Do We Have a Modern Day Deborah?

Three women of great courage in the Bible

Fred R. Coulter—December 12, 2020

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Looking out and seeing what possibly is going on with the election, the question is: In the dilemma, is there a Deborah? It looks like the only one it could be is Sidney Powell. We'll have to see how it goes.

I don't know how you felt this week, but after the Supreme Court turned down the Texas petition, and especially when the three judges that Trump appointed did not vote to take the case:

• It makes you wonder, how corrupt is it everywhere?

or

• How many people are so afraid and have a lack of courage that they're not willing to face up to what's really going on?

Sometimes we look at the situations and we're very, very puzzled.

• How is it that the wicked prosper?

Then we look at our circumstances and we say, 'Look at all that they have, and look at how little I have. Well, this happened to Asaph and he wrote a Psalm about it.

I'll tell you how Asaph was. He was a priest, and when David brought the Ark of the Covenant into his house and put it into the tent, in the special room that he made for it in his house. Asaph was the chief priest in charge of everything. It's very interesting that you find in 1-Chron. 16, that the very first Psalm that David wrote he gave to Asaph the priest. That's how it became part of the Bible.

So, apparently every Psalm that David wrote he gave to the priests. From Psa. 73 on… Go back and look at the top of the Psa. 72, a Psalm of Solomon. That's very interesting, and a lot of people never knew that there was a Psalm of Solomon. Then the next one over, Psa. 73, is a Psalm of Asaph. He wrote quite a number that follow after this.

Psa. 73 pretty well expresses some of the feelings that some of us went through this week with the ups and downs:

• who is going to win
• what state is going to do what
• what judge is going to do what

Then to hear that the one man who drove hundreds of thousands of fake ballot into Pennsylvania from New York, that the FBI wouldn't even listen to him. How corrupt is it everywhere? I wrote in my letter this month that it's almost as if all the establishments of all governments in the world are for getting rid of Trump. All the forces that have come against us, and especially since Sidney Powell has uncovered that $400 thousand went to Dominion in Spain just before the election, and $230 million went to the Biden campaign and all of this money has come from China!

I want you think about this. What have we heard the past four years? Russia! Russia! Russia! Do you suppose that China was behind promoting that? That took everybody's attention away from what they were doing!

Now in western Texas China has purchased a plot of land of 130,000 acres, and another plot of land of 140,000 acres near Fort Hood! 'Oh, this is to put up windmills.' So, we'll see what happens. I need to make a correction: the United States will not be the western colony of China, but the eastern colony; from the west coast of China coming here is going east. {message: After the Election, What Do We Do?}

Here is Asaph, Psalm 73:1: "Truly God is good to Israel, even to those who are pure of heart."

Every once in a while you come along like this yourself. A lot of these things that we're going to read in this Psalm, I felt just exactly like that. How is it that all the evil prospers, and they even bring it to court and the judges won't hear it.

Like the media news, if they don't report it, it never happens. Same way with Facebook, Twitter and all the others.

Verse 2: "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped, for I was envious at the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked, for there are no pangs in their death, and their strength is firm" (vs 2-4).

It is firm! You can't move some of those establishment people for anything! Look at all of the cowardly Republicans who are kind of standing on the sidelines waiting to see what's going to happen, rather than trying to get in there in the fight and make something happen.

Verse 5: "They are not in trouble like other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore, pride is as a chain about their neck. Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than the heart could wish for. They scoff and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression" (vs 5-8).

Isn't that so? I wonder what happened that the three [Supreme Court] judges that Trump appointed decided to vote against taking that lawsuit. Alito and Thomas were the ones who said to take it.

• I wonder what happened?
• Were they threatened?
• Were their families threatened?

That's typical of what the Democrats do now. If you don't go along with them, 'we're going to threaten you and get rid of you.' Yet, they prosper and come out victorious!

Verse 9: "They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore, waters of abundance are drunk by them. And they say, 'How does God know?….'" (vs 9-11).

