|THE SERVICE |
Sermons
December 19, 2011
Thank Him for the Bad Times
1 Thessalonians 5:15-23
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (5:18)
We always find that is easy to thank God when everything is going good. It is not so easy to thank God when everything appears to be going wrong. During these adverse times it is hard to be thankful. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that we are to be thankful for even the bad times we may go through. There are some good reasons why we should be thanking Him for the bad times.
I. God may be using adversity to get our attention
A. In Acts 9 we read of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul, who was proud and egotistical, seeking to rid the world of Christians. God had to get Saul’s attention. To do so God struck Saul blind with a bright light. Lying on the Damascus Road, Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord? and “Lord, what do You want me to do”. (Acts 9:5-6)
B. Is God the number one priority in your life? Is He truly First? If not He will bring you down to make you look up.
C. Daniel 4:31-34 “The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee…
I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.”
D. We can safely assume that every time we are going through a major trial, God is trying to get our attention in some fashion.
E. Suffering is a tool God uses frequently to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. When we go through trials we are forced to turn from trusting in our own resources to looking to God for deliverance. Adversity prompts us to turn to God and cry out to Him when we don’t see light at the end of the tunnel.
F. Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
II. God may be using adversity to draw us nearer to Him
A. Have you ever heard of a berkutchi? A berkutchi is an Asian man who trains eagles for hunting. The capture, taming, training, and keeping of eagles is highly ritualized. Most eagles, which have a life span of about 40 years, are caught when very young—either snatched from a nest or trapped in a baited net. Once captured, the eagle is hooded and placed in a cage with a perch that sways constantly so it cannot rest or sleep. For two or three days it is also deprived of food. During this time the berkutchi talks, sings, and chants to the eagle for hours on end. Finally, he begins to feed and stroke it. Slowly the weakened creature comes to rely on its master. When the berkutchi decides that their relationship has become strong enough, the training begins. Not all eagles can be trained, but those who take to life with a master display intense loyalty. While the training and breaking of the eagle may seem harsh, it is a picture of how over time God breaks our independent spirit to draw us close.
B. God wants us to walk with Him in sweet communion. But often we neglect that relationship especially when things go good and we feel that we are in full control. Therefore, He may send the storms of life to rattle our world that we might draw closer to Him.
C. Someone has said, “In the day of prosperity we have many refuges to resort to. In the day of adversity we have only One.”
D. 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”
E. Our God is an ever present help and a shelter in adversity who waits for us to draw close to Him and to cast our cares upon him.
F. I know the Lord will make a way for me. This year, 2011, has been my worst year, but even though it was my worst I got to grow more close to the Lord. My life is a mess right now. I have an incurable disease, my financial situation is terrible and I might be let off at work. But through all this I’m rejoicing as I know when I get through this my character will be changed and I will learn to endure as I know my Lord is with me, through this I will not give up and will not let the devil win… – Kuda
G. Psalm 130:1 “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.”
H. Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple
III. God may be using adversity to strengthen us
A. God does not allow us to suffer in order to destroy us, but to chasten and strengthen us.
B. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
C. If a butterfly is helped from its cocoon rather than emerging by itself, its wings won’t develop the necessary strength to fly. In the same way God uses adversity to strengthen us.
D. 1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
E. Our strength often increases in proportion to the obstacles which are imposed upon it. — Rene Rapin
F. Colossians 1:11 (NCV) “God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.”
G. “When adversity is ready to strike, God is ready to strengthen.” – Gary Heard, Melbourne, Australia
IV. God may be using adversity to refine us.
A. Proverbs 25:4 “Take away the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith. “
B. Isaiah 1:25 “I will turn My hand against you and will thoroughly purge away your dross, and remove all your impurities.”
C. God also wants us to realize there are consequences to our decision and actions. God uses adversity to show us what is in our hearts, to purify us
E. Romans 5:3-5 “…we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
James 1:2. “Consider it pure joy, my friends, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.”
F. A diamond is really just a lump of coal. The difference, though, between a diamond and coal is that the diamond has gone through long, hard, hot, and intense pressure. A diamond is formed by way of pressure, heat, and time. Some scientists say that it takes 1,000 or more years for a diamond to form. During that time, it is going through intense heat, pressure, and difficulty.
