Be Joyful and Persevere (Captioned)

LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US IN THE EPISTLE OF JAMES, WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 1, BEGINNING WITH VERSE 2: CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. LET PERSEVERANCE FINISH ITS WORK SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATURE AND COMPLETE, NOT LACKING ANYTHING. IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, YOU SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. BUT WHEN YOU ASK, YOU MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA, BLOWN AND TOSSED BY THE WIND. THAT PERSON SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD. SUCH A PERSON IS DOUBLE-MINDED AND UNSTABLE IN ALL THEY DO. BELIEVERS IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES OUGHT TO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR HIGH POSITION. BUT THE RICH SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR HUMILIATION -- SINCE THEY WILL PASS AWAY LIKE A WILD FLOWER. FOR THE SUN RISES WITH SCORCHING HEAT AND WITHERS THE PLANT; ITS BLOSSOM FALLS AND ITS BEAUTY IS DESTROYED. IN THE SAME WAY, THE RICH WILL FADE AWAY EVEN WHILE THEY GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO PERSEVERES UNDER TRIAL BECAUSE, HAVING STOOD THE TEST, THAT PERSON WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT THE LORD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN. [TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA, INC.] DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST: I REALLY AM NOT A FAN OF OUR MODERN ENGLISH GRAMMAR THAT TAKES EVERY ... WORD MAKES IT INTO A VERB TO SAY SOMETHING. AND THE ONE THAT LATELY HAS CAUGHT MY ATTENTION IS THE VERB "ADULTING". USED IN VERY STRANGE WAYS. LIKE IF I KNEW THIS ADULTING THING WAS GOING TO BE WHAT IT WAS, I WOULD HAVE STAYED A KID. I DON'T WANT TO BE "ADULTING" ANYMORE. IT'S AN OLD PHILOSOPHY. I DON'T WANNA GROW UP! I WANNA BE A KID. WE CAN ALL GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF PETER PAN AND LIVE WITH THE LAST VOYAGE FOREVER. NO RESPONSIBILITY WITH A MOMMY FIGURE OVER US MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FED. A NICE DADDY FIGURE HANDING US MONEY SO THAT WE CAN JUST ALLOW OURSELVES TO LIVE IN THE COMFORT OF DOING WHAT WE WANT, WITHOUT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WOULDN'T THAT BE THE MOST WONDERFUL AND JOYOUS LIFE! NOT TO HAVE TO GO TO WORK TO SUPPORT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY? NOT TO HAVE TO PAY TAXES. NOT TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN A HOUSE. NOT TO HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU. CODDLING YOU AND SPOON-FEEDING YOU ... AND RAISING YOU TO BE PROTECTED FROM ALL OF THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. SOUNDS REALLY GREAT! UNTIL THE ONE WHO'S PROVIDING EVERYTHING DIES! THE ONE WHO OWNS THE HOUSE MOVES IN TO THE NURSING HOME. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE OF ADULT AGE BUT YOU ARE NOT MATURE. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE MONEY. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PAY BILLS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE CONCEPT OF A BUDGET. YOU CAN'T COOK ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T COME IN A MICROWAVE BOX OR THAT YOU ORDER FROM THE PHONE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR LIFE IS IN COMPLETE SHAMBLES. BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T PREPARED YOURSELF FOR REALITY. I WANT YOU TO THINK OF THAT WHEN YOU HEAR THESE WORDS FROM JAMES THIS MORNING. "CONSIDER IT PURE JOY WHEN YOU ARE SUFFERING TRIAL." THAT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF HOW THE WORLD USED TRIALS. NO ONE WANTS ANYTHING DIFFICULT. NO ONE WANTS TO TO BECOME MATURE. JAMES SAYS TO US AS GOD'S CHILDREN, REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TRIALS IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE TRIALS PRODUCE PERSEVERANCE. AND AS THE CHILD OF GOD, IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSEVERANCE. IT IS ALL ABOUT LIVING IN THIS LIFE AS A CHILD OF GOD AND ENDURING WHAT THE WORLD THROWS AT US. AND JAMES SAYS THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THAT WHAT IS LACKING IN YOU, WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. THAT YOU WILL FIND STRENGTH THROUGH THE TRIAL THAT YOU ARE SUFFERING AND THAT YOU SHOULD REJOICE IN THAT FACT. FIND JOY IN THAT FACT THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED YOU IN YOUR LIFE TO BECOME CLOSER TO HIM. TO BECOME STRONGER IN YOUR FAITH. NOT TO BE THAT WAVE ON THE SEA THAT COMES AND GOES AND IS BLOWN BY THE WIND AND IS NOT MATURE. BUT TO GROW UP IN OUR FAITH. AND YES, THERE ARE GROWING PAINS. BUT WE'RE ALSO REMINDED THAT THOSE PAINS COME