Thrive to Survive (FBC)

Thrive to Survive

James 1:12-18

ILL-- Running the half marathon, December 2018.

At end of October I was on pace to run much faster than I every dreamed.

Then the next 5 weeks got crazy.

Cold and wet November.

Went deer hunting- not a good place to run for a few days.

Let hunting to spend 5 days in Mountainair where there is no oxygen.

I ran 10 or 11 miles- my longest run before the race. - I about collapsed.

Race day was chaos

I had my routine planned. Would be finished before noon so a small breakfast and a pocket full of skittles was good enough.

Race got delayed because of a storm.

hour and half later than expected- I was hungry and not enough in pockets.

Then the sun came out and it was 40 degrees warmer than I had been running.

I wanted to quit a million times- but i never stopped running.

My time was horrible and I promised I would never run a half marathon again.

This life has many struggles. Let us run to the end.

The only way to survive is to thrive.

James 1:12–18 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Set-Up= Verse 12

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

How do we make it to the finish line? We run in such a way as to win.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

5 Ways to Thrive

1. Recognize the Enemy (13)

James 1:13 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

ILL- Army Corporal Pat Tillman

$3.6 million with Arizona Cardinals.

Afghanistan

Killed by friendly fire.

Christians can be guilty of fighting the wrong enemy.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

People/ Politics/ Government- not the enemy.

Why was Jesus able to love those nailing him to the cross?

- because he knew who the enemy was.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

ILL- Peter and Jesus

When Jesus tells disciples he will die Peter says no.

Matthew 16:23 ESV

23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

We will grow weary of the battle in this world if we do not recognize who the true enemy is.

2. Recognize Responsibility (14)

James 1:14 ESV

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Temptation comes from your own desires.

No one wants to take responsibility in our society.

It is always someone else’s fault.

ILL- Dyslexia

Showed itself in elementary school- but not something teachers were concerned about back then.

I was in college before I was diagnosed.

It was not an excuse before nor after.

It was just a challenge to overcome.

We all have challenges we have to overcome.

Biggest is our sin nature.

We must flee from sexual temptation.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

You will not thrive if you do not recognize your responsibility.

3. Recognize Consequences (15)

James 1:15 ESV

15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

ILL- Throwing Black Cat Firecrackers.

When you light the fuse it will blow.

Desire leads to death.

Desire is the parasite growing inside of us.

ILL- Parasite in Durango Mexico from flood.

Hippie Max.

Flee from the desire. Like Joseph from Potipher’s Wife.

You will thrive if you understand the consequences of sin.

4. Recognize Grace (16-17)

James 1:16–17 ESV

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Grace=

a gift we do not deserve.

God is greatest gift giver. He knows our needs.

Jesus is the greatest gift.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

5. Recognize Truth (18)

James 1:18 ESV

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

How do you know something is true when you hear it on the news or see it on social media?

Sources you trust.

shared by someone you trust.

You like what they said.

God’s Word is truth.

Truth here is synonymous with the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:20–25 ESV

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

God’s Word is necessary for salvation

Romans 10:14–17 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Death is birthed by sin.

New Life is birthed by God through His Word.

First Fruits= those items offered to God for his possession.

We thrive when we surrender to his truth and surrender ourselves to his possession.

CONCLUSION

The finish line is approaching quickly.

Completing the race isn't about whether we are perfect, but rather that we are forgiven.