Building A Better You

Luke 21:19 says,

“In your patience possess ye your souls.”

James 5:10 & 11 says,

“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Job is a perfect example. (Expound)

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 says,

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”

“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:”

“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:”

We need to learn God’s word. We need to learn to pray. We need to learn to share our faith. We need to learn to sacrifice. We need to learn to be a servant. And we need to learn to be patient.

I can tell you from experience that if your in the fire because God’s trying to teach you something. Get used to it. Because there will be no escape. No easy way out. No fine-print contractual loophole. You’re there for the duration. Learn your lesson and be patient!! Period!!

James 1:3 & 4 says,

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Romans 5:3-5 says,

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

II. Trust

The second thing we learn in the fire is trust.

Have you ever played that game where you take turns falling backwards into your friends arms? (Expound) (Demonstrate)

Trust isn’t easy is it?

“Oh, I trust God brother.” Until the chick in the coffee shack burns your shot. And then it’s like God’s forsaken you and all Hell’s broken loose in your life.

We say we trust God. We sing about trusting God. But truth be told, most of us don’t know what trust is.

Trust is Abraham leading Isaac up Mount Moriah. A set expression. Nerves of steel. Sweating hands. Trusting God that He knows what He’s doing.

And that’s the attitude we need in life. Things won’t always be easy. If fact, I think that I can safely say that they will very rarely be easy. And somehow, somewhere in your spirit you’re gonna have to learn to cast your cares on Jesus.

Job 13:15 says,

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”

Compared to trust, patience seems almost easy. I mean when you’ve got no choice but to wait… what else can you do. But when your prayers seem to bounce back at you from the ceiling and God seems a million miles away. When deliverance doesn’t come as soon as you claim it. When the circumstances looks unsurmountable. Will you still trust Him?