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TRASH and TREASURE

Week thirty-six, 2017

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:21

Recently my bride and I took a day trip to visit one of the biggest flea markets in our state. It was a sight to behold. There were hundreds of bays and booths displaying about everything one could imagine.

Most of it looked like junk to me, but sales were brisk. One man said he collected whatever he was buying at the time and said that even though it looked like junk, it really added value to a collection. Dolls, model trains, fountain pens, fidgets…. You name it someone was selling and another was purchasing. It all still looked like junk to me, but if you know what you are doing, you can see value. Some collector buffs were waiting in line at six o’clock in the morning to make sure that someone didn’t beat them to the items they cherished.

As I watched the process I thought of that old cliché that says, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Jesus reminds us that where our treasure is there will be our heart also.

In the kingdom of Satan, the souls of men are only merchandise. Yet that is contrasted with the text in Matthew, which is describing the kingdom of heaven. The story illustrates God’s perspective of mankind. To Him, the souls of men are a treasure! There are two waiting to purchase your soul…. God and Satan.

What is your price? How much are you worth? What value do you place on your soul? More importantly, would you rather be viewed as merchandise or a treasure? Exploited or loved? To whom will you sell your soul?

Merchandise is something that is used only for personal benefit. A man’s sole attraction to his merchandise is the wealth it can bring. Satan is not interested much in this worlds goods. He doesn’t care much about vacation homes, used cars, real estate, stocks and bonds… He deals only in life’s most precious commodity… the Souls of Men. The devil invests very little in anyone! And yet, what a high price you will pay when he’s through with you!

Our world basks in a false sense of self-worth. Most consider themselves well paid for the state of their soul. But each day many awaken to find themselves discarded like merchandise. Having profited Satan’s kingdom enough – they find themselves thrown aside like an old rag, while the world moves on to bigger and better things, a better deal.

Satan is not interested much in this worlds goods. He doesn’t care much about vacation homes, used cars, real estate, stocks and bonds… He deals only in life’s most precious commodity… the Souls of Men. The devil invests very little in anyone! And yet, what a high price you will pay when he’s through with you! Currently our world basks in a false sense of self-worth.

We see the results of Satan’s wheeling and dealing all around us. But regardless of what the god of this world offers you, it is not enough! The devil never sacrifices very much to get what he wants… but you will lose it all when you pass through his hands!

What is your treasure? Is it something you will some day end up sold for junk at a flea market? Put your treasure in Jesus and you will have more true wealth than anything in this world that money can buy.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The Discipline of Patience

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)

Patience, or endurance, is part of the development that produces the experience that brings hope and assurance to those who are the twice-born (Romans 5:3-5). Patience is a discipline—a “work” that is necessary for our growth. Although such discipline never seems pleasant at the time, it is administered by our loving heavenly Father, who focuses His work on our spiritual maturity (Hebrews 12:5-8).

RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS

According to the Pew Research Center, over 75% of the world’s population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions in more than sixty countries where people face persecutions from their governments or surrounding neighbors because of their belief in Jesus Christ.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The world isn’t an information desert any more.

God’s phone number: Call unto Me. and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, of which you know not. Jeremiah 33:3

Man is the only creature that learns from making mistakes.

Wandering: To Proceed without a Proper Sense of Direction. Ken Whitten.

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

***

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

 ©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618
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“DO YOU NEED A TRANSPLANT?” Hebrews 4:12-13

Aug. 27, 2017

First Baptist Church, Earlville, NY

J B Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Pain Funny”

Q: Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocaine during a root canal?

A: His goal: transcend dental medication.

INTRODUCTION

When we first heard the word “leukemia” as what was going on in my Thuvia, my thoughts raced back to my 9th grade biology teacher. She and her family also heard that word. But in 1967, the word generally meant “fatal” – and for her, within two months it was. But Thuvia’s surgeon introduced us to phrases that he has simplified, like “bone marrow transplant”, “donor”, “identity”, and “one year ownership” – all of which now apply to Thuvia.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Bible, too, talks about a transplant that is available for all people in general. But in particular, this transplant is directed to those of us who profess to love the Lord Jesus as Savior.
The author of Hebrews introduces that transplant in chapter 4:12.

Let’s look at that verse today. PRAYER

1. The quality of the donor

* All we know about [my wife] Thuvia’s [bone marrow] donor is that he is 40 years old, a male, and lives in Brazil.

* The donor in our text is “living”. That has several wonderful pictures. It is alive. Literally, it is resurrected – in other words, it is designed to changed our hearts and minds into conformity with the heart and mind of our resurrected Savior.

