WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:09.599 Welcome to Sharper Sword, the publication ministry of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lemon Grove, California. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:16.480 Lighthouse believes that individuals can reach their potential for the Lord as they grow in Christ. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:22.320 We want to hear our Lord say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:29.600 Let's join Pastor Doug Fisher as he preaches another important biblical message from the Word of God. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:40.880 Let me set this up if you would and listen carefully. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:50.479 David was allowed by God a monumental task in his later years. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:01:07.920 In his former years as the king, he did a lot of conquering and causing enemies to be submitted by the power of God, the Amorites and all the Hivites and the different, if you would, enemies around. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:15.439 And the idea was that so Solomon, his son, would have peace and rest, and God wanted to conquer. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:25.120 One of the last large vision tasks he received by the Lord was to build an house for God. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:37.760 He went to Nathan, a prophet, who he was very familiar with, and Nathan was always one to tell David the truth of what God was saying to Nathan to transfer to David. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:49.599 And he went to Nathan and they were sitting and he said, You know, I know that the ark, the mercy seat, the depicted throne of God on the earth dwelleth in curtains. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:58.319 Speaking of the tabernacle, speaking of the mobile, if you would, uh place that God had had Moses built. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:12.719 And David said, I know he's dwelling in curtains, and here I am living in a house made with cedar, and I have mine own house, and God is dwelling in curtains, and I want to do something about that on earth. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:16.639 And Nathan said, Do all that is in thine heart. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:21.439 And that day they agreed, but that night God showed up to Nathan. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:24.879 You're holding your place in 1 Chronicles chapter 22. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:40.479 God shows up to Nathan and He says to Nathan, this, go and tell my David, my servant, thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me and house to dwell in. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:44.240 He didn't say there wasn't going to be a temple. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:51.120 He just said, You, David, don't get to build it because you've been involved in so many wars. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:54.080 You've been involved in so much conflict. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:02.560 And I'm going to have your family, the son that I choose coming into the next generation, he'll build it. 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:05.280 It was something for Solomon to do. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:09.280 But may I say, God allowed David to prepare for it. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.080 God allowed David to have the vision for it. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:14.159 God allowed David to blueprint it. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:25.039 God allowed David to cut stones for it, massive stones and extremely expensive stones and timber, gold, silver, brass, workmen. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:35.840 I mean, everything was laid out, and David spent years preparing for this magnificent work because David said it must be extremely magnificent. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:37.360 That's Bible terms. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.919 He said, We want to honor God. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:46.719 We know we can't make heaven on earth, but we can do better than curtains. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:52.800 Now that wasn't said that Moses did wrong, but David had it in his heart to honor God even more. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:04:00.319 And may I say to you, I don't want to say more than Moses, because I got to tell you, a man's face shining is about as close to God as you can get. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:06.960 And Moses did that and had that, but David wanted so much worship and praise and honor. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:14.080 And so he decided, if you would, that through God's permission, that he would envision a great temple. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:20.480 And the preparation took years and years and years and so much labor and effort. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:30.399 And then, may I say to you, Solomon was going to build that, and God was pleased and filled that temple with his glory as he did the tabernacle. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:35.759 But I want you to see a statement in 1 Chronicles, chapter number 22, please. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:37.759 And this applies to us today. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.800 1 Chronicles 22, notice verse 14. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:42.319 Verse 14. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:51.920 Now behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:55.839 He goes on down to say the magnitude of the vision. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:57.360 You can read it there. 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:06.879 The huge amount of silver and gold and timber and all the things that he did to prepare, the workmen and everything. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.240 But please listen, I want you to focus on in my trouble. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:14.079 I have prepared for the house of the Lord. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:15.600 God allowed me a task. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.439 God allowed me a vision. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:23.360 And in the middle of my task that I was doing, I had trouble. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:45.600 And may I say to you, when we do something for God, or do something in the way of a vision, or do something that He puts in our hearts and our minds, whether it be for our family or education or business or ministry, anything that pertains to the Lord, sometimes, in fact, many times, may I say most times, there's going to be trouble. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.480 You say, no, no, no, it's a bed of roses. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:06:00.000 No, you write, you read the songwriters, they knew that associated with doing something from God and for God, there was going to be this concept of trouble and opposition. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:04.959 Now, if you uh if you're a little unfamiliar with your Bible, David had trouble. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:07.680 Man, did he have trouble. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:13.360 The enemies without that were still threatening the security. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.600 I mean, David had problems within his kingdom. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:20.800 His closest counselors turned on him. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.600 David had problems within his own family and his extended family. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:33.839 I don't know if you know names such as uh Joab and Asahel and Amesa or Amesa. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:38.160 I don't know if you realize they were all nephews of David. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:41.600 Joab was born to one sister of David. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:50.800 Uh Amesa or Amazah was born to another sister, and Joab killed both of those men for power struggles. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:53.759 It was nephew killing nephew. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.480 It was turmoil within the family. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:03.360 It was Absalom turning on David and trying to steal the hearts of the kingdom, one of David's sons. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:06.800 What I'm saying to you, brethren, is David had trouble. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:10.639 Trouble like maybe some of us have never faced. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.600 I don't have family members killing each other. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:18.240 At the most, they might gossip about each other. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:22.079 At the most they might backbite each other a little bit. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:24.000 But killing one another? 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:29.199 Going to a funeral where the person who killed the other person is there? 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:33.439 My point being is, brother, David had trouble. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:35.519 But what do we focus on? 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:37.519 The trouble or the task? 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:39.199 What do we focus on? 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.879 The problems or the vision? 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:49.040 Well, sometimes you have to focus and take care of the problems and work on the problems, but it can't not overshadow the vision. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:51.680 It cannot stop the vision. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.600 It might hinder it a little bit. 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.759 It might cause us some problems. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.120 It might slow us down a little bit, but please look up here. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:08.480 When God gives us a task, we have to look and say, what a privilege the Almighty God lets us, allows us to do this. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.560 Doesn't matter how big the task. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:12.720 Doesn't matter how small the task. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.600 If it came from God, it's a large task. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.519 Come on, are you still with me today? 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:25.120 If God burden you to do something for Him, don't be surprised when things get in the way. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.439 Don't be surprised when opposition comes up. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.720 Don't be surprised when unusual things to oppose begin to happen. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:38.159 Because all through the Bible, that is a pattern. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.399 I'm talking about you and your family. 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:42.240 I'm talking about you and your education. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:43.919 I'm talking about you and your business. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.759 I'm talking about you at work. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:54.879 I'm talking about being involved in something where people are getting saved at church or a leadership conference is coming, and all kinds of things start to happen. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.879 Come on, are you still with me today? 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.360 The idea, brethren, is trouble may come. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:00.000 Moses. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:06.879 Moses was told, hey, the burning bush, I want you to go in and tell Pharaoh to let my people go. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:20.480 Well, when he went, there were some miracles involved initially, and then Pharaoh took away the straw that was required to make brick, and all the Jewish people turned against Moses. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:23.279 In fact, Moses even questioned it. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:28.559 I'm not going to ask you to turn there for the sake of time, but listen to Moses' questioning to God. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:29.519 Listen to me. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:38.080 And Moses returned unto the Lord and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil and treated this people? 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:42.879 And then Moses says, This, why is it that thou hast sent me? 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:55.519 Do you ever have in the midst of what you believed God was going to have you do when it was going not well, where you thought, I wonder if I really heard from God? 00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:59.440 I wonder if I just made that up. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.879 I wonder if God's really in that. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:06.399 I wonder if He really sent me to do that. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:26.000 And may I say to you, sending is not just being a preacher at a pulpit, sending is family, relationships, business, education, military, whatever it is, it's God sending us on a pilgrimage in our life, on a journey to do something that glorifies Him. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:31.360 And don't be surprised once in a while if you go, why has thou sent me? 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.480 Are you really in this? 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:36.799 Or did I just make it up? 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.519 I thought you spoke to me. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:41.200 Maybe you did. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:48.240 And you have doubts, and about that time the Holy Ghost may say, Focus. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:50.879 Focus. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.799 Don't let the trouble overcome the task. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:58.559 Because you don't understand it, don't stop. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:10:59.919 Focus. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.840 Because it's not what you thought it would be. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.279 It's not how you imagined it in your mind. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:13.039 Because when we dream, we usually don't dream, including all the negative. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:17.519 Now I understand we have weird dreams sometimes that are negative. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:23.600 But my point being is when we envision, we don't say, boy, I can't wait to get to the trouble. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:30.559 We envision in a positive way and think, I can't wait to accomplish that by God. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:34.320 I can't wait to do that by God. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:38.559 I can't wait to experience that by God. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:41.360 It could be family, business, ministry. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:45.679 I can't wait to see God glorified in that. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:49.200 But he doesn't show us all the negatives. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.080 Praise the Lord, he doesn't. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.480 Because sometimes it's like, did you really send me? 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:59.919 And by the way, Moses carried on. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.440 I think of Naomi and Ruth, if you know the story. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:09.919 Boy, they they had vision once they left, but they were in great grief because they were both widows. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:15.440 And unusually the husbands died, very unusually. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:23.919 And they come back to Naomi's home, Ruth the motivates, and they have to face some problems and trouble. 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:25.200 But please listen. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:34.799 The vision that started to unfold for Ruth to tell, if you would, uh, Naomi being told by Ruth who she might marry, please listen. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.000 What was the opposition? 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:40.000 There was a lot of cultural hoops to jump through. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:46.559 Boaz had to go make this right and take care of this and make sure that was right, and over here, let alone marrying a Moabite woman. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.240 And it had to all go just according to Jewish culture and traditions, and there were some problems all along the way. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:56.320 And please, listening, don't think the town wasn't talking. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:00.000 Brother, may I say something to you? 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:06.960 I know Facebook is wonderful, and tweet and Twitter and all that is wonderful, but careful, don't look and listen to it all. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.919 You're gonna hear all kinds of opinions that don't really matter. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.600 The main opinion is God's vision. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:20.720 And don't let the trouble overshadow the task, if you would. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:21.759 Nehemiah. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.600 Nehemiah was sent to build a wall. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:28.399 He was just the king's cupbearer, sent to build a wall, and became the governor of the land. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:34.480 May I say, while they were building the wall, there came a point in time Sanbalh, Tobiah, and Gishim came at them. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:39.039 And so Nehemiah said, here's what we're gonna do: strap on your swords. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.320 Leave the sword in the sheath, but if you need it, we have it. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:50.080 Otherwise, use your hands with trowel to build the wall. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.000 Use that mortal right. 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.960 Keep your sword in because I want to tell you something. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.440 You can't build holding a sword all the time. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.639 Come on, is that right? 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.519 Yes or no? 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:05.440 You can't build just constantly being in constant contentions all the time. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.559 I got my sword out. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.600 Look at it. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:09.840 What do you mean? 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.960 Hey, I want to say it says to avoid contentions. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:16.000 But when they come, contend for the faith. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.000 And they were sent to build a wall. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:20.000 He said, We'll wear our swords. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:23.279 Half of us are work and half of us will watch. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.360 And then we'll switch over again. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:28.639 Wherever you see it, hear the sound of the trumpet, come running to help. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.200 Why? 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:33.279 Because the enemy was threatening and they were going to stop the building of the wall. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:38.720 Trouble was there, but they stayed focused and completed the task. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.679 Over and over and over and again in the Bible, there was those who faced opposition. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:46.000 Could I give you, please, a principle? 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.639 Look at 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.480 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:53.279 I say this for myself also, please. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.039 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:01.039 It's not a scripture that many of you are not familiar with, but it needs to be brought up in a timely fashion. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.720 The task or the trouble. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:05.519 In my trouble, I prepared. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.639 I saw God's vision and I made that vision important. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.559 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.960 Notice if you would verse 3. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.039 Verse number 3. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:23.679 Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.600 Hey, please listen, please. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.279 Would you read that with me? 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:27.919 Why? 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:30.960 I want the words to come into your ears. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.320 Why? 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.840 I'll show you in a moment. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.399 Ready? 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.200 Verse 3. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:35.679 Ready? 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:36.639 Begin. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:43.679 Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.360 Here's the idea. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:53.200 Soldiers, when there's a war, learn to fight on wounded. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.240 They learn to keep going even though they're wounded. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:04.159 A man or a woman there bleeding says, No, I can continue on. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.200 The task is important. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:10.720 The principle, the cause is important. 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:13.360 It'll heal, I'll go on. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:18.639 The idea is you don't leave the war over a headache. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.919 You don't leave the war over a superficial cut. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.879 We're not hirelings. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.679 We don't run from the task, we run to the task. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:36.960 Character says, by the Holy Ghost, we keep going and we endure hardness. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.919 Endure. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:44.559 Endure is to uh come up and to continue when the pressure is great in opposition. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.080 Uh endure. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:53.600 Uh to last, to hold on, to persevere, to continue. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:56.399 Uh what's what's the concept of hardness? 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:07.839 Uh severe heartache or hardship, emotional or physical, a tragedy, grief, unexpected, if you would, opposition, uh, tremendous sufferings. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:12.880 So he says, continue on even when the sufferings get tremendous. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:17.920 Even when there's something that opposes you that you totally unexpected. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:22.160 May I say, even something that shakes our confidence. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.000 We continue on even though we're not fully confident. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.240 Come on, are you still with me or not? 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.839 Do you know? 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.519 I hope I know. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.000 I believe I know. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.839 By faith I know. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.880 Uh how's your hope? 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.200 My hope's pretty good today. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.240 Why? 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.279 Because hope and courage go hand in hand. 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:50.160 And courage is what it helps us to endure hardness and hardships. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.160 People are enduring grief today. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:57.680 People have things going on today, but the task of serving our Lord is so important. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.039 Would you say amen? 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:01.039 Whatever it is in your life. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:07.440 I want you to know that uh I I'm gonna read just a couple of little scriptures to you, and you don't turn there yet if you would. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:14.880 Here's what Paul said that through much tribulation we must enter into. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.440 Paul was called to do mission work. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:26.240 And he said, uh he said, through much tribulation, tribulation, severe adversity, things that come up. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:32.559 Brethren, may I say to you, we ought to be comforting each other, not tearing each other down. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:40.640 We've got enough in the world against us that people, we don't need people in our foxholes to be against us. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:45.599 We don't need people on our own side in our own platoon against us. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.000 We don't need headquarters company against us. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:52.559 We already got enough things against us. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:56.880 Brother, we we need to encourage one another in the foxhole and get along. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:01.680 My wife and I are in the same foxhole together. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.799 What's this thing about a foxhole? 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.720 Uh it's something you dig. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:12.000 And when you're tired, you dig it shallow. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.400 Because you're supposed to. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:18.960 And when the mortar rounds coming in, you're waking your buddy up, said, Let's dig deeper. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.920 Let's dig deeper. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.440 Let's dig deeper. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:26.640 When the shrapnel starts to fly, all of a sudden your hole's not deep enough. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.319 Because it's protection. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.839 And you're in there together. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:34.640 And I gotta tell you, I I've lived in foxholes with guys when we're in training, you know, type of thing. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.559 Before I was in special forces, in special forces, we didn't dig foxholes. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:45.519 But in the military, in the in the regular FMF, in the Rather Grunt Marine Corps, we we we slept and lived in foxholes. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:58.720 I remember living in a foxhole in the Philippines in Mindanawa with a helicopter down, and it was raining and raining and raining, and it's monsoon, and our foxhole is filling up with water. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.640 But we're required to stay in the foxhole. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:10.400 And so you're lifting your, you know, you're putting your feet on your putting your helmet down there, and you're putting your little boots on your helmet, and it's just rising. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:19.440 And some guys they happen to build their foxhole in a low spot, and it's just, and and these guys are sitting in there, and here's the way you do a foxhole, stay with me. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:30.240 I'm not trying to give you, but you dig it down, and then you make a little uh a place down there where grenades can go into, where you can shove grenades into so they explode and you don't get exploded upon. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:33.200 And then you got a little setee or a seat in there that you build. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.759 What do you mean? 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:39.440 Well, you dig down and you leave a little seat, and then you dig down, you make what's called a place for the grenades to go into. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:42.480 See, you don't all know all this stuff, but these things are important. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:48.640 So these guys are sitting on their little setee, and the water's up to their belt line. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:54.400 And I come by one night looking at them, and they're just sitting in there, and I said, How are you guys doing? 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:57.119 And they say, Well, sir, we're a little wet. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:05.839 I put my little red light shining down, but they were in water up to their up to their up to their belt line. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:08.720 But they were sitting there because they were supposed to. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:13.039 And you're in trouble. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:18.480 I just said how long are we gonna be here? 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.920 Sometimes you say I don't know. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.880 And you walk away and respect them. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.880 Because they're staying where they're supposed to stay. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.880 They're persevering. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.480 They're staying fast. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.359 Keeping their position. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.279 Especially when you don't even know what you're guarding. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.279 We set this perimeter up around this helicopter. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.079 It was an advanced helicopter that we didn't want anything taken from. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:10.160 And they had to bring another helicopter in to get it out because when it came out of the sky, it sunk. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.839 And it was sunk down. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.920 They had to bring another helicopter in to get it. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.839 So they sent us in to guard it. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:23.279 And while we are guarding it, there's a couple of uh uh uh you know insurgents taking pot shots at us. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.319 You know what? 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:28.720 They're terrible shots, but you gotta stay low enough just in case they get lucky. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.000 Are you still with me or not? 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:39.119 I mean, normally the rounds would go over our heads, you know, because they didn't have night vision and all that kind of stuff or daytime. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:41.359 And and you say, well, why didn't you shoot back? 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.240 Please listen. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.599 Politics. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:53.039 You don't get into a war in the Philippines when it's part of your, if you would, terror uh uh agreements. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:56.799 So you don't even acknowledge that there is stuff going on. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.839 What are you saying? 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.960 Trouble. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.480 What's the trouble? 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.559 Sometimes it's politics. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.400 Hello. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.759 But you stay at it. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:25.039 Brethren, we are not gonna stop doing what God would have us to do because of where we're at in our society, we can plug away, obey the laws of the land, and keep on going, even though there's stuff swirling around us, but don't focus on that, focus on the task. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:28.799 That God knew all that when he gave us the task. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:31.119 God knew the straw would be taken away. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.200 God knew there would be tribulations. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:39.839 One day Paul was in a storm, and anytime a storm has a name on it, it's a big storm. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.440 Katrina. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:47.039 If you name a storm, it's a big storm. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:50.079 This one was named Euroklodon. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.440 Huge storm being out on the ocean. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:58.400 Well, one day the angel of the Lord showed up and said, Fear not, Paul. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.480 Everything's good. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:08.960 You're heading for a certain island, and the ship is going to break up, but everybody that's sailing with you will live. 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:16.960 Well is that in the midst of the trouble, God sent a messenger to encourage the one in it. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:22.880 And he stood up and said to everybody, everybody, be of good cheer. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.359 God spoke to me. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:27.359 And you said they just all listened. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.559 No, they didn't. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:31.279 He was the prisoner on the ship. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:34.880 They didn't listen right away, but they listened later. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:39.119 And by the way, it happened just as God said it was going to happen. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:43.519 In the midst of the trouble, God gave Paul a word. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.799 You say, What's a word? 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:49.519 A word from the Lord goes a long way. 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:59.599 A word in a message, a word in our Bible reading, a word from a comforting comrade, somebody that's a soldier with you that says you're doing great. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.799 Hang in there. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.079 Keep on going. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.359 I believe in you. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:06.319 May I say to you, we need each other's encouragement. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.599 Would you agree with that? 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:14.240 The idea was even in the midst of that storm in Euroklodon, Paul talked about being in perils. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:16.240 What's a apparel? 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:20.720 In great dangers, apparel, P-E-R-I-L, and risk. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.920 And here's what he said. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:23.039 Please listen. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:48.720 In perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils, danger, in great jeopardy by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils amongst false brethren. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.640 He said, You know what I have? 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:53.440 I have trouble all around me. 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:56.160 But he endured. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.160 And he kept going. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:04.000 And brethren, these aren't just little stories that we read and go, well, that's a nice story. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:10.319 These are stories that are inspired, that we're to take strength from. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:14.559 Lord, help me to endure hardness. 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:18.799 I want to be, by your grace, a good soldier. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:21.359 I want to warfare. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:25.440 I don't want to get entangled with things I shouldn't be entangled with. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.680 I want to focus on the task. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:44.720 Because the task that you had given me, even though I'm not building a great wall, I'm raising this son, or I'm raising this daughter, or I'm having a marriage, or I'm being a grandpa or grandma, or I'm serving in the ministry, or I'm an usher, or I'm involved cleaning during the conference. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.200 Hey, you say, well, that's not a big task. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:50.960 If God has given it to us, it's a huge task. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:54.079 Every task is important. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.400 Witnessing is important. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:58.960 Giving out offerings are important. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:02.480 Hey, these little things where the big purse comes out. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:05.279 I love it every year, the big purse comes out. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.720 Why do you like it? 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:09.759 Because I know ladies are gonna feel special. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.799 This is a true story. 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:19.920 Six months ago, I'm preaching back east somewhere, shaking hands with one of the husbands. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:22.400 Pastor, his wife was right there. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:29.440 I looked at her, I looked over, and she had her purse on her little, however, ladies do that. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.599 And I said, That purse looks familiar. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:36.720 She said, I got it from your ladies, Pastor. 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.759 I said, It looks nice. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.440 She says, I love it. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.759 She says it holds a lot. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:50.720 It wasn't the size of this one. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.720 I walked away thinking about that. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.960 She was encouraged. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:06.640 If we can give them something that holds a lot, praise the Lord. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:09.519 The idea is little things. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:14.319 And then Paul had this mindset, this trouble. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:20.319 He said, This the things which happen unto me have fallen out rather under the furtherance of the gospel. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.960 He says, Sometimes you know what trouble does? 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:26.240 It propels us the way we're supposed to go. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.359 Trouble can direct us. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.880 Trouble can alter the course a little bit. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:39.039 Paul said that that which has befallen me, the perils, the trouble. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:42.880 He said, that's happened rather to the furtherance of the gospel. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.160 He said, you know what? 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:48.319 I've learned if God's in it, he can use trouble to benefit him. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:52.799 He can use trouble to benefit the direction and what's going on. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:57.519 And may I say, God often uses trouble to glorify himself. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.720 What? 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:02.880 Trouble weakens us where we're dependent upon him. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.799 Let me say that one more time. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:08.960 Trouble weakens us where we're dependent upon him. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.799 One more scripture and we're finished. 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:12.400 You're enduring. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:17.519 If I let you out three minutes late, are you going to be mad? 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.160 Endure hardship. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.599 As a good soldier. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.279 What was your trouble today? 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:27.920 Pastor kept us four more minutes than normal. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:32.720