No Matter What

No matter what The offering of praise and giving of thanks to God in all situations and circumstances is one area where many Christians fail to experience the victory of the Abundant Life. It is easy, of course, to give thanks when things are going well, but what about the times when things do not go the way that we would like them to go? Or what about those disconcerting times when we find ourselves consumed in the flames of a painful trial-- how do we conduct ourselves then? Do we pitch childish little fits in our hearts when things get tough or do we do the mature thing and consider the fact that God loves us and has something much better in mind if we will trust in Him and wait on Him to perform it. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23)

What makes it so difficult for us to offer up thanksgiving to God when things are not going the way we want them too? Just what is that powerful unseen force that inhibits our ability to freely praise our father in difficult situations? The answer may surprise you. It is actually our flesh nature that is causing most of our pain. If you have wondered of late just what that problem is that you have been sensing in the American Church, it's the stench of old flesh!

Why? As much as we would like to not believe it, a very small percentage of people who commit their lives to Jesus Christ really apply the effort needed to kill the old man or sin nature in their lives. When times are easy-- or at least, easier-- most of us give in to the temptation to slack off; then when the trial comes, we are not prepared and are easily overwhelmed. Rather than being over-comers, we're under-goers. Instead of acknowledging our responsibility for not seeking God, we look for a scapegoat; we want someone or something to blame other than looking in the mirror and declaring, "Thou art the man!"

Now realize that God does not want us to wallow in guilt for mistakes and misdeeds. Jesus died on the Cross so that we could receive forgiveness-- both eternal and temporal-- and cleansing from our sins in this life and in the life to come. The trials in our lives are meant to reveal the contents of our hearts. God is not as interested in what we did during the trials as He is in what we do about what was revealed about us through those trials. This includes the words that come out of our mouths, because our words reveal what is in our hearts.

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) Having our hearts continually filled with praise and thankfulness to God means that we will be able to give thanks in all things when the trials do come. A full sponge when squeezed gives up whatever it has been saturated with. A dry sponge when squeezed gives up little to nothing. Furthermore, a sponge does not soak up anything while it is being squeezed. Likewise, when you saturate your soul with the word of God, that is what will come out when you are placed under the pressure of a trial. Hence, the time to put on the mind-set of thankfulness is before the trials begin.

So before we can come to the place where we can offer up praise and thanksgiving to God, no matter what happens, we must come to grips with the guilty party: ourselves. God has a simple prescription to solve the problem-- our old man or "flesh" nature must die! "And he (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23) This is not just a wonderful passage of scripture, it is a prerequisite to a life of victory in Christ Jesus!

Before we can even begin to obey the Lord's instructions, we need to know what He meant. When Jesus spoke these words, his listeners knew that when someone took up his cross it meant that the person was sentenced to die that very day. So Jesus is saying that to be His disciples we must approach each day as if we were going to die on the Cross. But what exactly does this mean? How can we apply this practically in our daily lives? The key to understanding and applying the concept of dying to ourselves is found in the very next words spoken by the Lord: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." Luke 9:24

According to Jesus, denying ourselves and taking up the Cross daily are equated with losing our lives for His sake. What exactly does that mean? The Greek word translated "life" in this verse is "psuche", from which comes the English word "psyche." It literally means soul. Hence, Jesus said we are to lose our souls for His sake.

Now we cannot understand this reference to losing our souls unless and until we know what manner of men or women we have become through the new birth. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians concerning what happens when we are born again: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We are new in our spirits, but not our souls nor our bodies. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3) It is our old nature that is dead. Our spirit is born again, it is a new creature, and it cannot sin, because it is one with the Spirit of God. Thus, Jesus does not want us to lose our spirits for His sake, nor does He mean we are to deny our bodies that which is necessary for good physical health. We are to deny our souls, because our old nature still resides there. Our souls desires the things, the pleasures of this world. Our spirits are risen with Christ and desire the heavenly things of God. Denying ourselves means we must decide to follow after the Spirit rather than the old nature of our souls.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

What practical ways are there by which we can deny ourselves? These following verses are only a very small sampling of the many answers to that question that can be found throughout the Bible.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

"Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20)

"My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." (Psalms 63:5-6)

God is "my maker, who giveth songs in the night." (Job 35:10)

Losing our souls for the Lord Jesus includes all of these. We must submit our time to the Spirit of God by reading His word, memorizing it, thinking upon it, singing it, all through the day and through the night. Through the continual planting (reading, speaking, hearing, memorizing, meditating, and singing) of God's word into the soil of our souls, the transformation of our souls takes place. We do not know how this happens and we don't need to understand this in order for it to take place. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." (Mark 4:26-28)

So, when we sow of the Spirit into our souls day and night, then no matter what may come upon us, out of the abundance we have sown shall come forth praises and thanksgiving to God, with godly deeds to match. Our deeds must match our words! Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)

Even so, understanding the Word of God and obeying it require more than we are able to do on our own. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, consider the words of the Apostles in contrast to their behavior on the night Jesus was arrested. As Jesus was explaining to the disciples what was to come concerning His crucifixion and resurrection, Peter made a commitment to Him that he was not yet equipped to fulfill. Bear in mind as you read this that even though Peter and the other disciples had been taught by Jesus for about three years, they still had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:31-35)

Notice how Peter boldly proclaimed his willingness to suffer for his Savior. Observe also that the other disciples said the same. That very night, Judas Iscariot accompanied by the temple guards came to the garden where Jesus was praying. "And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year." (John 18:2-13)

The Scripture records this about the disciples who only a few hours earlier had declared that they would die for Jesus rather than deny Him: "And they all forsook him, and fled." (Mark 14:50)

In Luke 22:54 we find this: "And Peter followed afar off." Peter was sneaking along behind the band that had arrested the Lord and were taking Him to the religious authorities. Here is where Peter's real hour of truth begins. "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:69-74) You know, something tells me that out of all of the great messages that Peter had heard Jesus preach that not one of them ministered to him quite as profoundly as that ole rooster did! Do you remember what we said about our deeds lining up with our words? Because Peter, at that point in his life, was not saturated with the Word of God and filled with the Spirit, when the trial came his way he was not yet strong enough to deny himself. The wonderful news is, Peter later asked Jesus to forgive him and went on to become one of the principal apostles of the church of Jesus Christ. Note also, that although we have focused on Peter (because the Scriptures do), all of the Apostles forsook Jesus and fled from the garden on the night He was arrested to be crucified. Thank God that He is so quick to forgive us and cleanse us of our sins. Afterwards, the Apostles' reactions to trials were remarkably different, as can be seen in the following Scripture that records an event mere months after the Resurrection of the Savior.

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:8-10)

Unlike in the Garden of Gethsemene where he fled from those who had come to arrest Jesus, here we see Peter (and John, who was with him) boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who had had him arrested! Indeed, the same boldness filled all of the Apostles and the other disciples, because it is the boldness that comes from being filled with the Spirit of the Living God. The following Scripture records what happened when Peter and John returned to the assembled believers and reported to them what had transpired. The believers then lifted their voices with one accord "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31

Praising God, no matter how bad things might be, is what is known as a sacrifice of praise. "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." (Psalms 107:22) Why is a sacrifice of praise so pleasing to God? Because a sacrifice of praise is just that, the offering of thanksgiving to God even while the person is going through the refining pain of a fiery trial, no matter how much they may not feel like praising Him. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15) Like the sponge that we mentioned earlier, the true beauty of a rose's sweet smelling fragrance cannot be fully realized until it has been crushed into tiny pieces! This is the purest form of praise, the sweet smelling fragrance that emanates from a grateful heart, especially one that has been crushed. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Remember, when things seem like they can not get any worse for you, when it feels like your whole world is crashing down on top of you, just lift up your hands and "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." (Psalms 100:1-5) "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:15) No Matter What!

In part II of this teaching we will take a look at the way Job conducted himself during his time of tribulation in contrast to the way Peter initially reacted to his dilemma. If there was ever a person who molded for us all just how a mature man or women of God should conduct themselves in times of tribulation it was Job. Why? Because Job praised God "No Matter what!"