* It is “active”. I’ve heard many a preacher or evangelist talk about our going home and uncovering the dust which is piling up on our donor – because the donor simply sits on a shelf. Perhaps it is placed there to impress people that the donor is part of your spiritual heritage. Why you might even have family weddings and deaths recorded in it, going all the way back to the Mayflower! But “active” has the idea of being “powerful!” It is designed to do things! To move mountains! To carve up beautiful pictures of lives. And active means it is not only powerful; it is “effective”! What it says it will do, it will do. We can go up to someone and quote John 3:16 and fully trust that the “whosoever believes”, really wholeheartedly trusts the donor of the Author, and the Author of the donor, that one will have everlasting life. That’s pretty effective. That almost makes one want to try it on someone!

* It is “sharper”. It is not only sharp, it is better than sharp. The picture in the verse is of a “two-edged” or double-sided sword. That is one which can cut on both sides. Look at Revelation 1:16. The Apostle John is describing Jesus. And look at Revelation 19:15 – the “sharp sword” which comes out of the Savior’s mouth is, indeed, the Word of God. With just that Word voiced by the Savior, the Battle of Armageddon – the war to end all wars – is over. It is sharper. But that also has the idea of a surgeon’s scalpel – it is perfectly precise. It can do what it is designed to do. A surgeon can do amazing things with a scalpel. And so can this donor.

These are some qualities! Living! Active! Sharper! I sure wis I would have at my availability a donor like that!

2. The action of the donor

The action of the donor is described in one very penetrating word – the word “penetrates”! Listen to other good versions’ understanding of this very vivid term: The NLT & The Message say it “cuts through everything”! And the Expanded Bible says it “cuts all the way into us”. Can our donor do that? Really?

So what does it “penetrate”, “cut through,” or “cut all the way”?

A. The soul and spirit. Many theologians are divided as to how to specifically divide separately these terms. But the Amplified Version explains it so well. These two terms in this passage describe the ENTIRE person. All of me is penetrated by my donor! Can it do THAT?

B. The joints. No, that is not some wacky weed that your mother doesn’t know you are using! The joints are the things that literally join our whole body together. The donor can penetrate that!

C. And the “marrow”. Here is where my attention perked up! Because Thuvia is scheduled on September 12 to have a “bone marrow transplant.” What is the “marrow”? Once again, the Amplified Version says the marrow is the “deepest parts of our nature. But don’t just take the Amplified’s good word for it. Look at Job 21:24. Job is trying to share with his useless comforters that the God that they supposedly worship knows everything about him. And he illustrates it by showing that God knows all the innards about us!
There is a grave danger in saying that there are many religions but they all worship the same god. This passage in Job would disagree royally. Because our God is personal, intimate, and knows all about me!

For my wife and her transplant, her identity will become permanently changed! Her DNA will show that she has 4 parents! She might even have a new blood type. Her donor’s marrow can do just that.

The donor of the text can reach down to the deepest part of my nature – and draw even that back to the image of Who it is supposed to look like – even the Lord Jesus.

D. And the attitudes of the heart! Momma often – not TOO often – said, “son, you need an attitude adjustment!”. And our donor can do that, too!

That’s quite a donor we have! It is living, active, sharp, and penetrating.

CONCLUSION

Look at verse 13. Nothing is hidden, everything is uncovered before our great God.

And the Word of God – our wonderful donor so majestically described here in Hebrews – can change every part of us to conform to the image of its Author, even our Savior the Lord Jesus.

So… do you need a transplant? Is the Word of God living and active in your life? Are you willing to allow it to skillfully penetrate every part of your life, exposing the diseased parts and changing them into brand new reflections of the Savior?

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Greetings from Houston!

Joy and I apologize for not updating the Cross Trainers’ website these past few days.

We live in North Harris County, twenty miles north of downtown Houston, and we had to evacuate our home because of rising waters. We spent one night at a motel, and another at the home of our oldest son. Our other son, who lives just a few miles from our house, traveled north to Dallas with his family.

Water rising on the street in front of our house

When we returned to our home on Tuesday, we were thrilled to find everything in good order, unlike tens of thousands of others who have suffered terrible loss.

Our prayer is that many will find consolation and blessing through their relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

About donations for Hurricane Harvey relief. Although we have received offerings for missionaries and Christian programs around the world for over ten years, and although we send 100% of every dime received on to the designated recipients, we are not equipped to receive funds for hurricane recovery or victims.

Please be careful that any funds you do send go to a reliable organization, such as the Salvation Army.

We have been encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of generosity and volunteerism we’ve witnessed all around us.

God bless you for sharing your hearts with the people of Houston and the Gulf Coast.

