So if you can turn there, if you're not there already, and once you do if you're able,

I'll ask you to stand. You can follow along as I read.

The Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is writing, and says verse one, I must go on boasting.

Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations

from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven,

whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

And I know that this man, whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know, but God knows,

was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

Let's pray and we'll ask God's blessing on our understanding.

Loving Heavenly Father, will you at this time enable us to give you our undivided attention

as you speak into our lives in and through your word?

Would you open our eyes so that we can see that which you desire to show us today and our ears

that we would hear what you would speak to us today. Lord, we don't want anything to keep

us away from that which you're going to do in our midst

today, we pray.

In Jesus' name, amen.

You can be seated.

Thank you.

So today's teaching is going to be part one of a new series I've titled, Why We Go Through Trials.

In Chapter 11, we looked at some of the ways to get through a trial, and now in Chapter 12,

we're going to turn a corner of sorts and look at the why of trials, maybe better said, why it is that we even have to go through trials.

And what it is that God does in and through those trials in our lives.

...