sins. But Satan was the one who stood up against Israel. Satan was the one that was tempting David. David had a part to play in this as well. He had a responsibility himself. But Satan also has a hand in our trials. So we have to recognize our enemy, and we have to fight back against our enemy. We have to fight back furiously against Satan.

We have to fight back with determination. We have to fight back with courage. And when we draw near to God, we will be given the strength to overcome. And, brethren, that is the key that will help you overcome all of these trials, is if you will look to God for the strength. Don't look to yourself for the strength, but look to God for the strength. Dedicate your life more fully to God, to serving God and Christ through prayer, through Bible study, through fasting, through meditating on God's ways on a regular basis, through making good choices to come out of this world and not allow the world to influence you and to weaken you.

God wants you to be strong. And the only way that you will be strong is if you rely on Him. If you go to Him for the strength, you won't find it anywhere else. You have to go to God for the strength that you need.

Only God can help you overcome these trials. That is strength for the climbing. You need strength to climb your mountains, to overcome your trials, and only God can give you that strength. In Luke 13, it talks about a woman whom Satan had bound for 18 years. Let's go there and consider this example. Luke 13. This was a tremendous trial upon this woman. Satan had bound her for 18 years. Luke 13. He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Christ was teaching, and behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity 18 years, and it was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

But when Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. You are loosed from this infirmity. And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. After 18 years. So some of you are going through trials. Your wives are going through trials. Some of them have been a long time, no doubt, but hopefully they haven't been 18 years long. It's possible. Some of you may have trials that you've dealt with for more than 18 years. This woman had a severe trial. She was bent over. She could not raise herself up. He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight. That is the power and the strength of God. That's the kind of power we need, isn't it?

That's the kind of strength and power that we need.

Verse 14, But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. Wow! Now, is that petty or what?

Jesus did good on the Sabbath. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He shows how the Sabbath ought to be observed and how it ought to be kept. For He is Lord of the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was made for man, for the good of mankind. And Jesus Christ healed this woman of an infliction that plagued her for 18 long years. And this man had the audacity to bring this up.

He said to the crowd, There are six days on which men ought to work, therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered Him and said, Hypocrite, does not each one of you on the Sabbath lose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water? Lead it away to water it. So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, think of it! Satan has bound her for 18 years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath. And when he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Brother, we need this kind of power. Perhaps God will begin to pour that power out on us sometime in the future. We haven't seen that tremendous, miraculous power to any large degree. People have been healed. People have been healed miraculously. I had anointed a man who should have been brain-dead, and that man is up and around now and has been for years. He was healed. But he tried to kill himself, and he laid underneath an exhaust pipe all night long. And God spared his life. He was in a garage, and God spared his life. And he was in the hospital, and the doctor said that even if he recovered, they didn't expect him to have any real quality of life or be able to function. That man was up walking and talking a week later. So I have seen miraculous power at times, but we don't see it nearly as often as we would like. We don't witness it. The timing isn't right for that kind of power to be happening on a regular basis. Whatever. I mean, it appears that the timing isn't right for that. The timing will hopefully become right before too long. And we'll see more and more of these kinds of healings. In Acts 19, it talks about diseases that left and evil spirits that went out. Let's go to Acts 19. Again, we see the power of God in the early church of God. God working with the apostles, working with the disciples in Acts 19. Acts 11. Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Now we do that practice today. I sent an anointed cloth to Mrs. Dudley just a few days ago. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. Also, there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus, I know, and Paul, I know, but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus, and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds, and many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it valued 50,000 pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

Miracles do glorify Christ, and I hope and pray that we will see more and more miracles in the future. But diseases came out, evil spirits came out, when people were healed. When Paul would send, as it says again in verse 12, handkerchiefs came, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them. So if you are not going... if you don't look too anointing, then there's something wrong. When you're sick, that should be the first thing that you think about, is being anointed.

You know, if you have a sickness, the Scripture says, if you're sick, call upon the elders of the church, have them pray for you and anoint you, and the prayer of faith will raise up the sick. So obviously, that's the first thing you do. It doesn't mean that you can't use the help of men.

If that's your choice, it's a matter of choice, how we handle these issues, these health issues. But certainly, the Scriptures show that we should go to God and count on Him, and look to Him first and foremost for His healing. 2 Corinthians 12 talks about Paul's thorn in the flesh. I don't think I'll take the time to go there, but you can go back and read about it.

