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Life: If It Only Came With Instructions
Morning Worship Service -
I. Introduction - “When it rains, it pours!” è How many of you have ever heard this phrase used? è How many of you have used this phrase yourself? è What are we meaning when use this phrase? >>> It means that at the present time, we are going through some difficult and trying circumstances - whether it be a trial of some kind, or some other pain and suffering that this world may bring into our lives. - “When it rains, it pours!” We can probably all admit to saying this, because we have all been through some kind of life trial or tribulation throughout our lifetime. Ä Pain, suffering, trials, discouragements, heartaches - they’re all apart of this life here on earth because of sin. Ä There’s no getting around it!! The trick is trying to figure out how to deal with them in order that they do not overwhelm us and get the best of us. Ä And that is what we want to begin to consider this week in our study of this life instructional manual and what it has to say for some of the everyday issues that you and I face.
- If you would take your Bibles and turn with me over to the book of John, chapter 16. (READ John 16:33) - ““When it rains, it pours!” Ä Here Jesus tells us that we will all experience times such these - “In the world you WILL have tribulation!!” - Turn over to the book of II Timothy, chapter 3. (READ II Timothy 3:12) - “When it rains, it pours!” Ä Here Paul takes the initial teaching of Christ and reminds Timothy that even “Those who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.” - Finally, turn over to the book of James, chapter 1. (READ James 1:2) - “When it rains, it pours!” Ä Even James leaves no options when it comes to life trials and tribulations - “Count it all joy WHEN you fall into various trials!!”
- Folks, there’s no getting around it. In this life we WILL go through times of pain, suffering, trials, tribulations and persecutions!!
Ä
In a recent survey it was determined that suicide was the 11th leading
cause of death in the
Ä However, these inevitable life trials and tribulations that come our way, can overcome us and defeat us in so many other ways as well - from depression, to anger, to even violence.
- Therefore, we need help knowing, not only how to make it through, but also how to handle correctly these inevitable trials. Ä When it does rain and pour in our lives, we need to know the proper bailing techniques, which is something that God has really been challenging my heart with over the last couple of months.
- So this morning we are going to start our study of Christ’s instructions for our lives in this area in a little bit different of a way.
Ä
“When it rains, it pours!” And on
Ä “When it rains, it pours!” And the incident left the floatplane riddled with 79 bullet holes, a puff of smoke, and then chaos at 4,000 feet Ä This morning, I want to show you the story of this family and the day in which a major rain storm broke out in their lives. And as you watch, I want you to pay very close attention to the response, or the bailing technique, of Jim Bowers. (Illustration: Show the video, “Worth It All”)
II. Worth It All è Folks, after going through such a serious life storm, how in the world was Jim Bowers able to tell that interviewer that it was “WORTH IT ALL”? Ä This life storm or trial took his wife and his new baby, Charity. Yet he was able to look back on it all and still was able to say that it was worth it all - HOW AMAZING!! - In the next couple of weeks we are going to be looking at the instructions of Christ, and we will also be comparing that to the lessons that one disciple learned from Christ’s teachings, in order to help us better understand how we might be able to come out of life storms with a similar attitude like Jim Bowers.
- But before we close, let me just point out that the key starting point for Jim and his wife, was that they both: ü Had made sure that they had the right life purpose - they were committed to storing up for themselves treasures in heaven. Ä They were both convinced that this life is not all that there is, but that their real home is in heaven, therefore they were going to spend their life here on earth doing things that would have an eternal impact - they were faithful disciples of Christ and they were introducing others to Christ. Ä If that still is not a conviction of your heart, than you will never be able to face the storms of life with any kind of confidence and comfort. Ä The apostle Paul faced all kinds of life storms, but he also had the right life purpose and that is why he was able to pen the words, “FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.”
ü Had made sure that they had the right heart - they had allowed their heart, who they really were on the inside, to be drawn very close to God. Ä They both had given their hearts to Christ very early on in their lives Ä And they both had very clear convictions and directions for their life based on their times spent with God in prayer and in his word. Ä Folks, without a heart that is drawn close to God’s, again it will be very hard to face the storms of life with any kind of confidence and comfort. And it will be hard because you won’t be able to hear God and his promises to you.
Ä
Peter in his first epistle was writing to a group of Jewish believers
who were living under the blatant immorality and extreme persecution of
the
(READ I Peter 3:13-15) è The key to not fearing or being troubled in the face of life storms according to Peter was to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts. Which means, we are to give Christ the primary place of adoration, exaltation, and worship in our lives by making him the sole object of our love, loyalty and obedience.
III. Conclusion - So, once again folks, I cannot stress to you the importance of these first two lessons that we have learned in this series. Make sure that you have the right purpose for life and make sure that you have the right heart. - Next week we will begin to look at a wonderful teaching opportunity that Christ had with his disciples that he used to teach them about handling the storms of life. And as I said before, we will compare that passage with another one to see how well the disciples learned from Christ’s teachings.
- But this morning, let me just close by encouraging you this morning in one last area. ÄMaybe you are here this morning and you know that you would never be able to handle the life storm that Jim and Ronnie went through, because of the fact that you aren’t sure what would happen to you if you were in that plane and were killed by one of the bullets that shot it down. Ä For the Apostle Paul and for Ronnie, they were able to say with confidence that for them, death was gain because it meant their arrival in their eternal home called heaven. And maybe you are here this morning and you cannot say with any confidence that to die is gain, because you aren’t assured of the fact that your eternity will be spent in heaven. Ä There is an eternity that awaits us all, and when you face that ultimate life storm called death, the only way you will be able to face it with confidence and courage is if you make sure of the fact that your eternity will be spent in heaven. Ä To do that is so very simple to do, but the effects it can have on your life can be so very great and life changing. è There truly is great hope in the name of the Lord. And if you have never experienced that hope, than let me close this morning by encouraging you to accept that hope in your life for the very first time. è And to do that you just need to come to Christ and tell him that you need him - tell him that you need for him to give you that new purpose for living and a new heart to hear him. - Let’s bow together in prayer - INVITATION!! |