Isn't it true that many of them don't even believe in God? That's an amazing thing! Nothing will make the wicked change except they repent! That they have to choose to do! That's why Christ has to return.

"'…And is there knowledge in the Most High?' Behold, these are the wicked, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Surely I have made my heart pure in vain and washed my hands in innocence" (vs 12-13).

In other words, it gets so overwhelmingly wicked that even the righteous come to the point of 'What's the point of doing all of this for?' Don't you think that that's the reason why a lot of people have dropped away when problems and difficulties came to the Church?

If you faint in the day of your adversities—as it says in the Psalms—you have little strength! So, we're going to be confronted with many of these things.

Verse 14: "For all the day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning." Yes, we go along and we think:

• How much more correction can I get?
• Have you ever been at that point?

If you have, then that's good point to be, because you're ready to turn to God!

Verse 15: "If I say, 'I will speak thus'; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me" (vs 15-16).

What happens when you think and dwell on that? You don't pray! You don't study! You kind of fritter around and fret and stew and get depressed! That's easy, and it happens to all of us, because we're hoping for better things. Well, maybe the better things won't come until there are worse things to take place first! Have you ever thought about that?

Maybe better things won't come until our faith is tried and tested, and that's what we're going through. Notice how to change that kind of 'give up and compromise' attitude:

Verse 17: "Until I went into the sanctuary of God…"

Asaph was right there where that tent and the Ark of the Covenant was, and he would take incense in and wave it back and forth over the Ark of the Covenant.

"…then I understood their end" (v 17).

Same way with us! We have to always look at the end!

• the outcome
• why we're here
• where we're going
• what we're doing'
• what we need to do

Just when you come to the point that you're frustrated, and at the point that you're not praying and studying, that's when you need to get on your knees and you're directly connected with God, and ask God to help you see and understand what's going on.

Look at it, and here's what Asaph saw; v 18: "Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down into destruction." Ultimately that's where they're going!

It doesn't matter how much they prosper in the world—because Satan gives them all the prosperity that they need—it is what the end result is of God's plan for me and you, and all of us together!

Verse 19: "How have they been brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors, like a dream when one awakens; so, O LORD, when You awake, You shall despise their image" (vs 19-20).

God's judgment is coming!

We are going to see—with all the saint all together when we're resurrected and on the Sea of Glass—all the things that are going on, on the earth, and the armies are fighting and they're trying to come and fight against the Sea of Glass. They're shooting all their weapons up to it, but it amounts to nothing. Then we see how God deals with the wicked!

What chance do they stand? Not a single chance! So powerful is the Word of Christ that when we're descending from the Sea of Glass and coming back to the earth—all of us on our white horse, and we'll have to learn how to do that—that He commands with the Word of His mouth and the flesh fall of all those soldiers out there fighting!

That's going to be quite a thing! When that happens we're going to say, 'O Lord, thank You that we're here!'

Now look at Asaph's repentance; v 21: "For thus my heart was grieved and I was pricked in my reins…. [he finally came to his senses] …So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless, I am always with You…" (vs 22-23).

So, whenever we go against God and say, 'God, what are You doing?' What we have to do is understand that God will let us know what He's doing, how He's doing it, and why He's doing it IF we will yield and submit to Him with this kind of attitude!

Verse 23: "Nevertheless, I am always with You; You have held me by my right hand. You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (vs 23-24).

Again, whenever you get down in the dumps, never forget the end. That's what's important.

Verse 25: "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You I desire none upon earth."

How is that expressed in another way? Loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and being!

Verse 26: "My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the Rock of my heart and my portion forever, for lo, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all who go a whoring from You. And me, it is good for me to draw near to God…" (vs 26-28).

When you have those times when you're not near to God, and you go through the thoughts that Asaph has brought out here in Psa. 73, that's the time to come to God!

"…I have made the LORD God my refuge, that I may declare all Your works" (v 28).

Deborah

Let's look about Deborah. Here was a time, quite a time, when the men didn't have courage. The particular man was Barak. God told him to go out and fight against the Philistines and God said, 'I'll be with you.' But Barak didn't want to go.

