Monday, June 7, 2010

June 8, 2010

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

I was a little wierd when I was growing up through the ranks at Claypool High School and later at Warsaw Community High School. How was I wierd? There are probably a number of answers but the one I am thinking about right now is how I used to like taking tests. Being an athlete and loving to compete I looked at a test like I looked at a ballgame, it was contest between me and the test. Those days of class lectures and textbook reading and note-taking were like practice and a test was like game day. I loved game day but good practices led to good performance in the game! Passing the test was like getting a win!

How things have changed over the years in the church. Nowadays when we think about being blessed we don't think in terms of suffering. But James declares that "blessed (to be envied) is the man who perserveres under trial".



Christians in 2010 American tend to believe they are blessed when they avoid difficulties. I am not sure where they get those notions. Certainly not from the Bible.
So, how are we to understand this truth? How can it be a blessing to have trials?
Actually, it isn't. That is not what the verse says. What it does say is "Blessed who preserveres in trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life....." So the blessedness is not in the struggles but in the strength God gives us to endure them. The knowledge that when life gets too big for you you have a God who is bigger than life and can make you bigger than the struggle!
Passing a test made me happy! Perservering through a difficult trial in life will, too! That's what it means to be "blessed" in our trials and tests. God is able to help us ace every test life can give us!
Trials come to pass and only God can assure us of passing each test. Are you trusting Him? Are you drawing strength from Him when life gets difficult?



June 7, 2010

Here Is The First Challenge From James: Either You Suffer For Your Faith Or Your Faith Will Suffer.

FAITH EXERCISES CONFIDENCE, Vv. 2-4

“2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

How can there be joy in trials?

Confidence In His Provision – In good times we tend to focus on what we want God to do for us but in suffering we tend to focus on what He has already done for us!

Confidence In His Promises – Once we realized He has promised we will make it through the trial we can stop doubting and start watching how He will lead us through.

Confidence In His Presence – We don’t really know God until we know Him in our suffering.
Psalm 23
Psalm 91

“1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 5 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Confidence In His Purpose

If you are going to suffer isn’t it good to know that your suffering is going to accomplish something useful and beneficial? This testing has been allowed by God to develop some spiritual maturity and spiritual depth in your life.
Suffering is a fact of life. It is not a matter of if it is a matter of when. Illnesses, relationship struggles, financial disasters, government oppression, accidents, etc. Those things will happen whether you are a believer or not. Believers and non-believers will suffer. So, given the fact that you are going to suffer – would you rather suffer with or without Christ’s presence in your life?

Confidence In the Price

In the case of these believers that James is writing to they were suffering BECAUSE they were Christians. I am afraid those days are not far away for us……….

When struggles and trials come you can face it with confidence! YOU CAN FIND JOY!

FAITH EXERCISES COMMITMENT, Vv. 5-11

“5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”

In order for work-outs to help you you must commit to a work-out routine and schedule. Commit means you are loyal to something – dedicated to something – you take responsibility for something.

What should I commit to in my spiritual work out?

Faith Works Out With Wisdom, Vv. 5-6


GOD’S PERSPECTIVE – Big View Of Life – Eternal View


Faith Works Out God’s Way, Vv. 7-8


GOD’S PURPOSES


Faith Worths In God's Worth , Vv. 9-11


GOD'S PRIORITIES


FAITH EXERCISES CHARACTER, Vv. 12-18

“12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created.” James 1:2-18

CHARACTER = GOOD + PERFECT + UNCHANGING

BECAUSE HE IS GOOD HE IS COMMITTED TO WHAT’S GOOD FOR ME!

BECAUSE HE IS PERFECT HE CAN PERFECT ME!

In Short, He Is Everything He Says He is! And More!

In Short, He Can Do Everything He Says He Can! And More!

FAITH IN HIS CHARACTER ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP OUR CHARACTER DURING TIMES OF TRIALS AND TESTING.

I am going to commit to God’s character because He is committed to what’s best for me. HE IS GOOD! HE IS PERFECT! HE IS PERFECTING ME!

Why Does This Matter?

GOD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD THROUGH PEOPLE WHO CAN HANDLE STRUGGLES:

NOAH –ABRAHAM –MOSES -JOSEPH –DANIEL -HEBREW CHILDREN -DAVID

IT MATTERS IF YOU WANT JOY IN YOUR LIFE!

James tells us that joy is the result of:

FACING LIFE’S TRIALS WITH CONFIDENCE – ARE YOU CONFIDENT IN GOD?

FACING LIFE’S TRIALS WITH COMMITMENT – ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GOD?

FACING LIFE’S TRIALS WITH CHARACTER – ARE YOU TRUSTING HIS CHARACTER

IT MATTERS IF YOU ARE WILLING TO EXERCISE YOUR FAITH

IT MATTERS BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE JOYFUL CHRISTIANS & CHURCH
CAN YOU SEE HOW MUCH MORE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY WELL BE THE “LAST-FRUITS”?

YOUR CAN FIND JOY!