Man to Man - Count it all Joy

your son our Lord our savior

you told us to come boldly to your throne of grace for your throne to obtain Grace to help in time of need. So today Lord, we come boldly to you covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We try to send him. Lord we come to read the word that you've given to us revelation of Who You Are. There's power in your word to transform to change to draw us closer to you and to understand who you are in our lives. The father today. We ask you to take your word by your Holy Spirit Open the Eyes of our understanding lead us father in your way Everlasting in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, I was asked recently to prepare a message about encouragement because of the things that are going on in the world around us and I won't talk about those things. But you turn the news on on you. You will see them and understand what things those are and it's pretty clear when it when you pick up a newspaper or go online and see things activities that are happening right now and

but when I when I woke up this morning, I Has a book of James in my mind and and so I'm going to go through here is a book of James verse by verse and this book was written when we get to the first verse to the dispersion. But during this time. The people and Christian people were threatened daily and use a church had begun and grew in Jerusalem after that Pentecost and the power God was manifested the church grew and thousands were headed to Haley and and

and them The church grew and was so strong and but then came this time of persecution. And in that time of persecution Stephen was stoned and Apollo was going around and putting Christians in prison and the sun were put to death in but the church was then scattered people went to many places around in the church began to spring up in many places around and so this is some years later after that that James writes this letter and something to go now, too. Just the beginning James 1 verse 1 in. It says James servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes in the dispersion greetings. James is riding to that. He says to the Twelve Tribes, but understand that in Jerusalem where the message where the church began there were Jewish people. There were the children of Israel say the tribes of established these people who had become Christians were out of that group of people and so they are now scattered abroad and James is riding to them. and and he says to them those who are scattered abroad and in fear of their lives and and I'm finding trying to make a new home for themselves and James 1:2. He says consider it all joy my brothers whenever you encounter various trials.

This this statement goes really against what we might naturally feel in ourselves and in response to the situations that were in and do what we talked about encouraging ourselves. And this is really the worst out of the message for today that we need to encourage ourselves in the Lord. We need to take the password and remind ourselves of God's promises what God has has done in our lives and what God has done in the lives of others and and rather than react in fear. Our bodies naturally respond to the, you know, the circumstances around us and sometimes we respond in fear of butt. but rather than do that we we need to remember what God says and through James. Says consider it all joy when you encounter various trials well, There are there are things that happen to us in the world. Sometimes your things from the outside. Sometimes there's things in her physical health and it's sometimes things that we lost ourselves because we fall short but whatever these things are. God is with us and God is there to help us courage has so he says Don't Fear these things. Don't worry about these things consider them joy, and okay now we we need to make the leap from Fear to this place of Joy, even when things aren't going the way we think they ought to go. I'm verse 3 he says because you know, so how often we consider these things going because we know that the testing of our faith produces endurance. Well, so in these trials something is happening. We're we're in a place where what we know about God and His nature and his goodness for us and and we were the circumstances aren't that and so what what do we do? What? Well we in that time. We need to have faith in God and trust in God and when we when we turn our situation over to God and instead of acting here we go forward and we we endure and our faith in God that allows us to take another step even when it looks like it's impossible when we take another step. That space produces endurance. We can stand against the things in the world and we can stand in and be the people that God has called us to be because we have faith in God and we endure the situation that we're in for the moment.

Then James says in verse 4 and let endurance have is perfect effect. So that you may be mature and completely lacking in nothing. So in in this life in this natural life that we live that we're all part of this world and it's a world that's that's a embroiled in sin and death. There is this power against us in the world and we we Face these these trials these these tribulations these things and what did Jesus say in the world will have tribulation but I've overcome the world. So we we have this position as Sons and Daughters of God to step into that realm where Jesus has called us to into his kingdom and to be to be Overcomers whatever situation we're facing and as he says let endurance that that face in God keep on keep on let it have its perfect the fact that it have its perfect result that we might be pretty sure and complete and lacking and nothing.

A five he is in says if you lack wisdom. Ask or it from God who will give it to you without reservation. And not reproaching and it will be given to him.

