Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the necessity of relying on God during trials, asserting that true fulfillment and strength come from Him alone. He discusses the importance of casting our cares upon the Lord, especially when facing pain and irritation, and how these experiences can lead to spiritual growth and the formation of 'pearls' in our lives. The sermon highlights the need for open communication with God and others during difficult times, encouraging believers to embrace vulnerability and accountability. Ultimately, Beach Jr. reassures that God's omnipotence is at work in our trials, shaping us into vessels of His grace and glory.

In this lecture, I'm going to talk about how to find all that I need in you. It's better than life. I know I need you, you, you. It's better than life. I know it. And I'll find it's better than life. And I'll find all that I need in you. In you. It's better than life. I'll find, I'll find you. In you. Love is better than life. I know it well. And I'll Okay, we're ready. Is that on? Praise the Lord. Okay. Last week, we had a technical difficulty with our tape. And we had almost, almost everyone requested tapes. And unfortunately, we couldn't provide them last week because of a technical difficulty. So, I'm going to just very briefly cover the main thoughts of last week because many have asked if it was possible. And so, we're going to do that. But let's bow our hearts before the Lord. And let's just ask his enabling and his Holy Spirit to be present as his word goes forth. Father, we indeed are thankful today because once again, we sense your presence. We sense your love. And I suppose both wonderfully and fearfully, we sense your purging. We sense your desire for a people where the heart has been purged and cleansed. Not just a judicial standing, but inexperience. So that our motives and the invariant tense of our heart have been cleansed from selfish ambition, envy, and strife. And from caring chiefly about ourselves and making a transition by the power of grace. Where we no longer care about ourself in a selfish way. But the drive of our heart is concerned for your name. For your honor. To please you. So that you can be satisfied. Your kingdom can grow. Your name can be glorified. And we don't consider the cost that it might incur upon us. Because we see the cost that you paid and everything else seems insignificant. Father, please take your word today. Write it deeply into our heart. And use it to change us and transform us, we pray. In Jesus mighty name. Amen. And amen. The building of the house of God. Anger. Trials. And victory. Anger. Trials. And victory. How many here can honestly say before God. That you are consciously aware of being in the midst of some kind of trial or test. I think probably every hand can go up. Some kind of a test before God. Beloved, listen. You have got to believe in the love of God when you're going through a trial. You've got to believe in the presence of an omnipotent God. That's a big word, omnipotent. You know what it means, right? It simply means someone who is. It's okay, Carrie. No problem. Listen. Omnipotent means someone who is sitting on the throne of authority. And has everything under control. Do you believe that? Now listen. Job believed that. Theologically. Until God picked a fight. With the devil. And Job happened to be the subject of the fight. You know it was God who picked it. And God brought Job to the place. In Job 42. You don't have to turn there. But I just want to mention this because this is what God is after. Job 42. And this is what the Lord is wanting to give us this morning. Job 42, verse number 2. This is what Job said. I know. I know. That thou canst do everything. Now listen carefully. Listen carefully. When you look at what's going on in the world. You readily and I readily can say, well, I know God can do anything he wants. Right? We don't have a problem doing that, do we? Well, God can do anything. God is all powerful. We hear about reports of whatever might be happening in the nations of the world. Well, praise God. The Lord is omnipotent. He can do anything. But this confession that Job confessed went way beyond a simple acknowledgement of a man saying there is a God in heaven who can do anything. This acknowledgement that Job declared in Job 42 to touches the very center of his heart. And this is what he's really saying. Now, I know. That God. Can do anything. He wants. In me. And to me. We don't have a problem when God exercise his his omnipotence somewhere out there. Somewhere in the world. But when suddenly. We find ourselves in the center. Of a fiery. Trial. The very depths of our heart. Is tested. And we realize. Because of God's love. That we have a real big problem. With God being omnipotent. When his omnipotence. Touches us. This is why God wants to teach us. The security of his love. Now last week. We briefly mentioned. That the Bible tells us in 1st. Peter chapter 5. 