	The offering of praise and giving of thanks to God in all situations and circumstances is one area where many Christians fail to experience the victory of the Abundant Life. It is easy, of course, to give thanks when things are going well, but what about the times when things do not go the way that we would like them to go? Or what about those disconcerting times when we find ourselves consumed in the flames of a painful trial-- how do we conduct ourselves then? Do we pitch childish little fits in our hearts when things get tough or do we do the mature thing and consider the fact that God loves us and has something much better in mind if we will trust in Him and wait on Him to perform it. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23) What makes it so difficult for us to offer up thanksgiving to God when things are not going the way we want them too? Just what is that powerful unseen force that inhibits our ability to freely praise our father in difficult situations? The answer may surprise you. It is actually our flesh nature that is causing most of our pain. If you have wondered of late just what that problem is that you have been sensing in the American Church, it's the stench of old flesh! Why? As much as we would like to not believe it, a very small percentage of people who commit their lives to Jesus Christ really apply the effort needed to kill the old man or sin nature in their lives. When times are easy-- or at least, easier-- most of us give in to the temptation to slack off; then when the trial comes, we are not prepared and are easily overwhelmed. Rather than being over-comers, we're under-goers. Instead of acknowledging our responsibility for not seeking God, we look for a scapegoat; we want someone or something to blame other than looking in the mirror and declaring, "Thou art the man!" Now realize that God does not want us to wallow in guilt for mistakes and misdeeds. Jesus died on the Cross so that we could receive forgiveness-- both eternal and temporal-- and cleansing from our sins in this life and in the life to come. The trials in our lives are meant to reveal the contents of our hearts. God is not as interested in what we did during the trials as He is in what we do about what was revealed about us through those trials. This includes the words that come out of our mouths, because our words reveal what is in our hearts. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) Having our hearts continually filled with praise and thankfulness to God means that we will be able to give thanks in all things when the trials do come. A full sponge when squeezed gives up whatever it has been saturated with. A dry sponge when squeezed gives up little to nothing. Furthermore, a sponge does not soak up anything while it is being squeezed. Likewise, when you saturate your soul with the word of God, that is what will come out when you are placed under the pressure of a trial. Hence, the time to put on the mind-set of thankfulness is before the trials begin. So before we can come to the place where we can offer up praise and thanksgiving to God, no matter what happens, we must come to grips with the guilty party: ourselves. God has a simple prescription to solve the problem-- our old man or "flesh" nature must die! "And he (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23) This is not just a wonderful passage of scripture, it is a prerequisite to a life of victory in Christ Jesus! Before we can even begin to obey the Lord's instructions, we need to know what He meant. When Jesus spoke these words, his listeners knew that when someone took up his cross it meant that the person was sentenced to die that very day. So Jesus is saying that to be His disciples we must approach each day as if we were going to die on the Cross. But what exactly does this mean? How can we apply this practically in our daily lives? The key to understanding and applying the concept of dying to ourselves is found in the very next words spoken by the Lord: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." Luke 9:24 According to Jesus, denying ourselves and taking up the Cross daily are equated with losing our lives for His sake. What exactly does that mean? The Greek word translated "life" in this verse is "psuche", from which comes the English word "psyche." It literally means soul. Hence, Jesus said we are to lose our souls for His sake. Now we cannot understand this reference to losing our souls unless and until we know what manner of men or women we have become through the new birth. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians concerning what happens when we are born again: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are new in our spirits, but not our souls nor our bodies. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3) It is our old nature that is dead. Our spirit is born again, it is a new creature, and it cannot sin, because it is one with the Spirit of God. Thus, Jesus does not want us to lose our spirits for His sake, nor does He mean we are to deny our bodies that which is necessary for good physical health. We are to deny our souls, because our old nature still resides there. Our souls desires the things, the pleasures of this world. Our spirits are risen with Christ and desire the heavenly things of God. Denying ourselves means we must decide to follow after the Spirit rather than the old nature of our souls. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2) What practical ways are there by which we can deny ourselves? These following verses are only a very small sampling of the many answers to that question that can be found throughout the Bible. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8) "Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20) "My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." (Psalms 63:5-6) God is "my maker, who giveth songs in the night." (Job 35:10) Losing our souls for the Lord Jesus includes all of these. We must submit our time to the Spirit of God by reading His word, memorizing it, thinking upon it, singing it, all through the day and through the night. Through the continual planting (reading, speaking, hearing, memorizing, meditating, and singing) of God's word into the soil of our souls, the transformation of our souls takes place. We do not know how this happens and we don't need to understand this in order for it to take place. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." (Mark 4:26-28) So, when we sow of the Spirit into our souls day and night, then no matter what may come upon us, out of the abundance we have sown shall come forth praises and thanksgiving to God, with godly deeds to match. Our deeds must match our words! Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) Even so, understanding the Word of God and obeying it require more than we are able to do on our own. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, consider the words of the Apostles in contrast to their behavior on the night Jesus was arrested. As Jesus was explaining to the disciples what was to come concerning His crucifixion and resurrection, Peter made a commitment to Him that he was not yet equipped to fulfill. Bear in mind as you read this that even though Peter and the other disciples had been taught by Jesus for about three years, they still had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:31-35) Notice how Peter boldly proclaimed his willingness to suffer for his Savior. Observe also that the other disciples said the same. That very night, Judas Iscariot accompanied by the temple guards came to the garden where Jesus was praying. "And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year." (John 18:2-13) The Scripture records this about the disciples who only a few hours earlier had declared that they would die for Jesus rather than deny Him: "And they all forsook him, and fled." (Mark 14:50) In Luke 22:54 we find this: "And Peter followed afar off." Peter was sneaking along behind the band that had arrested the Lord and were taking Him to the religious authorities. Here is where Peter's real hour of truth begins. "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:69-74) You know, something tells me that out of all of the great messages that Peter had heard Jesus preach that not one of them ministered to him quite as profoundly as that ole rooster did! Do you remember what we said about our deeds lining up with our words? Because Peter, at that point in his life, was not saturated with the Word of God and filled with the Spirit, when the trial came his way he was not yet strong enough to deny himself. The wonderful news is, Peter later asked Jesus to forgive him and went on to become one of the principal apostles of the church of Jesus Christ. Note also, that although we have focused on Peter (because the Scriptures do), all of the Apostles forsook Jesus and fled from the garden on the night He was arrested to be crucified. Thank God that He is so quick to forgive us and cleanse us of our sins. Afterwards, the Apostles' reactions to trials were remarkably different, as can be seen in the following Scripture that records an event mere months after the Resurrection of the Savior. "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:8-10) Unlike in the Garden of Gethsemene where he fled from those who had come to arrest Jesus, here we see Peter (and John, who was with him) boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who had had him arrested! Indeed, the same boldness filled all of the Apostles and the other disciples, because it is the boldness that comes from being filled with the Spirit of the Living God. The following Scripture records what happened when Peter and John returned to the assembled believers and reported to them what had transpired. The believers then lifted their voices with one accord "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31 Praising God, no matter how bad things might be, is what is known as a sacrifice of praise. "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." (Psalms 107:22) Why is a sacrifice of praise so pleasing to God? Because a sacrifice of praise is just that, the offering of thanksgiving to God even while the person is going through the refining pain of a fiery trial, no matter how much they may not feel like praising Him. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15) Like the sponge that we mentioned earlier, the true beauty of a rose's sweet smelling fragrance cannot be fully realized until it has been crushed into tiny pieces! This is the purest form of praise, the sweet smelling fragrance that emanates from a grateful heart, especially one that has been crushed. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4) Remember, when things seem like they can not get any worse for you, when it feels like your whole world is crashing down on top of you, just lift up your hands and "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." (Psalms 100:1-5) "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:15) No Matter What! In part II of this teaching we will take a look at the way Job conducted himself during his time of tribulation in contrast to the way Peter initially reacted to his dilemma. If there was ever a person who molded for us all just how a mature man or women of God should conduct themselves in times of tribulation it was Job. Why? Because Job praised God "No Matter what!"
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