Romans 100

Patience in Tribulation

January 25, 2003

Brian Kocourek

ROMANS 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

This evening I would like to speak on the second part of this verse, patient in tribulation.

Paul speaks here of tribulation and the condition we should be in when we come through tribulation. Now, he is not speaking of the great tribulation but rather of tribulation, or affliction or the pressure and oppression that comes as a result of our stand in the Gospel. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 13.

MATTHEW 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them]. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Jesus again makes it clear that if we are to stand with Him and His Word, we will be considered outcasts, and will not be received by the world.

MATTHEW 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Now, this word persecuted means: in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one; to persecute; to be maltreated, suffer persecution on account of something. This does not speak of those who would disagree with your stand but actually speaks of those who would chase after inorder to accuse, and harass, and try to inflict suffering in some form or fashion). 11Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, (that means to use abusive or contemptuous language when they speak of you or towards you, in order to cast aspersions against you.) and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Now, what is the manner of action we are to take when they do these things to us? The answer is become instant in prayer. But we will get to that Tomorrow morning. Tonight we are speaking of being patient while facing tribulation, and persecution for the word.

Jesus never promised peace with men while we live in this world, so we had better get used to the persecution and tribulation for the Word Sake. Its all part of our identification with Him who is the Word.

JOHN 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Now, any tribulation is not a pleasant thing to go through, but for some reason while we are able to undergo many tribulations while in this world we can still find the capacity to rejoice in them. And why is this? Because we are so confident in the Faith of Jesus Christ that we know with no uncertainty that “All things will work together for the good of those who love God and those who are the Elect according to His purpose. [Romans 8:26-30](read) Now, this searching of the heart is part of what brings forth our trials as we shall see a little later in this message.

Now, why is it that only the Christian, the Elect of God can rejoice even while under the toughest of trials? Because we know that God is not far from us, and whatever form of trial we may be going through, we know that He has allowed it to work something in us that otherwise would not be there. And that is the key... When you are going through any trial, I don’t care if it is one concerning your job, your finances, your health, your spousal relationship, whatever the trial, don’t forget that God knew about it before it even happened to you. And not only did He know about it, but He allowed it to bring forth something in you that is lacking yet in your character. But just remember, that while you are going through whatever the trial may be, you are not alone.

And that is why we are commanded to be patient. And that is why also we can be patient. Because we know God is working on whatever problem we are undergoing, and He has not left us nor forsaken us.

Jesus said in JOHN 14:1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

And again in Jesus said, JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 ¶ Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

In II CORINTHIANS 4:6 The Apostle Paul tells us we will have tribulation and persecution, but that is in order to work into our flesh what we have received from God through His Word in our Spirit. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 ¶ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

The purpose of our being patient while under assault from the tribulations and testing is to bring about a character change in us.

Paul said in ROMANS 5:1¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (In other words, it all lays in the fact that God has chosen you to give you the revelation of Himself, and in doing so the world will and must hate you for it hated him first. JOHN 15:18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 ¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. So yo see you should be expecting persecution and trials for your stand, and if you are not receiving them, you should be wondering if you really believe? )

117-2 SMYRNAEAN CHURCH AGE - CHURCH AGE BOOK CPT 4 "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trials that are to try you." That is what Peter said. Is it strange that God wants us to develop a Christ-like character that comes through suffering? No sir. And we all have trials. We are all tried and chastened as sons. Not one but goes through that. The church that is not suffering, and is not being tried, hasn't got it--it isn't of God. Heb. 12:6, "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

117-3 Now this special condition in Smyrna must be applied to every age. There is no age free from it. There is no true believer free from it. This is of God. This is the will of God. It is needful. We need the Lord to teach us the truth that we are to suffer and be Christ-like in doing it. "Love suffereth long and is kind." Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

118-1 The cloudy skies and storms of life are no signs of God's disapproval. Neither are bright skies and still waters signs of His love and approval. His approval of any of us is only IN THE BELOVED. His love is elective which He had for us before the foundation of the world. Does He love us? Ah yes. But how shall we know? We shall know because He SAID SO, and manifested that He did love us for He brought us to Himself and gave us of His Spirit, placing us as sons. And how shall I prove my love to Him? By believing what He said, and by conducting myself with joy amidst the trials that He in His wisdom allows to come to pass.

