February 15, 2025 • 26 mins
"There's trouble in River City!". Problem is, no amount of trouble can be fixed just by singing a song in a musical. Today on Moody Presents with Mark Jobe, we'll continue our series on what it means to stand up for our faith, share our faith, in hopes that others will receive the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Let's continue where we left off in our study of 1st Thessalonians.
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S1 (00:01):
How you and I can stand firm in the middle
of trouble. That's where we're headed now. On Moody presents
with Mark Jobe.
S2 (00:08):
Life can get really bad, but it does not change
the character of God. God is still good. God is
still sovereign. God is still on the throne. God is
still full of love. That's what Scripture says.
S1 (00:26):
Thanks for connecting with Moody Presents featuring the teaching ministry
of pastor Mark Jobe. He's president of Moody Bible Institute
and senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago.
I'm John Gieger, and our current message series has a
great title I love this. Defiance. Defiance. And if you've
missed any of our messages to date, be sure to
(00:46):
catch up online. It's easy at Moody Presents. That's Moody Presents.
As a regular listener, you know, we've been talking a
lot about trouble. You might have heard of The Music Man,
a movie and stage production based in a fictional town
in River city, Iowa, and the lyrics to one of
the musical's songs repeats the refrain oh yes, my friends,
(01:08):
we've really got trouble, trouble, trouble. And while the trials
and trouble we face in this lifetime can't be easily
done away with by a musical number in a Broadway show,
it is encouraging to know that we can lay our
troubles at the feet of the one who cares for us,
and promises to walk with us through that trouble. All right,
let's get right to this message called living with trouble.
(01:31):
And here's pastor Mark Jobe.
S2 (01:33):
Verse one of chapter three of First Thessalonians. Paul says,
so when we could stand it no longer. Paul said,
I couldn't stand not knowing how you were doing. I
just couldn't stand not knowing it. Have you ever had
someone that you really loved that was somewhere that you
couldn't get in touch with them? Paul is saying, I.
(01:57):
We were burdened. We wanted to know how you are
doing so since they could not find out, Paul says.
We thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
He was in a different city and so he sent
his young protege, his apprentice Timothy, to go back to
these believers to find out how they were doing. Uh,
(02:19):
so he says, we sent Timothy, who is our brother
and God's fellow worker, and spreading the gospel of Christ
to strengthen and encourage you in your faith. Notice what
verse three says. So that none, no one would be
unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we
(02:41):
were destined for them. Destined for what? Destined for these trials.
In fact, Paul says, when we were with you, we
kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it
turned out that way, as you know. What is Paul saying?
Paul is saying that he warned these believers that when
(03:01):
they came to Christ, he warned them, you will experience
trials in your life, so be ready for them. In fact,
he tells us in in this passage, he uses the
word so that no one would be. The NIV says,
unsettled by these trials. That word unsettled means shaken or
(03:24):
disturbed or cajoled out of your faith. It's almost like
you're on a rail and you get shaken so much
that you fall off that rail. This past week on
the news, we heard of a train that derailed at
almost 100 train cars fell off the rails with flammable liquid.
(03:44):
Did you see that on the news? And they were
having trouble putting the fires out. It's the same concept here.
Paul says some of you are going through trials. Those
trials are shaking you so much that we were afraid
that you would be derailed by those trials, that you
would be so shocked by the trials, so burdened by it,
(04:08):
that you would walk away from God or lose your faith,
or stop focusing on God. And all you could focus
is on your trial, and that you would be derailed
from your walk with God. He uses that word, the
idea of being shaken so much and he says, hey,
we forewarned you. So, so I want to do what
(04:31):
Paul did. If you're new in Christ today, if you're
a new follower of Christ, or you're just starting out
with your walk in God, or maybe you've been walking
with God for quite some time, can I warn you,
you're going to experience some troubles in your life. Some
of those troubles are going to be so severe that
if you're not careful, it will literally take your faith away.
(04:54):
Some of the trials that you're going to experience will
be so tough, so powerful, so shaking of your faith
that if you're not careful, a year from now, going
through a severe, severe trial of your life could cause
you no longer to worship God. You can become so
consumed in your trial, so overwhelmed by it, so discouraged
(05:16):
by it, so burdened and beaten down by it that
it could literally shake your faith in God and keep
you from following him anymore. Because you never expected that
you were going to be hit by a trial so big.
And that's why Paul says. We warned you about trials.