Paul was buffeted by Satan, it says. Satan was the source of his trial. Satan was the one who was bringing this trial upon him, and God chose to allow that to continue. He didn't heal him right away. I don't know if He ever healed him of the thorn in the flesh.

2 Corinthians 5, verse 8, Satan is a roaring lion. He is seeking whom he may devour. He is our adversary. In Ephesians 6, it talks about how we wrestle against Satan the devil. We wrestle against principalities and powers in high places, spiritual places, spiritual wickedness in high places. We must know our enemy. Satan the devil is our enemy. He brings trials upon us to hurt us, how we react.

If we go to God in faith, looking to God to heal us, to restore us, to lift us up, that is the proper response to a trial in healing, going to God in faith. And if we're not healed right away, then we continue in faith. We continue patiently. We wait on God. We learn patience. We learn faith.

Sometimes it takes more faith not to be healed right away. It takes more faith to hang in there and trust God and know that He loves you and know that He's hearing your prayers, knowing that He cares for you, knowing that He'll be there for you. God will comfort you through all your trials.

He will not leave you. He will not forsake you, even if He does not heal you right away. We wrestle against Satan the devil. We must resist Satan the devil. So number five, a fifth type of trial, was the type of trial that Satan brings upon you because he wants to hurt you. Let's go on to number six. Number six is the type of trial. Oh, by the way, one last point. Romans 13 verse 14. I did want to go briefly there. One last point under number five.

Romans chapter 13 verse 14. Romans 13 verse 14. This is a very important point, and I'm afraid oftentimes we don't apply this Scripture. And we need to apply it. I talked about it some already, but let's go to a Scripture that clearly says what we need to be doing. In verse 13, it talks about casting off the work of darkness, putting on...

That's verse 12. Putting on the armor of light. Paul says, let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. Too often we make provision for the flesh. As I said, we cozy up to those things that tempt us the most.

Instead of having an ironclad will and set our minds to stay away from certain things, we allow those things to come in. Anyone who has a problem with pornography needs to set his will against pornography and not go there. Otherwise, he's making provision for the flesh. So these are fundamental principles that we need to apply. Get away from those things that tempt you. Don't go there. Stay away from those things. The closer you are to God, the better you will be able to do that. The further away from God, the more you're going to want to fulfill the lust of the flesh, the pride of life.

So it's so important to draw near to God. Make no provision for the flesh. 6. Sixth trial. Type of trial. The type of trial that time and chance brings upon us. There are trials that time and chance bring upon us. Sometimes we're in the wrong place at the wrong time. We're just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's time and chance.

Ecclesiastes chapter 9 points this out, that there is a time when time and chance is against us. Sometimes people end up in car accidents and things because they're just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 11. I'm sorry, it's not verse 11. Yes, it is. Ecclesiastes 9 verse 11. Solomon says, For I returned and saw unto the sun, The race is not to the swift. Now, normally the swift should win a race, right?

It doesn't always happen. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time. Like fish taken in a cruel net, a fish is swimming along, minding its own business, having a great day. All of a sudden, caught in a net.

Or a bird is caught in a snare. A bird is having a wonderful time, and all of a sudden, steps into a snare, boom, it's caught, and then it's eaten. Time and chance, it was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and maybe it wasn't real careful either, and stumbled into something it shouldn't have. But the point is, time and chance does happen to us all. Like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time. We live in an evil time.

There's much destruction on the earth today. There's much destruction on the earth, for a number of reasons. So the sons of men are snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them. There's an example that Christ used about, don't think the people that the tower fell on were worse sinners than others. It was time and chance. They weren't worse sinners. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes those trials come upon us. We have to make the best of them if that's what happens. We can't blame God. It's time and chance. It wasn't God who caused it to happen.

God allowed it to happen, but He didn't cause it to happen. We live in an evil age. We should long for a better world. So we learned that there are some trials that we have very little control over. No one caused it. It was time and chance. It was just the wrong place at the wrong time. We learned to accept those types of trials, and we make the best of them.

And we look to God for His intervention, His healing, and His restoration. We rely upon Him at times like that. That's where we get the strength to overcome that trial, is by relying upon God, placing our faith and trust in Him. And now we go to the seventh trial, the type of trial. Number seven, trials that God Himself brings upon us. There are trials that God Himself brings upon us. There are times when we take notice and realize that God tests us to prove us.