H. A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man made perfect without trials. — Chinese Proverb
V. God may be using adversity to make us a blessing to others
A. “God’s ultimate goal is not my comfort. His ultimate purpose is to save lost souls.”
B. Philippians 1:12 “Now I want you to know, my brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”
C. We never know what avenue God may use to make us a blessing to others. Whether we are chosen by God to be a blessing to others through afflictions, or chosen by God to be a blessing to others through good health and prosperity, we should listen to the words of the Apostle Paul: I.Cor.10:31. “So whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
D. Do you remember the adversity that Joseph went through in the book of Genesis as his brothers sold him into slavery? Years later the reason behind the adversity became apparent.
E. Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
F. Someone has said “If you use your pain to bless others, you’ll find true healing in the experience.”
December 19, 2011
CHOOSING THE RIGHT THOUGHTS
II.Cor.10:5. “We demolish strongholds and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Definition of Strongholds: I.) Notice verse 4. We’re reminded that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” When Paul penned these words, his audience was a group of professing believers. He was writing to a congregation, and a fellowship of church people. His message deals with those of us who are saved. He is speaking to the body of Christ. Therefore, when he spoke in regards to the matter of ’strongholds,’ he was speaking of an area that encompasses every one of us as God’s people.
The word ’stronghold’ means “to harden, or to make hard.” It describes an entrenchment, or fortress. Thus, in the spiritual life, Paul is speaking of a hard place. He is speaking of an unbending place. He is speaking of an entrenchment, or a fortress fought over. He is speaking of an area contended for. He is speaking of an entrenchment behind the lines. Therefore, a stronghold is any place in our life that seems to be an area of contention. It is anything that poses a threat to our spiritual progress. It is any person, place, predicament, or problem that hinders us, harbors us, or holds us in its clutches, and impedes us from our full potential in Christ.
The purpose of this message is to discover the power of our thoughts and words. A war is waging around us. Satan is out to destroy us and our witness for Jesus Christ. He is out to capture, corrupt and control your mind.
Our enemy’s number one target is in the area of our thoughts. He knows if he can control and manipulate how we think, he can control and manipulate our entire life.
Our thoughts determine our actions, our attitude and our self-image. Really, thoughts determine our destiny.
That’s why the Bible warns us to guard our minds. We must be careful not only about what we ingest with our eyes and our ears, but what we think about. If we dwell on depressing thoughts, we will live a depressing life. If we constantly think about negative things, we will gravitate toward negative people, activities, philosophies and lifestyles.
Almost like a magnet, we draw in what we constantly think about. If you are always thinking positive, happy, joyful thoughts, you are going to be a positive, happy, joyful person, and you will attract other positive, happy, joyful people.
Our thoughts also affect our emotions. We will feel exactly the way we think. So much of success or failure in life begins in our minds and is influenced by what we allow ourselves to dwell on.
SET YOUR MIND ON HIGHER THINGS. Col.3:2. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”
Many of us don’t realize it but we can choose our thoughts. Nobody can make us think about things. You decide what you will entertain in your mind. If the enemy plants a negative thought in your mind, you can choose to cast it down and dismiss it from your mind.
However, if you make the mistake of dwelling on that negative thought, it will affect your emotions, your attitudes and if you continue to give it reign, it will affect your actions.
Maybe its time to think about what we are thinking about. What are you allowing your mind to dwell on? Are you focused on your problems? Are you dwelling on negative things? How you view life makes all the difference in the world.
Obviously, we cannot ignore our problems and live in denial. That’s unrealistic. Bad things do happen to good people and good things often happen to bad people. If you are sick, its okay to admit it- just keep your thoughts on your Healer. If your body is tired, the most spiritual thing you can do is get some rest, but focus your thoughts on the One who said: “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.”
Tough times come to us all. Jesus said: “In this world you WILL have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.” He was saying that we can choose our attitudes. We can choose to believe that He is greater than our problems; we can choose the right thoughts.
As you dwell on the promises of God, you will be filled with hope. You will develop a positive attitude of faith and we can sing: The things of earth will grow strangely dim.
Rom.12:2 says: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Eph.4:23. “…be made new in the attitude of your mind and put on the new self created to be like God in true holiness.”