God when we eat when we are in a situation where we aren't sure what to do don't know what to do. God is right there with us. And Jesus said he would want when he when he said it's better for you because I'll send you the Holy Spirit and what is the holy spirit doing us? He's he's our comforter. He's our teacher. He's our guy and the wisdom that comes from God will come to us when we ask for it says God gives it without resort reservation without any reproach and you know, sometimes when we we ask people to know, can you help me with his arms open to receive and not only that you give us what we need at the moment.

A 60 goes on says but let him ask for it in Phase without any doubting for the one who Dallas is like a surface at Sea driven by the wind and tossed about you know, when when will you read this? I'm reminded of up all as he was being taken to Rome and he was was taken under guard and and that he was taken by another mode of transportation is at the day which was my ship and went when they got on the ship Paula said to the guard into the captain of the ship know I perceived and well it was they wanted to take their cargo and they wanted to get to a certain place before winter and it was getting late in the urine and so they ignored what all had to say and but all continued him at the end. The ship was destroyed, but all of the people that were whisked all were saved and how is this happened? You know, sometimes we go through things because of the decisions of other people in and what other people want to do and how they want to do things and we we may have some some inputs and tell them know if you know, this is not the way you should do this or do this other thing and they may not listen and so when those situations come along what do we do when we first of all need to have faith in God that God is able to overcome whatever circumstances were in and so yes all went through the terrible storm the destruction of the ship under his feet in and the threat of the loss of life of every person on this ship but God was with him and God let him and took him and end. Delivered him to dry ground to a place where they could be here for they were taken care of and where he preach the gospel that we think are working against us. God is moving Us in the Direction Where We can be used by him to carry the message of the views price forward.

No, he's talking about those who were double-minded and being tossed and in a 7. He says for that person who what what person is double-minded the one who who prays and asked God and then walks out of the room and turns around and and and then is in fear through their own strength trying to deal with the situation that they're in no, there is our face is not in God to say it's a sin what they can do and maybe what my friend but that person he said is driven by the wind and tossed says that that person must not suppose you'll receive anything from the Lord. Well, why is that, you know, you probably heard people say the holy spirit is it is a perfect gentleman know God God will never force you to do anything. I will invite you and he'll offer direction for you. But you have to receive that and if you are not willing to receive it then God's not going to twist your arm to make you do it and let so went when we come to God we need to listen to what he has to say to hear what he has to say have faith in him. And sometimes it's simply enduring going through the situation at taking another step take another step until the revelation of what God's doing around us come through and God's Deliverance come through for us.

It goes on the first aid and says he's a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways again. Who's he talking about he who asked but don't ask in faith those who come to God and and say no or maybe go to some other person say what you pray for me about this or will you pray for me about can you pray together and then there immediately turn away and go on and the next day they're back again. Can you pray about this way about this? Well, they're double-minded and what happens at? Well the trouble and the trial over comes up and and they're they're caught up in the drama of the moment caught up in the the drama of the feelings of their flesh and Where does God want us to be he wants us to come to his throne to receive what it what is Grace power power to overcome power to deal with the situation. We're in and not to be unstable too, but be to be a steadfast enduring straightforward going to head.

He then goes on to verse 9 James 1:9 now let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position. Well, you know where you begin the chapter by saying count it all joy, when you go through diverse troubles that doesn't go with our natural mindset and now in Versailles and he says that the brother of humble circumstances Post in his high position. Wait a minute if she is a person of humble know maybe for the Lancome uncertainty about you know, how how Provisions going to come in your life, but maybe you know a job that doesn't have a lot of social respect. But but he says if you're in that position, but what about your high position? What is he saying? Ghost about your high position in Christ in God's kingdom and it's not about your social or economic position in the world system. It's about where do you stand with Christ? We stand together with him. He's seated at the right hand of the father and the father is dead. He has power to help us give us in our life and to move us forward in to help us.

So we we need to look at ourselves not as the world looks at us not measure ourselves as the world measures us according to the world system about whether we have money and do I have enough to give giving enough but we we need to look at ourselves the way God sees us as his his children his sons and daughters the ones that he loves and that he's there for us.

