PONDERING... Where Do You Find Your Confidence? (James 1:5-12)

VIDEO

Where Do You Find Your Confidence? (AM Sermon Notes)

GIST: Wholeheartedly trust God and don’t be blinded by your circumstances. 

SCRIPTURE: James 1:5-12

This morning, we’re returning to our study in James chapter 1. Last week, we saw that instead of dreading trials, we should rejoice that God is not only still moving in them, but He uses them to grow us and shape us into who we’re meant to be for all eternity. However, though we see that trials are opportunities for spiritual growth, they are still hard, and having that perspective is not easy. Therefore, we closed with verse 5 last week which addresses that very concern. Knowing we won’t always understand, James tells us to seek wisdom from the God who willingly provides it to all who ask. Again, this doesn’t imply getting everything you want, but rather getting exactly what you need when you need it.

Today, I want to pick up with that same verse and read through verse 12 since this is all one continuous thought. 

“5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

We’re told to seek wisdom from God. Then immediately, he follows up with: ‘But, don’t doubt!’. Why? Well, we need wisdom, and we need it from God. However, that’s not always how we live our lives. Instead, we try to figure things out apart from Him, on our own. We’re supposed to come to Him in confidence because we love Him and are greatly loved by Him. Instead, our confidence, or lack thereof, as we approach life is shaped by other influences. So, that’s the question for this morning: Where do we find our confidence? Here’s our gist→ Wholeheartedly trust God and don’t be blinded by your circumstances. 

I. WHOLEHEARTEDLY TRUST GOD

Again, last week, we ended we with verse: “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” The key message here is→ 

Seek The Wisdom You Need From The Only Source. You need it, and He willingly provides it. This truth is humbling and beautiful. He wants to guide you, so come to Him with you burdens and questions and concerns. However, do it sincerely. Don’t fake it. Don’t do the “Sunday-morning” Christian thing. This is a warning for all of us, myself included. → 

“6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Don’t Be Divided. Let me start by clarifying here. This doubting is not implying you won’t ever have questions. Remember in Mark 9, right after the transfiguration, the man brings his son to Jesus. The boy is possessed by a demon who has been causing him to convulse and throw himself in fires, and the father cries out to Jesus, “If you can do anything, help him!” Jesus grabbed hold of that doubt and replied with, “If I can? All things are possible for the one who believes.” How did the father respond? With these famous words: “I believe. Help my unbelief!” And he wasn’t rebuked for that. He believed, but circumstances were shaking him up...and he knew he needed help. He knew the problem wasn’t Jesus’ reality. It was his own. As humans, we’ll sometimes find our faith shaken. However, if we go to Him in prayer admitting this and seeking His guidance wholeheartedly anyway knowing He is still the Truth even when our sinful minds get clouded, that is a very different situation from what these verses are addressing.

 The word doubt as it’s used here carries the connotation of division. It’s asking without really wanting or expecting. It’s praying for wisdom and living a life that doesn’t show sincerity, like praying on Sunday, but living like an atheist the rest of the week. It’s pretending to want Him today, but living like He has nothing to do with the “real world”. So, the idea here is: don’t pray for wisdom, but expect it not to work, or expect to still have to work it out some other way through some means of your own. If you do that, you shouldn’t expect anything because you’re unstable — you’ve built your house on shifting sand instead of His firm foundation! 

And the sad thing is that when we do this, we’re starting on the foundation. We’re asking Him! That’s what we should be doing! But, then we just jump off into our own chaotic devices. I picture it like being in the middle of a swirling sea and using God’s concrete fortress, that place of safety and protection and belonging, as a diving board. You know, diving into water is fun and refreshing...unless you can’t swim! That’s the problem. We’re diving into the ocean knowing we need help, but there is no one there to catch us and nothing there to hold us up. 

Living like this and expecting blessing is missing out on the true nature of salvation which is life transformation! If we pray like this, not only should not expect that kind of prayer to have any effect, but these verses call us double-minded and unstable in ALL ways. This isn’t just about getting or not getting wisdom. If we’re trying to live our Christian lives without actually trusting Jesus to be the sovereign God He claims to be, we’re not living the Christian life at all. We’re wearing the t-shirt while still trying to do this thing on our own. We’re acknowledging that there is a fortress in the middle of that stormy sea while being content to watch the waves destroy us. We have to→ 

Trust Him Wholeheartedly. He’s our strength. He’s our victory. He’s...everything. Do we, do I, live like He’s everything? Or do I try and face this life on my own while throwing up token prayers for His help? Man, that one hurts!