You can’t sit back passively and expect this new person to suddenly appear; nor can you go through life in a negative frame of mind and expect things to change for the better. Change your thought pattern and start dwelling on the good things of God. When we focus and dwell on negative thoughts, it becomes easy to get discouraged.
The victory begins in our minds. If we don’t think we can be successful, we probably never will be. If we don’t think our body can be healed, it never will be. If you think God can never turn your situation around, He never will.
Ecc.11:10 “”So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body.”
When you think thoughts of failure, you are destined to fail. But when you align yourself with God’s thoughts and start dwelling on the promises of His Word, thoughts of His victory, favour, faith, power and strength- nothing can hold you back.
We must continually choose to keep our minds set on things above, not on earthly things. What are the things above? Quite simply, they are the positive things of God. Paul provides a list of these things in:
Phil.4:8. “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”
God is positive! There is nothing negative about Him. If you are going to live God’s way and be the person God called you to be, you must line up your vision with His and learn to live in a positive frame of mind. Learn to look for the best in every situation.
No matter what you’re going through, if you look hard enough and keep the right attitude, you can find something good about the experience.
We must especially be on guard during times of adversity, in times of personal challenge. When trouble strikes, often our first thoughts are not positive. Negative thoughts bombard us at every possible angle. Right then, we must choose to trust God for good things and not allow ourselves to be down and discouraged or just give up.
Our mind is similar to the transmission in a car. We have a forward gear and a reverse gear; we can choose what way we want to go. It doesn’t take any more effort to go forward than it does to go backward. Its our decision. Similarly, we determine by our own choice whether we go forward or backward.
ILL. A story of a positive farmer and a negative farmer. When rain fell the positive farmer said: “Thank you Lord for watering my crops.” The negative farmer said: “Yeah, but if this rain keeps up, its going to rot the roots and we will never have a good harvest.
The sun came out and the positive farmer said: “Thank you Lord for the sunshine. Our crops are getting the vitamins and minerals they need for a good harvest.” The negative farmer said: “Yeah but if it keeps up it will scorch the plants. We will never make a living.”
One day the two farmers went goose hunting and the positive farmer brought along his new bird dog. They went out in a small boat and waited. A goose came by and “BOOM” the positive farmer shot the bird and sent his dog out to retrieve it and it jumped out of the boat and ran across on the top of the water. “What do you think of that?” said the farmer beaming from ear to ear. The negative farmer said: “Just as I thought. That dog can’t even swim.”
Don’t we all know people like that. They always focus on the negative. If you must be around those people, take care that their negative attitude doesn’t affect you. Stay focused on the positive things of life.
Psychologists are convinced that our lives move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. If thoughts of love, joy, peace victory and blessings dominate our thoughts throughout the day, we will move toward those things. Your life will follow your thoughts.
When your thoughts have been running in a certain direction for a long period of time, its as though you have been digging a river bed and the water can only flow in one direction. Imagine a person who is always thinking pessimistically for months and then years, they dig that riverbed deeper and deeper. The flow accelerates, growing stronger as it flows. After a while, it flows so strongly that every thought that comes out of the river is negative.
Fortunately, we can dig a new river, one going in a positive direction. We do that one thought at a time by dwelling on God’s Word and start seeing the best in situations, little by little, one thought at a time, you are re-directing the flow of that river. It will start with a little trickle flowing over into the positive stream. As you continue to reject negative thoughts and re-direct the flow, eventually, the negative river will dry up and the positive stream will flow freely.
Occasionally, those old negative thoughts will rise up: “You’re never going to make it. Your problems are too big.” You’re tempted to return to the old river. But not this time- you have a new river flowing. You can rise up and say: No. Greater is He that is me than he who is in the world.” “I can do all things through Christ” and I’m coming out.”
CONCLUSION: What you are doing is re-programming your mind. Don’t be passive, sitting back allowing negative, critical, pessimistic thoughts to influence your life. Learn to dwell on the good. The Bible says:
Rom.12:2. “ be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
If you will transform your mind, God will transform your life.
Let’s be real. If you have a river of negativity- it wasn’t formed over night. It won’t be re-directed overnight. It will take conscious strenuous effort on your part. God will help but you will have to make some quality decisions day after day choosing the good and rejecting the bad.