1st Peter chapter 5. Verse 7. Casting all your care upon him. For he careth for you. We learned. That. It is. Utterly essential. That we learn. To cast our care upon the Lord. And that casting our care upon the Lord. Is learning how to communicate. With the Lord. Learning how to talk to him. Learning how to tell him about our anxieties. About our fears. About our joys. About our sadness. About our frustrations. About our pain. Listen. If we don't communicate. To the Lord. And learn to tell him. What's going on. On the inside. I think as a father. I have said more times. To my daughters. Than anything else. Tell me. What's going on. On the inside. Talk to me. As we mentioned last week. I heard a statistic. That suggested. That. Those who are engaging. In violent crimes. Are those. Who have never had someone. In their life. That they. Were able. To unload. Their. Anxieties on. Their thoughts. Their fears. Their struggles. They never felt. Connected to someone. And consequently. They went through life. All bottled up. All bottled up. And when the Holy Spirit leads Peter. To say cast all your cares upon him. For he cares for you. That is not just. That's not just a theological statement. That's the Holy Spirit. Trying to tell you and I. The church. That our God. In heaven. Is a father. A loving father. And as a loving father. He invites us to come. And tell him what's going on. Tell him. Cast your care. Cast your burden on him. We have to. We have to go beyond the idea. That we can only come to God. When we feel good. As if. As if the Lord. Is. Is. Is willing to accept us. When we can come to him. Talking about our victory. And our faith. And how well we feel we're doing. And how thankful we are. That God has blessed us. And everything's going well. But then. When God. In his. Sovereign. Omnipotence. Begins to. Allow us to go through a fiery trial. And let me tell you. When you go through a fiery trial. The wind is going to be taken out of your sails. You're going to stumble. You're going to fall. You're going to realize. You don't have what you thought you did. Your wisdom will fail you. Your strength will fail you. Your understanding will fail you. Your love will fail you. Your friends will fail you. The thing that you've looked to. Other than God. Will fail you. And you will find your feelings rising up within you. Frustration. Fear. Anger. Confusion. Perplexity. Pain. But it's then. It's right in the midst of that. That the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Says. Cast your care upon him. Talk to him. Oh I can't talk to him now. I feel miserable. You see. We've been. We've been seduced into thinking. That. Our coming to God. And our. Sharing our heart with him. Is contingent upon. Being able to come. And say good. Exciting. Positive things. And so we tend to. Close up. Inwardly. When. Our life starts shaking. Not only do we tend to do that with God. We tend to do it with one another. Don't we? Some people are more. Obviously prone to do this than others. But I think human nature. The way it is. Tends to draw away. When. We're subject to a fiery trial. Please listen. Please listen. To the Holy Spirit. If you. Tend to draw away. When you're going through a difficulty. You tend to. Clam up. You tend to draw away. You. Are not. Casting your care. Upon the Lord. You're burying it. And if you. Bear your burden. And you. Draw away from the Lord. And draw away from the ones that God has brought into your life. You are setting yourself up. To walk down a road. That will spiritually hurt you. And hurt others. The Bible says cast your care upon him. The Bible says bear one another's burdens. And so fulfill the law of Christ. But I don't want to. Come to you. When I'm down and out. I only want to come to you. When I feel like everything's going well. That's the temptation within the heart. But when I'm going through a trial. And I feel under the weather. I'm going to avoid people. I'm going to run. I'm going to. This is what Adam did. He was subject to a test. And in the midst of the test. He failed. And that's what James is talking about. When he says. When you're being tested. Let no man say God. Is tempting me to sin. The way the Bible falls together is remarkable. But that's what Adam did. He was subject to a test. And he failed. What did he do? In his failure. Did he cry out. Oh God. Oh God. Here I am. I'm ashamed. But I'm here God. Look at me. Look at me in my shame. God no. What did he do? He hid himself. He hid himself. And he covered himself. And he withdrew. And he internalized all of his struggles. He didn't cast his care on the Lord. He ran from the Lord. And what did God do? He initiated a conversation with Adam. He said. Adam. Where are you? Adam. What happened? Adam. Tell me. Now did God ask questions? Because he didn't have the answers. Of course not. God was immediately reacting to that destructive pattern that sin brings to us. When we sin. We withdraw. We close up. We hide. We cover ourselves. And if we live in that state. We commit spiritual suicide. We dry up spiritually. But we need the power of grace to break that power. Because without grace. That's what every one of us will do. How many have found out. That you have the tendency in your life. When you blow it to withdraw. Every one of us. This should be touching us. In the depths. Because