(05:40):
We wanted to make sure this would not catch you
by surprise. In fact, he says this. Listen, you know
quite well that you were destined for them. Hold on. Destined. Oh,
when I think of destiny, I think of a lot
of good things. But I don't want to. I don't
think of trials. Destined for glory. Destined for victory. Destined
(06:05):
to win. Destined for success. Destined to be happy. Destined
for trials. Yeah. Destined for trials. But what does that
word destined mean? Well, in the Greek, the Bible, the
New Testament was written in the ancient Greek. In the Greek,
this verb destined is in the perfect tense and passive voice.
(06:31):
That may not mean a lot to you, but it
does have significance in the Greek. It's a very strong
way of saying these hard times were placed here by God.
They didn't happen by accident. In fact, this is the
opposite of chance or circumstance. This is allowed by God.
(06:56):
What he's saying is that God has allowed you to
go through these trials or tribulations that that God is
allowing you to go through this not abandoned you in it,
but allowing you to go through it because he's got
a purpose and a plan in the midst of it.
And that you need to know and understand that in
the midst of your trial that God is there, that
(07:18):
God is still faithful, that God is still on the throne.
Here's what I want you to know. Listen, life can
get really bad, but it does not change the character
of God. God is still good. God is still sovereign.
God is still on the throne. God is still full
of love. That's what Scripture says. In fact, it tells
(07:41):
us in Philippians chapter 129, for it has been granted
to you on the behalf of Christ, not only to
believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Acts
chapter 14, verse 22 says, strengthening the souls of the disciples,
exhorting them to continue in the in the faith and
saying we must through many tribulations, enter the Kingdom of God.
(08:07):
First Peter chapter four verse 12 says, dear brothers, do
not be surprised at the painful trial. You are suffering
as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice
that you participate in the sufferings of Christ. So what
(08:28):
I want you to understand is that trouble will happen
to believers. Expect it that you will have troubles in
your life, tribulations in your life, persecutions in your life.
But when you're in the midst of them, remember that
the enemy will try to roadblock people of encouragement from
your life. Expect that. Expect that seasons of trouble will
(08:50):
be part of your destiny, that everybody goes through them.
So be warned. Be in a stance ready for them
when they come your way. Expect that. Temptations will test
your faith and pressure you to give up in the
(09:11):
midst of your troubles as well. Notice what it tells
us in verse five. For this reason, when I could
stand it no longer, I sent to find out about
your faith. Paul says, I was afraid that in some
way the tempter might have tempted you, and our efforts
might have been useless. Paul was afraid that they would
(09:35):
have gone through such a severe trial that they would
be tempted to walk away from God and tempted to
abandon their faith. Have you ever been in a circumstance
like that? Were you going through such a tough time?
Difficult trial that that you look for the easy way
(10:00):
out that you think I could just do it this
way and it would be easier? Because sometimes that trial
that comes at you, it seems like there's the easy
escape route. And God says, no, stand firm. You may
(10:20):
have come to Christ and started following God, and got
some flack and some opposition from family members that don't
understand your new walk with God. And some of them
will say, you know, I like the old you better,
and they start isolating you and you feel the push
(10:41):
of that isolation on your life. And it's easy to
want to give in to that. Maybe you're a single
person trying to live godly for Jesus, and now that
you belong to God, you're trying to walk in purity
and trying to guard your body and not not go
out and party and have sex on the weekends. And
so you're trying to walk as a single walking with
(11:02):
God and and and walking. Right. And you see some
of your friends, they're, they're hooking up and living together.
And it seems like an easy way, but you stand
your ground and then on a lonely Friday night, you're
there feeling like, wow, why am I doing this? This
is hard. Other people, it seems like it's a lot
easier for them. Why would I try to? Maybe I
(11:23):
should just take the easy way out. Trial and tribulation.
When it tells us here in Scripture is that Paul
is saying that he was afraid that some of them
would be tempted to give up on God, to give
up on their walk, to give up on their faith,
(11:44):
to not stand firm anymore. In the middle of your
trial and tribulation, that's going to happen. You're going to
be tempted, tempted to get a disobedient way out. And
Paul says. Timothy had just come and given them the
good news that about their faith and love. And he
(12:07):
has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us,
and long to see us. Therefore, brothers, in all our
distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you because of
your faith. For we really live since you are standing
firm in the Lord. What caused them to stand firm?
It was their faith. Can I tell you this? Listen
to me well, people of God, one of the great
(12:29):
things that will keep you standing strong is your ability
to maintain your faith. What faith does. Faith helps you
to believe even though when circumstances are nasty. Faith helps
you to know that God is in control even when
(12:50):
your circumstances look like he's not. Faith is the evidence
of things hoped for, the substance of things not seen.
Faith is believing not what you see. Not walking by sight.