[email protected]

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A VISION

THINK

On These

Things

A Vision

There once was a man who was inspired by God’s command to “Write the vision, make it plain” (Habakkuk 2:2). He decided to prayerfully seek from God the vision for his own life, so he could write it and be sure to follow it and not drift away from it. The vision he received was this:

To so saturate my soul with the presence of Christ that the power of God can flow freely through my life,

At any time,

In any manner,

For any purpose He desires,

Without limit.

(Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 2 Corinthians 7:1)

Having received this vision for his life, he then pondered over what he must do to accomplish it. After prayer and some contemplation, he wrote three goals that he felt would help him to accomplish that vision:

1. Progressively reduce worldly influences.

2. Progressively strengthen spiritual influences.

3. See with God’s eyes, respond with God’s love.

The goals seemed good and he felt assured that if he could accomplish them, he would fulfill the vision God had given him. As he pondered these three goals, he conceived a set of plans for each goal. These plans were in several steps and would take time to work out in his life, perhaps much time. If they were followed to their conclusion they would accomplish the goal to which they belonged.

PLANS TO ACCOMPLISH GOAL 1

Progressively reduce worldly influences.

  • Guard my eye gate and avoid all unwholesomeness, whether in the various forms of media (TV, internet, magazines) or in the common thoroughfare.

  • Cast out all unspiritual thoughts and scenarios lest they take up residence and lead to spiritual decay.

  • In the public and political realms, know what is going on but refrain from immersion in daily scenes. Pray for people and their needs rather than fearfully anticipating outcomes.

  • Generally, abstain from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The knowledge of good leads toward God. The knowledge of evil leads away. (2 Cor. 11:3) There can be no benefit from the study of evil and its ways.

  • Be continually aware that the world is the possession and domain of the enemy of faith, and his lies are to be recognized, revealed and rebuked at every opportunity.

PLANS TO ACCOMPLISH GOAL 2

Progressively strengthen spiritual influences.

  • Eat from the tree of life, the Word of God, daily.

  • Participate in what God has already provided by making God my source for all things, through prayer.

  • Discover and walk in “paths of righteousness.” (Ephesians 2:10)

  • Seek wisdom. Think, and speak, “Whatsoever things are true, . . .” (Philippians 4:8)

  • Govern my mouth: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

  • Purify myself regularly (Psalm 51)

  • Go to sleep with a song of praise. (Eph. 5:18-19)

“. . . be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

  • Practice immersion in the presence of God.

  • Put on the character of God. Wear the mind of Christ.

PLANS TO ACCOMPLISH GOAL 3

See with God’s eyes, respond with God’s love.

  • Daily bring Him thanksgiving, not only to honor Him, but to stir up my awareness of how His love works among men.

  • Daily bring Him praise for all His goodness to me, for by savoring His goodness I can learn to emulate it.

  • Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit that I might effectively meditate on and pray for the physical or spiritual needs of fellow believers.

  • Pray for those the Lord brings to my awareness: non-believers, those who seem to threaten us, friend or foe, near or far, that the eternal Light might penetrate their darkness. (Mat. 5:44)

  • Seek to see people’s needs with God’s eyes, and flow God’s love to them by speaking encouragement and hope.

  • Be sensitive to the desire of the Holy Spirit in every ministry circumstance. Abstain from human standards and seek the anointed perspective of the Holy Spirit.

  • Pray in His will and speak in His power.

08/17

Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.

1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733

www.BlessedMan.net [email protected]

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“Sink, swim—or walk!” (Matthew 14:22-33)

First Baptist Church, Earlville, NY
Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Pastor

“SINK, SWIM – OR WALK!” (Matt. 14:22-33)
Aug. 20, 2017 10:30 AM

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Worry Funny”

Two kids are talking to each other. One says, “I’m really worried. My dad works twelve hours a day to give me a nice home and good food. My mom spends the whole day cleaning and cooking for me. I’m worried sick!”
The other kid says, “What have you got to worry about? Sounds to me like you’ve got it made!”
The first kid says, “What if they try to escape?”