all of us. Maybe with the exception of the younger ones here. All of us have. Are old enough to know that this is. This is not only what God's word teaches. This is what life teaches. We learn this after we live a while. And in that state. In that state. We're not casting our care before the Lord. We're not rolling. Another place it says in Psalm 37. Roll your burden on the Lord. And He will sustain you. Now the question is this. Why do we do that? Why do we do that? Why? Why when we fail. When we're in the midst of a trial. And we don't like the way we feel. How many have found that. When you're in the midst of a trial. Sometimes people get on your nerves. You just don't want to deal with people. I'm going through a fire right now. And I just don't want to deal with people. And Christina doesn't have that problem. I'm glad I'm the father of five girls. And two sons. And I often joke and say. Someday I'm going to write a book. And I'm going to entitle it. I survived. I survived. And it will be a best seller. Guys and girls are different. But in our differences. We're all from the same mold. Adam. And therefore in our diversity. We're very much alike. And I've tried from the very beginning with my daughters. And now with my older son. I've tried to help them understand the need to talk. To communicate. To share their struggle. And as a father. I've always tried to say. Talk to me. Tell me what's going on. Don't be afraid. Don't be ashamed. But this is generally what I get. I don't want to talk about it. Okay. But I want you to talk about it. But I don't want to. I don't want to talk about it. And see there's that tendency. To want to internalize and keep things inside. Now. The reason why that's not good. Is because. That's what. If we're doing that with one another. That's what we're doing with the Lord. We need to learn to communicate. And so I've tried to help them see the need to communicate. The need to talk. To share with their mom. Their dad. The things they're going through. Their struggles. Their fears. Their anxieties. Their confusions. And whatever it is. And we can lay it out on the table. And you don't have to bear that burden alone. And then we can begin to pray about it. And go to God's word. And God will begin to speak to us. And he'll begin to give us peace. We might not get all the answers. We might not figure everything out. But at least you can get peace. In the midst of what you're going through. See that's the depths. Of this whole idea of cast your care upon the Lord. This is a very necessary foundation. When God entrusts you with a trial. And you haven't learned to cast your burden on the Lord. You are going to be in big trouble. You're going to be in big trouble. Because when you are subject to a trial. And subject to a test. And you don't have someone besides the Lord. To share your burden. To cast your burden on. To communicate your feelings of what you're going through. My God. It's going to be hard. And so God is teaching us through his word. The need to cast our care before the Lord. Now. Listen carefully. Alright. That's essentially. One of the truths that we dealt with last week. Casting your care upon the Lord. Simply means you go to dad. You go to daddy in heaven. And you tell him how you feel. If you don't. You're going to get angry. You're going to get bitter. You're going to get confused. And you're going to do stupid things. That you're going to regret. Okay. Now. Here's the next question. I'd like to ask. Alright. Listen carefully. Alright. Listen carefully. Most of us here acknowledged. That we're in the midst of some kind of trial. Okay. Now. Being in the midst of some kind of trial. How many here would acknowledge. That because of this trial. There is some kind of pain. Or irritation. That is on the inside. Of your heart. And spirit. And no matter what you do. Where you go. It's there. And you feel it. And you can't escape from it. The pain is there. Because of the trial you're in. How many can attest to that? Something's there. You know it's there. Okay. There's good news for you and I. You say. Well I don't know how. In the world. To deal with this pain. I can't escape. Listen. Some of you. I'm quite confident. 99% sure. If you were given an opportunity. Now to talk about your pain. In a couple minutes. You'd be bawling. Because it really hurts. You've learned how to deal with it. You've learned how to cope. You've learned how to function. You've said. Well. My God. I've got to keep moving on. I mean. I can't just break down. But if you were able to talk about it. And you were willing to be vulnerable. With those of us who are here. You would begin to cry. You would begin to weep. You might even begin to say. I'm so angry. I'm so upset. I'm so confused. I don't understand. Oh my. If you just let it out. Would that be wrong? Of course not. Of course not. That's why you need to do that. Before the Lord. And someone that's close to you. Don't be afraid to do it. You say. Well. It doesn't sound spiritual. Oh forget about all that hogwash. Forget about all that hogwash. That doesn't sound spiritual. You ever read through the book of Psalms? A