Every once in a while it takes a good strong woman to help a weak man get on his feet, and this is the case. When I read about this, I think of Sidney Powell. She is almost single handily uncovering all the evidence around the world about this vast conspiracy of nations and China money to get rid of Trump. Single handily!

Judges 5:1: "Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, 'Praise the LORD for the avenging of Israel when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, O kings. Give ear, O princes. I, even I, will sing to the LORD, I will sing to the LORD God of Israel. LORD, when You went out of Seir, when You marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. The mountains quaked from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were empty, and the travelers walked through crooked ways'" (vs 1-6).

In other words, Israel was so oppressed that they didn't even walk on the normal highways; they had to go some other way.

Verse 7: "The leaders ceased in Israel, they ceased until I, Deborah, arose; until I arose, a mother in Israel."

When you hear Sidney Powell say what she's going to do, and she has vowed to bring every single one of them to justice herself. I don't know the crew she has working for her, but whoever they are they are certainly doing a good job.

They have found exactly how all of these dominion machines were setup so that the election would be lost, and they now know that it goes back many years before. There was one county in Texas that the Democrats were bragging that it turned 'blue' was because the computer counter was fixed!

So, in spite of everything, if you're going to have an election, the only way to prove the election true is paper ballots! You get it at the polling place, you fill it out, sign it and they check your signature and mark it validated. Any other way won't work.

What they have discovered that they have done with these Dominion computers is that they put Biden in 1.2+ per count, and Trump in at .75-.78 per count, and still Trump was winning until early in the morning they had to shut it all down so they could re-arrange it and the master computer/server in Germany, Sidney Power through Donald Trump was able to seize that computer/server. All the information in the computers went from the United States to Spain—Dominion—and then over to Germany, then back to the computers in America to give the results.

I don't know who is going to hear this, and I don't know if those weaklings in the Supreme Court have enough guts to take the case, but the overwhelming amount of evidence is going to be 'out of sight'!

Verse 7: "The leaders ceased in Israel…"

• Isn't that what happened? Look at it!
• What are the leaders  doing?

"…they ceased until I, Deborah, arose; until I arose, a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the lawgivers of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD" (vs 7-9).

That introduces everything that comes out of it. So, apparently when she finally stood up there were a few to behind and say, 'Oh yes, Deborah, we'll come with you.'

Jael

Now here was another woman, v 24, and sometimes in desperate times, a woman will do something like this. When you have war, please understand that the object is to defeat the enemy, and if you have to, to kill as many as you have to. That's war in the world.

We in the Church are not to be out there doing that kind of thing, but that's the way war is in the world.

The other night Rachel and I were watching a little bit about the bombing of Dresden, one of the last cities in Germany to be bombed. It was down in the southeastern part of Germany. They sent hundreds and hundreds of planes, and they dropped tens of thousands of bombs, and just leveled it! That was the key for the Russians to come in from the east toward Berlin. But if you go to war, you have to get rid of th enemy.

What is God going to do when He returns? He's going to do that! He's going to kill the enemy and get rid of them! So, here's another woman:

Verse 24: "Blessed among women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be. She shall be blessed above women in the tent. He…"

This is Sisera, commander of enemy forces and came into the tent. He had been fighting and was exhausted and worn out.

"…asked for water, and she gave him milk. She brought forth butter in a lordly dish. She put her hand to the peg and her right hand to the workman's hammer…. [here's another woman like Deborah] …She hammered Sisera; she smashed his head; she pierced and struck through his temple. He bowed between her feet, he fell, he lay down. Between her feet he bowed; he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead" (vs 24-27)

Verse 31: "'So, let all Your enemies perish, O LORD. But let them that love Him be like the sun going forth in its glory.' And the land had rest forty years."

This shows that there has to come a time when there has to be an offense or a war against the enemy to get rid of them. That was quite a thing!

