The test does not kill, but the lack of hope

For how many has the Lord been their sweet refuge? Amen. One moment or another. Isaiah, chapter 43. Isaiah, chapter 43. Verse 1 and 2. Amen. Brothers, for many, just receiving this word is enough and with this you can go in peace. If that is you, receive this word from the Lord in the name of Jesus. Declare the word like this: “Now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and your maker, O Israel, fear not.” Fear not. "Because I redeemed you, I gave you my name or you are mine." Amen.

"And when you pass through the waters I will be with you and if the rivers do not drown you when you pass through the fire you will not burn, nor will the flame burn in you." God bless His word. Amen.

Spirit of God we thank you. We thank you for your hand on our shepherd. Lord, we thank you because we know that now that he is passing through the rivers and through the waters and through the fires, you are with him. You are with this Church and You are glorifying yourself in great ways.

Lord, I ask that You, as You have dictated this word through Your Spirit – Spirit of God, that You breathe on this word and give life to it. Lord, may it be a support for your Church and, Lord, may the promises contained herein be fulfilled in each life that is hearing this word and receiving it by faith, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Look, this word is perhaps very appropriate for this season that our Church and our pastor are experiencing, but I confess that a few weeks ago the Lord spoke this word to me. Furthermore, on one occasion in the Dominican Republic this summer, I received this word and shared it with the family, but the Lord gave me this word a long time ago to share it with this Congregation at an appropriate time. And allow me, brothers, to confess that to be honest, this is less of a sermon. This is less a message than a tribute that I am paying to a mighty and saving God.

A God who listens to the prayers of his children and who rescues us from evil. This is not a sermon, more like a psalm of victory that I am fulfilling a duty before the Lord by lifting Him up and glorifying His name, my brothers.

What's more, may I have a testimony? Do you remember last week we made an announcement that the sexual abstinence ministry that works here in the León de Judá Congregation: Vale Esperar; received a grant – a donation from the federal government that will allow “Vale Esperar” to continue operating for the next five years. Glory to God! Amen. Glory to God!

But, my brothers, that announcement did not do justice to all that God did through that process and all that we learned through that process. Still, brothers, I would say that this humble message, what it is, is to share with you, it will not do justice to my God either.

But, in the name of the Lord, I share this testimony and this background, not only as a tribute to the Lord, but as a case study. A case history. A case study. What you do in medical school, law school, business school. How is it that we learn faith? It is through the study of these living cases.

And, brothers, here I present the case of "Vale Esperar". Look, if you don't know “Vale Esperar”, it is a non-profit ministry that works with youth, not only here in Boston, but also the Lord has done miracles through this ministry in the last 18 months. They have been able to share this positive message with young Latinos in Boston. In Worcester, in Providence, in Hartford and other cities in Connecticut and Rhode Island and Massachusetts; almost two thousand young people in 18 months received this instruction, a day or two, but 15 hours, consistent that it is worth waiting until their wedding day. You are worth something to the Lord.

Emphasizing personal leadership and a long-term view and loving holiness. It is a beautiful curriculum; in those 18 months they trained youth leaders in different churches throughout this New England region who themselves trained their youth. And not only, it's not merely the fact that they trained nearly two thousand young people throughout New England, but the fact that they ministered to hundreds of pastors and hundreds of Latino churches in New England.

And we see that after 18 months, we're seeing this beautiful miracle that not only are young people now excited about personal purity, celebrating it and excited about holiness. And celebrating it as a counter-culture. A counter-cultural movement, but at the same time, we are hearing testimonies from churches in different regions of New England that maybe, there was once a time that wasn't... This happens in the Church of Jesus Christ, my brothers, don't be scandalized. Some pastors who cannot be seen in the same function, but to an event of Vale Esperar, they arrived.

And they came with their youth, and shared with their youth. But, at the same time – this is brilliant – at the same time, they were working for unity among the church of Jesus Christ throughout the New England region and at the same time exciting those young people to love holiness and purity. Glory to God!

But there was a problem. On September 30, 2010, it was known that the funds that created Vale Esperar were going to end. And we, although we submitted other proposals for Vale Esperar to continue operating, we knew that unless the Lord touched the heart of the government, and one of these grants was approved, on September 30, Vale Esperar, more or less , would cease to exist.

