The apostle Paul says of God, “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Simply put, every person who is “in Christ” is called by the Lord. And we all have the same mandate: to hear God’s voice, to proclaim his Word, to never fear man and to trust the Lord in the face of every conceivable trial. Indeed, God’s promises apply to all of his servants. That is, we don’t need to have a message prepared to speak before the world. He has pledged to fill our mouths with his Word at the exact moment it’s needed. But that will happen only if we trust him.

Paul tells us that many are appointed as preachers, teachers and apostles, and that they’re all going to suffer for that reason. He counts himself among those: “I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things” (2 Timothy 1:11-12). He was saying, in effect, “God has given me a holy work to do. And because I have that calling, I’m going to suffer.”

Scripture shows that Paul was tested as few ministers ever have been. Satan tried to kill him time after time. The so-called religious crowd rejected and ridiculed him, and at times even those who supported him left him abused and forsaken. But Paul was never confounded before men, nor was he ever dismayed or put to shame before the world. And, interestingly, he did not burn out. On every occasion, he had an anointed word from God to speak, just when it was needed.

Paul could not be shaken — and he never lost his trust in the Lord. Instead, he testified, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (1:12). Simply put, “I have committed my life fully to the Lord’s faithfulness. Live or die, I am his.”

Beloved, you may be facing battles and the heavens may seem as brass to you. But the Holy Spirit is faithful to restore you and raise you up. He will see you through every dark night, so don’t let the devil break you down!

“Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness” (Isaiah 58:9).

The reason we pray, fast and study God’s Word is to be heard in heaven. But the Lord attaches a big “if” to this. He declares, “If you want me to hear you on high, then you have to look at the issues of your heart. Yes, I will hear you — if you quit pointing a finger at others, if you stop speaking about them disrespectfully.”

It’s a great sin in God’s eyes for us to speak in ways that tarnish someone else’s reputation. Proverbs tells us, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (22:1). A good reputation is a treasure that is carefully built up over time. Yet we can quickly destroy it with a single defaming word from our mouth.

David made a conscious determination to watch his tongue: “I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress” (Psalm 17:3). “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

Again, David exhorts, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

You may wonder, “Is it really possible to control the tongue, to purpose not to sin with the mouth?” Again, David answers with this testimony: “I said, ‘I will take heed my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me’” (Psalm 39:1, KJV). He is saying, in essence, “Every time I mount a horse, I have to put a bridle in its mouth. And as surely as I do that with my horse, I have to do it with my tongue.”

Beloved, not one person reading this message is too holy to heed it and make a change. We have all misjudged people, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and spoken in ways we should not have. But there’s good news! If you repent before the Lord, in his love and graciousness he will give you a renewed heart and strength to put away all evil speaking.

The story of Job and his calamitous suffering is well known. At his deepest point of despair, Job stated, “He laughs at the plight of the innocent” (Job 9:23). In so many words, Job was saying, “It doesn’t pay to be holy or walk uprightly. God treats the wicked and the pure the same. We both suffer, so why labor to be upright?”

The example of Job’s suffering should be a great comfort to all of us. That may come as a surprise to some, but Job represents the latter-day believers who will undergo fierce trials in the days ahead. Indeed, multitudes of God-fearing Christians are going to face the same fires that Job experienced. And we need this suffering man’s example in order to draw hope for ourselves.

Our nation has entered a time of suffering and calamity. As we survey the troubles mounting all around us, looking into the future can be a frightening prospect, as all we may be able to see are more uncertainties, fears and crises. Like Job, our hearts cry out, “What are we going to do? Why is all this happening to faithful servants of God? Why doesn’t the Lord intervene and stop it?”

This flood of trouble has a personal entity behind it: Satan. The fact is, the devil was Job’s troubler, and he is still the troubler of God’s people today. Once again, the enemy is standing before the Lord, making great accusations against his church. He’s challenging God, saying, “You have no true body in this last hour. Just take a look at your people, God. They’re materialistic, self-centered, grasping for riches and the good life, preoccupied with making life better for themselves. They’re all spiritual wimps.”

It could be that the furnace of your affliction is meant to bring you into a life-changing revelation. This is exactly what happened with Job. In the midst of his suffering, Job made an incredible discovery: despite his pure knowledge of God, he didn’t truly know the Lord. He confessed, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I … repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

Look to God right now and remember that he always has everything under his control. He is going to harness everything Satan means for evil and turn it into your good. Encourage yourself with these words: “My God can do anything! He loves me and I know he has not forgotten me.”

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:32). To me, this is one of the most encouraging verses in all of Scripture. Peter was enduring a severe trial and Jesus was assuring him that no matter what he might face, his faith would not fail.

Even though Peter had denied Christ, God did not forsake him — not for a moment. This once-fearless disciple, now broken and anguishing over his failure, was never for a moment on his own. And, beloved, neither are we!

No matter what your trial may be — what pain you’re suffering or what sorrow you are enduring — Jesus is interceding for you. At this very moment, in the midst of your storms, He is pleading your cause and He has never let you go.

In Luke 22:31 Jesus warns Peter that Satan desires to sift him as wheat but at the end of verse 32, He gave him this strong exhortation: “And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Beloved, here is assurance and encouragement for us all. The Lord of creation holds us in His very hand and He tells us, as he did Peter, “Get up! Go now! Do not focus on your failure; rather, get to work for My kingdom. Feed my sheep. Warn my precious ones about the enemy’s devices at work against them. And tell them I hold them in My hands, through every trial.”

Undoubtedly, this generation has taken the sin of unbelief too lightly and right now, we are seeing the tragic results. Many believers are in depression and unrest; of course, some suffer for physical reasons, but many others endure such suffering because of their spiritual condition — often brought on by unbelief.

The Lord always uses strong language when he refers to unbelief among his people, words such as wrath, anger, abhorrence and tempting him. Moses made a point of reminding the younger Israelites of this: “You saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place … And the Lord heard the sound of your words [of unbelief], and was angry, and took an oath, saying, ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers’” (Deuteronomy 1:31, 34-35).

Shortly after the Red Sea crossing, God commanded Israel to go boldly into Canaan and he gave them a powerful word of assurance: “Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it … do not fear or be discouraged …The Lord your God … will fight for you” (1:21, 30). What an incredible promise! But Israel staggered at God’s pledge to them and instead of taking him at his promise, they sent spies into Canaan, who brought back an evil report — full of unbelief (see Numbers 13 and 14). You see, while the spies were there, they were influenced by Satan and failed to take God at his word. Thus, they returned to camp as instruments of the devil.

God brings all his children to the ultimate testing of their faith. In fact, you may be in this place right now. You have a wonderful history with God and he has given you his covenant promises, but the devil has come to you with lies, telling you that you’re not going to make it.

If you have begun to accept such lies and you believe God is going to fail you in your crisis, it is time for you to look into God’s Word and believe it! God has not left you to fight alone, so take his hand and walk into the promised land he has prepared for you.

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