Road Map to Being Thankful

There's something about that name.

Hey, man. All right, we're going to be in the Book of James. I know it's a curb off everybody, right? We've been in the series and Galatians. But this we considering that we're going into Thanksgiving week. And this is the time that our our society says we need to spend time to be thankful for all that at least 2 in our view all the God has given us I thought it might be good to have a sermon considering that being thankful and everything. Being thankful and everything that is what scripture what God calls us to do in scripture to be thankful and everything.

All rights in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 15 see to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone but always pursue what is good for one another.

And for all Rejoice always pray constantly and give thanks in everything for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Let's pray father. We just want to come before you and just say thank you Lord for your goodness for all the good gifts that you have bestowed upon us Lord.

The food that you've given us throughout our lives father the very air that were breathing Lord is all gift from you. And so we just want to take this opportunity to acknowledge you The Giver of all that is good Lord and father. We ask that you would help us this morning as we open up your word that your spirit will guide us into all truth God. That's your spirit would do a work in our hearts that we wouldn't just receive these words of scripture in our head Lord, but that's your spirit would be active in our hearts father that you would transform us more into the image of Jesus Through the preaching of your word and through the ministry of your spirit. We desperately need to hear from you this morning. We just ask that you would do that. Father help us at the End of This Time Lord to walk out of here with a more thankful heart. And I bother we we confess that we can't do that on her own strength as this through the power of your spirit that we can do such a thing that you might be glorified in our lives because of it. We asked us in Christ precious name. Amen. Okay to the speaker. All right, so give thanks and everything is so Paul says here and in 1st Thessalonians 5. I know I told you we're going to James we will be in James but this is where Paul tells us to be thankful and everything. This is God's will for you. Right people. Come to me. I just want to know God's will for me in life and I'll take him to this passage of scripture you want God's will for you. This is God's will for you that you rejoice always pray constantly give thanks and everything for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, right? And that's great. But if you consider the year 2020 and all the trials that we've gone through these this last year with the epidemic and all those things. You read a verse like that and you're like, yeah. Well that's easier said than done right? That's that's like by my initial response. Yeah, that's easier said than done. I considering everything that we have gone through and so Paul and God's desire command forces that we are thankful in everything and so how does that happen? How can we do that in spite of the trials in spite of the circumstances that we find ourselves in here in 2020. We've been gone through this epidemic we've gone through the closing down of society essentially and we've gone through a very tough political season. I still going through these things. There's no end in sight. How can we be thankful in these things? And and I've just want to share with you the first chapter of James this morning James chapter 1 Gives us a roadmap on how to be thankful in everything. And if you don't have one of those handouts that what came in the bulletin, there's a lot of information all this information. You see here is on a piece of paper. If you'd like to have one Gracie has somebody can just raise your hand and she can come and pass those out to you. If you want like that to take that home is since there's a there's a load of information here. So so this is kind of the road map to James provides for us for us to be thankful and everything and it's all too old family a perspective that we need to keep through our trials. It's really easy for us to get weighed down and what's happening in in and around us and and to us because of everything that's beyond the circumstances that are beyond our control. And it's easy to keep our focus on that. But what scripture calls us to is to keep a Heavenly perspective during these trials. And so we have three different points that I want to cover today verses 1 through 18 cover these things with the first is to recognize God's Eternal purpose in our trials II is to as we go through these trials to put our hope in God and third is keep our mind fixed on the things above and the times of these trials we are commanded to be thankful and everything praise be to God God gives us his scripture to give us a road map on how we can cooperate with the spirit, right? Cuz it's ultimately not in our own strength that we can have the supernatural ability to be thankful and be joyous and have peace in spite of the circumstances that are happening in life. and so let's look at the first one here in verse 1 of James 1 The first point is our trials produce endurance our trials produce endurance James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes dispersed abroad greetings that we see here. James is the half brother of Jesus. This is probably the first letter the earliest letter of the New Testament and he's riding to as we see here these Messianic Believers. These were Jewish people who heard the gospel message of Jesus being the Messiah that believing and trusting in Him there. They can be reconciled to their God. It wasn't through the law of Moses as we've been covered in Galatians, but it was through the promises given to Abraham that this Messiah would come would make a way for us to have salvation that is salvation gifted to us. Upon the merits of God and not on any Merit of our own righteousness. But of what God has done they heard this message and they believed in so he's riding to the Believers who are dispersed the ride. So that means that they're not in Jerusalem. They're not in their home where the Jerusalem are your Judea and that reason they're dispersed so we know it's not introduce juice Jerusalem and Judea, but it's somewhere so they're out in in in Gentile World probably and they're enduring persecution for the relief and Jesus. And so he's writing this letter to to effectually build them up in the gospel message. Any begins this letter by describing how we're supposed to endure trials? And so yes James is riding to these Messianic Believers, but the Holy Spirit as we know God moves and inspired the writings of scripture and he's preserve them for us. And so we can take these lessons for us today and 20/20 in the trials that were enduring and we can apply these things in cooperation with the spirit to help us through our trials as well. And so what does James say to do us through the holy spirit is the holy spirit say to us to James. First number to consider it great. Joy my brothers and sisters whenever you experience various trials. Say what? We're supposed to experience joy in our trials. How can that be? He says consider it great. Joy my brothers and sisters whenever you experience various trials, and that is this goes against everything we know about trials. I don't know about you. But when I experience a trial the things that I try to do is get out of that trial as quick as possible. I just want to be relieved of whatever is going on. Whatever is taxing. I just want to get out of it. But James is what is James is calling us to is that there's a perspective that God has for us that these trials are used for our good.

