Robert Shelton and Ethel Barrett of Gos pel Light Publications during Torrey Con ference on Biola campus.
you to pray that I might have more patience." With a twinkle in his eye the appropriate response was, "Do not forget Cod's word says 'tribulation worketh patience'." He was right! Maybe you are going through some deep waters of ad versity. The Lord may want you to perfect the important grace of pa tience. Trials should always produce a greater sense of dependence upon Christ. Isaiah puts it this way, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (59:19). Satan is moving in "like a flood" in many areas today. He would defeat the Lord's servants and discourage Cod's children. Sometimes he is allowed to do this so that we may realize our total dependency upon Jesus Christ. I can remember on Viet Nam when we were serving as missionaries. On one occasion the Communists
us know we can experience Cod's joy even in times of severest test ing. Jesus testified, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In the third place, trials should produce patience. James 1:3 as sures our hearts, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith work- eth patience." It has been well said, "Rejoice not because trials come, but because of their pos sible benefits." Patience can result from such experience (Rom. 5:3). A young minister realized his lack of patience. He wisely asked an elderly man of Cod to pray for him that he might receive more patience. To his surprise the old saint, kneeling beside his younger brother, asked to send difficulty, problems, and hardships into his life. The earnest preacher stopped hmi and whispered, "Sir, you must of misunderstood me. I wanted
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