Well, we submitted the grants, and we waited. It's worth waiting... but strong, brother, that's strong. We were there waiting for the verdict of the Lord. What was the Lord going to do? In June I had a meeting with these sisters, and I told them… Sisters, it is incredible what God has done through these five sisters, Yasiel Fernández and his team. And we share, “my sisters, there is no guarantee of anything here. Well, feel free if you need a recommendation, there you have it, don't worry.” I believe that until the last moment, these sisters remained faithful to their position.

With no guarantee of anything, only the week before they went to Connecticut to join a group of young people, not even knowing if they were going to have the privilege, the opportunity to follow up on that training. A path... And I looked at this, I saw it. He went before the Lord and appealed to the Lord's justice, and appealed to his goodness, and I told him, Lord, this is something beautiful. You have to see, Lord, the same thing that I am seeing. Father, answer. Reply. And many of you joined that cry, prayers were heard here: Father, respond.

And, you know? It seems that I already had the Lord a little tired. And about six days before this final date, September 30; Every day passed and one was as if he were a convict in prison, waiting to see... Today is the 22nd, what happened? Nothing. 23… what was there? Nothing. 24… what was there? Nothing.

And one morning, the Lord gave me this dream and I share it as a prophetic dream. I dreamed... have you had these dreams, that one confronts different calamities? You don't even remember all of them. But in the midst of this I see myself in a Bible school classroom with a group of children. That's Marina's favorite part. And one of these days he sees me teaching children here. But, with a bunch of kids and the Bible open and the only words I could see from the Bible – these words kind of jumped out. In three dimensions they were these, in English: Have no fear. Have no fear. Do not be afraid. Do not worry.

And look for this biblical quote, responding to that message that the Lord sent me and I felt that the Lord sent this to me in this dream, and I sent it to the sisters of Vale Esperar in an e-mail and we kept waiting. Three days later, that Monday – two days before the final date – we heard news of that grant. Which miraculously extends the life of Vale Esperar. But, brethren, it was not until last Friday that I could appreciate how enormous this miracle was.

Knows? There were over 160 sexual abstinence organizations, ministries, if you will, across the nation affected by the lack of these funds. 160 organizations that received that original grant. Only five – five organizations in the entire American nation received the grant that he received… by the way, Vale Esperar was one of them that extended his life. Others unless they had an independent way to support themselves, over a hundred-odd organizations that provide information on sexual abstinence… that was a mass extinction across the United States.

A mass extinction of abstinence education programs in the United States. But, by the grace of God, Vale Esperar is here. And it will continue here. And I declare, until Christ comes and does something else with her.

Brothers, why am I sharing this with you? Other than merely giving him the glory the Lord deserves, and giving the Lord a chance to humble myself before you and declare to you how much we depend on the Lord. There are things that we learned from this and I ask the Lord that this be a blessing for you too.

First one learns this: God will allow – a God who loves us, a God who knows us, a God who appreciates us, a God who is with us – that God will allow us to go through the waters from time to time. That God that you love and who loves you too, will allow you to go through the fire. How do we know? Because it says it in every word.

This is consistent throughout the word. The word does not say otherwise. There are so many examples of that, but one is enough: Jesus. Shortly before going up to the cross, a cross on purpose, which he begged the Father to free him from. "If it is possible, Father, pass this cup before me." That's just so you know, my brethren, if he – if the Lord allowed his beloved, only begotten son to confront his fear with a capital “T”, he's not going to make exceptions for people.

And, Jesus, shortly before going up to the cross, interceding for his disciples, he asked the Father, "I do not pray that you take them out of the world." Like… imagine… The Lord had the ability to do like they do on Star Trek, rip you off this world and take you straight to heaven. Or as many of us have shouted in those moments, “earth swallow me.” Or something like, “Get me out of here. The Lord had… still has the ability to do that.

It did not even occur to Jesus to ask the Father for that. He specifically told her something else. He tells him, I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil. And to these same people he said, “I have spoken these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have affliction. In the world you will have affliction. But take heart, I have overcome the world."