Get up in the morning expecting good things. Sing to yourself: “Good Morning Lord, I’m going to have a good day or This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Our thoughts have tremendous power. Remember, we draw into our lives what we think about. The choice is up to us. When a thought first comes- determine where it is coming from. Is it from God? Is it your own thought? Or is it from the enemy? How can you tell? If its negative it’s from the enemy. If it is a discouraging, destructive thought; if it brings fear, worry, doubt, or unbelief, I guarantee you its not from God. Get rid of it right away. “Take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Eph.5:15. Be careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
November 02, 2011
He Has Not Given Up On Us Yet
Philippians 1:1-6
There are times that Christians may become discouraged and feel like giving up because things aren’t going well. Some may feel that either they have messed up in life and cannot be used by God or that God for whatever reason has just given up on them.
The loving patience of God is so amazing. The Bible tells us that when we come to Jesus Christ we are a new creation of God who begins to work in our lives to bring us into perfect conformity with Christ and that He doesn’t give up on us even when we give up on ourselves. As someone has said, “It ain’t over until God says it’s over.”
I. God doesn’t give up on us when we fall into sin
Christ told the story of a shepherd who had 100 sheep. Ninety-nine of those sheep stayed with the shepherd and never wandered away from the safety of the fold. But one sheep wandered off on its own away from the shepherd and away from the fold. The shepherd left the 99 and sought out the one wandering errant sheep. He never gave up on the sheep.
Romans 5:8 “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confessing our sin is more than just simply saying “Okay God I agree. I have sinned.” It is having the same estimate towards that sin that God has of it. – copied. God hates our sin but even as we are sinning He still loves us with that perfect unconditional, unending, unfathomable love.
II. God doesn’t give up on us when we falter in our faith
The trials and testing that we go through as we journey through our Christian lives are meant to strengthen our faith and build us up as we follow our Savior. But often we are like the children of Israel, who had become discouraged because the path of the Exodus was not a primrose path but difficult and arduous. Instead of placing their faith in the One who had delivered them from bondage in Egypt they faltered and began to murmur and complain.
Numbers 21:4 “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.”
God’s anger was kindled by their lack of faith and failure to keep their eyes fixed on Him. In His judgment He sent a plague of fiery venomous serpents. But demonstrating His patient unending love and mercy we find God having Moses lift up a brazen serpent that whoever by faith look at it lived. (Numbers 21:8)
Isaiah 40:30-31 “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
III. God doesn’t give up on us when we fight against and flee from His will
Isaiah 65:2 “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walk in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts”
Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah, who was called by God to go to Nineveh but sought to run from God’s will.
Jonah 1:3 “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”
When Jonah went to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh and disobeyed God outright, God sent the large fish after him. The fish was not to make Jonah suffer, but to keep him from going too far from His will, to save him from drowning, to bring him safely to Nineveh, and to soften his rebellious heart. God loves us so much that He uses discipline to save us from ourselves… God doesn’t easily give up on us when we fail Him; instead, He restores us. – Martin Sanders, God’s Pursuing Love
Psalm 139:7-12 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hides not from thee; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
ILL. At a meeting in Massachusetts, a speaker, who had just delivered an urgent appeal to a group of young people to accept Christ, was asked this startling question by a young girl, “Sir, I should like to know how we can be Christians, and have our own way.”
Perhaps many of us have either consciously or unconsciously asked this same question. We have sought, in a measure at least, to do God’s will, but we have reserved the right to have our own way whenever it pleases us. This is not God’s plan for Christian living and service, however, and it always brings conflict, and unrest, and lack of joy and power.—John W. Lane, Jr.
IV. God doesn’t give up on us when we forget His blessings
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 106:7-8a “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea — the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them”
Someone has said that when we forget His blessings, His power, His grace and His goodness, we are in terrible shape spiritually.
Lamentations 3:22-26 “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
God loves us even when we forget all that God has done for us.
1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Conclusion: George Foster wrote these encouraging words:
“God has never given up on His plan for my life and I know He never will.
Because God is good, He wants what is best for me.
Because God has infinite wisdom and knowledge, He knows what is best for me.
Because God is all powerful, He can do what is best for me.