INTRODUCTION

One of the more familiar – if not apart from the birth, death, burial and resurrection of the Savior – the most familiar story in Scriptures. A simple story (recount it). “During the fourth watch” [no, not Timex, Pulsar, Omega, nor Seiko!]. The Roman accounting of time which the Jews had adapted: there usually were watchmen at their posts throughout the night to protect the city. The 4th watch was between 3-6 am. The disciples had rowed throughout the night about 3 1/2 miles. Yet mingled throughout the story of “Peter Walking On the Water” are several key words that should prick our hearts, and, better, prod our faith. PRAYER

1.   “Immediately”

The Spirit of God Who inspires God’s Word purposefully weaves words where He wants them. “Immediately” = “the change of life, the challenges of life, the aligning of one’s life to the eternal purposes of God. How do I know that?
Look at Use #1 (v. 22) That takes us back to v. 15 (disciples say, “send them away”). Why were they there? V. 13 “Jesus heard what happened.” What happened? V. 1ff Matthew recounts the beheading of John the Baptist, and Jesus knows the disciples need, what? REST! So v. 22. NOW (a) WHO purposes that the disciples get into the boat? JESUS – aligning their lives! (b) THEN what does it say – NOW He sends the crowd home, WARM AND FED.
Look at Use #2 (v. 27). Jesus says 3 things: Take courage. It is I. Fear not. He SAYS. And He speaks to us today in His Word. How much is His word a part of your life?
Look at Use #3 (v. 31). WHEN did Jesus reach out His hand? When Peter was sinking. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and put them on the storm. Hmm. Sounds like a DEEP lesson here about faith! Do we really appreciate just how wonderful our Savior is?

2.    2 words together: “IF” “Come” (vs. 28-29)

The first, “IF” is a word of faith and doubt mingled together. But it also is a word of acknowledging where I am. I am at a crossroads. Jesus presents Himself as worthy of my trust. Do I really trust Him? “IF you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross”. Was that TRUST or TAUNTING? We sometimes taunt Jesus and not TRUST Him! How? When we say, “IF you are really Who you say You are, I DEMAND You take care of this right now.” Peter was at a crossroads between demand and trust. He chose the latter.
The second, “COME”. By now you know that this is one of the greatest invites in Scriptures. “COME unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you REST.” COME into the ark and find refuge. COME to the living waters. COME.
IF You are Who You say You are, tell me to COME. “COME”!

3.    SAW (v. 30)

In describing being focused on heaven while living for Jesus on earth, Paul told the Corinthian believers, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)
Peter walked by FAITH when he stepped out of the boat and walked, keeping his eyes on Jesus.
Peter walked by SIGHT when he SAW the waters and took his eyes off of Jesus.
But it doesn’t stop there: Look at vs. 32-33. Those in the boat had SEEN the entire incident, and they did what? WALKED BY FAITH – worshipped Jesus. HERE’S A GOOD QUESTION: why did they worship Jesus? Because they saw Jesus on display through Peter. Who is looking at you, at me today to see Jesus on display? Who will trust Him because of our walk by faith and not by sight?

CONCLUSION

SINK, SWIM – OR WALK. Our choices in life are one of 3. That’s it.

Choice #1: We can SINK.

We can take our eyes off of the Lord Jesus and look around us at the waters coming our way. But when we do, remember this: those waters are there for everyone. They are no different.

Choice #2: We can SWIM.

What does this mean? This wasn’t in the story, you say! It means, we live as if God doesn’t even exist. We live like everyone else. The storm hits – we either make it or we don’t. But we swim in hopes that we’ll make it. And who gets all the attention? YOU DO. What about God – as far as you are concerned, He can swim or sink, too. You say you know Him, but you live as if He doesn’t exist.

Choice #3: We can… WALK!

Remember, Peter DID walk! And he remembered that for the rest of his life. The details are the same – the waves were rough. It was the middle of the night, no daylight, no help visible except…he knew, he just KNEW, that Jesus was right in front of him. And he was able to walk through the storm…as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. Wow. 3 choices. That’s it.

 

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WORRY

Week Thirty-Four, 2017

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Alfred E. Neuman is the fictitious mascot and cover boy of Mad, an American humor magazine. He often appeared in various caricatures underscored with the words, “ Me Worry.”

The Bible could also have a cover that says the same thing, because the Word is replete with admonitions to not worry, be troubled or have anxiety for or about anything. God’s peace surpasses all human understanding. God encourages his followers to “fear not” 365 times in the Bible, one for each day of the year, Jesus didn’t intend for Christians to spend their days preoccupied with anxiety and worry.

As Christians, Jesus is all around us, like a cocoon of light. His presence is a promise, independent of our awareness of Him. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. Many accept it as a fact of life, but worry is a form of unbelief.

Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But with Jesus in charge of our life, worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive.

When we start to feel anxious anything, we should relinquish the situation to Jesus, by backing off a bit and redirecting our focus to Him. He will either take care of the problem or show us how to handle it. In this world we will still have problems, but we need not lose sight on Him.

Jesus told His disciples to not worry about life, what to eat or what to wear, because life is more than food and the body more than clothes. He reminds us that by worrying, we cannot add even an hour to our lives, but seek the Kingdom of God and these things will be given to us as well. Don’t worry about the world and focus on the thing of God.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WATER

About 10% of the world’s population does not have access to adequate supplies of safe drinking water. We are not talking about access to 80 gallons per person per day—the amount we use on average here in the US. We are talking about the basic human right to a mere five gallons of water per day within a 30-minute walk of your home.