We walk by faith, not by sight. And how is
it that in the midst of a very difficult trial
(13:14):
or tribulation, how do you keep your faith strong? Well,
let me tell you. How does faith come? Come on,
tell me, how does faith come? Faith cometh by hearing.
And hearing by what? And hearing by the Word of God.
S1 (13:31):
This is Moody presents. And you're listening to the Bible
teaching of pastor Mark Jobe. If you've been challenged and
encouraged by what you've been hearing, drop us a line,
would you? And let us know. You can do that
easily at Moody Presents. Moody presents. And while you're online,
be sure to explore our website to see the great
set of tools and resources all available to you right now.
(13:55):
Each month we also have a moody Presents Advanced Team gift,
and that gift could be a book or some other
resource that pastor Mark highly recommends. For example, our current
offer is a book called How to Overcome Worry by
Doctor Winfred Neeley. More about that book later. Right now, though,
let's jump back into Mark's message. He's describing a faith
(14:16):
that brings hope one step at a time.
S2 (14:23):
When your faith is being tested and you're in the
middle of a trial, it is your faith that's going
to sustain you. How do you keep your faith strong?
By staying in the word and by hearing the Word
of God and His voice, allowing the Word of God
to strengthen you in who you are. Faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God. What is the
(14:44):
first thing that a lot of people do when they're
in the middle of trial, in the middle of tribulation,
going through a hard time? They just feel like I
don't feel like going to Bible study. I don't feel
like going to home group. I don't feel like going
to church. And they just isolate themselves and stay away.
And so you get less and less of the word.
You don't go to the Bible, you don't hear the
voice of God. So your faith starts to get weaker
(15:07):
and weaker and weaker. And that's when your faith needs
to be stronger and stronger and stronger. Faith sustains you
in the mountains near where my mother lives in northern Spain,
there's a place called El Escudo, which is a very
high mountain range that you have to drive through from
one town to another. And oftentimes there's fog, heavy fog
(15:31):
when you get to the high altitude. I've driven through
that mountain range quite a few times on the side
of the road. They have reflectors, those reflectors. When it's
really foggy, they they tell you just a couple feet
away where to go that you're on track. Oh, I
(15:51):
can't see the road more than 15 to 20ft ahead.
Sometimes the fog is so thick, but I can see
the reflectors on the side of the road and the
reflectors on the side of the road. Tell me you're
on the right path. You're on the right path. Just
keep going. You're on the right path. Stay on it. Now,
although I can't see the future, I can't see ahead.
(16:14):
I've been down that path before. I know what's there.
Even though I can't see it. I believe it's there
even though I can't see it. And as long as
I follow those reflectors, I know that one. Step one
as they say here, one meter at a time, one
yard at a time, I know that I am on track.
So it is with faith in the middle of tribulation
(16:36):
and trial. You can't see the outcome, you can't see
the future, but you can see one reflector of the
word at a time. You can see one reflector as
you go to the word. God speaks to you through
a verse. He speaks you through another verse. And your
faith keeps you going one step at a time and
you know God is there. I will stay on track.
(16:57):
I can't see down the road all the way. But
I know that my God is in control. I know
that he is sovereign. I know that he will make
a way. I know that God has a plan for
my life and destiny. So expect temptations to test your
faith and pressure you to give up in the midst
of your troubles. Number four expect the power of prayer
(17:22):
to open doors and release the strength you need to
stand firm in trouble. I love how the Apostle Paul
finishes this chapter. He says night and day we pray
most earnestly that we may see you again and supply
what is lacking in your faith. Paul says, hey, I
(17:49):
can't be with you, but I pray for you. Oh,
this isn't just a little diddly statement that he's making.
He's saying, I earnestly pray for you. To supply what
is lacking in your faith. And then he burst out
into spontaneous prayer for them. He says, now may the
(18:09):
God and Father himself of our Lord Jesus Christ, clear
the way for us to come to you. Now he's
praying in faith. May the Lord make your love to
increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else,
just as he does for you. May he strengthen your
hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in
the presence of our God and Father. When our Lord
(18:30):
Jesus comes with all his holy ones. Now Paul is praying,
and what you see is that Paul is saying, the
secret weapon in all of this is the power of prayer.
I want you to know something here. Trouble is going
to come your way. You're either in trouble, coming out
of trouble, or going into trouble. That's just the way
(18:53):
it is in life. You say? Well, I haven't had
trouble in a while. Well, get ready, because you're probably
about to go into a into a little trouble? Remember,
get in. Get in your position. Get ready. It's coming
at you. It's just part of life. There will be
trouble in life. But there's something about the power of prayer.
(19:15):
Something about praying through something. Something about God coming to God.
