James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trial, knowing the that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
According to these verses, we can have joy in the midst of suffering when we focus on the end result.
James is not saying that need to be joyfull about the suffering, but we can have joy when we focus on what is to come. God is making us perfect and complete and we will lack nothing.
In High School I ran track. During practice we would often run 4 or 5 miles. Somewhere around mile 2 or 3 I would start to think, "Is is worth it?", but I would always keep going. I knew that any pain I might experience during practice would payoff when it came to the race. I needed to keep my eye on the goal.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the source of our joy.
Do you have joy? Are you experiencing that deep abiding joy that comes only from God? Or are you allowing your circumstances to dictate your feelings?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Honesty
Isn't it true that everybody lies? This doesn't make it right, but we do it. Sometimes it's big, carfully fabricated lies. Sometimes it what some call little "white lies". Sometimes it's by our silence, we try to hide the truth. And sometimes it's by our actions, we do things to give a better impresion than is really true.
The greatest deception, however, is not being honest before God. We often seek to cover our sin so that we feel like we're in better condition spiritually than we really are. If we are to experience God in revival, we must begin with getting honest before God about ourselves, our sin, and our need.
Take a look at David's life. Here is a man who had been honest, but then chose a path of deception about his sin. Later as David "comes clean" we hear from him the incredible blessings of honesty and transparency.
Read Psalm 32 to see what blessings are in store for the person who will get honest with God about their sin and their need.
The greatest deception, however, is not being honest before God. We often seek to cover our sin so that we feel like we're in better condition spiritually than we really are. If we are to experience God in revival, we must begin with getting honest before God about ourselves, our sin, and our need.
Take a look at David's life. Here is a man who had been honest, but then chose a path of deception about his sin. Later as David "comes clean" we hear from him the incredible blessings of honesty and transparency.
Read Psalm 32 to see what blessings are in store for the person who will get honest with God about their sin and their need.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
God's Plan is Always Good
Have you ever had "one of those days" (or weeks) where you just have to ask the question, "God, why is this happening to me?" only to discover, at the end of the day, this was for your good? I just did!
Three weeks ago, while out to lunch, I discovered my van wouldn't start. I did everything I could think of to get it started, but nothing happend. So I got a ride back to the office and later that day went back to check on my van. I got in, tunred the key and it started right up. So I drove it to the machanic to see if he could figure out what happened.
He kept the van for a week and the problem never happened. So I pick up my van thinking all is well. Four days later I had the same problem, it wouldn't start, only this time the "check engine light" came on as well. This time I waited about 30 minutes and then tried to start the van. It started.
I took it back to the machanic and told him that it happend again and asked if he could figure out what was going on. He kept the van for three days, but the problem never happened for him and he didn't believe the problem with the "check engine light" was related.
He recommended I take it to the dealer, thinking they may have seen this problem before and could fix it. So I took it to the dealer to have them run a test as to why the "check engine light" came on. They did and they told me what it would take to fix that problem. In the process of fixing that problem, a screw from one of the "butterfly valves" came loose and fell inside the piston.
I was told that 4 of the 6 valves were loose and that this could have happend while I was driving, but thank God it didn't. I am told that if it had it would have locked up the motor while I was driving and of course that would have been very bad news.
They were able to get everything fixed and I now have my van back three weeks later, but no one is sure why my van wouldn't start before.
I believe God was looking out for me and causing me to have to take my van in to have this other part fixed, so that I would not have the major problems I could have had.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
If we go back one verse and read verse 10 we see that the plans God had for Israel would not be fulfilled for 70 years. Sometimes God takes us through a valley before bringing us up on the mountain top.
What is God doing in your life right now? Never forget that God's plans are always good!
Three weeks ago, while out to lunch, I discovered my van wouldn't start. I did everything I could think of to get it started, but nothing happend. So I got a ride back to the office and later that day went back to check on my van. I got in, tunred the key and it started right up. So I drove it to the machanic to see if he could figure out what happened.
He kept the van for a week and the problem never happened. So I pick up my van thinking all is well. Four days later I had the same problem, it wouldn't start, only this time the "check engine light" came on as well. This time I waited about 30 minutes and then tried to start the van. It started.
I took it back to the machanic and told him that it happend again and asked if he could figure out what was going on. He kept the van for three days, but the problem never happened for him and he didn't believe the problem with the "check engine light" was related.
He recommended I take it to the dealer, thinking they may have seen this problem before and could fix it. So I took it to the dealer to have them run a test as to why the "check engine light" came on. They did and they told me what it would take to fix that problem. In the process of fixing that problem, a screw from one of the "butterfly valves" came loose and fell inside the piston.
I was told that 4 of the 6 valves were loose and that this could have happend while I was driving, but thank God it didn't. I am told that if it had it would have locked up the motor while I was driving and of course that would have been very bad news.
They were able to get everything fixed and I now have my van back three weeks later, but no one is sure why my van wouldn't start before.
I believe God was looking out for me and causing me to have to take my van in to have this other part fixed, so that I would not have the major problems I could have had.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
If we go back one verse and read verse 10 we see that the plans God had for Israel would not be fulfilled for 70 years. Sometimes God takes us through a valley before bringing us up on the mountain top.
What is God doing in your life right now? Never forget that God's plans are always good!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Preparing For Revival
I believe God is ready to send revival, but are we ready to receive revival.
As I was preparing for my sermon this week I came across this article by Martin Dupree. In it he asks some thought provoking questions.
Click on the link below to read this article, and ask yourself, "Am I prepared for personal revival?"
http://www.digitaldevotion.org/Portals/65/Blog/Files/6/49/Preparing%20for%20Personal%20Revival.PDF
As I was preparing for my sermon this week I came across this article by Martin Dupree. In it he asks some thought provoking questions.
Click on the link below to read this article, and ask yourself, "Am I prepared for personal revival?"
http://www.digitaldevotion.org/Portals/65/Blog/Files/6/49/Preparing%20for%20Personal%20Revival.PDF
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Why Revival
Revival is defined as "The extraordinary movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of God's people, producing extraordinary results."
In Psalm 85, the psalmist cries out to God to bring revival. Do we long to experience a greater manifestation of God's presence in our lives? Do we desire to bring greater glory to God?
In Sunday's sermon we will answer the the question, "Why is revival so important?"
Thought for the week:
Jerimiah 29:13 says,"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me will all your heart"
Seek God with all your heart and allow His Spirit to fill you!
Hear Last Week's Sermon:
http://www.faithallianceofdurham.org/sermons/08-09-09.mp3
In Psalm 85, the psalmist cries out to God to bring revival. Do we long to experience a greater manifestation of God's presence in our lives? Do we desire to bring greater glory to God?
In Sunday's sermon we will answer the the question, "Why is revival so important?"
Thought for the week:
Jerimiah 29:13 says,"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me will all your heart"
Seek God with all your heart and allow His Spirit to fill you!
Hear Last Week's Sermon:
http://www.faithallianceofdurham.org/sermons/08-09-09.mp3
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