At the same time, 2.5 billion people, more than 33% of the world’s population, do not have the dignity of access to an improved sanitation facility. This results in death, disease, and a reduced standard of living for everyone, not just the poorest of the poor.

In 2009, water-related disease was the leading cause of death in the world, killing 3.4 million people every year. In Ghana alone, 30,000 children die of preventable, diarrheal disease annually. The vast majority of these deaths are children under five-years old—the future of the country.

FRIENDS

If you’re on Facebook, you have “friends.” But that doesn’t mean you have a friendship with everyone on your list.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Dr. David Jeremiah so clearly reminds us, “No one is saved BY good works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but every Christian has been saved FOR good works.”

Jesus replied to Satan’s temptation, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” (Luke 4:8).

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Our actions and responses represent who we are and who we are in Christ. The world around us can see a counterfeit or a fraud. Marty Stubblefield

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

 ©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618
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THE CREATOR

Week Thirty-Three, 2017

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1

God, who created the universe, is with us and for us. What more could we need? When we feel some lack, it is because we are not connecting with Him at a deeper level. He offers abundant life and our part is to trust Him, refusing to worry about anything.

It is not the adverse events that make us anxious as it is thoughts about those events, many of which will never occur and many over which we have no control. So why worry?

Our minds engage in efforts to take control of a situation. That is human nature. We want to bring about the results we desire. Our thoughts close in on the problem, either real or imaginary, like ravenous wolves. We are so determined to get the results that we forget that He is in charge.

The only remedy is to change focus from being inwardly focused on our selves to being upwardly focused on God. In other words shift your thoughts from your problem to His presence. We should stop all of our striving and watch what He will do. After all, He is the Lord. If God is for us, then who can be against us?

Before we can learn to trust that God is in control of all of life’s circumstances, we have to answer four questions: Is God really in control? How much control does He have? If He is not in complete control, then who/what is? How can I learn to trust that He is in control and rest in that?

The only one who can completely control anything is God. Whenever I try to do things my own way, God usually shows me that I have to turn to Him with my problems. Just like Jacob wrestled with God and realized God is always in control, it took some pain and fear for me to remember that God’s in charge of everything.

Turn your eyes on Jesus. Look fully in His wonderful faith, and the things of the world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Sometimes True Stories

My wife, Beverley, went into the pet store to buy dog food. When she asked for a senior discount she got carded and was asked for proof that she was in fact over fifty-five. It made her day! ( YEP! This is true…BG)

Nietzche

A poster read: “God is dead” – Nietzche.

The graffiti underneath read: “Nietzche is dead” – God.

The Ham Sandwich

A Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest were good friends. At a picnic one day, the priest was eating a ham sandwich. “You know,” he said to his friend, “this ham sandwich is delicious. I know you’re not supposed to eat ham, but I don’t understand why such a good thing would be forbidden. When will you break down and try it?”

To which the rabbi replied, “At your wedding.”

Quotes You Can Use

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in: aim at earth and you will get neither. C. S. Lewis

Christians are meant to hope for the eternal world, but they are not to leave the present world as it is. C. S. Lewis

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017.

©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618
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Trouble? PRAY! Happy? SING! Sick? Call!

First Baptist Church, Earlville, New York, J.B. Stopford, Pastor

Aug. 6, 2017

 FINAL Message of Series on the Book of JAMES

“Trouble? PRAY!   Happy? SING!   Sick? CALL!” (James 5:13-20)

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Shoplifter Funny” The manager of a grocery store nabbed a shoplifter in the act. He was escorting the suspect to his office, near the cash registers, when the shoplifter tried to run away.

After a brief scuffle the manager was able to wrestle the thief to the floor. He looked up to see a number of surprised customers staring at him.

“Everything’s fine, folks,” the manager assured them. “This guy just tried to go through the express line with more than ten items.”

INTRODUCTION: This is the 11th and final message in our series on the book of James. This is considered the most practical book in the NT – and the companion book to the OT’s “Ecclesiastes”. Have you learned much in these weeks? Have you been challenged? I know I have!

These are the lessons I’ve learned in these 3 months:
1. ”count it all joy” is 4 words, not 3
2. The tests of life have purposes and are not random – they are designed for the Lord to mold me into His image
3. I need to see people as Jesus does, not as I think they look
4. The interruptions of each day may just be God’s assignments for me for that day
5. I need to live each day, determine what to do each day, by saying “if the Lord wills”
6. Do my riches – my STUFF – have me or do I submit my STUFF, my life, to God’s Lordship, His glory, and my accountability?
All the messages are online. If you’d like a physical copy, let me know!