Esther

The book of Esther is very interesting, indeed! Esther is quite a long story, so we will try to summarize it the best that we can. This was at a time when many of those who were carried away captive out of Judea included Jews, Benjaminites and so forth.

Esther was of the tribe of Benjamin. Who else was of the tribe of Benjamin? The Apostle Paul! Esther was supposed to be the most beautiful of women. Here's how she got to the king, because she was completely unknown. The king had a beautiful wife: Vashti, and the king wanted her to come and he would show all of the princes and important men how beautiful she was. But she refused to come. You don't do that to the king! You don't do that to a husband!

So, the king checked with the wise men as to what to do. They said to divorce her, isolate her and get someone else because she refused to come when you called. If the word gets out to all the women in the realm they're all going to rebel against their husbands. They didn't want that!

Then the king said that he had to find another woman, another queen, so bring all of the most beautiful virgins in the realm. Esther was among them! Being of the tribe of Benjamin she was not dark-haired or dark-skinned, she was probably blonde and blue-eyed. Or maybe even a red-head and blue or green eyed. An astounding figure! They had all the women there and they had a whole year of ointments, perfumes, shampoos, massages, exercises and all of this to bring out the most beauty of the women.

So, Esther caught the king's eye and he put her up in the first place. She was chosen, but her uncle Mordecai told her not to tell him that she is from one of the Jewish captives. So, she didn't.

Esther 2:15: "And when Esther's turn, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her for his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she asked nothing but what was chosen by Hegai the king's officer, the keeper of the women. And Esther had favor in the sight of all who looked upon her. So, Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign" (vs 15-16).

Verse 17: "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she rose in grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins. And he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."

This is quite a thing! It's also very possible that Esther was the mother of Cyrus. Cyrus was the one who—at the end of 70 years of captivity in Babylon—sought a decree that the Jews could go back and build the temple. You can see how important all of this is, because the Medo-Persian Empire had taken over Babylon and was controlling nearly all of the Middle East.

Verse 18: "And the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast. And he ordered a rest day for the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. And when the virgins were gathered the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her. For Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as she did when she was brought up by him. In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate… " (vs 18-21).

Now, this one verse is key. Something will happen that nobody even thinks will be exposed. So, here:

"…while Mordecai sat in the king's gate two of the king's officers, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus…. [they wanted to kill him] …And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told Esther the queen. And Esther told the king about it in Mordecai's name. And when the matter was searched into, it was found out, and the two of them were hanged on a tree. And it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king" (vs 21-23).

They discovered this without knowing that Mordecai was the one who passed the information on so it would get to the king. Remember, in a lot of these things there is always intrigue. There's another player in this called Haman. He was a great religious leader and was an Agagite.

What did God say of Agag in the book of Exodus? That He would have war with Agag in every generation, because when the children of Israel were going to Mt. Sinai, Agag came behind and were killing the strangers and the weak! So, there was war! Joshua went out to fight, and Moses had to sit on the rock and two men had to hold up his hands with his rod while he held them up to God. Whenever his rod was up Israel was winning; when his arms got weak and went down, they were losing. Then they put the men there to prop up his arms and they finally won the battle against Agag. So, here is a perpetual enemy of God!

Esther 3:1: "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him."

Right-hand man! I want you to think about some of the things that have happened in the Church with high, raised up. right-hand men!

Verse 2: "And all the king's servants in the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down nor prostrate himself before him." That was a great offense!

Verse 3: "And the king's servants in the king's gate said to Mordecai, 'Why do you transgress the king's command?' Now it came to pass when they spoke daily to him, and he did not hearken to them, they told Haman, to see if Mordecai's words would stand. For he had told them that he was a Jew" (vs 3-4).

That made it even worse! To make a long story short, Haman got the king to sign a decree to get rid of all the enemies in the kingdom, who were the Jews. So, Mordecai got a hold of Esther and said, 'You've got to get to the king, and figure a way, because Haman is going to really wreak havoc and cause all of us to be killed.

That's quite and edict!

