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March 2017
Message Notes | April 2017 | February 2017

Hard Love- James 2:1-12

March/26/ 2017 Filed in: Hardlove
Hard Love
Part 3
James 2:1-12

James 2:1-4 “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Prejudice = to pre- judging = to have a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

“Prejudice is not a skin issue, prejudice is a SIN issue.” Craig Groeschel

Verse 9 “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

verse 10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”

James 2:4 (NLT) “Doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by EVIL MOTIVES?”

4 things that James teaches us about dealing with Prejudice.

  1. Look Up

Romans 2:11 NCV “For God judges all people in the same way.”

I Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

verse 8 “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right.

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Rev 7:9-10 “…There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Romans 10:12 “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


2. Shut up

verse 12 “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,”

Matthew 12:36 “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”

Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen.”

3. Lighten Up

Verse 12-13 “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Matthew 7:1 CEV “Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you. 2 God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.”

4. Straighten Up

Verse 12 “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.”

I John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Verse 14 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?”







Hard Love- James 1:1-4

March/19/ 2017 Filed in: Hardlove
Hard Love
Part 1
James 1:-1-4

James 1:1-4 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

3 things about problems.

  1. Problems are unavoidable.

Verse 2 “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters WHEN you face trials of many kinds…”

John 16:33 “In this world you WILL have trouble…”

2. Problems are unpredictable.

Verse 2 “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters when you FACE trials of many kinds.”

Face = greek = to fall into unexpectedly

3. Problems are not unprofitable.

3 ways that problems can be profitable.

  1. Problems purify our faith.

verse 3 “the testing of your faith produces perseverance…”

Job 23:10 “He has tested me through the refining fire and I have come out as pure gold.”

 2. Problems fortify our patience.

verse 3 “the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Problems give us staying power.

3. Problems sanctify our character.

God is more concerned with your Character than with your Comfort.

verse 3-4 “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

When you are facing problems do these 3 things.

  1. Rejoice

Verse 2 “Consider it pure joy.”

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks.”

The difference between bitter and better is just I.

2. Request

Verse 5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

3. Relax

Verse 6 “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Verse 12 CEV “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.








Hard Love- James 1:19-25

March/12/ 2017 Filed in: Hardlove
Hard Love
Part 2
James 1: 19-25

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger[a] does not produce the righteousness[b] God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
James 1:19-21

Where anger leads us…

Anger leads us into temptation

a. Temptation to get revenge

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”[b]21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
b. Temptation to abandon

c. Temptation to get more angry


How do we avoid Anger?
“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” James 1:20


1. Quick to Listen
- “… you must all be quick to listen” vs 19


2. Slow to Speak
- “…you must all be… slow to speak”


3. Humility
- “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” James 1:21

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. - James 1:22-25















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Adulting- Emotions

March/05/ 2017 Filed in: Adulting
#adulting
Part 4
Emotions


1. How I feel affects my decisions.

2. How I feel affects my relationships.

3. How I feel affects my work.

4. How I feel affects my health.

I Kings 19:3-5 “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

Stats: An estimated 1 out of every 10 Americans will deal with some form of depression.

40 million adults or 18% of the adult American population deals with some kind of anxiety disorder.

How did Elijah go from devotion to depression?

1. Wear yourself out

2. Shut others out

verse 3-4a “he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness”

3. Stress yourself out

verse 5 “I’ve had enough. I’m no better than my ancestors.”

verse 10 “I’m the only one left who is serving you”

Pastor Gerald Brooks “Never add doom to your gloom.”

What do you do when you find yourself struggling with the dark side of emotions?

1. Remind

Jude 1:20 “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”

2. Refuel

verse 5 “Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

Psalm 40:2-3 “2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

Psalm 3:3 “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”

Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God…”

Romans 8:31 “if God is for us who can be against us.”

3. Reengage

Verse 15 “The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”
80% of the word emotion is motion. Your motions can change your emotions.