#1 TROUBLE? PRAY!

Remember our outline from the Blackaby Study Bible? Dr. Blackaby suggests that James closes his book with the wonderful theme, “The Power of Righteous Prayer”. What does that mean? Well, with what we’ve learned, it means that God is worthy of our trust, in every situation of our lives. And James lists 3 specific situations to close his book.

The first is “Trouble”! ILLUSTRATION: In 1962, the movie “The Music Man,” debuted in theaters. It stared Robert Preston in the lead as Professor Harold Hill, a fumbling musician who got a job as the town of River City’s community band director. Next to “76 Trombones (led the big parade)”, one of the more popular songs of that musical was “I’ve got Trouble” – and the chorus said: “I’ve got Trouble, right here in River City, with a capital T that rhymes with P and that stands for ‘Pool’”. Good stuff. And believe it or not, Mr. Preston and his family were my neighbors growing up in Rye, NY just outside New York City. Trouble: it has been wisely translated “suffering”, “suffering hardships”, “hurting”, “afflicted.” It’s a strong word. What do we usually do when we are facing that kind of trouble? We seek others. We FIRST go to doctors. We seek Mom, Dad, a friend. But remember, James is a book of what we should do FIRST. And he says, “you got trouble, right here in River City, with a capital T which rhymes with P which stands for Pool?”, then what you do first is PRAY! Jesus wrote, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”. Paul wrote in Col. 3:1-3, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” And Paul also told the dear people of the church in Thessalonica, “pray without ceasing.” (5:17). Now that DOESN’T mean to bow your head in prayer while driving at 55 miles an hour on the highway! But it DOES mean that when a burden comes to you, you commit it directly from your heart to our Heavenly Father, our Abba Father – our intimate eternal Father. In trouble? Pray!

Later in the chapter, James gives a dynamic illustration of the prophet, Elijah. We don’t read about him enough. Check out 1 Kings 17-19. He shows up before King Ahab in chapter 17. We’ve never met him before, and wicked King Ahab had no idea who he was. But he told the king, “it isn’t going to rain here for over 3 1/2 years.” Just before the end of those years, he met up with the king who said to Elijah, “are YOU the troubler of Israel?”. King Ahab didn’t get it! James says, when YOU are in trouble, PRAY! King Ahab didn’t seek the only true God. But later in the story, Elijah prayed, and he told the king, in essence, “you better hurry and get back to shelter at the palace – there is the sound of an ABUNDANCE of rain!”. James has a key phrase in describing Elijah, one that should be of rich encouragement to us. He says, “Elijah was a man just like us.” He was no spiritual big shot! If he could pray, so can and so should we!
In trouble? PRAY!

#2 HAPPY? SING!

James then points to the second situation of life that may and will confront us. What if instead of being in trouble, being anxious, hurting, or afflicted, things are actually going well? What if you were happy in your lot in life? You’re content – God is good. James says, we should sing! In the old KJV, Psalm 100 begins, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” You might not be able to carry a tune – except in your own mind and only in the shower – but God loves to hear that joyful noise! In fact, that old KJV adds to James’ instruction, that if anyone is happy, he should sing, specifically psalms! We used to do that in college – I’ve fallen away from that now. For example, someone (of old days) put Psalm 89:1 to music, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” [if you know it, let’s sing it together!] And the wonderful words from Ps. 19:7-11. Let’s try the first verse, “ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Great truths. Great happiness. Great SINGING!

#3 SICK? CALL!

Here comes the fun one, that gets many denominations confused as to practical application.
James says, in this section on “The Power of Righteous Prayer”, that if we’re sick there are a number of things we usually do, but don’t do FIRST. What do we do? We call a doctor. We go to webbed.com. We call mom and ask what she used to do. And all those are good and right and perhaps should be done. But James says there is one thing that we DON’T do as a church. When someone is sick, he doesn’t also CALL the elders – the leaders – of the church to pray, and then to gather together and pour MOXIE over the victim. Well, actually, they anointed him with oil. It doesn’t say what kind – olive oil? Cooking oil? Doesn’t say. But it is NOT the oil which heals the one who is sick. It is God. Illustration: years ago, a famous southern evangelist started a hospital on his college campus. I often thought “why?”, since he believed in the power of healing. If he really did, for what did he need a hospital? Couldn’t he just go from room to room, lay his hand on the patient, and heal him on the spot? The hospital would go broke quickly! But that’s not what the text says. It is the PRAYER of FAITH which heals the sick victim! In essence, the elders are agreeing together that God is faithful, and are trusting Him for His hand on the one who is sick. That is the key! So when you’re sick, continue to go to the doctors, go to hospitals, go to clinics. But remember to get the leadership of your church involved in the all-round care of the person: body, soul, and spirit.