It's an opportunity for us to experience God a fresh in the new in these trials as we learn to cling to him during these times of trial. And we should expect and come to the understanding that a trial that is allowed in. Our life is really Allowed by God and that Us in the trials. We consider should be considered a great joy because God is at work. God is at work in our lives. And so James says don't. Beside about trials considered a great joy why forestry because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance until the first point. Is we are to to see that our trials produce endurance the trials of our faith produce endurance. I remember not in 7th grade. Are there was this big track and field day where everyone got his do track and field and do all the different events and my dad growing up. He was a marathon runner did run those really long distances, you know, when and what I neglected understand was that he got up every morning and he'd go out and he'd run and he trained for those marathon and he didn't just wake up and go run 24 miles. He he had to train for that this track and field day came in there like you would like to do the long-distance running like for lap four laps around the track. Oh my god. Do it right here. I'll do it my dad runs Marathon, so I'll be able to run long distances. Right? Well, that was a mistake just because my dad ran Marathon didn't mean that I was prepared to run long distances. And so I started off and I was just started running as fast as I could down that track and I got to that first corner and next thing, you know, I'm right breathing heavy and barely could walk at that point and all these other guys just passed.

All right. Well, that's the first okay. So anyway, so I found out the hard way that's in order to wrong. Just the wrong run long distances. You need to build up endurance in your body. You needed to train you needed a challenge your lungs and go out and let those build strength and let your body adjust to the to the stress and strain strains of running a race. And James is calling us to do that same look these trials are God is allowed in your life is an opportunity for you to build endurance in the race that has been set before you and your spiritual journey as a Christian. Trials are used by God to give us endurance for this race. It's a means and which God produces the attributes of the spirit in us and to inform us more into the image of Jesus. And so he says we should consider it Joy when you come in Trials because we know God is at work. It's not something just to get out of his quickly as possible. It's a means for a Christian to say god. What have you to meet for me to learn? What do you want me to learn through these trials? I think we can all look back on 20/20 we can see how God has used these this these these times to the really challenged our way of life. And what we really consider is important.