TO US SO THAT WE CAN LIVE THROUGH THEM AND UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US. UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS SAYING: YOU NEED TO TRUST ME. YOU NEED TO REALIZE YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ON YOUR OWN. THAT I AM HERE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST HORRIFIC EVENT I AM THE ONE THAT YOU TURN TO AND FIND JOY IN THE FACT THAT I AM HERE. BECAUSE WHAT IS OUR SINFUL NATURE USUALLY LIKE? WHEN SOME DIFFICULTY COMES INTO OUR LIFE, WE BEGIN TO WHINE. WE BEGIN TO COMPLAIN. WE BEGIN TO FEEL SORRY FOR OURSELF. I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EVER BEEN SICK ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HOW DIFFICULT THIS IS FOR ME. DON'T YOU BEGIN TO TALK TO ME UNTIL YOU'VE GONE THROUGH WHAT I HAVE BECAUSE YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND OR HELP ME OR GIVE ME PROPER DIRECTION. WE TURN TO GOD AND SAY: GOD, WHY ARE YOU PUNISHING ME? WHAT DID I DO? I'M NOT SUCH A BAD PERSON. WHY DID YOU GIVE THIS TO ME? THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN, BUT NOT ME! AND MAYBE THAT'S THE LESSON THAT GOD WANTS US TO LEARN. BECAUSE WHAT DO WE DESERVE FROM GOD? DO WE DESERVE HIS LOVE? THE WAY IN WHICH WE TREAT HIM? THE MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHEN WE IGNORE HIM. THE MANY WEEKS OR MONTHS THAT GO BY WHERE WE DON'T EVEN THINK OR CONSIDER HIM AS A PART OF OUR LIFE. UNTIL WE GET INTO SOMETHING BAD AND THEN WE WANT HIM THERE RIGHT AWAY. AND THE LORD IS SAYING TO US: KNOW THAT I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO LEAVES YOU OR FORSAKES YOU. I AM ALWAYS HERE WAITING FOR YOU TO COME TO ME. AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS IN OUR LIFE. TO SPEND THAT TIME WITH GOD. DAILY, TO BE WITH HIM. AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH THOSE TRIALS AND DIFFICULT DAYS TO TAKE OUR MINDS AND PUT THEM INTO GOD'S HANDS AND SAY: TEACH ME. TEACH ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO KNOW. AS I LOOK AT THIS SITUATION, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS, AS I COME THROUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE. SOMEONE WHO IS SUFFERING A HORRIFIC DISEASE CAN BECOME MUCH MORE COMPASSIONATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE. MUCH MORE CARING. MUCH MORE SUPPORTIVE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES US ... A DIFFICULT SITUATION OR THE NEAR-DEATH OF SOMEONE WHO IS SUPPOSEDLY CLOSE TO US, TO REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO US AND TRULY MAKE THEM A PART OF OUR LIFE. TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PEOPLE. TO SEARCH THEM OUT. TO COMFORT THEM WITH THE WORD OF THE LORD. AND MAYBE SIMPLY JUST TO PRAY FOR THEM AS WELL. BUT THE LORD SAYS: DO THIS WITH JOY! DO THIS WITH JOY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS TRIAL IS GOING TO MAKE YOU BETTER. IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR FAITH STRONGER. IT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR ETERNAL LIFE AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS. THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF MATURNG IN OUR FAITH. THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSEVERING IS TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE AND TO KEEP LOOKING FOR THAT. BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD THAT DISTRACT US. WHO WANNA TAKE US AWAY FROM THAT GOAL. WHO WANT TO ROB US OF THAT JOY. THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD. EVEN IF WE'RE POOR AS CHURCH MICE, WE HAVE THE HIGH POSITION OF KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM AS THE CHOSEN FOLLOWERS OF THE KING. DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT? FOR ALL ETERNITY ... TO BE IN THE LOVING CARE OF OUR ETERNAL FATHER. AND WE CAN'T EVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT IN OUR LIFE WHEN WE CAN BECOME CONSUMED WITH NOT HAVING EVERYTHING THAT THE WORLD HAS AROUND US. ALWAYS AFRAID WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND IT'S GONNA RUN OUT BEFORE OUR HEART STOPS WORKING. ALWAYS BEING CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER OR IT'S ... IT'S NOT GONNA WORK OUT! SO MUCH AS PUTTING OUR LIFE IN THE HANDS OF OUR LORD AND SAY: YOU MADE ME. YOU SAVED ME. YOU ... WILL TAKE CARE OF ME. BECAUSE YOU ARE MY LORD AND MY GOD AND I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU. AND I KNOW THAT I WILL BE WITH YOU IN HEAVEN. THAT IS MY STRENGTH. THAT IS MY CONFIDENCE. NOT BECAUSE I DESERVE IT, BUT BECAUSE YOU SAVED ME BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. AND WE SHOULD BE CONFIDENT IN THAT FACT. WE SHOULD BE CONFIDENT WHEN WE PRAY TO GOD AS JAMES REMINDS US TO NOT DOUBT. NOT BE WISHY-WASHY. NOT BE