What To Do When Life Gets Hard
Notes
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Secular -
Secular -
Here is a story of a DEA Agent whose life got really hard.
A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas, and talks with an old rancher..
He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for ill*gally grown dr*gs."
The rancher says, "Okay , but do not go in that field over there," as he points out the location.
The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me."
Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher.
"See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish.... On any land.. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand? "
The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.
A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's big Bull...
With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety.
The officer is clearly terrified.
The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs...
"Your badge... Show him your badge!"
Historical/Cultural Context -
Historical/Cultural Context -
The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus. The Son of Joseph and Mary. Written in the early 40s. He wrote to primarily Jews who were Christians, as at this time it was so early in the spread of Christianity that it had not been widely adopted by non-jews, also known as Gentiles. James encouraged his readers to live consistent Christian lives in the midst of persecution for their faith in Christ.
He says he writes to the “12 tribes in dispersion” which is likely due to the fact that Christians in and around Jerusalem were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus and were being driven out of the area and were settling in farther and farther regions.
Biblical Text -
Biblical Text -
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
-[Prayer]-
-[Prayer]-
Life Principle - When Life Falls Apart, We Must Have Endurance And Faith In Seeking God’s Wisdom.
Life Principle - When Life Falls Apart, We Must Have Endurance And Faith In Seeking God’s Wisdom.
Life Point- Endurance Is Hard, Do It Anyway
Life Point- Endurance Is Hard, Do It Anyway
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
James opens this letter by calling himself a bondservant. A bondservant is one who is a slave. During this time slavery was a whole lot different than it was in this country.
Slavery in the New Testament time was very common, and there were rules on how a slave should be treated.
The relationship was more like a surf and a lord. The slave would cultivate land or work in some other fashion in order to provide for their family.
Often, but not every time, a person would sell themselves into slavery for a sum of money or for some other kind of gain.
In this situation they would agree to work for so long a time in order to pay the master back.
We think of this when we think of Jacob working for Rachel for an agreed upon time.
There were other ways to become a slave, such as your homeland being conquered and then people being taken into captivity.
Many times, in this situation, the slave could buy their freedom.
Out of this mindset and culture do Christians see themselves.
Not only that, but it is true that we are slaves of Christ, willingly.
We are also members of His family
We are also called friends of God
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
What is the point here?
You do not belong to yourself. Once you have had the experience of salvation, in that moment you were saved, your life stopped belonging to yourself and now belongs to Jesus Christ.
You don’t get to chose how you act. You don’t get to chose what you do with yourself in regards to morality and character.
In other words, you were bought with a price, so act like it.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
James reminded them to whom they belong, now he gets into the nitty gritty, as it were.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
God gives us a command here. He says to count it all joy when you fall into different trials. But what does this mean?
Trials in today’s language would be various troubles.
Does a broken water pump at your home, a business man who ripped you off, broken down car, or a death of a loved one sound like something that can bring you joy?
Let me says what you haven’t heard anyone else say about this scripture.
The answer is no!
That’s right I said NO!
When things go wrong, they aren’t fun. As a matter of fact they upset us all.
So what is James talking about?
He says that we can look at a problem in 2 ways
1) We can be negative about it. Which can be expressed in anger, sadness, depression, and even rage.
2) We can look at it in such a way that we know that through these circumstances God will produces something in us. He can add to, or take away from our character.
The situation itself does not bring us joy, but that which God is producing in us through the situation can bring us joy.
The testing of our faith produces patience, perseverance, toughness, character.
all synonyms for the same word. The same concept.
Suffering and Christianity used to be almost synonymous. If you became a Christian you will suffer for your faith.
You know what, in many parts of the world that is the same way. Christians all around the world die every day for their beliefs.
From communist Russia to the various nations of Muslim Africa. Christians are murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ.
This ought to put our 1st world American Christian problems into perspective.
All of this evil in the world because people don’t want to be held accountable to a Holy God.
Christians are dying all over the world and Christians here are upset because the color of the carpet isn’t the color they would like.
Christians are dying all over the world and Christians here are upset because the the song that is sung isn’t what they like.
or because someone didn’t say Hi to them. Or because (blank), you insert whatever you like in that blank.