man that God says he loved. Whose heart was after him. Almost every emotion known to man is in the book of Psalms. David was so free to tell God how he felt. All his feelings and emotions. He didn't bottle anything up. Forget about that. Forget about. Oh I don't know if I could say this. Can I really say that I'm angry at God? I'm mad at God. I'm confused and that I'm bitter. Of course you can tell him that. He knows anyway. Would he love you less? Of course he won't. His love isn't based on your works or your actions. He doesn't accept you because you line up to a standard of righteousness in yourself. He accepts you because by faith you've claimed the righteousness of his Son. He who knew no sin became sin. That we what? Might become the righteousness of God in Christ. Our acceptance is based on who we believe in. Not what we are in ourselves. So you could tell God without the slightest bit of fear that he's going to reject you or kick you out. Or say, oh you are a second class citizen. Oh my, my, aren't you? He loves you. He loves you. Period. Getting back to this pain. This irritation. Do you know that a pearl is found inside an oyster? Okay. But just very briefly, I'd like to mention how a pearl is formed. Now, listen closely. The word pearl in the Bible is significant. Pearl is part of what the city, the heavenly city is made of. When it comes down from heaven. See remember, the building of the house of God. And it's okay if you believe that someday there's going to be a literal city. I'm not here to refute that. But I'll tell you right now, the city that God's building now is made of living stones. And the fact that part of that city is called pearl. Means that God has a word to speak to us. Right in the midst, listen closely. Right in the midst of our pain. Right in the midst of our irritation. Listen carefully. Now look. You're in a trial. You're feeling pain. You're feeling irritation. It's inside your heart. It's inside your spirit. Now listen carefully, all right. A pearl. In order for a pearl to be formed inside an oyster. Something has to happen. And that is this. A grain of sand. Has to get inside the oyster. But in addition to that. A grain of sand. Listen, this is very careful. This is very important now. The grain of sand has to become a point of irritation. A point of irritation to the oyster. In order for a pearl to be formed. An oyster has to experience pain and irritation on the inside. So figuratively speaking. God in his wisdom says. I'm going to create an oyster. And I'm going to subject that oyster to trial. The trial is he lives in a place where there's all kinds of grains of sand. And God says in his wisdom. I'm going to allow that oyster. To get pieces of sand inside. To cause pain and irritation. And I'm going to create that oyster with the power. While it is being irritated. And while it is feeling pain. To secrete. A fluid. From within called. Pearl. That's right. The oyster secretes fluid called pearl. And what this pearl does. When there's pain and irritation in the oyster. Is it's secreted. And it slowly begins. To envelop. The grain of sand. Now mind you the oyster doesn't have the power to somehow. Expel. Thank you. This grain of sand out of it's body. See that's not the way God did it. You know it's not like the whale that swallowed Jonah. Where after he. Gets tired of Jonah. He swims up to the shore. And vomits Jonah out. And there goes the problem. No. The oyster doesn't have the power to expel it. But excretes pearl. Right here. This pearl envelops. The grain of sand. Now listen. The bigger the grain. The more the irritation. And the more pearl. Is excreted. Now what would you consider. To be. I asked this question last week ladies. What would be more enticing to you. A little teeny teeny pearl. Or a sizable pearl that can be seen across the room. Some might say teeny. Others might say. A larger one. And then here's another question. Well which one would be more valuable. Well there's no question about that. The larger pearl. Okay. So. Guess how. Guess how long. The excretion process occurs. It keeps going. And going and going and going. Until the pain. And irritation. Is totally removed. Not by expelling. But by. Enveloping. The source of pain. With pearl. Now. Beloved. This is building the house of God. Anger. Trial. And victory. We just saw our need. To talk to the Lord. We just saw our need to cast our care upon the Lord. Now we're learning. What do we do. With that pain. That won't go away. Now in 2nd Kings chapter 5. We won't turn there. We learned that Naaman. Was a leper. And he found out there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. He went to Israel. Listen. He was in the midst of a trial. He went to Israel. But things didn't work out the way he planned. You remember he expected Elijah to come out. And say. Oh. Thou mighty man. Of valor. Gather all the armies of Syria together. I'm about to lay my hand upon you. And all Israel will see. And all Syria will see. And all the nations will see. How the Lord has honored you. And how the Lord has bestowed great mercy upon you. And no. It didn't work out that way at all. Matter