And God is the door opener. Through prayer, God is
the way maker. Through prayer. God is the strengthener through prayer.
God is the one that causes us to continue to
love and take those roadblocks away in prayer. Prayer has
this incredible and powerful effect on our lives. When we're
(19:40):
in the middle of trouble or tribulation, or we know
someone that's going through it. It's the power of prayer.
There have been seasons of life that I know I
could not get through without just coming and crying out
to God and say, God, I'm not going to make
it unless you are with me. It's a power of
power of prayer. There's been times that I know it's
(20:03):
only people praying for me that have taken me through
some some tough seasons. The power of prayer. I have
some people in my life that I know pray for
me every single day. I have one older gentleman that
prays for me 6:00 in the morning, every single day,
and then prays for me in the afternoon as well.
(20:25):
My mother takes a prayer walk every day and prays
for me as well. I got some people praying for
me every day, and there's been seasons in my life
in the middle of huge, huge trials or tribulation. The
weight has been on my shoulder where I know it's
only people praying, the power of prayer that's lifted that
(20:47):
burden and made me able to be able to go
forward because I knew there were people that I couldn't
explain it. I just knew that it was being lifted
through the power of God and people that were that
were praying. So today, here's what I want to say.
I'm encouraged by the fact that these troubles and tribulations.
(21:12):
Don't discourage me. I know that God is there. I
know that God has a plan. You may be in
the middle of a trial right now. A tribulation in
your life right now. Number one, you. Maybe there's someone
in your life that you know is going through a major,
major trouble trial right now. And they're a friend of
(21:35):
yours or a relative of yours, someone that you're close
to and you feel like I need to pray for them.
I need to be praying for them. And there's some
of you that need to recommit yourself to come get
on your knees right now and pray for that person
that you know needs to make it through that you
that they're in a difficult, difficult situation. But you're saying today,
(21:57):
by the power of God, I may not even be
able to take their trial away, but I can pray
for them in the midst of this and know that
my God hears and that my God sustains them through it.
So I'm going to pray that they make it through.
Pray that they not isolate themselves. Pray that their faith
gets stronger. Maybe you're here today and you're in the
middle of a trial, and there have been roadblocks by
(22:21):
the enemy to try to isolate you. Maybe you haven't
realized the power of prayer in the midst of this.
The power of the word. And you say, pastor, today
I'm in this place this morning and I'm in a
financial trial, a marital trial, a health trial, a spirit trial,
(22:42):
or whatever it may be. But I am going through
a huge trial in my life, and I today need prayer.
S1 (22:51):
You're listening to Moody Presents with Mark Jobe, and of course,
we have no way of knowing who is hearing any
given message. But God knows who you are and what
your trials, what your troubles are. And Mark, for those
who would like to accept Jesus into their hearts, for
those who have dedicated their lives to Christ or or
they'd like to, I'm going to invite you to just
(23:12):
lead us in a in a brief moment of prayer.
Would you do that?
S2 (23:15):
Father, I pray for that person that has been tested
to a point where they just don't feel like they
can make another month under the pressure of this trial. Yes.
I pray that you would breathe strength into them right now. Father,
I pray that you would breathe hope into their life. Father,
I pray that you would bring friends encouragement. A word
(23:38):
that would strengthen them for the testing period that they
are facing. And Lord Jesus, I pray that by your
Holy Spirit you would remind them that they are not
alone in this trial. Father. I pray that they would
have that powerful sense of your presence even today, right now.
I ask that in Jesus name. Amen.
S1 (24:00):
Amen. Amen. You know, if you just prayed along with
pastor Mark right now and you're feeling like you'd like
to connect with somebody today, we welcome you to reach
out to us. Just go to Moody. Moody presents. Just
let us know that you made a commitment to follow Jesus.
And we'd also like to hear from you. If you're
not sure what the next step in this faith walk
(24:22):
is all about. Head online to our website, npr.org, and
click the Next Step tab on the left sidebar. Can't
miss it. At Moody presents.org and just know that we
would love to hear from you. Hey, it's true, the
power of prayer really does open doors and lives, but
is it possible that anxiety and worry are keeping you
(24:43):
from a consistent prayer life? Well, this might help. It's
the very small but very powerful book How to Overcome Worry.
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(25:09):
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(25:30):
Moody Presents, I'm John Geiger. Hope you'll join us again
next time when we'll look at the call to purity.
It's a lesson from the book of First Thessalonians, and
it's coming up next week on Moody Presents with Mark Jobe.
Moody presents is a production of Moody Radio and the
ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
How you and I can stand firm in the middle
of trouble. That's where we're headed now. On Moody presents
with Mark Jobe.
