HOME Revolution STUDENT MINISTRIES
•Revolution: A sudden radical or complete change, from sin into righteousness in Jesus.
•The opposite of Revolution: to ignore or neglect
In Hebrews 5:11 we hear that the people were dull of hearing. They were ignoring the words of Jesus, and if we are not revolutionaries, we are neglecting and ignoring His words.
We desire to see young people become students of the Bible as we go through it verse by verse. Ministry is what happens as we live out the Word in our lives, following the example of Jesus as we become revolutionaries like John the Baptist, knowing Christ and making Him known. Reaching the lost, first to Greer, then to South Carolina, and finally, to the whole world.
6th - 12th grade, Fridays at 7:00pm,
Calvary Chapel of Greer Main Sanctuary
MIX I DEVOTIONS
slide 2 James 1:1-11 “joy in trials”
slide 3 The book of James starts off here with one of the most popular, yet hard commands in the entire book: Being joyous in trials. The most important point of a trial is what it is for. As verse 3 states, trials are for the testing of our faith. This is how we can rejoice in trials because trials will “prove” if our faith is real. Another important point is how to overcome in these trials. The bible is full of examples of people who overcame in trials. For example Job, we know that God allowed trials in Job’s life to come for the sole reason to show Satan that Job’s faith was real.
It is through God giving us wisdom that we are able to “count it joy when we fall into trials”. Follow the context of verses 2-4; “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”.
slide 4 We are promised here that we will be perfect (or mature) and that we will lack nothing if we let patience have its perfect work through trials. So how do we get to a point in our relationship with God where we can handle these trials?
Trusting in God is how we do this. When you gave your life to Jesus, you put your trust in Him. The scriptures tell us that God will use trials to purify our faith.
During these times we know that God will not give us more than we can handle and will give us the tools to get through these trials. Now the question is “are you joyous when in a trial?”
slide 5 If you are not able to count it joy when in a trail it may be because you are lacking this wisdom. This may be because you have not asked for it. We are promised that God gives wisdom to all who ask in faith. What an awesome promise, it is true that God has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness (2nd Peter 1:3) even all things pertaining to trials. It is when we doubt that we are not able to count it joy; this is when we are the wave, tossed by the wind. We are to ask God for wisdom and trust that he will give it to us. 1st Corinthians 16:13 says “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be
Strong” if we do all these in the Lord this is how we can be joyous in trials no matter what they are, how big they are, or where they come from. Think of Jesus being able to sleep in the boat as the storm is raging! (Matthew chapter 8)
slide 6 Trials will be a part of our lives here on this earth but remember we are in this world not of this world. We have been given promises by God that he will be with us to overcome in these trials. He has given us scriptures to understand why these trials are happening. Whether you are in a trial or are just finishing a trial in your life, count it joy. Look for the “perfection of you faith” in the trial. Trust that God knows what he is doing, do not second guess God, be faithful as Job was faithful, sleep in the boat when the storms are raging as Jesus did. Remember as Christians we have the Holy Spirit living inside us to help us. Let us not be the wave tossed by the wind but be the Christian empowered by the spirit filled with wisdom.
slide 7 Questions
1. Have you been in a trial where you were not able to count it joy? What did you trust in or what did you turn to?
2. In that trial can you see what you did wrong?
3. Are you better prepared to handle the trial better next time?
4. Do you want to be made perfect (or mature)? What does the text say to do?
6. Should we look forward to trials?
Helpful passages
1st Peter 1:6-7 Matthew 8:23-27
Romans 8:35-39 Acts 19:1-6
1st Corinthians 10:13 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10
Job 1-2 2nd Peter 1:3
Memory Verse
James 1:2
slide 8 James 1:12-18 “temptations”
slide 9 Happy are those who endure, who have been approved, and who will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised. Dead are those who do not endure.
Enduring temptations has eternal rewards and being drawn away by temptation to sin has major consequences. We endure temptation through being perfect (or mature) in Christ. God transforms our hearts to desire things above and shows us what sin will do to us; ultimately sin brings forth death.
It is important as the text shows to know that God does not tempt us but does test us (as we learned last time). Being tempted is part of living in this world but not being of this world.
slide 10 Things of this world will be appealing to our flesh, yet God’s spirit will tell us NO.In fact Jesus said “the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” in regards to temptations. This is the process of becoming mature in Christ; crucifying the flesh. This is what Jesus did when he was tempted in the garden. After fasting for 40 days Satan comes to tempt Jesus by telling him to turn stone to bread (Matthew 4). Jesus’ flesh would have been enticed by this but Jesus spirit said NO. Actually he said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” We have a great picture here of how to endure temptations. Turn to God and tell our flesh no. Later James says “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you…” The important part is that we turn to God first and not try to overcome temptations without God’s help. So why do we spend so much time falling to temptations and not enduring in them?So many Christians spend time in temptations relying on their flesh to endure. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his desires and enticed” this is the time when we are to turn to God and not give our flesh even an inch. If our flesh is what is attracted or enticed to a temptation doesn’t it make since to not rely on it (the flesh) during that temptation. When Jesus was tempted by Satan he did not think about what is favorite bread is and how it tasted, he instantly said NO and relied on God’s word. People seem to blame God for anything bad that happens in their lives. Yet most of the time it’s our flesh that is to blame. Instead of blaming God for the bad how about we thank him for the good. You see Jesus endured his temptation and we can endure our temptations through gifts that God has given us.God has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. He has given us to ability to say NO to our flesh because we have the spirit of God living inside of us. When you are tempted next, turn to God for help, say NO to your flesh and you will endure. You will experience growth in your walk and slowly but surely your life will change from worldly to Godly.If you have been in a temptation and have not endured then repent, ask God to forgive you and next time don’t rely on your flesh. Read 1st John 1:9. It is important for us to repent because this passage speaks of sin leading to death. This is a person who falls to temptation over and over again. Who does not repent, does not submit to God, does not crucify the flesh but lives like God does not exist. God does exist and we are accountable to him, so live like it.Questions1. Are you tired of being enticed by the same temptations?2. Do you know how to endure that temptation now?3. Do you have God’s perfect gift to endure next time?4. Do you know scripture to help with temptations as Jesus did?5. Have you repented for the sin you have committed?Helpful verses2nd Timothy 2:22 Luke 9:231st Peter 5:8-9 Proverbs 24:162nd Peter 2:9Matthew 4:1-11, 26:41Memory verse James 1:12
