Be Joyful and Persevere (Captioned)
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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.