S2 (00:08):
Life can get really bad, but it does not change
the character of God. God is still good. God is
still sovereign. God is still on the throne. God is
still full of love. That's what Scripture says.
S1 (00:26):
Thanks for connecting with Moody Presents featuring the teaching ministry
of pastor Mark Jobe. He's president of Moody Bible Institute
and senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago.
I'm John Gieger, and our current message series has a
great title I love this. Defiance. Defiance. And if you've
missed any of our messages to date, be sure to
(00:46):
catch up online. It's easy at Moody Presents. That's Moody Presents.
As a regular listener, you know, we've been talking a
lot about trouble. You might have heard of The Music Man,
a movie and stage production based in a fictional town
in River city, Iowa, and the lyrics to one of
the musical's songs repeats the refrain oh yes, my friends,
(01:08):
we've really got trouble, trouble, trouble. And while the trials
and trouble we face in this lifetime can't be easily
done away with by a musical number in a Broadway show,
it is encouraging to know that we can lay our
troubles at the feet of the one who cares for us,
and promises to walk with us through that trouble. All right,
let's get right to this message called living with trouble.
(01:31):
And here's pastor Mark Jobe.
S2 (01:33):
Verse one of chapter three of First Thessalonians. Paul says,
so when we could stand it no longer. Paul said,
I couldn't stand not knowing how you were doing. I
just couldn't stand not knowing it. Have you ever had
someone that you really loved that was somewhere that you
couldn't get in touch with them? Paul is saying, I.
(01:57):
We were burdened. We wanted to know how you are
doing so since they could not find out, Paul says.
We thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
He was in a different city and so he sent
his young protege, his apprentice Timothy, to go back to
these believers to find out how they were doing. Uh,
(02:19):
so he says, we sent Timothy, who is our brother
and God's fellow worker, and spreading the gospel of Christ
to strengthen and encourage you in your faith. Notice what
verse three says. So that none, no one would be
unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we
(02:41):
were destined for them. Destined for what? Destined for these trials.
In fact, Paul says, when we were with you, we
kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it
turned out that way, as you know. What is Paul saying?
Paul is saying that he warned these believers that when
(03:01):
they came to Christ, he warned them, you will experience
trials in your life, so be ready for them. In fact,
he tells us in in this passage, he uses the
word so that no one would be. The NIV says,
unsettled by these trials. That word unsettled means shaken or
(03:24):
disturbed or cajoled out of your faith. It's almost like
you're on a rail and you get shaken so much
that you fall off that rail. This past week on
the news, we heard of a train that derailed at
almost 100 train cars fell off the rails with flammable liquid.
(03:44):
Did you see that on the news? And they were
having trouble putting the fires out. It's the same concept here.
Paul says some of you are going through trials. Those
trials are shaking you so much that we were afraid
that you would be derailed by those trials, that you
would be so shocked by the trials, so burdened by it,
(04:08):
that you would walk away from God or lose your faith,
or stop focusing on God. And all you could focus
is on your trial, and that you would be derailed
from your walk with God. He uses that word, the
idea of being shaken so much and he says, hey,
we forewarned you. So, so I want to do what
(04:31):
Paul did. If you're new in Christ today, if you're
a new follower of Christ, or you're just starting out
with your walk in God, or maybe you've been walking
with God for quite some time, can I warn you,
you're going to experience some troubles in your life. Some
of those troubles are going to be so severe that
if you're not careful, it will literally take your faith away.
(04:54):
Some of the trials that you're going to experience will
be so tough, so powerful, so shaking of your faith
that if you're not careful, a year from now, going
through a severe, severe trial of your life could cause
you no longer to worship God. You can become so
consumed in your trial, so overwhelmed by it, so discouraged
(05:16):
by it, so burdened and beaten down by it that
it could literally shake your faith in God and keep
you from following him anymore. Because you never expected that
you were going to be hit by a trial so big.
And that's why Paul says. We warned you about trials.
(05:40):
We wanted to make sure this would not catch you
by surprise. In fact, he says this. Listen, you know
quite well that you were destined for them. Hold on. Destined. Oh,
when I think of destiny, I think of a lot
of good things. But I don't want to. I don't
think of trials. Destined for glory. Destined for victory. Destined
(06:05):
to win. Destined for success. Destined to be happy. Destined
for trials. Yeah. Destined for trials. But what does that
word destined mean? Well, in the Greek, the Bible, the
New Testament was written in the ancient Greek. In the Greek,
this verb destined is in the perfect tense and passive voice.