We can see you. Hopefully you can see back and you can see you can see how God has guided you through those things and you can you can make this a time when you will. Hopefully hear from now. We can look back and go while God really saw us through that. It was some challenging times, but but praise be to God God showed up. He was at work. Give me this more material produced endurance for us to run this race. Right the trials won't be over in a year from now to try Hills might be more difficult a year from now. Only God knows those things. But but we I said we take these trials and I laugh weird to see from the perspective of scripture that God is allowed at we should consider it great. Joy because it produces endurance for the race that is set before us. The second point is our trials produce endurance. We already said that there's four and let the endurance have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete lacking nothing so our endurance but that should say should it should produce maturity as the Trials come and we gain that endurance for the race it begins to turn us into the faith. God uses those things to the really strip away the things of the world Let us see in those trials at the things of this world that this world offers for for for joy and satisfaction and completeness or just vein. They're all for naught that it is only through God and his relationship with him that we can truly come to a back to the original design that he's made for us that we can be complete in Christ and mature in Christ and and locky nothing because as as we endure these trials and got changes us and transforms us we may begin to the walk closer with God and we begin to become completely dependent upon God and that is exactly what God originally designed this for. In the garden Ave and eve were completely dependent on God he provided and then this is with us those who are in Christ. He's allowed us to way in which we can be effectively demonstrating what he originally designed as foreign that says to worship him to give him glory in our lives to be completely dependent on God. And it's through these trials at least in my experience that he's shown and demonstrated to me that it wasn't my bank account that kept me safe. It wasn't my job that kept me safe. That wasn't my identity. My identity was in Christ and it is God who provides? And it's only to those trials that I was able to learn those things. first five

Now if anyone lacks wisdom, he should go to God who gives all to all generously and then gradually.

And then gradually and it will be given to him. So this next point is that? And I came up here without my little sheep. Are it is I got it. The next one is we are to to put our hope and God let her be put our hope in God verses 5 through right now if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives it to all generously and then grudgingly and it will be given to him does we endure these trials? If you're like me these little doubts began to creep up in my mind. Why is God allowing this to happen to me? What is God doing in this? And if I'm not careful if I if I get my perspective on what's happening to me and not what God is doing through this trial. I begin to doubt God and I begin to doubt God's promises and James recognizes this and he says look if anyone lacks wisdom of this ability to discern what God is doing or this ability to keep our focus on God. Let him ask if you doubt ask God. He will give you wisdom who gives you two all generously and then ungrudgingly and it will be given to him. Knowledge is part of wisdom. That's also an ability to discern that in spite of my circumstances. I know God is at work. What is the wisdom that is from above the keeps our perspective on the things that are above and not on the things of this Earth? And so to be able to be thankful in everything we need to recognize God's Eternal purpose. The testing leads to endurance endurance leads to maturity and we are to put our hope in God. And it's easy to say we can put our hope in God, but this is that the practical way we can do that God. I'm not understanding what's going on in my life right now. Give me wisdom to understand what is happening. Why are you allowing this? And the promises is we ask he will give it to us generously and ungrudgingly. But there's a caveat to that but let him ask in faith without doubting. The daughter is like a surging sea driven and tossed by the wind. not person

that person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. And so he says we are to ask for wisdom, but we're not to ask doubting. We're supposed to ask in faith. We are he describes this person who is being tossed around by a storm. They're just going here and going there because they're their life there in during a trial and they're so they're trying out Jesus and and Jesus isn't helping so they're going to go somewhere else and find an answer. They're going to they're going to go somewhere some Eastern religion. They're just trying different things to figure out how they can get delivered from this trial and James has look for a Christian. We are to put our hope in God we're to ask for wisdom. We are to seek God's face and where to do it in a walk of Faith, even though we can't see what God is doing. We still by faith trust that God is at work. And God is allowing these trials for a reason and we will trust God for his promises that he will never leave us nor forsake us in our trials to ask with faith.

Tara back there Are you following me along trying my my little? Remote controls not working. So Alright, so we go on let him ask a faith and then that person should not receive anything from the Lord. So weird not doubt God in that he goes on to save those people are like are being double-minded and unstable in all their ways and so we are to endure the trial where to look for God where to place are hoping God. We're to seek his wisdom in those things.