CONCLUSION

I like the way the book ends. Remember, James is practical! And he now applies scripture in a most practical way. If someone wanders from the truth – and who doesn’t at times – and one of you observe that stray sheep, don’t just leave him there! Get involved! Pray, yes. But lovingly get involved in that person’s life! As our southern brethren say, “love on him!”. The earlier you get involved, the “multitude of sins” you will prevent!
We began on the first Sunday in May with this thought: with what I’ve learned in James, what am I going to do with it? James may have placed you at the crossroads of your faith. Are you going to continue a shallow walk with God with no fulfillment in your life? OR are you going to lay at the foot of the cross and say, as with Isaiah of old, “here am I, Lord”? Are we available to what God has designed for each of our lives? IF you’ve come to the cross and trusted Jesus as your Savior, are you available to be and to do what He has designed for you to do with your life?

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THE SACRIFICE

Week Thirty-Two, 2017

“THE SACRIFICE”

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. – 1 John 2:2 NIV

In the marine world, they call it a sacrifice. They come in various sizes and shapes to fit the need, but all have one thing in common. They attract electrolysis away from other metals.

In the case of a ship, seawater acts as an electrolyte and transfers the electrons from the zinc anode by oxidizing it over the steel plate and making a protecting layer. If the metal is more active it will be easily oxidized and will protect the metallic compound by making it act as cathode. The anode will corrode first sacrificing itself for the other compound and it is thus called sacrificial anode.

To protect metal below the waterline, zinc sacrifices have to be replaced often as they corrode away, in order to safe surrounding metals from being eaten away by electrolysis.

There is a spiritual parallel here. All of us are sinners and the sin of the world can destroy us, but God sent His only Son, not only for our sins, but for the sins of the world.

When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness (I JN 1:9) and to take them upon His shoulders to protect us from the sins rampart in the world. He is our sacrificial lamb.

When we confess our sins – If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for His sake. Jesus died for us. He is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement (sacrifice) to Divine justice.

He is the sacrifice for our sin and protects us from judgment we otherwise would deserve.

When He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, not only does God forgive our sins, but purifies our heart. He is the ultimate sacrifice for eternity.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 NIV

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Creation

An atheist scientist came to God and said, “We’ve figured out how to make a man without you.”

God said, “OK, let me see you do it.”

So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful. But God stopped him and said, “Oh, no you don’t. Get your own dirt!”

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Remember that the person who gossips with you, will gossip without you and gossip about you.

If we are going to be a bridge to the world, we have to be willing to be walked on. Ken Whitten.

Our educational system teaches us how to make a living, but it does not teach us how to live. C. S. Lewis.

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©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618
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“IF YOU’RE SO RICH…” (James 5:1-12)

“IF YOU’RE SO RICH…” (James 5:1-12)
Series: JAMES July 30, 2017 10:30 AM
FBC Earlville, NY, J B Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “The Lousy Sermon”
Dad (on the way out of church): “That was the lousiest sermon I ever heard. I didn’t get a thing out of it.”
Son: “Well, what do you expect for a dollar?”

INTRODUCTION In the section from James 4:1-5:12, James is giving 6 “Warnings against Pride”. Last week, we discussed “Do not judge a brother” and the “Deaver Principle”: “Do not boast about tomorrow.” Remember my good friend Jim who, after hearing a message from this passage, spent the rest of his life making plans centered around the Biblical expression, “if the Good Lord is willing”? He lived what he learned from God’s Word – and so should we!
Today we’ll look at the final two, passages which center around the wonderful ill-fated theme of…PATIENCE! PRAYER