of fact. When Elisha went to the door. Or when Naaman went to the door and knocked. Instead of the great prophet answering the door. He sent his servant. And his servant had a message for him that he didn't like. The prophet says this. Go. Dunk yourself seven times in the river Jordan. Which was a filthy. Filthy river. And the bible says that immediately Naaman said to himself. I thought. Oh God. Give us ears to hear. Listen. Listen. You know the biggest stumbling block while you're going through a trial and a tribulation? The biggest stumbling block is when you're in the midst of the trial. And you've got the pain and the irritation on the inside. You think things should work out a certain way. And they don't. And the bible says that Naaman became angry. Was enraged. And left in a fit of rage. I thought God. I thought. Let me say this. Listen carefully. As long as we are holding on to the I thought things should have happened like this God. And they didn't. Listen. As long as we're holding on to that. The pain and irritation inside of us is not being enveloped with pearl. But rather anger and rage and bitterness and resentment and spiritual decline is happening. You're turning from a juicy grape into a raisin. All dried up inside. Now listen. Listen. Listen. We're going to miss the pearl when the pain and irritation is present in our life because of a trial. If we don't deal with by the power of God's word and confessing to God the great stumbling block of I thought. If you take what you think into the dealings of God in your life you're going to stumble and fall. But on the other hand. If. You go into a trial. And the I thought is revealed. You come before God. And say oh God. Forgive me. I give you my I thought. Mentality. Lord. I am your servant. I am in the midst of a trial. Fulfill. Listen. Your intended end. Fulfill your purpose in this trial. I thought surely this would happen. I thought surely this is what you would do. But Lord. I've hit a brick wall with that time. After time. Lord. God. I can't. I can't bear that anymore. It's killing me. Lord. It's killing my family. It's killing my friends. I can't bear with it anymore. Lord. I've got to cast my burden on. See. I've got to cast my burden on you. Lord. I got to tell you how I feel. I don't want it anymore. Take it from me. God. Oh God. All heaven rejoices when a soul is brought to that measure of brokenness. But then not only is God pleased, but something begins to happen. The moment God gets that kind of brokenness in our heart. Watch. Suddenly. Pearl. Pearl. Which represents grace. And. Character of the son. Pearl. Starts getting released by the presence of the Holy Spirit inside of us. And the very pain. The very irritation. That the trial is bringing. Suddenly. Begins to slowly be enveloped by grace. And slowly enveloped by the work of God's spirit. And. And. And. We begin to sense. That even though we can't. Get rid of this pain. Something is happening in the midst of that pain. It's being enveloped with a divine touch. A divine touch from God. It's being developed. Or being enveloped by grace. Multiplied grace. And the pain. Is resulting. In an enlargement. Of the stature. And likeness of Jesus Christ in our life. The very thing. That we thought. Was going to destroy us. Is the means by which God is building us. The very thing that we thought. Was going to. Kill us. Becomes. The place. The place. Where pearl. Begins to. Envelop itself. Got the irritation. We've got the pearl. We've got the pearl. The irritation is still there. The pain is still there. But out from that pain. Out from that pain. Is the growing. And the developing. Of the beauty and likeness. Of Jesus Christ. And suddenly. We realize. God. Now I know. What Job came to know. You can do anything. You want. In me. In me Lord. You are master. I am servant. You are potter. I am clay. The clay doesn't have a right. To say to the potter. Why have you done this? Who do you think you are? I don't like the way you made me. I don't like what. Okay. You can tell God that. But the bottom line. Is that God says. Shall the thing formed. Say to the one that formed it. No. You can't do this. See God is trying to establish. The creator creature relationship. Once again with his new creation. The father son relationship. Father. You do all things well. And even though you. That you don't love me. But you're producing pearl. In my life. How are you doing? With that pain. How are you? Say Phil. It hurts so bad. I know. But more importantly. Than me saying I know. Father knows. Father knows. Just how deeply that pain hurts. And some of you young folks. Don't understand this completely. That's all right. You will someday. You will someday. Is that pain hurt? Well just think of this. Father is setting you up. To become. A pearl. Of great price. Costly. To him. Possibly never known by the world. John said the world. What knoweth us not. The world has no clue. What God is doing. In our lives. Sometimes we don't have any clue. What God is doing in our life. But that doesn't cancel. The truth that God knows. What he's doing. And that's all that counts. God knows what he's