On Sunday mornings, we're going through Paul's second epistle to the Corinthian Church,

and our text today will just be two verses, chapter 12 and verses 14 and 15.

I'll ask you to stand once you find your way there if you're able,

and you can follow along as I read. If not, that's all right.

The Apostle Paul is writing really from the heart to the Corinthian Christians.

And he says verse 14, now I am ready to visit you for the third time.

And I will not be a burden to you because what I want is not your possessions but you.

After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

So, verse 15, I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.

And then he says this, if I love you more, will you love me less? Let's pray.

Loving Father in heaven, we're so thankful to you for your word and for the Apostle Paul

whom you've inspired to write this letter.

It is so apropos for us today, and we desire nothing more than for you to speak in and through your word to us today.

Lord, many here today are struggling in the midst of trials and difficulty and you know every heart and you know exactly what that struggle is

that was brought to church today and so now Lord will you minister to us we pray in Jesus name

amen you can be seated, thank you. So today's teaching

is going to be part five of a series I've titled Why We Go Through Trials. For the benefit of those

who may not have been with us from the beginning of this series. I want to do a quick recap of sorts.

I think doing so will be germane to our understanding of what Paul has to say in the text before us

today. The first reason as to why we go through trials is that they enable us to see what it is

that God wants to show to us. You might see it as and say it as God needs to get our

attention first and foremost. And that's what trials accomplish in our lives. God gets our attention and now that he has our attention, he can begin to show us what we

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