And you will say, “well, Samuel, what a good thing about Vale to wait! Glory to God! I celebrate that with you, but that's nothing compared to what I'm going through." OK. “That's nothing, it happened… my husband was given… my husband was fired from his job. He hasn't worked for six weeks, I'm about to lose my house.” Okay, brothers. OK. There are even more serious things than losing one more ministry in the city.

“It is true, pastor, that is nothing. They gave me 25% life unless the Lord does a miracle.” Yes it's correct. My brothers. Relieve me, there are things that many of you are going through, that I thank God that it did not occur to me to go through that. And don't let it happen to you. And I respect you, and I give glory to God that He sees in you the ability to bear that cross. But this is true, we all have a fear. We all have a fear with a capital “T”. We all have something we fear above all. And in his divine sovereignty, the Lord allows us to confront that fear with a capital “T”.

Because? Why a God who is supposed to love us, having the power to completely avoid these bad times, why does He allow us to go through fire and go through water? Because?

Well, I suggest you ask the Lord. Yes Yes. This is part of the therapy. Ask the Lord. But this I can suggest to you... may I? I see at least a couple of purposes. First, there is a divine work that the Lord is doing in you. A divine project that the Lord is doing in our lives. Brothers, faith… Do you remember that verse in the Book of James – in your letter?

Santiago declared faith... without what? Faith without works is dead. I would say, if not dead, just as dead. Faith without works is inert. Faith without works is pure potential. Brothers, it is important. And as Pastora Meches declared, before you find yourself in the flames, and before you find yourself in the waters, begin to project, to declare, to profess, God is great. God heals. God releases. God provides.

But frankly, brother, how do you know that God heals and that God delivers and that God provides until you find yourself in such a tight spot where you have no choice but to yell, Lord heal me, provide me, set me free, hear me? This test writes a gigantic ME. In your prayers and declarations. And now you are living by faith. Now that 8-cylinder engine that you had parked… that Jeep that was asking for a ride: “Get me out! Take me with you please! This taking me to the Stop-n-Shop and back… I was made for something bigger, an adventure.”

Didn't the Lord say, look, don't they ask for more faith? What they have is enough. Tell this mountain to cross from where it is into the heart of the sea. He will obey you. But how do you know if you don't face a good mountain?

Brother, you don't know what's inside of you. You will be amazed at what the Lord has planted within you. And the furnace that will shine what you have is to confront your fear. Confront what scares you the most and see the Lord melt it under his hand and his anointing.

Knows? And there is another purpose, nothing – whether we like it or not – nothing sanctifies us like a good test. Nothing sanctifies us… My brothers, the test – the flames, the river – my brother, everything you have asked the Lord: “Lord, sanctify me. Lord, I want to deepen my prayers. Lord bring me closer to you." The Lord tells you: I have just the recipe for you. It will be a work… You will see! Don't worry, I'm going to answer your prayer, you're going to pray like never before.

He is going to leave the fasting book and you are going to present your first good fasting. That's it, man of God, we're getting up at 4 in the morning. We are inspired to arrive at the church at 5 in the morning. What didn't get you out of bed, now, Boom! Where are we ruminating today. For now, we feel inspired to seek the face of God. And, you know? We feel the closeness of God like never before.

And this is the point – it is more than the point – it is the purpose, my brothers, many times. That... let's face it, my brothers, how many of us wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for a good nudge from God? A good push that the Lord gave us. If one day I'm going to surprise you, one of these days you're going to see me, don't worry. Don't… maybe, next Christmas, no problem! No problem!

But, for now, not only do you see yourself in the house of the Lord, but you see yourself… you don't even know how you got past the altar. You don't even know how you found yourself kneeling here crying in public… who has seen that?

Brethren, I am not making fun of you – I am celebrating you! Amen. Because it is the love of God working miraculously within you. That was the electric shock that the Lord applied to your heart and you already feel the first spiritual palpitations – you are alive! For the glory of the Lord you are alive because God gave us that push.