(06:31):
That may not mean a lot to you, but it
does have significance in the Greek. It's a very strong
way of saying these hard times were placed here by God.
They didn't happen by accident. In fact, this is the
opposite of chance or circumstance. This is allowed by God.
(06:56):
What he's saying is that God has allowed you to
go through these trials or tribulations that that God is
allowing you to go through this not abandoned you in it,
but allowing you to go through it because he's got
a purpose and a plan in the midst of it.
And that you need to know and understand that in
the midst of your trial that God is there, that
(07:18):
God is still faithful, that God is still on the throne.
Here's what I want you to know. Listen, life can
get really bad, but it does not change the character
of God. God is still good. God is still sovereign.
God is still on the throne. God is still full
of love. That's what Scripture says. In fact, it tells
(07:41):
us in Philippians chapter 129, for it has been granted
to you on the behalf of Christ, not only to
believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Acts
chapter 14, verse 22 says, strengthening the souls of the disciples,
exhorting them to continue in the in the faith and
saying we must through many tribulations, enter the Kingdom of God.
(08:07):
First Peter chapter four verse 12 says, dear brothers, do
not be surprised at the painful trial. You are suffering
as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice
that you participate in the sufferings of Christ. So what
(08:28):
I want you to understand is that trouble will happen
to believers. Expect it that you will have troubles in
your life, tribulations in your life, persecutions in your life.
But when you're in the midst of them, remember that
the enemy will try to roadblock people of encouragement from
your life. Expect that. Expect that seasons of trouble will
(08:50):
be part of your destiny, that everybody goes through them.
So be warned. Be in a stance ready for them
when they come your way. Expect that. Temptations will test
your faith and pressure you to give up in the
(09:11):
midst of your troubles as well. Notice what it tells
us in verse five. For this reason, when I could
stand it no longer, I sent to find out about
your faith. Paul says, I was afraid that in some
way the tempter might have tempted you, and our efforts
might have been useless. Paul was afraid that they would
(09:35):
have gone through such a severe trial that they would
be tempted to walk away from God and tempted to
abandon their faith. Have you ever been in a circumstance
like that? Were you going through such a tough time?
Difficult trial that that you look for the easy way
(10:00):
out that you think I could just do it this
way and it would be easier? Because sometimes that trial
that comes at you, it seems like there's the easy
escape route. And God says, no, stand firm. You may
(10:20):
have come to Christ and started following God, and got
some flack and some opposition from family members that don't
understand your new walk with God. And some of them
will say, you know, I like the old you better,
and they start isolating you and you feel the push
(10:41):
of that isolation on your life. And it's easy to
want to give in to that. Maybe you're a single
person trying to live godly for Jesus, and now that
you belong to God, you're trying to walk in purity
and trying to guard your body and not not go
out and party and have sex on the weekends. And
so you're trying to walk as a single walking with
(11:02):
God and and and walking. Right. And you see some
of your friends, they're, they're hooking up and living together.
And it seems like an easy way, but you stand
your ground and then on a lonely Friday night, you're
there feeling like, wow, why am I doing this? This
is hard. Other people, it seems like it's a lot
easier for them. Why would I try to? Maybe I
(11:23):
should just take the easy way out. Trial and tribulation.
When it tells us here in Scripture is that Paul
is saying that he was afraid that some of them
would be tempted to give up on God, to give
up on their walk, to give up on their faith,
(11:44):
to not stand firm anymore. In the middle of your
trial and tribulation, that's going to happen. You're going to
be tempted, tempted to get a disobedient way out. And
Paul says. Timothy had just come and given them the
good news that about their faith and love. And he
(12:07):
has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us,
and long to see us. Therefore, brothers, in all our
distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you because of
your faith. For we really live since you are standing
firm in the Lord. What caused them to stand firm?
It was their faith. Can I tell you this? Listen
to me well, people of God, one of the great
(12:29):
things that will keep you standing strong is your ability
to maintain your faith. What faith does. Faith helps you
to believe even though when circumstances are nasty. Faith helps
you to know that God is in control even when
(12:50):
your circumstances look like he's not. Faith is the evidence
of things hoped for, the substance of things not seen.
Faith is believing not what you see. Not walking by sight.
We walk by faith, not by sight. And how is
it that in the midst of a very difficult trial
(13:14):
or tribulation, how do you keep your faith strong? Well,
let me tell you. How does faith come? Come on,
tell me, how does faith come? Faith cometh by hearing.
And hearing by what? And hearing by the Word of God.
