April 23, 2025 • 24 mins
When we consider the purpose in our problems and pain, we need to realize that it’s not how much of Jesus we have, but it’s how much of us that Jesus has. We need to ask ourselves, do we really trust Him in our time of trouble? And on the next Treasured Truth, Pastor Ford will continue this message series the book of James that is helping us to focus on what God is doing in our lives through our suffering. To learn more, make sure to join us for the next Treasured Truth.
Treasured Truth is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.
To learn more about Pastor James Ford, Jr., click here.
To learn more about Treasured Truth, click here.
Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/treasuredtruth
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:01):
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.
S2 (00:25):
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
(00:47):
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
(01:07):
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
(01:27):
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.
S1 (01:47):
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
(02:10):
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.
(02:36):
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.
(02:58):
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.
(03:18):
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
(03:39):
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.
(04:01):
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
(04:24):
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
(04:44):
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
(05:04):
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
(05:26):
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,
(05:46):
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?
(06:06):
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
(06:28):
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?
(06:54):
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.
(07:15):
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.
(07:37):
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
(08:00):
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.
(08:22):
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
(08:43):
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.
(09:05):
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.
(09:26):
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
(09:50):
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
(10:11):
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.
(10:33):
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
(10:53):
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.
(11:22):
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.
(11:43):
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
(12:09):
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
(12:31):
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.
S2 (12:49):
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.
(13:13):
Just stop by Treasure truth radio. Back to the message.
Here is Pastor Ford.
S1 (13:20):
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,
(13:43):
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
(14:05):
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?
(14:25):
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
(14:47):
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.
(15:08):
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
(15:29):
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
(15:51):
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
(16:14):
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.
(16:34):
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,
(16:57):
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
(17:17):
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,
(17:38):
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
(18:00):
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.
(18:23):
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
(18:44):
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
(19:05):
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,
(19:27):
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
(19:47):
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
(20:10):
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
(20:31):
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.
(20:53):
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
(21:15):
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.
(21:38):
There was purpose in his problems and his pain, and
so there is for you.
S2 (21:49):
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.
(22:10):
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
(22:32):
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
(22:53):
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
(23:15):
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.
(23:38):
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.
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.
S2 (00:25):
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
(00:47):
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
(01:07):
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
(01:27):
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.
S1 (01:47):
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
(02:10):
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.
(02:36):
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.
(02:58):
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.
(03:18):
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
(03:39):
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.
(04:01):
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
(04:24):
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
(04:44):
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
(05:04):
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
(05:26):
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,
(05:46):
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?
(06:06):
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
(06:28):
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?
(06:54):
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.
(07:15):
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.
(07:37):
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
(08:00):
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.
(08:22):
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
(08:43):
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.
(09:05):
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.
(09:26):
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
(09:50):
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
(10:11):
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.
(10:33):
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
(10:53):
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.
(11:22):
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.
(11:43):
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
(12:09):
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
(12:31):
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.
S2 (12:49):
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.
(13:13):
Just stop by Treasure truth radio. Back to the message.
Here is Pastor Ford.
S1 (13:20):
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,
(13:43):
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
(14:05):
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?
(14:25):
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
(14:47):
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.
(15:08):
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
(15:29):
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
(15:51):
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
(16:14):
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.
(16:34):
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,
(16:57):
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
(17:17):
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,
(17:38):
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
(18:00):
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.
(18:23):
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
(18:44):
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
(19:05):
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,
(19:27):
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
(19:47):
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
(20:10):
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
(20:31):
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.
(20:53):
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
(21:15):
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.
(21:38):
There was purpose in his problems and his pain, and
so there is for you.
S2 (21:49):
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.
(22:10):
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
(22:32):
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
(22:53):
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
(23:15):
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.
(23:38):
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.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!