August 2-3, 2003       LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT! James 1:1-12

LIFE IN THE PRESSURE COOKER!

*** Job 32:19 “The pressure has built up, like lava beneath the earth. I'm a volcano ready to blow.” [Message]

*** John 16:33 "I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world." [New Century Version]

*** Matthew 13:55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” [New International Version]

*** James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” [NIV]

HOW TO LIVE AT PEACE IN THE PRESSURE COOKER OF THIS WORLD!

1. BY RECOGNIZING THAT SOME TROUBLE IS INEVITABLE

ANTICIPATE IT!

***James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” [NIV]

TROUBLE IS NOT AN ELECTIVE BUT A REQUIRED COURSE IN LIFE!

*** Matthew 6:34 “So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” [NCV]

*** Acts 14:22 “They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.” [Today’s English Version]

*** Acts 14:22 “…making the followers of Jesus stronger and helping them stay in the faith. They said, "We must suffer many things to enter God's kingdom." [NCV]

2. BY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST TROUBLE BUILDS

MATURITY – REJOICE IN IT!

THE FIRES OF TROUBLE WILL MAKE US BETTER OR BITTER!

*** James 1:3-4 “…because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” [NIV]

*** 2 Cor. 12:7-10 “But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” [New Living Translation]

GOD IS MORE INTERESTED IN OUR CHARACTER THAN OUR COMFORT!

*** 1 Peter 1:6-7 “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. If your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus is revealed to the whole world.” [NLT]

3. BY REALIZING THAT ALL TROUBLE REQUIRES WISDOM

ASK FOR IT!

*** James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” [NIV]

äKNOWLEDGE IS THE ACCUMULATION OF LIFE’S TRUTHS!

ä WISDOM IS THE APPLICATION OF TRUTHS TO LIVE!

*** 1 Kings 3:9-14 “Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. God said: Solomon, I'm pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I'll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived…. I'll also give you what you didn't ask for. You'll be rich and respected…greater than any other king. If you obey me and follow my commands, as your father David did, I'll let you live a long time.” [Contemporary English Version]

ONE QUALIFIER: WE MUST ASK BELIEVING!

*** James 1:6-8 “But 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. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” [NIV]

4. BY KNOWING THAT FINANCIAL TROUBLE THREATENS

PERSPECTIVE – MAINTAIN IT!

*** James 1:9-11 “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For 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.” [NIV]

*** Mark 10:25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." [NIV]

*** Ecc. 5:12 “Those who work hard sleep in peace; it is not important if they eat little or much. But rich people worry about their wealth and cannot sleep.” [NCV]

*** Phil. 4:12-13 “I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” [CEV]

5. BY BELIEVING THAT OVERCOMING TROUBLE

PRODUCES A REWARD – FOCUS ON IT!

*** James 1:12 “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.” [NIV]

FOCUS ON THE PRODUCT NOT THE PROBLEM!

SEE THE TRIUMPH NOT THE TROUBLE!

*** John 10:10 “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” [NLT]

SUFFERING IS INEVITABLE MISERY IS OPTIONAL!