Now if you can trust that with the other extreme and change 110, but the rich person in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the crass so you can have a lot of possessions in this world. But what's the law of of of energy in this world everything decays everything falls apart and what happens? Well, a tree will receive will fall on the ground that will grow and become a tree and and or whatever kind of seed loose with the planted it is but what happens over time that plant dies and falls and goes back into the ground and the same thing happens with the wealth of the world know you can't take it with you you it's it's not something that is so he says, okay, if you're rich you think you're something, you know, you have high position that power you have. Sword in the world. You have to be humble understand that those those things will pass. There's there's an end date on those things and so humble yourself and and trust in God. It's it's God's grace and power that's working in you that make those things happen. Don't you know, it's it's it's you know me. Look what I did look like he's saying humble yourself because those things will pass away.

Not a celebrity goes on it says for the sun rises with it's burning heat and dries up the grass and it's flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his Pursuits will wither away so Okay, we have a world that says no follow follow this way and you'll become wealthy and will become rich and you all right. And when you're young, you know, you trying to build your life and and God wants us to to live to have what we need. But there's this Pursuits the rich in his Pursuit will whether there's a time that comes where you don't have the physical strength anymore to do that. You don't have the mental acuity to do that anymore. And those those things will wither away so it recognized the that your life is a span and there are different cycles and phases and times. And so I recognize that one God is working in you and you have great success. That's great, you know celebrate that but don't depend on that trust in God that he will lead you and guide you.

Or swellview says blessed is the person who endures testing? Because when he is approved, he will receive the crown of life that he has promised to those who love him. Well, what is this Crown of Life? Well, I know there's a day when we will all stand before Jesus Christ to give account of our lives and what how did how have we been and how have we handle things end? Well, when we have an endurance is tied with face when we've had faith in God and we've endured and we've come out on the other side and then we have the Crown of Life. There's there's there's this reward in heaven that comes to us and we'll come to us then and it's promised to those who love God, but not only God but what God wants us to do that. We live righteous and holy lives that we love the people around us and do what God has called us to do and live for him. And there are many testimonies the Christian people have of how God has taken them through a a dark period in their life and brought them out on the other side in there now alive to give testimony of God's goodness in his his great mercy and his power working in their life witness of God's power in the land of the living among us on generation.

James 1:13 says no one who is being tempted to say. I'm being tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted by evil and himself and no one. The troubles that we face in the world is usually people's bad decisions of people's anger or frustration.

God wants us to trust in him and to live for him and he is not going to tempt us with evil. There's another one who does that, you know, the devil temps was evil. God God wants to give us good things and how did the Devil tempt Jesus? You know, he he he told him hear about it. On to me and I'll give you all these kingdoms of the world, you know well and they were in there in his authority. There is a world system that is controlled by the the devil in and that system once once us to follow after it and to come under it and know when we look forward and then read Revelation, it talks about the mark of the beast and other the time when that world system will physically Mark everyone and that is a sign of acceptable of acceptance and worship of the world system in the of the Beast. And we need not to be tempted by that system that offers to to give us what we need for life because God's promise to give us what we need for life. And God doesn't tempt us with those things. And so we we need to understand that what was the difference between God who is Holy righteous and the the systems of the world devil and evil and and the systems of the world that would draw people into addiction send and all of the things that happen in the world.

I just won $0.14 but each one is tempted. Okay, here we go. This is how we're tempted. Okay one is tempted tempted when he is dragged away and enticed by his own desires. Like we're in a physical body and our physical body needs food. We have a desire to procreate you want to have relationships where we're social creatures. We want to have a relationship with with other people and and in those relationships and those physical desires that we have we have physical needs that are part of our natural physical makeup and When when when were only living according to what we can see and feel and touch naturally in the Physical Realm says we are tempted when we were dragged away and enticed by our own desires. Got emptiness. Is this physical body that were in and well call it falls at one point in the strait between two, you know, whether to go and be with the Lord and stay and be here with you. You know, I have this war in my body the things I want to do I don't want to do I do you know when we have this natural temptation is natural Desires in us and we need to bring them under the authority of the Holy Ghost under the authority of the Holy Spirit to Santos.