And He corrects us because He loves us. Now, we talked about correcting us because He loves us, but when we haven't done anything wrong, and God brings a trial upon us, it is for our good. In John 15, it talks about every branch that bears fruit. He prunes that it may bear more fruit. God is in the process of developing character in us. He wants us to grow in character. He wants us to become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. And Christ is the true vine. My Father is the vine dresser, it says in John 15, verse 1. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, talking about the fruit of God's Spirit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit.

God will work with you if you are growing and overcoming and developing. If you are bearing good fruit, God will prune you so you will bear even more fruit. And sometimes God does that in the form of a trial. He allows a trial to come upon you. Remember what happened to Job. Job was the most righteous man who lived. God used him as an example, even to Satan the devil. He said, look at my servant Job. There is no one like him on the earth. He is a righteous man. Satan said, just let me have at him and he will curse you. God allowed that to go on. I'll say, He used Satan in that case, but in a sense, God was working to perfect Job too.

How much of it God was orchestrating? How much of it he was using Satan? I mean, God is the one. He is the master potter, isn't he? He forms the clay.

So every branch that bears good fruit, God will prune it so it may bear more fruit. In 2 Corinthians 1, it talks about how God will comfort us in our trials. Let's go there briefly. God will comfort us in our trials and God will strengthen us. Chapter 1, verse 3. 2 Corinthians 1, verse 3. 2 Corinthians 1, verse 3.

2 Corinthians 3, verse 3. 3 Corinthians 3, verse 3. 4 And the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation, even something that He brings upon us for our own good, He will comfort us through that trial, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. So God wants us to use the example that He sets for us by giving us comfort. God will give us comfort if we will call upon Him, if we will draw near to Him. He will strengthen us. He will comfort us. He will help us overcome our trials. And we are to take that same example and apply it to ourselves, and we are to comfort others.

God wants you to learn to comfort others. God allows trials so that you may learn to comfort others as well.

Verse 5, for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. We are consoled through Jesus Christ. When we look to the head of the church, He consoles us. Now, if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. And just as surely as you suffer, God will console you. God will help you through the trial. God will strengthen you. God will give you what you need. He will encourage you. And you are to take that encouragement and help others. So we learn to help others by the things that we suffer as well. There are trials that God brings upon us for our own good.

We must see God in our trials. We must realize that He is always there in our trials. He has not forsaken us in our trials. There are at least seven different types of trials that we've talked about today. When you're going through a trial, try to determine what is the root cause of that trial. Which one of these seven, or maybe there's more than one, that is in play. And then remember that it is the strength of God that will help you overcome that trial. It is God's strength. It is God's power. It is God's might that will help you overcome that trial. You need to draw close to God. I need to draw close to God.

In Isaiah 48, it talks about how we are being refined for God's glory. Let's go there briefly. Isaiah 48.

Isaiah 48. 10. 10. Behold, I have refined you, says God, but not as silver. I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

God is in your trials. Remember, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, God was there with them. God is with you in your trials.

Behold, I have refined you, not as silver. I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it. For how should my name be profaned, and I will not give my glory to another?

We are being refined for God's glory.

We are to glorify God in our conduct, brethren.

Christ was made perfect through sufferings. We shall be made perfect as well through sufferings. We shall endure to the end. With God's help, we will overcome all the trials that come upon us.

One of God's names is God Provides. He is our provider, and He will provide the strength, the courage, and the faith for all of life's challenges and trials.

He is indeed our source. He is our strength for the climbing. We can climb any mountain, any trial, can be overcome through the power of God.

Yes, life has its trials. We should thank God for trials.

We don't like them, just like I don't like to run up the hill, and I don't necessarily like to think of the training of God.

I don't think I'm supposed to go through to get in shape to handle mountain climbing.

I don't think I'll be doing too much mountain climbing. I'll be doing some. I'll be learning to belay and repel and things like that that aren't quite as exhausting.

Mark Mickelson is my age, so I figure if he can do it, I can do it. He's actually a little bit older than I am.

So you might want to start praying for us now.

But we learn from our trials. We draw closer to God through our trials. We are to learn more faith through our trials.

We are to grow in courage through our trials. Brethren, God will give us strength to climb our mountains. God will give us strength to overcome our trials.