Meeting: Sunday Service  

Theme:  The Church Life In Times Of Trouble/Tribulations

Minister: Bro David Kilanko

(Matthew 10:22) – “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (See Matthew 24)

(John 15:18-24) – “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 cloak 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.”

(John 16:1-3) – “1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

We will only access the salvation in our lord Jesus if we endure till the end. We should pray for the grace to endure all things unto the end. 

There is a corporate tribulation, and there is also personal warfare. It’s the responsibility of everyone not to be offended or deceived when trials come. Even though we will face trials as a company, It is he that endures to the end that shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22) – “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Offence is the very first thing that will sweep many away, it’s a sign that the word hasn’t found root in the heart. If we truly hold on to the word of righteousness, we should prepare for trials and guard our hearts against offence. 

All the teachings of Jesus can be summed up to “seeing the Kingdom, entering the Kingdom and eventually, inheriting the Kingdom.” If we are to inherit the Kingdom of God, we must be willing to pay the price for entrance and inheritance – “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Act 14:22)

In all of the things we go through, we should be keen on the Lord opening our eyes, because when our eyes are opened and we understand,we will respond differently to the dealings of the Lord. We should also know that whatever we go through as Christians is not only for our sakes but so that we can be comforters to others who might go through similar circumstances. In essence, we should go through trials and tribulations selflessly – “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) 

Whatever god leads you through, is not first about you, it is for the salvation of generations that will be birthed from our loins.

It is through tribulations that the Lord will judge the cares of the world in us. As we go through tribulation, all Satan wants us for us to be offended rather than us calling for the Lord. As we go through trials, we should judge the Lord faithful, even as we hope unto the end. We should see as Job that judged the Lord as very pitiful and of tender mercies. Again, It’s only those who endures to the end that shall be saved.

There is a nature in us that makes us pass away, so for God to dwell in us, He will have to lead us through trials to purge that nature in us. Going through tribulations is part of the end and when we endure tribulations, we’re calling for a dispensation where the Lord wants to wrap up things. There is something that makes man pass away and if God does not come, man would pass away.

The house that the Lord would live in must be thoroughly furnished, hence the building cannot be built anyhow this is why the Lord allows trials and tribulations for believers. And so, the Church needs to have a right disposition towards trials and tribulations.

(James 1:2-4) – “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”​​ Tribulation is part of the salvation programme. In tribulation, God would come for things that you love – this is so we can be properly grounded so that as we journey in this part, Satan would not come in any way and we would not fall in any way.

​​You need to know that Satan hates you and we are in a season where we need to know what the Lord is saying so that we can end well.

THE END