(break)

Now we will see the parallel here how Esther intervenes with the king. This shows that—if we can draw the parallel—with Sidney Powell, she's got to get to the right people to be able to get the information about how this election was subverted internationally.

Mordecai said you've got to get to the king, and she said, 'I can only go if he allows me to come in by raising up the sceptre.' She said that she would fast for three days and prepare.

Esther 4:17: "And Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Esther 5:1: "Now, it came to pass on the third day, Esther put on royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's hall. And the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal hall, facing the entrance of the hall. And it was so that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she received favor in his sight. And the king held out to Esther the golden scepter in his hand. And Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter" (vs 1-2). Very formal! We have to get this right!

Verse 3: "And the king said to her, 'What do you desire, Queen Esther? And what is your wish? It shall be given to you even to half of the kingdom.'"

She was very clever, so she said, 'What we need to do, we need to have a banquet and in this banquet I only want you and Haman to come. It will be a special banquet.'

This was a trap. The word went out to Haman that he was invited by the queen—just he alone—with the king and to have a banquet. So, Haman came and went to the banquet and everything was really great. Then the king said, 'Esther, what do you want?' She said, 'Tomorrow you and Haman come together and we'll have another banquet and then I will ask you my request.'

So, Haman went home and was so delighted, really happy, but Mordecai didn't bow down before him.

Verse 12: "And Haman said, 'Yea, Esther the queen let no other man but me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. And also tomorrow I am invited to her banquet, with the king. Yet, all this fails to satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate'" (vs 12-13)—and now bowing down to him! Now the intrigue gets a little bit more.

Verse 14: "And Zeresh his [Haman's] wife and all his friends said to him, 'Make a gallows, fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.' And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the wooden gallows to be made."

Right down to virtually the last second. Then that night… There's always an instant when something happens that the one who needs to know what's occurring to help out. Here's the king, he couldn't sleep:

Esther 6:1: "On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles…. [like bringing the Sunday morning paper]…And they were read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers, the guards of the door who sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And the king said, 'What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?' And the king's servants who served him said, 'Nothing has been done for him.' And the king said, 'Who is in the court?'…. [come right at the right time] …And Haman had come into the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows, which he had prepared for him. And the king's servants said to him, 'Behold, Haman stands in the court.' And the king said, 'Let him come in.' So, Haman came in. And the king said to him, 'What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?'…." (vs 1-6).

Well, Haman said, 'It's got to be me!' "…And Haman thought in his heart, 'To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?'" (v 6).

Verse 7: "And Haman answered the king, 'For the man whom the king delights to honor, let the royal clothing be brought, which the king wears, and the horse that the king rides upon, and the royal crown, which is set upon his head. And let this clothing and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes so that they may dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the streets of the city, and proclaim before him, "This is what shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor."'" (vs 7-9).

And Haman thought, 'That's going to be me!' Well, I wonder if we can draw a parallel. If Trump wins at the last minute, this is going to happen to Biden! He's going to be disgraced above everything that has ever been in the political history of the United States of America.

Verse 10: "And the king said to Haman, 'Make haste! Take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do so even to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken.'"

A complete reversal of everything! Haman had to go out there and say, 'This is the one whom the king delights in!' I doubt if he said it very loud, but whatever. '

Then it was revealed that the order that the king signed at the behest of Haman to kill all of the Jews would also kill the queen. So, the king reversed the order, he found out about the gallows and said, 'Hang Haman on the gallows that he made for Mordecai.

The order went out that all of the enemies of the king—all the ones who were following Haman against the Jews and the king—should be executed instead of the Jews. In celebration of this, the Jews have what is called The Feast of Purim!

That's how God intervened there. Will there be anything like that with the election? We don't know! It's possible, because remember the saying that 'it's not over till it's over'—Yogi Berra!

Let's see some things as we live in trepidation. What's going to happen in America and in the world if Biden gets in. If he gets in, it's going to be the most tumultuous times we have ever had. If he doesn't get in, it's still going to be the most tumultuous times we have ever had. One way or the other, it's going to happen! How will it go?

