How Christians....should face trouble

In for a penny, in for a pound.

Here are the notes from my Sunday Evening message:
The first message, in a series through James.


========================
July 17, 2011 -HOW CHRISTIANS....SHOULD FACE TROUBLE-
========================
GRAB YOUR BIBLES James 1:1-4
========================
Last week we finished up Ecclesiastes(after about 6 months);
And tonight we start a series of messages through:
The New Testament version of Ecclesiastes.....
------------------------
Ecclesiastes, is unique because it says some things;
That don’t “seem” to be right...until you look closer:

In the same way that James, says some things:
That don’t “seem” to be right....until you look closer at it.
========================
LETS READ THE TEXT James 1:1-4
========================
Tonight’s message is going to be about......“Facing trials”!
========================
V.1A “James,”
-THE MAN GOD USED......TO PEN THIS LETTER-
(The Lord’s half brother
----------------------
The former pastor at Jerusalem:
--------------------------------------------------
-PROOF THAT GOD.....DOESN’T CARE ABOUT WHAT MEN THINK-
By not being concerned about charges of nepotism!
========================
V.1B “a servant of God”
-A RELATIONSHIP........WE SHOULD NOT FORGET-
(Our relationship with God the Father
--------------------------------------------------
Jesus is our Lord...But God is our Father!
========================
V.1C “and of the Lord Jesus Christ,”
-ANOTHER SEPARATE RELATIONSHIP.........TO BE AWARE OF-
(Our relationship with Jesus Christ
--------------------------------------------------
A Question: Who do we worship??
========================
V.1D “to the twelve tribes “
-A SEPARATE GROUP OF CHRISTIANS......THAT ARE THE SAME AS WE ARE-
(Everything changes after we are born again
--------------------------------------------------
We are no longer Jews nor Gentiles:
But we are....”the Church of God”!
========================
V.1E “which are scattered abroad,”
-PERSECUTION IS ALWAYS THE SAME......FOR ALL CHRISTIANS-
(It sometimes forces us...to scatter
--------------------------------------------------
-OUR HUMAN MINDS....MAY EXPECT THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT-
After all.........we are God’s people:
Shouldn’t God protect us from this?
--------------------------------------------------
-AN ATTITUDE......GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS HAD...ABOUT THIS WORLD-
“This world is not my home...I am just passing through”
------------------------
All of God’s people in the New & Old Testaments:
Were somewhat “nomadic”:
So that they would be ready to “scatter” or go home!
--------------------------------------------------
-THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SELL-OUTS.......WITHIN THE CHURCH-
People who call themselves Christians:
But who will not “scatter” at trouble:
But will conform to the world....instead!
========================
V.1F “greeting.”
-THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.......WE END UP HAVING WITH EACH OTHER-
(Because of the way we will be treated by the world
------------------------
Addressing each other with respect & good will!
--------------------------------------------------
“greeting” Lit.(Goodwill & respect)
========================
V.2A “My brethren,”
-A LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS.......FOR ALL CHRISTIANS-
(So that we will be able to endure
--------------------------------------------------
The persecutions.....that are sure to come!
========================
V.2B “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
-THE GREAT CHALLENGE.....AT THE HEART OF THIS PASSAGE-
(That is important enough...to spend an entire hour
Talking about:
------------------------
The challenge.......to face trials:
With a rejoicing heart!
--------------------------------------------------
-AN INSTRUCTION....THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE-
Because this one decision:
Will totally change our attitude about bad times:
------------------------
Because we will be remembering that God is in control!
--------------------------------------------------
-AN INSTRUCTION....THAT IS “A WAY OF LIFE”-
This “mind-set”....that God is in complete control:
Will effect the way we live....every day of our life!
--------------------------------------------------
-AN INSTRUCTION......THAT IS VERY “DOABLE”-
Because it’s “God’s commandment” to us:
------------------------
Therefore all we have to do....is desire to do it:
And the LORD will enable us to!
--------------------------------------------------
-SOMETHING THAT THE LORD.....WONDERFULLY BLESSES-
(Facing our trials with “joy”
------------------------
Because it shows the world...who our Lord really is!
========================
V.3A “Knowing [this],”
-A “KNOWLEDGE”....THAT HELPS US...TO “COUNT IT ALL JOY”-
(Because....facing trials with Joy
Is something...that we must get our mind around:
--------------------------------------------------
Therefore....understanding how it works.....will help us do it!
========================
V.3B “that the trying of your faith”
-WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING....DURING TRIALS-
(Our faith is being tested
--------------------------------------------------
Because we believe that God is in control:
Therefore we might ask ourselves....“why this is happening”:
------------------------
Therefore the Lord gave us this letter:
To give us a “heads up”...about what to expect!
========================
V.3C “worketh patience.”
-WHAT TRIALS......ARE ACTUALLY DOING IN US-
(They are developing patience...in us
While we wait for the Lord to deliver us:
--------------------------------------------------
Note: Most of the Bible.....are records of people “waiting”:
For the LORD to deliver them!
========================
V.4A “But let patience”
-THE NATURAL RESULT......OF GAINING MORE PATIENCE-
(Our entire life will be effected
If we let it be:
--------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately “most professing Christians”:
Don’t study the book of James:
------------------------
Therefore they don’t know what to expect:
From the Christian life:
And immediately do the wrong thing...in times of trials!
========================
V.4B “have [her] perfect work,”
-TRIALS WILL ONLY BE A BLESSING TO US.......IF WE ENDURE THEM-
(Otherwise....trials will cause us to fall away
--------------------------------------------------
This is what makes “trials”:
A real TEST of our faith!
========================
V.4C “that ye may be perfect”
-GOD’S GOAL FOR US.......WHEN HE ALLOWS TRIALS INTUR LIVES-
(That we become better Christians
--------------------------------------------------
By learning to trust Him more!
========================
V.4D “and entire, wanting nothing.”
-WHAT GOD MEANS........BY “PERFECT”-
(Complete...lacking in no area
--------------------------------------------------
A goal that we will never attain in this life:
But God wants us to know what we are shooting for!
========================