Verses to use as then desire after it has conceived gives birth to sin and sin when it's brought to completion gives birth to death now, that's so cycle of sin and death that is in the world and that cycle of sin and death is is all around us. But God has another way for us to live and how do we avoid this this cycle? It begins with desire our own desire. And when when we find ourselves in a place where we were thinking about something that's outside of of righteousness and Holiness if we allow that desire to continue what happens it once desire has conceived it gives birth to sin, you know, the next step is an action and we then we're okay. Okay. Maybe I can. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. So I'll go to a bar. Now now now it's too and then three and now I'm I'm trapped in the addiction of alcoholism or or drugs or what it whatever though it's whatever they desire is. You know, that's there's a path to sin and death begins with desire and

416 he says do not be deceived my dear brother. You understand you can be deceived and that that's one of the key tactics of the devil, you know your mind you allow it and then pretty soon you allow a little more and a little more and you were deceived into this place where your trap. Or 17 every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and down from the father of lives. With whom there is no variation or shadow of change. So this is the cycle of Desire that begins with our natural physical being get it ends. If it's if it's unchecked if it's not managed the way we need to buy the by the power of the Holy Ghost and Us by the good gifts that God gives us then we end up in this place of sin and death but we need to acknowledge. What would he be doing this with by space and endurance? Do we know who God is do we do we have God's character in nature firmly implanted in our hearts. You know that that God is good. And God never evil. God wants good for us and never bad for us. And okay. What? What is the Bible talk about repentance? It talks about that because there are these natural desires that happened in us and we get trapped over here in this place of sin and wait a minute. That's not God's character. That's not what God wants for us. Turn this turn. Let's go back to this place where God. I know you're good. And I know you have good things for me. And I know your desire is for me to overcome these situations that are in my life, and I'm turning my heart to you and back to you and there's never any turning in God's goodness for you.

Change 118 by his will he gave birth to us through the message of Truth so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. So I understand the world that were born into is under this this umbrella of standing desk. But but God has brought New Life to us through Jesus Christ. We are we say we're born again. We are new creatures in Christ. How does that happen? Well, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and our savior when we recognize his death burial and resurrection and his Ascension to be seated at the right hand of the father, we're covered by his blood we are made righteous in him and now we're born again and we have this new life not only for ourselves but to impact the lives of people around us. LOL, as he says here, we're kind of first fruits. God wants this life of freedom to be there for everyone and everyone who will receive it can't receive it.

Verse 19 says I understand this my dear brothers. Every person must be quick to hear slow to speak slow to anger. Well, this is pretty tripa to hear. Listen. Listen, and how often are we formulating an answer? No, we're going to we're going to say back to somebody know we were here are three words from that land sale and then ourselves up in the drama of the world and he says wait a minute listen. Listen be quick to hear slow to speak. K old hold your formulation of that TalkBack. Wait, wait a minute slow to anger. Don't get your backup easily. You know it we all have gotten some things that you know set us off into and well, you know, the reality is I don't have perfect knowledge of God or of the world that I'm in. I have experiences that I've been through and I have things that have impacted my life some for evil and some for good and sometimes those things that have impacted me badly when when somebody says a couple of words all of a sudden impact acting based on that thing that happened to me in the past rather than where I am right now. And he says Slow Down slow down. Put those things in check listen. Listen and hear what God has to say to you before you say anything back. And before you let your anger Rise Up In You.

Where's 20 uses for human anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God, you know, you can't. Talk loudly enough to somebody to convince them to love Jesus. You can't shake somebody enough to get them to leave their addiction to you. Can't hit somebody hard enough to get them to accept your your statement of even if it's the statement of Truth know your physical aggression will never work to change somebody's mind. Human anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God. There's another way that God wants us to operate.

Verse 24 he says therefore. Okay. So now that we understand that that we have this human desire all of us have it whether whether I'm born again Christian or not. I still have that human desire in music and works to send that but the world is trapped in the middle of all of that in my anger about it can't fix it. But now he says therefore. Okay, so put aside all moral and we could access welcome with humility the implanted message which is able to save your soul. There is a word from God that can Empower you to overcome sin sickness poverty. Whatever it is you need in your life. God has a way to move you forward and to receive that word you have to to step away from what Moreland clean this wickedness access those those things that the desire that has come forth and has brought forth sin in your life. There's now you have to humble yourself. Okay, I'm wrong that I should have done that that didn't have the results that I expected. It would have it didn't have a positive result for me. And that's all I need to choose a different way. And what way do I need to choose a he says the implanted message? Which is able to save her soul. There's a there's a new heart that God is giving you the holy spirit in you to Quicken you and to bring you to bring you a o a word a direction is something different to do.