The thing that Peter writes you'll notice the pattern. He brings out something that's important to keep in the forefront of our mind so that when trouble comes we're not taken down by it. Sometimes you can have so much trouble come along that you get discouraged and:

• you don't go to God
• you don't pray
• you don't study
• you're overwhelmed

You feel like Asaph, as we started! Why am I going through all of this when the world out there prospering and I'm having a terrible time even existing.

Notice how Peter starts out and how important this is. When we're in trouble and difficulty we need to get our mind:

• on the goal
• on what God is doing
• on His Spirit
• on His Word

I want to emphasize these two Transcript Books with CDs:

• What is the Holy Spirit of God?
• How to Use the Holy Spirit of God

This is the time we need to do it through use of prayer, study and drawing close to God on how we need to live and survive in the days that are ahead.

• if things turn out for the good, that will be fine
• if they turn out for bad, we'll still have to get along

So, we need to understand what we need to be doing!

1-Peter 1:1: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect strangers scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia; who have been chosen…" (vs 1-2).

Keep in mind that God Himself has chosen every one of us! Think about that; that's quite a fantastic thing to really keep in mind. God has given you His Holy Spirit and He's involved in your life.

 "…according to the predetermined knowledge of God the Father …" (v 2).

John 6:44: "No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him…" The Father is the great Sovereign of the universe!

• He's the One Who is involved in our lives
• He's the One Who sent Jesus Christ to be the Perfect Sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins
• He's the One Who has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can look forward to eternal life

This is what Peter is writing about!

"…by sanctification through the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again…" (vs 2-3).

When we were conceived, we were begotten, then we were born, and now we have to be begotten by the Holy Spirit of God so we can be born again at the resurrection when Christ returns.

"…unto a living hope…" (v 3). The greatest thing beyond anything we can imagine!

"…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for us" (vs 3-4).

That's quite a thing! That's what Rev. 21 & 22 are all about. That's the ultimate goal!

Verse 5: "Who are being safeguarded by the power of God through faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

Notice that Peter covers all of this first so that it will be encouraging and uplifting and help you draw close to God when he starts talking about the trials that you go through.

Verse 6: "In this you yourselves greatly rejoice; though for the present, if it is necessary,you are in distress for a little while by various trials."

• Why do we have trials?
• Why do we have difficult ones?
• How is God going to know what you're going to choose?

He's given free moral agency!

• Will we always choose God and His way?

Even when everything may look like it's not going to work out, just like with Mordecai and Esther and Haman, God can flip it at the last minute.

• Is God in control?
• Does God raise up nations and put them down?
• Does God judge nation and people?
• Does He judge His saints? Yes, He does!

All of this has to do with our relationship with God!

Verse 7: "In order that the proving of your faith…"

How important is faith? So important that eternal life depends on it! That you love God, believe God and believe His promises!

"…which is much more precious than gold that perishes…" (v 7).

If you had a big pile of gold here and someone says that they're going to give this to you, but you have to do one thing. They ask you to break some commandment of God, what would you do? They would say, 'I'll offer you a way out.' I can't do that, God says don't do that! 'Well, you can always repent, can't you?' All kinds of enticements.

"…which is much more precious than gold that perishes though it is being tested by fire…" (v 7).

Everybody is going to have the fire that they're going to go through; that is the testing of our faith! We're all going to be tested. That's why we have to be anchored to Christ, the Word of God, and have the Truth written in our heart and mind! When these trials come along we will have the spiritual ammunition to fight against it, the way that God wants us to fight against it. By fighting against it, we are building character! That's what's lacking in the world!

That's what's needed with us, because the only way we're going to straighten out the world is if we make it to the first resurrection and God gives us the power to straighten it out. But we have to exercise the faith to get there. When we have a trial, here is how it is:

1-Corinthians 3:11: "For no one is able to lay any other foundation besides that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if anyone builds upon this foundation gold… [that's what Peter referred to] …silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble" (vs 11-12).