And then he goes on here to the letter c. Letter C & R hand out. Where do I keep my mind fixed on the things above and the first one is we are to lie live for eternity and not for the world. We are to live for eternity and not the worldly.

And he gives us this example here in person. I let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his Exile Exile Tatian. So more than likely is riding to the people that are poor. He says the brother that is in Humble circumstances Bose in your exaltation because you are in a spot in life in this world where you have to rely on God God half provide for you because you don't have a means in which the riches are the bank account or that the 401K or your job to identify your your comfort and into protect you from the trials at this life can bring Those are to be exalted and he gives us the the the other example, but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field those who have these materialistic things that can help them. Tend to have a tendency not to rely on God because they have all these other things. I'm at The Ritz. Boston is humiliation because he will pass away like a flower in the field.

First 11 for the sun rises and together with the store scorching wind dries up the grass. It's flowers falls off. And it's beautiful appearance parishes in the same way. The rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities. What's a good verse for us that aren't Rich this morning, right? I can be exalted cuz I can rely on God. It's just a warning. Any even if we don't consider ourselves Rich at compared to the rest of the world were pretty rich in America and I can be easy to put our Hope and Faith and trusting in the the the things of this world to protect us from the trials in the circumstances of this life. But ultimately scripture in James. Here's to the holy spirit is calling us to put our trust in God alone.

Number 12. We are to keep our eyes on the prize. Keep your eyes on the prize. Blessed is the one who endures trials because when he is has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. That's the prize. The life that is to come. He will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. It's not what we gain in this life. I'm sorry, but it's not your best life now. The life that God has promised is the life that is to come. We will receive a crown of life will be forever dwelling with our God. We will be his people and his God that our God will be amongst his people and there will be no more. Sorrow No More Tears no more death. No more sin. That is what God has purchased for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And that is what we keep our eyes on as we endure the trials of this life. Blessed is the one who endures trials because when he has stood the test, he will receive the Crown of Life. I got his promise to those who love him there to keep our eyes on the prize where you keep our eyes on the things that are above.

He was on the first 1301 undergoing a should say I am being tempted by God since God is not tempted by evil and he doesn't tempt anyone. And so this next one is we are to be careful where we are blame part of trials in this life is a trial or we can enter into in the trial when we are tempted. Descend to act against God to go outside the bounds that God has has a has laid off to protect us from those things that they can be detrimental to our our own personal life to our families to those around us part of being in the trial sometimes is being tempted and and and succumbing to the temptation. And James recognizes. This. That is a part of a trial as well. But what he's calling us to understand is that as you go in and you're tempted it is not God who is tempting you? Yes, it's a trial and yes God might have allowed that trial but he's not the one trying to lure you into temptation into the sin against him. And tell James recognize that that's common that they may be a common excuse for us to blame God for allowing this temptation to happen. Right? That's the he's saying you can't do that. But that's our natural tendency. We look at the Garden of Eden, you know, God creates everything. He says it is good. It is good. He creates man. He says that's not good that they should be alone or he should be alone. So you create sieve and the day the two shall become one flesh. We have this beautiful picture of Eden what God has risen designed and then we chapter 3 comes and and they are tempted by the serpent and therefore take of the fruits. God comes looking for them. They're hiding right there hiding from God. God finds them cuz Adam what's going on? Did you protect the fruit what was Adams response the woman you gave me the woman you gave me it it's it's it's her fault. Hopefully what he's doing is he's saying God it's it's ultimately your fault because you're the one that gave me Eve. You're the one that was gave her as my help me and she's the one that tempted me insinuating that God made a mistake. But we can all do that. And that's what James telling us. We can't these don't we should not see these temptations that we encounter as God tempt him to learn as a putting in this to a test. They Goes On by Temptation comes and why we sin it's not of God. It's of ourselves verse 14, but each person is tempted when he is drawn away. As an anti spy his own evil desires. There's not God tempting you there's your own desires. and you're tempted when you're drawn away and when you're in type of those evil desires, he goes on to say and then after desire has come see you so he's giving us a metaphor of birth after desire has conceived it gives birth to and When sin is fully grown it gives birth to death it is

