James 1:2-27 - "Never Once"

I woke up this morning singing Matt Redman's "Never Once" and wondered what was going to happen today that I needed the reminder of God's faithfulness through life.  When I read a note from a fellow pastor's wife, I knew the Lord gave it to me to encourage them.  

It's a tough but rewarding job in being a pastor.  Sometimes the enemy puts people before us that cut us with their words and/or actions.  We must remember that no matter what happens we must stay faithful to Him so He can be faithful to us.  We must make sure to be prayed up in order to be able to know what the Lord desires of us.  One of the tough things to do when we get attacked by words is to take a step back and first of all figure out if they are from the Lord or the enemy.  Secondly, we need to have discernment on what we need to do with them.  The Lord uses people to help us grow in our faith so not every attack is from the enemy.  Even if an attack is from the enemy the Lord can still turn it into something good.  He can draw us closer to Him through it.

I know James 1 doesn't make sense to a lot of people but there are so many good things to remember when going through "junk" that is thrown our way.

1. We can't allow "junk" to steal our joy.
2. We must persevere in order to grow in our faith.
3. Ask, believe and receive…not just on this earth but for eternity.
4. We need to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
5. God must be the One to direct all our words and actions.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 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. 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. 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. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 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.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Trials are never fun to go through but when we can hold onto the words of this song they can become easier to deal with...

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

He will continue to be faithful…He will walk us through the tough stuff….He will fight the battles for us.  But in order for Him to do that we first must be faithful to Him.

Dear Jesus,

I pray for my dear friends who are going through this valley.  I pray You will remind them today they are not alone.  Father, as they seek You on what to do with the words that were said I pray for Your Wisdom to overtake them.  I ask that You would not allow the enemy any foothold with these words.  Lord, they need Your encouragement.  Father, enable them to see Your plan for them.  I pray if this came from You they will be able to determine what they need to do from this point forward.  Lord, You are so faithful and we can be truly blessed through Your faithfulness when we are faithful to You.  Bless my friends in a mighty way this morning.  Father, I am sure they aren't the only ones going through something of this nature.  I pray for all going through such circumstances.  Thank You Lord for being My Faithfulness.  Amen.