So, we need to find our confidence in Him, by trusting that He’s in control of whatever comes our way. While doing that→ 

II. Don’t Be Blinded By Your Circumstances

Look back at verses 9-11 first. “9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” At first glance, this might seem like a sharp transition in topic. However, there’s a connection. James has told us to find joy in our trials knowing that God is using them, and when we don’t understand, to come to Him in faith seeking wisdom and trusting Him as the only source. Now, he addresses two major life conditions that can easily supercede that perspective. Do we have stuff or do we not? Are we living in poverty and despair struggling to get through each day, or are we living carefree and worldly successful lives? Both present dangers.

Danger 1: Thinking God Is Not There. When we’re suffering, it’s easy to be consumed by that. All we see is our sorrow, so it’s easy to feel isolated and forgotten. In that condition, we need to rejoice as we remember that we’re loved and this (not our circumstances) is the most important thing about us.

Danger 2: Feeling Like You Don’t Need Him. When everything is going well, the temptation is to assume it is because of something we’ve done. But all this worldly success, all our “stuff” is temporary. It won’t last forever and might not even last for our lifetime. These are gifts God has given us to use. Don’t waste them. Don’t find meaning in them. They will let you down. You are a person in deep need. You don’t have this all under control. You need him. Therefore, even when we are experiencing earthly success, we need to remember that we’re loved and that this, not any personal success we might think we’ve gained, is the most important thing about us. Our “stuff” is temporary. Jesus is eternal. 

And that eternal perspective is how James wraps up this section. Look again at verse 12. “12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Here’s the key:

Salvation Is For Those Who Endure In Love. (Genuine Faith) Enduring is a sign of reality. This isn’t some kind of “tough it out” theology. What this is saying is that faith that is real, transforms for real. You’ve probably heard this statement before. “If it fizzles it was false from the start.” True faith isn’t based on emotional highs or feelings. True faith is based on meeting with Jesus and giving Him full control of your life. That relationship isn’t dependent on how I may or may not be feeling. That relationship doesn’t lessen when my life gets harder. Instead, my need for Him grows every day as I draw nearer and nearer to Him. 

Why? Because those who endure LOVE HIM! My wife is my wife no matter how I’m feeling today, and I will love her no matter what happens today. And this relationship is just a glimpse at the intimacy with which God loves me. His love never fails, and those who have been changed by Him should love Him more and more every day. When that’s the case, eternity is just an intensifying of how we’re living our lives now. We don’t have to wait until we die to start experiencing Heaven. You get a glimpse of it everyday you cling to Him now!

So—> Where Will You Spend Eternity? Are you wholeheartedly His or not? You can come to Him today. Confess your need and give Him control...of everything. 

TAKEAWAYS

1. Do you wholeheartedly trust Jesus?

2. Are you blinded by your circumstances?

3. Key Question: Where will you spend eternity?

How’s Your Perspective? (PM Lesson Outline)

GIST: Sometimes we need time to think. 

SCRIPTURE: James 1:9-18

Tonight I want to do something a little different. Instead of launching into our next lesson in James, I want to prep us for the next passage by doing some self-reflection. I want to read back over a few verses from this morning and then read through the next section in opening here. As I do, I want you to think about where you fit in this.

“9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

The Good

-What are the advantages of your circumstances?

-What’s good in your life right now? Don’t try to hyper-spiritualize this. Every good and perfect gift is from above. What are yours? Let’s share a few and praise.

The Bad

-Where are you struggling? 

The Pause

Now, this morning, we talked about not being confident in or rob of confidence due to our circumstances. Take a second to let this sink in. How much are your circumstances controlling you? How conscious are you of God’s work in your life? Where is He on your priorities list? 

The Ugly

-What’s getting in the way of your perspective? Let’s pray at the altar and leave those at His feet.