DOUBLE-MINDED. NOT PRAYING TO GOD HOPING THAT GOD COULD DO SOMETHING. IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS THINKING ... WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I NEED TO DO BETTER OR HE'LL DO THIS OR MAYBE GOD DOESN'T HEAR ME OR DOESN'T LIKE ME TODAY. WHEN WE GO TO GOD IN PRAYER IT IS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT HE HEARS IT, AND THAT HE ANSWERS IT. WHEN HE ANSWERS IT WITH A FIRM "YES" THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED AT THIS TIME. SOMETIMES WITH A RESOUNDING: "ABSOLUTELY NOT"! BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THIS YET. YOU NEED TO WAIT. SOMETIMES IT'S A: "COME BACK TO ME LATER". BUT YOU NEED TO SIT WITH THIS FOR A MOMENT. THOSE ARE GOD'S ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS. AND WHEN WE HEAR "YES", WE ARE GRATEFUL AND WE THANK HIM FOR WHAT HE'S DONE. WHEN WE HEAR "NO", WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS THE LORD'S WILL. AND WE ACCEPT IT AND WE THANK HIM FOR THAT. WHEN HE MAKES IT CLEAR, MAYBE WE NEED TO COME BACK TO HIM ... WE COME BACK TO HIM. TO TRUST THE LORD'S TIMING. TO TRUST: IT IS THE LORD'S WILL WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. ALL FOR OUR GOOD FOR US TO PERSEVERE EVEN THROUGH WHAT MIGHT BE A DIFFICULT SITUATION. THINK FOR A MOMENT OF THAT CENTURION IN OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS MORNING. A SERVANT OF HIS. SOMEONE THAT HE REALLY CARED ABOUT. SOMEONE WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIM BECAME DEATHLY ILL. AND HE HAD HEARD ABOUT JESUS. HE KNEW ABOUT JESUS. SO ... BEING A ROMAN, HE SENDS SOME OF THE JEWS TO JESUS TO ASK JESUS TO COME TO HIS HOUSE AND TO HEAL HIS SERVANT. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE JEWS SAID TO JESUS ABOUT THIS MAN? HE "DESERVES" TO HAVE YOU COME TO HIS HOUSE. HE HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF OUR PEOPLE. HE HAS BUILT OUR SYNAGOGUE. HE DESERVES TO HAVE YOU COME. JESUS DOESN'T ANSWER THAT. BUT, HE GOES! AND THEN WE HAVE THE FRIENDS WHO COME FROM THE HOUSE. AND THEY SAY WHAT THE CENTURION REALLY MEANT: I DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE YOU COME HERE. I AM NOT WORTHY TO HAVE YOU IN MY HOUSE. HUMBLENESS ... HUMILITY ... AND THEN ... THAT AMAZING STATEMENT: I'M A MILITARY MAN. I HAVE SUPERVISORS OVER ME; I HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER ME. I TELL PEOPLE GO AND THEY GO. AND IF I TELL YOU TO COME, YOU COME HERE. AND I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT. AND THEN JESUS RESPONDS: I HAVEN'T FOUND FAITH LIKE THIS IN ALL OF ISRAEL. AND THAT MAN'S SERVANT WAS HEALED. BY THE LOVE AND THE GRACE OF GOD. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS WAS PRAISING IN THAT MAN? HE HAD A FIRM FAITH THAT WHEN HE PLACED SOMETHING IN THE LORD'S HANDS, THE LORD WOULD HEAR IT, SAY IT, AND DO IT. AND THEN IT WAS DONE. HE HAD THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING THAT WHEN HE WENT TO JESUS, WHAT WAS THE LORD'S WILL WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WAS GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. JUST LIKE THE AUTHORITY THAT HE HAD IN LIFE, HE UNDERSTOOD THE AUTHORITY THAT JESUS AND OUR LORD HAVE AND THERE IS OUR FAITH! TRUSTING IN THE SAME WAY WITH THAT SAME CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO DO EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS IN OUR LIFE AT THE EXACT MOMENT. AND WE REMAIN FAITHFUL AND TRUSTING ENOUGH TO SAY: THANK YOU, GOD! BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED. EVEN WHEN WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. EVEN WHEN WE CAN'T SEE THE BLESSINGS OF IT AT THE MOMENT. EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS SO HARD AND SO DIFFICULT AND SUCH A TRIAL WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND US, FAITH ... STILL ... PERSEVERES! FAITH TRUSTS! FAITH KNOWS THAT GOD WILL NOT ABANDON US AND HE WILL GIVE US EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED UNTIL HE GIVES US THE CROWN OF ETERNAL LIFE! PLACED LOVINGLY ON OUR VERY HEADS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD! IN THE GLORY OF EVERYTHING PURE AND HOLY IN OUR ETERNAL LIFE. AS THE FAMILY OF GOD GATHERED TOGETHER IN HIS HEAVENLY MANSION. LIVING IN THAT LOVE AND GRACE FOR ALL ETERNITY. THERE ... IS ... OUR ... HOME! THERE'S OUR GOAL - AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING FOR. LOOKING FORWARD TO GROWING IN THE FAITH. EACH AND EVERY DAY. YES, REJOICING IN THE TRIALS THAT MAKE US BETTER FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. THAT MAKE US STRONGER IN THE FAITH. THAT WE MATURE IN OUR FAITH. AND GROW IN GRACE. AND ABOVE ALL ELSE ... PERSEVERE. AMEN. LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.