Faith Tested

Pastor Mark Hughes www.churchoftherock.ca 

Everyone gets tested in their faith. 

Who was Jesus's favorite? John? Probably Peter. Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail. 

You WILL suffer trials. Tommy Burnett loved Lee Robertson. What makes a leader great? Trouble. And walked off the stage. 

Who are the greatest leaders of the last 200 years?

What was one thing they had in common? Trouble. Adversity. 

James 1:1 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:2‭-‬5 ESV

http://bible.com/59/jas.1.2-5.ESV

James the brother of Jesus. His book is the closest to Jesus's teaching. He was not a believer until Jesus died. 

1. Embrace adversity

Expect trouble and face it right on. 

Joseph the 11th son of Jacob had a dream. He told his brothers and they decided to kill him. They sold him and he ended up in a prison dungeon. 

He gets out of prison and becomes the Prime Minister. 9 years later the brothers came and bowed down. 

He always kept a positive attitude even in prison. 

Keep the right attitude. How easy is it? Not. Got a fungus infection in Kenora. I got sick 6 months later. Blastomycosys was so painful. 

Had an operation. Could hardly walk. 

Jacob wrestled with God and had to walk with a limp for the rest of his life.

Joseph was able to see how his dots connected. 

You can't always connect the dots in life

2. Exercise Patience

Faith + Patience = Results

It took 22 years for him to see the results. 

Most of us are pop tart Christians. In 3 seconds? Everything now. Lord give me patience now. Jesus got instant results. We're not Jesus. If that happened you would be God and a spoiled brat. James knows we need testing. 

Noah built a boat in the desert for 100 years. 

Embrace adversity. It's the best thing that ever happened to you. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilma_Rudolph

He mom had 22 children. Her daughter had polio and could not walk. At age 15 she was the state champion. At age 20 she was Olympic medalist. 

https://youtu.be/RLmn7MsDhHU

Influence

Winston Churchill jr www.EasTview.org 

Influence

Keep your eyes on Jesus. God is doing it all through me. Since 2005 I've made money and lost money. 

Influence can be a burden. I may not want to be disruptive. 

Have you ever been in the dark and turned on the light? It makes a big difference. 

When we have a living relationship with Jesus, our scoreboard does not matter. 

Learning to lead is learning to leave things behind. 

Are you a dividend or a tax? You can't sit on the fence. 

Kindness does not lead to the gospel. The gospel leads to the gospel. Jesus is the truth and the life. 

Communion is the celebration of life. Jesus changed it all. 

When the bread comes ask God what does he want to change in you? 

Jesus gave his all and paid it all. History was changed when he gave his life. 

Let the King of my heart be

The

Eb

mountain when I

Bb

run

The

Gm

fountain I drink

F

from; Oh

He

Eb

is my

Bb

song

Let the

Bb

King of my heart be

The

Eb

shadow where I

Bb

hide

You're never gonna let me down. You are good good

Jesus paid it all. White as snow. 

A mother by Any Other Name

Mark Hughes www.churchoftherock.ca 

A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. 

Mother always picks up her kid's clothes. 

2 Timothy

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

2 Timothy 1:5‭-‬8 ESV

http://bible.com/59/2ti.1.5-8.ESV

Timothy had an unbelieving father. I did too. Pastoring my mother is hard. I can't talk to her. She talks too much. 

Now my wife is giving me the 4 points 

R - refuge 

O - Overstate

S - Shield

E - Encouragement

Psalms 91 God is our refuge. Cities of refuge. Your home is your refuge. 

Niece lost her first child. Moved into mom's home for refuge. Only mom can provide that. Goodbye cruel world. It's a hostile world. Kids are often stressed. 

Cathy made the home safe. The kids could stay till they were 25 then they had to buy their own home. They moved their son out during the day while he was working. You should have seen his face when he came home that night. 

Sister had a glass home and kept yelling at her kids to not touch. 

Overstate. 

The truth shall set you free. First you must abide. Impart. Teach values and virtues. You have to Overstate. Over and over. 

Sent kids to private schools. Cathy took 10 years off. Then she found enough work to pay for school and some holidays. Sent son to St Paul's everything for the greater glory of God. Become men for others. 

Shield and buckler. A small shield. Captain America. Women are the shield bearers. Children need that. Shield of faith for a hostile world. So many kids get sexually abused. She went with the kids everywhere. 

Encouragement. The hand of the mother shapes the world. 

Kids need Encouragement.

Middle daughter did all the sports. Played badminton and won after. Pretend that you're fresh. Win. She skipped unto the court and freaked out her opponent and won. 

Specific Faith

Pastor Mark Hughes www.churchoftherock.ca

Fear is the enemy of faith. Jesus said Peace! 

Jesus was specific. Peace and Still. 

We would say Jesus HELP! 

A small town church had a pub going up across the street. The pastor prayed that the tavern burn down and it got hit by lightening. When the owner took the pastor to court the pastor pleaded not guilty. The judge dismissed the charges saying the pub owner believed in prayer but the pastor did not. 

Jesus blamed the fig tree. We blame things. TSU The Stupid User of the computer is at fault. 

Mark 11

And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Mark 11:13‭-‬14‭, ‬20‭, ‬22‭-‬23 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.11.13-23.ESV

Mountains are metaphorical of the issues in your life. Say to your mountain and it will move. Jesus is coming to move the Mount of Olives some day. 

Caleb loved Mount Horeb. Caleb asked for that mountain when he was 85 years old. He lived there the rest of his days. 

Whatever means whatever in the Koine Greek. Jesus said that over and over. 

Pray specifically. It will revolutionize your life. Joshua made the sun stand still. God had to stop the earth and the moon for a whole day. God did it once and said never again. God moved heaven and earth. 

Jesus always prayed specifically. 

Paralytic

5 Jarius daughter

7 deaf man healed

10 the epileptic

The mad man of Legion

Jesus prayed specifically. What is the issue? Address it specifically. Every disease must bow to Jesus.

One of our staff got his lip bit and it healed in time. 

Know what God's will is. Pray to it. Pastor Keith named a woman's pain and it went away the next day. Praying for lower backs. It was cured. 

Blind man. Jesus knew he was blind but wanted to hear him ask specifically. 

God is not your heavenly butler. The whatever means whatever is in God's will. Read your Bible. 

Abide in the Word. The Truth will set you free. 

God will move on your behalf if you have Jesus in your life. Do it NOW.