S1 (13:31):
This is Moody presents. And you're listening to the Bible
teaching of pastor Mark Jobe. If you've been challenged and
encouraged by what you've been hearing, drop us a line,
would you? And let us know. You can do that
easily at Moody Presents. Moody presents. And while you're online,
be sure to explore our website to see the great
set of tools and resources all available to you right now.
(13:55):
Each month we also have a moody Presents Advanced Team gift,
and that gift could be a book or some other
resource that pastor Mark highly recommends. For example, our current
offer is a book called How to Overcome Worry by
Doctor Winfred Neeley. More about that book later. Right now, though,
let's jump back into Mark's message. He's describing a faith
(14:16):
that brings hope one step at a time.
S2 (14:23):
When your faith is being tested and you're in the
middle of a trial, it is your faith that's going
to sustain you. How do you keep your faith strong?
By staying in the word and by hearing the Word
of God and His voice, allowing the Word of God
to strengthen you in who you are. Faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God. What is the
(14:44):
first thing that a lot of people do when they're
in the middle of trial, in the middle of tribulation,
going through a hard time? They just feel like I
don't feel like going to Bible study. I don't feel
like going to home group. I don't feel like going
to church. And they just isolate themselves and stay away.
And so you get less and less of the word.
You don't go to the Bible, you don't hear the
voice of God. So your faith starts to get weaker
(15:07):
and weaker and weaker. And that's when your faith needs
to be stronger and stronger and stronger. Faith sustains you
in the mountains near where my mother lives in northern Spain,
there's a place called El Escudo, which is a very
high mountain range that you have to drive through from
one town to another. And oftentimes there's fog, heavy fog
(15:31):
when you get to the high altitude. I've driven through
that mountain range quite a few times on the side
of the road. They have reflectors, those reflectors. When it's
really foggy, they they tell you just a couple feet
away where to go that you're on track. Oh, I
(15:51):
can't see the road more than 15 to 20ft ahead.
Sometimes the fog is so thick, but I can see
the reflectors on the side of the road and the
reflectors on the side of the road. Tell me you're
on the right path. You're on the right path. Just
keep going. You're on the right path. Stay on it. Now,
although I can't see the future, I can't see ahead.
(16:14):
I've been down that path before. I know what's there.
Even though I can't see it. I believe it's there
even though I can't see it. And as long as
I follow those reflectors, I know that one. Step one
as they say here, one meter at a time, one
yard at a time, I know that I am on track.
So it is with faith in the middle of tribulation
(16:36):
and trial. You can't see the outcome, you can't see
the future, but you can see one reflector of the
word at a time. You can see one reflector as
you go to the word. God speaks to you through
a verse. He speaks you through another verse. And your
faith keeps you going one step at a time and
you know God is there. I will stay on track.
(16:57):
I can't see down the road all the way. But
I know that my God is in control. I know
that he is sovereign. I know that he will make
a way. I know that God has a plan for
my life and destiny. So expect temptations to test your
faith and pressure you to give up in the midst
of your troubles. Number four expect the power of prayer
(17:22):
to open doors and release the strength you need to
stand firm in trouble. I love how the Apostle Paul
finishes this chapter. He says night and day we pray
most earnestly that we may see you again and supply
what is lacking in your faith. Paul says, hey, I
(17:49):
can't be with you, but I pray for you. Oh,
this isn't just a little diddly statement that he's making.
He's saying, I earnestly pray for you. To supply what
is lacking in your faith. And then he burst out
into spontaneous prayer for them. He says, now may the
(18:09):
God and Father himself of our Lord Jesus Christ, clear
the way for us to come to you. Now he's
praying in faith. May the Lord make your love to
increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else,
just as he does for you. May he strengthen your
hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in
the presence of our God and Father. When our Lord
(18:30):
Jesus comes with all his holy ones. Now Paul is praying,
and what you see is that Paul is saying, the
secret weapon in all of this is the power of prayer.
I want you to know something here. Trouble is going
to come your way. You're either in trouble, coming out
of trouble, or going into trouble. That's just the way
(18:53):
it is in life. You say? Well, I haven't had
trouble in a while. Well, get ready, because you're probably
about to go into a into a little trouble? Remember,
get in. Get in your position. Get ready. It's coming
at you. It's just part of life. There will be
trouble in life. But there's something about the power of prayer.
(19:15):
Something about praying through something. Something about God coming to God.
And God is the door opener. Through prayer, God is
the way maker. Through prayer. God is the strengthener through prayer.
God is the one that causes us to continue to
love and take those roadblocks away in prayer. Prayer has
this incredible and powerful effect on our lives. When we're
(19:40):
in the middle of trouble or tribulation, or we know
someone that's going through it. It's the power of prayer.
