Sunday, May 28, 2017

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

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. 

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. 

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