So we se that trials must come, because they are for a purpose, and if Jesus the Son of God learned obedience by the things He suffered, how much more you and I must come the same way. As Paul said in Hebrews, that just proves we are sons. But how we respond is what God is looking at. If we blow up and fight back, then we are not ready.

IMPERSONATION OF CHRISTIANITY 57-0120M E-52 And when the yoke is lined with a joy, and peace, and sweetness of Christ in your heart, then you just pick up all the burdens the world casts on you, and bear them to a certain hill called Calvary. And there you kneel down and pray for that one that was persecuting you, not rain fire out of heaven and tear up the church, but you bring peace to them. "God, be merciful to them."

ROMANS 5:1¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (why are we to be patient in tribulation? Because tribulation is given to us for the purpose of working patience in to us. You know we sing the psalm, They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as an eagle, they shall walk and not be weary, they shall run ands not faint, teach me Lord, Teach me Lord to wait.) verse 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 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.

BE CERTAIN OF GOD 59-0125 44 Then remember, if He is, His Word has to be true. And if He required you to meet these circumstances and you did, He's obligated to take care of His Word. Don't back off and say, "Oh, I never got healed. I..." Oh, you poor, weak faith. Don't believe that. If everything's confessed, and everything's out, and you met God's requirement, faith holds right there. There's nothing will move it. He is, and you're sure. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with the wings of an eagle. They shall run and not be weary; if they walk, they shall not faint." Wait, when you've met His requirements; that brings your faith to a showdown. If you have met... God's requirements has been made--or met, and you have fully considered it, and you have done everything that God required you to do, then your faith rests right there that He is. Be certain of God.

46 You know, He loves to test us. He loves to see the reaction of your faith. Did you know that? God likes to see how you'll react. When you say, "Oh, Lord, I believe You; Thou art my Saviour. I believe that You are the Healer; I believe that You are the One Who gives the Holy Spirit; and the things that I am requiring, You are the God Who gives that." And then when you confess all your sins and promise God what you'll do if He'll let you get well, and then because it don't happen, you run off like a coward somewhere, God can't use that. There's no way for Him to use you. There's no way for Him to answer you, because He only answers by faith. Then all of a sudden you go away and He can't answer. But real true faith stands there, being sure that God is. Be certain that He is. And if God asks this thing to be done, to confess your sins and so forth, and you've done it, faith says that He is; it's certain that it's going to happen. Your request has to be granted. Oh, I hope you don't miss that. If you're sure of God, God's sure of His Word. He's only waiting to test you.

II THESSALONIANS 2:1 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

I PETER 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil. 13 And who [is] he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 ¶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

You see, our patience shows we are at rest with God and when we get out of the way, he will fight our battles for us. II THESSALONIANS 1:6 Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day. 11 ¶ Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

E-9 LIFE STORY 51-0722A Now, there's a perfect way and a permissive way. And I feel that if God, here on the platform, can show me things that has been, and in my rooms and so forth, He's able to tell me just where He wants me and what He wants me to do. But I feel as long as I've got it all hooked up, or I feel like then He won't put His hands on it, as long as I'm doing it. And that's the way it is, anything. As long as you're going to do it... If someone talks about you, and you talk back about them, God can't fight your battle; you're fighting it yourself. See? Just--just let loose and let Him do it. And just commit it to Him.

However, He also said in [John 6:33] Jesus said, “In me ye may have peace. In the world ye will have tribulation.”

In Romans 5:3 Paul says, “We Glory in tribulations also” From this verse appears the distinction between the two-fold wrath of God, the two-fold divine mercy, and the two-fold tribulation; for there is a tribulation which comes to us from divine wrath, and another which comes from divine goodness. The tribulation which comes from divine Love can work that only which is good for us, even though for a time it may appear to be otherwise.

But we see in this in 1 Peter 1: 3-7 ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: The tribulation which comes from divine Love can work that only which is good for us, as we already read in Romans 8, even though for a time it may not appear to be so as we see in 1 Peter. Then this lack of understanding the outcome of this trial, and our misperception of what is taking place is not the fault of the tribulation which God so chooses for us to endure, but rather the misperception comes from our weakness during the tribulation. In such a case we fail to understand the nature, power and operation or (purpose) of the tribulation and therefore we judge it only according to its outward appearance and our perception. when this occurs, we think wrongly about what is happening, when we should be reverencing the trial as the very Cross of Christ itself.