The means in which we send in are tempted. So wondering those trials and me to come tinted station that is not a God has because of her own evil desires. And so he gives us These Warnings right to keep you thankful in everything there to recognize God's Eternal purpose those testing the trials of our testing leads to endurance that endurance leads to maturity and I were going through those trials scripture calls us again and again to look to God keep our hope in God. I'm here to keep our minds fixed on the things that are above where to live for the Eternal things and not of the worldly things. and we are to keep our eyes on the prize that ultimately this this trial whatever we're facing in this world it is it is all but life is but a vapor right scripture says And then after that Eternal peace for all those who are in Christ Jesus. How to keep your eye on the prize and we are be too careful when we know part of our trial is enduring Temptation that we don't put the Temptation on God. Do you understand? It's from our own evil desires. Jesus in Matthew 15 talks about it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth because what comes out of the mouth is coming from the heart. We have a heart problem. We have this heart that were born with that separated from God that seeks to seek pleasure in and of itself outside of the bounds of God. Let me see that as the bad news that everyone is born with that heart and that is why the good news is so good that God has made a way for us to be reconciled. Be given a new heart a flash that seeks after him as we encounter the gospel message that Jesus made a way for us to to have salvation in his eternal payment that he made on the cross. I'm 2000 years ago. That is the good news. Are we in spite of our dead heart that is full of sin and separated from God. God has made a way for us to have eternal life to be reconciling adopted into his family.

And this and that that were seen here the send that we all have to encounter on a daily basis that that penalty has been has been purchased and been taken by Jesus. That is the good news. Jesus took that penalty. for us God remains perfectly just but his love and mercy is also demonstrated because he took that penalty his Justice and holiness.

Is represented on the cross and so is his love and mercy because they're both reconciled that although God is just and holy. He also took the payment for us for all who would believe.

So we as we go encounter these trials we keep her eyes on the prize of this eternal life. That is the common as we are in a challenge with temptation in this world. We are to to keep our eyes on what Christ has done and and know that we are no longer bound by by sin that it no longer has power or busting through the power and enabling power of the spirit. We can have begun Victorious over sin. for the glory of God

416 don't be deceived my dear brothers and sisters another warning. And then finally here verse 17. all these things that we're not supposed to do up and smoke enough and what we're supposed to do adults only what it comes down to is what we were originally designed for and that is to worship and behold our wonderful and amazing God.

We can Behold our wonderful and amazing God.

We're 17 says there's every good and perfect gift is from above. Coming down from the Father of Lights does not change like shifting Shadows. I love how James ends this this section of scripture hear of his letter to these your brothers and sisters and ultimately the spirit riding to us. We talked about all these things that we are to do and not to do to to pursue this this life of being thankful for God. But ultimately it comes down to this. What are we choosing the worship?

And he says remind us every good and perfect gift is from above. We go to the Thanksgiving table this week. Are we going to spend time thanking God for his goodness? And all that is provided for us. every good gift everything every perfect gift Is given to us by the Father of Lights? men Stars we go out. We can see a lot of stars where we live on a clear night. We go out and see the stars and me has it have as a Christian have the ability to roll that that amazing. I wonder of the stars and skies b-roll that to not just the creation but we can then go on to the Creator and give him the worship and adoration for a creating those things for us we go and sit down at the table and we eat a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in the turkey that we have and all those things and we can get things like anybody else in this world that we can go on a B on that turkey. I mean thankful for that turkey and we can give a duration and worship to the traitor that allow that turkey to be on our table. Good gift and every perfect gift comes from the father. of Lights The stars that we see is you started them closely. They twinkle right they have variation Shadows. different consistencies different strengths James take this opportunity to say that the Stars May twinkle. They might be very variable, but our father is not There is no variableness or shadow of turning.