And you know what? We want to win New England for Christ. TRUE. Brothers, it's nice to play... it's nice to make statements. What is going to bring down the walls is the eye of the tiger – an eye of fire that gives the world in the eyes of those who cry out to the Lord and who testify that Jesus Christ is their Lord. And when they look at you, they see no gap, they see a depth of certainty that you serve, and you apply the blood of Christ with authority, and that you know that your God is real and true.

And you can see it on top: you can't mess with that one. Because he has been with God and God with him. And no one can trade cats for pokes. He knows what is true and what is powerful. And they see that authority in you. They see that depth in you. You will see that depth, that authority in the church of Jesus Christ.

Brothers, all this the Lord accomplishes through the flames and through the waters. A church together facing its fears and seeing it defeated in the name of Jesus. Then what do we do? What do we do if we know that we are going to go through fire and water? What should we do, my brothers? If you know a flood is coming, buy good flood insurance. Get some flood insurance.

What do we do? My brothers, I advise you not to forget these three things in between… even before you see yourself in the water, first of all, don't forget, number one: You are precious to God. And He has a purpose with this. You are precious, precious to God and He has a purpose with this. Knows? The Lord, even before declaring this truth, He first described his position. Do you know your position before the throne of God? Who are you? To God... what you are to God. What do you represent to God? Well, if you didn't know, He says, "look, I am your creator and your shaper." Those are words that an artist uses to describe his work of art of magnitude. You are His master piece.

Creation means that there is… this is not merely a child playing with mud – there is purpose in everything God does. In everything God says, in every way He operates in your life, there is purpose. The worst thing in the world is going through something like that, going through the flames, going through the fire. Seeing the “T” for fear in front of you and having no hope or idea that this makes sense. senselessness. Senseless suffering.

What kills one is not the test. It is the lack of hope.

What kills you is believing that this doesn't make sense. This is disconnected from reality. What am I going through this for? That is why God has a purpose. I can't tell you which one it is. I can't even tell you how this will end. I can't even tell you when it will end, but there is a purpose to this. And, maybe it is this. Declare the Lord on top of that, I am not only your creator and your formed, but I redeemed you. I mean I bought you, I gave you a name – something about that.

My brothers, it does mean the moment in which we receive the Lord. He bought us with his divine blood. He knows… Jesus bought us with his blood, but at the same time while he is going through this; while you are going through your trial, while you are going through your situation and you are acclaiming the Lord and taking your request before the Lord. Don't rush when that happens, and that you pass by, and see yourself in victory. The Lord is going to give you his bill, my brother.

The Lord is going to give you his invoice, his bill. And he's going to say, “By the way, I bought you – I redeemed you. Now I am going to give you another name; I'm going to call you something else. And you were born today, you heard. Mine… you are mine. You are now my property."

I am going to tell you something about Vale Esperar. Brothers, when we received news of the grant, we had a time of prayer and we thanked the Lord. It wasn't even a long time. I don't think we were even together for fifteen minutes, because we already knew that God was going to glorify himself. And one of the words we received at that time is this: Waiting is worth it will no longer be the same. It cannot be the same because they have experienced a faith, they have seen the hand of God in an unparalleled way before that.

And that also applies to you. When you go through this you are no longer the same. You are now the property of the Lord. And that brings me to the next point, number two: if the Lord tells you, when you go through the waters, when you go through the rivers, when you go through the fire, do the Lord a great favor, go through the waters. Walk, walk... pass through the rivers. Get up and walk and walk wherever you want... Look, when you pass - when you walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will be with you, says the good shepherd. But the Lord does not want you to stay in the flames, or in the waters, be faithful to where you are.

Ask the Lord, Father, now more than ever I ask for fidelity to you. Knows? It is these experiences that discover much of what is within us. It is in these moments that we discover - that the Lord distinguishes the spirit of cowardice that is not from God. But if we walk in these fires with the presence of God by our side, we can experience the spirit of power.

And you can do – it was admirable, how these sisters came to work, day after day, faithfully and it is attributed to the power of God. God has not given you a spirit of power – of fear, of cowardice, but of power and love. Knows? You will be surprised at your ability to love even in the midst of trials. To love even when everything hurts you. To love when you most need to be loved. And in your own domain.

