The Truth About Trials

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint was just a little later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's heaven. First, here's the message about trial Revelation chapter 2, there is a price to pay for following Christ. There is a call in becoming and being a Christian will cost you to live for Jesus will cost you far more if you don't follow Christ, but be sure to know that it is costly to follow Jesus Christ.

He said you want to follow me, take up your cross daily and come after me, and is the world is becoming more and more secular in our own generation world will become more and more hostile to those of us who name the name of Christ. Now this shouldn't surprise us because through the generations. The true church has been persecuted through various kinds of trials and tribulations, and in the second chapter of the book of Revelation, Jesus himself is delivering messages to his church at seven specific churches in Asia minor and as John the regulator exiling the Isle of Patmos himself is subject to persecution and suffering. He becomes the delivery boy, the postman of Patmos. As these words of Christ, leaning through the generations and what was proof of the church in that day is increasingly true and will be increasingly true in the church of the last days and so God gave a message to a suffering church to Christians being crushed by persecution in Revelation chapter 2 and beginning of verse eight, and to the angel of the church in Smyrna write these things says the first and the last he was dead and came to life. I know your works, tribulation, and poverty but you are rich and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in the prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days.

Watch this. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death as we think about trial.

True concerning trials we need to realize today that suffering trials. These are required and therefore we should expect these trials are revealing and therefore we should endure them in these trials are rewarding and therefore we should enjoy. First of all suffering trials and tribulations are required expected to come the same world that crucified Jesus seeks to silence and crucify his church the same world that crucified Jesus would do it again if they had the opportunity and the Scripture says in second Timothy chapter 3 in verse 12, all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Now course, we don't want to stop. We want to enjoy life. We want to be comfortable in life.

We certainly don't want persecution and their evensong. Tell us today at times in pulpits that if you live for Christ. If you're in the will of God then you're going to be happy to go to be healthy, really prosperous, you never have a problem you live on easy street and got just going to keep pouring out blessing well, God indeed will bless you immeasurably in life.

God is a good God.

He wants the best for his children the Lord our God is a son of the shield. He gives grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them who walk up rightly God keeps pouring on his blessing after blessing, but did you know that one of the blessing for the Christian is the blessing of buffeting the blessing of suffering. That's what Jesus said in the longest of the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5 he said blessed are you happy are you if men revile you and persecute you, for righteousness sake say all kinds of evil against UC there's different kinds of persecution there's verbal persecution physical persecution but he said if this happens to you. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

God may allow suffering God may allow trials godly put you in the furnace of affliction in order to prepare you for eternity to deepen your faith and to give you great reward, but I'm simply saying that these trials these kinds of tribulations they are law, they are real and they are required. The church at Smyrna knew this quite well. 100 years before the church of our Lord was established there in Smyrna. This city in Asia minor was named a still functioning city today but it was named Smyrna from the root word murder Smyrna and it was because murder was produced in this particular region from trees and they were balsam type trees and they would take the flower, the fruit of the stream. The sap of this tree and they would crush it and they would make murder and this fragrance was produced. In fact the sailors used to call the court of Smyrna report of fragrance because apparently this murder is fragrances wafted over the way and the murder was produced, which by the way, became also an involving agent in the ancient world and was a part of the funeral and the burial process where the spices and and elements were placed in the grave and the bodies and so this murder was up a few.

It was an ointment and the fragrance was produced when the flower was crushed and the more you crush the ground into powder. This process, the more the fragrance came. What this fits the church at Smyrna. And Christians have suffered and all agents because there are times we are crush Jesus that I know your works, and I know your tribulation and the word tribulation that Jesus uses… In the language of the New Testament is a word which means deep anguish, crushing crisis and pain that I know all about that. And indeed, in the time of our Lord in the first generation or two of the church. 6 to 8 million Christian 6 to 8 million believers in Jesus Christ suffered torture and death at the hands of Rome underneath the cruel dictators of Rome like Nero and Domitian. There was governmental persecution. There was religious persecution. Believers were fed the beach.

They were burned they were crucified were torn apart. They were pitched with par placed on poles and live like human candles, these believers understood quite well. The crushing pain and agony of persecution. Yet the church was strengthened and suffered. The church persecuted became the church pure and you could say that the church during its days of persecution was stronger than any other time in its history and that the blood of the martyrs became the scene of the church contrast the day you look at the church, particularly in the Western world and America and when not so strong where flabby and lacing comfortable churches are filled with people who claim to be Christians but know nothing of standing for Christ, and much less suffering for Christ and I'm afraid when real persecution hits the church of our generation that many of us will melt like butter. We will melt down spiritually because we're not strong. We live in a generation that takes and takes and takes rather than gives persecution.

UC separates us from the world and strengthens us in Christ. Now the pastor of the church at Smyrna was a man by the name of Polycarp. Polycarp was a faithful pastor and leader of this congregation.