Because God is purposeful, He works in me even when I don’t understand.
Because God is faithful He keeps the promises He makes concerning His best for me.
Because God is merciful, He forgives me and directs me to what is best for me.
Because God is patient, He prepares me to embrace what is best for me.”
November 02, 2011
DO YOU NEED A PILL OR A JOKE?
• I have two goals for this message.
1. That you will leave the chapel today with a cheerful heart.
2. That you will maintain that cheerful heart through the whole week, no matter what circumstances you face.
• A cheerful heart is a joyful heart.
• We are joyful on the inside because of what God is doing and because of who He is.
• We are joyful to a point of singing, even when circumstances are not what they should be, or what we want them to be.
• Some people want to always be happy.
• The joyful or merry Christian isn’t always happy with the happenings surrounding them, however, he finds joy in Christ in spite of the happenings.
• This proverb states that a cheerful heart is good for us like a medicine.
• A medicine often soothes.
• A cheerful heart soothes us and anxiety is reduced.
• A cheerful heart also soothes our attitude so that we respond properly to people.
• A medicine often reduces pain.
• A cheerful heart reduces the pain of hurt feelings, failed expectations and misunderstandings.
• A medicine also makes one feel better, especially when infection is removed.
• A cheerful heart makes us feel better about the situations with which we are confronted.
• How do I receive a cheerful heart?
• What is a cheerful heart like? It causes us to spend more time laughing and more time playing
“The opposite of play isn’t work; it’s depression,” says Dr. Stuart Brown, Psychiatrist and founder of the National Institute of Play. He became interested in the effects of laughter and play on people’s lives back in 1966 when the Governor of Texas asked him to investigate the tower shooting on the University of Texas. In this tragedy, a troubled young man killed sixteen people and wounded thirty-two others. As Dr. Brown studied this young man’s life, the one thing that stuck out was that he had never played normally as a child. He grew up in such a dysfunctional, high-stress family that his play life was very limited. This piece of information so interested Dr. Brown that he went on to interview other death row inmates. He discovered that a high percentage of them also had not played normally or freely as children. Dr. Brown could see clearly the link between a lack of play and depression. He believes we need to play and laugh and be cheerful as much as we need to sleep in order to be physically and emotionally healthy.
Proverbs 17:22 says “a cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”
When you’re in a good mood, full of joy, taking time to laugh and play, it’s like taking vitamins or good medicine. In fact, medical science tells us that laughing boosts our immune system. It reduces blood pressure. Some studies show that people who laugh regularly are 40% less likely to have a heart attack than those who don’t!
Laughter also triggers the right side of the brain, which helps creativity and decision making. When you have a good laugh, you activate the body’s natural tranquilizers that calm you and help you sleep better. Many people today suffer from insomnia, but maybe all they need to do is simply laugh more!
I heard about a woman who had to constantly take tranquilizers to help her sleep. But, she had taken tranquilizers for so long that her body became accustomed to them and hardly helped any more. The woman tried different diets, doctors and herbs, but nothing seemed to work. Then she went to a doctor who gave her a very unusual prescription. He said, “Every night before you go to bed, watch something funny—a funny movie, a funny video, a funny sitcom—something that makes you laugh.”
The woman followed his advice night after night. As the days passed, she slept better and better. Finally, she was totally off her sleep medications and snoozing like a baby.
What happened? This woman learned how to release God’s natural tranquilizers that were created inside of her. How many headaches, backaches, migraines, chronic pain or fatigue would be relieved if people played, laughed and simply enjoyed life more?
Sometimes I believe we take ourselves too seriously. We get all uptight when we make a mistake, or things just don’t go the way we feel they should. What would happen if we stopped and had a good laugh at ourselves? When we look back at some of the stupid things we did, we can’t help but laugh.
I believe that no matter what is happening in the world around us, God wants us to enjoy life. We shouldn’t just look forward to one day a week; we should look forward to every day. We all need a boost from time to time, and I believe this may be just what you need to help you enjoy life more and embrace the fullness of God’s blessing! Remember, we only get one shot at today. Make the most of it and take time to laugh and savour the moments God has given.
Conclusion: Standup comedian and author David Brenner was signing books in a San Francisco bookstore when a young man handed him a newly purchased copy to be signed and said softly, “I want to thank you for saving my life.” Brenner replied flippantly, “That’s okay.” The young man stood his ground and said, “No, I really mean it.”