Praise be to God. if there's anything That I've come to be think more thankful of this year. Is that although things seem to change in this world on a minute-by-minute basis? What truth is should we wear a mask or not wear mask? Who's our president? Is this the end times all these things that are all changing all these things with the one thing that I've really come to you. I just we've lived our life in the in the area of gray, right? I'm a black and white kind of person. I want black and white like this is bad. This is evil. This is sin. This is Godly. Let's do Godly but here we are in this area great. We're in a church where God has called us to not forsake the Assembly of ourselves together, but yet our government tells us we're not supposed to meet out of fear and health for other people. In a gray area do where where do you where do you land on that? Are you supposed to wear a mask or not? Where I'm at this area grande so sick of it.

Makes me all the more grateful for a guy who does not change. The God Who God promised Abraham some thousands of years ago

He will have a people like the stars in the sky. Is the same God today? His promises have not changed. I haven't changed from yesterday. They haven't changed today and they will not change tomorrow. His unchanging the fancy word meets ability of God.

all the Moor become so beautiful to me mutability is ability to just be steadfast and remain in a world that just seems to change to whatever.

course So thankful for that. So let us be thankful this season. For a guy who does not change. And that is me endure these trials. We know even though we can't see it. We don't understand it. We know God isn't working then. And that those trials are producing endurance in our life. It's making us more mature. It's allowing us an opportunity to exercise to put in our hope and faith in God and his promises and spotted what Racine and ultimately provide for us a reason to worship. Our God is unchanging the promises of Salvation that are found in Christ. Jesus will not change. He's not a Fickle God.

No matter what happens in this world. We can rejoice in knowing that our position and Christ is sure and steadfast because he who promised is faithful. And that's what he says during verse 18. James rice by God's own choice he gave us birth.

Jesus said to Nicodemus you must be born again to see the kingdom of God. By God's own choice. He gave us Birth by the word of Truth.

I pray that you this morning. I pray that you've encountered Jesus in that way that the gospel message has been given and delivered to you and that the spirit is convicted you of your need to trust and receive Jesus as your savior.

And then by believing and receiving him a savior that the promises that we will be baby born again born from above. Through the proclamation of this truth. He gave us birth Being Born Again by the word of Truth. Is that you this morning? I pray that today if it's not that today would be the day we need to ban in Hope and all else. I'm trusting Christ a compass work alone that you too can be born again. That's you two would be. the kind of firstfruits of his creatures it's to glorify Our God elevation glorifies him because it puts on display his wonderful attributes his Holiness Justice and mercy his love Grace all are on display in his rescue story I found on this Earth. So we have many things to be thankful for church. got a call this to be thankful in everything and I pray this might help us to keep our eyes and what truly is important the things of not of this world, but the things that are above reminded of that that hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus behold his wonderful face And the things of this Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace we have much to be thankful for let's pray God. Thank you for your goodness. Thank you Father for your word. We can understand why trials are allowed into our lives Lord and we just asked father through the power of your spirit that you would help us and strengthen us Lord for the trials that we aren't doing now the trials that will come later father. We desire to be father friendly firmly planted in your truth that are Roots would go deep and and that we've matured in the face so that when those trials do come Lord that we will through your strength and your power would be strong and steadfast that we would not be blown away through the storms. Nordy asked that for our Good Fortune, of course, but also ultimately For Your Glory but you receive glory in our lives father. I pray for those who do not know you as Savior have not encountered Jesus and that way I pray over that your spirit would do work. if they would be understanding or need to reject all religion and self-righteousness and Materialistic. Lord and just Embrace through the power of your spirit the gift that you extended to them salvation is found in Christ alone.

Did you receive the rain that Lord help us to go to the Thanksgiving table this week Lord? With a heart of thankfulness for what you've done for us in Christ Jesus. Are we can be thankful and everything then spider what happens in this life? You've given us an amazing life that is to come. Thank you God. Do you be the glory? We also in Christ precious name? Amen? All right. We're going to have a song of invitation you just like to take.