WARNING #5 RICH OPPRESSORS WILL BE JUDGED (5:1-6)
Illustration: when I was in elementary school, I would walk or ride my bike the 4 miles round trip to school. Once a week, it was an anticipated joy to stop at the “penny candy” store and for a nickel, get a really thick packet of bubble gum, about 5-10 pieces of gum 2” by 5” wide. And the highlight was the comic card in the package. One of the cards has always struck my fancy: it read, “if you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?”. So, to paraphrase that, for this section of scripture it could easily be entitled, “if you’re so rich, why ain’t you smart?” – sounds like a good sermon title.
I recently read another paraphrase of that: “is your income an indication of your intelligence? OR…is your intelligence an indication of your income?”
Let’s look at our text. What is v. 1 actually saying? “Do your riches own you, or do you own your riches?” In other words, has the Lord blessed you financially and you don’t use those finances for His glory but for your own? OR is the Lord free to use the funds He has blessed you with – whether large amount or small – for His glory? Are you holding hard on to those funds, or do you have a good steward’s heart and seek His glory in all that He passes through your hands?
Scripture backs up what James has to say. James is the NT version of Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 and Ecclesiastes 5:13-20.
Let’s read these two passages now. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. Many believe he wrote Ecclesiastes near the end of his life – when the Lord had brought him through the pitfalls of all that his life entailed.
Note that the two key phrases here are: “meaningless” (from the Hebrew often translated “vanity; empty”. And the second phrase is “a chasing after the wind”. We learned this word in the NT last week in James 4:14, “a mist” = “a vapor, a mist, a morning fog”. It is kind of like the bottle with soapy water in it that we give to our kids – and have them put a circular tube in it and do what? Blow bubbles – which they can save? NO? Within fun-filled seconds, those bubbles – “a mist, a vapor, a morning fog” – are gone! In both Ecclesiastes passages, Solomon came to the same conclusion that James did – riches had him. And he was left empty in spirit. His life, when all was said and done, was empty, meaningless, a vanity, a sham, worth little or nothing in the eyes of eternity.
Which leads us to ask the same thing: “do our riches – our STUFF – have us, or does everything that the Lord has blessed us with have the freedom to be used for His glory?” Tough question – but a most necessary one which each of us should ask ourselves DAILY.

WARNING #6 PATIENT AND PERSEVERING (5:7-11)
This is a neat passage! In our beloved KJV, we have the origin of a phrase which has become a regular classic in the English language! Did you hear that? The Bible has provided a phrase which we regularly use in our language! And the phrase: “the patience of Job.” We ALWAYS use that phrase for dear people – whether Christian or not – who seem to be able to handle situations in such a wonderful, loving, and persevering way. We say, “why, you have ‘the patience of Job’”. And what was Job’s patience – or “perseverance” as our NIV wisely uses? He endured the obstacles of life – the tests of family and health, the tests of his not so great comforters, and the unseen tests which had been sent to him by the enemy of his faith. God didn’t plan the test – He allowed it under the umbrella of His sovereignty – knowing that His good would be accomplished through the…perseverance of Job.
And the NT has two wonderful passages for us: Hebrews 12:1 (right after the great Faith Chapter): “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” We run with perseverance – with patience, if you will – because God has a plan, a race which He has outlined just like the “Utica Boilermaker” run every July. That race is outlined – the runners run the course planned for their age division. Even so, isn’t it unbelievable to know that the Providential, All-Knowing, All-Wise God has a race marked out for you and me? And note one more thought: Paul was writing to a…CHURCH JUST LIKE OURS! So this race was not only being run by the individuals within that church. It was being run by the church itself! And so are we! Run it with courage and encouragement because God has planned this race for you and me.
And look at 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5: “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
We can be obedient because, before we were charged to be faithful and have a long-range obedience, our Savior was faithful and had a long-range obedience! How long did His “perseverance” last? The Bible says (Revelation 13:8) that, in God’s eyes, the Lord Jesus is the “Lamb slain before the foundation of the world”. How can that be? We know that in time He went to Calvary’s cross. That is History. Yet in eternity past, an eternal focus was made for Him to take upon Himself your sin and mine. For all intents and purposes, Calvary took place before eternity began – at least in the mind of our Savior. Can you imagine – that for all eternity our Savior persevered with the focus that He was to become our sin, though He Himself is sinless, so that we might become His righteousness”? (2 Cor. 5:21). Wow.
Now THAT is perseverance.

CONCLUSION (5:12)
The Amplified Bible reads, “let your yes be [a truthful] yes, and your no be [a truthful] no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” And The Message wisely translates, “And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like “I swear to God” to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you.”
What is the point? Our lessons today concerned not allowing your wealth – or lack of it – to show any evidence that the Lord is not Lord of your life. And may our lives be obedient to Him over a long period of time – regardless of what circumstances life brings us. Verse 12 shows us that the result is that what the world sees, then, will be truthful lives. The world? You know, those people that the Lord has wisely placed in your daily path, who are hungry to see truth, who are fed up with their own world system, who are sick and tired of religion and want to see a real love – the love of Christ on display.
Pilate asked the Savior before sending Him to the cross, “what is truth?” – and Truth was standing right before him. The Lord Jesus on display. Truth. That is what we become when, instead of stuff, the Lord Himself is our riches. And instead of bucket lists, the will of God over a long period of time is our purpose and goal.
James says, “brethren – live for the Lord Jesus! Make a difference where the Lord has wisely planted you and me.”