Brenner stopped signing and looked at him. The man said, “My father died. He was my best friend. I loved him and couldn’t stop crying for weeks. I decided to take my own life. The night I was going to do it, I happened to have the TV on. You were hosting The Tonight Show, doing your monologue. Next thing I knew I was watching you and laughing. Then I started laughing hysterically. I realized then that if I was able to laugh, I was able to live. So I want to thank you for saving my life.” Humbled and grateful, Brenner shook his hand and said, “No, I thank you.”
Laughter does more than help us escape our problems. It sometimes gives us the courage to face them. As humorous author Barbara Johnson has said: “Laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper. It doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for awhile.” Remember, humour is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles.*
November 02, 2011
TUNE IN, TONE DOWN AND SWEETEN UP
INT. James is speaking here to believers. James 1:18. “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.”And, one of the ways that you can tell someone has not been born again is there’s been no change whatsoever in the way they live.
If you’ve had a new birth, there’s going to be some new behavior. “If any man be in Christ [Jesus], he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Beginning in verse 19, he speaks of the new behavior. V.19. “My dear brothers, take note of this: ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, (tune in) slow to speak (tone down) and slow to become angry.(sweeten up)”
TUNE INTO WHAT GOD IS SAYING
Some people don’t have ears on. They have ears, but they don’t hear. Jesus spoke of those who “…had ears, but they fail to hear.” (Mark 8:18).
Now, the Bible says we are to “be swift to hear”—that is, be ready to receive the things that God has for us. How does God speak to us?
A. Through His Word. One way that God speaks is through the Scriptures, through the Bible. Do you know this book? Do you read this book? Do you study this book? Do you pray over this book? Do you love this book? If not, why not? You claim to be a Christian. This is God’s Word to you. You’re saying, “O God, speak to me.” Well, God will speak to you, if you will open this book and pray over it, and read it, and say, “O Lord show mw what I need to hear.” This Bible is the Word of God as much as though Jesus Christ Himself were standing here in the flesh speaking to you. This book is the Word of God. Do you know it? Do you hear it? Do you receive it? So many people read the Bible, and they get nothing from it, because they’re not listening what God is saying.
B. Through His Sermon. Rom.10:13-14. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?
And, God holds me responsible for what I preach. And, the Bible tells us to be very careful the way we preach: “If anyone speaks he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11).
And, it is important for me that I be prayerfully prepared to come and stand here. But, it is also just as important to you, when you come to chapel service, that you are prepared to listen. And, I have as much right to expect you to be prepared, as you have to expect me to be prepared. Amen?
You know, sometimes people can sit in church and look straight at the preacher, with eyes wide open, and figure where your horse will finish, or what they’re going to have for supper or who’s going to win the game tonight; and, they can be figuring those things, and looking straight at you as though they’re paying attention. I’m not the best preacher in the world, and I’m well aware of that. I want to tell you something, though. While there are others who may be able to preach the gospel better than I, no one can preach a better gospel than I, because there is but one. And, as I’ve said before, God will hold you responsible for what you hear this morning. As a matter of fact, God will even hold you responsible for what you would have heard, had you listened.
C. God speaks through His Spirit. Many of us have not learned to get quiet and let God speak to us in those quiet times, those times of meditation.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And, the reason that God doesn’t speak to some of us is that, when we come to that time when we’re to have fellowship with God, we do all of the talking.
Do you like to hold a conversation with someone who does all of the talking? Somebody said, “An egotist is somebody that talks about himself so much that you can’t talk about yourself.” Many of us are egotists when we come to prayer, we keep talking rather than listening to God and being quiet.
Be ready to listen. Can God get your attention?
II. TONE DOWN TO LISTEN
But, number two, not only should we be swift to hear; we need to be slow to speak. Again, this is what James says in verse 19: “My dear brothers, take note of this: ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, (tune in) slow to speak (tone down) and slow to become angry.(sweeten up)” (James 1:19). Not only do we need to tune in; we need to tone down. The plain, simple truth is that most of us talk too much. Many things are opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth. And, James says, “Don’t talk as much as you are accustomed to talking.”