You know what that is? It is called being a baby Christian. It is called be concerned over things that have no eternal value.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Are you staying away from God’s church because you’re upset? Well I got news for you. The church is a hospital for sinners. You know what else? If you are staying out of church you are sinning and you need to come to the hospital.
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
This is a command. To not follow this command means you are in sin and need to repent. Repent means to turn around and go the other way.
When we come to God in prayer, we don’t just ask for forgiveness but we repent. This means to stop doing the action that is prohibited or to start doing the action that is required. There are 4 types of sin
1) sin of ignorance - where you don’t know you’re sinning
2) sins of commission - sins that you do because it has over taken you
3) sin of omission - Things you are supposed to do, but don’t.
4) Sin that leads to death - You know you shouldn’t do a thing or you know you should do a thing and you choose to continue in your sin. This is willful sin, not that you fell and need to get up again.
This sin is straight up rebellion. We know that rebellion is as witchcraft and witchcraft was so heinous that it was punishable by death.
The prophet Samuel told king Saul this in 1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”
The next part of our main text says to let patience have its perfect work so that you may be complete lacking nothing.
We can shortcut a situation, circumstance, trial or problem. We can run the other way from it, rather than enduring it. This will stop what God is trying to produce in you.
You know what the problem with that is?
You can run for a season, but you can’t hide. You will just have to start over and go through it all again. It is best to walk through it, deal with it and let God be God.
Especially if it is a matter of sin that created the circumstance to begin with, because if you belong to Him, He will just wait and you will be chastised anyway. You may as well get your whippin over with now. Get right with Him and get moving on With Him and For Him.
For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
You aren’t the first child He has disciplined and you won’t be the last.
Illustration -
Illustration -
The following is a story that comes from India about endurance:
One night two frogs found themselves in a dairy. Hopping and jumping around as frogs do they both jumped into a milk pail half full of milk.
After swimming around for some time they tried to get out. But the inside of the pail was too slippery and there was nothing on which they could rest so that they could jump out. One frog thought it was useless trying to swim on and just gave up hope and sunk and was drowned.
The other carried on swimming, hoping against hope that something would turn up. He swam and he swam until he began to feel tired. But by this time the milk, which was full of cream, had become thick. When the frog had swum some more the cream had been stirred so much that it became a solid lump of butter. On this the frog could scramble and rest. And from it he could easily jump out of the pail into safety.
Life Point - Having Faith Can Be Hard, Have It Anyway
Life Point - Having Faith Can Be Hard, Have It Anyway
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
Now as we go through tough times and we are trying to be patient and endure. James reminds us of what God has promised and what he expects from us during this time.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
During times of distress we should seek God for His guidance and His wisdom.
You see the world has its’ wisdom, or what it calls wisdom but just turns out to be folly.
Or like I like to say, the world has its’ ways of doing things that just turn out to be stupid.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Someone is saying, “but pastor I have asked for God’s help and it blew up anyway.”
Well, that is where the rest of this section comes into play.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Faith. We are to ask in faith, knowing that He will give you His promise. Ask for wisdom, and He will give you wisdom.
A person one minute who has faith in God and the next doesn’t has a life that is full of double-mindedness.
Ever see someone on facebook or another social media platform that talks about their love of God and how they trust God and claims to be a Christian; and then a few posts down talks about how much they hate someone or starts cussing someone out.
That folks is a double-minded individual, watch out for them because they will cause you some grief in your life.
They need your prayers.
This kind of person may not even be a Christian and if they are, they shouldn’t expect God’s wisdom when they go through something because they are double-minded and unstable.
In the beginning as we grow in grace some of us may be guilty of this. The key is to plant yourself in prayer, God’s Word and put what you find there into practice. If the Bible says don’t do a thing, then don’t do that thing. If the Bible says to do a thing, then do the thing.
Did you know that it is impossible to please God, but by Faith?
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
So to be a double-minded man is to be one who doesn’t please God.
Now sometimes our prayers may be that of the father with the child who had a demon in him.
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
It is perfectly acceptable to ask Jesus to help you, though you believe. Sometimes you find yourself wavering, and we don’t want to be that person. In that time, cry out “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”
Life Principle– When Life Falls Apart, We Must Have Endurance And Faith In Seeking God’s Wisdom
Life Principle– When Life Falls Apart, We Must Have Endurance And Faith In Seeking God’s Wisdom
Call to Action – altar call….
Call to Action – altar call….