In verse 22 he says but be doers of the message and not hearers only deceiving yourselves. Well, so just as he said be quick to hear and slow to speak there's a change in Behavior that's required. In in one place that says there's a way that seems right at every man seems right in his own eyes. And you know, we we think what we think and we believe what we think is right and what we think is the way that everything should be working and why aren't you doing what I think you ought to be doing? Aren't you doing it the way I think you ought to be doing wait, wait a minute. There's another way that we need to be doing things. And how do we find that righteous? Holy moral way. We do that by coming to God and asking God and and when we hear the message, He says don't don't just hear it and walk away. He says change your behavior do something different. Listen to what God saying. I don't deceive yourself know if you go to somebody for counseling and say, you know, I'm my husband I are having trouble or you know, I'm having this addiction problem. All right, and you go to somebody for counseling and they will tell you will hear a couple of things that you can do. And so you say OK Google much you walk out of the office and and you continue doing everything the way you were doing it before well, what's going to happen the same thing has been happening you're still in the middle of that trouble and you haven't done anything different that can correct it that can help you move in the right direction, but don't deceive yourself. But listen. Take action and do something different.

First 23 if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer. This is like someone staring at his own face in the mirror. Okay, so you you are who you are right you see your own reflection there, but there's there's some things that God wants to transform in your life. How does that transformation happen? It has to happen through a change in Behavior.

Where's 24? He looks at himself and goes away and I'm really forgets what sort of person he was. Well, so in this natural world, we're we're many of the things we do are habitual and good habits are good for us, and they save us time and I don't have to think about tying my shoes anymore, you know is put my shoes on in my hand start timing, and I don't know. Okay, so I don't have to expend mental energy figuring out how to tie my shoes know so as the simplest kind of case your butt, but we have so many things in our life part that are HIPAA Chula that we may not even realize we're doing them and sometimes those habits are are wrong. We need to correct them, and we need to change. Can I take? concentrated effort on our part

verse 23 says the one who looks into the perfect law of Liberty continues to do it not being a forgetful here, but I do or who acts this one will be blessed in what he does. It's it's this change in Behavior. It's looking into God's perfect law of Liberty is listening to what God has to say we started with come boldly to God's throne for Grace to help power to help in time of need that power is there it will receive a guy's arms are open to give us wisdom that we need to deal with the situation where I am, but we need to continue in that wisdom. We need to receive that power look into God's law God's word and do what God has called us to do.

426 If anyone thinks he's religious, although he does not ride with his tongue, but just use his heart. This person religion is worthless. Okay. He said the slow to speak up earlier. We we do to anger. We need to come into this place where we're listening and we're hearing what God says you were speaking What God Says and what does God say God says, he loves us love each one of us. We're here for the wonderfully made guys known as from the time we were in our mother's womb. God has created us. Okay, so that maybe that person is different from you and you have a conflict with that person because they think differently than you do and all right. So did God call you to correct them and two to make them like, you know, God made them like them. And so we need to come to a place where we think first. We're we are not barking orders at everyone to do what I want you to do the way I want to do it, but we're loving them nurturing them encouraging them to be who God made them to be and this this is where church and religion sometimes goes off the rails. No, we want to make everybody like it's like us but what we need to do is make everybody like God everybody like Jesus Christ everybody the way he made them to be

What's 27 hour and undefiled religion the side of our Godfather's Des to look after orphans and widows in their Affliction and to keep oneself on stained by the world know God wants us to live peaceful lies and enjoy the fruit of our labor. He wants us to to be aware of the needs of people around us. If we we see someone in the well, you know, there's parable of the Good Samaritan, you know, the religious people walked on by but this other man was about his business and he stopped and he helped that person he made sure that they were taken care of and then went on about his business and we need to keep ourselves in a different place from the world separated from the world the stain of sin and death. Controlling our own desires making sure that we're listening to the voice of God in our Our Hearts by the Holy Spirit and trusting in God to see us through whatever things were facing. So follow me. Thank you today. For your word that Lord you called us to turn from the ways of the world and to live according to your your way and Lord that we be aware of the needs of people around us that Lord. We will be a helper to those around us that we're not always just looking to to get what we can get from other people. We're looking forward to do what you called us to of my father was thank you for that.