Do you want to stay out of trouble? Keep your mouth shut. That’s what the Word of God says. Many of us talk ourselves into trouble. The more a person talks, the more he sometimes proclaims the foolishness of his heart. Somebody has well said that it’s better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. A fool’s voice is known by the multitude of his words. James says, “Be slow to speak.” Speech may be silver, but often, silence is golden.
ILL. Now, the rabbis used to say that man has two ears and one mouth. The ears are made always to be open; the mouth is made where it can be closed; and, the tongue is enclosed in a den behind ivory bars, the teeth. And, what they meant by that is this: that we’re supposed to be listening twice as much as we’re to be speaking. But, most of us have gone just the other route.
In this same Book of James, James says, in chapter 2 and verse 20: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). And, that word dead is the same word in the Greek as the word idle. “Faith without works is idle.” What does that mean? It is non-productive. It doesn’t contribute anything. It is hurtful, rather than helpful. And, what Jesus is saying is that any word that you speak that doesn’t build up, that doesn’t edify, that doesn’t help—are non-productive words, words that are destructive words. Certainly humor can be productive. It can refresh. It can relax. Sometimes it can instruct. And, Jesus, on occasions, used humor.
How much harm is done by foolish talking? How many homes are broken? How many innocent people are sent to prison? How many hearts are crushed? How many families are divided? How many churches are split? How many souls are lost because people have not learned to set a guard at their mouth? Watch the words of your mouth. One of the marks that a man that has been born again is that his tongue is now controlled. You see, when we’re talking, we can’t be listening. And so, the same Bible that says, “Be ready to hear,” says, “Be slow to speak.”
A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird? (Author Unknown)
III. Sweeten Ourselves Up
1. Be angry for the right reason. Sweetening up will be the sum total of these other two things. When a man starts listening more and talking less, it affects his temper, and he learns to control his heart, because, when his thought life is controlled, and his tongue is controlled, then his temper is controlled. Thoughts, tongue, temper—here it comes, right on down the pipe.
When Jesus was personally mistreated; not an angry word when they nailed Him to the cross. But, rather, He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Most of our anger is when somebody has wronged us. Jesus got angry when somebody else was being hurt. You make certain that, if you have anger, it’s righteous anger, and that it is for the right reason.
2. be angry at the right thing. Now, Jesus did not get angry with individuals. He got angry with institutions, and forms, and sins, but not with individuals. He loved the individual. You see, you can be angry with the wrong done to you, but not with the wrongdoer. Most of us get angry at the wrongdoer. We get angry at people. Jesus did not. Jesus loved people. (Love the sinner but hate the sin)
3. Be angry in the right way—And then, His anger, dear friend, was in the right way. He let His anger make Him a part of the solution, not a greater part of the problem. And, dear friend, when you lose your temper, you’re not a part of the solution; you’re part of the problem.
Now, how are you going to deal with this anger? Let me tell you one thing. You had better start treating it as it is—a sin. You know, you’d be surprised—some people are actually proud of their temper. They really are. They say, “Well, we’ve got red hair in our family. And, I’m just a redhead. Redheads get angry.” Is that true? Others say, “You know, well, I just get it from my dad. I’ve got my dad’s temper.” Yeah, you’re of your father—the devil. “Oh,” you say, “well, it just lasts a little while.” Well, when a man with a hair-trigger blazes away with a shotgun, that just lasts a little while, too. But, somebody else has to go in there and pick up the pieces, you see.
We try to explain it away. We try to minimize it. We try to make jokes about it, like it’s funny. But, I want to tell you—it is not weakness; it is wickedness. And, until you start treating that temper for what it is—a vile temper—you want me to tell you why those things spew out of you? Because they’re in you. If you want to see what you’re made out of, if you want to see what you’re full of, you see what spills out of you when you’re stirred up. And, if you’re full of anger, when you’re stirred up, anger will spill out. If you’re full of Jesus, Jesus will spill out. You cannot judge a person by his actions, because he can plan his actions. You watch his reactions—the things he has not planned—and you’ll know what that man is full of. And, the only way to control your temper is to have a heart full of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress.
A loving word may heal and bless. (Author Unknown)
And, all of this is possible because we have been born again. It’s all possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.