doing. And this is a little bit. Of wisdom. From God's word. To encourage us this morning. Because this whole issue. Of trials and tests. Is something that we cannot. Avoid. We can't avoid it. Let's just look into the word. And read some beautiful. Portions of scripture now. That have to do with testing and trials. You know some Christians. They don't even like to be told. They're going to be subject to a trial. Or a test. They don't even like to hear it. But you know when we have this light. We can approach. The testings of life. In a whole new different light. Can't we. Whole new different light. Let's go to Psalm 39. Oh. What is. David say in Psalm 119. Oh. How I love thy word. It is my meditation. Day. And night. Oh. Let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart. That I might not sin. Against thee. Psalm 39. Watch this. These are some scriptures. That we can look at. And they simply identify. Some. Of the different dynamics. That are going on. In the midst of a trial. But no matter what's going on. Remember this truth. Remember the pain and irritation. When we get rid of the I thought. When we allow God to just take that. And break it. Pearl begins to form. Watch this. Psalm 39. Verse 7. And now Lord. What way I for. My hope. Is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Make me not. The reproach of the foolish. I was dumb. I open not my mouth. Because thou. Did it. You see what David's coming to realize. David's coming to realize. The sovereign hand of God. In what he's going through. He's not looking at man anymore. He's not blaming. He's not looking at second causes. He's going right to the top. You did this Lord. Lord. You're sitting on the throne. Lord this couldn't have happened to me. Unless you allowed it to happen. Oh that's a great breakthrough. David's coming into the realization. That he is one of God's sheep. And as one of God's little lambs. There is a shepherd. Who's looking after him. The shepherd lays his life down for the sheep. The shepherd won't allow any harm. To come to the sheep. The shepherd is protecting the sheep. And if something does happen to the sheep. The shepherd is careful to be sure. That it produces pearl. I was dumb. I open not my mouth. Because you did it. Remove thy stroke away from me. I am consumed by the blow of thy hand. When you with rebuke. The word rebuke there means. Child training. It means chastening. It means scourging. It means education. It means when God subjects us. To a trial. In order to educate us. In order to train us. As children. With the intent to produce. Spiritual adulthood. Spiritual maturity in our life. When you. Subject us to the kinds of trials. That result in our being chastening. And you correct us. The word correct is there. The same word. Which means to educate. For iniquity. The word iniquity there is. Something that's crooked. Listen. Every time God allows us. To go through a trial. Or a tribulation. It is so that we can see more clearly. How crooked we are. In our self. But how straight he is. And how he by his power. Can change us. This is what father wants to do. Watch what happens. Watch what happens in the midst of the trial. Thou makest. His beauty. Or his. Desirableness. To consume away. Like a moth. Surely. Every man. Is vanity. One of the results. Of going through. A fiery trial. And we'll see in a moment. That trials are. Called fiery. Because. Of the qualities of fire. What does fire do? Well we can learn a few of those qualities. And see that's just what trials do. But let's stay here for a second. Remember. We got the foundation laid. You can't get ahead now. We're casting our care on the Lord. If you stop casting your care on the Lord. The devil is going to come. And hurt you. And just. Play havoc with you. You cast your care on the Lord. You identify pain. And irritation. You realize that in the midst of the pain. And irritation. You've got the I thought syndrome. Rising up. You go to God. You confess. You let the grace of God. And the word of God. And keep praying until you realize. God is dealing a blow. A death blow. To that I thought syndrome. And you're coming into a heart posture. Where you're saying Father. I give it to you. You are master. I am servant. You are father. I am child. You can do what you want in my life Lord. Just so you make sure. Get what you want. Not what I want. Not what I want. Not what's beneficial to me. What is beneficial to you? Oh that's a hard thing. That's a hard thing. Okay. Now we've got this. And God's working it in us. And we have to stay close to him. To keep this working. But now what's happening in the midst of it. Our beauty is fading. What does that mean? That means that God. Begins to show us. That the things. That we think are so beautiful. And so desirable in our life. You know. Our wisdom that we think is so great. Huh? How smart we think we are. You think you're a little better than someone. Don't you? Because of your bank account. Or your education. Or your job. Or your success. You think you're a little better than someone. Huh? Guess what happens. When God throws you in a fiery trial. All your beauty fades. And you