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Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 March 2017
Life lessons from James #5
“Stress is Purposeful” (Having / showing determination)
There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. Leonard Cohen
By Pastor George Lehman
This wasn’t written as a nice story but to encourage us on our spiritual journey.
Job 23:10-11 (NIV) – 10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested
me, I will come forth as gold. 11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have
kept to his way without turning aside.
James 1:3-8 (Ampl) – 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of
your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let
endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough
work, so that you may be [people] *perfectly and fully developed [with no
defects], lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask
of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without
reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith
that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who
wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown
hither and thither and tossed by the wind. 7 For truly, let not such a person
imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, 8 [For being
as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is]
unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels,
decides].
* This wasn’t written as a nice story but to encourage us on our spiritual
journey.
Once again we are reminded that stress is not simply predictable, problematic and
paradoxical.
Stress is also purposeful. We can benefit from stress.
Job 14:1 (NIV) – “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.
To be specific, stress can help produce purity in our lives. Job said, “I will come out as
gold”.
James spoke of the “TESTING” of your faith that happens in the process of stress.
1 Peter 1:7 – Peter used the same word to say that various trials come our way so “that
the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 March 2017
perishes (though it is tested) by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory
at the revelation of Jesus”.
This same word is also translated “purging”.
Example: Precious metal being heated till the impurities rise to the top and are scraped
off. Only pure metal remains.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV) – 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than
the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this
foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work
will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be
revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If
what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned
up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one
escaping through the flames.
James was indicating that our stressful trials are for a purpose.
They have their own way of refining us.
Stress also has the purpose of producing “perseverance” in our lives.
The word perseverance literally means “to stand up under”.
Only trials of our faith can prove the depth of our faith and the strength of our character.
When we are squeezed – what comes out of us?
Another purpose of stress is to lead us to perfection.
Jesus said:
Matthew 5:48 (NIV) – Be *perfect therefore, just as your heavenly Father is
perfect.
*perfect = some translations have changed the word ‘perfect’ to complete, put
things in order, grow to maturity)
Paul said:
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) – Finally, brothers, good-bye. Aim for perfection,
listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and
peace will be with you.
The goal is perfection.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 March 2017
James 1:4 – so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The word ‘perfect’ here means, “to carry to its end; to become fully grown; to mature”.
Our goal as Christians is to come to full maturity (surrender to fully surrendered).
Purposeful, purity, perseverance, perfection.
Stress can also prompt prayer.
James 1:5 (NIV) – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
There’s a difference between wisdom and knowledge.
Knowledge is accumulation of facts.
However, wisdom is the ability to take the facts at hand and using heavenly judgment and
apply what we know to our situations around us.
This was Paul’s point to Colossians:
Colossians 1:9-10 (NIV) – 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you,
we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the
knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And
we pray this in order that you may live (1)a life worthy of the Lord and may
(2) please him in every way: (3) bearing fruit in every good work, growing in
the knowledge of God.
1. That is purity
2. That is perseverance
3. That is perfection.
Most times when we are in stress mode, prayer is our last resort instead of our starting
point for dealing with stress.
Psalm 118:8 (NIV) – It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
James also said:
James 1:6-7 (NIV) – 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.
Not everyone receives wisdom who ask – I come to those who believe.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 March 2017
Mark 11:24 (Ampl) – For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will
[get it].
Where do we find this faith?
Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Prayer without the truths from the bible has no direction.
The person who lives with doubt in times of stressful trials is ”double-minded …
unstable in all his ways” – James 1:8.
James says the doubter is trying to serve two masters. Part of them says “yes, I believe”
and another whispers, “I doubt”.
Stress can be purposeful if we dare to trust God.
So what is our greatest need in times of stress? WISDOM for how to deal with the issues
of life.
How do we get wisdom? We ask for it by faith.
Remember…
Hebrews 11:6 (Ampl) – But without faith it is impossible to please and be
satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily]
believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who
earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Stress is purposeful.
What we go through God uses to perfect our faith.
Yes, your stress and trials do serve a purpose.
It is for us to draw closer to the Lord and strengthen our weak faith…
…into a strong, courageous, unwavering walk with Jesus.
*****