It doesn't matter what you're building. It doesn't matter how close your relationship with God is, or how far it is. There are going to be trials that will come. With this election, there are going to be some trials that are going to come, especially if Biden gets in there.

• we're going to see them clamping down on Christians of any kind
• we're going to see restrictions of publications
• we're going to see restrictions on the Internet

Those will be coming! What are we going to do?

Verse 13: "The work of each one shall be manifested; for the day of trial will declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall prove what kind of work each one's is."

The way you have faith is that you work at it, you build upon it, and you add to it.

1-Peter 1:7: "…may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ; whom, not having seen, you love; in Whom, though at the present time you do not see Him, you believe, and rejoice with unspeakable joy, and filled with glory; and are receiving the end of your faith—even the salvation of your lives" (vs 7-9)

Because of the trials and difficulties we're going to go through, notice what Peter says. This is what we do on Sabbath services.

• every Sabbath service where we go through the Word of God
• every time we study and pray, this adds to it

That's why you've heard it said through the years: prayer and study, prayer and study! That's the thing that builds the faith that's necessary. What does it do?

Verse 13: "For this reason, be prepared in your minds… [it has all to do with what's there] …be self-controlled…"

• don't give in to temptations
• don't give in to distress
• don't give in to despair or anxiety

"…and be fully hoping in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the former lusts, as you did in your ignorance. But according as He Who has called you is Holy, you yourselves also be Holy in all your conduct" (vs 13-15).

That's what we are to do! That's why we have Sabbath services and study and the things that we have, so that we can grow in grace and knowledge and be ready for whatever comes.

1-Peter 2:3: "If you yourselves have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious. To Whom coming, as to a living Stone…" (vs 3-4).

Today there are too many who are lukewarm, and that's a difficult proposition. I don't know how you are, or how they are in the other Churches of God. I've heard different things at different times, but that may come or go depending on what the circumstances are. I tell you what, when Jesus said that 'When the Son of man comes, will He find the faith in the earth?' the question relies on each on of us. We need to ourselves: Will He find it in me?

I can't make it be in you; you have to make be in you! I have to make it be in me through the exercise of God's Spirit with prayer and study so that we have that faith.

Verse 4[transcriber's correction]: "To Whom coming, as to a living Stone rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house—a Holy priesthood—to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (vs 4-5).

Then he reminds us of the suffering of Christ. There are many places in the Bible where you can read about the sufferings of Christ, especially Isa. 53. and Psa. 22. Think about what Christ had to do to divest Himself of being God so that He could become a pinpoint of life and be born as an infant and grow up like any other human being. That's quite a thing! Think about that, and then ask the question:

What has God really required of me that I need to do? You must yield yourself to God in the sense that you give yourself up totally to God! That's the most important thing.

Verse 21: "For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His footsteps."

That's quite a thing to say! Do we have the spiritual strength and courage?

Verse 22: "Who committed no sin…"

As impossible as it may seem, I think I've mentioned this: 40% of evangelicals believe that Jesus sinned! How can you read the Bible and say that Jesus sinned? It's impossible!

"…neither was guile found in His mouth; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously; Who Himself bore our sins within His own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, may live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes you were healed" (vs 22-24).

Think about what God has done for us to pave the way. Keep that in mind. Do not let any difficult problem come upon you that you get so discouraged that you just give up! They will come!

Peter writes this, and this is very interesting how we have all of these things. Think of all the things that talk about the love of God, the grace of God and what we are to do in response to God that way. Then think about that trials are surely going to come.

1-Peter 4:12: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you which is taking place to test you…"

All of the trials are a test. Some we can pass better than others, but if you have a weakness and you slip, you go back and repent and ask God to help you to put away those weaknesses and temptations. That's what it's all about,

"…to test you as if some strange thing were happening to you" (v 12).

Think about when those Christians were in Jerusalem. When it was reaching the point of decay and rebellion in 66-1/2A.D. the priest heard the voice in the Holy of Holies, 'Let us leave here.' So, the presence of God was removed. Roman troops were coming, and the Jewish people were getting up their armies. As we saw in the book of Jude, those people were trying to get people to joint them to fight against the Romans.