And on Saturday, February 23, 155 A.D. Polycarp gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life to Christ. It was the time of the public games in that area of the city was also known for its public games and the crowd was in a frenzy already in therefore excited, and they begin to shout away with the atheists. They called anyone who did not worship the seasons are worship these pagan deities certainly people who worship some invisible God.

They call them atheists.

They said away with the atheists. Let Polycarp the search for the cried out to the blood of this godly man Polycarp could easily have escaped is fate that day.

But interestingly enough, it already had a dream the night before and in his dream. His pillow was burning with fire, and he concluded as he told several of his friends that I must be burnt alive. So his whereabouts were given away by a detractor. And yet, not even the police captain wanted Polycarp to die. He said Sir it just say Caesar is Lord.

What harm isn't.

If you simply said to spare your own life.

Caesar is Lord. It doesn't suggest that you really mean it, just say it Polycarp was adamant saying only Jesus is Lord and when he entered the arena the Borough Council gave him the opportunity to curse the name of Christ to deny the name of Christ, and to say Caesar is Lord. Or else to the here's what Polycarp said 80 and six years of I served him, and he has done me no wrong.

How can I blaspheme my King who saved me the proconsul threatened him with burning and Polycarp replied you threatened me with a fire that burns for a time and is quickly quenched for you do not know the fire that awaits the wicked and the judgment to come in and everlasting.

Why are you waiting come do what you will.

In other words Polycarp that Braveheart said bring it on. I'm not going to deny my same night for me and I will live and die for him.

You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and his message. The truth about trials pastor this month we have a special gift for listeners to give a gift to PowerPoint its rulebook heaven. Can you tell us about this powerful resource I wanted to encourage God's people for life today by providing a biblical glimpse from God's word of the light that comes unfortunately there's so much misinformation in our culture about what heaven is like, and that many people don't even find it appealing. But God's word reveals a very different picture of heaven is vibrant is excited is a beautiful vision of a real place where you and I will have a real experience in eternity with Christ forever. The biblical description of heaven is far from boring. It is really and try out more than that it has the power to energize you as a believer to live every day filled with hope. That's why I believe my book heaven would be such an encouragement to you in these challenging days, so please be sure to request your copy of heaven. When you give today both today and get Dr. Graham's book heaven is our thank you for your Call 1-800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627 or text the word PowerPoint 259789. Now it's give back today's message. The truth about trials and suffering trials. These are required and therefore we should ask.

But then, suffering trials, these are revealing. So endure the Jesus said Satan is going to and often trials come from Satan himself. He mentions the synagogue of Satan, a religious group claiming to be one thing when they really were just instruments and tools of Satan is interesting that through the generations. So much persecution is often come at the hands of religious people. It was a religious crowd the crucified Christ, and so this synagogue of Satan was a problem he said.

But really, they weren't the problem Satan was the source of this problem. He said Satan is about to throw you into prison, so that you may be try so that you may be tested to see suffering is revealing. It revealed certain things about this is a test when you go through suffering for Christ. How you pass the test us vital to your spiritual well-being. When you go through trials.

You ask why and you are suffering for Christ sake number one. It is a confirmation that you're a child of God.

If you're suffering for Jesus Christ. That's a confirmation that's an affirmation. First Peter 414 says be happy when you're reviled ridicule for serving Christ because the spirit of God will come upon you the spirit of God will move in your life in ways previously unknown so if you're not being persecuted for Christ sake somewhat. You need to ask yourself, am I a Christian, and I truly a believer.

Can anybody tell is that old thing.

If you were arrested for being a Christian with there be enough evidence to convict you see suffering separates the men from the boys, spiritually suffering for Christ sake separates the wheat from the chaff. The real from the unreal, the phony from the authentic, so endure as a hardened soldier of Jesus Christ endure it as a true believer in Christ.

Whatever you're going through because you see these trials when we endure we just run the Christ we just run the him when we go through something in our lives.

It just it just brings us to him for believe and we can endure it, we can we can get stronger so often were soft were flabby were lazy and these trials they strengthen us trials you see are only temporary.

Why Jesus said to be thrown into prison for 10 days. There's no discussion among among Bible scholars. What is that 10 days is it being the 10 persecutions of the Christian church. What you what I think it means 10 days. I think it makes 10 days. The point is he. He said for 10 days you get to be imprisoned. There is a beginning to a trial. There is a middle to the trial and there's an end of the trial given notice that Bridget is a beginning, a middle NNN. The only problem in trials.

We all know where we are. Most of the time Lord is this the start. Is this the middle. Is this the end. But God has promised that there are seasons of suffering. One fellow said, you know, my favorite verse in the Bible is it came to pass, you know it didn't come to stay.

It came to pass, and Jesus was saying these trials. They toughen you up.

These trials are temporary and was going to last will be your fate in your future with Christ.