PONDERING... Will You Remember? (Psalm 9)

VIDEO
Will You Remember? (PM Lesson Outline)

GIST: Deliberately remember God’s graces, praise Him wholeheartedly for them, and pray that they continue.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 9

        As I studied this passage this week, I learned that Psalms 9 and 10 are actually one acrostic poem. 10 picks up where 9 leaves off, and their messages are definitely intertwined. Because of this, I considered addressing them together. However, since that would mean covering 48 verses in one Sunday evening, I opted for clarity, and we’re going to take them in two separate nights.

"1 I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah"

        I love the structure in this psalm. It’s extremely balanced. David tells us what he is going to do…then he does it. Then, he tells himself to keep doing it ☺️. And that is the basic division of the psalm praise for what has been and prayer for what will be. The gist for tonight? Deliberately remember God’s graces, praise Him wholeheartedly for them, and pray that they continue.

I. Deliberately Remember God’s Graces & Praise Him Wholeheartedly For Them

"1 I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

I Will. This is deliberate. He is choosing to do these things. We should do the same. It doesn’t matter what you feel like. Be intentional in your relationship with God!

Give Thanks With My Whole Heart. The first thing he is deliberately doing is giving thanks—not forgetting to be grateful for all God has done. And, He’s doing it wholeheartedly. I think it was Alistair Begg who said there are three types of worship wholehearted, half-hearted, and completely indifferent. He went on to say, if we were asked to classify ourselves, most of us wouldn’t want to sound arrogant and claim to be wholehearted, but we also would want to be so down on ourselves to call ourselves indifferent worshippers either…which only leaves one other option, and not a good one. We know Jesus said He’d spit the lukewarm church out of His mouth. Why? Because half-hearted thanks is no thanks at all. Much like a begrudging apology from one sibling to another, made under the threat of a parent, is not really an apology at all. Give thanks with your whole heart!

Recount All Your Wonderful Deeds. We need to do this! Even today! How much has He done for us? We talked this morning about how much of a blessing the outreach event was Friday. Leading up to that event last Sunday night, we shared how much we had seen Him move in the past. Remembering what He has done, should remove doubts about what He will do! God has always been faithful, so whether you see that faithfulness or not, you can look back and be encouraged that He never changes! Furthermore, this remembering is not passive. The word here is recount. In the KJV, the word is translated “show forth”. I think this gets to the point. We’re not just to remember, but to relate them, talk about them, share them!

Be Glad And Exult In You. I know I am in danger of making this my soapbox, but we really should be truly joyful because we serve the Lord!

Sing Praise To Your Name. We are to praise Him. And I think there is something significant about him saying he would sing those praises too. Music has been part of the worship of God from the beginning. There is something special about singing to the Lord with your whole heart. For me, it tends to really direct my thoughts because I am being deliberate about what I say. You don’t have to sing well to experience that☺️!

Examples. Like I said in the opening, David tells us what he’s going to do…and then he does it!

        Thanks: 3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.  He has been faithful. He has protected. He has remained just.

Deeds: 5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. This psalm not only speaks to David’s physical protection against his enemies, but also spiritually points to exactly what Jesus came to do: defeat evil at the source, sin!

Glad Exultation: 7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. This is David rejoicing in who God is!

Singing Praise: 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Literally, he sings praises and calls others to do the same!

II. Pray that His Grace Continues (Prayer For What Will Be)

13 Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah"

        This might seem strange. Why does he go from praise God for truths to praying that he remember them? Because the hardships of life sometimes shake us, and even as Christians we need to remind ourselves of truths we might already know. He has seen God’s grace and prays that God will continue to be gracious—knowing He will and knowing without Him there is no hope!

        Much of this portion of the psalm will sound reminiscent of last Sunday night (see lesson on Psalm 7). Specially, we see David praying for God’s grace because he understands what is in store for those who reject God: eternal judgment, Hell. They forget God and will be left without Him. BUT, those who remember Him and call out to Him as people in deepest need will never be forgotten! Their hope shall not perish! It might seem like that sometimes, but knowing God gives us the right perspective.

        The one point that is only slightly new in this request that I want to draw particular attention to this evening is in the last verse. May people fear You and know that they are just people. If you were with us this morning, this should ring some bells. This morning, we asked the question, “who are we that He is mindful us”? The answer: the receivers of the unmerited love of God! Oh, how we need to remember this, and, oh, how different this world would be if everyone did!

TAKEAWAYS

        How about the gist statement?

1. Deliberately remember God’s graces

2. Praise Him wholeheartedly for them.

3. And pray that they continue.