But, brother, you are not going to discover that until you decide to walk, walk and not resist – and not resist what God has decided for your life. And finally, my brothers, do not forget this: He promised, I am with you. He promised, I am with you. And you know what one discovers?

By the way, my brothers, as the pastor said just now, don't wait until you find yourself in the water to seek the Lord. Train yourself to look for it on time. But if you find yourself in the waters, this is a good opportunity to start. And every sense that you have to be able to feel and appreciate the presence of the Lord – your prayers. Brother, by praying to the Lord, abandon the patterns.

Brother, be clear with Him. If you are going to complain, complain to Him. If you are going to praise someone, do not suffer in silence, do not suffer in particular, see it, include it. And this word, brothers, when the Lord gets closer to us, is when we hear his voice through this word. And, brethren, it doesn't have to be an exegesis of the word. Me here – and excuse me, my brothers, this is a bit humiliating because I know that I am paraphrasing this many times.

But in the midst of this, the power to declare, those who trust in Jehovah are like Mount Zion that does not move but remains forever. This poor man cried out and Jehovah heard him and delivered him from all his fears. Why do you get down...? I can't even read my own writing... Why are you down, my soul? And why are you troubled within yourself? Believe in God that he has yet to save me. And my God and my King. Hold on to these promises like planks of wood floating on an ocean of despair and doubt. Hold on to these promises until Jehovah's ship comes and rescues you. Because so He promised.

And, you know, my brothers? How the Lord is going to pull us out of the waters, and how the Lord is going to protect us from the flames, that's His business. But in the long run, it's Him who gets the glory.

In Vale Esperar we were preparing our own funeral. Because the great probability was that we were not going to get a penny. And you know what we decided? They tell me, “Pastor Samuel, whatever happens, we have to celebrate what God has done in the last 18 months.” And the impact that this ministry has had in New England, Thank God the Lord allowed something else. But whatever happens, sooner or later, we have to kiss God's hand.

We only serve one God. He is the only game in town. One God. Who shall we go to? If only you have the word of life. Sooner or later, whatever happens, whatever He allows, sooner or later, we have to go to this God, kneel before Him, and tell Him: "You are sovereign."

Thy will be done. We continue to trust you. Let's stand up. Brother, I invite you. Let us lower our heads for a moment, and close our eyes, both to come before the Lord and meditate before Him. But also to intercede but give others room. I would like that if you are going through the waters, if you are going through the fire, if someone you love is facing their fear and this is their season, I invite you to raise your anus, we want to pray for you. We want the Lord to minister in your life.

Pastor, I'm going through… I know what that is. I don't know how the Lord is going to work this out, but we want the Lord to work in his life. So raise your hand and let's pray for you. Father, we thank you that you are a consistent God, a consistent God, and a God who loves us perfectly.

And I declare in the name of Jesus that your purposes in the life of your children will be fulfilled. I declare in the name of Jesus, that no one who cries out to you and waits on you will ever be put to shame. I declare in the name of Jesus that You are doing a work and that You will be glorified. I ask you this, Lord, first of all, my brothers, send your grace, send your power.

Lord, since you interceded for Peter, I pray that his faith does not waver. I ask that they feel your presence like never before. I ask that you minister to him within. I pray, Lord, that your hands do not get tired. I ask, Lord, that you bring around a people, Lord, a chain of intercessors. I ask, Lord, that any strategy that the enemy has to take advantage of these moments of trial and weakness be frustrated and annulled in the name of Jesus. And I ask for victory for your people. I ask for victory for your people.

I ask that from this experience an invincible people be born. A people that is not afraid of it, as our pastor declared, that is not afraid of the arrow that flies by day. Who is not afraid of mortality. Who is not afraid of the enemy's dice. We have no fear, we know no fear because you are with us.

You are with us.

We declare it in the name of Jesus. Now, sir. Now, Lord, glorify yourself. Father, now that the shepherd is still going through the waters and the fire, we declare, Lord, that he will come out of there polished, more agile in your hands, dangerous, Lord. He will leave that hospital dangerously prepared for whatever comes. If God with us, who against us? We do so in the name of Jesus.