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Sermon Title:
HOW TO RESPOND TO TROUBLES OF LIFE
James 1:2-4 (NLT) 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
HOW TO RESPOND TO TROUBLE?
1) EXPECT IT.
Trouble: (parasmos) trials, adversity, challenges, resistance, persecution, tests, problems.
A. IT IS NOT “IF” BUT “WHEN” TROUBLE COMES YOUR WAY.
1 Peter 4:12 (NLT) Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
2) CHOOSE JOY.
Joy: (chara) praise, gladness, celebration.
A. THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF TROUBLE BUT ONLY ONE CORRECT RESPONSE, JOY!
Note: Our initial response will determine our train of thought, words, actions, perspective, results and emotions.
B. A JOY RESPONSE GIVES NO ROOM FOR THE WRONG RESPONSE.
C. A JOY RESPONSE IS OUR DEFAULT RESPONSE TO ALL TROUBLE.
Philippians 4:4 (NLT) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
WHY SHOULD WE RESPOND WITH JOY?
James 1:3-4 (NLT) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
1) BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE BEING ________ ON WHAT WE KNOW.
Know: (ginosko) what we have learned.)
A. THIS IS NOT A PHYSICAL TEST BUT A FAITH TEST.
1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT) Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.
Faith: (pistis) belief, conviction, confidence in Jesus as our savior, healer, deliverer, provider, strength.
B. GOD WILL NEVER GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (MESS) 13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.
C. A FAITH TEST IS OVERCOME BY OUR CONFESSIONS OF FAITH.
Hebrews 10:23 (AMP) Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word];
Note: Before we physically quit, we verbally quit. Instead of confessing faith, we replaced it with confessions of fear, doubt, worry, victimization, gossip, hate, anger...
2) BECAUSE IT IS ONLY THROUGH DIFFICULTIES THAT WE ________.
Endurance: (hupmonay) an ability to remain under pressure and sufferings and not waiver from purpose, devotion to God, obedience or loyalty. Firmness of mind.
A. ONLY THOSE THAT ENDURE WILL SEE THE HARVEST.
3) THE END RESULT OF TROUBLE IS _______.
James 1:4 (NLT) 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
1 Peter 2:2 (TPT) In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure[a] spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life—