There have been seasons of life that I know I
could not get through without just coming and crying out
to God and say, God, I'm not going to make
it unless you are with me. It's a power of
power of prayer. There's been times that I know it's
(20:03):
only people praying for me that have taken me through
some some tough seasons. The power of prayer. I have
some people in my life that I know pray for
me every single day. I have one older gentleman that
prays for me 6:00 in the morning, every single day,
and then prays for me in the afternoon as well.
(20:25):
My mother takes a prayer walk every day and prays
for me as well. I got some people praying for
me every day, and there's been seasons in my life
in the middle of huge, huge trials or tribulation. The
weight has been on my shoulder where I know it's
only people praying, the power of prayer that's lifted that
(20:47):
burden and made me able to be able to go
forward because I knew there were people that I couldn't
explain it. I just knew that it was being lifted
through the power of God and people that were that
were praying. So today, here's what I want to say.
I'm encouraged by the fact that these troubles and tribulations.
(21:12):
Don't discourage me. I know that God is there. I
know that God has a plan. You may be in
the middle of a trial right now. A tribulation in
your life right now. Number one, you. Maybe there's someone
in your life that you know is going through a major,
major trouble trial right now. And they're a friend of
(21:35):
yours or a relative of yours, someone that you're close
to and you feel like I need to pray for them.
I need to be praying for them. And there's some
of you that need to recommit yourself to come get
on your knees right now and pray for that person
that you know needs to make it through that you
that they're in a difficult, difficult situation. But you're saying today,
(21:57):
by the power of God, I may not even be
able to take their trial away, but I can pray
for them in the midst of this and know that
my God hears and that my God sustains them through it.
So I'm going to pray that they make it through.
Pray that they not isolate themselves. Pray that their faith
gets stronger. Maybe you're here today and you're in the
middle of a trial, and there have been roadblocks by
(22:21):
the enemy to try to isolate you. Maybe you haven't
realized the power of prayer in the midst of this.
The power of the word. And you say, pastor, today
I'm in this place this morning and I'm in a
financial trial, a marital trial, a health trial, a spirit trial,
(22:42):
or whatever it may be. But I am going through
a huge trial in my life, and I today need prayer.
S1 (22:51):
You're listening to Moody Presents with Mark Jobe, and of course,
we have no way of knowing who is hearing any
given message. But God knows who you are and what
your trials, what your troubles are. And Mark, for those
who would like to accept Jesus into their hearts, for
those who have dedicated their lives to Christ or or
they'd like to, I'm going to invite you to just
(23:12):
lead us in a in a brief moment of prayer.
Would you do that?
S2 (23:15):
Father, I pray for that person that has been tested
to a point where they just don't feel like they
can make another month under the pressure of this trial. Yes.
I pray that you would breathe strength into them right now. Father,
I pray that you would breathe hope into their life. Father,
I pray that you would bring friends encouragement. A word
(23:38):
that would strengthen them for the testing period that they
are facing. And Lord Jesus, I pray that by your
Holy Spirit you would remind them that they are not
alone in this trial. Father. I pray that they would
have that powerful sense of your presence even today, right now.
I ask that in Jesus name. Amen.
S1 (24:00):
Amen. Amen. You know, if you just prayed along with
pastor Mark right now and you're feeling like you'd like
to connect with somebody today, we welcome you to reach
out to us. Just go to Moody. Moody presents. Just
let us know that you made a commitment to follow Jesus.
And we'd also like to hear from you. If you're
not sure what the next step in this faith walk
(24:22):
is all about. Head online to our website, npr.org, and
click the Next Step tab on the left sidebar. Can't
miss it. At Moody presents.org and just know that we
would love to hear from you. Hey, it's true, the
power of prayer really does open doors and lives, but
is it possible that anxiety and worry are keeping you
(24:43):
from a consistent prayer life? Well, this might help. It's
the very small but very powerful book How to Overcome Worry.
We'll send you a copy as our way of saying
thanks for your gift of any amount in support of
Moody Presents. Just ask for how to How to overcome
worry when you call us at (800)Â 400-7022. That's (800)Â 400-7022. Or
(25:09):
go online at Moody Presents and request a copy. Now
let me toss out an added bonus. When you give
a gift of $30 a month or more each month,
you'll become a moody Presents Advanced team member, helping us
get the good news of Jesus Christ out to listeners
across the country. Signing up is quick. It's easy. At
(25:30):
Moody Presents, I'm John Geiger. Hope you'll join us again
next time when we'll look at the call to purity.
It's a lesson from the book of First Thessalonians, and
it's coming up next week on Moody Presents with Mark Jobe.
Moody presents is a production of Moody Radio and the
ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
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