But they were fleeing, going on the other side of the Jordan River to Pella and later on up to Asia Minor and Ephesus and the different cities up there. But think about that they had to take whatever they had, pack it up and put it on whatever animals they had, if they had them, and start walking in faith to get away from the destruction that was coming. Having to trust God to protect them and bring them to where they would find some safety.

None of us have faced that, yet, have we? No! When we go home after Sabbath services, thank God for what you have! That's quite a blessing. You might think about if you were confronted with some of those kinds of things that would come along, where you have to completely just get up and walk out, what would you do? You have to trust God!

Verse 13: "But to the degree that you have a share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice so that at the revelation of His glory, you also may rejoice exceedingly. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God is resting upon you…" (vs 13-14).

I saw a little clip concerning William Tyndale. We have a very short one about Wm. Tyndale in the front of the Bible. But we have a booklet that you can order, A Tribute to William Tyndale.

He was betrayed by a friend when he was translating the Old Testament in Antwerp, Belgium, because he exiled himself from England. He translated the New Testament and was doing the Old Testament at that time. A man named Philip betrayed him, arrested by the authorities. He spent a year and a half in prison. What was he doing in prison? He was translating from the Hebrew the Old Testament! He actually finished it, because it says that he finished 1st & 2nd Chronicles. In the Hebrew text, the last two books of the Old Testament are 1st & 2nd Chronicles.

Then Tyndale's assistant John Rodgers took that and formed into what is called the Thomas Matthew Bible. I want you think about 'T' and 'M' because that was a code for William Tyndale. You take the 'T' and turn the 'M' upside down and put it in front of the 'T' and you've got William Tyndale—W.T.

I have an authentic copy of the Thomas Matthew Bible, a big thick one, at home. It was taken out and they had the fire all ready to go to burn him. He was given last chance to recant and he didn't. He was standing there and they had the noose around his neck to pull to choke and kill him first, and then set the fire afterward.

His last words were: Lord, open the eyes of the King of England! Then they pulled the cord, he died and they lit the fire and he was burned up. But God answered that prayer, because two years King Henry the VIII ordered that in ever church in England there was to be placed the English translation of the Bible, and that the church would provide a reader for the ones who couldn't read. Think about that when you think that your prayers are not being heard!

Verse 14: "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God is resting upon you; on their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."

1-Peter 5:6: "Be humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time."

God will intervene and help. Look what happened to Mordecai. He was ready to be killed but then was put as second in command of the whole empire.

Verse 7: "Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour" (vs 7-8).

He's active whenever there are problems were coming along so that he will try to increase the discouragement and anxiety that the true brethren may have.

Verse 9: "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world. Now, may the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, Himself perfect you… [that's the point of it] …establish, strengthen, and settle you" (vs 9-10). God will do it!

Verse 11: "To Him be the glory and the power into the ages of eternity. Amen."

So, when we look and see the trials and difficulties that are taking place, there are many possibilities, but we have to be ready for whatever takes place! Remember that ultimately it is all the will of God! So, let's make sure that the will of God for us that we make it into the Kingdom of God.

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 73:1-28
• Judges 5:1-9, 24-27.31
• Esther 2:15-23
• Esther 3:1-4
• Esther 4:17
• Esther 5:1-3, 12-14
• Esther 6:1-10
• 1 Peter 1:1-2
• John 6:44
• 1 Peter 1:2-7
• 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
• 1 Peter 1:7-9, 13-15
• 1 Peter 2:3-5, 21-24
• 1 Peter 4:12-14
• 1 Peter 5:6-11

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• 1 Chronicles 16
• Psalm 72
• Revelation 21; 22
• Isaiah 53
• Psalm 22

Also referenced:

Transcript Books with CDs:

• What is the Holy Spirit of God?
• How to Use the Holy Spirit of God

Booklet: A Tribute to William Tyndale

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 12/15/20

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