realize. You have. No beauty. Apart from. The beauty. Of what God. Is doing in you. Through his grace. No beauty. You say. Oh I don't have that in my heart Phil. I don't. Oh God. Have mercy on us. We don't know what's in our heart. You see. You can look at a piece of metal. And not know all the filth that's in it. Until it's thrown where? In the fire. And then all of a sudden. Oh my. That's not as pure as I thought it was. Now. Beloved. Hear the spirit of God. What do you do when suddenly. You're thrown into a fire. And your whole life gets thrown upside down. And everything around you is shaking. And you feel like. You're just going to lose it. What do you do? Cast your care on the Lord. What's the song? Tell it to Jesus. He is. A friend that's. Well known. There is no other. Such a friend or brother. Tell it to Jesus. Alone. Oh. What depths the Lord takes. To comfort us. In the midst of our trials. Doesn't he? You know this is a comforting word. Because the house of God. Is going to be built. In the midst of fire. Now watch this. Watch this. First Peter. Were familiar with these passages. But I tell you brothers and sisters. Taking this light with you today. Will bring. An influx of pearl. Into your life. Right at that point of pain. And I believe in God. That God is going to deal with. Anger and bitterness. And possibly some of you. Have been. Internalizing your pain. And you've been closing yourself off. Emotionally to people. How many knows that when you go through a deep trial. And it starts hurt. You don't want to become vulnerable anymore to people. Emotionally. You don't want to. You close up. And then not only do you hurt yourself. But you hurt who? The one you're closing up to. But I'm asking the Holy Spirit. By the power. Of His word today. To begin to heal you. From that pattern in your life. So that when you're going through pain. Instead of closing up. You'll be. What are those three words we learned several months ago. We have to have when we're walking together with one another. Accountability. Vulnerability. And. Very good. Transparency. Transparency. Do we have a prize? That is a excellent. That was like. Six months ago. Eight months ago. But you know what Pam does. She takes meticulous notes. And reads them. She studies. She studies. I mean she showed me some of the notes she takes. And I say. Where did you get this from? I couldn't have said that. I mean she really. Takes good notes. And that's just a little word. To everyone. Okay. Okay now. Listen. The one thing you are going to hate. When you're going through a trial. Until God works in your life. Is the thought of having to be accountable. Oh my. When you're going through a trial. You don't want to be accountable. You want to take off into a dark room. And just leave me alone. That's human nature. Transparent. You know what it means to be transparent. When you're going through a trial. I feel miserable. Help me. Pray with me. Colette pray with me. I'm feeling miserable. Vulnerable. Vulnerable. Vulnerable to someone saying. What's wrong? You don't look yourself. What's wrong Pam? Vulnerable. I don't want to be subject to that. It's none of your business. What I'm going through. Boy aren't we touchy. It's none of your business. Bless God. You see all the stuff that comes out. See all the stuff. Let me tell you something brothers and sisters. What is it that Cain said. That Cain said. When God asked where his brother was. Am I my brother's keeper? Well let me ask you a question. Are you your brother's keeper? You better believe you are. Huh? Yeah. It's not my job. You are your brother's keeper. Listen. Let me tell you something. This isn't law. You're not your brother's keeper. Because you're under obligation by law. That's what. Listen. Love. Love is obligated to care. It's the law of love. What law are we under as Christians? How many laws are you learning? What kind of laws do you hear? What kind of laws do you have to follow. In order to come here. Or to be a part of a church. Sometimes churches come up with a bunch of laws. We don't have laws. We don't preach law here. The law that we're under. Is the law of love. The nature of love is what? Listen. What law is a parent under. To care for their children? They've got the heart. Of a parent. And the heart of a parent. Naturally cares for their child. That's what we're talking about. You are your brother's keeper. As you grow. Listen. As you grow. In burying the shepherd's heart. The chief shepherd's heart. One for another. You will care for one another. So these three words. Are going to haunt you in a trial. But you know what? When Pearl. Begins to be excreted. Secreted. From you. And that pain. Starts getting enveloped. In grace. And in the love of God. You're going to find. Vulnerability. Transparency. And accountability. Easier and easier and easier. Because you're going to realize. That's what God ordained. In order to make the bitterness of a trial. Sweet. Sweet. Sweet. First Peter. We're going to close. In a few moments. Oh Lord. Now watch this. First Peter chapter 1 verse 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice. Rejoice. How can you