[Romans 5:4] “Knowing that Tribulation worketh patience.” He who has faith, has all the excellent things which Paul mentions in the text, but in a hidden way. Through tribulation they are tried and purified to the highest degree. Whatever tribulation finds in us, it develops more fully. And therefore the purpose of the trial or tribulation is to expose where we are carnal, weak, blind, wicked, haughty, and so forth. Because without this understanding of how Christ works in us His will, tribulation will only make us more carnal, more weak, more blind, more wicked and more haughty. On the other hand, if we are spiritual, then our tribulations will make us strong, wise, pious, gentle and humble. We will become more spiritual, more powerful, more wise, more pious, more gentle and more humble, as we see in [Psalm 4:1] “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” So we see here that distress will enlarge what ever condition we are in, whether in a carnal condition or in a spiritual one. And that is the purpose of the trials and tribulations. And in fact when the great tribulation comes, it will only manifest to those left behind what their true condition is. Both to the foolish Virgin who think that somehow the Blood of Christ isn’t strong enough for their sins, as well as to those who are lost who will in tribulation, become more angry, more demanding, more demeaning, more veracious, more selfish, more animalistic.

People today have become so immature in their thinking that they want to blame their anger and their impatience on the one who happens to be offending them. But this is only foolish thinking, and we all need to grow up in Christ and get away from such foolish notions as this. Because tribulation does not make a person impatient, but only proves that they are impatient. Tribulation does not make a person angry, but only proves that they are angry. Therefore, tribulation is meant to teach our hearts of what we are constituted.

The Christian who outwardly worships the Cross of Christ and yet flees from tribulation and affliction, are simply ignorant and childish in their thinking and indeed are hypocritical in their thinking because the Scriptures tell us that the Cross of Christ is not just that wooden object that Jesus was stretched out upon, but as we read in Matthew 10:38, Jesus said, “He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

In other words, he is no Christian who refuses to bear this cross; for Paul said, “we glory in tribulation.” And in Acts 14:22 we read, “ We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” And the word, Must does not mean that tribulation comes by chance, or that it is a matter of choice for us, or that we may take it or leave it. As we had mentioned a few weeks ago, God is our Savior and Healer and helper in times of trouble, and those who would bypass tribulation are saying in effect, I don’t want to have to make any dependence upon God, and thus by doing so, we are literally robbing God of His titles, and His honor. In essence making Him a god of no substance to us. And to those people who think this way our Lord could never be their savior, nor could He be their healer, nor could He be their helper in times of need, because they will not admit that they are under condemnation. To them God is never mighty, He is never Wise, nor is He gracious, because they do not desire to honor Him as creatures that are weak, foolish and subject to punishment.

Experience worketh hope. Experience must here be understood to be the object of tribulation, or the good which tribulation is to effect. God accepts no one as righteous whom He has not first put to the test or tried. But He tries us through the fire of affliction, as we read in Psalm 11:5 “The Lord Trieth the Righteous.” God tries us in this way in order that we may really know whether we love Him for His own sake. We read in Psalm 139:23, 24 “Search me , Oh God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” If God would not try us by tribulation, it would be impossible for us to be saved.

Rom 5:5 . Hope maketh not ashamed. Tribulation takes from man everything in which He trusts and leaves him naked and destitute. It also prevents him from seeking help and salvation in his own temporal and spiritual works.

Finally, it causes him to despair of every creature, to look away from himself, and apart from himself and everything else, to seek help alone from God, the Creator, as we see in Psalm 3:3 “But thou oh, Lord art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” That is what hope means, and through the experience of tribulation such hope is confirmed in us. On the other hand, the wicked who trust in their own virtues, and do not endure tribulations with patience, do not allow themselves to be tried by it, and they never discover that we must put our trust alone in God. Therefore, when the last trial or affliction will come, and all their virtues and merits will disappear, then, when they sink into a hopeless eternity they will cry out tot he mountains: “Fall on us (Lk 23:30) Their assumed hope is actually no hope at all, but only a perverse, arrogant trust in their own works and righteousness.