10-28-2018 - How to Deal with Trouble

If You need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask HIM and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking (James 1:5)

STOP Sifting Suggestions from the Sewer - Go to THE SOURCE

Remember Forest Gump: “My momma always said; ‘stupid is as stupid does’” Too Many “christians” are STUPID instead of STUPENDOUS!!! We Dredge our Wisdom out of the Dregs of a Dispicable World;

STOP SIFTING SUGGESTIONS (for how to deal with trouble) FROM THE SEWER!!!

GO to the SOURCE of “How, What, When, Where and Why” – To GOD HIMSELF

PUT TEAM CONCEPT’S T=TRUST INTO MOTION

A FAILURE to TRUST = a FAILURE to RECEIVE (Js 4 says more about this…)

“Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should be glad, for God has humbled them.” (James 1:9-10)

James 1:9-11 (NLT) 9 Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should be glad, for God has humbled them. They will fade away like a flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and dries up the grass; the flower withers, and its beauty fades away. So also, wealthy people will fade away with all of their achievements.

STOP Pigeon-Holing People - The God of the Bible is the GREAT EQUALIZER

James deals with this more in chapter 5…

We are Not Equals in FUNCTION but EQUALS IN FAITH and RELATIONSHIP

We MUST Learn to Climb the Ladders that Help Us Cross the Socio-Economic Divides

If We want to Build Bridges Across the Cultural Divide; If We want to Climb the Ladders to reach different socio-economic levels; If we want to be bound together with Ropes of Reconciliation and Relationship, Then

The Love of Christ Manifest in Us, Then We MUST BE EQUAL IN RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST; EQUAL SPIRITUAL MEMBERS TO ONE-ANOTHER; STRIVING TO BE EQUAL in OBEDIENCE to the WRITTEN WORD

“…God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either...” (James 1:13)

STOP Blaming God for YOUR SIN

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Notice WHO God Blesses (those who patiently endure)

Notice HOW God Blesses (crown of life)

Notice WHY God Blesses (they LOVE HIM)

“In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word...” (James 1:18)

START with the WORD!!!

James 1:13–18 NLT

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

Two Opposing SOURCES:

The Source of Temptation = Our Own Selfish Desire

The Source of what is Perfect and Good = God our Father & Creator