rejoice. Though now for a season. If need be you are in heaviness. Through manifold trial. Temptation. How can you rejoice. In the midst of a trial. Face it. You can't. You can't rejoice in the midst of a trial. Especially when you're in the midst of heaviness. You feel the pain. And the irritation of the trial. How can you rejoice. You can't. You have to get emancipated. In the midst of the trial. From yourself. You can't rejoice. Because by nature. The only thing that makes us happy. Is what's beneficial to us. What satisfies our selfish ambition. What satisfies what we want. We rejoice when we're getting it. We get mad when we're not. But here's a rejoicing. In the midst of a trial. It comes. Through the work of grace. And the Holy Spirit. When we realize. This is bigger. Than us. It's bigger. Than how I feel. But it's about God. Building. His house. And the likeness of his son. In me. And my brothers. And sisters. That is the only way. That you and I can rejoice. While we're in suffering. When we get free. From seeing how it relates to us. Personally. And realize how it relates to God. Fulfilling His purpose. In making pearls. In the house of God. To display. For all eternity. To all the world. And all the angels. The beauty of how God took. The ashes and pain. And irritation of a fallen world. And turned them into that. Which brings glory to His name. Oh my God. One more scripture. And then we'll close. 1 Peter chapter 4. Verse 12. Beloved. I love that word. Beloved. Loved one. Loved one. Think it not strange. Concerning the what? Fiery trial. That is to test you. To afflict you. As though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice. There's that rejoice again. James chapter 1. What does James say? Count it. Pure joy. When you fall into all kinds of trials. And temptations. That's rubbish to the natural mind. That's foolishness to the carnal mind. But it's life and peace. To those. Whose eyes have been opened. He giveth songs. In the night. Now watch what Peter says here. Think it not strange. As though some strange thing has happened to you. But rejoice. Inasmuch as you are partakers. Of Christ's sufferings. That when his glory. Shall be revealed. You may be glad also. With exceeding joy. Chapter 5. Verse 10. But the God of all grace. Who hath called you unto his eternal glory. By Christ Jesus. After that you have suffered a while. Make you perfect. That is adjust you. Rearrange your life. And put it into proper order. That is. Fit you into the place. That you belong. That will bring glory. To him. He will make you perfect. Establish. To make you steadfast. And strengthen. And settle. You to him. Be glory and dominion. Forever and ever. As we close. Listen to this. A trial. Is like fire. Because fire. Consumes. And destroys. And trials. Under the hand of God. And his word. Bring out of us. Those things that are not pleasing. In God's eyes. So that the spirit of burning. And the spirit of God. And the spirit of grace. Can purge them out of us. So that the beautiful gold. Of the divine nature. Can be seen in our life. Secondly. Trials. Are like fire. Because fire always. Moves and burns. Upward toward God. Always. And when we are subject. To a trial. And we encounter the grace of God. In the midst of it. It causes our inner heart and our spirit. To reach up toward God for help. Oh God. And we find. Grace. Thirdly. Trials are likened unto trials. Trials are likened unto fire. Because. Fire. Penetrates. To the very depths. Of what is in the midst of it. Penetrates to the very depths. And so likewise. When we are subject to a trial. God by his word. And by his holy spirit. In the midst of the trial. Goes to the depths of our being. And exposes. Everything. And lastly. Trials are like fire. Because fire. Is bright. And it brings enlightenment. Wherever it comes. And when we are in the midst of a trial. And we have the holy spirit. And the word of God working. In our life. Enlightenment comes. Brightness comes. Clarity of thought comes. If any man lack wisdom. Let him ask of God. That's in the context of going through a trial. Wisdom comes. Enlightenment comes. God begins to show us. That he's doing a great work. In the midst of our trial. Brothers and sisters. Today. God's word. Has addressed. An issue. That all of us sooner or later. Will have to confront. And I pray. That these things will be remembered. So that when we go through life. And trials. God. Will be able to comfort us. Let's bow our hearts just for a few moments. And be before the Lord. And just let him. Confirm his word. Into our spirit. While we're here before the Lord. If you want to pray for one another. Please feel free. Anyone. Would like to pray. Many of us. Listen. All of us are going through trials. And this is how we help one another. And care for one another. So as Colette plays the piano. We'll spend the next few minutes. Just before the Lord and praying. One for another. Praise the Lord. Anyone that would like to pray. Please. Anyone. Casting our cares and our burdens. Upon the Lord. Remember Mr. Cash Hill. Diagnosed. With very deadly cancer. Thank you Lord. He's here. He's here to minister right now.