The Scripture says the world is passing away and the last of it, but he does the will of God abides forever. The fact is you're going to die, to break the news to you but it Christ carries you're going to die.

You might as well die for something spectacular and glorious. If you going to die, died serving Jesus die sacrificing and giving your life to Christ. One final thing suffering is real is all, if required, expected, suffering is revealing.

It reveals whether or not we belong to Christ and how strong we are in Christ and then suffering is rewarding. Enjoy it. Don't cry celebrated because what does Jesus say look down in verse 10. Again, he says, at the close of that verse be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. The Stefan office crown Stefan office the big doors crown Jesus said great is your reward in heaven. He said lay up treasures in heaven. These Christians at Smyrna they didn't have anything, but they didn't have treasures in heaven. They were laying them up and he promised a great reward. The Scripture says in Romans 817.

If we suffer with him, we will share in his glory.

There's going to be a huge celebration. That's why we are to remain fearless in the face of trials and struggles and suffering were to be faithful.

I like the way the message puts it, don't quit, even if it cost you your life, stay there believing I have a life crown sized and ready for you fearless faith. First Peter 419. So if you're suffering, according to God's will keep on doing what is right and crushed yourself.

The God who made you and he will never fail.

Be fearless, be faith, nothing can stop a child of God say what is it take to stop you a look a laugh a disappointment, discouragement, somebody making fun of you.

Was it take to stop what is it costing you to be a Christian and what costs will you be faithful to Christ no matter what I mean how many know how many truly know that you are a Christian, I didn't say how many people know that you go to church. The number one reason that people don't speak up and speak out for Christ to share their faith is fear.

What would people think what would people say and were more interested in people liking us, then we are in sharing our faith and yet nearly 200,000 people in this world die every single day every second three people die on this plan. One after another, every second three people step out into eternity and the consequences are severe. That's why Jesus spoke of the second death. He said he will overcome the second death, the first at this physical everybody dies. The first death, but the second death is eternal and millions of people need Christ, why would we allow someone to set us down to shut us up and keep us quiet or to tell us we can't talk about Jesus in our school and our jobs. We will be in heaven. Five minutes before will be say why did my share him more.

Why didn't I serve him more white and I love him more and I give him more suffering trials and tribulations they will be rewarded so experience them. Enjoy the Stefan office was a man by the name of Stefan office in the Bible. His name was Steve he was a godly man, a deacon stood one day and proclaim Christ and Christ alone is Lord. As a result, he felt the bitter hatred of those who despise Christ and ultimately he was stoned for his faith.

This godly man Stefan Austin as he was dying, looked up into heaven, and his face was shining like the glory of an angel. Scripture says as he looked in the heaven there was Jesus standing at the right hand of the father. Now every time the Bible you see Jesus at the right hand of the father described as being at the right hand of the father. He seated but here he standing as though he is welcoming his faithful warrior home.

He stands up for Stephen says welcome home, my child. Well done good and faithful servant. Be faithful, be fervent, fearless, as you serve Jesus Christ because one of these days you're going to stand before God and what you've done with your life in Christ all this going die, listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message about trials. No matter what struggles are facing today. You have hope in the promise is awaiting you in heaven.

And God calls you to share that hope with others today. That's why we want to encourage and inspire you today by sending you pastor Graham's book heaven is exciting. That takes you straight to Scripture to help me see all that awaits you in the life to come, and how it impacts your life today you find hope for today encouraged to share that hope with others. So don't wait to request a copy. Heaven is our special thanks. Get help proclaim God's word through PowerPoint to request your copy when you call today, when 800 795-627-1800 795467. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop are restored. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotion our website again is Jack Graham.Castro PowerPoint. Each of us face the fact is believed he will suffer and at times because of our faith, not just in spite of our faith but because of our fate as John 1633 says in the world you will have tribulation, but Jesus said, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And if you never face the fire or been abused for your faith and chances are you're not living a distinctively Christian life you must be willing to stand up for Christ at all costs. But when you do, you will inevitably face opposition, and maybe even suffer hardships is important to remember that in the midst of trials. God continues to pour blessings out on those who believe and trust him. Here's what first Peter 419 says therefore let us who suffer according to the will of God commit our souls to him and doing good as to a faithful Creator nothing and I mean nothing can harm you as a child of God. If you are fearless and faithful to him. Things may hurt you, but they can never harm you. So today I want to challenge you the next time you face a trial in your life. Remember that Christ went through trials just like you, and came out victorious. As a follower of Jesus, you can have that same victory in Christ today, and that is today's remember when you give a gift PowerPoint will send you heaven is our thanks. Call 1800-7954 627-1800 795467 also text the word PowerPoint 259789. Join us again next time. Dr. Graham's wings a message about how Jesus showed that forgiveness is always possible that the next time on PowerPoint with Jack PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries