See, here's the question that James is bringing up. It's not how much of him I have, but how much of me does he have? That's what it is. Do you trust him? Yes. In a time of trouble.

See, here's the question that James is bringing up. It's not how much of him I have, but how much of me does he have? That's what it is. Do you trust him? Yes. In a time of trouble.

Welcome to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford. Junior senior pastor of the Christ Bible Church in Chicago. I'm Steve Hillard. Glad you're with us today as we continue our study of James chapter one and a message called Seeing Purpose in Your Problems and Pain. And as we do go through life, we all encounter problems and pain. And those are very often the times or the seasons of life where our trust in Christ is really stretched and has the opportunity to grow immensely. You know, it's really easy to say that you trust Christ when things are going well in life, but when the problems come and you think you see an easy way out. But it wouldn't honor Christ. Are you going to take that easy way out, or are you going to trust him? I think that's the challenge and the question that all of us really need to be asking ourselves in the midst of those tough times. And as Pastor Ford points out, the question that he may have for us is, okay, how much of you do I have? Because that's what Christ ultimately wants, is he wants us to learn to trust him more and more for our faith to be developing and growing more and more. And that's what we're looking at in today's broadcast. Again, if you can join us in James chapter one as we continue the message seeing purpose in your problems and pain.

Welcome to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford. Junior senior pastor of the Christ Bible Church in Chicago. I'm Steve Hillard. Glad you're with us today as we continue our study of James chapter one and a message called Seeing Purpose in Your Problems and Pain. And as we do go through life, we all encounter problems and pain. And those are very often the times or the seasons of life where our trust in Christ is really stretched and has the opportunity to grow immensely. You know, it's really easy to say that you trust Christ when things are going well in life, but when the problems come and you think you see an easy way out. But it wouldn't honor Christ. Are you going to take that easy way out, or are you going to trust him? I think that's the challenge and the question that all of us really need to be asking ourselves in the midst of those tough times. And as Pastor Ford points out, the question that he may have for us is, okay, how much of you do I have? Because that's what Christ ultimately wants, is he wants us to learn to trust him more and more for our faith to be developing and growing more and more. And that's what we're looking at in today's broadcast. Again, if you can join us in James chapter one as we continue the message seeing purpose in your problems and pain.

Adelaide Pollard. Anybody ever heard of her name? Okay. I bet you you sang her song because Adelaide Pollard wanted to go to Africa as a missionary. This was back in the time when women weren't doing that. And, she knew God had called her to do this, so she tried to raise support from the church. Uh huh. You heard what I said. That's right. She tried to raise support from the church. Didn't get it. Here's what she said, and I quote, I went through a crisis of soul. What does she mean by that? I went through a crisis of soul. God, you called me to this, but you haven't provided for it. You called me to this. But there's an issue or a problem. Now, you call me to this, and I'm in pain because I don't see this happening the way you said it ought to be. So she went to a prayer meeting that night, and one of the teenagers, she said, that's a senior citizen. One of the teenagers just prayed a one line prayer and she said God ministered to her in that one line prayer. She went home that night and this is the song she wrote. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Thou art the potter. I am the clay. Make me and mold me after your will. While I'm waiting. Yielded and still. Have your own way, Lord. Have your own way. Wow, man. That's it. When are we going to realize that the Christian boat is a rowboat, not a motor boat? Because in a motor boat, you got all that power and you can see where you're going. But if you're in a rowboat, you can't see where you're going. It's the old coxwain. Remember that? That thing in the Olympics, the coxwain. They got the longboat with all the guys in it. They say stroke, stroke, stroke. This guy. Tell him the stroke. He ain't doing nothing. He's standing up there, he controlling the way they go. Stroke and the speed and everything. And you know what? That's Jesus. We Rowan supplying what's necessary to get things done. And and what happens? Jesus is saying row, row row row row. Notice secondly with me notice secondly with me the regal prerogative of God. You gotta be committed to it to have strength in your struggle. But then notice. Secondly, and this is where I'll stop. You got to have the right perspective about your struggle. Look at what it says, my brethren. Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptation. I want you to see something here, because what he's going to tell us two things he's going to say. There's an attitude towards suffering that demonstrates you have the right perspective. Here's what he said. When we go into trouble, let me just speak for myself, because I know ain't nobody going to relate to it. Going through something. Why? Why me? Why now? Why this? And James is saying that's not the right perspective. It's not the right question. Not why? What? See, God must work in you before he works for you so he can work through you. Let me say that again. That God must work in you before he works for you, so he can work through you. The idea is he wants to work through you. So whenever you begin to think about it, we talked about this before. Some of you may remember there on the boat and the boat's doing the nay, nay. I don't know how to do it, but, you know, stanky legs, stanky leg, the boat, the boat, the boat is doing it all right. It's doing it. And they're they're afraid. Fishermen who fished on the Sea of Galilee all their life as little boys, as teens, as adolescents, as adults. And there's a storm that they ain't never seen before. And they say, man, Jesus, it's storm. What you going to do? And Jesus says, don't be afraid. And then he says, storm, shut up. Now, here's the question. Some of you may remember. Why did he tell them? Don't be afraid before he stopped the storm. Because in my way of thinking, he stopped the storm. They stopped. Be afraid. No. Jesus knew he must steal the storm on the inside before he steals the storm on the outside. Because often when he steals the storm on the outside, the storm is still raging on the inside. You don't believe it? Okay. Then why are you still struggling with something that happened ten years ago? Why are you still struggling with. Why are you still tore up from the floor up about some stuff that was done to you that you ain't got over yet? Because you got a storm inside. And Jesus had to steal that storm. Why? Why not me? Why not now? Why not? This attitude determines action. That's what he's trying to get us to see. And he says, count it all joy. Now I'm talking about counting money. But wait a minute. What do you mean, joy? I'm glad he didn't say happiness. Wanna know why? Because happiness depends on what happens. But joy is independent of circumstances. So we know two things. Because he used the word joy. Number one, we know it's the fruit of the spirit. Number two, we know that it is joy that's independent of circumstance. That's what we know. You say, what are you talking about? Joy is produced in the yielded life of a believer by the Holy Spirit. You have to be filled with the spirit to get joy. Ephesians 518. Now I'm not going to go through them, but if you're taking notes, you may want to write them down. Galatians chapter five 2223. Fruit of the spirit Romans five three. Tribulation. Work. Patience. Second Corinthians seven four. First Peter one six. David's running from Absalom, and he pens in Psalm five, the joy of the Lord is my strength. Wait a minute, David. They're trying to kill you! Ahithophel has betrayed you. Your own son is trying to kill you. Your armies turn against you. Your people don't like you. Why are you up there laughing and and praising him? Because the joy of the Lord is my strength. See, when you're baptized by the spirit, I hope y'all don't mind a little teaching. When you're baptized by the spirit, you belong to his body. But when you're filled with the spirit, your body belongs to him. See first Corinthians 1213 for by one spirit are you all baptized into one body? Have all been made to drink of that same spirit? I belong to his body, but now filled with the spirit. My body belongs to him. See, here's the question that James is bringing up. It's not how much of him I have, but how much of me does he have? That's what it is. Do you trust him? Yes. In a time of trouble. Count it all, Joy. It's a math term. Now to get this. It's commanded, it's imperative, yet it's compassionate. Notice compassion with command, my brethren, 15 times in the book of John, my brethren. Why? To kind of ease the punch. But it is a command. Count it all joy. I like how he does this. He's sensitive to their pain, yet straight to the point. He's speaking the truth in love. He's saying focus on the product that God has and not the pain that you had. Um. I don't know about you, but. But we can still have joy, can't we, um, see the same praise it took to get you up. It's the same praise it take to get you out. God is due the same praise in the good as well as in the bad. And so it doesn't matter. You had some good days and you had some bad days, but you still have joy. You had some ups and some downs almost level to the ground, but you still have joy. You had some setbacks, drawbacks, pay backs broke back, but you still have joy. And so I had joy this morning. I had joy because I got up and I was on top of the ground, and the ground wasn't on top of me. I got up because I went and got me some food and ate it myself. I put on my own clothes. I got in my hooptie, drove over to the church under my own power. I'm limping, but I'm still walking. None of my kids died last night. My house didn't catch fire last night. I still have joy. My wife is in the hospital three times in the last two weeks. But I still have joy. And so you ought to rejoice. Yeah, yeah. He woke you up this morning. Rejoice. He gave you health and strength. Rejoice. You're clothed in your right mind. Well, at least some of you. Rejoice. Eyes to see, ears to hear. Mouth to talk. Hands to touch. Feet to walk. Joy. Two churches. Smyrna. Philadelphia. Two best churches of the seven. Wonder why? Poverty and persecution. He said to them, you won't be persecuted for ten days. And you know, when I read that and I studied this with you, uh, we did revelation 20 years ago, and I remember studying for it. I said, oh, let me get my book on numerology because number ten. Mhm. Let's see what it means. Oh ten is the number for testing. Oh brother Vern I was getting ready man. I said that's nice. The Holy Spirit said that ain't the big deal. I said, what's the big deal? He said, you missed it right over your head. I said, well, you're the teacher. Teach me. He said, ten days. God knows when it's going to start. And God knows when it's going to stop. And it won't last forever. That's good news. I can't tell you when your trouble is going to be over. All I can tell you what the psalmist said. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Soon you will be done with the troubles of the world. Going home to be with God. He going to take you out or he going to take you up? Look at that. Both of them are good alternatives.

Adelaide Pollard. Anybody ever heard of her name? Okay. I bet you you sang her song because Adelaide Pollard wanted to go to Africa as a missionary. This was back in the time when women weren't doing that. And, she knew God had called her to do this, so she tried to raise support from the church. Uh huh. You heard what I said. That's right. She tried to raise support from the church. Didn't get it. Here's what she said, and I quote, I went through a crisis of soul. What does she mean by that? I went through a crisis of soul. God, you called me to this, but you haven't provided for it. You called me to this. But there's an issue or a problem. Now, you call me to this, and I'm in pain because I don't see this happening the way you said it ought to be. So she went to a prayer meeting that night, and one of the teenagers, she said, that's a senior citizen. One of the teenagers just prayed a one line prayer and she said God ministered to her in that one line prayer. She went home that night and this is the song she wrote. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Thou art the potter. I am the clay. Make me and mold me after your will. While I'm waiting. Yielded and still. Have your own way, Lord. Have your own way. Wow, man. That's it. When are we going to realize that the Christian boat is a rowboat, not a motor boat? Because in a motor boat, you got all that power and you can see where you're going. But if you're in a rowboat, you can't see where you're going. It's the old coxwain. Remember that? That thing in the Olympics, the coxwain. They got the longboat with all the guys in it. They say stroke, stroke, stroke. This guy. Tell him the stroke. He ain't doing nothing. He's standing up there, he controlling the way they go. Stroke and the speed and everything. And you know what? That's Jesus. We Rowan supplying what's necessary to get things done. And and what happens? Jesus is saying row, row row row row. Notice secondly with me notice secondly with me the regal prerogative of God. You gotta be committed to it to have strength in your struggle. But then notice. Secondly, and this is where I'll stop. You got to have the right perspective about your struggle. Look at what it says, my brethren. Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptation. I want you to see something here, because what he's going to tell us two things he's going to say. There's an attitude towards suffering that demonstrates you have the right perspective. Here's what he said. When we go into trouble, let me just speak for myself, because I know ain't nobody going to relate to it. Going through something. Why? Why me? Why now? Why this? And James is saying that's not the right perspective. It's not the right question. Not why? What? See, God must work in you before he works for you so he can work through you. Let me say that again. That God must work in you before he works for you, so he can work through you. The idea is he wants to work through you. So whenever you begin to think about it, we talked about this before. Some of you may remember there on the boat and the boat's doing the nay, nay. I don't know how to do it, but, you know, stanky legs, stanky leg, the boat, the boat, the boat is doing it all right. It's doing it. And they're they're afraid. Fishermen who fished on the Sea of Galilee all their life as little boys, as teens, as adolescents, as adults. And there's a storm that they ain't never seen before. And they say, man, Jesus, it's storm. What you going to do? And Jesus says, don't be afraid. And then he says, storm, shut up. Now, here's the question. Some of you may remember. Why did he tell them? Don't be afraid before he stopped the storm. Because in my way of thinking, he stopped the storm. They stopped. Be afraid. No. Jesus knew he must steal the storm on the inside before he steals the storm on the outside. Because often when he steals the storm on the outside, the storm is still raging on the inside. You don't believe it? Okay. Then why are you still struggling with something that happened ten years ago? Why are you still struggling with. Why are you still tore up from the floor up about some stuff that was done to you that you ain't got over yet? Because you got a storm inside. And Jesus had to steal that storm. Why? Why not me? Why not now? Why not? This attitude determines action. That's what he's trying to get us to see. And he says, count it all joy. Now I'm talking about counting money. But wait a minute. What do you mean, joy? I'm glad he didn't say happiness. Wanna know why? Because happiness depends on what happens. But joy is independent of circumstances. So we know two things. Because he used the word joy. Number one, we know it's the fruit of the spirit. Number two, we know that it is joy that's independent of circumstance. That's what we know. You say, what are you talking about? Joy is produced in the yielded life of a believer by the Holy Spirit. You have to be filled with the spirit to get joy. Ephesians 518. Now I'm not going to go through them, but if you're taking notes, you may want to write them down. Galatians chapter five 2223. Fruit of the spirit Romans five three. Tribulation. Work. Patience. Second Corinthians seven four. First Peter one six. David's running from Absalom, and he pens in Psalm five, the joy of the Lord is my strength. Wait a minute, David. They're trying to kill you! Ahithophel has betrayed you. Your own son is trying to kill you. Your armies turn against you. Your people don't like you. Why are you up there laughing and and praising him? Because the joy of the Lord is my strength. See, when you're baptized by the spirit, I hope y'all don't mind a little teaching. When you're baptized by the spirit, you belong to his body. But when you're filled with the spirit, your body belongs to him. See first Corinthians 1213 for by one spirit are you all baptized into one body? Have all been made to drink of that same spirit? I belong to his body, but now filled with the spirit. My body belongs to him. See, here's the question that James is bringing up. It's not how much of him I have, but how much of me does he have? That's what it is. Do you trust him? Yes. In a time of trouble. Count it all, Joy. It's a math term. Now to get this. It's commanded, it's imperative, yet it's compassionate. Notice compassion with command, my brethren, 15 times in the book of John, my brethren. Why? To kind of ease the punch. But it is a command. Count it all joy. I like how he does this. He's sensitive to their pain, yet straight to the point. He's speaking the truth in love. He's saying focus on the product that God has and not the pain that you had. Um. I don't know about you, but. But we can still have joy, can't we, um, see the same praise it took to get you up. It's the same praise it take to get you out. God is due the same praise in the good as well as in the bad. And so it doesn't matter. You had some good days and you had some bad days, but you still have joy. You had some ups and some downs almost level to the ground, but you still have joy. You had some setbacks, drawbacks, pay backs broke back, but you still have joy. And so I had joy this morning. I had joy because I got up and I was on top of the ground, and the ground wasn't on top of me. I got up because I went and got me some food and ate it myself. I put on my own clothes. I got in my hooptie, drove over to the church under my own power. I'm limping, but I'm still walking. None of my kids died last night. My house didn't catch fire last night. I still have joy. My wife is in the hospital three times in the last two weeks. But I still have joy. And so you ought to rejoice. Yeah, yeah. He woke you up this morning. Rejoice. He gave you health and strength. Rejoice. You're clothed in your right mind. Well, at least some of you. Rejoice. Eyes to see, ears to hear. Mouth to talk. Hands to touch. Feet to walk. Joy. Two churches. Smyrna. Philadelphia. Two best churches of the seven. Wonder why? Poverty and persecution. He said to them, you won't be persecuted for ten days. And you know, when I read that and I studied this with you, uh, we did revelation 20 years ago, and I remember studying for it. I said, oh, let me get my book on numerology because number ten. Mhm. Let's see what it means. Oh ten is the number for testing. Oh brother Vern I was getting ready man. I said that's nice. The Holy Spirit said that ain't the big deal. I said, what's the big deal? He said, you missed it right over your head. I said, well, you're the teacher. Teach me. He said, ten days. God knows when it's going to start. And God knows when it's going to stop. And it won't last forever. That's good news. I can't tell you when your trouble is going to be over. All I can tell you what the psalmist said. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Soon you will be done with the troubles of the world. Going home to be with God. He going to take you out or he going to take you up? Look at that. Both of them are good alternatives.

Well, that is true, isn't it? You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford. A message called seeing Purpose in your Problems and Pain. We'll get back to this teaching from Pastor Ford in just one moment. Maybe you joined us a little late, or, you know, you can't stay with us all the way to the end of the broadcast. You don't have to miss it. Come to our website. You can stream each and every program online. You can download MP3's or even order copies of this broadcast on CD. Just stop by Treasure truth radio. Back to the message. Here is Pastor Ford.

Well, that is true, isn't it? You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford. A message called seeing Purpose in your Problems and Pain. We'll get back to this teaching from Pastor Ford in just one moment. Maybe you joined us a little late, or, you know, you can't stay with us all the way to the end of the broadcast. You don't have to miss it. Come to our website. You can stream each and every program online. You can download MP3's or even order copies of this broadcast on CD. Just stop by Treasure truth radio. Back to the message. Here is Pastor Ford.

When I was a little boy. Come on, help me, help me. We have some visitors. So you help me. Help me. My mom used to whoop my tail. Tell her rope like okra. She tell me she going to beat the black off of me. She told me she going to beat me in the next week. And then come in the next week and beat me back to today. And here's how I used to survive it. I'm telling you, I said, because, you know, my mama didn't play. She put welps on me. See, I told you she would go to jail today if she if she was ever with me today. Here's what I would be saying to myself. She can't whoop me forever. She can't whoop me forever. She can't whoop me forever. And sometimes I thought she was trying to make me out a liar. I thought she could read my mind. Any of y'all had them? Moments? Can do them all day. Whippings. Lord have mercy. Yeah. And it was over. Mm. Look, I'm telling you, he says we gotta count it all joy. What do you mean? That's what Paul did. Paul said, they said, Paul, we're going to kill you. He said, that's cool. To die is gain. They said, well, we'll let you live. He said, well, to live is Christ. They said, well, we'll make you suffer. He said, cool. Uh, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. He said, come on, bring it on. Because if you kill me, Imma be with Christ. If you let me live, I'm going to live for Christ. And if you make me suffer, I'm going to get a reward for Christ. So bring it on. It's all about Christ in Philippians 310. He said, I want to be like Jesus, to relate to him in Romans five two and three. He said, I want to look like Jesus and be a resource in Second Corinthians 417 and 18. He said, I want to be with Jesus. That's my reward. I can relate to him. I'll be a resource. I get a reward. Wow man, I gotta let you go. Cuz sometime I'm just like Pharaoh. Don't want to let God's people go. But I. I have to let you go. But but let me, let me summarize what he's saying. Let me summarize what what what he's trying to get us to understand. He wants us to know. Listen, you and I are are individuals who know what the Lord is able to do. Here's what he's saying. He's saying, listen, he's all we have, but he's all we need. Uh, yeah. See, he's our supplier. Philippians 419. But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. If you need a little or you need a lot, uh, if you need a little, he's Jehovah Jireh. If you need a lot, he's El Shaddai. Shad, the Hebrew word for breast. Many breasted one I pluralizes it. In other words, listen, we have Jesus on our side. So then here's the principle that he tells us. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things and all these things. What things? All the things that everybody wants. He just gives them to us. We don't even have to ask for. Seek first his righteousness, his kingdom, his purity, and all these things will be. See if you want. If you want finances. He owns cattle on a thousand hills. He can slay some of em. Sell the beef and give you the money if you're sick. He's the Great physician. He's got northwestern and rush in the hem of his garment. You need food. John six says he's the manna, the bread that came down from heaven. If you need water, he's the living water, he said. Those who come to him out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water. If you want beauty. He's the lily of the valley and the rose of Sharon. If you need sunshine, he's the bright and morning Star. If you need a friend, he's a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He's a friend that loves at all times. If you need the stability. He's the Rock of ages on Christ, the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. If you need guidance. He's the great shepherd of the sheep who leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. If you're tired, he said, come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest unto your soul. If you need peace, he says, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth I unto you. And what I don't know what to do. You know what he tells me? He says, trust in me with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge me, and I will direct your path. And then you know what he says when I'm struggling. I was talking to my lovely wife and I'm feeling bad. I added them up. We've been in Chicago 35 years. My wife has had 17 major illnesses in 35 years. I'm not going to take time and name them all, but I'm telling you. 17 major. Now she's going to struggle for the rest of her life. Have to use an inhaler and nebulisers and all of that. And she was crying and she was saying, oh, I don't know why again. Why me? Why don't he get you sometime? And I said, I guess, baby, he just want me to be the strength. He just want me to stay by the stuff, you know? I guess he know. Just like having a baby. I can't handle all that. She said, I said so you know I can't help you, I can't. I can pray, you know, pray with me. I said, well, what you doing now, baby? Here's what she told me. She said, you know what I'm doing? I'm praying for strength in my struggle. Amen. Because it's obvious he ain't going to heal me. Because I done prayed and I know I got faith. So I'm praying for strength in my struggle. I said, okay, I'm going to pray for it too. She said, wait a minute, here's my verse. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. She said, I'm going to take everything that he is for everything that I need, and I am going to glorify him. Then guess what she did? Brought me to tears, because in the midst of her pain and she could hardly breathe. But she had heard that, uh, my my secretary's father, uh, had been rushed to the hospital, and she got on the phone and she said, Miss Emma, I just called to tell you we love you. And we're. And she's doing this while she's wheezing. Miss Emma, just wanted to tell you we love you. And I want to pray for you. I want to pray for you, said Sister Ford. Get off the phone. You don't need to be on the phone. I need to pray for you. I need to pray for you and your father. And she prayed for her and her father. And I said, baby, why do you punish yourself? Herself. She said, I have purpose in my path. What about you today? Do you have purpose in your pain? Do you understand who he is and all that he's done? Do you know that even though he had no servants, they still called him master? Do you know that even though he had no degrees, they still called him teacher? And even though he had no medicines, he still was a healer. He had no armies. Yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He had no formal education, but he knew everything there was to know. He had no place to lay his head. But he said, Heaven is my throne. Earth is my footstool. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him and hung up the sun of glory. But guess what he said he in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let this cup pass, let this cup pass, let this cup pass. And his humanity. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to drink the dregs of our sin. He didn't want to be separated from the father for the first time in all of eternity. God turning his back on God because of our sin. But yet the Bible says in Hebrews 12 two, who for the joy. Independent of the suffering, independent of the circumstances. Jesus had joy when he went to the cross. Why? Hebrews 211 through 15. Because he saw you, and you, and you, and you and me and you. And it brought him joy that he would take us from hell to heaven. Take us from sinner to saint. Take us from rejects to redemption, from earth to glory for all of eternity. There was purpose in his problems and his pain, and so there is for you.

When I was a little boy. Come on, help me, help me. We have some visitors. So you help me. Help me. My mom used to whoop my tail. Tell her rope like okra. She tell me she going to beat the black off of me. She told me she going to beat me in the next week. And then come in the next week and beat me back to today. And here's how I used to survive it. I'm telling you, I said, because, you know, my mama didn't play. She put welps on me. See, I told you she would go to jail today if she if she was ever with me today. Here's what I would be saying to myself. She can't whoop me forever. She can't whoop me forever. She can't whoop me forever. And sometimes I thought she was trying to make me out a liar. I thought she could read my mind. Any of y'all had them? Moments? Can do them all day. Whippings. Lord have mercy. Yeah. And it was over. Mm. Look, I'm telling you, he says we gotta count it all joy. What do you mean? That's what Paul did. Paul said, they said, Paul, we're going to kill you. He said, that's cool. To die is gain. They said, well, we'll let you live. He said, well, to live is Christ. They said, well, we'll make you suffer. He said, cool. Uh, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. He said, come on, bring it on. Because if you kill me, Imma be with Christ. If you let me live, I'm going to live for Christ. And if you make me suffer, I'm going to get a reward for Christ. So bring it on. It's all about Christ in Philippians 310. He said, I want to be like Jesus, to relate to him in Romans five two and three. He said, I want to look like Jesus and be a resource in Second Corinthians 417 and 18. He said, I want to be with Jesus. That's my reward. I can relate to him. I'll be a resource. I get a reward. Wow man, I gotta let you go. Cuz sometime I'm just like Pharaoh. Don't want to let God's people go. But I. I have to let you go. But but let me, let me summarize what he's saying. Let me summarize what what what he's trying to get us to understand. He wants us to know. Listen, you and I are are individuals who know what the Lord is able to do. Here's what he's saying. He's saying, listen, he's all we have, but he's all we need. Uh, yeah. See, he's our supplier. Philippians 419. But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. If you need a little or you need a lot, uh, if you need a little, he's Jehovah Jireh. If you need a lot, he's El Shaddai. Shad, the Hebrew word for breast. Many breasted one I pluralizes it. In other words, listen, we have Jesus on our side. So then here's the principle that he tells us. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things and all these things. What things? All the things that everybody wants. He just gives them to us. We don't even have to ask for. Seek first his righteousness, his kingdom, his purity, and all these things will be. See if you want. If you want finances. He owns cattle on a thousand hills. He can slay some of em. Sell the beef and give you the money if you're sick. He's the Great physician. He's got northwestern and rush in the hem of his garment. You need food. John six says he's the manna, the bread that came down from heaven. If you need water, he's the living water, he said. Those who come to him out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water. If you want beauty. He's the lily of the valley and the rose of Sharon. If you need sunshine, he's the bright and morning Star. If you need a friend, he's a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He's a friend that loves at all times. If you need the stability. He's the Rock of ages on Christ, the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. If you need guidance. He's the great shepherd of the sheep who leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. If you're tired, he said, come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest unto your soul. If you need peace, he says, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth I unto you. And what I don't know what to do. You know what he tells me? He says, trust in me with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge me, and I will direct your path. And then you know what he says when I'm struggling. I was talking to my lovely wife and I'm feeling bad. I added them up. We've been in Chicago 35 years. My wife has had 17 major illnesses in 35 years. I'm not going to take time and name them all, but I'm telling you. 17 major. Now she's going to struggle for the rest of her life. Have to use an inhaler and nebulisers and all of that. And she was crying and she was saying, oh, I don't know why again. Why me? Why don't he get you sometime? And I said, I guess, baby, he just want me to be the strength. He just want me to stay by the stuff, you know? I guess he know. Just like having a baby. I can't handle all that. She said, I said so you know I can't help you, I can't. I can pray, you know, pray with me. I said, well, what you doing now, baby? Here's what she told me. She said, you know what I'm doing? I'm praying for strength in my struggle. Amen. Because it's obvious he ain't going to heal me. Because I done prayed and I know I got faith. So I'm praying for strength in my struggle. I said, okay, I'm going to pray for it too. She said, wait a minute, here's my verse. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. She said, I'm going to take everything that he is for everything that I need, and I am going to glorify him. Then guess what she did? Brought me to tears, because in the midst of her pain and she could hardly breathe. But she had heard that, uh, my my secretary's father, uh, had been rushed to the hospital, and she got on the phone and she said, Miss Emma, I just called to tell you we love you. And we're. And she's doing this while she's wheezing. Miss Emma, just wanted to tell you we love you. And I want to pray for you. I want to pray for you, said Sister Ford. Get off the phone. You don't need to be on the phone. I need to pray for you. I need to pray for you and your father. And she prayed for her and her father. And I said, baby, why do you punish yourself? Herself. She said, I have purpose in my path. What about you today? Do you have purpose in your pain? Do you understand who he is and all that he's done? Do you know that even though he had no servants, they still called him master? Do you know that even though he had no degrees, they still called him teacher? And even though he had no medicines, he still was a healer. He had no armies. Yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He had no formal education, but he knew everything there was to know. He had no place to lay his head. But he said, Heaven is my throne. Earth is my footstool. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him and hung up the sun of glory. But guess what he said he in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let this cup pass, let this cup pass, let this cup pass. And his humanity. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to drink the dregs of our sin. He didn't want to be separated from the father for the first time in all of eternity. God turning his back on God because of our sin. But yet the Bible says in Hebrews 12 two, who for the joy. Independent of the suffering, independent of the circumstances. Jesus had joy when he went to the cross. Why? Hebrews 211 through 15. Because he saw you, and you, and you, and you and me and you. And it brought him joy that he would take us from hell to heaven. Take us from sinner to saint. Take us from rejects to redemption, from earth to glory for all of eternity. There was purpose in his problems and his pain, and so there is for you.

This is a challenging message from Pastor Ford today. Finding joy despite our circumstances doesn't come naturally. It really does take the work of the Holy Spirit. You know you're listening to treasure Truth and a message called Seeing Purpose in Your Problems and Pain. You know, here at Treasure Truth, we believe that the Bible is inerrant. It's utterly trustworthy. It's the Word of God, and the only book with a message that can save a dying world and introduce humanity to Jesus Christ. And the fact that you're listening. Well, that's a good sign that you probably agree. But many people in our culture see the scriptures as just another book filled with wise sayings, genealogies, and maybe a few crazy visions. And then there are some people who fall somewhere in between. They know that the Bible is special, but they're not sure why. Or maybe they believe the Bible, but they don't really read it and so they can't explain their beliefs to someone. Maybe you feel like you fit into that category. I mean, can you answer or give good reasons for why you believe? Well, we'd like you to have a book by John MacArthur called Why Believe the Bible? This practical resource reveals the truth about the Bible, and it will help you grasp its meaning for your daily life. You can request a copy when you give a gift of any amount to treasure truth. Just call us at 880 844 7660 or go online to Treasure Truth Radio.com. To send a check. Our address is Treasure Truth, 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. Support the teaching of God's Word on this station by giving a gift of any amount and receive the book Why Believe the Bible by John MacArthur. Again, our phone number is 888644 7660. Or come to treasure Truth radio org. I'm Steve Hiller, our producer is Amy Rios. Join us again Thursday for more Bible teaching from Pastor Ford here on Treasure truth. A production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.

This is a challenging message from Pastor Ford today. Finding joy despite our circumstances doesn't come naturally. It really does take the work of the Holy Spirit. You know you're listening to treasure Truth and a message called Seeing Purpose in Your Problems and Pain. You know, here at Treasure Truth, we believe that the Bible is inerrant. It's utterly trustworthy. It's the Word of God, and the only book with a message that can save a dying world and introduce humanity to Jesus Christ. And the fact that you're listening. Well, that's a good sign that you probably agree. But many people in our culture see the scriptures as just another book filled with wise sayings, genealogies, and maybe a few crazy visions. And then there are some people who fall somewhere in between. They know that the Bible is special, but they're not sure why. Or maybe they believe the Bible, but they don't really read it and so they can't explain their beliefs to someone. Maybe you feel like you fit into that category. I mean, can you answer or give good reasons for why you believe? Well, we'd like you to have a book by John MacArthur called Why Believe the Bible? This practical resource reveals the truth about the Bible, and it will help you grasp its meaning for your daily life. You can request a copy when you give a gift of any amount to treasure truth. Just call us at 880 844 7660 or go online to Treasure Truth Radio.com. To send a check. Our address is Treasure Truth, 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. Support the teaching of God's Word on this station by giving a gift of any amount and receive the book Why Believe the Bible by John MacArthur. Again, our phone number is 888644 7660. Or come to treasure Truth radio org. I'm Steve Hiller, our producer is Amy Rios. Join us again Thursday for more Bible teaching from Pastor Ford here on Treasure truth. A production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.